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 75

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar
Number of Pages: 946

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 75

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In April, 1869, Mr. Apple concluded to try his fortunes in Iowa, and accordingly selected one of her best counties for the trial; he first stopped in Clarinda, and in- vested in 240 acres of land, which he has since placed under cultivation; he sold 120 acres, retaining the remainder on which lie

661

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

makes his home. He has an attractive house, well situated in the midst of a beautiful col- lection of trees, and he has equipped himself well for carrying on a farm in profitable style; he is numbered with the leading farm- ers of the community.

Mr. Apple was united in marriage, Febru- ary 10, 1848, near Quincy, Illinois, to Miss Eliza Huston, who was born in Brown Coun- ty, Ohio, April 13, 1829, and is a daughter of Joshua and Barbara (Shinkle) Huston. When Mrs. Apple was thirteen years old her father and mother removed to Kentucky, and at the end of three years went to Illinois. Nine children have been born to this union: Newton R., Charles, Leonard S., William H., Thary, Etta, Harriet, Frank and Edwin.

Mr. Apple is a man of unusual weight, tipping the beam at 265 pounds; the total weight of the parents and nine children is 2,000 pounds. Mr. Apple is a man of a kind disposition, his heart corresponding with his body, is genial and affable, and is one of the most popular citizens of his township.

HRISTOPHER B. PENDLETON be- longs to a family of American soldiers, some members having been in the wars from the Revolution down to the late civil war. The great-grandfather came from Eng- land with two brothers; two of thein settled in Maine, and one in Virginia, and it was from the Virginia branch that George H. Pendleton, an earnest and able statesman, sprang. Green Pendleton, the grandfather of our subject, was a farmer and a soldier in the war of 1812. He was the father of eight sons, all of whom, except one, were sea cap- tains; James, the youngest, remained at home and inherited the farm. Green Pendleton, his son, followed the sea for thirty-six years,

being a greater portion of the time in the Indian trade. He made a considerable sum of money, but lost heavily in the panic of 1857, saving only $10,000. He removed to Ohio in 1857 and bought a farm in Knox County, where he lived until 1865. His wife died, and he then returned to liis native State, Maine, where he passed away in 1876. Mrs. Pendleton's maiden name was Mary Brooks, and she was a daughter of Solomon Brooks; she was the mother of eight children, of wliom Christopher B. is the fifthi; lie was born in 1839, and received a common-school educa- tion. At the early age of twelve years lie became a sailor, going with his father on voy- ages in the summer and attending seliool in the winter. He continued this vocation until 1857, when he went to Ohio with his father. In November, 1861, he responded to the call for men to assist in the preservation of this Government, and enlisted in Company H, Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; lie was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shilolı, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. He was dangerously wounded at Ringgold Gap, and was supposed to be dead, but he was taken to the hospital and soon recovered sufficiently to go home on a furlough. After a few months lie rejoined his regiment and was captured in the Atlanta campaign; he was confined at Andersonville eleven montlis, where he suffered all the hor- rors of prison life; he was not released until the close of the war, when he was reduced to a skeleton. He returned to Ohio and en- gaged in the more peaceful pursuits of agri- culture.

In 1865 Mr. Pendleton was united in mnar- riage to Sarah E. Jones, a daughter of Harvey Jones, and to them have been born two chil- dren: Everett and Clermon. In 1870 Mr. Pendleton removed to Iowa and settled on his present farm in Page County; it consists

662

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

of 280 acres of land and is well improved; he devotes his time to stock-raising, and has been quite successful. He is a member of the Masonic order, and has represented the people of his township in the offices of trustee and councilman. His children are well ed- ucated, and coming from such a noble line of ancestry and living in this, the most glorious of all countries, are certain of success in any undertaking.

HOMAS A. PREST, an honored citizen of College Springs, Iowa, is descended from an old English family. His grand- father, Edward Prest, was a farmer in York- shire, England, and married Margaret Brown; to them were born thirteen children, eleven of whom lived to maturity. The father died in 1814. John Prest, his son, was born in England in 1796, and early learned the trade of a cotton spinner; he became overseer in the mills at Blackburn, Chorley, Lancashire, Eng- land. In 1820 he was united in marriage to Ellen Proctor, the daughter of Thomas Proc- tor, of Yorkshire, England. To Mr. and Mrs. Prest were born two children: Edward and Thomas A. The parents were members of the Independents. the founders of the Con- gregational Church in this country. Mrs. Prest died in 1825, and Mr. Prest was again inarried in 1831, to Elizabeth Coultherst, a widow, by whom he had three children : Jabez, Ebenezer and John E. In 1849 Mr. Prest emigrated to America and landed in Boston. Ile came on the sailing vessel, " Adonis," and bronght with him his son, Thomas A., the subject of this sketch, then a young inan twenty-five years of age; the other members of the family came six months later. The father was employed in the cotton inills of Barre, Massachusetts, and lived in that State

the remainder of his days; he died in 1865 at Whitingsville, where he had located in 1857. He was an industrious worker and accumulated some property. He was a mein- ber of the Congregational Church and lived a consistent life, endeavoring to bring up his children in the principles of the Christian re- ligion.

Thomas A. Prest was born October 10, 1823, and learned the trade of a spinner in the cotton mills where his father was employed. He followed this occupation until he was nearly forty years of age, acting as overseer both in England and America. He was mar- ried in Norwich, Connecticut, to Harriet A. Ransom, a daughter of John and Betsy (Spen- cer) Ransom, of English ancestry. John Ransom was born in 1776 and served his country in the war of 1812.

Mr. and Mrs. Prest are the parents of two children: John R. and Harriet E. In 1860 Harriet died and three years later Mr. Prest removed to College Springs, Iowa; he settled in tlie village but engaged in agriculture, and has been very successful; he now owns 160 acres of land in an advanced state of cultiva- tion, with excellent improvements. Politi- cally he is a strong adherent to the prin- ciples of the Republican party, having voted that ticket since the organization of the party. He has represented his township on the county board of supervisors for three years, and has served three terms as township trustee; ten years he has been secretary of the school board, and has ever taken an active interest in educational matters. For eighteen years he has been a member of the board of trustees of Anfity College. He was a mem- ber of the Union League during the late civil war. He has been identified with all move- ments tending to improve the village and township and has always exhibited a large public spirit. He well deserves the reputa-

663

Loverand Implic Sixty,

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

tion he has won of being an upright citizen, and is an honor to the community in which he lives. His son, John R., received a liberal education at Ainity College and a legal edu- cation at the State University at Iowa City. He is now Justice of the Peace, and practices law at College Springs, Iowa.

AVID BASS is a native of Bedfordshire, England, and a son of William Bass, a native of England, born January 3, 1810. The father was a farmer and also kept an inn at Roxton, Bedfordshire, called the "Royal Oak." He married Sarah Endersby, who was born May 28, 1812, and to them were born twelve children: Harriet, Susan, Emma, Sarah Ann, David, Arthur, Abraham, Esther, Alfred, Wallace, Hepzibah and Herbert. Mr. Bass was a member of the Church of England, and brought up his family in that faith. He was an active, industrions man, and lived in very comfortable circumstances until the rents of land were so increased; there were repeated failures of crops and these in addition to the high rents brought him misfortune in his latter days. He died at Peterborough, Eng- land, in 1884, aged seventy-four years. His son, David Bass, the subject of this brief bi- ography, was born in Bedfordshire, England, at the " Royal Oak," where he grew to man- hood. He worked on his father's land and there gained a practical knowledge of farm- ing. He also was employed by a grocer, with whom he remained until he was twenty-four years of age. He then decided to try his fortune in the New World, and accordingly set sail for America, landing in the city of New York; he came directly to lowa and lo- cated at Osceola; he there found employment on a farm, and later was in the service of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad 47

Company; he remained with this corporation until 1871, and again returned to the employ - ment of his youth, farming, having removed to Page County, Iowa.

Mr. Bass was united in marriage May 24, 1878, to Miss Annie E. Ladds, a daughter of John and Hannalı (Browning) Ladds. Mr. Ladds was also a native of England, where he was a deputy tax-collector in addition to his occupation of farming. There were eight children in the family, of whom Annie E. is the second. Mr. and Mrs. Bass have liad born to them three children: Lillie L., Emily G. and Emery D. Mr. Bass bonght his present farm in 1872 but did not locate upon it until 1881. He has a very desirable place with many valuable improvements. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has held the office of steward and class-leader, and has taken a deep interest in religious matters, doing all he can for the cause and bringing up his children in the service of the Master. Never since com- ing to this country has he been ont of employ- ment, even when dependent upon the capital of other men. By industry and economy he has secured a home for his family and has won an enviable reputation in the commu- nity by his upright and honorable dealing.

YLVESTER JONES is deserving of mention in this connection as one of Page County's successful agriculturists. He is a native of the " Buckeye " State, born in Ross County, June 6, 1849. He is a son of Jarred and Catherine (Sollers) Jones, also natives of Ohio. The father was of Welsh and German extraction. He removed with his family to Stark County, Illinois, in 1853 and there twelve children were reared to ina- turity, ten of whom are still living, six sons,

664

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

and four daughters. Sylvester attended the common schools of that period, and during the summer season he devoted his time and attention to agriculture. February 17, 1875, he was married to Miss Lizzie Powell, a na- tive of Philadelphia, and a daughter of William and Mary (Guyre) Powell. He continued to reside in Illinois until 1880, when he reinoved to Page County, Iowa, and purchased the George Morrill farm which consists of 120 acres. By diligence and industry he has brought this land to a still higher state of cultivation and has made it a truly desirable home. The buildings are of a substantial style, and a grove and orchard render the place very attractive to the eye and also in- crease the money value; the barn is built on a solid rock foundation, and the cribs and granaries fournish ample room for the storing of crops; there are commodious sheds and stables for the care and protection of live- stock.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of one child-Maud M., born February 2, 1877. Politically Mr. Jones is independent, with a leaning to the Prohibition ranks. He and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Blanchard. They are industrious, conscientious people, and have a host of warm friends among the leading citizens of Washington Township.

TEPHEN MANN was born in North Hampton, Pennsylvania, in 1830. His family was one of the old Americau families who had long been settled in Penn- sylvania. His father's name was John Mann, and he was born in Bucks County, Pennsyl- vania, and was a cabinet-maker by trade. He married Miss Elizabeth Rich, daughter of Abraham Rich, and to them were born

five children : Solomon, Simon, Samuel, Ste- phen and Susan. Mr. Mann settled in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, after his marriage. It was the birthplace of his wife and all of his children except Susan, who was born in Center County, Pennsyl- vania, where her family were among the very first settlers. In 1845 Mr. Mann removed to Michigan, settling in St. Joseph County, near White Pigeon, where he resided several years. He was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church, and an industrious, hard-working man, respected by all who knew him. He died at Three Rivers, Michigan.

Young Stephen, the subject of this notice, was fifteen years of age when his father moved to Michigan, where he remained four years. He then weut to Green County, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm. In 1852 he married Rebecca Blackford, daughter of William and Rachel (Jones) Blackford, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Her parents came to Wisconsin in 1845, locating iu Green County. The young couple were of the same age when they began life together, twenty-two years.

In 1866 Mr. Mann removed to Page County, Iowa, where he lived for one year on his brother-in-law's farm. He then bought a tract of 240 acres in the same county. It was raw prairie and he has made all the im- provements with his own hands, assisted in all his effort by his faithful wife. He prob- ably has the best improved and most desirable farm in the township, and one of the best in the county. His buildings are first- class, the residence and barn being finished with all the modern conveniences. There are five acres in fine fruit, and altogether Mr. and Mrs. Mann are abundantly provided with this world's goods. They have had eight children. Their respective names are Alice, William, deceased at the age of twelve years;

CG5

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Cecelia, Samuel, Alvah, Anna, deceased at three years of age; Amy and Lettie. The parents are members of the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Mann has always been a stanch Democrat, and has had no reason to change his views. He has held the various township offices, and has always taken an active interest in the cause of education, hav- ing been school director for many years.

The children are all married excepting two, Alvah and Lettie. Alice married Jolin Nichols, son of Jackson Nichols, one of the oldest settlers of Page County; they have four children living: Ora A., James, Stephen E. and an infant unnamed. Cecelia married Leonard Yaple, son of one of the early set- tlers; they have four children : Jennie, Lavina, and Frank. Samuel married Belle Frost, a native of Ohio; they have one child, Alvalı C. Amy is the wife of John McKee.

AVID McLARNON .- In perusing the pages of the histories of Western States we find that we are indebted to the beantiful " Emerald Isle" for many of our most substantial agriculturists. The sub- ject of this sketch is of Scotch-Irish descent, born in county Antrim, Ireland, in 1827. On a clear day the homes of liis Scotch neigh- bors could be seen across the channel, fourteen miles away.

Hugh McLarnon, the father of David, was born in the same county; he married Sarah Allen, of Scotch parentage, and to them were born eleven children: Henry, Robert, Will- iam, David, John, George, Saralı, Margaret, Matilda, Elizabeth and Ann. Four of the sons and two daughters are in this country; tlie others remained in Ireland and are now deceased. Mr. McLarnon was a bleacher by occupation ; he was a member of the United

Presbyterian Church. His son David emi- grated to America in 1854, at the age of twenty-seven years; lie first found employ- ment as a weaver in the city of Philadelphia, where he remained two years. At the end of this time he decided to push on to the West and seek the fortune which it might hold in store for him. He came to Iowa and located in Page County, where he has since made liis home, and in 1858 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Nixon, a danghter of Samuel Nixon, a native of Indiana.

In 1864 Mr. McLarnon removed to liis present farm, which is in an advanced state of cultivation and well improved with good, substantial buildings. There is a fine grove of walnut trees on the place, planted in the seed thirty-one years ago. In 1856 he en- tered land in Amity Township, and built a house up on it; his brother William now lives on this farin. He was one of the first set- tlers in this township; the Indians were numerous but quite peaceable, but the whole country was a wilderness. There were no bridges, and no railroads nearer than St. Jo- seph, Missouri, to which point settlers went to procure their supplies; they were obliged to live in a very primitive fashion and endure many privations.

David McLarnon, Jr., married Nellie Bug- bee and they have four children: William, George, Sarah and an infant. Agnes is · the wife of James Schrubshell, a resident of Missouri and a farmer by occupation; they lave two children: Maud and Walter D.

Mr. McLarnon has an adopted son, Robert Lewis McLarnon, now ten years of age, and to whom lie is much attached, regarding him as one of his heirs.

Politically our worthy subject is identified with the Republican party. He is a self- niade man, and by honesty industry he has accumulated some property, and has won an

666

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

enviable reputation in the community as an upright, honorable citizen.

IRAM SOLLARS, a well-known and respected resident of Washington Town- ship, has been a citizen of Page Connty, Iowa, since 1872. He was born in Jackson County, Ohio, March 30, 1821, and is a son of Michael Sollars, a native of Virginia, of German origin. His mother was Hosanna Waldron, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of Philip Waldron, who was a soldier in the wars of the Revolution and 1812. Young Sollars was reared in the county in which he was born, and was trained to the occupation of a farmer. Arriving at the age of man- hood, he was nnited in marriage, March 7, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Graves, a native of Jackson County, Ohio, and a danghter of James and Sarah (Murray) Graves, natives of the State of North Carolina.

Mr. Sollars lived in Ohio until 1852, when the spirit of enterprise was too strong to be repressed and he emigrated to Stark County, Illinois; he remained there until 1872, when, as before stated, he came to Page County, lowa. He purchased a tract of wild land consisting of 120 acres, which he has since subdued and brought under cultivation: he has also made excellent improvements in the erection of buildings, and the planting of fruit and shade trees.

Mr. and Mrs. Sollars are the parents of eight children: Francis M. was a member of the One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, and was mustered into the service in May, 1864; he died August 18, 1864, at Camp Butler, Illinois. David is a prominent farmer of Washington Township, a full sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume; Emza is the wife of Thomas

Denhurst of Missouri; Jane is the wife of T. Duckworth of Shenandoah, Iowa; Nancy Ann is the wife of Joseph Hamilton of Washing- ton Township; Sarah Dollison; Mary, wife of I. Sheakman; Austin, a resident of Washing- ton Township, married Henrietta Greene.

Mr. Sollars is a Republican of the radical type, and is an advocate of the principles of Prohibition. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Blanchard. Although he has almost attained the " three score years and ten allotted to man," his age sits lightly upon him. He is firm in his convictions of right and wrong, and lias at- tained an enviable position in the connty.

OUNTAIN COOPER, one of the reli- able farmers of East River Township, was born in Campbell County, Tennessee, February 11, 1831, and is a son of John and Hester (Sage) Cooper, natives of Lee County, Virginia. He was one of a family of eleven children, was reared to farm life, and received his education in the common schools.

Mr. Cooper was nnited in marriage, Feb- rnary 2, 1850, to Miss Leah Harrison, a daughter of Nathaniel and Hannah (Ford) Harrison, natives of Washington County, Tennessee. Mrs. Cooper is also a native of Washington County, born April 6, 1827, and is one of a family of eleven children.

After his marriage our subject settled on a farm in Tennessee, where he remained for five years. At the end of that time he removed to Gentry County, Missouri, where he again engaged in farming. In the fall of 1860 he removed with his family to Page County, and settled two miles east of Clarinda; there lie was still occupied with agricultural pursuits for a year and a half, and then went to East River Township, remaining there six months;

667

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

he then settled in the coal field of East River Township, and for three years worked for wages in the mines; he then purchased an interest in one of the mines, which he oper- ated for fourteen years, after which he dis- posed of this property for land in Texas County, Missouri; this he sold at the end of two years. On leaving the inines Mr. Cooper purchased a farm in East River Township, where he still resides; he has bought and sold a considerable amount of property and now owns twenty-two and a half acres which he lias brought to an advanced state of cultiva- tion.

Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, of which he is an active member. He represents his township as trustee, and is also President of the school board. He is a member of the Knights of Labor.

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are the parents of eleven children, four of whom survive: John, a farmer of East River Township; Harrison, a collier, residing at New Market; Lucy Ann, wife of John Marshall, a resident of Page County, and Sarah. The family are worthy members of the Baptist Church.

Mr. Cooper devotes his time and attention to the breeding of fine grades of horses, the Norman being his favorite.

EORGE H. DAVIS is one of that sturdy type of men that formed the pioneer bands to which we are indebted for the settlement and development of western Iowa. He is the oldest child of Alexander and Mary Davis, and was born in Sussex County, Dela- ware, Jannary 30, 1830. When he was four years of age, his parents, caught in the tide of western emigration, removed to Shelby County, Indiana, where he passed his boy-

hood and youth. He was taught agriculture in all its branches, and remained under the parental roof until lie was twenty-three years of age.

In 1853, May 10, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Eliza McFarland, a daughter of Moses and Sarah McFarland, natives of Penn- sylvania; thie mother's maiden name was McClelland. Mrs. Davis was born in Lick- ing Connty, Ohio, June 5, 1832, and was married to her husband in what is now Nod- away County, Missouri, a short time after removing to that State. Mr. Davis had re- sided there since the spring of 1851.

After they were married they settled on a tract of sixty acres, in East River Township, which they afterward entered. In 1853 they erected a log cabin, 16 x 18 feet, chinked and daubed with yellow clay, with an old stick chimney. The cooking was done by a fireplace with one skillet, and the other fur- nishings were in proportion. But the will and desire to succeed were there, and the trials and hardships were bravely met, and success was the reward.

At one time the valleys were flooded and it was impossible to reach the mill or market, so for three weeks the family subsisted on corn and potatoes; it was rude fare but none better could be procured, and with that courage characteristic of the early settlers in new countries, they endured their lot until relief could be had.

Additions have been made from time to time until the farm contains 145 acres and a half, in a high state of cultivation; the place is improved with a good frame residence, and barns for stock and grain.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had born to them four children: Mary, Letitia, wife of Amos Burley, residing in Kansas; Emma Alexine, deceased, wife of John Wolf, also deceased; Martha Jane, deceased; and Abigail Mar-

668

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

thelia, wife of Ellis Ham, a resident of Page County.

Mr. Davis is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he votes with the Republican party.

When Mrs. Davis was a young woman at home, the summer previous to her marriage she was induced to take charge of a subscrip- tion school. It was in the southern part of Buchanan Township, and there was great need of a school. An old log cabin was fitted up with benches, and twenty-three pupils at seventy-five cents each were secured for three months; they were all ages fromn twenty-one years down, and not one of the entire number conld read or write. The teacher had not studied the higher branches but she was able to instruct them in reading, writing and mnen- tal arithmetic; she also gave them some les- sons in geography, and carried on the school with very satisfactory results.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar Number of Pages: 946

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar
Number of Pages: 946