USA > Iowa > Page County > Biographical history of Page County, Iowa, containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens of Page County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families; and a concise history of the county, the cities, and the townships > Part 73
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Mr. Dowdell has been a resident of Page County since 1883. He was born in Cler- mont Connty, Ohio, February 5, 1829. His father, John Dowdell, was a native of Vir -. ginia and of French extraction. The moth- er's maiden name was Elizabeth Norfsker; she was born in Pennsylvania of German parentage. John, Jr., was reared on a farm and obtained his education in the common schools. In 1852, when he liad reached his majority, he made a trip to California, going overland and consuming three monthis in the journey. He was engaged in farming and gardening for a time and then he worked in the mines at Virginia City, Montana, and other points; he held some valuable property at one time, a claim in Lincoln Gulch on which was a surface mine. In June, 1866, he came down the Missonri river but after a time he returned to Wyoming and engaged in freighting and contracting; he also dealt largely in live-stock; at one time he and his partner had 1,000 head of steers, which they fattened and shipped to Chicago.
As before stated, it was in 1883 that Mr. Dowdell came to Clarinda, and soon became prominently identified with the business interests of the place. He was one of the leading stock-holders of the National Bank, and was one of the organizers of that institu- tion. He owns a good, two-story residence in the north part of the city, 200 acres of fine farming land near Clarinda, and eighty acres in Buchanan Township, all nnder excellent cultivation.
Mr. Dowdell was united in marriage at Clarinda in 1883, to Miss Jennette H-
By this union two children have been born : Gertrude and Jolin. Politically our subject affiliates with the Republican party. He is a man of superior business qualifications and by industry and wise management lias accu- mnlated a comfortable fortune.
DWIN L. KENNON, manager of the George Palmer & Co. lumber business at Blanchard, Iowa, is one of the lead- ing business men of the place, and justly finds space in a work of this character. He has been connected with the interests of Blanchard since 1887, coming from North- boro, Washington Township, where he had been in the employ of the same firin for three years. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, December 26, 1862, and is a son of Charles E. Kennon, a native of Birmingham, England. His mother's maiden name was Adelaide Hall, and she was born in Connecti- cut. When Edwin L. was an infant they removed to Connecticut.
In 1883 Mr. Kennon came to Iowa, and engaged with C. S. Millard & Co., lumber dealers at Shenandoah, Page Connty. He remained there eight months and then was engaged at various occupations until he was employed by the firm of Palmer & Co. The first twenty-seven months he was in their service he did not lose a single day's time, holidays excepted. Politically lie affiliates with the Democratic party. The people of the township have attested their confidence in his ability by calling him to fill various local offices. He is secretary of the Creamery Association at Blanchard, a position he tills with inarked success.
Our worthy subject is a member of Emman. uel Lodge, No. 405, A. F. & A. M .; of State Line Lodge, No. 429, I. O. O. F., and of the
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
encampment. He was united in the holy bonds of marriage at Northboro, Iowa, No- vember, 1887, to Miss Emma Blanchard, daughter of S. D. Blanchard. One child has been born of this union-Laura H.
Mr. Kennon is a man of exceptional can- dor, is of a genial disposition, and ranks high in the business circles of the farming com- munity of which Blanchard is the center.
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NDERS P. FALK furnishes us a re_ inarkable example of what can be ac- complished by an energetic, industrious man with a good strong constitution and an active mind and temperament, combined with an honest purpose to succeed in life. America is one of the countries of the world where honest effort is well repaid, and Mr. Falk is a man to grasp success before it is too late. John A. Falk, his father, was born in Sweden in 1811, and was a fariner by occupation. He was of an ingenious turn of inind, a good education, and an aptitude for mechanics. He married Elizabeth Peterson, and to them were born ten children, of whom Anders P. is the second. The father lived in Sweden for twenty years after his marriage, and in connection with his farming was engaged in the manufacture of threshing-machines and saw-mills. He was an excellent penmen and was often called upon to write deeds and agreements, and at one time he held an office corresponding to that of sheriff in this coun- try. In 1854 he came to the New World to seek the fortune which might here be held in store for him; he landed in New York with his wife and seven children, and proceeded at once to Rock Island County, Illinois; thence he removed to Mercer County and settled on a farın. About 1860 he purchased a farm in Henry County, Illinois, on which he lived 46
until 1884, when he came to Page County, Iowa, and located at Essex. He is now re- tired, being seventy-nine years of age, but he is still vigorous of mind and body.
Anders P. Falk, the subject of this notice, was born on his father's farm in Sweden, in 1838, and was a lad of fifteen years when the family emigrated to America. He had re- ceived in his native land a common-school education, and on arriving in this country he at once entered the public schools in order to learn our language. He was a strong, rug- ged youtlı, and early became accustomed to hard labor. Shortly after coming to the United States he was placed upon his own responsibility, and engaged at farm work; he also assisted in running threshing-machines. In 1873 he invested in a team of horses and five yoke of oxen, having accumulated the means with which to pay cash. He bought 160 acres of land in Oxford Township, Henry County, Illinois, not paying a dollar down; in three years he had paid for the land, and when he left Oxford Township he was the heaviest tax payer in the township, owning 1,500 acres of land, 400 of which he still re- tains. This was a remarkable success for a man who started in a township without a dollar. He was twice elected to the office of Supervisor, and enjoyed the full confidence of the people.
In 1883 Mr. Falk came to Page County, Iowa, and bought 1,122 acres of land near Essex, which he has converted into one of the finest farins in the county; it is well adapted to the raising of live-stock, being well wa- tered, and at the present time his farm is stocked with roadsters and trotting horses; he now owns the noted trotting stallion Jack Fisher and several of the Wilkes family; also the thoroughbred mare Headlight. The build. ings are of a mnost substantial character, the dwelling being one of the finest farm resi-
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
dences in the county; it is heated witlı steanı and furnished with water-works, and is equal in all its appointments to many modern city houses. Mr. Falk and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, of which he is a trustee; he has represented the people of his township as Justice of the Peace, and politi- cally is identified with the Union Labor party. He has a reputation of the highest character, and has certainly shown qualities of mind and heart justifying the esteem in which he is held. He was married in Henry County, Illinois, to Margaret C. Peterson, a daughter of N. P. and Eva (Maugson) Peter- son, and of this union seven children have been born: Regina O., Edward N., deceased; Luther L., deceased; Anna E., Ella V., Mar- ion C., deceased, and Elmer S., deceased.
Mr. Falk is a citizen of whom both his own native land and adopted country may well be proud.
A. PRUITT, M. D., has been a resi- dent of Blanchard, Iowa, since 1883, and during that time has built up a successful practice. He was born in Morgan County, Indiana, July 23, 1850. His father, Michael Pruitt, was a native of Kentucky, and a descendant of English ancestors; he married Elizabeth Yager, also a native of the State of Kentucky, and they reared a family of nine children. The Doctor passed his childhood and youth in the county in which he was born. He received his literary ed- ucation at Asbury University, Greencastle, Indiana, and entered the Ohio Medical Col- lege at Cincinnati, from which he was grad- uated in the spring of 1877. The same year he began practice at Hartford, Kansas, where he remained one year. At the end of this
time he located at Alma, Missouri, where lie resided two years. He then went to Dunlap, Kansas, and made liis home there for three years. In 1883 he settled in Blanchard, and has established a profitable practice. In ad- dition to his medical practice he has a drug store in Blanchard to which he gives his per- sonal attention.
Doctor Pruitt was married at Paola, Kan- sas, March 28, 1878, to Miss Marietta Thatcher, a native of Morgan County, Indi . ana, and a daughter of Stephen Thatcher. She was educated at Whittier College, and was engaged in teaching previous to ler ınar- riage. Dr. and Mrs. Pruitt are the parents of two children: Robert R. and Le Roy F.
Politically our subject is identified with the Democratic party, and is a strong adher- ent of the principles advanced by that body. He is numbered among the busy and enter- prising residents of Blanchard. As a busi- ness man, as a professional mnan, and as a neighbor and friend he stands high in the community.
W. FISHBAUGH was born near Tif- fin, Ohio, February 20, 1847, and is a son of Christ and Mary (Gross) Fishbaugh .. The father was a native of Ba- varia, and came to America when he was sev- enteen years old; his mother was a native of Ohio. When our subject was only four years old his father died, and at the age of sixteen years he was thrown upon his own responsi- bilities. He at once went to Tiffin and becaine a salesman for his brothers, J. & G. Fish- baugh, manufacturers of pumps, remaining with this firm until he was twenty-one years old. He was then engaged with another brother in handling walnut lumber, and after
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
two years he entered the firm of Fishbaugh Brothers, manufacturers of a patent wagon. They secured all the patents covering this im- provement in wagon manufacture and did a business of seventy-five or eighty thousand dollars per annum. While thus engaged, Mr. Fishbanglı decided to invest in western real estate, and accordingly secured, in connection with his brother, upwards of 2,000 acres of choice land in Page County and the adjoin- ing county on the west, Fremont; most of this was placed under cultivation and rented until the factory at Tiffin was sold, the patents having expired.
In 1880 the property was divided and Mr. Fishbaugh came west to reside. He estab- lished a wholesale and retail business at Shen- andoah, selling thousands of wagons of standard ınakes. The old works at Tiffin, although conducted by other parties, are yet known as the Fishbaugh Bent Works. The brothers did much to advance the interests of the town, and were the proprietors of Fish- baugh's Addition to Tiffin.
Mr.Fisbaugh at once began to grow and feed stock, on coming to Iowa, and now has two fine farms in Fremont County, and seven in Page County, aggregating 980 acres, all of which is improved and rented. He also owns 450 acres in Adams County, Nebraska. He makes a specialty of the stock business and does not delegate his dnties to other hands, but gives it his personal supervision. He has one of the finest residences in Shen- andoalı, erected in 1883, at a cost of $5,000. It stands on a gentle rise of ground on Cla- - rinda avenne, and is finished and furnished in elegant style.
Mr. Fishbaugh was married at Bakerswood, Ohio, October 2, 1873, to Miss Malinda Au- gene. She was born in Crawford Connty, Ohio, April 9, 1840, and is a daughter of Adam and Barbara (Shearer) Angene, natives
of Germany, who emigrated to the United States in 1837. Two sons have been born of this union: Warren P. and Earl C.
Mr. Fish baugh is a Republican in sentiment and adheres to the principles of prohibition. Although he has never received a collegiate conrse he has a strong mind, well cultivated and trained by useful reading and practical experience.
E. DEATER, formerly editor and pro- prietor of the Blanchard Sentinel took charge of the paper March 1, 1889, coming from Shenandoah, Iowa, where he had been engaged in printing. He owned a half interest in the Sentinel until October 1, 1889, when he bought the remaining half, This paper is the leading journal of south- western Page County, and has a circulation of seven hundred. It is a neat, newsy sheet, and has ever been managed in the best inter- ests of the village of Blanchard. Mr. Deater severed his connection with the Sentinel in March, 1890, when he sold his entire interest and accepted a position on the Shenandoah Sentinel as assistant editor.
Our subject is a native of the " Hoosier " State, born April 18, 1861, his parents being John and Nancy J. (Lighter) Deater natives of Pennsylvania. When he was an infant six months old his father died, and soon there- after his mother with seven young children removed to Warren County, Illinois. She married for her second husband Thomas Bean. When nine years of age young Deater set out in the world to seek his fortune. He worked by the montli on a farm, and lived for some time in Appanoose County, Iowa; he received $13 per month for his services. In 1874 he returned to Warren County, Illinois, and en- gaged at farm work with an uncle for $16
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per month. From this place he went to Re- public County, Kansas, where he bought some wild land, which he broke ont and then sold to his brother. He again returned to War- ren County, Illinois, and remained there until 1881, when he came to Page County and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. After some time he went to Shenandoah, and entered the Western Normal College, from which he graduated after four years' study. He then taught school in Fremont Connty, Iowa, from 1884 to 1888, during which time he was principal at Imogene. Ile was then employed in the printing office of Mr. Marvin at Shen- andoah, continuing there from November, 1888 to March, 1889, at which time he took charge of the Sentinel, as before stated.
Mr. Deater was united in marriage at Creston, Iowa, October 25, 1887, to Miss Lizzie Spencer, a daughter of Richard Spen- cer. By this union two children were born: Earl J. and Pearl O.
Mr. Deater is a young man of more than ordinary intelligence, and of industrious habits; he will be heard from in the future. as good character and education are sure to win in the end.
ILLIAM H. C. MOORE, M. D., was born in Galena, Illinois, March 9, 1841. His parents, Charles and Hannah (Rogers) Moore, were natives of County Monaghan, Ireland, and emigrated to America about the year 1833. The father was a farmer and pork-packer by trade; he was the oldest packer at Galena, Illinois, where he settled in 1835, and the oldest packer in the State when he died in 1863.
William H. C. is the sixth of a family of eight children, five of whom are living. The oldest brother, Rev. Josiah Moore, is pastor
of the Presbyterian Church at Kewanee, Illi- nois. William was reared at Galena and at- tended Monmouth College, taking a five years course there but not graduating. He then entered the office of Dr. McFatrich at Mon- mouth, and the same year, 1865, he went to Ann Arbor and became a student in the ined- ical department of the State University. The following summer he spent in the office of Dr. Crawford at Galena, and in 1866 he entered Rush Medical College, from which institution he was graduated in 1867. He began the practice of his profession at Savannah, Illinois, and after two years he went to Canton, Illinois.
After a sojourn of two years in this place he decided to remove to Iowa, and came to Page County and bought a farm of 160 acres in Fremont Township in 1871; he then took up the pursuit of agriculture but still prac- ticed his profession whenever there was a demand for his services. In 1876 he con- cluded to relinquish his farm work and devote
his whole time to his profession; with that in view he removed to Essex and has met with remarkable success. He is a member of the Page County Medical Society, and is well posted upon the progressive methods of the day.
In connection with his professional work Dr. Moore has been engaged in making loans of money principally for himself and members of his family. He owns a pleasant home in Essex, where he can have comforts and rest after fulfilling the duties of his laborious pro- fession.
Dr. Moore was married in Jackson County, Iowa, February 1, 1872, to Miss Carrie E. Shaw, a daughter of John and Sophia (Fisk) Shaw. They have a family of six children: Lillian M., Austin F., Roy J., Charles I., Laurence S. and Bernard T. The Doctor is a member of the Presbyterian Church and the
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
orders of A. F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. Politically he is identified with the Republi- can party and takes an active interest in public questions. He is a member of the Board of Pension Examiners, being appointed in July, 1889.
WETMORE, Postmaster at Blanchard, Iowa, has been a resident of Colfax Township since October, 1866. He was born in Monroe County, New York, December 12, 1827, and is a son of Pelick Wet- more, a native of New York, of Welsh ances- try. His mother's maiden name was Rebec- ca Rice, and she was a native of Connecticut and of Puritan stock. She died when our sub- ject was four day sold, and he was taken by his mother's sister, Anna Crossby, to Summit County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and received a common-school education.
Mr. Wetmore was united in marriage Jan- uary 10, 1849, to Miss Cordelia Jane Davis, a native of the State of New York and a daughter of George and Sarah (Smith) Davis. After his marriage he removed in 1850, to Tazewell County, Illinois, where he lived un- til 1854; he then went to Knox County, Ill- inois, and resided there until 1866, when he came to Page County, Iowa, and engaged in general farming and stock-feeding. His farm, one of the best in Colfax Township, is situ- ated on section 23; it was wild land at the time he bought it and all the improvements have been inade through his own efforts. He has one of the most beautiful and extensive artificial groves in the county; it contains ten acres and was planted in 1869; there is a fine orchard of many varieties of fruits, and all the surroundings indicate thrift and pros- perity. The farm contains 240 acres of choice land in an advanced state of cultivation.
Mr. and Mrs. Wetmore have had five chil- dren born to them: Sarah Ann, wife of A. W. Hawley; Hngh Monroe, Rice, deceased, Ar- thur J., deputy postmaster at Blanchard, and Eva L
Politically Mr. Wetmore is a radical Re- publican and has voted for all the Republican presidential candidates from Lincoln down to Benjamin Harrison. He served as Connty Commissioner in 1878-'79, and was a Justice of the Peace for six years; he is usually styled " Sqnare" Wetmore. He was ap- pointed Postmaster by President Harrison in 1889, and has since that time resided in Blanchard. He is a man of unusal business ability, is possessed of sound judgment, and is a successful agricnlturist and stock-raiser. He stands high in the community and has ever done his part toward the building up of his town, connty and State.
MOS REMINGTON is a highly re- spected member of the farming com- mnnity of Buchanan Township. His grandfather, Amos Remington, was born in Connecticut, and was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary war; he marched with Washington into Boston at the time of the evacuation of that city by the British. He married Lucy Fowler, of Massachusetts, and to them were born eight children, who lived to maturity: Seth, Ainos, Noble, Filena, Polly, Rachel, Tommy and Lucy. The father was a farmer and owner of some mills at Sheffield, Massa- chusetts. He lived to the advanced age of ninety years.
Seth Remington, son of Amnos Remington, and father of the subject of this notice, was a native of Connectiont; lie was a farmer and millwright by occupation; he married Ase- nath Bisbee, daughter of Joel Bisbee, and to
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
them were born four children, who lived to inaturity: Lucy, Noble, Amos and Jonathan. Seth Remington lived in Massachusetts until 1813, when he removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio, where he was among the early pioneers. He bought 1,000 acres of land and lived there five years, after which he went to Erie County, Pennsylvania, and again invested in land. He was a strong, energetic man, very suc- cessful in all his business undertakings. He was a devout member of the Baptist Church, and an old-time Whig in politics. He was a second cousin to the renowned historian, Ban croft. He died in 1846, at the age of sixty- five years.
Amos Remington, son of Seth Remington, was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1816. He received a common-school education and was trained to the occupation of a farmer. In 1842, October 13, at the age of twenty-seven years, he was married to Matilda Munger, a daughter of Charles and Polly (Place) Mun- ger. They are the parents of three children, who grew to maturity: Delesone D., who married Florence Morgan; Alma L., wife of George E. Martin, and Alfaretta, wife of Robert Coulson. One year after his mar- riage Mr. Remington emigrated to the West and settled in Whiteside County, Illinois, where he sojourned one and a half years; he then went to Rock County, Wisconsin, and resided there twenty-eight years. In 1867 he removed to Missouri and located in Noda- way County, and in 1869 he came to Page County, Iowa, and the following year he bought his present farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Remington are faithful members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. In political opinion Mr. Remington has always been a stanch Republican, and in Abolitionist days he was on the side of the oppressed. He is a man whose judginent is held in great respect by his fellow citizens. He has held the office of
Justice of the Peace for sixteen years, and has faithfully discharged his duties. He is a self-made man, moral and upright, and stands deservedly high in the estimation of the people of his township.
DWARD H. WINNEY was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, No- vember 22, 1861. When he was ten years of age his parents emigrated to Amer- ica; after landing they continued their jour- ney to the West, and located at College Springs, Iowa. In February, 1880, Mr. Winney entered the office of the Blanchard Record as an apprentice, and at the end of three years established the Bellwood (Ne- braska) Monitor. In 1887 he established the Blanchard Sentinel. For so young a man he has had a very successful newspaper career, and we bespeak for him a prosperous future. The time spent as an apprentice in the printing business was well improved, as Mr. Winney is acknowledged to be a first- class printer.
In December, 1883, our worthy subject was united in marriage to Miss Ann M. Montague. He is an honored member of the I. O. O. F. and the Masonic fraternities.
ENJAMIN PIPER, a well-known farm- er of Nodaway Township, is deserving of mention in this connection, not only as a citizen of Page County, but as a brave and gallant soldier in the civil war. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born November 17, 1842. His parents, Daniel and Anna (Bair) Piper, were also natives of Pennsylvania; they removed from their native State to Page County, Iowa, where they spent the remainder
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
of their days. Benjamin was then a lad of fifteen years, when the family removed to Henry County, Illinois. He was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and attended the common schools of Henry County, Illinois, and Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
He was one of the boys to dou the " blue" when there was a call for men to put down the Rebellion. He enlisted October 23, 1861, in the Forty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company K, B. F. Holcomb, captain. Ile served three years and nine months, and made a fine record. He was in thirteen decisive engagements, besides some skirmishes. Among the more noted battles are Fort Don- elson, Shiloh, and the siege of Vicksburg; he was wounded in the battle of Shiloh, on account of which he received a sixty days' furlough. He was also in the siege of At- lanta, and was witlı Sherman on his march to the sea. He came back through the Caro- linas up to Richmond, and was present at the grand review in Washington, District of Columbia. He was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, July 12, 1865, after which he returned to Henry County; Illinois, to engage in farming.
Mr. Piper was united,in marriage, in Knox Connty, Illinois, in September, 1867, to Mrs. Anna Mitchell, whose maiden name was Lit- tlefield; she died in August, 1869. The same year Mr. Piper came to Page County and settled in Nodaway Township. In De- cember, 1871, he was married to Sarah J. Shepard, a native of Pike County, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Stella (Squires) Shep- ard, honored residents and early settlers of Page County, Iowa. With the exception of two years spent in Chase County, Nebraska, Mr. Piper has ever since made his home in Page County. He now owns 160 acres of fine land, well-improved, fifty-seven and a-half acres in his home place in an advanced state
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