USA > Iowa > Shelby County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 39
USA > Iowa > Audubon County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 39
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then returned across the plains to Audubon County, Iowa, and settled near Brayton, where he was one of the pioneers; here he lived until 1870, when he came to Shelby County. Ilis farm contains 720 acres of well-improved land which is watered by Bartlett Creek; there are all necessary conveniences in the way of buildings, and there are as fine eattle to be seen on this farm as one will find in western Iowa. Mr. Bartlett was married May 9, 1859, to Miss Saralı Jenkins, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of John Jenkins. By this union seven children were born, two of whom died in infancy -Raymond died at the age of two years, and Mary at the age of twelve years; Harrison, Jasper J. and Clar- ence L. are living. Mrs. Bartlett died in 1878. Mr. Bartlett was again married Oc- tober 3, 1880, to Mrs. Victoria Hubbard, whose maiden name was Crouch; she was born in Moultrie County, Illinois, and is a daughter of William F. and Priscilla (Box) Croneh. By her former marriage Mrs. Bart- lett had three children-Irvin R., Burdell and Charles. By his last marriage Mr. Bartlett has one child-Leola. Politically he is a Republican, and served his party officially in Audubon County. He bears his years lightly, is honest and industrious, and is one of the leading citizens of the county.
REDERICK GOODING, of Connecti- ent, was born May 13, 1838. He is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Dimphill) Gooding, of German and French extraction. When he was sixteen years old he was ap- prentieed to a watch-case manufacturer, with whom he remained until he was twenty years old. He then left the paternal roof and went to Peoria County, Illinois, where he did farm work until his enlistment, August 13, 1862, in
Shri, Lelinh
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Company E, Seventy-seventh Illinois Regi- ment of Infantry; he served until July 13, 1865. Mr. Gooding participated in various engagements-Pleasant Hills, Mississippi, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, east of Vieksburg, in the rear of Vicksburg, in the charge of Vieksburg and in the siege, which lasted forty-two days. After the sur- render he went to Jackson, Mississippi, where some skirmishing was indulged in; he then returned to Vicksburg and eamped one month; then he went to Red River, Loui- siana. Ilis first experience in the service was in the pursuit of John Morgan through Kentucky, after which he went into eamp at Vieksburg. In the engagement at Sabine Cross Roads he was taken prisoner, and hur- ried away to the stockade at Tyler, Texas, where he was kept in captivity for thirteen months. This inclosure embraced about eight acres, and accommodated 4,700 men; the prisoners daily bill of fare was a cup of water and a half pound of meal and beef. Hle was paroled at New Orleans, May 13, 1865, and received his discharge at Springfield, Illinois, in July, 1865. Mr. Gooding then returned to his father's home in Illinois. Ile was married December 20, 1866, to Miss L. M. Chrisman, of Salem, Knox County, Illinois, a danghter of G. P. Chrisman. For three years they lived with the parents of Mrs. Gooding, when they removed to Pella, Iowa; here Mr. Gooding made his first purchase of eighty acres of land, on which he lived two years; he then traded for eighty acres of his present farm; after making this trade, how- ever, he rented land in Jasper County one year, and then settled on his new home in Shelby County, Iowa. He has added to this 320 aeres, which he has improved with his own hands. Mr. and Mrs. Gooding are the parents of two sons-W. H. and Alva G. W. H. has acquired a good education, and is
a competent teacher. Mr. Gooding has filled the offices of member of the school board and road supervisor. He is a member of the G. A. R., Harlan Post. Mr. and Mrs. Gooding are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Gooding has made a specialty of raising fine stock, and is one of the prosperons, go- ahead farmers of Shelby County.
ON. THOMAS LEDWICII .- It is to sneh characters as the Hon. Thomas Ledwich that Americans are indebted for their knowledge of the typical deseend- ants of the sons and daughters of the Emer- ald Isle, and it is of this type that Ireland may well be proud. Thomas Ledwieh was born in Serrington, Lower Canada, Novem- ber 8, 1840. He is the son of Robert and Bridget (Lonth) Ledwich, of County Meath, Ireland, who emigrated to America in 1829. In 1843 they moved to Shoreham, Vermont, and afterward to Moriah, Essex County, New York. The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm, receiving his education in the public schools, and at the academy in the lat- ter town. At the breaking out of the war in 1861 he answered the call for troops to defend the flag of his country, and enlisted at Al- bany, New York, May 7, 1861, in Company E, Twenty-second New York Volunteer In- fantry. He participated in many hard-fought battles, and at the second battle of Bull Run was twice wounded, so that for a time he was disabled from active service. His term of enlistment expired in May, 1863, and he was honorably discharged June 19, 1863. Im- mediately re-enlisting in the Second New York Veteran Cavalry, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company A, and in 1864 he was made First Lieutenant. He took part in most of the battles along the lower Mis-
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sissippi River, and was in the Red River cam- paign, commanded by General Banks; during most of this time he was acting Captain in command of the company. After the close of the war, having faithfully served his country for four and a half years, he was hon- orably discharged November 8, 1865, at Selma, Alabama. He engaged there for a time in cotton planting, but finding it un- profitable he removed to Louisville, Kentucky, and in 1868 to Victoria, Iowa County, Iowa, engaging there with his brother in the mer- eantile business. In 1869 he engaged in the humber business at Avoca, Iowa, and became an active member of the business circles of that place. He established the Avoca Delta, the first newspaper published there. He was the first president of the Botna Valley Agri- cultural Society, and was first with his voice and his money to advocate and assist all pub- lic enterprises. In 1878 Mr. Ledwich re- moved to HIarlan, Iowa, and established a lumber business, which he continued with suc- cess until his death. He became a leading spirit in every public enterprise that had for its objeet the npbuilding of the community; he was president of the Shelby County Agri- cultural Society, and did much for its success. Ile was a member of the town council of Harlan, and served three terms as its mayor. The following story related of Mr. Ledwich gives the index of his character: One morn- ing during his term as mayor, a citizen pass- ing down the street noticed a broken plank in a walk, and called the mayor's attention to it. Two hours later, going that way, he saw a new board in the walk which had been re- paired by Mr. Ledwich's prompt order. Always ready to answer the call of duty, kind, sympathetic, generous, open-hearted, good to the poor, a true friend to all, he was beloved by all who value true manhood. At one time when Mr. Ledwieh was a candidate for office
it was urged against him that he was too en- terprising, but fortunately for Harlan, the majority approved of this " fault," and it is dne to this characteristic that IIarlan has made the progress that has placed her among the prosperous towns of western Iowa. Mr. Ledwich was a member of Parian Lodge, No. 321, A. F. & A. M .; Olivet Chapter, No. 107, and Ivanhoe Commandery at Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. March 9, 1869, he was married to Miss Eva G. IIenderson, danghter of John and Elizabeth (Fancet) Henderson, of Livingston County, New York. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Scotland. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ledwich, four of whom survive -- Demain, Evelyn, Day and Robert. Elm was killed by the cars at Avoca; May, a twin of Day, died at the age of twenty-one months; Lake died at the age of two years and eight months, and Bessie, a twin of Rob- ert, died in infancy. The family reside in their commodious residence in the cast part of Harlan. Mrs. Ledwich is a member of the Episcopal church. Although not a mem- ber of any church Mr. Ledwieh gave freely of his means to the support of religions work. July 8, 1885, Mr. Ledwieh passed to his eter- nal home. A plain granite monument marks his resting place in the Harlan cemetery. In his death the country lost a patriot, his wife a faithful husband, his children a loving father, and society one of its most useful members.
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OIIN PANIAN, proprietor of the Buf- falo Shoe Store, Harlan, is the only dealer in boots and shoes exclusively. Ile carries a large stock of reliable goods, and does a large business. He has been in the trade in Harlan nine years, and by fair
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dealing and unswerving integrity he has gained the confidence of all his patrons. Mr. Panian was born in Austria, May 16, 1852, and is the son of John and Mary (Skoff) Panian. He attended school until fourteen years of age, and then went to learn the shoemaker's trade. He served an apprentice- ship of three years, and then at the age of seventeen years lie emigrated to America. He worked at his trade in New York City for eight months, then went to Chicago, re- maining there three years. Front Chicago he came to Iowa, settling in Clinton. His next place of abode was Brown Station, in which town he worked two years. Then he went to Dubuque for two years, and then re- turned to Clinton County. He then removed to Shelby County, stopping in Westphalia Township for seven months; thence he came to Harlan. Mr. Panian was married at West- phalia, January 10, 1882, to Miss Tracy Ran, daughter of Anton Rau. They are the parents of four children-Frank, Rosa, Joseph and Charles. Mr. Panian affiliates with the Demo- cratic party. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church.
OSEPH CRIQUE was born in Lockport, Will County, Illinois, March 30, 1859, and is the son of Frank and Barbara (Addelman) Crique. Until he was fifteen years old he attended the public schools. He then began learning the trade of harness- making at Joliet, Illinois, during this time attending evening school. After he had learned his trade he pursued it for a time in Chicago, and in 1877 came to Avoca. He came without money, but possessed of indus- try and pluck. He worked at his trade until 1889, when he went into business for him- self. He now has the largest harness shop 29
in Shelby County, and carries a stock valned at $7,000; and this furnishes another exam- ple of what can be accomplished by determi- nation and industry. Mr. Crique is deservedly popular in the trade. He was married in 1887 to Miss Minnie Swartz, of Harlan. They have one daughter-Ilazel. Mr. Crique's political sentiments find expression in the Democratic party, of which he is a staunch member. He owns his store building, which as valuable property.
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ENRY CUSTER, JR., is a genuine pio- neer of Shelby County, having come here
! in 1853. He was born in Fountain County, Indiana, May 26, 1844, and is a son of Henry Custer, whose sketch will be found on another page of this volume. He was nine years old when his father removed to this county, settling at Custer's Grove; here he grew up on the frontier, spending his youth in driving an ox-team and breaking prairie, both In Iowa and Nebraska. His education was very limited; he attended six weeks of a term of school taught by John Davis. During the late civil war he was one of the first to go to the defense of the nation; he enlisted in the fall of 1862 in the Twenty-ninth Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry, and served ten months. He was in the line of battle at Columbus, Ken- tucky. He was honorably discharged and returned to his home in Shelby County. Mr. Custer was married January 22, 1865, to Miss Catharine Wright, a native of Putnam County, Missouri, and a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Cochran) Wright, natives of Virginia and Kentneky respectively. Thomas Wright set- tled on Honey Creek, in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in 1851, and died in 1852. His widow came to Shelby County in 1862, and died here in 1865. After his marriage Henry
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Custer lived in Fairview Township one year, and then eame to IIarlan Township. He set- tled on his present farm in 1881; this place contains 160 acres of land whiel Mr. Custer has greatly improved. Mr. Custer and wife are the parents of eight children, two of whom are deceased-Samantha Dewey, Mary, Carl, Leroy, Jesse, Pearl. Jasper N. and Perry are not living. Mr. Custer votes with the Re- publican party, and is a member of the G. A. R., Harlan Post, No. 197. He is a member of the Anti-horse-thief Association of Fair- view Township, No. 27. He owns a pair of mules he has worked twenty-one years; one animal is twenty-six years old and the other is thirty-three. Mr. Custer is a wide-awake, energetie farmer, and all his surroundings show his thrift and wise management. Ile is plain of speech and manner, is a close ob- server, and is honored and respected by all who know him.
- W. WYLAND, Deputy Sheriff of Shelby County, and Deputy United States Marshal, was born in Elk- hart County, Indiana, Jannary 18, 1852. He is a son of I. P. Wyland, a well-known pio- neer of Shelby County, now a resident of Dakota. Ile was four years old when his parents came to Towa, and here on the frontier he grew to manhood. Ilis youth was passed in assisting on his father's farm and in at- tending the district school. After his school days were over, Mr. Wyland engaged in farm- ing until the year 1880, when he came to Harlan and obtained a position with the Chi- cago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Com- pany, as assistant freight and tieket agent. Two or three years later he engaged in the real estate business, and at the present time he is serving as deputy sheriff and as deputy
United States marshal. He is a faithful and efficient officer, and is serving the publie with much eredit to himself. Politically he is a Democrat, and is a strong adherent to the principles of Democracy. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, No. 68. Mr. Wyland was married May 6, 1871, to Miss Clarinda Stanley, daughter of T. J. Stanley, of Shelby County. Mr. Wyland is yet in the prime of life, is a man of unusually strong physique, a cordial, genial disposition, and has a host of friends in the county.
ARREN GAMMON, attorney at law, Harlan, has been interested in the welfare of Shelby County since 1879. lle is a native of Maine, born in New Port- land, Somerset County, January 16, 1846; he is a son of Aneil and Eleanor (Young) Gammon, both natives of Maine, and of Eng- lish ancestry. Warren Gammon was reared on a farm and received his edneation in the distriet schools; lie resided with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Illinois and settled near Pontiae, Liv- ingston County. His father was twice mar- ried; his first wife was Mehitable Young, by whom six children were born, four sons and two daughters. By his second marriage thir- teen children were born, ten sons and three daughters. Of the nineteen children, twelve still survive. Six of the sons went out in defense of union and liberty during the late civil war; they served to the close of the war and returned without a wound. The subjeet of this sketeh enlisted September 30, 1864, in the Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company D, and served until the elose of the war; he was honorably discharged June 26, 1865. He returned to Illinois and engaged in the horse-detective business, which
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he followed for five years. In the fall of 1869 he came to Iowa and located in Guthrie County, where he engaged in opening up a tract of wild land; here lie remained for three years, and then employed his time in real-estate business, which he followed until 1876, when he entered the law office of J. B. Carpenter and began reading law; he was admitted to the bar in Audubon County, His Honor Judge Loofborough presiding. Mr. Gammon practiced his profession for two years in Guthrie County, and in 1879 he camne to HIarlan. November 24, 1881, he formed a partnership with Judge N. W. Macey, and has built up a lucrative practice. Mr. Gam- mon was married January 15, 1871, to Miss Annie Pickett, a native of Jackson, Michi- gan, and a daughter of Lorenzo and Annie (Graham) Pickett. By this union two ehil- dren were born-Arthur L. and Bertie O. Mr. Gaminon easts his vote with the Repub- lican party.
OUIS M. KERR has been a resident of Shelby County, Iowa, since 1883. He was born in Hadersleben, in North Schlesvig, Germany, and is the son of Louis and Margaretta Kerr. He attended school in his native country until he was fifteen years of age. Ile then sailed from Hamburg, via Glasgow, to New York, and thence came directly to Clinton County, Iowa, making this his residence for the next four years. In 1883 he came to Shelby County, and en- gaged as a elerk for Graham Brothers at Kirkman, in a hardware store. The follow- ing year he accepted a position with F. M. Bowlin, who was at that time in the hard- ware trade at Harlan. Later he accepted a position with W. W. Wheeler, of Harlan, and remained in his employ until February,
1887, when he secured a position in the land office of C. J. & D. M. Wyland. Mr. Kerr is still in the employ of this firm, and dis- charges his duties faithfully and with ability. In political conviction and action Mr. Kerr is a Republican. He is a member of Parian Lodge, No. 321, A. F. & A. M .; Olivet Chap- ter, No. 107, and Mount Zion Commandery, No. 49. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 267, having filled all the chairs. He is a member of Mt. Sinai Encampment.
LBERT A. SCHOUBOE, a resident of Jefferson Township, is a native of Den- mark, and was born May 1, 1850. He is a son of Fritz and Minne (Friis) Schouboe, and was educated at home under the tutor- ship of a private instructor. When he had reached his twenty-first year he sailed to America. He settled on a farm in Ford County, Illinois, and ever since lias followed agricultural pursuits. When he landed in this country he had but $20 in money, and was soon taken very ill, so he was compelled to spend all of his money and to dispose of a good suit of clothes. When he recovered he had the magnificent sum of 75 cents upon which to start in life on his own responsibil- ity. He had borrowed $60 to pay his ex- penses to America, and he replaced this the first year he was in this country. His career in America was not begun under the most favorable auspices, but he had pluck and energy and ambition, and these traits of character pay little heed to circumstance. Mr. Schouboe was married February 11, 1879, to Miss Anna E. Launders, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Monroe) Launders, natives of England and Scotland, respectively. Mrs. Schonboe was born in Will County, Illinois, June 17, 1857. They are the parents
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of five children-Minne E., Arthur F., Leon- ard B., Viola I. and Claudius P. In Jan- mary, 1881, the family came to Shelby County, Iowa, and settled in Jefferson Town- ship on 120 acres of wild land; here Mr. Schonboe ereeted a frame residence, and barns for stoek and grain. IIe has planted a grove of two aeres and an orchard of one and a half aeres. Mr. Schouboe's family were among the earliest settlers in the eastern part of Jefferson Township, and they endured many hardships during the first years of their res- idenee in the county. They now own 200 acres of land and enjoy all the comforts of a modern civilization. Mr. Sehouboe has always supported the Republican party until 1888, when he joined the Union Labor party. He was the first member of his family to come to America, but he has sinec indneed his brothers to emigrate to this land of the free and home of the brave. He also brought his mother and sister to America, but his mother died in Harlan in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Schonboe are worthy and respected members of the United Brethren church.
ILLIAM W. WHEELER, President of the Shelby County Bank, and one of western Iowa's leading hardware merchants, is one out of a thousand men who, without the aid of others, has by his own na- tive taet and energy become the possessor of a good fortune in almost a phenomenally short period; he has won through aetnal merit the good-will and high esteem of both busi- ness and social acquaintance in a wide cirele. As will be observed in the following sketch, three traits of chiaraeter have been prominent in his life-faithfulness, self-reliance and per- severance. His whole career from boyhood has been exemplary and eminently fitted to
become a pattern for any youth having an ambition for success in lite. He is the second son and fourth child of Norman E. and Har- riet (Lake) Wheeler, natives of Conneetient, and of Puritan ancestry. Mr. Wheeler was born October 4, 1856, at Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut. He was reared on his father's farm, where they remained until 1867 and then moved to Millerton, New York, where they engaged in the hotel business, following this until 1870. The mother and one sister died in 1869. From New York the family, with the exception of one sister who was then married, removed to Fulton, Whiteside County, Illinois, where the father still resides. William W. attended the com- mon schools at the different places he had lived, and finally graduated from the high sehool at Fulton, Illinois, in 1875. After he had entered the high school he left his studies and for about two years worked in a printing office, but being convinced that that art would not be what he cared to follow through life, he left the printer's ease and again entered sehool, with a new ambition to finish his edu- cation and enter some business pursuit. The year prior to his graduation he elerked even- ings and Saturdays in the hardware store of his unele, Charles N. Wheeler, thus partly paying for his education. IIe then went to Clinton, Iowa, where he engaged to clerk in the hardware store of George Speneer, with whom he remained until January, 1879. As an evidence of his self reliance, it may be stated that when his uncle learned that he had hired to work for $5 per week in the Clinton hardware store, he told him that he was miss- ing it, and that he conkdd make more money to go ont and work on a farm, as the inexpe- rienced youth was to pay the whole amount of his wages for his board. But having de- termined to become a hardware merchant nothing could turn him from his chosen call-
Vous Tak
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ing, so he thanked his uncle, but used his own judgment, believing his employer would soon raise his wages, which he did the first Satur- day night. lle worked to please and did his work well, hence was amply rewarded from mouth to month. His brother, E. II. Wheeler, and himself established a grocery business at Maquoketa, Iowa, in 1877; W. W., how- ever, remained at Clinton in the hardware store during the existence of the partnership, which continued eight months there and finally ceased at Prophetstown, Illinois. In December, 1878, he came to HIarlan, Iowa, his brother following the succeeding March. The "two brothers were again to be engaged in mercantile trade, this time in the hardware business. E. H. bought a business lot and contracted for a frame store building, which they were to occupy in the spring. He then returned to Illinois and remained till Febru- ary, when he shipped in a $5,000 stock and opened it in the building prepared for them, which, together with the lot upon which it stood, cost $2,000. The one-half interest in this $7,000 investment had been earned and kept by our frugal subject from the salary he had received during the four years previous to this date, with such amounts as his savings had made him by wise investments in a build- ing association, etc. Mr. Wheeler and his brother came to Harlan the same year in which the railroad was built, and they were the leading hardware firm among three trading in the town, which then only had a popula- tion of about 600 people. They soon won an extensive and profitable custom, which was the foundation of what has come to be one of the largest institutions in this section of Iowa. On account of his brother's failing health, the partnership was dissolved November 5, 1881, William W. purchasing the other half of the stock and business building. By 1885 his business had assumed such proportions that
he was obliged to have larger quarters, and during that year he erected a fine business house containing three floors. It stands on the north side of the public square, and is a model of solidity and convenience; it is 24 x 120 feet, with two high stories and a deep basement where stoves and iron and heavy hardware are kept. By the use of an eleva- tor the three floors become as easy of access as though on a level. The building and ground upon which it stands cost Mr. Wheeler $10,000. At present he lias a large, well- selected stock of goods of all sorts belonging to the trade, including the finest line of heat- ing and cooking stoves in Iowa, of which he has always seemed to be the leader. His stove sales amount to $500 per year, while the barbed wire he handles runs upon an average of seven car-loads. As the country develops he keeps adding to his already large stock. In 1882 his sales amounted to the handsome sum of $50,000. In connection with his other affairs he has purchased 1,000 acres of land, situated in Iowa, Nebraska, Dakota and Kan- sas, and twenty town lots in the city of Chi- cago, which is no sinall estate for a man of thirty-two years of age to possess. Ile be- came one of the stockholders in the Shelby County Bank at Harlan, and in 1883 was made one of the directors, holding that position until 1887, when he was elected president of the concern, having already purchased the former president's stock, in addition to the above named property. Mr. Wheeler owns considerable town property, including his charming residence, which he built in 1883, on the corner of Victoria and Third streets, at an outlay of $5,000. For a life companion Mr. Wheeler chose Miss Kate Griffith, a na- tive of Bridgeport, Ohio, and the daughter of B. B. Griffith, Sr., now of Harlan, Iowa. They were united in marriage September 1, 1880, under the following laughable surprise :
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