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 98
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Jefferson Copeland, the father of Mrs. Phipps, is a grandson of Charles Copeland, who came from Scotland to Halifax, Nova Scotia, long before the war of the Revolution. Charles Copeland married Miss Abigail Hass, and they had one son, Charles. The father returned to Scotland to recover some property belonging to his family estate, and while there broke his leg, and was detained a long time. The means of communication were very meager, and as his wife did not hear from him for such a long time, she moved with her father's family to Virginia, where she married again. After a long time her hus- band abandoned all hopes of gaining his part of the estate and returned to Nova Scotia, where he again broke his leg; his wife hear- ing of his return traveled all the distance from Virginia to see him, but he passed away before she reached his side. Her son, Charles, the father of Jefferson, was a native of Nova Scotia, and a soldier in the war of the Revolution. He married Hannah Osborn, and they had thirteen children, of whom Jefferson is the youngest and the only surviv- ing one. The father was a member of the Baptist Church. Jefferson Copeland was born in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, in 1810, and was seven years of age when his parents re- moved to Indiana; there lie learned to read
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and write, and at the age of eighteen years he learned the trade of a blacksmith. In 1834 he married Louisa Johnson, daughter of Patrick and Annie Morton Johnson, both of Scotch descent. They became the parents of five children: Charlotte, Charles, Lydia A., Martha, and Julietta. Since 1868 Mr. Cope- land has been a resident of Page County; he is now eighty years of age. He is a diligent student of the Bible and preaches the Gospel as it is revealed to him by the reading of the Word. He has suffered many harships in his career, but has been of incalculable bene- fit to his country in clearing a path through the wilderness for the advance of civilization. There is no more honorable record in the life of any American citizen.
OHN F. FALK, Essex, Iowa .- America owes much of her present success and prosperity to the multitude of foreigners who have sought homes on her hospitable shores, and Sweden has contributed largely to the number of energetic agriculturists found throughout the Northwest. Mr. Falk was born in Sweden, January 24, 1850, and is a son of John A. Falk, whose history will be found on page 647 of this volume. When he was four years of age his parents emigrated to America and settled in Henry County, Illinois; there he received a common- school education, and was trained to agricult- ural pursuits; he also took a commercial course at the college at Galesburg, Illinois.
In 1870 Mr. Falk was united in marriage to Carolina S. Johnson, daughter of J. P. Nelson; her brother, after the Swedish cus- tom, had adopted the name of Johnson, and after coming to this country she also assumed this name. After his marriage Mr. Falk settled on a farm in Illinois, and by industry
and good management he was enabled to buy land in Henry County, on which he re- sided until 1882. It was in that year that he concluded to pitch his tent nearer the setting sun, and accordingly he disposed of his property and set out for Iowa. Arriving in Page County he decided to try his fortune in what seemed a most promising section. He purchased 320 acres of rich, fertile land, and has developed one of the most desirable farms within the borders of Page County. It has required years of patient and continued effort to bring about these results, but the reward has been ample, success having at- tended his every undertaking.
Mr. and Mrs. Falk are the parents of eight children: Edward F., deceased at the age of seventeen years; Ludwig, who died in in- fancy; Ludwig T., Hilda, Frida, Laula, Nora and Nina. The parents are worthy and con- sistent members of the Swedish Lutheran Church, and they are endeavoring to bring up their children " in the nurture and admoni- tion of the Lord." The have accumulated sufficient means to give them a liberal ed- ucation and fit them for the responsibilities of life.
Mr. Falk is thoroughly Americanized, is public-spirited, and gives generously to the support of all worthy enterprises. He has a wide circle of acquaintance, by whom he is highly esteemed for his many excellent traits of character.
ARCUS A. CHANTRY .- In the early settlement of this country, wlien men and women of intelligence and religious convictions fled from the op- pression and persecution of a tyrannous church and state power, we find prominent among them a body of people who set them
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selves against every form of oppression, and declared for the principles of peace, justice and liberty; these peculiar people were called Friends. Every one who is familiar with the history of the early days of this country knows the experiences of this band of truth-loving people, and the record of the religious perse- cutions among our forefathers constitutes the darkest chapter in the early history of this continent. Only the ignorance and supersti- tion fostered by the false teaching of that period can be accepted as any excuse for the atrocions crimes committed in the name of religion. The ancestors of our subject were among these persecuted people. His grand- father came from Lincolnshire, England, and settled in Pennsylvania, that good, old Quaker State founded by the prince of American nobility, William Penn. He married Hannah Parmore in Philadelphia, and they were the parents of nine children: Samuel, William Elwood, David, Marcus, Sarah, Eliza, Hannah, and Allen J. Mr. Chantry was a farmer in Pennsylvania and removed from that State to Iowa, settling in Henry County, on a timber farm, where he was one of the first settlers. In 1856 he moved to Guthrie County, Iowa, and there he spent the remainder of his days. He lived to be over seventy years of age, and died in the full faith of his religions convic- tions.
Allan J. Chantry, son of the above and father of our subject, was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, June 13, 1841, and received but a limited education, as the schools of that time on the frontier were very primitive. His mother, however, was able to give him good in- struction at home, and from her he also received training in those principles and virtues which laid the foundation of an earnest and upright character. He was a lad of thirteen years when his father removed to Guthrie County. When still a minor he attempted to enlist in
the army without his father's knowledge; it being contrary to the rules of the Society of Friends to bear arms or to engage in carnal warfare, his father captured him and bronght him back home. As soon as he was twenty- one years of age he enlisted in the Twenty- ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company K, and served until the close of the war. He was made Second Lieutenant soon after en- listing, and was in the battles of Helena, Arkansas, Ball's Bluff, New Orleans and Galveston, Texas. He was wounded but had his wound dressed in the field and did not go to the hospital. He was promoted to the position of First Lientenant and came out of the army with a Captain's commission. After his return from the war in 1865, he was united in marriage, November 16, to Miss Harriet Rains, daughter of Henry and Mary (Hieronymus) Rains, old pioneers of Mills County, Iowa. In the month following his marriage Mr. Chantry moved to the farm now occupied by his son in Fremont Town- ship, and there he lived until 1880; in that year he went to Malvern, Mills Connty, where he owns a farm of 200 acres and some town property.
Mr. and Mrs. Chantry are the parents of nine children: Marcus A., Warren, Alfred, Lottie, deceased; Libbie Ann, F., R., Ellis and Allan J. Mr. Chantry prospered in Page County, and through his untiring efforts and good management he became owner of 450 acres of fine farming land. He has always cominanded the respect of liis fellow- citizens and they have entrusted him with inany positions of honor and trust. He has represented his district in Page County in the State Legislature, and also served two terms from Mills County. He is a stanch Republican. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, and belongs to the G. A. R. Post at Malvern, of which he has served as
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Commander. He has been several times chosen President of tlie S. W. Iowa and N. W. Missouri Veteran Association. Mr. Chantry has passed a very busy and useful life and bids fair to live out the " three-score years and ten " allotted to man.
Marcus A. Chantry, son of Allan J. Chan- try, was born September 13, 1866, on the homestead where he now lives. He received a good education in the public schools of Page County, and spent two years in the Western Normal College at Shenandoah. On Decem- ber 29, 1887, he was united in marriage to Miss Alice Summers, daughter of W. E. and Mary (Kellogg) Summers, at White Cloud, Iowa. Mr. Summers is one of the old pio- neers of Mills County and is of Scotch-Irish descent.
Mr. Chantry is a practical farmer and a young man of much promise. He has inher- ited many of his father's prominent traits, which insure him success in life both socially and financially. He was at the age of twenty- one years chosen school director, and has been elected Justice of the Peace by the people of his township. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans, and was Captain of Company No. 121, Division of Iowa, at Malvern Hill. He is now a member of the Red Oak Com- pany.
OHN C. THOMPSON, one of the pio- neer settlers of the State of Iowa, now a resident of Page County, Iowa, is enti- tłed to a space in this connection and next claims our attention. His grandfather, An- drew Thompson, was a native of Londonderry, Ireland. and emigrated to America when a young man, serving as a soldier in the war of 1812 His wife was Sarah Gillen, a niece of John Gillen, a wealthy linen weaver and im-
porter of Ireland. Andrew Thompson and wife had born to them fourteen children, eleven of whom lived to maturity. William Thonipson, his oldest son, was born in Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania, in 1812. He received his education in the common schools of that time, and learned the occupation of a miller. He married Nancy Boyd, a daughter of Samuel and Ellen (Lochard) Boyd, natives of County Antrim, Ireland. Of this union seven children were born: Rose A., David, John C., Samuel, Ellen, Emma and Lysander. Mr. Thompson lived in Guernsey County, Ohio, to which place he had removed with his father, for seven years; in 1846 he came to Iowa., and settled with his family in the town of Fairfield. He was engaged in mill- ing until 1868, when he sold his milling in- terests and removed to Appanoose County, Iowa, where he died in 1871. He was an industrious, enterprising inan, and enjoyed the full confidence of the people with whom he had any dealings.
John C. Thompson, son of Williamn and Nancy (Boyd) Thompson, was born Novem- ber 4, 1840. He received his education in the public schools and when a boy learned the trade of his father, milling. He was united in marriage to Mary J. Donald, a daughter of James and Margaret (Otis) Donald, natives of County Antrim, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of three children: Lettie F., James L. and William A. Mr. Thompson worked with his father until he was twenty-seven years old, and then removed to Appanoose County, Iowa, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for a short time. He then re-engaged in milling, and in 1877 he came to Clarinda, Iowa, where he was in the mills fourteen months. He is an excellent miller and has always commanded excellent wages. In 1880 he superintended the building of the mill at Shamnbaugh, Iowa,
Loveland Pupl. 1 ..
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
and after its completion he was employed as general manager. In 1884 he retired from the business, the dust from the mill proving injurious. He is now engaged in farming, and has placed his land under good cultiva- tion.
James L. Thompson, son of John C., is a student at Amity College; the other children are at home. The parents are both members of the church, the father belonging to the Presbyterian, and the mother to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Thompson has filled the office of Justice of the Peace, and has also served as township trustee and as a member of the City Council of Moulton, Iowa, for six years. He has always been a friend to the cause of education, and has beeu school director. He has taken three degrees in Masonry.
ILLIAM J. KNOX, one of the rising young farmers of Page County, will form the subject of our next bio- graphical sketch. His father, William John Knox, was born in county Donegal, Ireland, and was reared to farin life. He married Ellen Anderson, and to them were born six children: William J., James, Robert, Thomas, Jane and Ellen, all of whom are natives of the "Emerald Isle." In 1864 the father emigrated to America and settled in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, near Galena, where he purchased eighty acres of land. In Sep- tember, 1877, he came to Iowa and settled on section 17, Pierce Township, Page County, where he had bought 160 acres of land the year before; for five years he made this his home and then went to Bennett, Lancaster County, Nebraska, where he owns 520 acres; he is still living, at the age of seventy-three years. It has been entirely through his own
efforts that he has accumulated so goodly a fortune, and he is deserving of the highest praise for the honorable manner in which it has been won. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
William J. Knox, son of the above and sub- ject of our notice, was born in County Done- gal, Ireland, in 1854, aud was a lad of eleven years when his parents emigrated to America. He received a common school-education, which was not in those days what the pros- perity of this nation has enabled her to give her sons of to-day. In February, 1876, he determined to push on further West in search of the fortune that might be in store for him, and coming to Iowa he settled near Essex, Page County. It was in February, eight years later, that he bought his present farm, consisting of 160 acres of fertile land; he has made numerous valuable improvements in the line of modern farming and has erected a fine residence.
Mr. and Mrs. Knox are the parents of two children: Floyd and an infant unnamed. In political opinion Mr. Knox is a Republican. He is a young man of good business qualifi- cations, energetic and progressive, and having the confidence of his entire acquaintance.
ETER B. BEERY, one of the pioneer settlers and successful farmers of Amity Township, is descended from an old Ger- man family who came from their native land and located in Virginia early in the history of the settlement of this country. Jacob Beery, his grandfather, was born in Virginia, and was married there to a Miss Kyle; nine children were born of this union: Nicholas, Abraham, Jacob, Jonathan, William, Polly, Nancy, Katie and Betsey. Mr. Beery re- inoved to Oliio about the year 1805, and set-
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
tled on a farm in Fairfield County; he resided there until 1828, when he moved to a farm near Sandusky, Ohio, on which he passed the remainder of lis days. Abraham D. Beery, his son and the father of Peter B., was also a native of Virginia, and was but five years of age when his parents removed to Ohio. He received a fair education for those days and could read both English and German. He married Annie Blosser, a daughter of Abraham and Annie (Cokeanoyer) Blosser, and of this marriage seven children were born who lived to maturity : Annie, Peter B., Lydia, Mary, Daniel, Sarah and Barbara. Mr. Beery located in Hocking County, Ohio, on 100 acres of land, where he spent all his days. He was a minister in the United Brethren Church of Christ, and an able and successful preaclier; he was in comfortable circum- stances and made no charge for his services as a ininister.
Peter B. Beery, the subject of this sketch, was born in Hocking County, Ohio, May 27, 1822. He obtained a cominon-school educa- tion, and was reared to farm life. He married Sarah Blosser, a daughter of John and Polly (Ault) Blosser, and to them have been born thirteen children, ten of whom have lived to maturity : Emanuel, John, Daniel and Lydia, twins, Isaac, Hettie, Barbara A., Bernard, Samuel and Matilda. After his marriage Mr. Beery lived one year in Fairfield County, Ohio, and then removed to Adams County, Indiana; he farmed there for eight years, and in 1856 he came to Iowa and settled on his present farm, which consists of 240 acres. At one time he owned 700 acres of land. but he has deeded all to liis children excepting the home farm. He has been very prosperous in business and has been able to give his chil- dren a good start in life. He has been very careful and industrious, and has accumulated all his property by hard labor and wise man-
agement. He has ever been lionorable and upright in his dealings, and has made a record of which his children may well be proud. During the civil war he was a strong Union man, and gave liberally to the support of the widows of soldiers. He has given financial aid to the three churches in Shambaugh, and he and his sons assisted very largely in the erection of the church belonging to the Church of God society, contributing over $500. Mr. Beery himself raised $2,800 by subscription as a member of the building committee. He and his wife are both members of this denom- ination. He is a man firm in his convictions and an honor to any community.
OHN W. DUNCAN is descended from a family of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His grandfather, Adam W. Duncan, was a farmer in Guernsey County, Ohio. John and Andrew, his sons who still survive, are residents of Guernsey County. Robert M. Duncan, the father of John W., was born in Londonderry, Guernsey County, Ohio, and was a blacksmith by trade; lie was also in- terested in agricultural pursuits. He married Mary A. Alexander, a daughter of John Alexander, and they were the parents of four children: Jennie, Elizabeth, John W. · and Robert Alexander, the youngest son. Mr. Duncan came to Iowa a few years after liis marriage, and in 1858 he settled in Page County and began farming in Tarkio Town- ship. He was a soldier in the civil war, and was killed at Vicksburg by the bursting of a shell before the siege began. His widow survived until February 27, 1879. They were both members of the United Presby- terian Church, and were honorable, indus- trious people.
John W. Duncan, the subject of this brief
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
biography, was born in Page County, Iowa August 6, 1860, and was but two and a half years old at the time of his father's death. He was early inured to farm labor and soon felt the responsibility of contributing to the support of the family. In 1869 his inother was married a second time to John T. Dun- can, a native of Indiana County Pennsyvania. He also was a soldier in the civil war, and was a member of the company that captured John Morgan in Ohio. He was a man of excellent character, and a worthy member of the United Presbyterian Church. He died in 1885, at the age of seventy-eight years.
In 1882 John W. Duncan was united in inarriage to Miss Annie Berry, a daughter of George Berry of Amity Township (see sketch), and they have had born to them three chil- dren : George W. was born October 7, 1883; Robert L. was born August 12, 1885, and Agnes J. was born January 10, 1890. The parents are members of the United Presby- terian Church. Mr. Duncan has taken an active part in keeping up the interest in the public schools and is the present school direc- tor. He is a substantial citizen, an indus- trions and progressive farmer, and a inan of thrifty habits. By his honorable and upright dealing he has won the respect of the entire community.
LIVER BUSSARD, one of the promi- nent and substantial farmers of Pierce Township, is descended from German ancestors who settled in the State of Penn- sylvania at a very early day. Conrad Bus- sard, his grandfather, was one of the pioneer settlers of Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania, before the Indians had left that part of the country. He married Mary Uplinger, and to them were born seven children: Jacob,
Peter, Conrad, George, Mary, Leah and Sol- omon. The father was a cooper by trade and was in very prosperous circumstances. He and his wife were members of the German Reformed Church. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-four years, and she lived to be ninety-six years of age, longevity being one of the marked characteristics of the family. Oliver's father was born in Westmoreland Connty, Pennsylvania, and was a brick mason by trade. He married Annie Millison, and they had seven children: Jacob, Oliver, Rush, Daniel, Samuel, Eliza and Salmy. In 1879 the parents came to Iowa to pass the remainder of their days with their children. They died in Fremont Connty. Both were members of the German Reformed Church.
Oliver Bussard, the subject of this sketch, was also born in Westmoreland County, Penn- sylvania, in 1830, and at the age of eighteen years he left the parental roof to seek his own fortune. He came to Dubnque, Iowa, where he was one of the first settlers, and there he learned milling; he first worked in a saw- mill; afterwards he built a grist-mill and did a successful business for thirty years.
Mr. Bussard was united in marriage with Sarali Ann Sann, a daughter of John Sann, and of this union seven children were born: George F., Michael, John, William, Samuel, Emma and Clara. The honor and merit to which the early settlers of any section are entitled can scarcely be estimated. Our wor- thy subject came to Iowa and located at Du- bnque without one cent of capital to invest; for three years he worked at $10 per month, and when he had saved sufficient money he began to speculate in land and was very suc- cessful. For many years he had an extensive flonr mill at Dubuque which yielded him a large income; he now owns 440 acres of land and is in comfortable circumstances; he de- votes his time and energies to raising cattle
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
and logs for the markets. He is an honored member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, and in political opinions lie is a stanch Democrat. He belongs to the German Reformed Church. Mrs. Bussard died in 1875; she was also a inember of the church to which her husband belongs.
George F. Bussard married Annie Burns; John married Mary Barber; William inarried Kate Howard, and Michael married Mary Beck.
OHN HOLTMAN, a progressive member of the farming community of Pierce Township, is an American by adoption, having been born in Smoland, Sweden, June 2, 1852. His father, Johanes Holtman, was a farmer and miller by occupation. He mar- ried Catherine Magnus, and to them were born six children, of whom John is the oldest. Mr. Holtman caine to America in 1869, and settled in Henry County, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming until he came to Page County with his son Jolin, where he died at the age of sixty-five years.
Jolın Holtman, the subject of this sketch, was reared to the occupation of a farmer in his native land, Sweden. At the age of sixteen years the spirit of adventure would no longer be repressed, and he emigrated to America in search of new scenes and the success which he was sure would attend him. He landed in the city of New York and proceeded at once to Henry County, Illinois, where he secured employment on a farmn by the month; he reinained there until 1871, when he camne to Page County, Iowa; he liad accumulated some means and invested in land, situated four miles northeast of Essex; he afterward sold this property and purchased his present farm
in 1881; it consists of 160 acres in a fine state of cultivation and well improved, and lies near Essex. There is a strong· mineral spring on the land which has been analyzed and pronounced to possess excellent medicinal qualities. In connection with his general farming pursuits Mr. Holtman pays special attention to the breeding of fine horses, owning several valuable stallions.
In 1880 our worthy subject was united in marriage to Miss Emma C. Stoom, a daughter of Peter and Ellen (Mobry) Stoom. Mr. Stoom emigrated to America from Sweden in 1869, and settled in Henry County, Illinois; later, in 1874, he removed to Page County, where he is devoted to farming; his family consists of seven children, of whom Mrs. Holtman is the second. Mr. and Mrs. Holtman are the parents of four children: Nettie, Annie, Frank and Lillie. Mr. Holt- man is an energetic, industrious man, and has been very successful in his undertakings. He acceptably filled the office of Constable and is of unquestioned integrity; he is truly a self-made man, having worked his way from a youth; and coming as he did, a stranger to a strange land, he deserves an abundance of credit for all he has achieved; he has not only secured a comfortable home, but he has accumulated the means for support of his family in ease and plenty. And the New World welcomes all such citizens.
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