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 77

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 77

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).

Mr. Shaw's farm consists of 440 acres and lies partly in Lincoln and partly in Morton township. In 1876 he erected a neat, sub- stantial residence which is pleasantly located. Politically he casts his suffrage with tlie Re- publican party. In his religious belief he is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a man of much intelligence and has given liis children a good education; two of his daughters, Sarah C. and Alma C., have been teachers, the former in school and the latter in music. He is a man upright and candid in all his dealings, and inay well be styled a representative of his township and county.

EORGE H. FERRIS, one of the intelli- gent and reliable farmers of Tarkio Township, resides on section 33 where he owns a well-improved farm of 187 acres. He came from Henry County, Illinois, in 1870, He is a native of the " Empire State," born September 22, 1835, and is a son of B. P. and Rosetta (Mott) Ferris, natives of the State of New York; the father was of Eng- lish extraction; he was a shoemaker by trade and in later life he embarked in general mer- chandising. When George H. was three years old the family removed to Athens County, Ohio, where they lived fourteen years; they then went to Henry County, Ill- inois, and in 1852 removed to Moline, Illinois,

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

and thence to a farm in Henry County, Illi- nois. B. P. Ferris and wife reared a family of seven children, of whom George H. is the oldest. The mother died in Clarinda, Iowa, October 21, 1888; the father is still a resident of Page County.

George H. Ferris was educated in the com- mon schools of Athens County, Ohio, and Moline, Illinois. During the great civil war he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, nn- der Colonel Thomas Henderson, and served three years; he took a part in many engage- inents, including Knoxville, Resaca, Franklin and Nashville. He was wounded June, 1864, and was taken to the Kingston, Georgia, hos- pital, where he remained four months and a half. He was houorably discharged at Greens- borough, North Carolina, and returned to Henry County, Illinois, where he resided until 1870. He then came to Page County and bought 140 acres of land in Tarkio Town- ship. He has brought it to an advanced state of cultivation and has erected substantial buildings; the residence is surrounded by a magnificent maple grove and there is a half acre of walnut grove and a bearing orchard near the house; the farm is well watered by living streams. A general farming and stock- raising business is conducted with much sue- cess.

Mr. Ferris was united in marriage Jannary 12, 1860, in Henry County, Illinois, to Miss Hattie F. Piper. She is a daughter of Daniel and Anna (Bair) Piper, and removed from her native state, Peunsylvania, to Illinois at the age of sixteen years. Six children have been born of this union: Henry A., Anna Rosetta, Mary Eva, Hattie Ethel, Fred P. and Melker E.

Politically our subject is a Republican. He has served as a township official in various capacities and has discharged all liis duties to

the satisfaction of the public and with credit to himself. He belongs to Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R., and is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Norwich, of which he is also class-leader and trustee. In educa- tional matters he has always taken an active part and in Sabbath-school work he has been very efficient. Mrs. Ferris and three of the children are also members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his manner Mr. Ferris is frank, kind and obliging, and he possesses many noble traits of character which have won for him a host of friends during his res- idence in Tarkio Township.

ILLARD DUTTON is one of the in- telligent and well-to-do members of the farming community of Tarkio Township, where he has resided since March, 1875. He was born in Norfolk, Litchfield County, Connecticut, January 12, 1819, and is a son of Asa Dutton, a native of the sanie State and one of a family of seven brothers; some members of the family participated in the great Revolutionary conflict and were prisoners of war. Asa Dutton was a soldier in the war of 1812. The mother of Willard Dutton was Benlah (Miller) Dutton, a native of Connecticut and a daughter of Ebenezer Miller, an officer in the Revolutionary war. The Miller family was of Welsh extraction.

Mr. Dutton served an apprenticeship at scythe-making, and followed the business for many years. He was married in August, 1840, to Miss Anna Maria Jeuks, of Dutchess County, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Dutton removed to Chautauqua County, New York, in 1849 and resided there until 1863, when they came to Henry County, Iowa, and lo- cated near Mount Pleasant. In 1875 Mr. Dutton purchased his present farm and re-

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

moved to it at once. He has made excellent improvements, has added good buildings, and has taken great pains to develop liis land in the best possible manner; it contains 160 acres and lies adjacent to the village of Nor- wiclı.

Mr. and Mrs. Dutton have seven children: Mary, wife of D. H. Kelsey; Anna M., Har- riet D., wife of T. H. Campbell; Jane E., wife of W. B. Foster; W. H., Elizabeth, wife of B. Miller; Carrie, wife of T. H. Edmonds.

The greatest loss of Mr. Dutton's life was the death of his beloved wife, which occurred September 15, 1878. She was a true and faithful wife and a kind mother. She was a devoted Christian, and a worthy member of the Congregational Church at Shenandoah. Politically Mr. Dutton is a Republican. He has represented his township as trustee and as a member of the school board, serving with credit to himself and the satisfaction of his neighbors. He is a member of the Pres- byterian Church at Norwich, formerly be- longing to the Congregational Church at Shenandoah. Although he is seventy-one years of age he is well preserved both in body and mind, having been a temperate man all his life. He has the happy faculty of looking on the bright side of life, come what may, and possesses the good will and respect of all within the circle of his acquaintance.

OSEPH S. TUNNICLIFF, a prosperous farmer of Grant Township, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, Jannary 18, 1845, and is a son of Edward and Sarah (Cooper) Ton- nicliff. He comes from English ancestry, his parents being natives of Woodville, Burton- on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. The father was a potter by trade and was employed in the great pottery establishments of his native

town. He came with his family to America in 1840, and soon after established a pottery business at Zanesville, Ohio, where for twenty- five years he had an extensive trade. Since 1856 his home has been in Kewanee, Illinois, where he and his wife are living at an ad- vanced age; they reared a family of thirteen children, of whom seven survive.

At fifteen years of age Joseph became de- pendent upon his own exertions; he clerked in a grocery store at Kewanee, Illinois, for somne months and was also employed as a coal-miner. In May, 1864, he enlisted in the Hundred-day service in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and during that time did guard duty in Kentucky. Upon being mustered ont he immediately re-enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and his command was attached to General A. J. Smith's department, which participated in the siege and capture of Spanish Fort and Mobile. He was inus- tered out in December, 1865.

Mr. Tunnicliff was united in marriage September, 1866, to Miss Mary Ellen Min- nick, who was born in Mercersburg, Penn- sylvania, April 7, 1846. The first two years after his marriage he made a living by team- ing, and then lie began his career as a farmer. For three years he rented land, and then de- cided to come West; soon after he was located on his present farm, being able to pay $150 down; this amount and his household goods and team were his whole capital. His every effort inet with success, and he soon cleared his land of any incumbrance. As his means have increased he has added to his first por- chase of eighty acres, until he now owns 200 acres, one mile west of Bingham. His atten- tion is given exclusively to growing and feed- ing hogs, in which industry he has met with more than ordinary success; he feeds annually

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

from seventy-five to one hundred head, and never fails to turn them off sleek, fat, and at a handsome profit. Iu January, 1890, he sold a car-load that averaged 528 pounds.

Mr. Tunnicliff has a most attractive home; he has recently erected a two-story house at a cost of $1,500, and has a fine orchard tliat adds no little value to the place. His system of water-works is of the best, and with a cis- tern of 150 barrels capacity and 500 feet of pipe, he is able to place water wherever de- sired.

His family consists of ten children: Frank A., J. Will, Carrie L., Allie S., Charles Ed- ward, Mary Lida, Gilbert Forrest, Joseph Campbell, Harry Ernest and Fred Eugene. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are ardent Prohibition- ists.

OBERT O. MILLER, Agent of the Wabash Railway at Bingham, was born at Newbern, Bartholomew County, In- diana, December 13, 1851. His parents were Samuel N. and Prudence (Sims) Miller, natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. He remained witli his parents until coming to the west in 1865, when the family settled in Daviess County, Missonri, where the parents still reside.

Young Miller had received a fair education, mainly in the public schools, and having a desire for some employment other than farm labor he decided to abandon agricultural pur- snits and learn telegraphy. With that end in view he entered the railroad office of the Wabaslı Company at Gallatin, Missouri, study- ing under the agent, T. F. Harrington, with whom he made rapid progress. Finding it necessary to do something to pay his way he accepted the situation of attending the water-

tank at that place, to the duties of which he devoted his time thirteen montlis. He studied during his leisure time, and when he had mastered the art sufficiently to handle messages he was made night operator at that place. In one year the company asked him to accept his present situation; in August, 1882, he assumed the duties of the office, being the third operator the station has ever had. He has given it his faithful attention, and, although he has been offered more im- portant stations, he is content to remain where he is. He has built a comfortable dwelling, and is surrounded with many of the comforts and luxuries of life.

Mr. Miller also finds time to give some direction and supervision to the growth and culture of ten acres of choice fruits, consisting of standard grapes, strawberries, raspberries, etc. By careful cultivation this is now a source of revenue to him and affords attract- ive and congenial employment for his leisure hours.

Mr. Miller was married December 17, 1884, to Miss Alice M., the eldest daughter of William F. Baker. She is a person of unusual attainments, and before her marriage devoted some time to teaching. One child has blessed this union-Edith L., born Jan- uary 3, 1887.

COLONEL WILLIAM FREDERICK BAKER is a native of the State of Maine, aud first saw the light of day at Bingham, Somerset County, June 9, 1836. His parents were William and Matilda (Chamberlain) Baker, who were also natives of Maine. The Baker family is traced to English ancestors who settled in the early days of the Plymouth Colony ou Cape Cod, and afterward sent its representatives to

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Litchfield, Maine, where they effected a per- inanent settlement.

William Baker, the father, was an extensive Inmiberman, and as that field of labor pre- sented the greatest inducements for acquiring wealth and independence, young Baker be- came early engaged in the lumber business, with which he was identified all the years of liis residence in the State of liis nativity. He became an expert raftsman, but after several years lie purchased an interest in a saw-mill at Skowlegan. The attractions of river and lumber life were such that his early education was somewhat neglected, but he managed to secure a substantial basis for a business career.

At a time when the prospect of wealth and happiness was brightest the country's call to arms resounded throughout the pine-clad hills of Maine, and William F. Baker was one of the first to respond. He enlisted at Augusta, August 10, 1861, and assisted in organizing Company D, Ninth Regiment; wlien a choice of officers was made he was unanimously se- lected as Captain; he took his command to Washington and there was attached to Gen- eral Sherman's expedition to Port Royal, and still has most vivid recollections of that fear- ful and disastrous voyage. In 1863, by the solicitation of General Washburn, of Maine, he was mustered out and promoted to a po- sition in the regular army, being made Major of the Tenth Regiment in the regular service. This was a regiment of colored troops, and he was ordered with them to Hampton Roads, Virginia, where he was appointed an aid to the staff of General Butler and made Retain- ing Superintendent of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina. At Plymouth, North Carolina, he was made prisoner, and after being kept at Savannah, Macon and An- dersonville for nearly four months he was exchanged. After a short visit home he re- 48

joined his command and led his troops with Grant at Richmond, and was stationed at Point Lookout in charge of a brigade. He was made Provost-marshal General, and in this capacity was recognized as an exception- ally able man. After the fall of Lee he was sent to Texas and was stationed at Corpus Christi until December, after General Smith's surrender; he was then stationed at Galveston, where lie was made president of the Military Commission, which responsible position he held until July, 1866. He was then sent with his command to City Point, Virginia, and was finally mustered out. In June of that year he had been made Colonel by bre- vet by the recommendation of General Sheri- dan for meritorious services. He was urged to remain in the regular army, but family considerations prevented, and he returned to the lumber regions of Maine.

He erected large mills at Skowhegan, and was doing a prosperous business when a ter- rible flood carried off the mill and millions of logs. After this disaster he rebuilt the mill, but in 1872 he decided to come West. He disposed of his property and removed to Iowa, where lie began to improve a farm. His restless spirit, however, demanded something more active, and he became interested in the building of the Wabash Railroad, doing much toward securing the right of way through Iowa. After the completion of the road he was made Division Freight Agent with head- quarters at Brunswick, Missouri. He then severed his connection with the railroad and became the manager of an Elevator Company, and for three years was buying and shipping grain. In 1883 he began, in connection with St. Louis parties, to supply railroad timber for bridges, ties, etc., and is now actively en- gaged in attending to sales throughout the northwest.

Colonel Baker was married September 8,

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

1858, to Miss Helen M. Smith, and seven children have been born to them: Alice M., the wife of R. O. Miller; William E., Hattie L., Mate E., Carroll D., Elmer E., deceased, and Nellie C.

The Colonel has a desirable home near Bingham, and is surrounded by his family and friends, taking the pleasures of life sim- ply as they come. Space forbids a further mention of this interesting character and his intelligent family, while no subject affords a more pleasant theme for an extended biog- raphy.

DAM G. FRIESZ, deceased, was born Angust 30, 1837, in St. Clair County, Illinois, his parents being Peter and Magdeline Elizabeth (Aeppel) Friesz, natives of Germany, who emigrated to the United States about 1835. He was married Febru- ary 17, 1864, to Miss Mary Shaubert, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, July 24, 1842. She is a danghter of Peter and Eliza- beth (Bloom) Shanbert, who came to America in 1838. When she was two years old they settled in St. Clair County, Illinois, where the father still resides; her mother died when she was thirteen years old.

Mr. and Mrs. Friesz remained in St. Clair County, twenty-eight miles east of St. Louis, until 1873, when they came to Iowa, and in connection with Frederick Friesz, a brother to Adam, purchased 1,120 acres of choice land four miles from Shenandoah, where they sneceeded in making a comfortable home. Mr. Friesz was very successful in his undertakings and left a handsome estate to his widow and children. His death occurred September 4, 1881, resulting from a kick received from a horse; at the time it did not seem serious, but the blow caused internal

injury which terminated fatally. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him, and few men in Page County had a more enviable reputation as a careful business man and ac- commodating friend and neighbor. He was a man of fine physique, a splendid specimen of physical manhood and of commanding presence.

The family have since resided on the farm, which now consists of 600 acres. Mrs. Friesz is a shrewd business woman, of much more than ordinary ability, and under her personal direction, aided by her sons, the farm has continued to be productive property. They feed annually from three to-six car-loads of cattle. Recent improvements have added much to the natural beauty of the home, and no place in the county affords better oppor- tunities for a young man to develop his busi- ness qualities.

The family consists of George, Lena, Peter, Lewis, George, Adam, Mary Elizabeth and Eliza. Lena is a student at the college; George, Peter and Lewis are at home in im- mediate charge of the farm and are showing more than usual capacity in this line of busi- ness.

CAMPBELL WILSON, farmer and stock-grower, section 28, Grant Town- ship, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1847. His parents were Thomas and Sarah (Campbell) Wilson ; the father was a native of Pennsylvania and a son of Joseph Wilson, an early settler of Allegheny County, Penusylvania, of English birth; the mother was a direct descendant of Michael Campbell, famed in Scottish history.

In 1865 the family removed to Warren County, Illinois; our subject remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-two

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

years old and then engaged in farmning in the same community. He afterward decided to come farther west. After looking at various parts of the country he came to Page County, and bought 200 acres where he now lives, paying $20 per acre. He had an excel- lent dwelling erected at a cost of $2,500; it is partially surrounded by slade trees of his own planting, and is a most attractive and pleasant place.

Mr. Wilson has converted the place into a stock-farm and devotes a considerable portion of his time to the breeding and growth of English Shire horses; he considers that valu- able grade the most profitable, and finds a ready sale for then.

He is the only surviving one of the chil- dren of the first marriage of his father; the others died in childhood and his mother died when he was four years old. By the second marriage there were three children: William, John and Sallie. His father died about five years ago. He was married December 15, 1869, to Miss Carrie Westervelt, who was born at Paterson, New Jersey, November 25, 1846. She is the daughter of D. T. and Maria (Van Buskirk) Westervelt. Her father was an extensive merchant in Paterson, New Jersey, but after the war retired to McDon- ough County, Illinois, and settled on a farın, where he and his wife are still living.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have two children: Walter L. was born June 21, 1872, and Lou was born June 15, 1874. Walter was gradu- ated from the High School in June, 1889, and is taking a scientific course at the col- lege; Lon is a pupil at the High School and has made a remarkable record in her attend- ance; during the nine years she has been in the public schools she has not been absent or tardy a single time.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were reared under Presbyterian influence, but neither is a

member of the church; Mr. Wilson's busi- ness ability and high integrity of character have been recognized by the members of the Presbyterian Church, who have made him one of their trustees and have placed him upon their building committee. He is an earnest advocate of church discipline and has been of incalculable benefit to the church in Shenandoah. He is a Democrat in politics and although not a politician lie takes a liberal view of all public questions.

Besides his farm interest Mr. Wilson has a half section in Hamilton County, Nebraska, which he keeps rented and which is a profit- able grain-growing farın. He is in posses- sion of an heirloom of considerable value and much more interest; it consists of a set of silver spoons presented his grandmother on her wedding day more than eighty years ago.

ETER PECK, an energetic and success- ful agriculturist of Grant Township, was born in Gallia County, Ohio, No- vember 9, 1847, and is a son of George W. and Lucinda (Rowley) Peck. When he was three years of age his parents emigrated to Illinois and settled in Hancock County, where they are still living. There he grew to man- hood, passing his time in farm work and in attending the common schools. There were six children who lived to maturity, of whom Peter is the fourth; one sister, Louisa Addie, is the wife of Marion Ketchum, residing in Morton Township, Page County.

Thinking that a better fortune awaited him in Iowa, Mr. Peck emigrated to the State in February, 1874, and located in Morton Town- ship on a farm of 160 acres, which he culti- vated and improved until the spring of 1889, when he came to his present place. This

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lies just south of the college and is the north half of the southeast quarter of section 30. Here he has erected a sub- stantial residence, at a cost of $1,500; it stands upon a beautiful rise of ground and all the surroundings are of the most attract- ive character.

Mr. Peck was married in Hancock County, Illinois, April 10, 1873, to Miss Minerva Tarman. She was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, April 15, 1853, and is a dangh- ter of Robert and Phebe (Cassingham) Tar- man. Her grandfather Cassingham was born in England but was only twelve years old when his parents emigrated to America.

Mr. and Mrs. Peck are the parents of one child, born September 11, 1889, name Tar- man Peck.

He is a stanch supporter of Democratic principles, being firm in his belief in their merits. He is also a member of the order of Modern Woodmen.

HOMAS J. WILLIAMS was born in Fayette County, Indiana, March 24, 1832, and is a son of John Williams, who was a son of Jesse Williams, who came from England to Bourbon County, Kentucky, prior to the war of 1812. Jesse Williams was a soldier in the war of 1812, doing good service for his adopted country. The mother of our subject was Nancy Busick, a daughter of Levan Busick, who bore no inconsiderable part in the last war with Great Britain. The parents settled in Indiana before his birth, and his early days were spent on a farm in Wabash County of that State.

Mr. Williams was married in that county December 24, 1857, to Miss Mary J. Fowler who was born in Rush County, Indiana, August 8, 1830. She is a daughter of Isaac

and Sarah (Cox) Fowler. Their family con- sists of four children: Frank, Addie, Edwin and Hugh. Addie was married to John L. Carey, December 23, 1880, and died April 11, 1889.

Mr. and Mrs. Williams are active workers in the Christian Church. Politically he is a Republican but does not feel bound when the self-styled party leaders place improper men in nomination.

C. DAVIS, one of the prominent citizens of Tarkio Township, has been identified with the history of Page County since 1864. He was born in Peoria County, Illinois, December 30, 1836, and is a son of David L. and Mary (Jackson) Davis. David L. Davis was an early settler of Des Moines County, Iowa, and was a native of Maysville, Kentucky; his wife was born in Peoria, Illinois. W. C. was a lad six years old when his father settled in Des Moines County. Iowa. Burlington then had two or three cabins, and the family were obliged to undergo inany hardships of pioneer life. The father died in 1881; the mother had passed away thirty-one years earlier.

Mr. Davis was reared to the occupation of a farmer and received his education in the Baptist and Wesleyan Universities at Bur- lington and Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. At the age of nineteen years he engaged in teaching and followed this profession for some time. Dnr- ing the Rebellion he enlisted in Company F., Seventlı Iowa Cavalry, in May, 1863, and was in the service seven months. In 1864 he came to Page County and located at Cla- rinda, farmning in the summer months and teaching in the winter time.

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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