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 82
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 82
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erection of the new house Mr. Conklin rented a small building, and put in a stock, and re- sumed business. Mr. Conklin served as school director and as constable, and four years as deputy sheriff, while a resident of Keokuk County. After removing to Exira he served on the town council, and in a race for the office of mayor he was beaten by one vote. In National and State politics he votes the Democratic ticket. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin are members of the Christian church. Mrs. Waltz's father, Isaac Waltz, died in Keokuk County, Iowa, at the age of sixty- three years; her mother is still living, at the age of seventy-four years.
B YRON G. FOREMAN, proprictor of the livery, feed and sale stables, Audu- bon, Iowa, was born near Delaware, Delaware County, Ohio, April 24, 1852. He is the oldest son of David A. and Lydia A. (Dodds) Foreman. The mother was born in Ohio, and the father was a native of the State of Pennsylvania, a farmer by occupa- tion, and au early settler of Ohio. B. G. Foreman removed with his parents to Grundy County, Illinois, and settled on a farmn; there the parents resided for many years, and are now living in Morris, Illinois. Six children were born to them, four of whom are living. The subject of this notice grew to manhood in Grundy County, Illinois, and received his education in the common schools. He began his career as a farmer and dealer in live-stock in Grundy County, making horses a spe- cialty. He resided there until he came to Audubon County, when he began house and buggy painting, at $2 per day, for John Esley. He remained in his employ for two years, and then was compelled to abandon the trade on account of ill health. IIe then began
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IIISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
trading in live-stock and town property, in which he has been very successful. He has built extensive sheds and stables for the feed- ing of horses, and the accommodation of farmers' teams. Ile buys large numbers of horses, fattening them for the home, Dakota and eastern markets. In 1889 Mr. Foreman erected a barn and sheds for the accommoda- tion of 100 teams, and opened a first-class livery stable. He has good buggies, car- riages, hacks, and everything for the busi- ness; he also gives attention to the breeding of fine draft horses. Mr. Foreman was mar- ried in 1875 to Miss Ella G. Stoneback, of Grundy County, Illinois, the youngest daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Stoneback. They have one little daughter-Georgiana E.
AWRENCE SEYLLER, a prominent farmer and snecessful stock-raiser of Cameron Township, was born in Ger- many, August 5, 1850, and is a son of George and Catherine (Hlaemaser) Seyller. They are the parents of thirteen children, of whom the following are living -- John. Charles, Conrad, Catherine, George, Nelson, Law- renee (the subject of this biographical sketch), Frank and August. The father is a farmer by occupation. Ile emigrated with his family to America when Lawrence was an infant, and settled on a farm in Cook County, Illi- nois, remaining there one year; he then re- moved to Henry County, Illinois, and bought a farm, on which he still resides. Ile has been prosperous sinee coming to America, and has acemulated a comfortable compe- tence for his declining years. Lawrence Seyller is the sixth of the family. He received a district-school education, and was trained to agricultural pursuits. Ile continued under the parental roof until his twenty-first year,
when he started in life on his own account. He learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for twelve years. Having laid by some money he came to Iowa in 1881 and in- vested in land; he bought 440 acres, eighty acres lying in Viola Township, and the bal- ance in Cameron Township. Mr. Seyller was not able to pay for all the land in the beginning, but his hope of success in the future, upon which he depended, was fully realized. Ile began by raising grain exten- sively, and later he paid more attention to the raising of hogs and cattle, until in 1888 he shipped five car-loads from his own farm, and in 1889 four car-loads, Ilis farm is well stocked with a large number of hogs and cattle. He has some fine thoroughbred Po- langus and Poland-China hogs, and is mak- ing a specialty of breeding this stock. Mr. Seyller was united in marriage in 1875 to Miss Elizabeth Goembel, of Henry County, Illinois, the fourth child of Henry and Cath- erine Goembel; she was born in Stark County, Illinois. Four children have been born of this marriage - Vida I., Lee Roy, Mollie May and Hazel C. In politics Mr. Seyller is conservative, voting for the man rather than the party. He began life with plnek and determination to succeed, and the result ean best be realized by visiting his farm, which is a model in every respect, having all the modern conveniences for practical farming.
MOS FANCHER, of Cameron Town- ship, has been identified with the his- tory of Audubon County, lowa, since the year 1880. Ile was born in Keokuk County, near Sigourney. September 13, 1856, and is a son of William and Rebecca Fancher, natives of Pennsylvania. Amos Fancher is
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the youngest son of a family of nine children, two sisters being younger than he. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and received a fair education in the common schools. IIe remained with his parents until he reached his twenty-first year, when he took up the responsibilities of life and began seeking the
fortune the world might hold for him. His first investment was in forty acres of land, on which he lived two years. At the end of that time, in the spring of 1880, he came to Audubon County and bought 160 acres of raw prairie land. Later he made an addi- tional purchase of eighty acres, and afterward he bought forty acres more, making 280 acres in all. Mr. Fancher's principal success has been in raising hogs. He also feeds a large number of cattle, and is rcaring some high grades of horses. All the improvements upon the farm have been made by Mr. Fancher. He has erected a comfortable residence, a good barn, and other necessary buildings. In 1884 occurred the marriage of Amos Fancher and Cora Stoops, a daughter of Joseph and Harriet Stoops, and a native of Mahaska County, Iowa. They are the parents of three children-Stella, Myrtle, and an in- fant unnamed. Mr. Fancher adheres to the principles of the Democratic party.
ORPHUS D. GRAVES, deceased, was an active and enterprising citizen of Douglas Township. He was born in Oneida County, New York, and was a son of Austin and Mary Ann (Bishop) Graves, natives of the State of New York. When Dorphus D. was two and a half years old his parents removed to Marion, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and received a common- school education. He began to learn the printer's trade at Marion, and later worked
at it in Springfield, Ohio. IIe afterward drifted west, and stopped at some of the river towns in the State of Iowa. Finally he went to Johnson County, Iowa, and settled on a farm eight miles from Iowa City. Mr. Graves was married to Miss Malinda Haw . ley, of Johnson County, Iowa, a daughter of Jesse and Eliza (Brown) Hawley, who had removed to Johnson County from Ohio. After his marriage Mr. Graves continued farming, and afterward removed to Keokuk County, and in 1882 he came to Audubon County, locating on a farm in section 2, Douglas Township, known as the John Mor- row farm; the place contains 320 acres. Mr. Graves was an enterprising and energetic farmer; he fed large numbers of cattle and hogs, which he shipped to eastern markets. Ile was an active member of the United Brethren church, serving many years as trustee, class-leader and steward of the so- ciety. He was held in high esteem by all who knew him, and his loss was deeply telt in the community. He left a wife and six children to mourn his death, which occurred June 11, 1887. The children are named as follows-Mary E., wife of William Gipple; Jesse A., Calvin D., Murtle D., Walter D. and Leonard B. Mr. Graves was a staunch Republican, and took an active interest in the success of the party. Mrs. Graves carries on the farm, with the assistance of her sons. She is a woman of ability, and has been suc- cessful in the management of the property left her; she is a devoted member of the United Brethren church.
EORGE M. ROSS, a successful agri- culturist and stock-raiser, of Cameron Township, has been a resident of Audu- bon County since 1878. He was born in
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HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
Indiana County, near the town of Marion, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1851, and is the fifth of a family of eight children of Samnel and Elizabeth (MeCowen) Ross. The parents were born in Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in their early married life, and settled in Pennsylvania; they are still living on the old homestead in Indiana County where they first settled. Seven of the eight children are living, live sons and two daughters. George M. was reared to the life of a farmer, and obtained his education in the common school. He remained under the parental roof until his eighteenth year, when he took np the responsibilities of life for himself. He went to Louisville, Kentucky, and engaged in retailing manufactured to- baecos, cigars and smoker's artieles, in which he made money rapidly. He sold out the business and removed to Page County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming two years. In the spring of 1878 he came to Audubon County, Iowa, and bought a half section of choice land, which at that time was wild prairie land. He went to work with a will, and as time has passed he has added many valuable improvements. Mr. Ross has here. tofore been engaged in general farming, but in the past two years he has given more at- tention to the feeding of live-stock, and has been quite sneeessful; he has, however, suf- fered heavy losses from cholera at times. Mr. Ross was married in the spring of 1878 to Miss Alice C. Price, a daughter of Fred Price, Esq., of Page County, Iowa. Four children have been born of this union- David Cameron, Bessie, George and Samuel. Mr. Ross has been politically identified with his township as trustee, having been elceted in the fall of 1888. Ile affiliates with the Republican party. Ilis Jarded estate nnin- bers 760 acres, 440 in Audubon County, and 320 in Woodbury County, Iowa. Mr. Ross /
was entirely without means when he began his business career, but he has not remained at the bottom of the ladder; he has exerted all his energies, and to no small purpose, as can be seen from the valuable property he has accumulated.
AMUEL F. DONALDSON, a farmer of . Lincoln Township, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1837. He is the youngest of a family of eight children of Robert and Ann (Felton) Donaldson. Hler mother was Cath- erine Kincade, of Scotch-Irisli descent, who came to America to look after her father, who was supposed to have lost his life in the Revolutionary war. The great-grandfather of Samnel F. Donaldson, Isaac Donaldson, after serving in the Revolutionary war, was killed by the Indians in 1783, in Westmore- land County, Pennsylvania. At the same time an aunt and seven children were taken prisoners. The children were killed by the Indians, and after ten years the aunt made her escape. James Donaldson, the grand- father of Samuel F., served in the war of 1812. Robert Donaldson, the father of S. F. Donaldson, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, on the farm owned by his father, James Donaldson. The grand- father on the mother's side was Robert Fel- ton, a native of Scotland. Ile also served in the war of 1812. The father of our subject, Robert Donaldson, remained in Westmore- land County, following the occupation of a carpenter until 1850, when he removed to the wild woods of Indiana, settling in Wells County. There he eleared out a farm and remained until his death, which occurred in 1880. ITis wife, the mother of S. F. Don- aldson, died in 1861. Samuel F. Donaldson
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
was thirteen years of age when he removed with his parents to Indiana. There he grew to manhood, attending the common log-cabin schools, and receiving the usual training of a fariner's son. In 1861 he enlisted in Com- pany A, for three months' service, at the first call for 75,000 men. On the expiration of the three months he enlisted, on the 30th day of August, 1861, for three years, in Company A, Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Ile was immediately made chief musician of the regiment, and served in that capacity for four and a half years. He was honorably discharged at Brownsville, Texas, February 20, 1866. He then returned to Wells County, Indiana, and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1868, when he removed to Polk County, Iowa, and settled on a farm near Polk City. There he resided until the spring of 1880, when he came to Audubon County, settling upon his farm in Lincoln Township, which was then wild prairie. Upon this new farm he erected a board shanty, twelve feet square. which sheltered the family until better quar- ters could be provided. However, before these temporary quarters could be provided the family lived in wagons. The first thing to be done was to break ont the new farm, and make arrangements for the home. What has been accomplished can best be realized by making a visit to Mr. Donaldson's farm. The place is well fenced, and is stocked with reasonable numbers of hogs, cattle and horses. The residence is attractively surrounded by a grove which was planted by Mr. Donaldson. September 4, 1861, occurred the marriage of Samnel F. Donaldson and Lizzie Marshall, of Wells County, Indiana, in which place she was born and reared. She is a daughter of Robert and Mary A. (Weisner) Marshall, natives of Scotland and Ohio respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson have had born to them four children -Kate F., wife of J. L.
Van Dorn (the latter died in 1885); Anna E., William F. and Bonnie C. Mr. Donaldson was elected clerk of his township in 1882, and has served in that office ever since until the present time. He is a member of Ver- itas Lodge, No. 392, A. F. & A. M., at Au- dubon, and of Utopia Lodge, No. 161, I. O. O. F., at Gray, being one of the charter members. He is also a member of the Hia- watha Tribe, No. 16, I. O. R. M., and of the G. A. R. post at Manning, and is a member of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, and also the Universal Brotherhood. In politics he actively supports the issues of the Republican party.
OBERT HI. LACY, an early settler of Cameron Township, was born near Madisonville, Knox County, Kentucky, August 29, 1831. He is the second son of George and Sophia (Hieks) Laey, who were born and reared in the State of Virginia. Soon after their marriage they removed to Kentucky, thence to Tennessee, and thence to Madison County, Illinois; there they rented a farın, and resided until they removed to Fayette County, Illinois, in which county George Laey died in 1851; his wife died five months later in Morgan County, Illinois. They were the parents of seven children, all of whom are living, except one son. Robert Laey passed most of his youth in Fayette County, Illinois, receiving the benefit of a common-school education. He had lived at home until his father's death, which occurred when he was nineteen years old. He then started out for himself, working by the month on a farm for six years. He was mar- ried to Naney E. Jones, of Morgan County, Illinois, the oldest daughter of James Jones, Esq. After his marriage Mr. Laey rented a
788
HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
farm in Henry County, Illinois, on which he spent nine years. In the fall of 1873 he moved with his family to Audubon County, Iowa, and bought 100 acres of raw prairie land; this he broke out and improved, erect- ing buildings, planting trees, and making many other valuable additions to the place. Ile has engaged in general farming since coming to Audubon County. Mr. Laey's first wife died on the farm in 1879; she was the mother of five children-George II., James W., Charles C., Robert, and John M., who died at the age of twelve years. Mr. Laey was married to Mrs. Amelia Burt in 1880; lier maiden name was Wallace, and she had two children by her former husband, Edmund Burt-Carrie, wife of George II. Incy, and Hattie, wife of Charles E. Lacy. Mr. Burt died in Buena Vista County, Jowa. HIe served the country eighteen months in the late civil war. Mrs. Lacy and her first husband were born on the shores of Lake George. Mr. Lacy removed from his farm to Audubon in the spring of 1880, and clerked in a hardware and agricultural imple- ment store for five years. Ile then removed to Coon Rapids, which is his present home. Hle opened a meat market in this place, and at the end of two years sold out the business. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
LIAS FISCUS, an early settler and active farmer of Douglas Township, was born in the Hoosier State. in Owen County, May 7, 1837. His father, Levi Fiscus, an early settler of Indiana, was born in South Carolina, and was a son of Frederick Fiscus, a native of Germany. His mother was Bar- bara Ann Concanour, a daughter of Jacob Concanour. She was reared in Owen County,
whither her parents had removed when she was a child. Levi Fisens and family removed to Marshall County, Iowa, where his wife died in 1866. IIe died at the residence of his son, Adam Fiseus, in Audubon County, October 4, 1884, aged sixty-nine years. There were seven children in the family, six of whom are living, Elias being the oldest. Ile received a common-school education in Owen County, and remained on the farm with his parents until his twenty-first year. He then began to learn the earpenter and cabinet- maker's trade, which he followed many years. Ile has worked at the trade some since lie began farming. In the fall of 1865 he re- moved to Marshall County, Iowa, locating upon a farm nine miles northwest of Mar- shalltown. Hle resided there until the fall of 1870, when he removed to Shelby County and settled near Harlan. He remained there one year, and then came to Audubon County, purchasing eighty acres in section 7, Douglas Township. This land he broke out and im- proved, adding from time to time to his first purchase, until he now owns 259 acres in an advanced state of enltivation. The soil is fertile and is watered by the Nishinabotna River. Mr. Fiscus has been one of the pio- neer stock-feeders, and has done much to ad- vance this branch of farming in the county. In 1860 he was married to Harriet lisens, of Owen County, Indiana, where she was born and reared. They have four children living -Benjamin F., Eliza Ann, wife of C. T. Wyley; Mary E., wife of A. H. Speas, and Walter S. Mr. Fiscus has served many years as township clerk, notary publie and land agent. Ile takes an active part in politics, afliliating with the Democratic party. Ile is often chosen a delegate to conventions, a position he is well calentated to fill. Ile be- gan the business of making a name for him- self without any capital excepting that with
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
which Nature had endowed him-energy and determination to sneceed. That he has pros- pered is very evident to him who looks over the broad fields and cultivated lands belong- ing to our subjeet. He is a man highly re- speeted in the community, and is well worthy the regard in which he is held. Mrs. Fiseus died January 30, 1888. She was a devoted member of the Christian church. Mr. Fiseus also belongs to this church, and is one of its elders. He is the inventor of the Automatic Grain Weigher and Register, patented Octo- ber 30, 1888, No. 391,888.
AMES IIALL is one of Cameron Town- ship's energetic farmers, who give ehar- acter and influence to a community. Ile was born in Stark County, Illinois, Jannary 14, 1845, and is the second son of Robert and Harriet (Marsh) Hall. The grandfather was Robert Hall, a native of England, who fought in the war of 1812 on the British side. Robert Hall, the father of James, emigrated to America in 1836, and afterward married and settled in Stark County, Illi- nois, where he and his wife are still living. The mother of our subject, Harriet Hall, was born in the State of Pennsylvania. Nine children were born to her and Robert Hall, six of whom are living. The childhood and school days of James Hall were passed in Stark County, Illinois, where he received a greater part of his education in the dis- triet school. Later, however, he entered the Princeton Academy in Bureau County, Illi- nois. After leaving school he began farming in his native county, and afterward spent some time in Bureau County. In the spring of 1881 Mr. HIall removed with his family to Audubon County, Iowa, loeating upon his present farm, which at that time was wild
prairie land; and then the struggle began in opening out the farm and making a new home. He afterward purchased another 160. acre traet, securing in one body 320 acres of most excellent land. The place is now well stocked with hogs and eattle, on which Mr. Hall has made the most of his money. He has had his reverses, as have had other farmers, but he has been generally very successful. He has erected a large, substantial residence, barns, and sheds for the protection of live- stock. Mr. Hall was united in marriage, in 1875, to Miss Belle Hooker, of Peacham, Vermont, a daughter of Sanford Hooker, Esq. This union has been blessed with six children-Scott, Jay, Florence, Lilla, Hattie and Ellen E. Mr. Hall is an excellent judge of live-stock, and feeds from two to four car- loads annually. Like many other men who have made the most brilliant successes, Mr. Hall began his career on a very limited eapi- tal, but industry and perseverance made up what was lacking in another direction.
FILLIAM J. CLARK, a prominent farmer of Viola Township, has been a resident of Audubon County since 1876. He was born in Warren County, Kentucky, August 30, 1840, and is the old- est son of John M. and Mary (Renshaw) Clark. The father, a native of Tennessee, is a son of John Clark, and is still living, in his seventy-third year, having been born Jan- uary 11, 1817. The mother, Mary Renshaw, was a daughter of Andrew Renshaw, an early settler of Kentucky; she died when Williamn J. was seven years old. In 1844 John M. Clark removed with his family to Missouri, and thenee to Jo Daviess County, Illinois, spending one year in that county; he then returned to Kentucky, and in 1860 removed
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HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
to Wisconsin, locating in Grant County. In 1872 he removed to Shelby County, Iowa, and is still living there. He was twice mar- ried, and William J. is the oldest of the chil- dren of the first marriage. A biography of Jolın M. Clark appears in the history of Shelby County. The boyhood of William J. Clark was passed in Kentucky and Wiscon- sin, his education being obtained in the com- mon schools of the former State. His father being a farmer he was trained to agricultural pursuits. At the age of fourteen years he went to Wisconsin with his father, and re- mained with bim until the breaking out of the civil war, when he enlisted in Company M, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, and was as- signed to the western department of the army. He took part in the battles of Cabin Creek, Fort Gibson, Honey Springs, and skirmished throughi Missouri and Arkansas. Ile served his country faithfully for three years, three months and eight days, and was not wounded or taken prisoner. In March, 1865, he was sent to Madison, Wisconsin, and there received his final discharge. Ile then repaired to the mining district of Wis- consin, and worked in the lead mines for two years. The three years following he was engaged in farming in Wisconsin, and in 1872 he removed to Shelby County, Iowa, and re- sided there until 1876, when he came to Audubon County, as before stated. Ile pur- chased a farm on section 8, Viola Township, which contained 160 acres of raw prairie, paying §5 per acre; this place has been im- proved and brought to a high state of cultiva- tion by Mr. Clark. In 1888 he bought a tract of improved land in sections 4 and 5, which contains 174 acres. Since his resi- dence in Andubon Connty he has devoted his time to general farming. Mr. Clark was united in marriage in December, 1866, to Serena J., the oldest danghter of Greenberg | company in Shelby, Crawford and Andubon
and Charlotte (Henderson) Thompson, natives of Mississippi. At the time of their mar- riage Mrs. Clark lived in Grant . County, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of eight children-John G., Emma S., Albert S., Sophrona M., Ella C., Martha, and Charlotte, who died in infancy. In Na- tional and State politics Mr. Clark is a straight Democrat. Ile has served as township trustee, school director, and as road supervisor. Mr. Clark began his career at the bottom round of the ladder, but by industry, honor- able dealing and perseverance he has risen to a position of financial independence.
OHN A. NASIL, of the law firm of Naslı, Phelps & Green, Audubon, Iowa, was born in Polk County, Iowa, in the city of Des Moines, May 9, 1854. He is the only son of a family of four children of Dr. J. A. and Mary (Hepburn) Nash. The boy- hood of John A. Nash was spent in Des Moines, where he attended the public schools, after which he entered the University at Des Moines, from which he was graduated in 1870. Immediately after his graduation he entered the law office of Brown & Dudley, prominent attorneys of Des Moines, with whom he read law for two years; he then entered the law school of Simpson Centenary College, and afterward was examined and admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Iowa in 1870. He then went to Stnart, lowa, where he was employed in the private office of C. S. Fogg for one year. In June, 1878, Mr. Nash came to Exira, at which place he built up a good law business; here he was employed by the Rock Island & Pa- cific Railroad Company as their attorney to quiet the titles of lands then owned by the
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