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 83
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OHN SNODDERLY, one of Tarkio Township's leading citizens, became identified with the history of Page County as early as 1853, and since that time has been one of the most reliable farmers in this section. He was born in Anderson County, Tennessee, November 2, 1836, and is a son of Nicholas Snodderly, one of Tarkio Township's old pioneers, whose history ap- pears on another page of this volume. John was a Jad of six years when in 1842 the fam- ily removed to Platte County, Missouri, where they resided until 1853. It was in that year that they settled in Tarkio Town- ship, Page County, Iowa. John was then a youth of seventeen years, and being of an unusually social disposition he found the thinly settled country very monotonous and uncongenial; but as he was his father's main dependence he found plenty of work to occupy both mind and body.
During the late civil war he went to the front when there was a call for men to save this Union from disruption. He enlisted in
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
August, 1862, in the Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company F, and was in many hotly contested battles; the most noted engagements, in which he participated are the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hill, the siege of Vicksburg, the Red River ex- pedition, and the siege of Mobile. He was honorably discharged at Harrisburglı, Texas, July 26, 1865, after which he returned to his home to engage in the more peaceful occupa- tion of agriculture.
Mr. Snodderly was married April 20, 1871, to Miss Mary Kennett, a native of Monroe County, Indiana. She was eight or nine years of age when her parents, the Rev. Caleb and Susan (Handy) Kennett, removed to Decatur County, Iowa, where she grew to womanhood. Her mother was born in Vir- ginia, and died July 4, 1883; her father is still living and makes his home in Valley Township, Page County. Mr. Snodderly settled on his present farm in 1871, having purchased the land as early as 1866; he has eighty-five acres of as good land as lies in Page County, and it is well improved with all the necessary buildings and modern con- veniences; the residence is a neat structure, and is pleasantly located on a natural build- ing site near a beautiful orchard and grove, which have been planted by the present owner. He devotes his time to general farming, and has been a success in all his undertakings.
Mr. and Mrs. Snodderly are the parents of two children: Maliala Frances, born August 5, 1878, and James W., who died in liis thir- teenth year.
Politically our subject is strongly in favor of the Republican party; he has been called to fill the office of trustee of the township, faithfully discharging all the duties of this position. He is a member of Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R. He is a man of a frank, genial disposition, and of the highest integ-
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rity of character, and has won a host of friends in Page County.
NNA HORNING, the widow of Jacob Horning, furnishes us with a remark- able example of what can be accom- plished by a hard-working, practical woman. Jacob IIorning was born in Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, February 16, 1821, and is a son of Anthony and Katherine Margarethe Horning. His father emigrated to America in 1830, and settled in Chambersburgh, Pennsylvania. He was a man of some proper- ty, and was greatly respected by all who knew him.
Jacob Horning during his childhood had a desire to become a farmer, and at the age of twelve years he went to live on the farm of George Hoffman near Chambersburgh. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Franklin County, Ohio, and at the age of twenty-nine he was married to Miss Anna Good, a daughter of Joseph and Magdalena (Campbell) Good. The maternal ancestors came from Ireland, and there is a tradition that a large amount of property in Ireland belongs to the heirs of a brother and sister who were brought to this country by a stranger. Mr. and Mrs. Horning had twelve children born to thein: Katlıe- rine, who died in infancy; John H., who married Hattie Butler; Abraham A., who married Hester Berry; Lydia J., Samuel, who married Fannie Gehman; Jacob R., who married Tina ---; Annie E., who is the wife of Benjamin Furgeson; Isaac and Leah, twins; Joseph, Henry and Sarah E. In 1853 Mr. Horning bought a farm in Frank- lin County, Ohio, where he lived until 1858. IIe then went to Allen County, Ohio, and lo- cated on a farin four and a half miles from
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Lima; there he remained until 1864, and in that year he emigrated to Iowa and settled on the farm where liis widow and children now reside. It consists of 302 acres of choice land, and is well improved in every respect. Both Mr. and Mrs. Horning were members of the Mennonite Church, and he died in the full faith and hope of a better life to come. He was a very industrious, economical young man, and labored earnestly to make a home for his family. He was quiet and unassuni- ing in his manner and took no part in public affairs. Hle died March 25, 1873, aged fifty- two years, one month, and nine days. He was universally respected and was deeply mourned by his family and a wide circle of friends. He left a fine estate to his family and the heritage of an honorable life and an unsullied name.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Horn- ing settled up the estate, and although she met with some reverses, she has been very successful in her dealings; slie has brought up her children to habits of industry and economy and in the principles of the Chris- tian religion, and slie may well be praised for the excellent manner in which she has fulfilled her task.
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ACOB BENDER has met with good success in business as the result of in- dustry, perseverance, integrity and pri- dence. In 1871 he came to Shenandoah as a journeyman harness-maker, and after work- ing at the bench for more than a year in the shop of John McComb, he purchased a half interest in the infantile business, in company with Ben Lake, another journeyman in the same shop; he was then just able to pay for his half interest in the concern. The estab- lishment stood on the ground now occupied
by the present triple brick block, and was a very unpretentious affair. Success was theirs from the very beginning, and after the part- nership had continued from May, 1872, until January, 1878, Mr. Lake retired and Mr. Bender became proprietor. In the twelve years since passed the business has proved exceedingly satisfactory, and the profits jndi- ciously invested in business property have made Mr. Bender well off. He has always given his personal attention to the minutest detail of the business, and does so to the pres- ent day ; not infrequently he is found with the apron on and the awl in hand at the bench, as in his journeyman days.
The handsome block in which is Mr. Ben- der's store was recently erected by him at a cost exceeding $6,000. It is 50 x 80 feet, the lower floor being cut into three roomy and well lighted store-rooms, in one of which is the postoffice; the second floor is arranged in suites of pleasant offices, and are desirable and convenient rooms. Two other fine brick stores belonging to Mr. Bender are among the best buildings in the next block in the heart of the town. He owns one of the inost attractive homes in the town, located near the new Presbyterian church. Let no young man say there is no opening for him when so handsome a competency can be secured in years by diligence and application.
Jacob Bender was born in Alsace, France, August 8, 1842, and is a son of Jacob and Melinda (Godfried) Bender, who came to America when he was two years old and lo- cated near New Albany, Indiana. When he was eighteen years old he resolved to learn the harness-makers' trade, and for that purpose went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he en- tered tlre shop of Louis Nord, Sr., as an apprentice. He remained with him as ap- prentice and journeyman for eight years, and for two years, worked with Jacob Fink. In
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
1871 he decided to come west, and he was soon after in St. Joe, Missouri, where he had a sister living; in his search for employment he was told that a workman was wanted at Shenandoah, and there he went at once with his recommendations and was soon at work.
Mr. Bender married Miss Louisa Goodyear from Louisville, Kentucky, on April 30, 1874, at St. Joseph, Missouri; she was born in Sax- ony. November 20, 1852, a daughter of George and Mary Goodyear, who came to America with her when a child. They have had four children: Lillie B., Clarence A., Daisy L. and Pearl K. The family are con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Bender is recognized as a brother by the I. O. O. F. He is a Republican in poli- tics, and is an earnest worker in educational matters; he is a member of the board of ed- ncation, and has rendered material assistance to the Western Normal College.
EV. W. S. HOOKER was born January 29, 1834, near Portsmonth, England. He was converted September 29, 1847, and united with the Wesleyan Methodist Church. In 1855 he was licensed to preach by Rev. Thomas H. Sqnance, at Portsmouth, the latter being then the only survivor of the party of seven young ministers taken to India by Dr. Coke in 1813. Rev. Hooker was married to Miss Sarah Humphreys, in 1861, who shared the toils and labors, the joys and success of a Methodist preacher's life until August 6, 1886, when she passed to her re- ward. She was a noble, consecrated woman. Rev. Hooker came to Iowa in 1869, and joined the Des Moines Conference in 1870. Since then he has been stationed at Decatur City, College Springs, Shenandoah, Villisca, Wesley Church, Des Moines, Clarinda, In-
dianola and Creston, his present charge. From 1880 to 1884 he was Presiding Elder of Council Bluffs district, and prepared it for the grand advance it has since made in raising missionary money. He is a man of deep piety, sound judgment and great tact, and has built up every charge where he has been stationed. The Des Moines Conference honored itself in electing him one of its dele- gates to the General Conference, held at New York in May, 1888. Mr. Hooker's family consists of six children : one dead, the others all living in southwestern Iowa.
His oldest son, William F., one of the ris- ing young farmers of Page County, resides on section 22, Washington Township. He is a native of England, born at Portsmouth, January 20, 1864, a son of the Rev. W. S. Hooker, a prominent minister in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church; he has been Presid- ing Elder of the Council Bluffs district and has held other important positions in the church; he was a delegate to the General Conference held at New York city in 1888. He is now a resident of Creston, Iowa. The mother of William F. was Sarah Humph- reys, also a native of England. When our subject was four years of age the family emi- grated to the United States and settled in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Later they re- moved to Iowa, where the father was pastor in many different places according to the rules of the Methodist Church. Young Hooker received his education at the different points to which his father was appointed in the State of Iowa. Arriving at the age of man- hood he left the parental roof and came to Washington Township, and settled on his father's farm, which he had owned several years. The Hooker farm is devoted to the breeding and rearing of fine horses, and there may be seen some of the very best specimens. of imported and home-bred Percheron horses.
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Mr. Hooker has been quite successful in this branch of farming, and has fitted up his farm with many conveniences for the care and pro tection of these valued animals.
On November 18, 1885, Mr. Hooker mar- ried Miss Rosa Black, a daugliter of Samuel Black, of whom further notice will be found elsewhere in this volume. One child has been born of this union: Herman Lloyd. These young people are active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Northboro. Politically Mr. Hooker is identified withi tlie Republican party. Althoughi a young man he has gained an enviable position in the community by his good business qualifica- tions.
HARLES READ is descended from old Puritan stock, and is one of the sub- stantial citizens of Pierce Township, Page County. The remote ancestors of the family, two brothers, emigrated from Eng- land, one settling in Massachusetts and the other in Virginia. The great-grandfather of our subject was Oliver Read, a native of Massachusetts. Benjamin Read, his son, was also born in Massachusetts, and was a sea captain many years; after retiring from this active life lie purchased a farm in the State of New York, where he spent the re- mainder of his days. He married Elizabetlı Dodson, and to them were born eight chil- dren: four lived to years of manhood, Durfee, Gideon, Jonathan, and. Benjamin; the others died in infancy. Jonathan Read was born in Massachusetts, May 25, 1785, and was but eleven years of age when his parents removed to the State of New York. He inarried Charlotte Rudd, January 2, 1810; she was a daughter of Daniel and Abigail (Allen) Rudd,
who were descended from a Presbyterian minister, who came from Wales with 100 followers on account of religious persecution, and settled at Dedliam, Massachusetts, in 1634. After liis marriage Mr. Read settled on his father's farm. He joined a volunteer company of artillery, commanded by his brother, and of which he was Second Lieu- tenant, and did service on the Canadian frontier. The brother resigning, Lieutenant Read was appointed Captain in his place. Chiarles Read, the subject of this notice, has in his possession their commissions from Daniel Tompkins, Governor of New York, and one from De Witt Clinton, making Lien - tenant Read a Brigadier General of Artillery. General and Mrs. Read had nine children: Elizabeth, Dodson, William L., Lucy A., Henry B., Benjamin T., Jonathan, Charles, Charlotte A. and Mary A. Mrs. Read liad one sister, Lucy A. Rudd, who married Gen- eral Henry Brubeck, who was in the Revolu- tionary war and received his first commission as ensign from General Warren; he had an extended military career, and remained in the United States service till 1818, as acting Major General, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-four years.
Charles Read, the son of Jonathan Read and the subject of this biography, was born September 5, 1819. He received a common- school education, and was reared to agricult- ural pursuits. He resided on the farm of luis father until he was forty-four years of age. He was united in marriage to Harriet G. Myers, a daughter of Ludwick and Jane (Dustin) Myers. Mr. Myers was descended from old Dutchi stock, who settled on the Hudson River; he was a farmer in good cir- cumstances and left an estate valued at $18,000.
Mr. and Mrs. Read are the parents of six children Mary H., deceased; Willard M.,
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Charles H., Robbley D., Harriet G., and Warren W.
The people of Pierce Township have shown the confidence they repose in Mr. Read by calling him to fill many of the offices of trust and responsibility; he has also been Deputy United States Marshal. In 1866 he removed to Clarinda, Iowa, and worked at the carpen- ter's trade for three years; at the close of this period he changed his occupation to farming, and eighteen years ago commenced improv- ing his present location, which consists of 160 acres of as good land as lies within the borders of Page County; he has added many valuable improvements, and has placed the soil under good cultivation. Politically he is identified with the Democratic party. He is a man who has always been industrious, moral and upright, and has brought up his children to good, honest principles.
Willard M. Read married Elizabeth Por- ter; the remainder of the family are at home.
Among the brilliant ancestors of the Read family may be mentioned General Read of the Revolution, and George Read, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Ludwick Myers was twice married; first to Elizabeth Carpenter, by whom he had seven children, and the second time to Jane Dustin, to whom were born eight children.
AMES H. HILL is a respected and hon- ored member of the farming community of Amity Township, and is worthy of our attention. His great-grandfather was a native of Ireland, and there is a tradition that he settled in Pennsylvania and was a sol- dier in the war of the Revolution. John Hill, his son, was born in Pennsylvania, and there married a Miss Simmons; to them were born Stephen, Samuel, William and John. The
family were early settlers in Highland Conn- ty, Ohio, and followed agriculture. John Hill, Jr., was born in the " Buckeye" State, and was reared to farm life. He married Mary Simmons, and of this union three sons were born, all natives of Ohio, and all resi- dents of Page County, Iowa. The father died in Highland County, Ohio, when James H. was a lad ten years of age. The mother resides in Clarinda with Robert, and Joseph E. Hill is an attorney at that place. (See sketch, page 442.)
James H. Hill was born January 16, 1840, and in his youth was trained to the details of farming. When there was a call for men to go to the defense of this country he respond- ed, becoming a member of Company F, Six- tieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After thir- teen months' service he re-enlisted as a vet- eran in Company H, First Ohio Cavalry, and served to the close of the war. He was in all the skirmishes of the Atlanta campaign, and on a raid with Kilpatrick; in 1863 he was in General Wilson's grand raid from Grand Springs, Alabama, to Selma, Alabama; he was at the capture of Columbus, Georgia, and at the surrender of Macon. Georgia. He was honorably discharged at Hilton Head, South Carolina, September 13, 1865. In 1867 he came to Iowa, and December 31, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Morledge, a daughter of John R. and M. L. (Branum) Morledge. On first coming to Iowa Mr. Hill lived four miles south of Cla- rinda, and then settled on his present farm of eighty acres. His family consists of five children: Charles T., William R., Mamie M., Edward and Josephine. Charles T. is a stu- dent of Amity College. The mother died in April,1886, and since then Mr. Hill has had no assistance in his household, but has cared for the children himself, being both father and inother to the motherless ones. He is a man
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
of rare force of character, and of a kind and gentle disposition, and has manfully borne the sorrow that has come upon him.
Mr. Hill has won the entire confidence of the people of his township, and has been called to represent them as Justice of the Peace and as school director. He is an lion- ored member of Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R.
OHN B. CRAIN is of British descent, but his ancestors have long been Ameri- can citizens and have occupied positions of trust and honor for generations. His great-grandfather was born in Virginia, and lived in Culpeper County, within thirty miles of the home of General Washington, with whose family lie was well acquainted. He served as a soldier in the war of the Revolu- tion. In 1808 he emigrated to Kentucky and located in Pulaski County, being one of the pioneers of the State and a contemporary of Daniel Boone. He lived to the advanced age of 100 years, and his wife was-103 years old at the time of her death, retaining to the last her mental and bodily vigor.
The Rev. William Crain, son of the above, was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, March 1, 1802. When lie was six years of age his father removed to Pulaski County, Kentucky, where he grew to up manhood. When twenty years of age he embraced the Christian religion and united with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Soon after he was called to preach and spent the remainder of his life in the Master's cause. April 19, 1832, he married Miss Harriet Tong, and three years later he removed to Schuyler County, Illinois, where he passed the remain- der of his days. A full account of his life will be found in the second volume of Dr.
Leoton's " Methodism in Illinois." He died November 3, 1884, and his good wife died November 1, 1884.
John F. Crain, son of William Crain, and the father of our subject, was born Decein- ber 31, 1832, at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was trained to the occupation of a farmer and obtained a good common-school educa- tion. February 2, 1854, he was married, in Illinois, to Miss Margaret A. Howard, a daughter of Tilmon Howard. The Howards are an old American family, their ancestors having been soldiers in the war of the Revo- Intion. Mr. and Mrs. Crain had born to them eight children, John B., our subject, being the oldest. In 1855 the father re- moved with his family to Taylor County, Iowa. He died at the early age of thirty- nine years. His widow survives him. She is a woman of unnsual strength of character and executive ability and has nobly filled her part in life in the training and care of lier children.
John B. Crain was born November 28, 1854, in Schuyler County, Illinois. His parents removed to lowa during his infancy, and he was trained to the occupation of a farmer. By the death of his father much responsibility fell to him, and early in life he studied architecture and the builder's trade, at which he worked during the summer inonths until 1880. In 1874 he entered the normal department of Amity College, finislı- ing the course and continuing his studies one year beyond that time, In 1877 he began teaching in Page County during the winter terms. In 1879 he embarked in the lumber business in connection with his building interests, the firmn being Hotelling, Crain & Co. In 1881 he purchased the banking busi- ness of Good & Webster, which he has since conducted. He has been very prosperous in all his undertakings; he owns about 400 acres
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
of land and valuable real estate in Braddy- ville.
In 1880 Mr. Crain was united in marriage to Miss Eva J. Hart, daughter of John and Cordelia (Keyes) Hart. To them have been born seven children: the first were twins who died, one living to be four years old; the second were also twins, and they lived but six months; the three living are, Dale H., Lelia N. and Floy. Mr. Crain is a member of College Springs Lodge, No. 228, I. O. O. F., of which he is Noble Grand. He enjoys the confidence of the people of the county and is well known among business men as a practical and successful financier. He is the present Mayor of Braddyville, and has acted as treasurer since its organization. He is also treasurer of the school board. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.
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ACOB J. JAMES is a member of a fam- ly of Welsh descent. His grandfather, Isaac James, was born in the State of New York, but emigrated at an early day to Kentucky, and thence to Indiana. He was a millwright by trade, but settled on a farm at Attica, where he died. His wife was Grange Farragut, of the State of New York, a dis- tant relative of Commodore Farragut. Enoch James, father of Jacob J., was born in Ken- tucky and moved with his father to Indiana. He married Lydia Johns, a daughter of Jacob and Rachel (Batton) Johns, and they had born to them but one child, the subject of this sketch. Enoch James was a lawer of consid- erable prominence and acquired a handsome estate. He died near Attica, Indiana, about the year 1870.
Jacob J. James was born in Boone Coun- ty, Indiana, in 1842, and was reared on a farm; he learned engineering and followed the busi-
ness eleven years. In 1860 he came to lowa with his mother, and March 1, 1862, he en- listed in the United States service as a private in Company F, Eleventhi Missouri Volunteer Cavalry; July 19 he was made Sergeant, and then was promoted to First Sergeant; he par- ticipated in many battles and skirmishes, and in 1865, at New Orleans, he received the commission of First Lieutenant, but he was never mustered. In the battle at Clarendon, Arkansas, June 26 and 27, 1864, he com- manded the company, being Sergeant; he was slightly wounded in this battle by a spent ball, but was never in the hospital; he gave good and efficient service during the entire three years of his enlistment. When he returned from the war he came to Page County, Iowa, and engaged in running an engine in this town- ship.
Mr. James was married at Clarinda, Iowa, January 30, 1868, to Caroline F. Willets, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Thomas Wallace, who was noted for hav- ing said the ceremony to numerous young couples. To Mr. and Mrs. James were born six children: Jessie A., Isaac E., Lydia J., Jacob O., Arthur A. and Hattie A. April 1, 1872, Mr. James bought a farm in Buchanan Township, upon which he lived two years, and in 1871 he removed to his present farm of eighty acres of fine land. He and his wife have been members of the Baptist Church, and were chosen delegates to the Association at Glenwood, Iowa. Mr. James has always taken an active interest in educa- tional affairs, and has served his township as school director for five years. He is an hon- orable citizen and the entire family are held in high regard.
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