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 90
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Mr. Howard is a member of the Masonic brotherhood and is a man of fine qualities of head and heart; he has the confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. Politically he has been identified with the Democratic party, but is not bound by party lines and looks well to the inen who ask his suffrage.
Lemuel B. Latimer was born in Abingdon, Illinois, November 15, 1846, and is a son of John C. and Ann (Pierce) Latimer. The father was a native of Tennessee and came to Illinois with his parents when he was eight years old. Lemuel was reared to farm life and in 1870 he came to Page County, set- tling six miles from Shenandoah, in the neigh- borhood of two brothers who were living thien in Fremont County. He remained. on his farm until two years ago, when he camne to Shenandoah to assume the management of the nursery just purchased. He resides on the packing grounds and has supervision of all the field work. He is a " rustler " and under his management the nursery presents a face as clean as a city park.
Mr. Latimer was married March 3, 1870,
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to Miss Sarah E. Howard, the fourth child of the Howard family. She was born in War- ren County, Illinois, March 5, 1850. They have an interesting family of four girls: Ethel, Edith, Maud and Edna.
Josiah L. Howard is the manager of the nursery and supervises the entire work. He is the sixth of the Howard family and was born January 28, 1854. He has been em- ployed in the Mt. Arbor nursery since 1880, and thoroughly understands every detail of the business; he has made a most acceptable inanager and the present prosperity of the concern is in no small degree due to liis per- sonal effort and untiring energy. He was inarried July 4, 1876, to Miss Mary A. Mc- Clure, who was born in Indiana February 13, 1854. They have one child: Glenn L., born June 19, 1877.
The efficient book-keeper of this establish- ment is the youngest of the Howard family, Henry W. Howard. He has entire charge of the books and correspondence, receiving his business training at the Western Normal College. His efficiency as a book-keeper strongly attests the superiority of this home institution.
EROME BONAPARTE ARMSTRONG was born upon the banks of the Ansaba River in northern New York, July 4, 1832. His father was Dr. Daniel Armstrong, a native of Vermont; he was a physician of the old school and was a graduate of the Mid- dlebury University. His family came from Connecticut where the great-grandfather had settled upon his emigration from Ireland in 1750. His mother was Saralı M. Treadway, also a native of Vermont. Both parents died in Michigan, where they had settled in 1849. Of a family of nine children Jerome B. is
the oldest. When he was sixteen years old the family removed to Parma, Michigan, and there he soon entered a dry-goods store, where he was employed six years as salesman. At the expiration of that time he went to Gales- burg, Illinois, where he first found employ- ment in a grocery store. About this time, by a special act of the Illinois Legislature, the po- lice court of Galesburg was made a court of original jurisdiction in cases not exceeding $500; and he, being an unusually dextrous peninan, was recommended by his employers as clerk. Judge A. C. Wiley was the pre siding officer and in him and the attorney of the court, J. P. Frost, he found warm sup- porters. He attended the duties of the court four years, and a part of this time he was clerical Deputy United States Marshal un- der Captain Pollock, who was also chief of police. Having opportunities to become familiar with legal proceedings he was urged by his friends to enter the profession of law, but he was deterred by what he considered a limited education. He resigned his clerk- ship to accept a position with the Geneva Nurseries, and for two years was their travel- ing salesmen through eastern Iowa,
Mr. Armstrong was united in marriage July 25, 1860, to Miss Louisa Hoay, at Par- ma, Michigan. She is a daughter of James and Levissa Hoay. After his marriage he turned his attention to agriculture, but hav, ing suffered from sunstroke he was con- pelled to abandon this industry and return to Parma, Michigan. His eyesight was almost destroyed by the sunstroke, and for two years he was nearly blind. However, in June, 1862, he went to Corunna, Michigan, and en- gaged in the harness business with an ex- perienced workman named Norman Philips, He learned the trade of this man and con- tinued there in business for eight years. In 1870 he returned to Illinois and settled near
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New Windsor where he opened a shop; the following spring he started for Emporia, Kansas, and came through Page County in making the trip. The beauties of the valley of the Nishna made such an impression upon him that he bought 160 acres of land two and a half miles from Shenandoalı, deciding tliat whatever attractions Kansas might pos- sess they could not excel or surpass those of Page County, Iowa. That same season, 1871, lie began to improve his farm, but after he had spent one summer there he returned to New Windsor, and resumed his old business. In 1878 he again came to Shenandoah and opened a shop; he lost everything he pos- sessed in the most disastrous fire in the history of the town. His spirit was not dannted, however, and in thirty-six hours he liad another building erected and seven workmen at the bench. In 1887 lie opened business at his present stand, where he has a good trade.
Mr. Armstrong devotes but a small por- tion of his time to the harness business, his inclinations being towards a more active life. He early began to secure Page County real estate, and he has improved several farms, and is even now farming quite extensively. He lias one farm near town where he breeds and feeds large numbers of cattle and hogs each year; he also has a farm of 240 acres in Hamilton County, Nebraska, and another valnable tract in Box Butte County. He has one of the most desirable residences in Shen- andoalı and takes mnuch comfort and delight in his home and family. There have been born to the parents seven children: Carrie, Grace, Oralı, Mary, Jerome B., Jr., Carl, and Louisa. Carrie is the wife of Frank Wil- liams; Grace is a graduate of the Western Normal College, and is a teacher at Emerson, Iowa; Orah was also graduated from the college, and has since paid special attention to the study of music, in which she has an
unsual talent; she has been a student at the Conservatory in Chicago, and has taught one year at San Saba College, Texas, where she won an enviable reputation as a teacher.
Mr. Armstrong early became a member of the I. O. O. F., and lias been an active mem- ber, having passed all the chairs. He has given much attention to collecting a cabinet of relics and bric-a-brac; among other things he has a complete collection of all the paper scrip issued by the Government.
HARLES T. COX, an enterprising citi- zen of Sliambaugh, was born in St. Joe, Missouri, April 28, 1862, and he is the son of Finesse and Christine McLean. When he was five months of age his father died, and wlien one year old lie was adopted by Mrs. Scholes, of Page Connty, lowa; she died when he was seven years old, and William M. McLean was then appointed his guardian ; he spent the remainder of his childhood and youth with Mr. McLean. At the age of eighteen years he began to rely wholly upon his own resources, engaging as clerk in a gen- eral store in Shambaugh. Being desirous of gaining a better edncation, after one winter spent in the store, he attended two terms of school at College Springs, and then returned to his former employment. He had shown so muchi ability and had so improved his opportunities that when he had attained his majority he was able to purchase an interest in the general stock of W. L. McLean, the business being conducted under the firm name of McLean & Cox. These relations remained the same until 1886, when the stock was partially closed ont and business was sus- pended for six months; in the fall of 1886 Mr. Cox assnmed full control, and has since carried on the business with marked success;
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he carries a stock of general merchandise, and his aunual sales amount to $3,000.
Mr. Cox was appointed Postmaster October 5, 1889. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. He is one of the most energetic business inen of the county, and justly deserves the reputation he lias won for wise and careful dealing.
Our subject was united in marriage in Sep- tein ber, 1883, to Miss Sarah E. Heidelbauglı, a daughter of David and Martha Heidel- bauglı. Mrs. Cox was born Davis County, Ohio, September 1, 1864. They are the parents of five children: Freddie Rex, de- ceased; Effie L., Archie B., deceased; Annie B. aud an infant daughter.
Mr. Cox was given the name Cox by his adopted parents.
S. LUTTON, the accommodating proprietor of the Park Hotel, com- bines all the natural qualities of a thorough landlord. Ever courteous and affable he possesses to an eminent degree the tact necessary to make each guest feel at home, and when one departs from under his hospit- able roof it is with regret, but pleasant antici- pations of returning in the future. In these days, when so many commercial men live exclusively at hotels, one that possesses tlie advantages of the Park is doubly appreciated and enjoyed. Shenandoah is to be congrat- ulated upon her hotels and upon having such experienced and genial men to conduct thein. The Park was opened under its present man- agement in September, 1889. It had experi- enced rather rough sailing prior to that tune, and required much careful management and business sagacity to retrieve its waning for- tunes, but it fell into master hands and the results accomplished in four months are almost
beyond belief. It has regained a large part of its commercial trade and affords such accomn- dations and attentions to its guests as will inake it one of the most popular hotels in southwestern Iowa.
Mr. Lutton has spent all his lifetime in hotels, and knows what the demands cf tlie public are, and how to meet them with ease and satisfaction. His father is one of the best known landlords in Iowa, and has for years presided over the widely known Park Hotel in Atlantic. W. S. began his career as a landlord in 1885, in the Commercial Hotel at Villisca, where he earned a well merited reputation. He became so popular as a land- lord that the Union Pacific Hotel Company, in seeking a man to put on their extensive lines as cashier, selected Mr. Lutton, and he became their traveling cashier, continuing as such for nearly two years, when he resigned to accept the management of the famous Sayler's Springs Hotel at the health resort of the same name in Illinois. He conducted that during the season of 1887, and added to his already brilliant reputation as a landlord. This is an immense institution of two huu- dred rooms, and guests must receive the most exacting attentions.
W. S. Lutton was born in Meadville, Penn- sylvania, September 18, 1859, his parents be- ing William and Sophia (Corning) Lutton; the father is a native of Scotland and the mother was born in Pennsylvania. His father being in charge of hotels, young Lut- ton became familiar with every detail of hotel life, but imagined he would like a trade. Accordingly he learned the photographer's art, completing his studies in Boston at one of the fine galleries of that city. However, his health became impaired, and he was forced to abandon this calling and his attention was again directed to the art of pleasing the pub- lic by catering to the inner man. No little
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of the quiet hospitality of the Park is due to the presence and attention of the landlady, who was Miss Ida May McGogg, a daughter of Isaac McGogg. She and Mr. Sutton were united in marriage June 24, 1885; she has been a resident of Shenandoah for many years, her native State being Indiana. They are the parents of one child, Lois Lucille, who was born Angnst 12, 1888. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lutton are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias.
ACOB HAMM, a native of Germany, was born about the year 1781; he was reared in his native country, and during his youth he learned the blacksmiths' trade, which he followed until the spring of 1826, when he came to America. He settled in Fairfield County, Ohio, and turned his attention to farming. He died after about nine years' residence in this country. He married Mary M. Miller, also a native of Germany. She lived to a good old age, passing away in Page County early in the seventies. The parents were associated with the Lutheran Church. They had a family of eight chil- dren: Henry, Jacob, Michael, Magdaline, widow of John Good; Christian, the subject of this sketch; Frederick, Elizabeth, wife of William Jaurney, and Catherine, deceased.
Christian, the fifth child, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, December 1, 1826, and was reared in his native county, re- ceiving a purely practical education. His mother being left a widow, he assisted in taking care of her by working for wages until he was seventeen years old; then lie and one of his brothers rented a small farm, which they cultivated for two or three years.
September 12, 1847, he was married to Elizabeth Heidelbangh, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Heidelbaugh, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Hamın was born in Fairfieid County, Ohio, January 27, 1830. After his marriage Mr. Hamm remained three years in Fairfield County and then concluded to try his for- tunes in the West; so he removed to Van Buren County, Iowa, and after one winter he bonght a farm of eighty acres in Davis County, Iowa; there he lived four years, and then sold out, going to Decatur County, Iowa; there he pre-empted 160 acres of land, which he cultivated four years; he also owned ten acres of timber; but he dis- posed of all his property and returned to Davis Connty and purchased seventy acres near his old home; the following five years were spent in improving this place, after which he sold out and removed to East River Township, Page County. This was in Sep- tember, 1863. He bought 100 acres of par- tially improved land, and there made his home until March, 1889, when he removed to the village of Shambaugh. He was a resident of East River Township for twenty-six years, and during that time he put forth every effort to improve his own condition, and further the interests of the community. He stands high in the estimation of all who know him, and is in every sense of the word a self-made man. He has always followed agricultural pursuits, and now owns 240 acres of good land in East River Town- ship.
Politically Mr. Hamm is no partisan, but votes for the man he considers best qualified to fill the office. He has represented his township as road supervisor for two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Hamm are the parents of eight children: Catherine, wife of Benjamin Beery; Sarah, wife of John Konkle; Jacob, David, Jesse, William E., Charles, and Ida
Benj Davis
Charity Davis
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B., wife of Ed. Woodruff. The father and mother are members of the Church of God.
B ENJAMIN DAVIS has been closely connected with the history of Page County for many years, having come here when the broad, trackless prairie was dotted with few places of habitation, and long before the "iron horse " had penetrated the frontier. He is descended from an old American family of Welsh ancestry. Two brothers, James and Frank Davis, came from Wales at an early date in the settlement of this country and located in Maryland. Ben- jamin Davis, son of James, was a farmer by occupation and became a wealthy man; he married an Irish woman, and to them were born eight children: Robert, Betsey, Nancy, Martha, Benjamin, James, William and Miles. The father died in Baltimore Coun- ty, Maryland, at the age of forty-eight years, in the prime and full strength of a vigorous manhood. His son James, the father of our subject, was born in Baltimore County, Mary- land, and in his youth learned the tanner's trade. He married Elizabeth Zimmerman, of German extraction, and they became the par- ents of ten children: Mary, Susan, James, John M., Benjamin, William, Robert, Cathe- rine, Nancy and Elizabeth. Mr. Davis worked at his trade in Maryiand for thirteen years after his marriage; but meeting with finan- cial reverses through acting as security, he decided to make a change in his business. He removed to Preble County, Ohio, in 1835 and settled on a farm, where he remained five years; he then went to Jay County, Indiana, and bought land there; he was oue of the pioneers of that county, and passed the re- inainder of his days there. He died in March, 1858. He had become quite a wealthy man, 54
owning about 400 acres of land and being extensively engaged in thelive-stock business. He was very capable, energetic and industri- ous, and was possessed of a keen, shrewd judgment; he was of an exceedingly social, genial disposition, and had a fund of humor that made him the best of company. One brother of James Davis, William Davis, the only one of the family now living, is a lawyer in the city of Baltimore, Maryland.
Benjamin Davis, the son of Jamies and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Davis, was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, April 19, 1832. He received but a limited education, as he was but three years of age when his father re- moved to the State of Ohio: five years later he went to Jay County, Indiana, where the school-houses were of the primitive, log- cabin style, to which the methods of in- struction fully corresponded. He remained with his father, helping to clear the land and till the soil; he thus early became accustomed to all the vicissitudes of frontier life in a heavily timbered section.
At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Davis was united in the lioly bonds of wedlock with Miss Charity Bellis, daugliter of Adam and Rachel (Wolverton) Bellis, and this union was blessed with the birth of six children: Ann, Wilson, Jolin, Mary, Amy and Charity.
The tide of emigration in those days was bearing many to the frontier, where it was believed honest effort would be honestly re- warded. In 1855, two years after his mar- riage, we find Mr. Davis and his young wife equipped for the journey; when he had reached Page County he found it a land of great promise, and purchased 160 acres of land, a portion of liis present farm. This was partly timber and partly prairie and had no improvements; he built a log house, which stood near the site of his present dwelling. The first year he broke twelve acres of land
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with four yoke of oxen; his corn and other supplies had to be brought from Missouri, and he went to mill at Rockport, a point forty miles distant. After the first year, however, he had no difficulty in providing abundantly for his family. It is impossible for one who has been brought up in a well-settled country to realize in any degree the privations of pio- neer life, and the hearts must indeed be stout and brave to meet the various hardships with that nnshrinking firmness characteristic of the early settlers. Mr. Davis prospered in his newly chosen home, and from time to time he added to his farm until he owned 1,160 acres; three years ago lie divided 720 acres among his children; he and his son Frank owns 640 acres of Kansas land. After the first quarter section bought from the Gov- ernment, he paid, on an average, nineteen dol- lars per acre.
Through all his good fortune Mr. Davis has attributed his success to the constant en- couragement and aid of his inestimable wife. She was a woman of education and keen perceptions, fondly devoting her whole life to the care of her family. She was called from earth in 1886, at the age of fifty-five years, beloved and mourned as only a true mother can be.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis had born to them eight children: James, who married Mary Barnhart; Mary, wife of Frank Rockwell; Almaretta, wife of A. D. Buckingham; Elizabeth, wife of J. P. Barnhart; Olive, wife of Charles Weid- man; Frank M., who married Alfreda Hel- strom; Ada R. and Annie. Elizabeth, Frank and Ada have attended college at Shenan- doalı, and Elizabeth and Ada have been teachers.
Mr. Davis enjoys the fullest confidence of his fellow-citizens, as has been attested during the past twenty years by their calling him to various positions of trust and honor. He is
one of the original members of the Masonic order at Red Oak, Iowa, assisting in the or- ganization of Montgomery Lodge, No. 57. He has taken eleven degrees in Masonry and is a member of the Council.
In the community where he has lived so many years, he has been prominently identi- fied with all public enterprises. In his private life he is above reproach, and is re- garded by all who know himn as a man of the highest integrity.
OHN LYON GILES, proprietor of Giles' popular livery and feed stables, was born at Basking Ridge, Somerset County, New Jersey, February 22, 1827, and is a son of Jolin and Joan (Lyon) Giles, also natives of New Jersey. The Giles family are from direct English stock, but of remote Spanish origin. John Giles, the grandfather of our subject, was an old sea captain and his life was mainly spent on the water. The mater- nal great-grandfather, whose name was Miller, was a pioneer of New Jersey; he lived near Trenton, and was a soldier in the Revolution- ary war. The father of John L. Giles was a carpenter by occupation, and John, Jr., learned the trade, which he followed for many years. When he was four years old the family re- moved to Marion County, Ohio, and in a few years to Mount Gilead, Ohio, where both parents afterward died.
Mr. Giles was married June 20, 1848, at Mount Gilead, to Miss Susan Merrick, a na- tive of Harrison County, Ohio. About 1854 they removed to Iowa and settled in Maliaska County, improving a farm near Oskaloosa. After living tliere three years Mr. Giles im- proved another farm in Keokuk County, and in a few years returned to Mahaska County ; thence he came to Page County in 1867 and
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settled in the extreme southeast corner in Buchanan Township, adjoining Taylor Coun- ty, and but one mile from the Missouri line. After farming there three years he concluded that he could make money faster at some other business; so he took an agency to sell farm puinps for a St. Joseph firm; for three years he sold large numbers throughout Page and Taylor counties, Iowa, and Nod- away and Andrew counties, Missouri. His family still lived upon the farm. Becoming well grounded in this line of trade he ex- changed his farm for a pump, safe, and lightning-rod establishinent at St. Joe, and for three years did an extensive and remun- erative business. Disposing of this concern he returned to Page County and secured land in East River Township, and there he farmned a number of years, growing some very fine crops. He then removed from his farm to Bedford, Taylor County, and embarked in tlie livery business, which he successfully con- ducted until 1880, when he again came to Page County and opened a livery stable at Clarinda. In three years he came to Shenan- doah and engaged in the livery business, be- ing located at his present stand. In about four years he sold the business and removed to Council Bluffs, where he was similarly engaged until June, 1889. He then for the fifth tiine returned to Page County and pur- chased the establishment he had formerly owned. He has the largest barn in Shenan- doah, with stable-room for forty-five head of horses and shed room for nearly 100 more. He keeps the finest outfits to be had and his horses are carefully kept in excellent driving condition. His drivers are courteons and thoroughly understand their business. No effort is spared to make the stable first-class in every respect, and the superior accom- modations command a profitable trade.
Mr. Giles has a pleasant liome on Elin
Street, and there enjoys the faithful com- panionship of his wife. They have had four children: John Fletcher died at the age of three and a half years; Joan is the wife of William Wamsley; George M. resides in Kansas, and Florinda Ereline is the wife of Jolın H. Reeves. Mr. Giles affiliates with the Masonic brethren, and is Republican in politics. Mrs. Giles is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
C. PEARCE, dealer in boots and shoes, is one of the latest acquisitions to Shenandoah's business circles, and al- though a new man he is fast working into a splendid trade and already ranks as the lead- ing dealer in his line of goods. He brings with liim business capacity and sagacity, which, coupled with an extensive experience not only in this but other lines of mercantile life, enable him readily to attain an advanced position in any community. His fine stock of choice and standard makes of all grades of boots and shoes is new and well selected and consists of just such goods as the trade de- mands. Mr. Pearce comes to Shenandoah from Keokuk, where he had been in the Gov- ernment employ for some years as construc- tion clerk in connection with the erection of the recently completed postoffice building of that place. Prior to the erection of the Keo- kuk building he served in the same capacity upon the new building at Jackson, Missis- sippi.
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