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 74
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of cultivation, and ten acres of timber land on section 16, Nodaway Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Piper have had born to thiem six children: Stella, Anna, William Elbert, Gertie May and Gracie Vera, twins; Jolin Wesley, who died at the age of fifteen months, and Robert Rossie, who died in his third year. The father and mother are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have the respect and good will of the entire community.
RANCIS M. VARDAMAN, a promi- nent farmer of Page County, is from an old American family of German descent. His great-grandfather was the first of the family to come to this country fromn Ger- inany. His son; the grandfather of our sub- ject, was George Vardaman, and he was a farmer in Green County, Kentucky, and a slave-owner; his son, George W., is the father of Francis M. When he was a young man he went to Ohio and was there married to Mary Eliott, a native of Kentucky. To them were born twelve children; Peter, Nancy, John E., Benjamin W., George W., Jeremiah, Mary, Elizabeth, Francis M., Amanda, Jas- per N. and Eliza. Soon after their marriage the young couple removed to Shelby County, Indiana, where they owned a farm on which they lived several years. They then removed to Illinois and resided there but a short time, finally settling in Lee County, Iowa, in 1837 or thereabouts, when the State had but few settlers and was infested with Indians. They afterward removed to Jefferson County and purchased a farm on which they lived several years and where Francis M. was born. From this place they went to Benton County, Iowa, and lived near Vinton three years, and thence they moved to Keokuk County and after-
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ward to Taylor County, where they remained five years. Their next change was to Law- rence County, Missouri, where they located just before the breaking out of the war. The family experienced all the hardships of border warfare. In 1864 Mr. Vardaman went to Minnesota, but at the end of three years he returned to Jefferson County, Iowa, where he died in 1867. He was a member of the Christian Church and was highly respected by all who knew him. He filled the office of Justice of the Peace for many years.
Francis M., the son of the above, was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, in 1843. He re- ceived a limited education in consequence of the family's living constantly upon the fron- tier. He improved his mind, however, by reading and study at home. When a young man he was of a delicate constitution, and during the war he was obliged to endure inany vicissitudes to which that section of country was subject. The family were fre- quently disturbed and the sons were con- pelled many times to sleep in the brush for safety. The house was at one time surrounded by bushwhackers who made some trouble, but were frightened away by a shot from a gun.
In 1864 Mr. Vardaman returned to Iowa and settled in Page County, working by the month for three years. In 1867 he was mar- ried to Miss Mary I. Baker, a daughter of Peter and Ann (Swiggett) Baker, natives of Indiana. To them were born six children: Mary A., Erie A., Benjamin R., Irma G., Avery E. and Francis E. In 1871 Mr. Var- daman settled on his present farm, which was then wild prairie, and which by his own perservering labor has been converted into a fine fertile farm. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has held the office of trustee and school director and has mani- fested a deep interest in educational matters.
He is one of the substantial farmers of the township, owning 150 acres of land, and standing high as an honorable, industrious citizen.
OBERT McELHOSE, a native of county Antrim, Ireland, was born June 1, 1844, and is the son of William and Margaret (Smith) McElhose. He is the youngest of a family of twelve children, and when he was three years of age the family, with the excep- tion of one sister, emigrated to America, land- ing at Philadelphia, where they remained one year. The sister whom they had left behind in the " Emerald Isle " soon after came over to this country. After the family left Phila- delphia tliey removed to a farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where the father died in about four years; he was a man about sixty years of age, and had been a farmer by oc- cupation. His wife survived him several years, and died at Plainfield, Illinois, in 1865, at the age of seventy-five years.
William McElhose and wife were members of the Presbyteriam Church. Their children were named as follows: Hannah, wife of James Scott; Robert, deceased; Benjamin, deceased; Margaret, deceased, wife of Mat- thew Smith, also deceased; Matilda, deceased; Sarah, deceased, wife of John Gillespie; Eliza, wife of Jolın McCann; William, who served in the civil war; Huglı, deceased; Richard, deceased; James, deceased, and Robert, the subject of this sketch.
Robert McElhose was fifteen years of age when he removed with his mother from Pennsylvania to Plainfield, Illinois. Up to that time he had worked on a farm, but he was then apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade. He was thus employed when the war broke out, and at the age of seventeen years
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
he enlisted in the One Hundredth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, Company D. He served three years, receiving his discharge at Al- bany, New York, in July, 1865. The most noted battles in which he participated are Perryville, Kentucky; Stone River, Mur- freesborough and La Vergne; also was in a number of skirmishes. He was unable for active duty all the time on account of sick- ness, but was ever ready and willing to serve in any capacity for which he had the strength. For eleven months he was continuously on duty without one day off. He entered as a private, but was made Corporal and after- wards Sergeant; lie had not reached his nine- teenth year when this honor was conferred upon him.
After the close of the war he returned to his home and resumed his duties as appren tice, serving out his period of three years. He worked at his trade for about two years and then removed to Kane County, Illinois, where he opened a shop of his own, and con- ducted the trade for about five years. At the end of this period he went to Cambridge, Illinois, and went into the carriage business with Sylvester Rockwell, the firmn namne being McElhose & Rockwell. This partnership continued two years when Mr. McElhose re- moved to Rock Island County, Illinois, and in the spring of 1877 he came to Page Coun- ty, Iowa. He settled on his farm of 120 acres in Harlan Township, which he had purchased the previous year. There he has since made his home, devoting his energies to the cultivation and improvement of his land; he has erected a fine, two-story resi- dence, and good building for stock and grain. One of his most excellent improvements is an orchard of 105 trees; he has an admirable wind-break of Scotch pine, which adds very much to the beanty of the landscape.
Mr. McElliose is one of the representative
men of the county, is self-made, and by honesty and integrity has won an enviable position in the community. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is a member of Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R. November 1, 1867, occurred the marriage of Robert McElliose to Lottie Wicks, daughter of Ira and Mary (Hand) Wicks, natives of Massachusetts. Mrs. McElhose was born in Michigan in 1847, and died in 1870. Two children were born of this union, Ira and Roy, who died in infancy. Mr. Mc- Elhose was again married September 7, 1876, to Miss Alice Monfort, whose father died when she was a babe; her mother died in 1885. She was one of a family of tliree children, and was born in Galesburg, Illinois, August 3, 1851. By this second marriage three children have been born: Bertlia M., Maggie S. and Roy.
DWARD PIKE, one of the leading farmers of Buchanan Township, has been a resident of Page County since 1868. He is a son of Abner Pike, a native of Erie County, New York, who married Matilda Warren. To them were born eleven children: Stafford, Louisa, Jane, Franklin, Alfred, Philinda, Edward, Henrietta, Charles, Wesley and Horace. The father was a car- penter and joiner by trade, and was a fine workman in his line. He died in Illinois in 1856, having almost attained the three score years and ten allotted to man. He was an honest, industrious man, and brought his family to be an honor to their father's inemory.
Edward Pike, the subject of this notice, was born in 1830, and received a common- school education; he was trained to the oc-
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cupation which his father had followed all his days. In 1853 he crossed the plains to California and on the journey met with many of the hardships which then befell so many travelers; the party was troubled with In- dians, and had some horses stolen, but escaped themselves uninjured. On reaching Califor- nia Mr. Pike engaged in mining in Yuba River and was quite successful. But after three years of life on the Pacific coast, one having been spent at work in a steam saw- mill, he returned to Sterling, Illinois. In 1850 he had been nnited in marriage to Caro- line Claypole, and to them were born eight children: Eva M., wife of Jephthal Grove; Nettie, wife of Daniel Hall; Jane, wife of Jacob F. Hoop; Henry, Frank, Ovilla, wife of D. N. Crosby; Edward and Luella.
After his return from California Mr. Pike bought a farm near Sterling, Illinois, and re- sided there until 1868, when he emigrated to Iowa, and settled on his present farm of 120 acres. It was then wild prairie, but by perseverance and industry it has been con- verted into a fine, fertile farm. He had many hard experiences in his first settlement here and endured many privations, and his descendants may well be proud of his success. Mrs. Pike died July 24, 1888.
RANCIS M. MoPIKE was a veteran soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and as such deserves mention in this con- nection. He was born on a farm in Law- rence Connty, Indiana, in 1842, and is a son of James McPike and one of a family of twelve children. His mother's maiden name was Nancy E. Dayton. The father died on his farm in Lawrence County, Indiana, in 1865, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and a soldier in the war of 1812. He was very prosperous in his business and owned at the time of his health 500 acres of land in Lawrence County.
Francis M. McPike was reared to the occupation of a farmer, but at the age of eighteen years, when Abraham Lincoln called for 300,000 troops to go to the defense of this nation, he abandoned agriculture and en- listed for three years' service in Company A, Twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Port Gibson, the sieges of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, and Blakely, Alabama He was under fire in all about sixty-five times; he was wounded over the left eye with buck- shot at the siege of Port Gibson in 1863. He was exposed a great deal during the time that he was in the service and contracted rheumatism, from which he has never recov- ered. He served out his term of enlistment and re-enlisted January 1, 1864, in the same regiment and company for three years more, and served until the end of the war, when he was mustered out and honorably discharged at Galveston, Texas, November 15, 1865. He then returned to Indiana and farmed in Boone County until 1874.
Mr. McPike was united in marriage in 1867 to Miss Martha Gullion, daughter of William and Mary E. (Young) Gullion. Two children have been born of this union: Myrta E. and Lillie A. Mr. McPike came to Page County, Iowa, and bought a homestead near Braddy- ville in 1883. Since 1874 he has been dis- abled from active work by rheumatism, but he was not granted a pension by the Govern- ment until 1882. Mrs. McPike died in June, 1887. In his political opinions Mr. McPike is a strong Republican. He passed his young manhood in the service of his coun- try, and has an honorable record as a soldier and a citizen, and his descendants for genera-
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tions will refer with pride to the military career of their revered ancestor. Mr. McPike is a member of Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R., of Clarinda, Iowa.
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8 H. LY MER, ex-auditor of Page County, lias been so prominently identified with its political history that a record of the leading citizens would not be complete without him. In order to learn something of his. earlier history we will go back to the old " Keystone " State, where he first saw the light of day in Mercer County, April 13, 1844. His father, John Lymer, was a son of Richard Lymer and a native of England; lie married Elizabeth Jaquiss, also a native of England, and a daughter of Benjamin Jaquiss; these young people emigrated to America in 1843, and settled in Mercer County, Penn- sylvania. The father was a potter by trade, but when he came to this country he learned cabinet-making, which he followed during the remainder of his life.
R .. H. Lymer was reared to farm life and received liis education in the common schools. In 1861 he began the study of medicine, but abandoned this work to go to the succor of his country ; he enlisted in August, 1861, in the One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company G, and in December, 1862, he was discharged on account of disability; after he recovered his healthi he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, Company A, and served until the close of the war. He made a long and gallant fight in behalf of his na- tion's flag, and was twice wounded, first on James Island, and again at Fisher's Hill; this latter proved rather serious, as he lost his index finger and crippled his right hand; he did not leave the field at the time, but was
afterward confined in the hospital. He was in many decisive engagements, and was pres- ent at Lee's surrender, and then at the grand review in Washington. He was honorably discharged, and returned to his home in Pennsylvania to take np again the study of medicine. In March, 1866, he was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, the oldest institution of the kind in the United States. He practiced about one year with his old preceptor, Dr. George Bagnall, and then located at College Springs, Iowa; lie re- mained there five years engaged in successful practice, but at the expiration of that period of time he abandoned thie profession and ein- barked in the drug trade; this he continued until 1881, when he was elected auditor of the county. He has served fonr terms in succession, a record which speaks for itself and needs no further comment. He retired from the office in January, 1890.
Mr. Lymer was married in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1867, to Miss Sarah Bagnall, niece of Dr. George Bagnall and daughter of Charles and Anna (Ibbs) Bag- nall, descendants of English ancestors. Eight children have been born of this union, one of whom died in infancy: Anna Elizabetlı, Mary Agnes, who is engaged in the profession of teaching ; Sarah Frances, John Charles, George Henry, Sidona Jane and William Barker.
Mr. Lymer affiliates with the Republican party, and is a strong advocate of the prin- ciples of this party. He is a member of Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R., serving as Commander. He belongs to Clarinda Lodge, No. 109, I. O. O. F. He and his wife and three daughters are active members of the Metliodist Episcopal Church, and he lias served as trustee of the society.
John Lymer and wife reared a family of five children, two sons and three daughters. The father died in the spring of 1869, and the
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
mother now makes her home at College Springs, Iowa.
AGDALENA FREIERMUTH is the widow of Jacob Freiermuth, who was one of Page County's most highly re- spected citizens. He was born in Germany, July 13, 1813, and emigrated to America in his early manhood. He settled in Wooster, Ohio, and worked at his trade, that of wagon- making. In December, 1843, he was united in marriage to Magdalena Kaylor, a daughter of Henry and Magdaline Kaylor, who emi- grated from Germany and settled iu the State of New York in 1831; they lived there eight years and then came to Ohio and located twenty miles from Wooster on a farm. Magdalena was born April 12, 1827, in Al- sace, Germany.
Mr. and Mrs. Freiermuth have had born to them eight children, five of whom survive: John J., Susannah, Philip H., Mary A. and Mahala L. Mr. Freiermuth lived at Loudon- ville, Ohio, where he carried on the wagon- maker's trade for ten years. In 1857 he re- moved to Iowa and settled on the farm now occupied by his family. He died in 1877, having accumulated a handsome property. He took an active interest in the cause of education and for many years filled the office of school director. He had pluck, ambition and energy, and by perseverance overcame all obstacles. He and his wife belong to the Lutheran Church.
Susannah Freiermuth is the wife of Isaac Hadden, and they have two children: John married Ella Frost, and they are the parents of two children: Philip H. married Ella Moore. The family are people of sterling worth, commanding the respect of the entire community in which they live.
Mary A., the fourth child, was educated in the Clarinda public schools and was gradu- ated in the High School, afterward clerked for two years in her brother's store in Greers- ville, Ohio, and during the past eight years she has been managing the home farm and has succeeded admirably in her undertaking. She is quiet and unassuming in her manners, and is deserving of much credit for the cour- age, energy and efficiency she has displayed in the performance of these arduous duties. Accounts of extraordinarily capable women are frequently seen in newspapers, but few of them excel the record of Miss Mary A. Freiermuth.
OSEPH SNODGRASS. The great- grand father of the subject of this sketch, emigrated from Ireland to America and settled in Virginia. Samuel Snodgrass, his son, was the father of three children who lived to maturity: James, Robert and Samuel. Samuel Snodgrass, father of Joseph was born in Virginia and was married to Susan McCastin, daughter of William and Elizabeth McCastin, who came directly to this country from Ireland. Samuel and Susan (McCastin) Snodgrass were the parents of eleven children: James, Ellen, William, Samuel, Jane, Mabel, Robert, Phoebe, Jo- seph, John and Edmund, all of whom lived to maturity. The parents lived for some time after marriage on a farm in Virginia, and at an early day removed to Jefferson County, Indiana, and settled within three miles of Hanover College; they resided in this county for many years and then went to Decatur County, Indiana, where the father died at the age of fifty-four years. He was an idustrions, capable man, but owing to an accident which occurred in his childhood he
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
did not enjoy the blessing of good health. In his younger days he taught school. He and his wife were earnest members of the Presbyterian Church.
Joseplı Snodgrass, son of Samuel and Susan Snodgrass, was born in Jefferson County, Indiana, in 1822, and received a limited edu- cation in the common schools of that day. He went with his father when a lad to De- catur County, Indiana, and there learned the tanner's trade, which he followed for ten years. At the age of twenty-two years he started a tannery business in Bartholomew County, Indiana, where he remained three years; he then sold out and returned to De- catur County, and engaged in the same busi- ness at Greensburg.
In 1845 he was married in Johnson Coun- ty, Indiana, to Miss Jane A. Hammond, a dangliter of Lot and Betsey (Barnum) Ham- mond. Mr. Hammond was a native of Balti- more and his father was a merchant in that city. Mrs. Hammond was a native of Con- necticut and of an old Puritan family; they were the parents of ten children, who lived to maturity.
Mr. and Mrs. Snodgrass liave seven cliil- dren: Caroline, wife of Benjamin Loswell; Elijalı, who married Jane Miller; Alonzo, who married Mary Elkins; Orville, who mnar- ried Vadie Jeffers; Montraville, who married Maria Boner; Bircli, who married Sarilda Elkins, and James ().
After his marriage Mr. Snodgrass lived in Greensburg until 1851, when he removed to Savannah, Missouri, and in 1852 he came to Taylor County, Iowa; two years later he set- tled on his present farm, which now consists of 324 acres. By persevering industry he las converted the wild land into a fertile farmn. He has taken an active interest in educational matters, and for many years he has been school director; he has also held the office of town-
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ship trustee. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church and he has been an elder for five years. He is a man now sixty- seven years of age, well preserved, and bids fair to live to a good old age. He has had an honest purpose in view all his life and may well take a pride in what he has accomplished in the way of rearing a family and accumnu- lating a handsome property.
DWIN SHEETS, one of the prominent farmers of Page County and a brave soldier in the war of the Rebellion, is of Swiss ancestry, his grandfather having emigrated from Switzerland to America and settled in Maryland. His father, John Sheets, was born in Maryland, and when about twen- ty-one years of age he removed to Ohio, where he married Margaret Winning, a daugh- ter of John Winning, of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Ten children were born of this union, all of whom lived to maturity: Perry, Christian, Lewis, Malinda, Edwin, Herman, Isabel, Jolın and Margaret, twins, and Mar- tha. Soon after his marriage Mr. Sheets settled on a farm near Georgetown, Ohio, and thence inoved to Darke County, Ohio, and located on the site of the old fort built by General Wayne when he was fighting the Indians; it was three miles south of Green- ville, and he lived there for eight years; he then removed to Randolph County, Indiana, and at the end of thirteen years he went to Wabash County, Indiana; he had lived there three years when he died, at the age of fifty- three years. He was a man of true pioneer spirit, and was known for his industry, hon- esty and integrity.
Edwin Sheets, the subject of this notice, was born in Darke County, Ohio, October 21, 1830, and received but a limited education,
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
as he had access only to tlie pioneer schools. He learned the carpenter's trade, and at the age of twenty-seven years he was inarried to Miss Eleanor HI. Abbott, a daughter of David and Francinky (Hankison) Aobott. Eight children were born of this union. Ettia F., Lenia I .. , deceased at the age of three years; Bertha C., Charlie F., Alice D., Clarence W., David E. and Tunia E. Mr. Sheets settled at Liberty Mills, Wabash County, Indiana, where he worked at his trade until 1863. He then enlisted in Company L, Seventh Indi- ana Cavalry, as a private; was promoted to the position of Sergeant, and went with his regiment to West Point, Mississippi, where lie was engaged in his first battle; he after- ward participated in many battles and skir- mishes, the most noted being Cypress Level, Grand Gulf and Port Gibson. He was inus- tered out at Austin, Texas, receiving an lion- orable discharge. He served three years, and all of that time he was in active duty, being in the hospital only five days. An in- cident in his war record is worthy of notice here: In a skirmish at Cypress Level a bul- let struck a buckle on his cap, tearing the buckle away and leaving a mark on his fore- head,-a very close call. He suffered a great deal from diseases incident to camp life, and for five days on the marchi from Alexan - dria, Louisiana, to Austin, Texas, he was en- tirely blind, his comrades leading his horse, He is still a great sufferer from these afflic- tions.
After the war Mr. Sheets came to Page County, Iowa, where his family had resided during his absence in the army. In 1886 he located on his present farm of 160 acres. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, and in poli- tics affiliates with the Republican party. He lias always been faithful to his party, supporting it in the days of its defeat as well as in those of victory.
Ettia F. Sheets married Wmn. C. Swank; Charlie married Alma E. Boynton; Alice Drena married George Kelly; Bertha C. married Kirk Harlan.
David Abbott, father of Mrs. Slieets, was the son of James and Catherine Abbott. He was the father of eight children: Eleanor H., Lonis F., Mary E., James H., Francinky, David A., Reuben S. and Albert F.
He came to Iowa in 1859 and settled on a farm three miles west of Clarinda, where he died at the age of seventy-one years.
MOS APPLE, a well-known and pop- ular agriculturist, of Tarkio Township, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, Febuary 6, 1826. His father, Henry Apple, was also a native of Ohio, and a son of Henry and Catherine (Bolander) Apple, who were descended from German ancestry. Henry Apple, Jr., married Mary Bonsar, a native of Pennsylvania; when she was twelve years old her parents removed to Cincinnati, Ohio; the Bonsars were among the very first set- tlers of Cincinnati, and Mrs. Apple's grand- mother was the first white woman buried in that city. Henry Apple and wife reared a family of nine children, of whom Amos is the oldest. When he was twelve years of age his parents went to Fulton County, Illi- nois, and there he grew to manhood. He was reared to the life of a farmer and at- tended the common schools during the win- ter montlis.
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