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 87

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 87

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. Batchelor was first married in 1842, and again in 1855, at Painesville, Ohio, where the first twenty years of his adult life were spent. The next twenty years were passed in Warren County, Illinois, while the past fifteen years have been spent in Clarinda. In his political belief he has been a strong Re- publican, having cast his first vote for James

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

G. Birney in 1840. Later he was a " Free- soiler," and when that party merged into the Republican he was an ardent supporter of the same, continuing until 1884, since which timne he has acted with the Greenback and Union Labor organizations. He argues for- cibly that the present popular system of governmental power affords protection to cor- porations and capital at the expense of per- sonal rights, and is fast making laborers " hewers of wood and drawers of water."

Our subject was elected Treasurer of Lake County, Ohio, during the fierce anti- slavery struggle of 1853, and conducted the Paines- ville Telegraph, the only Republican paper in that county, for three years, prior to and dur- ing the Fremont-Buchanan campaign. He and his family are members of the Univers- alist Church. His father was in the war of 1812. In 1819 he removed to the State of New York, where he followed farming and agricultural pursuits. Thence he removed to Painesville, Ohio, and thence to Erie County, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1872.

Mr. Batchelor has a neat cottage on Broad- way street, Clarinda, where he and lis es- timable wife with their only danghter, Nora, enjoy life as only the good and temperate can.

T. FARRENS, physician and surgeon, Clarinda, Iowa, is the son of Dr. A. H. Farrens, who located in Page County, in 1849, twelve miles southeast of Clarinda. He resided there one year and then removed to Shambaugh. He entered Government land but continned the practice of his profession. He finally came to Clarinda and purchased four lots at the southwest corner of the public square, where he erected a house which is still standing. He died April 17, 1859, at the age of thirty nine years, nine months and

twenty-nine days. His widow is still living. They were the parents of four children: the second child and first-born son died in infancy ; two are farmers in East River Township and Nodaway Township. The Doctor, of whom this notice is written, was born September 19, 1855, at Clarinda, Iowa, where he has grown to manhood and is engaged in the practice of his profession. He began the study of med- icine January 1, 1877, under the tutorship of Doctors Enfield and Vance, remaining in their office until Marclı 1, 1881. He attended lec- tures at the Missouri Medical College, St. Louis, and graduated from that institution.

Immediately after this event Dr. Farrens returned to the home of his youth and began the practice of medicine. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges.

Dr. Farrens was united in marriage, No- vember 29, 1883, with Miss Lida Pond, a daughter of W. H. Pond, a native of Craw ford County, Pennsylvania. One child has blessed this union, Paul Pond, born August 26, 1888.

H. PITTMAN, physician and sur- geon, Clarinda, Iowa, was born in Mount Vernon, Rock Castle Coun- ty, Kentucky, March 17, 1853, and is the son of George and Elizabeth (Isaacs) Pittinan. The father was born in North Carolina, Au- gust 18, 1829, and the mother was a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch origin. The'paternal grandfather, George Pittman, was a native of England, and the great-grandfather was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. The ancestors of W. H. Pittman removed to- the wilds of Kentucky at an early day and carved from the forest a home. George Pittman, Jr., died in Illinois in 1867, and his wife died in Missouri in 1885.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Doctor Pittman received his earlier educa- tion in the common schools of Kentucky, after which he was sent to Ewing College and Franklin College, Illinois, taking the full course and being graduated in 1870. The sanie year he took up the study of med- icine under the preceptorship of Dr. R. M. Fulkerson, of Eddyville, Boone County, Illi- nois. He attended his first course of lectures at the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, in the winter of 1872-'73. The three years following he practiced in Mississippi County, Arkansas. In the spring of 1877 he was graduated at the State University of Tennessee at Nashville, and in the spring of the following year he located at Lutesville, Missouri, where he remained until 1883. In that year he removed to St. Louis, and at the end of three years he came to Clarinda. Dr. Pittman is at the head of the Clarinda Medi- ical and Surgical Institute, and although he has been in Clarinda but a short time he enjoys a lucrative practice.

In the spring of 1882 Dr. Pittnian attended a course of lectures at the famous Bellevue Medical College, New York city, from which he derived great benefit. He keeps up with all the late discoveries in his profession, and is a successful practitioner.

The Doctor was first married September 22, 1871, to Miss Mary E. Mick, a native of Polk County, Illinois. By this union one son was born; the mother died when he was but fourteen days old. Dr. Pittinan was married to his present wife, Martha E. Salier, a native of Crittenden County, Kentucky, December 16, 1873. Her parents were early settlers of that portion of the State. Three children have been born of this marriage, but one of whom is living. The parents are members of the Baptist Church. Dr. Pitt- man belongs to Marble Hill Lodge, No. 298, A. F. & A. M., of Missouri; he is also

a member of Clarinda Lodge, No. 109, I. O. O. F., and of Clarinda Lodge, No. 139, K. P. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party.

OHN P. BROWN, D. D. S., has been identified with the common interests of Page County since 1866, and hence finds a place in this collection of the biographies of the leading men of the county. He is a native of Ohio, born at Rainsborough, High- land County, Jannary 16, 1844; his father, Thomas D. Brown, was a son of John Brown who served in the war of 1812. The mother of our subject was Mary E. Williams, a native of Virginia, in which State the father was also born. Both father and mother are still living in Adams County, Iowa. John P. obtained his education in the commnon schools and was trained in agricultural pursuits. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, Eighty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until October 13, 1863, when he was discharged at Lonisville, Kentucky on ac- count of disability. He returned to High- land County, Ohio, and remained there until the fall of 1865, when he accompanied his parents to Iowa, locating near Villisca; he spent the winter of 1865-'66 in Villisca, and the next spring he attended school at Cla- rinda. During the vacation he taught school in the country, and for two years and a half he followed this profession.

In 1867 Dr. Brown was married to Miss Annie E. Jones, who died in 1870. He spent one year on the farin in Adams County and then returned to Clarinda and was em- ployed in a woolen factory then in operation there. In the fall of 1871 he began the study of dentistry, under the preceptorship of Dr. Smith of Clarinda, and finished under Dr.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Sanborn of Tabor, Iowa. In 1872 he began to practice at Clarinda, and is now enjoying the leading practice of Page County.

In 1873 Dr. Brown married for his second wife Miss Mary Loranz. Five children have been born to this union: Walter A., Helen, Thomas L., Wilbur and Raymond. Dr. Brown is a member of the A. O. U. W., and belongs to the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a Republican. As a citizen, a business man, a professional man, and a neighbor, he stands high in Page County.

M. CRABILL has been a resident of Page County, Iowa, since 1870. He was born in Hardin County, Ohio, March 16, 1849, and is a son of George and Sarah S. (Roby) Crabill. In 1866 his par- ents removed from Hardin County, Ohio, to Taylor County, Iowa, and located on a farın, where he remained until his marriage, which occurred May 11, 1869. His wife's maiden name was Nancy J. Collins, and she is a daughter of Benjamin and Jane V. (Barclay) Collins, natives of the Buckeye State. They removed from Ohio to Taylor County, Iowa, where they were among the earliest pioneers.

Mr. and Mrs. Crabill have had born to them three children: Emma May, Allie B. and George B.

Our subject enlisted in Hardin County, Ohio, the day before Lincoln's assassination, in Company -, One Hundred and Ninety- eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at the age of sixteen years. This company was not on active duty, but was ordered to Camp Chase, and after one month Mr. Crabill was mus- tered out of the service. His father, however, saw more of the reality of the war, serving four years and four months; he was with

Sherman on his immortal march to the sea, and was a faithful, valiant soldier.

In December, 1870, Mr. Crabill came to Clarinda and engaged in the manufacture of brick. For five years he leased ground of Mr. Farrens for this purpose, and at the end of this period he purchased the land, where he has since conducted the business. The first two years he made about 500,000 brick an- nually, but since that time he has inanufac- tured npward of 1,000,000 per year. Nearly all the brick used in the construction of busi- ness houses in Clarinda have come from Mr. Crabill's yard. He has also made large shipments to neighboring towns. This in- dustry has been of great benefit to Clarinda, giving employment to twenty inen the greater part of the year, and requiring 600 cords of wood a year. In 1884 Mr. Crabill built the large business house on the east side of the square known as the "Crabill Block;" the first floor contains six store-rooms, and the upper floor is fitted up for offices, and a hall which is occupied by the Knights of Pythias. It was erected at a cost of $35,000, and would be an ornament to any city.

Mr. Crabill is a inember of the Knights of Pythias, Clarinda Lodge, No. 139, and is also connected with the Modern Woodinen. He is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. Every inan has a special talent, and usnally a special liking for some particular amusement; that of Mr. Crabill is in the direction of hunting, and he is one of the finest shots in the State.

YRUS J. ORTH has been a member of the business circles of Page County since 1879. He is a native of Mer- cersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, born October 12, 1845, and is a son of

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Adam G. and Frances (Secrist) Orth; the fatlier was born in 1808 and died April 4, 1884, at Keithsburg, Illinois; the mother was born in 1811, and still resides at Keithsburg. Cyrus J. passed his earlier years in the county of his birth, assisting his father and attending the common schools.

When there was a call for men to go to the defense of his country, he enlisted Janu- ary, 1864, in Company L, Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry; this company was formed in Franklin and Washington coun- ties, Pennsylvania, and was inustered into the service February 27, 1864. Mr. Orth was inustered out of the service at Cum- berland, Maryland, in November, 1865. September 1, 1864, he was appointed Cor- poral in Company L, and was in all of the important battles in which his company participated; among the more noted may be inentioned Maryland Heights, Winches- ter, and Cedar Creek, where Sheridan made his famous ride from " Winchester, twenty miles away."

In 1865 Mr. Orth removed to Mercer County, Illinois, and engaged in farming for two years. In January, 1868, he entered the employ of his brother, C. S. Orth, as clerk, and remained with him in that capacity until 1876, when he was made a partner in the business. In 1879 he disposed of his commercial interests in Illinois, and removed to Page County, Iowa, where he has since been engaged in active business. April 1, 1882, the firm of Orth Brothers was formed, and the same year they built the brick block which they now occupy.

Mr. Orth was married in 1873 to Miss Ida J. Noble, a native of Keithsburg, Illinois, and a daughter of James A. and Harriet (Frick) Noble. Her father died in 1862, and the mother still resides in Keithsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Orth have one child, Hattie N.,

born February 17, 1879. The father and mother are members of the United Presbyte- rian Church. Mr. Orth is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the A. O. U. W., and the G. A. R. He is a firm believer in the princi- ples of the Republican party.

EORGE BERRY, who next claims our attention in the biographical record of Page County, is a native of Scotland, born in 1826. His grandfather, Andrew Berry, was a native of Aberdeenshire, Scot- land, and he married Agnes Fyvie; they were the parents of two children: Andrew and George. The father lived to be eighty years of age; in his religious faith lie was a Sece- der of the most rigid sort. George Berry, father of our subject, married Ann Robert- son, the danghter of a Highlander who had seven daughters. To George and Ann Berry were born ten children: Andrew, Annie, Isabel, Agnes, William, George, Margaret, Jane, John and Elizabeth. Mr. Berry was a member of the Seceder Church, but he finally joined the Free Church of Scotland and be- came an elder of that society, holding the office until his death, which occurred in his ninetieth year; he was also a member of the old militia of Scotland.

George Berry, son of the above, was edu- cated in the common schools of Scotland and learned the carpenter's trade; he worked at this business until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he emigrated to America in the year 1853. He located at Urbana, Olio, and when he arrived there his means had dwindled to just $3. However, he imme- diately found employment at his trade and remained in Urbana fourteen years. In 1858 he was united in marriage to Agnes Berry, a daughter of Andrew and Annie (Adams)

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Berry, of Siniddir Hill, in the parish of Al- fort. Mrs. Annie Adams Berry was a daugh- ter of Charles and Mary (Urchart) Adams, of the Parish Eight, who owned the farin of Cornhill.

Mary Urchart was the sister of Dr. Urch- art, minister of the Established Church of Scotland in the Parish of Tongh, and who preached there until his death.

Unto Charles and Mary Adams were born twelve children: three of the boys studied for the ministry, but two of thein died be- fore they entered their duties. The rest of them becaine farmers, and all died of con- suinption but three.

The family of Andrew and Ann Berry con- sisted of seven danghters: Mary, Helen, Ann, Jessie, Christena, Agnes and Elizabeth. Mrs. Berry died of consumption when the young- est girl was three years old. Mr. Berry never married again and they all lived together, emigrating to America in 1854, to Savannah, Ohio, where he lived until his death, at the seventy-fifth year. He was of the strictest type of the old Seceders and raised his family in the most rigid manner. He was extremely orthodox in his observance of the Sabbath, not allowing his daughters to sweep the house or wash the dishes on that day. The daugh- ters all inarried well. Andrew Berry became a paralytic, and his children brought him to the United States to live, but he never real. ized that he had left Scotland.

Mr. and Mrs. George Berry have had three children: Andrew A., Anna R. and Jolin W. Mr. Berry resided in Urbana, Ohio, until 1867, when lie removed to Iowa and pur- chased eighty acres of land. As his means increased he added to this until he now owns 240 acres of land as fine as any in Page County. He has inade many valuable im- provements and lias built a desirable home for his family. Hle and his wife are worthy

members of the United Presbyterian Church of College Springs. He has always had a high sense of honor, and when he first arrived in this country he refused to become a citizen of a government that legalized the slavery of human beings; he therefore became a stanch Abolitionist. He is also a stanch Prohibi- tionist. The drinking habits of Scotland was the greatest reason of his leaving his native place.

The old Presbyterians of Scotland were a sterling, liberty-loving race of people, and their descendants may look with pride upon the ancestry from which they are sprung.

Andrew A. Berry lives on the Berry Hill farm. He is the agricultural editor of the Clarinda Herald, the leading paper in the county. He is also a special contributor to a number of the foremost agricultural jour- nals in the United States.

Anna R. Berry married John Duncan in 1882, who is the subject of a sketch in this work. They have three children: Walter Roy and Agnes. They have a fine farm near College Springs.

John W. Berry was married in 1889, to Lillie McKie, of Blanchard, Iowa, whose parents are Scotchi. John and Lillie Berry have one child, a boy, George Earl. They have a fine eighty-acre farm two miles from the Berry Hill Farin-the old home place, and is energetically making them a coinfort- able honie.

EORGE A. KING is descended from an old family of early settlers in Rhode Island. His grandfather, David King, was a blacksınith by trade, and the father of five children: Huldah, David, Joseph, Leon- ard, and Olney; he removed to Oswego County, New York, before 1830, and passed

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

the remainder of his days tliere. His son, Olney, the father of George A., was born in the town of Coventry, Rhode Island, in 1793, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Amy Potter, daughter of Peter Potter, and to them were born six children: Anstiss, Amy, Alexander, George A., Richard G., and Albert D. In 1855 the father of these children removed to Burean County, Illinois, and settled on a farm, where he died ten years later at the age of sixty-four years. He and his wife were consistent members of the Christian Church, but were not followers of Alexander Campbell. They bronglit up their children to a strict observance of Chris- tian principles, and to habits of industry and thrift, setting them an example in their own lives of much greater worth than riclies. Mr. King had a great repugnance to debt, and at the time of his death "owed no.man anything."

George A. King, the subject of this brief biography, was born in the town of Foster, Rhode Island, April 29, 1822, receiving a meager education in the common schools; he learned the trade of a machinist, and having a strong desire to be well informed he attended the night schools, thus laying a foundation that has enabled him to pursue his business intelligently. He learned his trade at Cen- tral Falls, and for more than nine years was in a manufacturing establishment in that place.

In 1844 Mr. King was united in marriage to Miss Harriet C. Chace, daughter of Sam- uel and Catherine (Eathforth) Chace. Mr. Chace was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1787, and was a carpenter by trade. He was descended from English ancestors, and for many years was a resident of the city in which lie was born. He spent the last years of his life at Smithfield, Rhode Island. He was the father of ten children, of whom Har-

riet King is the fourth: she was born in Providence, Rhode Island, February 3, 1821, and was twenty-three years old at the time of her marriage, September 3, 1844. The result of this union has been two children: Charles H., born June 11, 1846, and Morgia, born October 14, 1849; the birth-place of both was Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Mr. King remained in Smithfield until 1856, when he removed to Bureau County, Illinois, and engaged in farmning, cultivating his father's land. In 1864 his son, Charles, who was then eighteen years of age, enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served to the close of the war. In February, 1865, when there was a final call for men, Mr. King re- sponded, having been prevented before by the dependence of his family; he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served to the end of the bitter struggle. While on picket duty during a severe sleet and rain storm, he contracted rheumatismn, from which he has never recovered. The Government has granted him a pension in recognition of his service. After the war he returned to Illi- nois, but it was one year before he was able to engage in any kind of labor; he then re- suined farming in Bureau County, and in 1871, removed to Page County, Iowa, and settled on a wild tract of land, consisting of 120 acres, which he has converted into a fine, fertile farm.

Mr. and Mrs. King are both devoted mem- bers of the Essex Baptist Church, of which he is both deacon and trustee; they have all their lives been earnest Christians, and for forty-five years have been consistent church inembers. Their children have been taught the principles of the Christian religion, and to honor their Creator. They have made a great effort to maintain the Baptist Church

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

at Essex, but have not met withi as much suc- cess as they hoped.

Politically Mr. King affiliates with the Republican party, to whichi lie gives his un- divided support. His son, Charles A., was married, September 13, 1871, to Miss Annie Platt. He is now train dispatcher on the Santa Fe Railroad; he received his business educa- tion at the Commercial College at Providence, Rhode Island, and March 21, 1878, Morgia married Daniel H. Dean, who is now engaged in the real estate business in Chicago.

Samnel Eathforth, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. King, was of Scotch descent, and was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, pass- ing that terrible winter at Valley Forge. He lived to the great age of eighty-nine years. Jonathan Chace, Mrs. King's paternal grand- fatlier, was of English descent, and lived to the age of ninety-seven years. The mnotlier of Mrs. King lived to be ninety-nine years, four months, and twenty-two days old.

OSEPH C. SHIELDS .- It is with pleas- ure that the biographical historian of Pierce Township makes a record of the above named popular subject, Mr. Shields is well and favorably known, not only to the people of Essex, but also to the surrounding towns, both in and adjoining Page County. He is one of the most accommodating and genial men in this part of Iowa. His teams are always in fine condition, horses fat and well groomed, and are good roadsters as well as safe in driving; and on occasion, if it be his customer's pleasure, he can turn out a team that will distance most of the flyers. His carriages are always well washed up and in a safe condition, presenting the natty ap- pearance of a first-class livery. Like care and taste, of course, are exhibited in every detail

of the harness and other equipments. In short, all the virtues of a first-class liveryman pertain to and sit with easy grace upon Mr. Shields. A good livery is a good indication of a thrifty town, and is as important to the reputation of the place as is a good hotel; and the man who conducts one in a first-class manner is a direct benefit to his community, and deserves the respect and support of his fellow townsmen.

Besides keeping the only livery in Essex, Mr. Shields also buys and sells horses, and it is said that he is an excellent judge of the points of a fine horse. The farmers for miles around recognize his accommodating quali- ties, and can be seen at his barn on business at almost any time. So popular and favor- ably known is Mr. Shields that even stran- gers and traveling men, having business with the farmers in that part of the country, fre- quently engage his services, and always with satisfaction. And as he is yet a young man, the neighbors predict that his liberal spirit will continue to become far more widely known, and his popularity will continue to grow until the silver hairs have long graced his locks with the crowning dignity of an honored old age.

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OHN SCIDMORE, florist, Clarinda, Iowa, is a native of the State of New York, born in Saratoga County, April 27, 1842, and is the son of Elisha and G. Elma (McCleas) Scidmore. The parents were also uatives of Saratoga County, but were of Eng- lish origin. The mother died in 1852, but the father survived until September, 1886, aged eighty-four years. They reared a fam- ily of seven children, six of whom survive. John is the fourth child, and was left mother- less at a very early age. He was taken by a

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

family named Benson and was cared for until he was able to make his own way. He served an apprenticeship with his father as a mason, and in the fall of 1862 he came to Illinois, locating in La Salle County, near Ottawa. There he remained engaged in his trade until November, 1879, when he removed to Cla- rinda, Iowa; there he served as cemetery sex- ton, and has been engaged in the management of a green-house and a plant garden.

Mr. Scidmore was united in marriage March 5, 1867, to Miss Mary E. Taylor. She was born in Virginia and removed to La Salle County, Illinois, in 1865. Her parents died when she was a child. Mr. and Mrs. Scid- more have had five children, two of whom are living: Frederick, born in 1868, and Lil- lie, born in 1875. The father and mother are supporters of the Universalist Church.

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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