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 94
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In May, 1864, he responded to the call for more men to go to the front in defence of the nation, enlisting in Company G, One Hun- dred and Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. He was honorably discharged and re-enlisted in February, 1865, in the Second Ohio Cavalry, Company C, and served nntil the close of the war. He was present at the grand review at Washington, and was after- ward ordered to Indian Territory; he was dis- charged September 11, 1865, at Benton's Barracks, Missouri, and received his final dis- charge at Columbus, Ohio, where he was paid off.
When Mr. Duke came to Page County in 1871 he settled on wild land, and was one of
the first to locate in that neighborhood. His farm now consists of 240 acres, which is in an advanced state of cultivation. His im- provements are of excellent quality, and he has availed himself of many modern con- veniences for carrying on farming. He has planted a grove and an orchard, adding beauty as well as comfort to his surroundings. He devotes his time especially to farmning and stock-raising, and has been universally suc- cessful in his undertakings.
Mr. Duke was united in marriage March 9, 1871, at Chatham Centre, Medina County, Ohio, to Miss Henrietta Gridley, a native of Medina County, Ohio, and a daughter of Oren and Lydia (Paliner) Gridley, natives of the State of New York. Thomas Palmer waf an early settler of Medina County, Ohio, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. His father, Ephraim Palmer, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Oren Gridley and wife had four children, three of whom are living. The parents now live at Chapin, Franklin County, Iowa. Mrs. Duke was a successful teacher for several years prior to her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Duke are the parents of two children: Cora May and Oren Isaac; two sons died in infancy. They are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are higlily esteemed by the people of the community in which they have lived for so many years. Politically Mr. Duke is iden- tified with the Republican party.
OHN H. LEE has been a citizen of Page County since 1869, and is a highly respected farmer of Washington Town- ship. He was born in Middlesex County, near London, Canada, December 7, 1843; his father, William Lee, was born in Canada of
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English ancestry; he married Miss Harriet Lacey, a native of Canada, of Dutch extrac- tion. Three children were born of this nnion, two sons and one daughter. John H. was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and obtained his education in the common schools of Middlesex County, Canada. He was nnited in marriage, April 10, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Ward, who was born near Toronto, Canada. She is the daughter of William and Lucinda (Custad) Ward. In the spring of 1868 Mr. Lee emigrated to Tennessee, but not being satisfied there the following fall he removed to Page County, Iowa, where he purchased eighty acres of land, on which he has since resided. He has improved the place until it is one of the most valuable and de- sirable homes in the township. The residence is surrounded by magnificent pines and other evergreen trees, and a thrifty orchard of cherry trees is near by.
Mr. and Mrs. Lee are the parents of three children: Horace William was born in Mid- dlesex County, Canada, January 10, 1866, and is now married and resides in Coin, Iowa; Effie M. was born February 13, 1878, and Frank H. died in infancy.
In political thought and action our subject stands with the Republican party, but has never aspired to public office. He and his family are worthy and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of North- boro, Iowa. He is a man of good, reliable business habits, and has the confidence and regard of a wide circle of acquaintance.
AMES C. PATTON, one of the leading farmers of Amity Township, is a son of Thomas and Jane (Glasgow) Patton, and one of a family of nine children, named as
follows: Robert, Joseph, Cyrus, Thomas E., James C., Daisy, Marthia, Margaret and Phobe. The father was a farmer in Adams County, Ohio, where he lived all his life. He was a member of the Scotch Covenanter Church. James C. was born in Adams County, Ohio, in 1827, and learned in early life the duties of farming. He received a com- mon-school education, but the educational facilities of those times were somewhat lim- ited compared with those afforded by the State at the present day. When he was but eight years of age liis father died, and two years later his mother passed away; he lived with his sister Martha, who was married to William McIntyre, until he was sixteen years old, and then began the battle of life for him- self. Three years later he came to Illinois, and engaged in farm work in Peoria County. There he was married to Sarah Hart, a daugh- ter of George Hart, and to them were born eleven children: Porter, Elizabeth, Alice, deceased, Ione, Mary, deceased, Olive, Lulu, Emma, Anderson, George, deceased, and Harry. Mr. Patton lived in Peoria County several years after his marriage, and then moved to Mercer County, Illinois, and pur- chased land, on which he lived for some time; he finally went back to Peoria County, and at the end of five years he came to Page Coun- ty, Iowa; he owns a farm of 140 acres of well improved land, and is a successful agricult- urist.
Mrs. Patton died April 5, 1871, and in January, 1877, Mr. Patton was married to Mary Hensleigh, a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Walters) Hensleigh, natives of England and school-teachers by profession. Mr. and Mrs. Patton are both members of the United Presbyterian Church, as was also the first Mrs. Patton. Seven of the children are mar- ried: Alice was the wife of Samuel Leslie and the mother of two children: she is now
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deceased; Elizabeth is the wife of James Dunbar, a farmer of Amity Township; they have five children; Porter married Cleone Smith, and they are the parents of two chil- dren; Ione is the wife of H. Henderson, a farmer in Nebraska, and is the mother of three children; Olive married Charles Foster, a clerk in Coin, Iowa; they have one child; Anderson married in Kansas, and has one child.
Mr. Patton has held the confidence of his fellow townsmen, and has represented thiem as school director with entire satisfaction. He has been prosperous in business and is in comfortable circumstances.
ILLIAM MAXWELL has been prom- inently identified with the agricult. ural interests of Page County since 1867. He is a native of county Donegal, Ireland, born July 12, 1843. His grand- father, Robert Maxwell, lived to the great age of 105 years; his father, George Max- well, married Martha Shaw, a daughter of Catherine Cook Shaw, who is now living at the age of 100 years and in excellent health. William remained beneath the parental roof until he was twenty-four years of age; he then decided to seek a home beyond the sea, so he sailed away from his beloved land for the New World. He landed at Castle Gar- den and continued his journey to Jasper County, Iowa, where he remained ten weeks; he then came to Page County, where he worked at laying cellar walls and at other labor which would bring him an honest dol- lar. In 1868 he secured employment on the Union Pacific Railroad, in which he continued one year; when he took this position he had but twenty-five cents in money, and at the end of the year he had saved $700. He in-
vested in Page County land, buying forty acres in Tarkio Township, which is a part of liis present farm; he now owns 324 acres clear and free from debt. The dwelling built in 1888 is a neat, substantial house, pleas- antly situated and resting on a solid rock foundation of eighteen inches thickness; the barns are large and well fitted for the care of live-stock and crops; there are 100 head of cattle and a large number of hogs now being fattened on tlie Maxwell farm; there are nineteen heal of valuable horses also belong- ing to the live-stock of the farm. The land is drained with 12,000 or 13,000 tiles. There are many conveniences for farming in the most approved style, and it has been a de- cided success in the hands of the present thrifty owner.
Mr. Maxwell was united in marriage No- vember 16, 1875, in Taylor County, Iowa, to Miss Catherine Canterbury, a native of Ire- land, and a daughter of William and Fanny (Manning) Canterbury. Two children have been born of this union: William George, born January 15, 1877, and Mary, born De- cember 2, 1882. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Summit Class. They have taken an active interest in the npbuilding of the community and have been zealous supporters of the church. Po- litically Mr. Maxwell affiliates with the Re- publican party. He is a man of high purpose, excellent business qualifications, and is connted among the solid men of the county.
L. HATCH is the proprietor of Hatch's brick yards, one of the leading establishments of Clar- inda. The business was inaugurated in 1882 by Thomas E. Stevens and was continued by him for four years, when Mr. Hatch bought
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the entire concern and has since been sole manager. The yard is located east of the town where the soil is peculiarly suited to the work, and the brick turned out from this institution is not excelled in southwestern Iowa; the capacity of the yards is 800,000 annually, and from six to ten men are em- ployed during the busy season; 300 cords of wood are consumed. annnally in burning the brick. Mr. Hatch is an experienced brick-maker, and thoroughly understands his business, of which he has made a decided success. He has been a resident of Clarinda since 1882, coming here from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he had been engaged in the saine business.
In order to learn something more of Mr. Hatch's career we will go back to Greene County, Ohio, where he was born July 14, 1839, his parents being Barnabas and Mar- garet (Smith) Hatch, natives of the " Buck- eye " State. He was ten years old when the family removed from Ohio to Logan County, Illinois. His father was also a brick-maker by trade and he learned the business from him. When there was a call for nien to go to the defense of the old flag he left his brick-making and enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Sixtli Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, in the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, Little Rock, Cainden, and inany less noted engagements. He was honorably discharged Angust, 1865, and re- turned to Logan County, Illinois. In a short time he removed to Bourbon County, Kansas, being among the early settlers of that county ; there he lived ten years and in 1876 he came to Iowa, locating at Mt. Pleasant.
Mr. Hatch was united in marriage in Lo- gan County, Illinois, October 10, 1860, to Miss Saralı Frances Williams, a native of Clarke County, Ohio, and a daughter of
John and Margaret (Kite) Williams. Five children have been born of this union: Charles L., Rob H., Clayton, Otho C. and Margaret Ellen. Mrs. Hatchi is a worthy member of the Christian Church. Onr subject is a Re- publican in his political faith. He is a member of Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R., and also belongs to the I. O. O. F., lodge No. 109. He is a man well informed upon the topics of the day, lias seen a considerable portion of the world, and is one of the leading men of Clarinda's business circles.
H. DAUCHY, dealer in general merchandise, Clarinda, Iowa, is one of the well-known business inen of Page County, having been identified with her interests since 1869. He was born in Wyom- ing County, New York, September 1, 1832, and is a son of Hawley Dauchy, a native of the State of Connecticut and a son of James Dauchy who was a soldier in the Revolution- ary war, and whose father also served in that contest. The mother of our subject was Dirmis Reed, who was born in Cayuga Coun- ty, New York. There were eight children in the family, of whom W. H. is the young- est. When he was four years old the family removed to Crawford County, Pennsylvania. One year later the mother died and the father survived nntil 1865, dying at the age of seventy-eight years. Mr. Dauchy was reared in town and received no special training in business; he was employed in various voca- tions until he became interested in a saw- mill; he bought and sold lumber quite extensively, and in 1854 he removed to Taylor County, Iowa, and located at Bedford, then containing four log cabins. He opened a saw-inill, which he conducted successfully for six years. In 1860 lie went to Clarinda, and
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
in 1864 he pushed on still further west; he was engaged in mining in Montana and Cali- fornia for three years, and then removed to Kansas, where he operated a saw-mill for six months. At the end of that time he returned to Clarinda and worked in a woolen mill, and then clerked for a while.
In 1869 he opened his store on the east side of the square and afterward located on his present site. He carries a heavy stock of well assorted goods, and by his square, honest dealing he has won a large patronage. Politically he affiliates with the independent element of the Republican party. He is one of the city Councilmen and is well fitted for that position; he is a member of the Knights of Labor, Clarinda Assembly, No. 3,760; he was a charter member of the I. (). O. F. lodge of Bedford, Iowa.
AMES GAMBLE, one of the prosperous farmers of Page County, settled on sec- tion 9, Colfax Township, in October, 1869. He was born in Scott County, Indi- ana, May 9, 1842, and is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Carlisle) Gamble. The father was born in Ireland and emigrated to America when a young man; he settled in Ohio, where he was married to Miss Carlisle, a na- tive of that state. In March, 1842, they removed to Scott County, Indiana, and settled in a lieavy timber section, where they cleared up a farm; for years they lived in a log cabin, and the father still resides near the same spot on which he first settled. Alexander Gam- ble's father lived to the advanced age of ninety eight years. The family were strong adherents to the faith of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.
James Gamble is the second of a family of eight children; he was reared on a farm and
early inured to hard labor; his education was obtained in the common schools of Indiana. August 9, 1862, when there was a call from Lincoln to the men of this country to come to the defense of the old flag, he enlisted in Company F, Sixty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and saw much hard fighting in that struggle for the Union. He was in the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, the Atlanta cam- paign, and was present when the gallant Mc- Pherson was killed. His gun was shot from his hand and he escaped many close calls to death. His company lost heavily in the several engagements in which they partici- pated. He also marched to the coast through the Carolinas and was present at one of the greatest war scenes ever presented, the grand review at Washington, District of Columbia, May 22, 1865. He was discharged as Cor- poral, and returned to Scott County, Indiana, June 15, 1865.
Mr. Gamble was united in marriage Feb- ruary 20, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth McCul- longh, a native of Scott County, Indiana, and a daughter of Jaines Young and Rhoda Ann (Smith) Mccullough, both of whom were of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Mr. Gamble remained in Indiana until September 21, 1869, when he came to his present place, which was then a wild waste of prairie country without any improvements. He purchased eighty acres at first and began the task of making a home, no light one in a pioneer country. As his means increased he added to his first purchase, until he now owns 240 acres, which he has placed under good cultivation. He has five acres of grove and a good apple orchard. From his home, which was once solitary and alone, can be seen four sprightly villages and two lines of railroad When he came to Iowa the trip was made overland with teams and wagons. He has been engaged in general farming but has realized the greatest
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
profits from stock feeding and growing. Mr. and Mrs. Gamble are the parents of eight children: Einma O., Robert Oliver, Lewis Byron, Edwin, Flora, Ella, Chester, George W. and Edith May. They have lost four by death. Politically Mr. Gamble is a stanch Republican, and is perhaps the mnost radical one in Colfax Township. He has served as a member of the school board, and as trustee. He and his family are members of the Meth odist Episcopal Church. He belongs to Page Post, No. 65, G. A. R., and is quartermaster of the same. He is also a member of Rising Star Lodge, No. 180, A. O. U. W., at Blan- chard.
No man in Page County stands higher in point of integrity of character than does James Gamble. He is firm in his convic- tions of right and wrong, to which he gives fearless expression.
M. HUTTON, proprietor of the City Roller Mills, Clarinda, is one of the leading niillers of Page County. His mill was built about the year 1861, and since that time has changed liands several times. Mr. Hutton bought the property in 1881, in partnership with Daniel Sweeney, and they conducted the business for two years. Some time later a Mr. Mitchell bonght an interest in the mill, and afterward Jake Wolf pur- chased a half interest in the business. In 1887 our subject purchased the entire busi- ness, which he has since managed in a very successful manner. The mill has the full roller process, and lias a daily capacity of sixty barrels besides the feed and Graham buhrs. The building is a three-and-a-half story frame, 40 x 50 feet, and the boiler house is 20 x 40 feet. It is all well arranged and a large business is transacted.
Mr. Hutton is a native of Jefferson Coun- ty, Iowa, born September 2, 1839, his parents being Benjamin F. and Lucinda (Mason) Hutton, natives of Tennessee and Maine re- spectively. The Masons were a prominent family of old settlers in Sangamon Connty, Illinois. Our subject was five years old when his parents removed to Sangamon County, Illinois. There the father died at the age of sixty-five years; the mother still lives in Illinois at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Benjamin F. Hutton was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and served in the Tenth Illinois Cavalry. His son, N. M., en- listed September 20, 1861, in the Tenth Illinois Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He was in the battle of Vicksburg, and other noted engagements; at the time of Lincoln's death he was at New Orleans and thence was ordered to San Antonio, Texas. He was mustered out November 22, 1865, and was finally discharged at Camp Butler, Illinois. He was never excused from duty during the entire time of his service, and made an enviable record for his faithfulness and bravery. After the declaration of peace he returned to Sangamon County, Illinois, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1871 he went to Quincy, Illinois, and embarked in the lead, paint, and oil trade, and did an extensive business. He employed a large force of men who did painting under his direction, and he remained there until 1881, when he came to Page County and settled in Clarinda, as before mentioned.
Mr. Hutton was united in marriage at Quincy, Illinois, December 25, 1872, to Miss Fanny Hutton, a daughter of John and Mar- tha (McDonald) Hutton, natives of Ohio and Tennessee respectively. One child was born of this union, Alice Osborn.
Mr. Hutton is identified with the Repnb- lican party and is a strong supporter of its
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
principles. He is a member of Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R. Mrs. Hutton is a worthy member of the Baptist Church.
EORGE W. BOHRER was born in Morgan County, West Virginia, Jan- uary 18, 1840, and is a son of Adam and Hannah (Bailey) Bohrer, also natives of West Virginia. His grandfather, Abraham Bohrer, was a native of Germany, and his maternal grand parents were of English origin. Adam Bolirer and wife reared a family of eleven children, all of whom grew to inaturity; there were seven sons and four daughters and George W. was the fifth child. The father was a farmer by occupation and followed that calling all his life; he was a member of the Evangelical Church and lived a Christian life; he and his wife lived until the end of tlieir days in Morgan County, West Virginia, living until seventy-one and seventy-seven years respectively.
George W. was reared in the honorable calling which his father had followed so many years, and obtained his education in the com- mon scliools. He was united in marriage November 20, 1862, to Miss Susan Fearnow, at Warfordsburgh, Fulton County, Pennsyl- vania. She was born September 29, 1841, and is a daughter of John and Nancy (Daw- son) Fearnow, natives of West Virginia, of German ancestry. They reared a family of thirteen children, ten of whom are living. The father was a member of the Evangelical Church and the mother belonged to the United Presbyterian Church. In 1867 Mr. Bohrer removed to Whiteside County, Illi- nois, and remained there three years; he then came to Taylor County, Iowa, and in 1873 we find him in Douglas Township, Page County, Iowa. He settled on eighty acres of
wild land, which he has increased to 200 acres, all in an excellent state of cultivation. He has erected a good house and substantial barns for stock and grain ; he has also planted an orchard and a grove whichi add not alone to the value of the farm but to the beauty of the landscape. The residence was built at a cost of $1,000 and is a credit to the owner. The farm is well watered by Tarkio creek, thns adapting it to raising live-stock.
Mr. and Mrs. Bohrer are the parents of nine children: Ida, wife of H. A. Sykes; Laura M., Emma J., Nettie V., Clara P., Bessie M. and three sons who died in infancy. Two of the daughters, Laura and Nettie, are engaged in teaching and are making a suc- cess of this profession. The family are prom- inently identified with the church work of the township, the father being a member of the Evangelical Church, and the mother and four daughters of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church, belonging to Suminit class of Noda- way Township.
Mr. Bolirer is a Prohibitionist and is a strong supporter of the issues of that party. He is the present trustee of the township and has also served as Justice of the Peace.
J. LUNDGREN, an industrious and successful fariner of Nodaway Town- ship, has been a resident of Page County since 1870. He was born in Sweden, September 10, 1837, and is a son of Jolin Lundgren. He was reared on a farm and re- inained in his native country until 1864, when he decided to try his fortunes in America. Accordingly he bade farewell to his beloved land and sailed away to the New World. He landed in New York and continued his jour- ney to Illinois, where he remained until 1869. Ile then came to Iowa and purchased eighty
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
acres of railroad land at $11 per acre; he at once set about erecting the necessary buildings and making a comfortable home, and one now beholds hedges, shade-trees and many other improvements, the result of in- dustry, energy and thrift.
Coming to America when all was new to him, our subject rapidly learned American manners and customs; he mastered our lan- guage, no small accomplishment, and finally became an adopted citizen. He has ever displayed that thrift and money-getting fac- ulty for which his nation is noted. To-day he owns a good farin and is surrounded by all the comforts of life. It is to such men of temperate habits and moral life that this country owes very much of her present pros- perity and growth.
Mr. Lundgren was united in marriage April 25, 1877, to Miss Christine Mary Carlston, a native of Sweden, who came to America in 1876. Six children have been born of this union: Paulina, Sarah, Willian Martin, Hul- dal Christine, Luke Arthur and Albert Clyde. In his political belief our subject, like many of his countryinen, was formerly a Republican, but he now votes the Democratic ticket. He has been a member of the township school board, which position he has ably filled. He was reared in the Lutheran faith and now belongs to the Lutheran Church of Douglas Township.'
ENRY STEEVE, a prosperons farmer of Douglas Township, is here given space in which to record for those wlio come after him some of the more important relations and performances of his active life. He is one of America's many thrifty, honor- able, adopted citizens. He was born in Han- over, Germany, November 18, 1834, and is 56
a son of Jolin Henry and Eletch (Kors) Steeve. He was reared on a good, old Ger- man farm and attended school until he was fourteen years of age. When twenty-one he bade farewell to the scenes of his happy child- hood and came to the New World, landing in New York after a voyage of fifty days on the stormy Atlantic. From New York he at once went to Ohio, and engaged in farming near Cleveland.
Mr. Steeve was married in 1855 to Mary Elizabeth Bente. She is a native of Germany and was twenty-one years of age when she came to America. In 1864 they came to Cook County, Illinois, and there Mr. Steeve rented a farm for five years; at the end of this time they removed to Page County and he purchased a farm of 320 acres, paying $5 per acre; it was wild, unimproved land, but he has brought it to an advanced state of cultivation and has made such excel- lent improvements that it is to-day one of the finest farms in Page County. Besides a fine grove there is a good orchard of five acres and sınall fruit in abundance; a wind-mill pumps a sufficient supply of water to the stock and also propels a feed-mill; there are also stock- scales on the place, which are frequently in demand, as Mr. Steeve deals largely in live- stock. His farm now consists of 600 acres well fenced; he owns more land in Nodaway Township, on which his son John lives; he has 220 acres in sections 5 and 11, Nodaway Township, and eighty acres in section 15, all of which is well-improved. Other real estate which he owns is 127 acres in Valley Town- ship and 180 acres in sections 17 and 18, Buchanan Township.
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