USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II > Part 72
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Among the prominent professional men of Princeton who has ably sustained the high reputation made by his father is Dr. John Knox. A native of Prince- ton, his birth occurred September 30, 1852, being the first white child born here. His parents were Dr. Samuel and Mary Elizabeth (Culberston) Knox. The former was born near Gettysburg, Adams county, Pennsylvania, October 16, 1824, a son of Samuel and Margaret (Witherow) Knox. He studied medicine in the state of his birth, but in 1850 came to Princeton, Iowa, where he handled stock and engaged in the real estate business until the spring of 1853. Then
DR. JOHN KNOX
DR. SAMUEL KNOX
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he returned to Pennsylvania, entered the medical department of the university and was graduated at the head of his class in 1856. Returning to Princeton, he opened an office, where he practiced until his death July 17, 1887. He was one of the most prominent and progressive men of the town, always being at the head of any movement calculated to advance its interests, doing much both as a private citizen and as a man on whom the public gaze rested, for he held all the town offices and, as he owned eight hundred acres of land situated for the most part within its boundaries, he laid out several residence districts. In 1857 he opened what is known as the Knox addition to Princeton and then, having purchased five acres of land, he platted Oak Ridge cemetery, which is the prin- cipal burying ground in the locality. During the war he was the main support of many women and children, whose husbands and fathers had fallen on the battlefield.
A slight dramatic interest is attached to the generosity Dr. Samuel Knox showed toward the Presbyterian church. Not satisfied with having donated the land and contributed funds toward the erection of the first church here, he made a journey to New York city to see his uncle, the Rev. John Knox. During the services at the latter's church one Sunday he rose up in the congregation, ex- plaining the circumstances that involved the little religious community at Prince- ton, and from his listeners raised eight hundred dollars, which he brought back home. That sum enabled them to complete the erection of the church. During the early years of its existence he also furnished the fuel, much of which Dr. John Knox chopped. In recognition of his invaluable services and of his high character as a Christian, Dr. Samuel Knox was elected an elder of the congre- gation, holding the office throughout his life. He was also the main spirit in starting an academy here. With several other men who had children to educate he raised the funds to employ a professor and conduct the school for a number of years. While these incidents bear witness to the fact that he was always at the head of movements for the social betterment of the town, others may be adduced which show his interest in the development of the resources of this locality. He was deeply concerned in a company which had as its purpose the building of a gristmill. It, however, burned down after a few years' operation and Dr. Knox lost about five thousand dollars on this investment. Being one of the main promoters to induce the Sterling & Rock Island Railroad to build a bridge across the river at Princeton, Dr. Knox lost the one hundred and twenty acres of land which he had subscribed to the undertaking when they failed to fulfill their promises. He was one of the most active and prominent members of the Masonic lodge to which he belonged.
His wife, Mary Elizabeth Culberston, was born in Franklin county, Penn- sylvania, July 22, 1833. She was the daughter of Captain Culberston, and is still living. Six children were born of her marriage: John, the subject of this sketch ; James, who died at the age of nine years; Mary E., the widow of Wil- liam Meadley; Helen, who died at the age of four and a half years; Samuel, who died when he was forty years old; and Charles McLean, of Butte, Montana.
Dr. John Knox has lived in Princeton the greater part of his life. He was a pupil in the common schools and then attended the academy which his father had started. Later he entered Monmouth College at Monmouth, Illinois, where
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he pursued a scientific course for two years and then in the fall of 1874 was enrolled as a student at the University of Pennsylvania. He was graduated from that institution March 12, 1877, holding a very high rank in a class of one hundred and twenty-four. Thereupon he passed the examination for the position of resident physician at the Philadelphia Hospital, receiving* his ap- pointment over thirty other applicants. He entered upon his duty there Sep- tember I, 1877, and after serving one year received a certificate for efficient work. Then he obtained a position on a steamboat plying between Philadelphia and England, but did not assume his duties, however, as his father had met with an accident, which compelled him to return to Iowa. Upon his arrival here he engaged in the practice of his profession, endeavoring to fill his father's place.
In a quarter of a century he has won a large patronage, and his patients are unanimous in their expressions of admiration for his skill as a physician and his high character as a man. Indeed, one has only to look over the record of his life to obtain palpable evidence of this fact. For twelve terms he was the people's choice as mayor of Princeton and was chairman and treasurer of the republican party organization here for twelve years. His land holdings embrace two hun- dred and fifty-six acres of fine arable land, a part of which lies within the boun- dary of Princeton. Here he lives in a handsome brick residence on Main street, which his father erected in 1856, and also owns a large brick block in the busi- ness district.
A member of the Masonic lodge of LeClaire, Dr. Knox is prominent in its work. He enjoys conditions that are a great improvement upon those with which his father had to struggle. The latter was the first to own a top buggy in the town, and on account of this possession acquired no little notoriety. Con- ditions, too, were of a kind that enabled him to effect changes and improvements that found increasing growth through the years. Such opportunities no longer exist, owing in part to his work, but his son, Dr. John Knox, is none the less efficient in performing the duties that come to him. As a professional man there is no doubt as to his skill. As a friend, adviser and counselor he has made his sympathy felt by all who in time of need have come to him. This confidence of his fellowmen he regards as the highest guerdon of his life.
MADISON J. SMITH.
Madison J. Smith, better known as Joe Smith, who in the eighty-second year of his life is now living retired, is numbered among the oldest settlers of this district, having arrived in Scott county in 1835, only three years after the Black Hawk war, when the country was still inhabited by large bands of Indians and the work of progress and improvement had but just begun.
Born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, on the 24th of June, 1827, he is a son of Eli H. and Mary Ann (Grandon) Smith, natives of New Jersey and Greene county, Pennsylvania, respectively. As early as 1835 the father left his native state and, making his way down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi, landed at Le Claire on the 5th of April, being among the earliest settlers to take up
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their abode in this district. There were three hundred red men in camp at the time of his arrival and it was necessary for the family to live in an Indian tent until a cabin could be erected. He took up a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, a portion of which is now in the possession of our subject, and remained thereon until after the death of his wife, when he went to live with his son in North English. He was a farmer by occupation and also operated a stone quarry there for a number of years. The father passed away when seventy-four years of age and was there buried, while the mother's death occurred when she had reached the age of sixty-four years, her remains being laid to rest in Le Claire. In their family were thirteen children, namely: Matilda, Mahaly, Elizabeth, Susan, Cynthia, Jane, Madison J., Ira, John, Nathan, Eli, Martin and Mary. Of this number only five still survive, as follows: Madison J., of this review; Ira, residing in Scott county ; Eli, a resident of Iowa county; Martin, of Mis- souri; and Mary.
Madison J. Smith was a little lad of seven years when he came with his parents to Iowa and here shared with the other members of the family the privations and hardships incident to frontier life. As there were no schools in the district at that time, what education he received was obtained by reading and studying at night, while during the daytime he assisted in the arduous and difficult work of developing and improving a new farm. He continued to give his father the benefit of his aid until fifteen years of age, when he began working on river boats and was thus engaged until the outbreak of the Mexi- can war.
In the fall of 1846 Mr. Smith enlisted from Rock Island as a member of Com- pany F, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, and was first stationed at Jefferson Bar- racks for about three months. He then went to New Orleans and thence to Mexico, where he participated in all of the battles from Buena Vista to Vera Cruz. He was wounded several times and at the battle of Contreras, when General LeBega was captured, he received a bullet shot through his head. He was believed to be dead but later recovered and rejoined his regiment. He was detailed as second lieutenant in charge of a number of men engaged in clearing roads, etc. After a most creditable military record he was honorably dis- charged in New Orleans in the fall of 1848.
He returned home and was employed on the river for a while. He then went to DeKalb county, Illinois, where he invested in a small farm of thirty-two and a half acres. He was there married to Miss Sarah Jane Brown, on the 28th of December, 1849, who was a daughter of Eben Brown. After residing in that county for about four years, Mr. Smith sold his property and removed to Grundy county, Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of raw land from the government, upon which he erected a dwelling and to the development and cultivation of which he directed his energies, at the same time engaged to some extent in the practice of medicine. He had previously pursued a medical course at Richardson College, St. Charles, Illinois, under the direction of Dr. Richards, from which institution he was graduated after three years. He then entered the Eclectic Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was also grad- uated after taking a course in medicine and surgery. He has his diploma from both institutions, which is rather remarkable from the fact that he had enjoyed
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no educational advantages whatever in his early life, all knowledge being gained through his own efforts entirely.
After residing in Grundy county, Illinois, for about eight years Mr. Smith sold his farm and went to Butler county, Iowa, where he invested in one hun- dred and twenty-eight acres of partially improved land, upon which he made his home for four years, dividing his time between the occupation of farm- ing and the practice of his profession. Later he again sold out and removed to Iowa county, Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and forty acres of land and made his home for a time, after which he came to Le Claire. He had with- drawn from the active practice of medicine after leaving Iowa county, and after his arrival in Scott county was engaged in operating steamboats and rafts on the river for a number of years, continuing to make his home in Le Claire to the present time.
In the fall of 1862, again actuated by a spirit of patriotism, Mr. Smith enlisted at Dubuque, Iowa, as a soldier in the Civil war, becoming a private in Company. E, Thirty-second Iowa Infantry. At Vicksburg he joined General Grant, whose acquaintance he had made during the Mexican war and at whose request he was selected for scout duty. Later he joined General Sherman and rode ahead of his army in the capacity of a scout throughout the entire march to the sea. His term of service covered about a year, after which he returned to Scott county and has since lived retired upon his small farm in Le Claire township. He is also the owner of valuable town property and as the result of former years of toil is now in possession of a competency which makes it possible for him to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life without further re- course to labor.
As the years passed Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of five chil- dren, namely : Eben, residing in Iowa county; Anna, of Cherokee; William, of Waterloo, Iowa; George, making his home in Redwood county, Minnesota; and Elias, living in Muscatine. The wife and mother was called to her final rest in Cherokee, Iowa, and on the IIth of August, 1903, he was again married, his second union being with Miss Amy L. Johnson, a daughter of Sylvanus A. Johnson, one of the early settlers of this county. Mrs. Smith was born on the farm which is yet her home on the 25th of May, 1860. Her father was a native of Vermont, where his birth occurred in 1826, and he came to Scott county in 1858, here passing the remainder of his life. He was a farmer and teamster by occupation. His wife was a native of Vincennes, Indiana, and went to Illinois with her parents, Henry M. and Lucinda Smith, there, in 1848, giv- ing her hand in marriage to Nelson Ritch, who at that time was the owner of the farm upon which our subject now resides. Mr. Ritch passed away in 1853, and in 1859 his widow became the wife of Sylvanus Johnson, whose death occurred on the 5th of February, 1875. She survived until January 6, 1898, and was the mother of four children, namely: Amy L .; Caroline C .; Minnie, who passed away in infancy; and Winnifred. Mrs. Smith has a half-brother, Henry M. Ritch, and also a half-sister, Fannie Ritch. She has passed her en- tire life on the farm which is now her home, Eli H. Smith, the father of our subject, having entered it at an early date and later sold it to John Williams, who in turn sold it to Nelson Ritch, her mother's first husband.
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In politics Mr. Smith gives stalwart support to the prohibition party and has belonged to many temperance organizations, doing all in his power to further the cause of temperance in the community, for he realizes that the liquor traffic is one of the greatest evils against which the country has to contend. His has been a life of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of earnest labor, and now, in the evening of life, he can look back upon a past that has been fraught with honest effort, unswerving industry and untiring energy and has at all times been actuated by principles that are in keeping with honorable and upright manhood. His business methods have ever been such as to inspire confidence and trust in his fellowmen and his personal characteristics have gained for him the respect, esteem and good will of all with whom he has come in contact.
FRANCIS C. GRACE.
The list of the affluent citizens of Davenport contains the name of Francis C. Grace, one of the representative and honored men of Scott county, for his record as a soldier, a dentist and a business man has been so honorable that he has gained the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought into contact. He was born near Scio in Harrison county, Ohio, August 5, 1844, a son of George and Nancy ( Fawcett) Grace. The Grace family was very promi- nent in Ireland for many generations and the first of its members came to America in 1700. Francis Grace, the grandfather of Francis C. Grace, came to the United States in 1823, in the hope of bettering his financial condition and died in this country about 1836. He had married Jane Law and they became the parents of seven children, who established their homes in different parts of this country.
George Grace, the son of Francis Grace and the father of our subject, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and was a lad of nine years when he accom- panied his parents on their journey to America. He was engaged in farming in Ohio and in 1856 came to Scott county, Iowa, where he continued to follow that occupation and where his death occurred. By his marriage to Nancy Faw- cett there were born eight children who are engaged in various pursuits in dif- ferent parts of the country.
Francis C. Grace, who was the second of the children born to his parents, attended school a short time in Ohio and after the family came to Scott county, Iowa, he continued his studies in the public schools until he was about eighteen years of age. At the same time, however, he assisted his father in operating the farm, until 1862, when he enlisted in the Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel J. B. Leake, serving first with the Army of the Frontier and later with the Army of the Southwest. He was discharged at St. Louis in Feb- ruary, 1863, but the following May re-enlisted in the Forty-fourth Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. He remained at the front until honorably discharged from the service in October, 1864, as corporal.
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Mr. Grace then returned to Scott county and resumed farm work. Feeling the need of a better education, he accordingly entered Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa, and on leaving that institution returned to Davenport, where he took up the study of dentistry. He practiced here and later in Chicago, in both cities enjoying a large patronage which was a visible evidence of his skill and success. Ill health, however, due to exposure while he was in the army, com- pelled him to relinquish his profession in 1880 and in 1882 he went to Daytona, Florida, to recuperate and there spent the next eight years. At the end of that period he returned to Davenport, where he has since resided. Although he did not again engage in the practice of dentistry, he was not idle. For a number of years he was engaged in the publishing business, being associated with Egbert, Fiddler & Chambers for eighteen years, but now he gives his time entirely to superintending his large lumber interests in different parts of the country, for with keen business sagacity he realized the opportunities for profitable invest- ment offered by the lumber market, and availing himself of them, it has been proven that his judgment was not at fault, for he is now enjoying an income that places him among the wealthy men of Davenport.
In Davenport, May 17, 1871, Mr. Grace wedded Miss Louisa F. Woodward, a daughter of B. B. and Elizabeth (Morgan) Woodward. A son and a daughter have been born to them: George B., who married Miss Helen L. Hannay, and has three children, Elizabetlı, Nancy and William H .; and Nancy Grace, at home with her parents.
Mr. Grace has never sought to figure in public life, possessing a nature of quiet refinement rather than one that seeks to be constantly before the people. However, he has always been a good citizen as he was a loyal and patriotic soldier, the memories of the days upon the battlefields being revived frequently in the meetings of his fellow members of the Grand Army post at Davenport, of which he was commander several times.
THOMAS GRIEVE.
Thomas Grieve, a retired farmer of Davenport and one of the early pioneer settlers of Scott county, was born in Scotland on the Ist of July, 1838, his parents being John and Elizabeth (Robinson) Grieve. In 1844 they sailed from Liverpool, England, and after an ocean voyage of ten weeks landed at New Orleans, Louisi- ana. In company with three other families, they at once made their way up the Mississippi to Davenport, though that was the year in which the river was espe- cially high. After arriving in this county they purchased forty acres of prairie land near Long Grove and for about two years the family lived in a sod house which the father had erected. Later he built a more substantial residence, im- proved his land, put up fences and also added to his landed holdings by additional purchase from time to time until he owned three hundred and forty acres. In connection with his agricultural interests he also worked at the blacksmith's trade to some extent, doing odd jobs for the neighbors. The largest plow ever made in Scott county was the work of his hands. It was used for breaking prairie and
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THOMAS GRIEVE
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would cut a furrow thirty-six inches wide, seven yoke of oxen being required to pull it. For many years his mother had charge of the postoffice at Long Grove, which she conducted at her own home with the assistance of her son Thomas, who was a blacksmith. She lived to the advanced age of ninety-one years and was a great favorite with the old settlers.
John Grieve was a devoted member of the Christian church at Long Grove and exemplified its teachings in his daily life. He passed away in 1860, at the age of about sixty-five years, and thus the community lost one of its most re- spected and valued citizens. The demise of his wife occurred in 1864 when she had attained the age of sixty-five years. Their children were seven in number, as follows : Jennie, who is deceased, as is also her husband, Andrew L. Thompson; John, who is a resident of California ; Mrs. Ellen McNutt, who has likewise passed away; Thomas, of this review; William, who makes his home in Sioux City ; Elizabeth, the wife of William Johnson, of Rock Island, Illinois; and James, who lives in Clay county, Iowa.
Thomas Grieve, who was a little lad of six years when he came to this county with his parents, obtained his education in an old log schoolhouse at Long Grove and then assisted his father in the work of the home farm until the latter's death. He remained on the old family homestead until the time of his retirement, devot- ing his attention to its further cultivation and improvement throughout his entire business career. For two years he received a premium at the Scott county fair for the best conducted farm in the county. After putting aside the active work of the fields he took up his abode in Davenport, where he has since lived retired in the enjoyment of well earned ease.
On the 30th of June, 1870, Mr. Grieve was united in marriage to Miss Mar- garet Lang, a native of Long Grove, Iowa, and a daughter of John and Margaret (Young) Lang, who lived to celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary. At that time the following article appeared in the Davenport paper : "Surrounded by their seven children Mr. and Mrs. John Lang, of 1411 LeClaire street, on Tues- day evening quietly celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Supper was served at seven o'clock and the only persons at the table except Mr. and Mrs. Lang and their children were Galvin Lang, of Brooklyn, Iowa, a brother of Mr. Lang, and Thomas Grieve, of Davenport, a son-in-law. It is a curious fact that on March 6th Mr. and Mrs. Galvin Lang celebrated their golden wedding anni- versary at Brooklyn, Iowa, and there is just ten years' difference in the age of the brothers, John being the elder. Mr. and Mrs. Lang were born in Scotland in the year 1824, Mr. Lang's birth occurring on the 15th of April, while his wife's natal day was February 27th. They were married in Scotland in 1846 and the following year emigrated to America, locating in Pennsylvania, where Mr. Lang followed the carpenter's trade for four years. On the expiration of that period, in 1851, he came to Scott county, Iowa, settling on a farm a quarter of a mile east of Eldridge. In 1886, having accumulated a handsome competence through the careful conduct of his agricultural interests, he left the farm and has since lived retired in Davenport. Unto him and his wife were born ten children, three of whom have passed away. Those who still survive are as follows : Mrs. Thomas Grieve and Mrs. Agnes Brownlie, who live in Davenport; Mrs. William Hall, Mrs. John Howe, Mrs. R. J. Breckenridge and J. B. Lang, all of whom reside
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in Brooklyn, Iowa; and Galvin J. Lang, of Des Moines. Mr. and Mrs. John Lang have twenty-six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren." This worthy couple have since been called to their final rest, Mr. Lang passing away on the Ist of July, 1909, at the age of eighty-five years, while his wife died on the 22d of November following. Mr. and Mrs. Grieve became the parents of four chil- dren, the record of whom is as follows. Margaret, the first born, died at the age of three years. John, who makes his home in Washington, wedded Miss Nellie Halling, by whom he has two children, Wallace and Bruce. Jennie, who gave her hand in marriage to Alexander Shadbolt, of Sioux City, Iowa, is the mother of one child, Mark; Edward T., living in Brooklyn, Iowa, married Miss Zella Frizzell.
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