USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 24
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For eight years Mr. Norton filled the office of township clerk, to which position he was chosen as a candidate of the republican party. He belongs to Holman Lodge, No. 593, A. F. & A. M., to the Eastern Star chapter and to the Modern Woodmen camp. He is also a member of the Methodist church and his religious belief has been a strong element in shaping his life and guiding him in all of his relations with his fellowmen. He has always lived in this county and his many sterling traits of character have gained for him the confidence and good-will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
EDWARD O. CRAIG.
Edward O. Craig is living retired and the rest which has come to him is well merited and richly deserved. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born at Reading on the 26th of September, 1852, his father being Andrew V. Craig, whose birth occurred in Virginia in 1814. In early life he became a marble worker and after removing from the Old Dominion to Pennsylvania continued
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in that line of business. He married Caroline O. Miller, who was born in Virginia in 1816, and after living for a few years in the Keystone state they came to Iowa in 1855, settling in Quasqueton, where Mr. Craig engaged in farming. He became the owner of a place east of Quasqueton and there passed away seven years later. He was a prominent and influential resident of the com- munity, served as school director and as justice of the peace and was ever actively and helpfully interested in matters relating to the general welfare. He died in 1862, while his wife also passed away on the home farm, her demise occurring in 1879.
In a family of eight children Edward O. Craig was the sixth in order of birth. His youthful days were spent upon the home farm, with the usual experiences of the farm lad who early begins work in the fields. At the age of sixteen years he assumed the management of the place. He was but ten years of age at the time of his father's death. For three years he attended the schools of Quasqueton and then went to country school. When he was still but a youth he assumed the heavy responsibilities incident to the care and development of the homestead farm, on which he continued for a number of years, busily en- gaged in its further development and improvement. While there residing he was elected a member of the board of supervisors and remained in that position until elected sheriff of the county, at which time he removed to Independence, where he has since made his home. He served as supervisor for three terms, or for nine years, and it was in 1884 that he assumed the duties of sheriff, making a most creditable record by the prompt and capable manner in which he met every task that devolved upon him. He continued in the position for four years and after leaving the sheriff's office turned his attention to the real-estate business, in which he engaged for five years. Since that time he has lived practically retired save for five years which he devoted to the hotel business in Independence. He owns land in Buchanan county and from his farm properties derives a substantial rental, that provides him with all of the necessities and comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
Mr. Craig owns and occupies a modern and attractive residence in Inde- pendence. He was married on Christmas day of 1878 to Miss Mary L. Brown, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Samuel and Sarah Brown, who were also born in the Keystone state. The father, who was a blacksmith by trade, brought his family to Iowa about the same time the Craig family arrived in this state. He settled in Linn county and followed blacksmithing until after hostilities broke out between the north and the south, when he enlisted for service in the Thirty-first Iowa Infantry Regiment. He laid down his life on the altar of his country, dying in the hospital at St. Louis while wearing the blue uniform of the Union troops, his death occurring in June, 1863. His wife passed away in Linn county, Iowa, near Springfield, April 13, 1860. Mr. Brown had served as justice of the peace after coming to this state and was ever de- voted to the welfare and upbuilding of the community in which he made his home. Mrs. Craig was the youngest of seven children and by her marriage has become the mother of five children: Orville B., who was born August 22, 1880. and is now a shoe merchant of Independence; Ola E., who was born October 1. 1886, and is the wife of Roy Ebersoll, a farmer residing in Fremont township; Walter W., who was born February 17, 1890, and is a mail clerk on the Illinois
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Central Railroad ; one who died in infancy ; and Edith L., who was born Febru- ary 15, 1895, and passed away on the 15th of January, 1903.
Mr. Craig is an exemplary representative of the teachings of Masonry, in which order he holds membership in the lodge, chapter and commandery. He is also identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Modern Brother- hood. ITis political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. His life has been well spent and his many sterling traits of character are recognized by all who know him. In his business career he owes his success to close application, un- faltering energy and judicious investment and he is now enjoying the merited and deserved rewards of his labor.
THOMAS R. MARSHALL.
Thomas R. Marshall is a highly esteemed retired farmer residing in Win- throp. He is a native of Ohio, born in Franklin, Harrison county, June 2, 1844, a son of Joseph and Jane ( McFadden) Marshall, the former a native of New England and a cooper by trade. The father passed away on the 19th of January, 1845, when but thirty-four years of age. He had gone to Illinois in the fall of 1844 and expected to remove there in the following spring. but died before he could carry out his plans. He was a captain in the old state militia of Ohio and his sword is still in the possession of the family. The mother of Mr. Marshall of this review was born in Ohio, but her parents were natives of the north of Ireland, whenee they emigrated to the United States and settled in the Buckeye state in the early days of the history of that commonwealth. She was the mother of five children by her marriage to Mr. Marshall, the youngest, the subject of this review, being but seven months old at the time of the death of the father. The mother subsequently remarried, becoming the wife of John Stoneman, by whom she had two daughters, Elizabeth and Susan Edith. They accompanied their father to this county in 1855, the wife and mother having died in August, 1854, and he built the first sawmill within the confines of the county and also one of the first lime kilns. His death occurred in December, 1866.
Thomas R. Marshall was but ten years of age when his mother died and he subsequently lived with an uncle for a year, after which he went to Pike county, Illinois, where he made his home with his mother's sister. He worked upon his aunt's farm until he was fourteen and during the winters attended the district school. He subsequently worked as a farin hand and was so engaged for ten years, seven of which he spent in the employ of one man. In March, 1864, he enlisted in Company F. One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry for one hundred days and fell siek at Memphis, Tennessee, where he was on guard duty. He was taken prisoner by Forrest and, as he was not able to march or ride, he was left near Memphis and later placed in the hospital, where he was taken care of until he recovered sufficiently to go to Springfield. Illinois, where, on the 29th of November, 1865, he was honorably discharged from the military service. He then returned to his home and continued as a farm hand until after his marriage, after which he rented a farm, which he cultivated for
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fourteen years, but in the spring of 1882 he came to Iowa and bought a place in Byron township, comprising one hundred and sixty acres. The purchase price was twenty-five dollars per aere and he was compelled to borrow the money to pay for his land, but he subsequently liquidated this debt. After farming this property for fourteen years he sold it and purchased ninety acres of land located just north of Winthrop and operated this place until 1910, when he dis- posed of it, receiving one hundred and twenty dollars per acre. He then came to Winthrop and has since lived here in the enjoyment of a richly deserved leis- ure. He was alert and enterprising in the management of his farm work and his industry, coupled with his sound judgment, enabled him to add to his re- sources year by year and to gain a competence.
In 1867 Mr. Marshall was united in marriage with Miss Susan Lighter, a native of Pike county, Illinois, who passed away in Iowa on the 21st of March, 1899, leaving four children. William J. is a farmer of Byron township. Jennie M. became the wife of Solomon Overbaugh, who died in April, 1902, and after his death married A. W. Norman, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. Arthur Thomas is engaged in building bridges in Buchanan county, and Cora May is the wife of C. J. Mulford, of Winthrop. On the 30th of Oc- tober, 1907, Mr. Marshall married Mrs. Hannah (Beith) White, born in Largs, Scotland, on the 19th of March, 1843, whence she was brought to the United States by her parents, Thomas and Gene Beith, when but fifteen months old. The family settled at St. Charles, Kane county, Illinois. Her father was a mason by trade and followed that occupation for ten years, after which, in 1854, he came with his family to Iowa and settled in Byron township, this county, where he entered government land which he improved. In 1873 he sold his property and removed to Dixon county, Nebraska, where he took up land. However, the family remained in that state only a few years, after which they returned to this county, where Mr. Beith died in April, 1882. He was a school director and was prominent in local affairs. After his death his widow made her home with her daughter Mrs. Marshall until her demise, which oceurred March 29, 1913, when she had reached the venerable age of ninety-three years. Both she and her husband were members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Marshall was about eleven years of age when she accompanied her parents to this county and continued her education in the publie schools, which were held in the homes of the settlers, as there were no sehoolhouses built at that time. On the 4th of May, 1861, she was married to Robert White, a native of Canada, who passed away in 1888. They had no children of their own, but adopted two: Munsey, who resides in Manson, Iowa; and Herbert H., a dentist practicing in Chicago.
Mrs. Marshall is a member of the Congregational church, but Mr. Marshall belongs to the Methodist church and has been very prominent in the work of that. organization. IIe has held church office for forty years, being steward and trustee for twenty-eight years, and was the first Sunday school superintendent. being elected to that position when the church was organized. Before coming to this state he was a Sunday school superintendent in Illinois when quite a young man. He has been a member of the Methodist church since he was a boy of twelve years and in the intervening years has striven constantly to guide his life by the teachings of Christianity and to apply the golden rule to his dealings with his fellowmen. His political allegianee was for many years given to the
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republican party, but he is now a stanch supporter of the prohibitionist party. For several years he has been school director and he has been treasurer for twelve years, discharging the duties of his office with ability and conscientious- ness. While actively engaged in farming he was known as one of the progressive agriculturists of the county and did much to aid in the development of its resources besides securing a competence for himself. His salient traits of character are industry, integrity and kindness, qualities which invariably com- mand respect and win regard.
WHEELER D. HEARN.
Wheeler D. Hearn, who owns and operates a farm of one hundred and fifty- seven and a half acres on section 31, Fremont township, was born in Liberty township, this county, on the 24th of September, 1861, a son of Jacob and Amanda (Morehouse) Hearn. The former was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1838 and came with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Hearn, to this county at an early day in its history. Isaiah Hearn conducted the first tavern on the state road on Pine ereek in Liberty township and also owned a small farm, where he resided at the time of his death in 1864. He had several children, two of whom survive: Mrs. Matilda Anders, of Oelwein, Iowa; and Isaac, a resident of Wamego, Kansas.
Jacob Hearn was married in this county and resided upon a farm in Liberty township. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in the Sixteenth Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, but after serving with his command for nine months he was killed in 1864 on Sherman's famous march to the sea. His wife was born in Cumberland county, Ohio, and came west with her parents in girlhood. She was married on Pine creek and became the mother of two sons: Wheeler D., the subject of this review; and Elmer I., who is a farmer in Fremont township. The latter was born in Byron township, this county, on the 5th of August, 1864, and resided there until three years after his marriage to Miss Josephine Harper, a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, who came to this county with her parents when sixteen years of age. Her father, Michael Harper, was a veteran of the Civil war. To Mr. and Mrs. Elmer I. Hearn were born eight children, seven of whom survive, namely: Alta, the wife of C. L. Decker, a farmer of Fremont township; Mae, a teacher in the schools of this county; and Daniel E., Maud Amanda, Laura, John and Frank, all at home. Elmer I. Hearn is a republican in his political belief and is a member of the Modern Woodmen at Masonville. After the death of Jacob Hearn, his widow married William Kerr and they removed to Byron township, where she died in 1888. To this union were born two sons, Frank and William, both farmers of Byron township.
Wheeler D. Hearn was reared in Byron township and remained with his mother until he was twenty-three years of age. He was then married to Miss Laura Yaw, who was born in Byron township, this county, in August, 1865, a daughter of Calvin and Mary (Howard) Yaw, both natives of Cattaraugus county, New York, where they were married and whence they emigrated west about 1854. They located in Byron township, this county, where the mother
CALVIN YAW
1
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died in June, 1888, when sixty-one years of age. Mr. Yaw survived until March, 1894, dying at the age of eighty-two years upon a farm in Fremont township, which he had purchased in the '80s from John Campbell and which he had improved and developed. He was prominent in public affairs and supported the candidates of the republican party by his ballot. His wife was a Baptist in her religious faith. Mrs. Hearn is the third in order of birth in a family of four children, of whom two are deceased: Flora, who died in infancy; and Hattie, who died when fifteen years old. Her brother Frank.is living at Win- throp, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Hearn have been born five children, three of whom are natives of Byron township and two of Fremont township. Frank resides in Winthrop and owns and operates a threshing outfit. He married Miss Kate Parker, of Independence. Mamie, Idella and Margaret are all at home, as is also Donald, who has a barber shop at Winthrop.
Mr. Hearn now owns the farm on section 31, Fremont township, which was formerly the property of his father-in-law, Mr. Yaw, and has continued the work of developing the place, which is now one of the valuable farm properties of the county and which is in a high state of cultivation. In addition to the raising of grain he devotes considerable attention to stock-raising and is as successful as a stockman as he is as an agriculturist. He is recognized as one of the progressive and substantial residents of the county and holds the full confidence of all who know him. His political allegiance is given to the repub- lican party and he has served as township trustee since 1908 and as a member of the school board. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Winthrop, and his daughters are members of the Rebekahs. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church and contribute to its support. Mr. Hearn, in addition to his farming and stock- raising interests, is connected with the public utilities of the county, being presi- dent of the local telephone company, which gives excellent service to its patrons. He gives much personal attention to the affairs of the company and its credit- able record is due in large measure to his business sagacity and personal oversight.
NICHOLAS N. COMBS.
Nicholas N. Combs, living on a farm on sections 21 and 22, Homer township, was born in Lawrence, Van Buren county. Michigan, August 5, 1869, his parents being Charles and Susan (Grover) Combs, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume in connection with the sketch of J. D. Combs. He was a little lad of but seven summers when the parents arrived in Buchanan county, Iowa, so that he was practically reared here. The public schools afforded him his early educational privileges and he afterward attended the State Normal School at Cedar Falls. When his text-hooks were put aside he returned home and gave his father the benefit of his services until the father's death in 1893. He then inherited the home farm, comprising one hundred and twenty acres on sections 21 and 22, Homer township, and since that time he has made quite a change in the appearance of the place by adding many modern improvements. He is en- gaged in the raising of thoroughbred Hereford cattle and also Poland China hogs
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of a high grade, and annually sells considerable stock, thereby substantially in- creasing his ineome.
Mr. Combs has never married, his sister, Maria A., acting as his housekeeper. She was born in Lawrence, Van Buren county, Michigan, August 23, 1865, was also reared and educated in Buchanan county, and has spent the greater part of her life in Homer township. They are both adherents of the Methodist faith and Mr. Combs votes with the democratic party. He is likewise a charter mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen lodge at Rowley. It is not difficult to find those who speak of him in high terms, for he has long lived in this section of the state and has guided his life by the standards of upright manhood and honorable citizenship.
ROBERT FULTON CARSEY.
Robert Fulton Carsey, filling the office of justice of the peace and accounted one of the representative residents of Independence, was born at Arrow Rock, Missouri, in 1856. His father, Milton Perry Carsey, was born in Ohio in 1824 and now. at the age of ninety years, is living with a son at Sherman, Texas. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary A. Jones, was born in London in 1834 and died in the year 1912. Just prior to his marriage Milton P. Carsey removed westward to St. Louis and became a shoe merchant of that city. He afterward took up his abode at Boonville, Missouri, and still later at Arrow Rock, from which point he came to Iowa, settling first in Keokuk. In all these different places he continued to engage in the shoe business, while still later he was a shoe merchant in Carthage, in Webster and in Fountain Green, Illinois. He removed from Illinois to Texas, taking up his abode in Sherman, where he lived retired from active life.
The fourth in order of birth in a family of ten children, Robert F. Carsey spent his youth as a pupil in the country schools of Illinois to the age of sixteen years, when he began working on a farm. He then entered a shoe shop, learning the trade, spending four years in that way, during which time he received only his board and clothing in compensation for his services. He continued with one employer for six years and then bought out the business at Carthage, Illinois, where he conducted business on his own account for five or six months. He then went to Keokuk, where he spent a year and a half. In early life he was the champion foot racer in and around Keokuk and in a try-out he made a record of one hundred yards in ten seconds on the track at Keokuk, with two timekeepers holding watches. He was very active in athletic eireles and greatly enjoyed contests of skill.
On leaving Keokuk Mr. Carsey went to Quiney, Illinois, and in the vicinity of that city began farming, eventually becoming the owner of land. He lived there for only three years, at the end of which time he bought one hundred and six acres of land in Hancock county. Iowa. where he engaged in farming until 1891. Ile then became a reporter for the American Trotter of Independence, with which he was connected until its editor Mr. Williams moved away and the publication was suspended. During that time Mr. Carsey was also engaged in
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training race horses and was the owner of Sally Toler, a grand circuit racer that lost only one race in the entire season. Mr. Carsey also owned and trained many other horses and was trainer of a public stable. He owned a farm and his business was successfully conducted.
Mr. Carsey has been married twice. He first wedded Jenny Mcclintock, who was born in Adams county, Illinois, a daughter of John and Barbara (Wolfe) McClintock. Her father was a farmer of Adams county, Illinois, where he owned considerable land and was a preacher of the Dunkard faitlı. The Wolfe and Mcclintock families were very prominent in Adams county and the representatives of the former are still active in both political and church circles there. To Mr. Carsey's first marriage there were born two chil- dren : Alice Viola, a commercial artist with the D. C. Bowling Company of Chicago; and Edmund Arthur, who is teaching in Normal, Illinois. On the 28th of December, 1913, Mr. Carsey was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary E. Mison, who was born in England, a daughter of Robert Bland, also a native of that country, and a sister of John Bland, the florist at the State Hospital in Independence.
Mr. Carsey holds membership with the Knights of Pythias. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and for six years he has filled the office of justice of the peace in Washington township. He belongs to the Christian church and is a citizen widely and favorably known in Independence.
CHARLES HEILAND.
Charles Heiland, who was long and actively identified with agricultural pur- suits in Buchanan county, still owns two hundred and ninety acres of valuable land on sections 18 and 19, Cono township, but since March. 1911, has lived retired at Rowley. His birth occurred in Germany on the 1st of December, 1855, his parents being Carl and Carrie (Heiland) Heiland, who were likewise natives of that country. The father, who there followed merchandising through- out his entire business career, was killed in a runaway accident in 1860. The mother, long surviving him, passed away in the year 1906.
Charles Heiland was reared and educated in the land of his nativity, and after putting aside his text-books secured employment as a farm hand. In 1873, when a youth of seventeen, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and made his way direct to Buchanan county, Iowa, here working as a farm hand for a period of five years. Subsequently he cultivated rented land for a year and then purchased a traet of eighty acres on Section 19, Cono township, which he improved. As the years passed and his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management, he extended the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase until it now embraces two hundred and ninety acres of valuable land, eighty acres of which lie on section 18. In the operation of that place he was actively and successfully engaged until March, 1911, when he abandoned agricultural labors and removed to Rowley, where he has since lived in honorable retirement.
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On the 1st of November, 1880, Mr. Heiland was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Weiher, a daughter of John and Carlonia (Ludemann) Weiher, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work. Our sub- ject and his wife have four children, as follows: Carl, who operates his father's farm; Katie, who gave her hand in marriage to Rozell Butterfield, an agricul- turist of Benton county, Iowa; William J., who operates one of his father's farms: and Carrie N., who is the wife of Joseph Boelder and resides in Nebraska.
Mr. Heiland gives his political allegiance to the democracy and has served as school director of Cono township for a period of fifteen years, making a cred- itable record in that connection. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Coming to the new world in early manhood, he eagerly availed himself of the opportunities here afforded and worked his way steadily upward to a posi- tion among the prosperous and substantial citizens of his community. The period of his residence in Buchanan county covers more than four decades, and he enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance within its borders.
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