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 78

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 78

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).

November 21, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss S. A. McMullen, a native

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of Preble County, Ohio, and a daughter of Stephen McMullen. She was thirteen years old when she came with her grand-parents to Page County. After his marriage Mr. Davis settled in Douglas Township for a time and then removed to Montgomery County, Iowa, where he lived five years. At the end of this time he returned to Page County, for five years, and tlien went to Kansas, where he re- mained five years. Page County still lield many attractions that he found nowhere else, and lie therefore returned to the charmed spot and settled on liis farm which he had owned several years. It contains 320 acres, and besides this he owns two eighty-acre tracts, one of whichi lies near the Western Normal College and is very valuable proper- ty. His liome farmi is well adapted to the raising of live-stock, an industry to which he has given much attention.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of six children : Charles O., Clara Maud, Williamn Grant, Minnie Jane, Nellie Rachel, and one son who died in childhood. The mother was reared in the faith of the Universalist Church; the father was brought up a Presbyterian. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party; he is a member of the Odd Eellows' fraternity at Essex, and is one of the genial, popular citizens of Tarkio Township.

ENRY R. GALE has been a resident of Page County since 1870, having lo- cated in Tarkio Township, when there were but few settlers and when the county was comparatively new. He was born at Providence, Rhode Island, January 19, 1834, and is a son of Jonas Russell and Cynthia M. (Adams) Gale. The father was born in New England, and the mother was born, reared and educated in the State of Massa-

chusetts. They reared two children, Charles L., who is engaged in business in Chicago, and Henry R., the subject of this biograph- ical notice. In 1837 the family removed to Alton, Illinois, where they resided for a null- ber of years. Then they went to Tazewell County, Illinois, where the father was prom- inently identified with the business inter- ests for a number of years. Then they re- turned to the East, where they remained eighteen months, principally in the city of New York. At the end of this time they came back to Tazewell County Illinois.

Mr. Gale was reared to the life of a farmer and received his education in the common schools. He was united in marriage Decem- ber 16, 1857, to Miss Marion Stillman, a na- tive of the State of New York, and a daugh- ter of Alvin and Wealthy (Kellogg) Still- man.

During the civil war, when Lincoln called for 300,000 men, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated in sev- eral noted engagements; he was at the battle of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Chick- amanga and Nasliville, besides many skir- inishes. He was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, June 1, 1865, after which he returned to his home in Illinois. He remained in Tazewell County until 1870, and then removed to Page County, Iowa, purchasing 160 acres of wild land in Tarkio Township. He made this purchase of the railroad company, and set to work to make a home; he has since invested in more land as his means would permit, and now owns 240 acres, all in an advanced state of cultivation. He has erected a comfortable residence and the necessary buildings for stock and grain. An orcliard of a fine variety of trees had been planted, and a grove adds beanty to the land- scape.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Mr. and Mrs. Gale are the parents of six children: Harry, Fanny M., wife of M. H. Miller; Walter C., Nellie Ann, Carrie Mabel, and Frank Leonard; Clara, the first born, died in childhood. The parents and three children are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, the father serving as a trustee. They have ever taken an active interest in the progress of religion and education, and are numbered among the leading families of the township.

In political thought and action Mr. Gale is a Republican, and has been called by the people of his township to represent them as trustee.

EORGE. W. HARRIS-In 1870, when Washington Township was yet a wild, uncultivated waste of prairie, and civil- ization had barely made her impress upon the noble county of Page, came this worthy farmer and took up the burden of establishing a home. The house where Robert Martin now lives, was the only residence in sight. Mr. Harris was born in McDonough County, Illinois, September 1, 1841, and is a son of Alexander and Marticia (Creel) Harris. Both parents were born in Adair County, Ken tucky, where they were reared and married. In 1881 they removed to McDonough County, Illinois, where they were among the early pioneers. They had a family of seventeen children. George W. passed his youth very much in the same fashion as other youth in the frontier; he assisted in the farm work and during the winter attended the district school.

When the great war cloud darkened the sky from horizon to zenith, Mr. Harris re- sponded to the call for men to go to the defense of the old flag, and enlisted in Company C, Eighty-fourth Illinois Volun-

teer Infantry, September 1, 1862, at Quincy, Illinois. He fought in many severe battles, the most noted being Stone River, Chicka- mauga, Lookout Mountain, Resaca, Peach- tree Creek, Jonesborough, and Nashville, Tennessee. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, but his hearing was injured to such an extent that he has never recovered. He was honorably discharged at Camp Harker, in June, 1865.

Mr. Harris was united in marriage ,June 4, 1868, to Miss Electa McCallon, a native of Warren County, Illinois, and a daughter of David C. and Eliza Markham McCallon, na- tives of Ohio and Canada respectively. In 1870 this young couple came to Page County, and Mr. Harris made a purchase of 160 acres of land on section 4, Washington Township. In 1884 lie bought eighty acres in addition, and has placed the whole under good cultiva- tion. His residence is a good, two-story house and the barns are large and well ar- ranged for feeding stock.

Mr. and Mrs. Harris have had born to them eight children: James Austin, Willian D., Samuel Arthur, Dottie Grace, Martha Gertrude, Lucy Edith, Georgia Iona, and Clara Pearl who died in infancy. The par- ents and two older daughters are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Northboro. Mr. Harris is identified with the Republican party, and is a member of the Gettysburgh Post, No. 241, G. A. R.

HARLES APPLE, one of the enter- prising agriculturists of Tarkio Town- ship, has been a resident of Page Coun- ty since 1869. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois, February 26, 1851, and is a son of Amos and Eliza (Huston) Apple, a brief biography of whom will appear on an-

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

other page of this work. He was the second of a family of nine children and was reared to the life of a farmer and received his ed- ncation in the common seliools of Fulton County, Illinois. When he was eighteen years of age the family removed to Page County, Iowa. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-four years of age and then settled on his present farm.

Mr. Apple has secured a choice tract of land, comprising 140 acres; he has placed all under cultivation, and has succeeded in put- ting a considerable portion down in tamne grass for the purpose of feeding a large num- ber of live-stock. His improvements are of an excellent kind, and all his environment is indicative of prosperity and wise manage- ment. Politically hie affiliates with the Re- publican party, inclining to the independent element. He is a man of lionesty and in- tegrity, and by his upright conduct has won an enviable position in the county.

Mr. Apple has been twice married: Feb- ruary 4, 1875, he was united to Miss Murtis J. Morley, a daughter of Josephi Morley; by this union four children were born: Jessie L., Minnie M., James A., Maud E. The family were greatly bereaved by the death of the mother, which occurred January 16, 1884. Mr. Apple was again married May 30, 1889, to Miss Mina M. Smith, a daughter of S. S. Smith, of Tarkio Township. Her mother's maiden name was Sarah Jane Matthews.

MRI WOODWORTH has resided in Page County since 1869, in which year he removed from Henry County, Iowa. He was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, Angnst 20, 1829, and is a son of James and Thankfnl (Ellis) Woodworth, natives of Mas- sachusetts and New York respectively. The

father was of Welsh extraction and the mother was born of Irish ancestors. Omri was a lad of ten years when his parents re- inoved from Ohio to Warren County, Illinois; thence in 1841 they came to Iowa and located in Henry County, where they were among the earliest settlers; game was abundant, the. Indian still trod the virgin soil in freedom, the houses were log cabins, and not a railroad had crossed the prairies of Iowa. Here amid the wild scenes of frontier life Omnri Wood- worth grew to manhood. In 1859 he re- moved to Coffee County, Kansas, where he spent one year; there was a great drought that season, so that no crops were raised; so he returned to Henry County, Iowa.

During the civil war. being a patriot, sprung from a race of patriots, Mr. Wood- worth enlisted in Company G, Eleventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, September 20, 1861, and made a brave and gallant fight for the per- petnity of this nation. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Atlanta and Jonesboro, and in the siege of Vicksburg; he was in many skirmishes and lesser battles; he was honorably discharged in November, 1864, at Galesville, Alabama, and returned to Henry County, Iowa, to engage in the more peaceful pursuit of agriculture. It was in 1869, as before stated, that he came to Page County : he first settled in Lincoln Township and resided there four years; at the end of this time he purchased his present farm; it was then wild and nnimproved, but by dili- gence and perseverance he has brought it to an advanced state of cultivation. He has a comfortable house, pleasantly situated amidst shade tree:, and the barn and sheds are of a substantial character.

Mr. Woodworth was united in marriage September 26, 1850, to Miss Charlotte Mor- ford, who was born in Butler County, Ohio, a daughter of William and Rebecca (Ray)

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Morford, natives of Ohio and New Jersey respectively. Two children are the result of this union: Mrs. Retta E. Standage, a widow. and William Dexter; one child died in her seventh year, Jennie May.

Our subject is a stanch Republican, and is one of the charter members of Gettysburg Post, No. 241, G. A. R., at Northboro. His record as a citizen and a soldier is one of which his children may be proud, and one worthy of preservation in the history of Page County. Mrs. Woodworth and her daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

R. LAWSON, proprietor of " Maple Grove Stock Farm," has been promi- nently identitied with the agricultural interests of Page County since 1878. He was born in Ashland County, Ohio, June 30, 1838, and is the son of Samuel and Hester (Proudfit) Lawson, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. The father is de scended from Scotch-Irish ancestors. J. R. was reared in Ashland County; he received the usual school advantages conferred by the State at that day. In the fall of 1856 the family removed to Knox County, Illinois.

Mr. Lawson was nuited in marriage Jan- uary 19, 1864, to Miss Ophelia Lafferty, a native of Knox County, Illinois, and a daughter of John and Sarah (Slocum) Laff- erty. This union has been blessed by the birth of nine children, eight of whom are liv- ing: Hettie, wife of R. E. Miller; John B., Samnel, Frank, Ada Ray, James, Clara May, Cleveland, and Clydia, deceased.

" Maple Grove Farm " contains 345 acres of as choice land as lies within the borders of Page County, and is in an advanced state of cultivation. A good farm-house was erected

in 1885 at a cost of $1,600, and it is attract- ively sitnated on a natural building site, surrounded by many beautiful trees. There is a fine grove on the premises and a bearing orchard adds to the valne of the place. The grove contains ten acres, principally of maple trees and from this the farm derives its name.

Mr. Lawson devotes his time to the raising of live-stock, and has some of the most excel- lent grades of animals to be found in the connty; he raises short-horn cattle, Poland- China hogs, and dratt horses of an imported breed. Whenever he has exhibited his stock at fairs he has seldom failed to carry a good share of the premiums offered. In political thought and action lie is a Democrat, and has represented the people of his township as trustee for seven years. He is yet in the prime of life, is strong and active of mind and body, and in all his dealings with men is known as a most correct business man, whose word is as good as his bond.

J. PADEN has been identified with the interests of Tarkio Township, Page County, since 1871. He was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, De- cember 3, 1825, and is a son of Isaac and Celia (Fish) Paden. The father was a son of Isaac Paden, Sr., of Scotch ancestry, and the mother was born in Rensselaer County, New York, her father being Joseph Fish, of Englishi ancestry. Isaac Paden, Jr., and his wife had born to them twelve children, ten of whom lived to matnrity. D. J. Paden, of whom this biographical notice is written, is the oldest of the family; the first occupation in which he engaged was that of running a saw and grist-mill. In 1843 the family removed to Knox Connty, Illinois, and settled near Galesburg, where the parents

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

now reside at an advanced age, the father being ninety and the mother eighty-six years oid.

Mr. Paden was married September 14, 1846, to Miss Lucinda McCaw, who was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of William and Mary (Wyley) McCaw; her father was born in Scotland and her mother in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Mc- Caw died in 1843, and his widow and chil- dren. four dangliters and three sons, removed to Rock Island Connty, Illinois, where the mother died in 1865.

On coming to Illinois Mr. Paden engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in 1852 he removed from Knox County to Henry Coun- ty ; in a short time he went to Mercer County, remaining there for some time; his next move was to Washington Connty, Minnesota, and there he made his home for four years, returning at the end of that time to Henry County, Illinois. In 1871 he came to Page county and purchased eighty acres of wild land, which he at once undertook to place under cultivation; he added to this tract until he has 160 acres, well improved with good buidings. The residence and barn are built on rock foundations of a most substantial construction; a grove of six acres of maple and walnut trees, and an orchard add greatly to the beauty of the place as well as to its value. Mr. Paden has one of the latest im- proved windmills, the Air-motor, and is also acting as agent for this make; it is of prac- tical construction, and as he thoroughly understands the mechanism of the mill he will doubtless make a success of the busi- iness.

Mr. and Mrs Paden are the parents of ten children: Mary Jane, wife of James Stitt; Isaac J., Charles J., Amos J., George H., Robert A., John L., Grace E., wife of Gilbert Erlewine, and two children who died in in-

fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Paden are zealons members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are among the most highly respected residents of Tarkio Township. Politically our subject supports the Greenback party, having been in times past a Republican.

SA S. TURNER, a respected farmer of Amity Township, traces his ancestry directly back to an English family who settled in America long before the war of the Revolution. The maternal ancestors were among the Plymouth Colony. Benjamin Turner, the grandfather of our subject, was one of the early settlers in the State of Maine. His son Josiah, the father of Asa S., was born in Greene, Maine, January 1, 1789. He was married January 19, 1814, to Almira Smith, a danghter of Asa Smith. Almira Smith Turner was born September 2, 1792, in Greene, Maine, and was the mother of nine children, of whom Asa S. is the eighth. The father was a farmer by occupation and lived all his life in Maine, in the counties of Kennebec and Androscoggin. He was a member of the Free-will Baptist Church, and served in the war of 1812. He died April 25, 1858, at the age of sixty-three years.

Asa S. Turner was born in Leeds, Maine, July 14, 1830. He obtained a common- school education and learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked several years. In 1854 lie married Matilda A. Stearns, a daughter of Sumner Stearns, and of this union three children were born: Frank, Edith, deceased, and Edwin. In 1858 Mr. Turner removed with his family to Iowa, and located at Mount Pleasant, where he re- mained nine years working at his trade. In 1870 he decided to make a change in his business; previous to this, however, he liad

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

removed to College Springs, Iowa, and had been occupied with his trade; he abandoned his life-long occupation and located on his present farin, where he has since resided. His wife died at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Feb- ruary 2, 1862, and August 18, 1863, he was married to Phoebe Hilliard, a widow, the daughter of James and Isabel (McConnell) Talhnan. Mr. Tallman was born near San- dusky, Ohio, and his ancestors were among the soldiers of the Revolutionary war and tlie war of 1812. By his first inarriage he had four children, and seven children were born of the second one. His first wife died in 1859, and he was inarried to Marinda Strait- Mrs. Turner is a child of the first marriage, and after the death of her inother, which oc- curred when she was but eight years old, she lived with her grandparents, James and Mary (Bell) Tallman, at Tallman Mills, West Virginia.

Mr. and Mrs. Turner are the parents of nine children: Edith M., Louis B., William H., Delphina, John S., Asa J., Amy B., Iona and Viola, twins. The parents are members of the Free Methodist Church; previous to their uniting with this society they had be- longed to the Baptist Church for twenty years. Politically Mr. Turner is identified with the Prohibition party.

LEXANDER HARRIS is one of the

mnost extensive live-stock dealers in Washington Township, and is one of the reliable farmers of Page County. He came to his present farm in 1870 and since that time has been prominently identified with the agricultural interests of the county. He was born in McDonough County, Illinois, September 1, 1837, and is a son of Alexander and Marticia (Creel) Harris, natives of Adair

Connty, Kentucky. Alexander Harris, Sr., was inarried in Kentucky, and in 1831 re- moved to Mc Donough County, Illinois, where he was among the earliest pioneers. Alex- ander, Jr., was reared to the life of a farmer amidst the scenes of the Western frontier. He was one of the number to respond to Lincoln's call for 300,000 more men, enlist- ing in the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, Company L. He furnished his own horse, which he had bought with hard-earned money, and for which he never received pay from the Gov. ernment; while in the service he took the measles and he has not to this day recovered from the bad effects of this disease; he spent six weeks in the Mound City Hospital, and six weeks at Homburg Hospital, where he came near dying. He was honorably dis- charged at the end of nine months and re- turned to his home in McDonough County, engaging in the more peaceful pursuit of agriculture. When he first came to Page County he invested in 320 acres of land and began to make a home for himself and fam- ily; he has since added to this first purchase until he now owns 720 acres; it is land well adapted to the feeding of live-stock and the raising of grain. The residence is a good frame building and is pleasantly situated in the midst of shade trees; a grove and an or- chard near by add much to the beauty as well as the value of the farm; the barn is one of the best in Page County; it is built upon a solid rock foundation and has an ample ca- pacity for the storing of hay and grain and the protection of live-stock; stock-scales and a wind-mill are also added to the many other conveniences. As Mr. Harris was one of the first men in Washington Township to feed cattle, his farm was a popular corn market for the surrounding country for many years. He is one of the most expert judges of live-stock in Page County and has made a decided suc_

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cess of his business. He has some blooded stock, short-horns and Herefords, which are of very fine grades.

Mr. Harris was united in marriage Sep- tember 14, 1872, in Page County, Iowa, to Miss Matilda Spiker, a daughter of William and Caroline (Vincent) Spiker. Mrs. Spiker was born in Henderson County, Illinois, and when she was fourteen years of age lier par- ents removed to Page County. William Spiker was a member of the One hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and died in the service; the mother is also de- ceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Harris have had born to them seven children: Ruby Mand, Lewis Allen, Loy Elvin, Melvina, Arthur Garfield, Eunice Etta and Alexander. Politically Mr. Harris is a Republican. He is a man plain of speeech and manner, firm in his convictions of right and wrong.

LIVER H. BREWER was born in North Carolina, at Randolph, May 8, 1813, and is a son of Henry and Anice (Crow) Brewer, natives of the Carolinas. When Oliver H. was a lad seven years of age his parents removed to Washington County, Indiana, where the father died five or six years later. The mother passed away in Carroll County, Illinois. . Mr. Brewer has been mar- ried three times. He was first united to Miss Lucinda Starks in 1833. One child was born of this union, Ephraim, who died while in the service of his country, a member of an Illinois regiment. Mrs. Brewer died in 1835, and in 1837 Mr. Brewer married Miss Elvira Westtall, in Washington County, Indiana. By this marriage six children were born: William, Jesse W., James R., Mary A., wife of George Morey; Edwin H., wife of A.

Mayburne, and Amy L., wife of W. M. Rolston. The mother of these children died April 11, 1865, in Carroll County, Illinois. In 1868 Mr. Brewer removed to Page Coun- ty, Iowa, and in February, 1871, he was married to Mrs. Margaret Knight, widow of Hiram Knight, who was a member of the Forty-sixth Illinois Regiment, and died dur- ing the civil war, leaving four children: James H., Jennie, Rebecca C. and Hiram F. Mrs. Brewer was born in Washington Coun- ty, Indiana, and is the dangliter of O. P. and Elizabeth (Cornett) Winters. Five daughters have been born of this last marriage: Nora Belle, Carrie M., Minnie, Adella Alice, de- ceased, and Bessie L.

Mr. Brewer owns a farm of 346 acres on the West Tarkio, and it is well improved; the buildings are of a most substantial kind and the soil is under good cultivation. Po- litically he is allied with the independent Democrats, and is not afraid to express his convictions upon this subject. Although lie is now seventy-seven years of age he is well preserved and is yet very active, both in mind and body. During his residence in Page County, he has made an enviable position for himself and is prized for his many virtues.

MOS W. DRAKE, a prosperous and re- liable fariner of Buchanan Township, is descended from Englishi ancestors. His father, Samuel Drake, was a native of New Jersey and a school-teacher by profession. He married Eliza McTyre, of Irish descent, and to them were born five children: Owen, Harriet, Catherine, Mary and Amnos W. The father was a consistent member of the Chris- tian Church, and lived to be over eighty years of age. Amos W. Drake, his son, was born on a farm in Warren County, New Jersey,

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and received superior educational advantages for those times; he too was a teacher in his younger days. He was inarried to Charity Cummins, a daughter of Isaac Cummins, of New Jersey, and of this union three children were born: Andrew J., Shephard L. and Charlie, who died at the age of five years. Mr. Drake lived in New Jersey until the breaking out of the civil war. In 1864 he enlisted in the United States navy and was assigned to the United States steamer " Aries" of the United States blockading squadron off Fort Fisher; he was in that bombardment and was promoted to ship's corporal. The service was principally engaged in capturing blockade runners, and the " Aries " was sent to assist in capturing the rebel ram " Stone. wall," which had taken refuge in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. Mr. Drake served until the close of the war and was discharged in Boston harbor. He saw much active service and has a fund of reminiscences which he relates in a very entertaining manner. After the war he removed to Rockford, Illinois, and engaged in teaching school; he remained in that county teaching and farming until the spring of 1872; in that year he removed to Taylor County, Iowa, and lived in Bedford one year.

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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