USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 53
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PROFESSOR DAVID MORRIS ODLE.
Professor David Morris Odle, who for four years has been principal of the Spencer high school, is a man whose force of character and natural ability has carried him into important relations with the educational interests of Iowa. From the age of eight years he has been dependent on his own resources and his laudable ambition prompted him to acquire the education that has served as the foundation for his present successful career. His birth occurred in Randolph county, Indiana, on the home farm about six miles north of Winchester. June 5. 1850. Through the greater part of the nineteenth century the family were identi- CLAY 27.
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ficd with the pioneer development of the middle west. John Odel, the great- grandfather of Professor Odle, removed from Ross county, Ohio, to Winchester, Randolph county, Indiana, in 1818. He was of English lineage and was a pioneer Methodist preacher of Indiana. He was accompanied by his son, William Odle, the grandfather of Professor Odle, who became a farmer in Indiana and there spent his remaining days, passing away at the age of fifty-four years. He married Elizabeth Franklin, a grandniece of Benjamin Franklin.
Caleb Odle, son of William Odle, was born in Indiana and throughout his entire life carried on farming in Randolph county. He wedded Miss Eliza Jack, who was also born in the Hoosier state. Both the father and mother of Professor Odle were devoted members of the Methodist church. Their children were three in number.
Professor Odle, the youngest of the family, was only seven years of age when left an orphan and at the age of eight years was bound out in Jay county, Indiana, although he was reared to manhood in Randolph county. He lived on a farm until seventeen years of age, during which period he assisted in the work of the fields, from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn. He attended the district schools for three months in the winter season but was not satisfied with the educational advantages which he thus secured and entered the college at Ridgeville, Indiana, working his way through that institution by teaching in the fall and winter months. Thus he met his expenses and completed a six years' course. Ile afterward engaged in teaching for two years and then went upon the railroad as a brakesman. Later he again took up teaching and in the profession has been very successful. For twelve years he taught in the public schools of Ridgeville through the fall and winter months and in the spring and summer was in college. In 1888 he went to Hull, Sioux county, Iowa, to accept the principalship of the schools there and so con- tinued for twelve years. Later he spent five years as superintendent of the schools of Hartley, Iowa, and in the fall of 1905 came to Spencer, where he is now serving for the fourth year as principal of the high school. He is an able educator, who has been a constant student of the best methods of instruction and his own zeal and interest in the work has largely inspired his associates and pupils. Progress has been his watchword from the beginning and his labors have been attended with a measure of success that makes him one of the prominent repre- sentatives of the public-school system of Iowa.
At the time of the Spanish-American war Professor Odle was captain of Company E, Fourth Iowa National Guard. He had been connected with the military interests of the state for some years as a representative of the National Guard, serving as private in the Sixth Regiment, Iowa National Guards, then as first sergeant in the Fourth Regiment from April, 1892, until June, 1893, when he was elected first lieutenant of Company E, of the same regiment. In July, 1895. he was elected captain and on the 26th of April, 1898, entered the United States service as captain of Company E. Fifty-second Regiment of Iowa Volun- teers. With this command he served until mustered out October 30, 1898. In March, 1899, he was elected captain of Company E, of the Fifty-second Iowa National Guard, and in May, 1900, was elected major of the Fifty-sixth Regiment, with which rank he served for five years, so that his entire military experience
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covered fourteen years, bringing him a wide acquaintance in the military circles of the state and winning for him the high regard of all his associate officers as well as of the men who were under his command.
On the 9th of March, 1878, Professor Odle was married to Miss Josephine Houser of Virginian descent.
Professor Odle is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and belongs to Hartley Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Hartley Lodge, K. P. He is a gentleman of broad, general culture, who reads widely and thinks deeply, and association with him means expansion and elevation. Since 1892 he has held a teacher's life diploma and in his professional career has gradually worked his way upward until he today occupies a position of distinction as one of the prominent educators of the state. Moreover, in social relations he is held in the highest regard and has a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
GEORGE S. BROWN.
George S. Brown, a successful and highly respected farmer, prominent in the affairs of Logan township, was born in Kankakee county, Illinois, February 26, 1864. His ancestors were among the pioneers of the state of Pennsylvania, and the family was noted for longevity, his great-grandfather having attained the remarkable age of one hundred and eight years. His paternal grandparents were Severin and Elizabeth C. (Pace) Brown. The former was born in New York, April 24, 1799, and when about twelve years of age he was taken to Pennsylvania, where he subsequently located lands in Monroe township, Wyoming county. upon which he resided until April, 1853. He then moved to Lake county, Indiana, remaining there until he departed this life, April 17, 1875. his remains being interred on his farm. In early life he devoted his time to chopping timber and hunting, but later settled down to general farming and stock raising, which he continued throughout his remaining days. In politics he was a stanch whig and was prominent and influential in the affairs of his party. He took a deep interest in church work and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, in which for many years he officiated as class leader. He was twice united in marriage, first in Wyoming county, Penn- sylvania, to Deliverance C. Rogers, who departed this life November 6, 1825, leaving one son, John W., whose birth occurred in 1823, and his death about the year 1905. His second marriage was with Elizabeth C. Pace, whose birth occurred in North Milan township, Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, December 26. 1805, and who died February 15, 1873, being laid to rest in Lake county, Indiana. She was the mother of seven children: Isaac B., born July 22, 1828. died May 21, 1903. Asa P., who was a soldier in the Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil war, served three years and three months, participating in the battles of Green Briar, Harper's Ferry and Lookout Mountain. During these engagements he narrowly escaped death, a number of bullets piercing his clothes, but miraculously was not wounded. Some time after the war he removed to Pasadena county, California, where he is now living retired. James S., whose
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birth occurred in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, on August 1. 1831. now resides in this county. Nancy E., born November 7, 1837, is the widow of John Wilson, who for the past fifty years has occupied the same house in Valparaiso, Indiana, in which she now lives. Amanda J. is the widow of David McCleaf, of Valparaiso, Indiana. Thomas P., whose birth occurred February 18. 1843, departed this life October 29, 1862, while serving as a soldier in the Black Hawk Cavalry. Mary Anne, born November 1, 1845, is the wife of N. W. Hawkins, of Putnam county, Missouri.
James S. Brown did not have any educational advantages beyond those afforded him by the district school, and upon completing his studies there he was employed in the work of the farm. At the age of sixteen years he was engaged to drive a team on the canal, which occupation he followed for four years. When twenty-one years of age he left home and went to Grant county, Indiana, and thence to Kaskaskia county, Illinois, remaining in the latter county for a brief period and then locating in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. In 1884 he removed to O'Brien county, Iowa, and thence, in 1892, to Palo Alto county. Iowa, and afterward to Carlton county, Minnesota, in 1902. In politics he was an old-line whig. afterward became a republican and recalls with pride the incident of his walking eight miles to poll his vote for Abraham Lincoln. . For many years he officiated in the capacity of deacon in the Baptist church in Wisconsin, and is now serving in that position in the church of the same denomination to which he now belongs. While a resident of the state of Pennsylvania he belonged to the Sons of Temperance and has since been an influential factor in promoting the cause of prohibition.
Mr. Brown was twice married. He first wedded Miss Rosetta T. Durland, a native of Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, where her birth occurred January 1, 1836, and where she lived until October 30, 1860, when she departed this life, leaving one son, Harry, who was born December 15, 1857, and follows agri- cultural pursuits in Oklahoma. On February 28, 1861, Mr. Brown married Sarah C. Smith, a native of Lake county, Indiana, who was born April II, 1843, and passed away October 15, 1903. By her marriage she became the mother of the following children: George S .; Jennie M., born September 19, 1866, now residing in Grant county, Wisconsin ; Mary R., born March 8, 1869, and also a resident of Grant county: James S., born May 24, 1874, an agriculturist of Whipple township, Pottawattamie county, this state; Sadie, whose birth occurred October 7, 1878, and who resides in Pottawattamie county ; Callie, who was born July 3, 1881, and departed this life on December 4, 1884: Charles A., who was born December 6. 1884, and is night clerk in the Erling Hotel, at Spencer ; and Bertha, who departed this life in infancy.
At the age of eight years George S. Brown removed with his parents to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where he acquired his education in the district schools. After completing his studies he remained at home until he was twenty- one years of age, at which period of his life he located on a farm in O'Brien county, where he followed agricultural pursuits for nine years, at the expiration of which time he removed to Silver Lake, Palo Alto county, renting lands there on which he carried on general farming and stock raising from 1892 to 1897. when he came here and rented a farm including the acreage of one section. He
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now owns eighty acres on section No. 10, Logan township. He does an extensive farming and stock raising business and since the year 1897 has paid out twenty thousand dollars for rent and hired help, which gives some idea of the propor- tions of his farming interests. In addition to transacting the affairs of his farm. which is one of the finest and most highly improved in the county, he is con- cerned in other enterprises.
On August 4. 1887, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Maggie V. Delmoge, a native of Ontario, Canada, and a daughter of John and Jane (Wesley) Delmoge. Her father went from Ireland to Canada about the year 1833. living in Holton county for a while and then removeing to Wellington county, where he departed this life May 21, 1897. Her mother, who was a relative of John Wesley, and also of the Duke of Wellington, had ten children : Adam, William, Jake, Julia A., Catharine, Mary, Francis, Sarah, Gusta and Maggie V. Francis and Gusta are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are parents of four children: Myrtie, born July 4. 1888: Eva, born August 15. 1889: James W., whose birth occurred September 15, 1890; and Lester D., who was born August 21, 1894.
Mr. Brown is a stanch supporter of the republican party and having given considerable study to the various political platforms, he is of the opinion that the principles of republicanism mark out a policy which if kept in vogue will insure the permanent peace of the country and place its finances on a firm foundation. Consequently he is active in the affairs of his party and exerts his influence to the uttermost in behalf of its candidates. For five terms he has officiated as clerk in this township, and is still the incumbent, while for ten years he has been central committeeman for the republican party. He belongs to Ayrshire Lodge, I. O. O. F., with which he has been affiliated for fourteen years and has passed through all the chairs. He is also a member of the Spencer Encampment and Daughters of Rebekah. He is a man of high social and business standing and is recognized as one of the most honorable and valued citizens of the community.
JAMES A. REDFIELD.
Prominent among the energetic, successful and progressive business men of Spencer is numbered James A. Redfield, owner of a furniture and undertaking establishment, which he has conducted for ten years. He was born in Stark county, Illinois, near Lafayette. August 2, 1868, and is the elder of two children born unto G. H. and Mary R. (White) Redfield, natives of New Jersey and Massachusetts respectively. The father was a son of John Redfield, a native of Holland, who, on crossing the Atlantic to America, settled in New Jersey. He died when about sixty-eight years of age, while his wife lived to be nearly one hundred years of age and reared a family of four sons and two daughters. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Redfield was John White, who followed farming as a life work. G. H. Redfield was also an agriculturist and on leaving the east became a resident of Illinois, being one of the first settlers of Stark county. There he secured a tract of land, which he cultivated year after year, bringing it under a high state of development and improvement. He died upon that farm in Sep-
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tember, 1905, lacking but four months of being ninety years of age. His widow still survives him and is now living in Lafayette, Illinois, at the age of seventy- seven years. She is a member of the Universalist church, to which Mr. Redfield also belonged. In community affairs he was quite prominent and active and for twenty years served as county commissioner, his capability and fidelity being indicated in his frequent reelection. The only daughter of the household, Mary A., is now the wife of E. F. Jones, of Olympia, Washington.
James A Redfield was reared on the home farm in Stark county, Illinois, to the age of nineteen years. When in the battle of life the city boy crosses swords with the country lad. the odds are against him. The early rising, the daily tasks, the economical habits of a country boy prepare him for the struggle that must precede ascendency. The lessons of industry and enterprise which Mr. Redfield early learned have been factors in his continued success. After attending the dis- trict schools he became a pupil in Toulon Academy and later attended Lombard University at Galesburg. He then engaged in the furniture business at Wyom- ing, Stark county, Illinois, where he remained for fifteen months, during which period he was married. He wedded Miss Laura A. Dickinson, a daughter of R. J. and Letitia Dickinson, and unto them were born three children, but the twins, Edith and Jane G., died in infancy. The surviving daughter is Irma N.
On his removal from Wyoming. Illinois, Mr. Redfield went to Toulon, that state, and for three years was employed in the department store of Starrett Brothers. In March, 1898. he arrived in Iowa and opened a furniture and hard- ware store in Rippey, in connection with John W. Dickinson. On the 12th of June, 1899, he came to Spencer and purchased his present furniture store. Here he has a large and well selected line of goods and conducts a growing and pros- perous business. He also has an undertaking department and in his mercantile pursuits is meeting with gratifying prosperity. He keeps in touch with the trade, knows what the market offers and carries an attractive line of goods, while his prices are reasonable and his treatment of his patrons always courteous.
In his political views Mr. Redfield is a stalwart republican, but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. He belongs to Evening Shade Lodge, No. 312, A. F. & A. M., Spencer Lodge, I. O. O. F., the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, while his wife is a mem- ber of the Congregational church. They are well known in the social circles of the city and enjoy the warm regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact. Mr. Redfield occupies a place of prominence as one of the wide-awake, energetic business men, completing what he undertakes by reason of his force of character and his strict conformity to modern business methods and his loyalty to all that is honorable in commercial dealings.
ALONZO MARSH.
Through the improvement of the opportunities which Iowa offers in agri- cultural lines, Alonzo Marsh has become one of the substantial citizens of Clay county. He is now living retired in Dickens, but for many years was closely associated with active farming interests. He was born in Anson, Maine, February
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II, 1835, and represents an old New England family, long known in that section of the country. His paternal grandfather, Nathan Marsh, of English descent, was born in New Hampshire, and on removing to the Pine Tree state settled in the town of Anson, Somerset county, where he secured a tract of land and fol- lowed farming. He married a Miss Heald, who was of German lineage and they had a family of six children. The death of Nathan Marsh, Sr., occurred when he had passed the eighty-eighth milestone on life's journey, while his wife had also traveled far on the journey of life ere she was called to her final rest.
Nathan Marsh, Jr., father of Alonzo Marsh, was born in Maine and in early manhood he determined to make the occupation to which he had been reared his life work. He therefore took up the task of tilling the soil on his own account and continued his residence in New England until 1856, when he removed westward to Wisconsin, establishing his home near the town of Wautoma, Waushara county. There he carried on general farming until his death, which occurred in 1864, when he was sixty-two years of age. While a resident of Maine he had wedded Miss Hannah Fling, also a native of that state, and a daughter of Samuel Fling, who was a resident of Somerset county, and was of Irish descent. He married Miss Abigail McFadden, a lady of Scotch descent, and they reared a large family, including Hannah Fling, who became the wife of Nathan Marsh, Jr. She died February 17, 1857.
In their family were ten children, but Alonzo Marsh, the first born, is the only one now living. He was reared in Maine on his father's farm, remaining at home until he had attained his majority. The district schools afforded him his educational privileges and in the school of experience he has also learned many valuable lessons, while reading and observation have also added greatly to his knowledge. When twenty-one years of age he followed the injunction of Horace Greeley, "Go west, young man, go west," and in Wisconsin he and his father and his father's brother. Benjamin Marsh, together purchased one hundred acres of land in Dakota township, Waushara county. They carried on farming interests jointly until the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south. Alonzo Marsh had watched with interest the progress of events which preceded the war and noted the threatening attitude of the south and resolved that if a blow was struck to overthrow the Union he would strike one in its defense. Accordingly in 1861 he enrolled his name with the boys in blue and was assigned to duty with the Eighth Wisconsin Battery of Light Artillery, with which he served for a little more than three years, being mustered out in the winter of 1865. He had enlisted as a private but was made a noncommissioned officer. Although he was never wounded in battle, on one occasion he was badly injured and he experienced all of the hardships and rigors of warfare, taking part in long marches, the sieges and the pitched battles.
When the war ended Mr. Marsh returned to his home farm in Wisconsin. In the meantime his father had died. He continued farming there for two or three years and immediately after his return to the north he was married, the lady of his choice being. Miss Emma Lydia Rowley, a daughter of Seth and Sallie (Hud- son) Rowley. In July, 1868, they removed to Kansas and at their home near Mound City, in Linn county, Mrs. Marsh passed away on the 24th of September, 1868. There were two children born of that union, of whom one died in infancy,
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while the other, Ernest Alonzo Marsh, is now living in Chicago, where he con- ducts business as a machinist and manufacturer of time locks. He wedded Ada- line Gifford, and they have one daughter, Bernice Adaline. After losing his first wife Mr. Marsh was again married on the 10th of October, 1869, his second union being with Mrs. Elizabeth Helen Gustin, a daughter of James Marr, and the widow of George Gustin, who died at City Point, Virginia, in the Civil war. By her former marriage Mrs. Marsh had two daughters, Inez A. and Minnie D. Gustin. The former is now assistant in the postoffice at Dickens, while the latter is the wife of W. J. Moore, of Dickens, and has two children, Pearl Mellison and Lola .Inez Moore.
Mr. Marsh continued his residence in Kansas until 1868, when he removed to Wautoma, Wisconsin, where he remained until the spring of 1884, when he came to Clay county, Iowa. Throughout the entire period of his connection with business interests he carried on general farming and found that the rich prairies of the west offered good opportunities to the agriculturist. as the work of plow- ing and planting is usually rewarded with abundant harvests. He was practical in all that he did on the farm and his labors at length brought him the success which now permits of his retirement. He belongs to Evening Shade Lodge. No. 312, and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has served as township trustee and as school director, but his attention has been largely given to his business affairs and in their capable management he has met with gratifying success.
HENRY AEBLY.
Henry Aebly is one of the public-spirited men of Meadow township who for long years has been closely associated with the progress and development of this part of the county. He has seen the district when it was largely an unsettled and undeveloped region, when its prairies were covered with native grasses, starred with a million wild flowers in June, while in the winter there was one unbroken, dazzling sheet of snow. As the years have gone by, through his agri- cultural interests and through his cooperation with various public movements, he has contributed to the general improvement and at all times has manifested a deep interest in whatever has calculated to advance the general welfare. He is now living on section 24. Meadow township, and a valuable property of three hundred and sixty acres pays tribute to his care and industry.
Mr. Aebly is a native of Switzerland. He was born June 5. 1842, and when a youth of fifteen years left the land of the Alps to seek a home and fortune in the new world. He had received fair school advantages in his native language but was self-educated in English. Reared in the midst of what many travelers recall as the most beautiful mountain scenery of the world, more than once he has climbed the Alps and looked out over the vista of valley and of mountain peak. The necessity of providing for himself, however, turned his attention to the new world, with its broader business opportunities and advancement more quickly secured. As passenger on a sailing vessel -he left Havre. France, and after a voyage of thirty-eight days across the broad Atlantic landed at New
HENRY AEBLY
THE NEW YORK UBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDA
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York. While on the water was encountered one severe storm and the middle mast of the vessel was carried away.
Mr. Aebly did not tarry long in New York but made his way westward by rail to Milwaukee and crossed Lake Michigan from Grand Haven. He joined an uncle and aunt in Green county, Wisconsin, and there worked by the month for several years. He afterward engaged in selling milk for a year at the sol- diers' camp near Madison. He was employed as a farm hand by one man for three years, after which he rented land and began farming on his own account, for he desired that he should reap the benefits of his own labor and was, more- over, anxious to one day become owner of a farm.
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