USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 36
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On the 10th of August, 1882, Mr. Knight was married to Miss Amanda Center, who was born in. Sangamon county, Illinois, and was there reared. For a few years prior to her marriage she engaged in teaching school and did capable work in the schoolroom in maintaining discipline and in imparting to others the knowledge that she had acquired. Following their marriage they lived upon a rented farm for a few years and in 1892 came to Iowa, locating in Story county, near Nevada, upon a tract of land which Mr. Knight had purchased the previous year. It was an improved tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which they made their home for seven years and then sold the property, investing in a farm of two hundred acres, which was their place of residence until 1902. In that year the property was sold and they came to Clay county, where Mr. Knight purchased the farm upon which he now resides. He has used woven wire in fencing the place, has tiled the land, investing eight hundred dollars in tile, and has made a good home equipped with the accessories and conveniences of a model farm property. There is an orchard and grove upon his place, a pleasant dwelling and substantial barns and outbuildings. The latest improved machinery is used to facilitate the work of the fields and the farm equipments include a wind pump, a feed grinder and corn sheller. Mr. Knight also raises and feeds stock, making a specialty of hogs. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator at Spencer and his business interests are carefully controlled, so that he has now reached the plane of affluence, being numbered among the substantial citizens of the community.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Knight have been born seven children: Luella, the wife of Walter Dickison, who resides in Spencer, where he is conducting a meat mar- ket ; Ira, who assists in the operation of the home farm : Hattie, who is attending the Spencer high school, and Alta, at home. They also lost three children : Viola, who died in Story county at the age of sixteen years; Jessie, who died at the age of eleven years; and Guy, who died of diphtheria at the age of five years. All the three children died within a week of the same disease. Politically Mr. Knight is a republican with considerable interest in the prohibition party, for CLAY 19.
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he is an advocate of the temperance movement. He has served as road boss and has been officially connected with the schools. From his youth he has been a member of the Christian church and his entire life has been characterized by de- votion to manly purpose and honorable principles. In all of his business dealings he is straightforward and reliable and enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence and good will of those who know him.
N. J. HENNINGS.
Everly numbers among its worthy and valued citizens the gentleman whose name introduces this review. For a long period he was an active and energetic farmer of Summit township where he owned three hundred and twenty acres of land. Although he has disposed of this property his landed possessions include three hundred and twenty acres lying near Mitchell, South Dakota, Mr. Hennings was born in Holstein, Germany. October 2. 1850. When a young man he sought the opportunities and business advantages of the new world and, crossing the At- lantic, joined some friends at Davenport, lowa. Soon afterward he began work as a farm hand in Scott county, for his financial resources were limited and he faced the necessity of providing for his own support. Later he went to Benton county where he again worked at farm labor, and his industry and economy in the course of years brought him a capital that enabled him to purchase a farm.
Mr. Hennings was living in Benton county when he was married, in 1872, to Miss Margaret Kromhke, also a native of Holstein. Following their marriage they took up their abode upon a rented farm, which Mr. Hennings cultivated for about twelve years, or until 1884. He then removed to Clay county, after having previously visited this district, and invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land in Summit township. On this farm he took up his abode, imbued with a determination to transform the tract into valuable property that should yield him a substantial living. He built a little home and soon wrought a change in the appearance of the place, bringing the unimproved land under cultivation and adding many modern equipments and accessories to the place. Year by year he gathered in the crops, for which he found a ready market, and as he carefully saved his earnings he was at length able to purchase an additional tract of one hundred and sixty acres. On the first quarter-section he built a good home, also two barns and all the outbuildings which were necessary to shield his grain, hay and farm implements from the storms of winter. Iowa was originally termed a treeless prairie and it was only along the streams that any natural forest growth was found. But Mr. Henning, like many of his neighbors, set out trees and today has a beautiful growth of ash, box-elder and maple. He took up the task of cultivating fruit, with the result, that he soon had a good orchard in bearing. Thus year after year he carried on his farm work with good results until 1894, when he sold one hundred and sixty acres of the home place and removed to Everly, where he purchased a residence. Two years later, not being content to remain idle. he opened a hotel which he conducted four years. On the expira- tion of that period he disposed of the hotel and also sold the other quarter section
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of his home farm in Summit township. He then bought land in South Dakota, near Mitchell, where he now has an improved and valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres. For a number of years he has practically lived retired, his realty and other investments being sufficient to bring to him a substantial income, supplying him with all of the necessities and comforts, and some of the luxuries of life.
As the years passed several children made their appearance into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hennings, and two sons and two daughters are yet living, namely: Dr. A. J. Hennings, who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Tay- lor, North Dakota; O. F. Hennings, who is a bookkeeper in the First National Bank at Dickerson, North Dakota; Alma, the wife of Henry Teeson, of Everly ; and Lillie, who is postmistress at Taylor, North Dakota. They also lost a son, Otto, who died in Benton county in his third year.
Mr. and Mrs. Hennings were reared in the Lutheran faith, but are not mem- bers of any church at the present time. Politically, Mr. Hennings is a stanch democrat, and in Summit township he served as road supervisor and as a mem- ber of the school board. Since taking up his abode in Everly he has been a mem- ber of the village board, was also elected township trustee and by reelection has served for nine consecutive years. In 1908 he was again reelected, so that his incumbency will continue until 1910. He has been chairman of the town board since his first election. He belongs to the Odd Fellows Lodge of Everly, in which he has served as an official. His interest in all that pertains to the general wel- fare is that of a public-spirited citizen, who finds time and inclination to cooperate in movements for the public good. He has witnessed the entire growth and de- velopment of Everly and of the western part of Clay county. In all the relations of life he has been honorable and straightforward and his example is well . worthy of emulation. Prosperous in his business connections, he proves what may be accomplished by determined and persistent labor. Starting out without capital, he has worked his way steadily upward, improving every opportunity and utilizing every chance that has led to honorable advancement.
ALEXANDER MORROW.
Alexander Morrow is a prosperous farmer of Royal, Clay county, whose successful life merits exceptional praise owing to the fact that when scarcely out of boyhood, at a time when children of his age were going from comfortable homes to acquire their education, he was practically homeless, cast out into the world with strangers and compelled to get along as best he could. But he possessed the possibilities of a successful career and little by little they evidenced themselves. He accepted any employment offered him and applied himself diligently, day by day becoming stronger for life's battles, and thus gradually bettered his condition, at the same time strengthening his self-reliance, so that finally, through industry, thrift and economy, he saved sufficient means to purchase some land, and has since prospered, until he is today one of the most successful and enterprising farmers in this county.
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He was born in Canada. September 15, 1842, a son of M. and Abigail (Yew) Morrow, the father being a native of that place who came to the United States and located in Kankakee county, Illinois, where he died in May, 1852, his wife passing away there December 5. 1879. They were the parents of six children, one of whom is Alexander Morrow, our subject. He was but nine years of age when his father died, but was relegated to strangers upon the remarriage of his mother, and consequently received no education. At that tender age he was compelled to seek employment for himself, and worked at whatever he could get until he was forty-one years old, when he came to this county and eventually located in Clay township. Ilis life thus far had been modest, and of his scant carnings he laid by the greater portion, and conse- quently upon arriving in this township he had sufficient means to purchase a small farm, upon which he worked early and late, meeting with splendid success and annually adding to his landed holdings, until he now owns three-quarters of section 21, composed of the best soil and as fine a farm upon which to produce general crops as there is in the county. Ilis land is highly improved, with drainage, buildings, and machinery, and he possesses every convenience with which to follow farming by modern methods. Notwithstanding that his life was a busy one, he laid aside his interests for the honor of his country and served during the Civil war in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
In 1866 he wedded Odella Buckrow, to which union were born: William ; Edward, an agriculturist of Clay township: Lucinda : Clara, who lives in Clay township; Hattie, a resident of Royal, Iowa: Walter; and Lilly. After their mother departed this life, Mr. Morrow was united in marriage to Mrs. Rosalie Trumbler, and they are the parents of: Delor, of Royal, Iowa; Pearl. of Clay township: Laura: Agnes: and Paul. Politically Mr. Morrow is loyal to the republican party and has served the township in a profitable manner as a member of the school board. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, where he meets his old army comrades. His career is a commendable one and is one of the many evidences of what patience and perseverance will do in overcoming difficulties, surmounting discouragements and achieving success. Mr. Morrow is an upright man, interested not only in the financial but also in the moral standing of the community, and has acquired the confidence and respect of his neighbors, both as a substantial farmer and a useful citizen.
THOMAS L. ROBERTS
Thomas I. Roberts is living retired in Spencer, having reached the seventy- first milestone on the journey of life. At different times he has been connected with the machinist's trade and with farming, and during the period of the Civil war lie espoused the Union cause and followed the old flag on southern battle- fields. The success he has attained in business and the respect everywhere ten- dered him marks him as one of the representative citizens of Spencer, and it is therefore with pleasure that we present his history to our readers. His birth
MR. AND MRS. T. L. ROBERTS
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR LENOX TILDEN FE DANS
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occurred in South Wales, June 13, 1837, his parents being Philip and Mary ( Lewis) Roberts, also natives of Wales. Little is known concerning the ancestral history of the family. The paternal grandmother was Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts, and her children were two in number-a son and daughter. The maternal grandfather, Louis Lewis, was a native of Wales, in which country he spent his entire life, passing away there at an advanced age, while his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis, lived to the remarkable old age of one hundred and eleven years. Their family of three daughters and one son included Mary Lewis, who became the wife of Philip Roberts. For many years Philip Roberts followed farming in his native country, and later engaged in the hotel business there until he came to America in 1840, establishing his home in Minersville, Schuylkill county, Penn- sylvania. Subsequently he removed westward to Columbus county, Wisconsin, where he died at the age of eighty years. His wife survived him two years, and had reached the age of seventy-nine years, at the time of her demise. Both were consistent christian people, holding membership in the Baptist church, and Mr. Roberts had military experience as a member of the Welsh militia. Their family numbered six sons and six daughters, of whom the youngest three are now living: Sarah, the widow of Hugh Jones, of O'Brien county, Ohio; Mrs. Robert Roberts, of Spencer, Iowa, and Thomas L. Two uncles of the family, Richard Lewis and Rev. Morgan Howells, attained more than local distinction, the former having charge of the Welsh army during the riots in Wales, while the latter was one of the most celebrated ministers of the Calvin Methodist church of that country.
Thomas L. Roberts, the youngest of the family, was only three years of age when brought by his parents to America. He was reared to manhood at Miners- ville, Pennsylvania, where he acquired a public-school education, and learned the ยท machinist's trade, with which he has been identified during the greater part of his life. In 1860 he removed to Columbus county, Wisconsin, and the following year, aroused by a spirit of patriotism, when the Union was endangered by rebellion in the south, he joined Company C of the Tivelfth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and went to the front. While in the pits at Vicksburg he reenlisted and served for four years, giving valiant aid to his country during the darkest hour in her history. He was a drummer during the first three years of his service, and then reenlisted as a private, after which he was appointed to the quartermaster's department, doing much work there of a clerical nature. How- ever he knows the experience of facing the line of battle, for he took part in the engagement of Kenesaw Mountain, Big Shanty, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek, the charge on Atlanta, the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, and New Hope Church. He also went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, which proved that the strength of the Confederacy was almost exhausted.
When the war was over and victory crowned the Union army, Mr. Roberts returned to his home in Wisconsin, and for two years engaged in clerking. in a department store in Columbus. He afterward removed to Omaha, Nebraska, where he again took up the machinist's trade, and installed the first air pump on an engine that was ever put on west of the Missouri river. He worked on the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad in putting on the line shafting, and was employed by the company for fifteen years. On the expiration of that period
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he made his way to Colorado in 1879, and was employed by the Rio Grande Railroad Company. Later, however, he returned to Iowa, where, in 1870, he had taken up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres. This he culti- vated for a few years, and then returned to his trade, but he still owns the farm, which he secured through a soldier's claim, and which cost him only sixteen dollars, although it is today worth twelve thousand dollars. It is situated on section 6, Clay township, and is a well improved and valuable property. Mr. Roberts is now largely living retired, for his life of activity and enterprise has brought to him a substantial competence which now supplies him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life without recourse to further labor.
On the 6th of September. 1867. Mr. Roberts was married to Miss Mary Ann Richards, a daughter of Hugh and Anna Richards. Five children were born unto them: Adelbert Studer, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who married Julia Ann Richards and has two daughters, Patrina and May: May, the second of the family, who died at the age of three and a half years; Thomas Lynn, who was killed in a railroad wreck on the Omaha road at Windom, Minnesota, and left a wife, Mrs. Haidee ( Newkirk) Roberts, and one son, Maryan; Patrina May, who died in Leadville, Colorado, at the age of eleven years; and Earl Joyful, who is living in Spencer with his aunt. Mary Roberts. Of this family the daughter-in-law, Mrs. Haidee ( Newkirk) Roberts, was a daughter of Dr. Newkirk, a surgeon of the Confederate army, who held the rank of major. The death of Mrs. Mary Ann Roberts occurred March 18, 1898. when she was fifty-two years of age. She was a devoted christian woman, holding membership in the Baptist church, and in her family was a loving wife and mother.
Mr. Roberts is well known in fraternal circles, being a prominent Mason, holding membership in Evening Shade Lodge, No. 312, A. F. & A. M., of Spencer ; Welcome Chapter, No. 44. R. A. M., of Somerville, Tennessee ; Fayette Council, No. 84, R. & S. M., of Somerville ; and the Valley of Memphis Consistory, S. P. R. S. He likewise belongs to Salida Lodge, No. 57, I. O. O. F., of Salida, Colorado, and Garfield Post, No. 9, G. A. R., of Leadville, Colorado. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party which stood as the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. and has ever been the party of reform, progress and advancement. His life has been one of well directed activity and intelligent effort, resulting in the attainment of a fair measure of success, and wherever he is known he is honored, by reason of his genuine worth.
A. T. JONES.
In every town and city there are men who by the consensus of public opinion are placed in the front ranks of the enterprising citizens. To this class belongs A. T. Jones, who for fifteen years has been actively and successfully engaged in the live stock business in Everly, while previous to this time he was one of the prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of the county. There is little concerning the history of actual progress and improvement in Clay county that Mr. Jones does not know. Events which are to others matters of record are familiar to
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him through actual experience, for he has lived in the county since 186 ;. At that time it was just being reclaimed for the purposes of civilization, for although the district had been visited by white men for many years, comparatively few permanent settlements had been made within its borders. Mr. Jones was less than a year old at the time of his arrival, his birth having occurred in Stoughton, Wisconsin. August 30. 1866. He is a son of Evan Jones, who brought the family to lowa in 1867. Of the father further mention is made elsewhere in this volume. A. T. Jones was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of frontier life and shared with the family in all of the experiences and hardships incident to the establishment of a home amid pioneer conditions. He was reared in the county and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. When not busy with his text-books he gave his father the benefit of his services and then engaged in farming on the old homestead for four years after he had attained his majority.
Mr. Jones was married when twenty-one years of age, the wedding being celebrated in Spencer on the 14th of March, 1888. the lady of his choice being Miss Mae Harvey, who was born in Clayton county, Iowa, and reared and educated in this state. Her father, William Harvey, was one of the early settlers who came from Illinois to Iowa in pioneer times but was a native of the state of New York. For four years after his marriage Mr. Jones continued the cultivation of the old home farm and about 1892 removed to a farm north of Everly, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land that was still in its primitive condition. The breaking plow was soon at work and after the sod was turned the work of cultivation was continued until the seed was planted and in due time harvests were gathered. Mr. Jones fenced the place and separated the farm into fields of convenient size. He purchased improved machinery to carry on the work and used every means to make the property productive and valuable. As his financial resources increased he added to the farm from time to time until he became the owner of six hundred and forty acres, but afterward sold one-half of this. He built a good farm house and barn and during the ten years in which he resided on that place wrought a marked transformation in its appearance. In his feed lots and pastures were found good grades of cattle, for he raised and fed stock and later bought and shipped stock. In 1904 he rented his farm and removed to Everly, where he has since devoted his energies to buying and shipping stock, shipping on an average of one hundred carloads of live stock annually. He is today the largest buyer in the western part of Clay county. His business is capably conducted and bringing to him gratifying prosperity.
Four children have graced the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jones : Theodore, Leslie, Grace and Mamie. The family is prominent socially and the members of the household occupy an enviable position in the social circles in which they move. Mr. Jones is a valued representative of the Masonic lodge of Everly and his wife is a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and for three years he served as assessor of Waterford township. He has also been mayor of Everly for two years and gave to the town a public-spirited, businesslike and progressive
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administration, working for needed reform and improvement. He has been a member of the school board and has served as a delegate to the county conventions. While yet comparatively a young man, he has witnessed almost the . entire growth and progress of the county and has been closely associated with its improvement, cooperating in many movements that have been of material benefit to the county.
JAMES E. MILLS.
There is no record which the American citizen holds in higher honor than that of the man whose strength of character. determination of purpose and inde- fatigable energy have enabled him to work his way upward from a humble position to one of affluence, and who throughout his business career has followed a straightforward, honorable course, that neither secks nor requires disguise. Such has been the history of James E. Mills who, when a little lad of but ten years, began to earn his own living and has since been dependent upon his own resources. He is now well known as a grain dealer and farmer of Dickens and has gained a place among the substantial citizens of the county. He was born in Eaton. Carroll county, New Hampshire. November 9. 1840. his parents being John and Betsy T. (Giles) Mills, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire. The family is of English lineage, but was established in America in early colonial days, and Jolin Mills, the grandfather of James E. Mills, was likewise born in the old Granite state. He became a ship carpenter and farmer and died in New Orleans, while on his way from Galveston, Texas. His family numbered thirteen children, including John Mills, Jr., who learned and followed the carpenter's trade, spending the greater part of his life at Eaton, New Hampshire. He also 'cultivated a small farm. In 1861 be proved his loyalty to his country in the hour of need, by enlisting as a member of the Fourteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteers, serving for three years. He was wounded in the battle of Baton Rouge in 1863, and died from his injuries in 1864, when about forty-five years of age. In early manhood he had wedded Betsy T. Giles, a daughter of David Giles, also a native of New Hamphsire, where he followed the occupation of farming for many years. His wife died in that state but his last years were spent in Illinois. As stated, his daughter became the wife of John Mills, and long surviving her husband, reached the age of eighty-three years, passing away in 1891. Both were members of the Freewill Baptist church and were earnest Christian people, who enjoyed the warm regard of those with whom they came in contact. Their family numbered four children: Mrs. Mary J. Peary, of Conway, New Hampshire : James E., of this review ; Lorenzo D., also of Conway, New Hampshire; and Lozira F., who became the wife of Ephraim Bryant, but is now deceased.
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