USA > Iowa > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 27
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FRED B. BOWMAN.
Fred B. Bowman, numbered among the up-to-date and progres- sive agriculturists of Decatur county, is the owner of an excellent farm comprising one hundred and fifty-five acres in Garden Grove township which he has operated continuously for more than two decades. His birth occurred in Dixon, Illinois, on the 11th of June, 1870, his parents being John and Emily (Brimmer) Bowman, the former born near Quebec, Canada, and the latter near Watertown, New York. John Bowman became identified with agricultural pur- suits in early life and enlisted for service in the Union army as a youth of seventeen years, joining the Eighth New York Cavalry as a private and remaining with that command until the cessation of hostilities between the north and the south. He received a slight wound in the final engagement of the war at or near Appomattox Courthouse but did not stay in the hospital and, remaining in the ranks, witnessed the surrender of General Lee to General Grant. When the war was over he made his way to Watertown, New York, where for a few years he operated a farm, and subsequently he spent a year at farm labor near Dixon, Illinois. He next went to Missouri, making his home within thirty miles of St. Joseph for three years, on the expira- tion of which period he removed to Wayne county, Iowa, where he has resided continuously since, devoting his attention to general agri- cultural pursuits. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and takes a deep interest in the activities of the local post. To him and his wife were born two children: Fred B., of this review; and Alice, who is a stenographer residing in Chicago. The mother of these children died in 1897, and the father subsequently married Miss Emma Henry, by whom he has two children, Theodore and Waltham.
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
Fred B. Bowman acquired his early education in the public schools of Wayne county, Iowa, later attended college at Humeston, Iowa, and pursued a course of study in the Capital City Commercial Col- lege of Des Moines. He then returned to the home place in Wayne county, where he remained until 1894, when he came to Decatur county, purchasing a farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres in Garden Grove township, which he has operated continuously since and has brought to a high state of cultivation and improvement. He has erected thereon a substantial residence and good barns and the property is thrifty and attractive in appearance, giving evidence of the able supervision as well as prosperity of its owner. Mr. Bowman raises the cereals common to his locality and also raises horses, cattle and hogs, both branches of his business returning to him a gratifying annual income. Fruit trees, wells and windmills add much to the attractiveness of the place and also enhance its value.
On the 29th of December, 1902, Mr. Bowman was united in mar- riage to Miss Eva Aton, a daughter of Samuel and Lucinda Aton, of Decatur county, Iowa. To them have been born five children, namely: Florie and Freda, twins; George; Gladys; and Evaline L. Mrs. Bowman is a graduate of the Garden Grove high school and followed the profession of teaching for one year with excellent suc- cess prior to her marriage. She is a devoted and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and, like her husband, has a host of warm friends in the community.
WILLIAM ARTHUR GRENAWALT.
William Arthur Grenawalt owns and conducts an excellent and well patronized clothing and men's furnishings store at Lamoni and is recognized as a representative business man. He also has other financial interests, but devotes the greater part of his time to his store. His birth occurred in Harrison county, March 30, 1873, and he is a son of John L. and Fannie (Robinson) Grenawalt. The father was very successful as an agriculturist and, although he began his career without capital, he became in time the owner of two sections of land. He passed away in 1892 at the comparatively early age of forty-two years. His political allegiance was given to the republican party. His wife, who was a member of the Latter Day Saints church, died in 1904 when more than fifty years old. To them were born eight children, namely: Mrs. Nellie Traxler, of Lamoni; Wil- liam Arthur; G. R., of Lamoni; J. R., who is in business with our
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subject; Charles, who died in infancy; J. L., who is farming in Fay- ette township, this county; Mrs. Nina M. Smith, of Independence, Missouri; and Ora A., who is employed in his brother's store.
William Arthur Grenawalt was reared upon the home farm and after beginning his independent career engaged in agricultural pur- suits on his own account for two years, but in 1893 removed to Lamoni, where he has since resided. He at once established a clothing and men's furnishings store and so prospered that in 1895 he was enabled to erect the building on Main street in which his store is still located. He employs two assistants and his business has shown a steady growth, which indicates that his goods are of high quality, his prices reasonable and his dealings honorable. He also owns over five hundred acres of land in Harrison county, Missouri, part of which he operates as a stock farm and part of which he rents. He is likewise interested financially in the local telephone company.
Mr. Grenawalt married Miss Sarah E. Mull, who was born and reared in Harrison county, Missouri, and is a daughter of the late Wiley Mull. However, both her father and mother died when she was but a child and she grew to womanhood in the home of an uncle. Mr. and Mrs. Grenawalt have had two children: W. Donald, who died in infancy; and Ruth L., who is at home.
Mr. Grenawalt is a republican and for ten years was a member of the city council. He is still serving on the school board, having been reelected in 1914. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his wife is affiliated with the Rebekahs. Both hold membership in the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. His energy and good management have resulted in the up- building of a business which returns to him a good profit annually and which is also a factor in the commercial expansion of Lamoni.
E. W. BRIGGS.
E. W. Briggs, who is operating a farm of two hundred and eighty acres on section 3, Garden Grove township, is meeting with gratifying success as a stock-raiser. He was born in Bristol county, Massachu- setts, in June, 1846, a son of Andrew and Betsy (Peck) Briggs. The father died in the Bay state when our subject was but an infant and there the mother subsequently married J. A. Pitts. In 1852 they located in Illinois on what is now the present site of McLean, McLean county, that state, where both lived until called to their last
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rest. They left two sons, one a resident of Bloomington, Illinois, and the other of California.
E. W. Briggs accompanied his mother and stepfather to Illinois when six years of age and continued to reside in the Prairie state until the spring of 1874, when he removed to Decatur county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and twenty acres of land. For a number of years he was associated with his brother, William T. Briggs, who, however, passed away in April, 1900. Mr. Briggs of this review has added to the original one hundred and twenty acres and now owns two hundred and eighty acres of fine land which is well im- proved. He erected a modern residence and barns and outbuildings and has taken much pride in developing his farm. He raises a large number of cattle, horses and hogs and as his stock is of a good grade and he watches the markets carefully he derives a good profit from his business.
Mr. Briggs is a democrat but has never had the time nor the desire to take an active part in politics. Fraternally he is a member of Garden Grove Lodge, No. 170, A. F. & A. M., and he attends the Presbyterian church of Le Roy, associations which indicate the rules which govern his conduct. He helped to build the new church edifice and contributes to the support of the work of the church. He has not only won a gratifying measure of financial success but has also gained the honor and esteem of all who have come in contact with him as his integrity and probity are unquestioned.
William T. Briggs, whose death occurred in 1900, was also a member of the Masonic fraternity and was highly respected in his community. His widow, who was in her maidenhood Miss Fannie Teale, survives and is a resident of McLean county, Illinois, in which county their two children are also living. Mabel is now Mrs. Abe Rhode and has a son and daughter. Andrew is engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. He and his mother are members of the Methodist church.
EMORY THOMPSON.
Emory Thompson, who is a well known farmer and stockman of New Buda township, was born May 2, 1860, in Wapello county, Iowa, a son of Francis and Margaret (Ewing) Thompson. The father, who was born near Danville, Indiana, of Irish and Yankee
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ancestry, came to Iowa in the early '40s and homesteaded land in Wapello county. At the time of the Civil war he put aside all per- sonal considerations and enlisted in Company E, Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. At the close of hostilities he returned to his farm in Wapello county, where he resided until 1879, when he came to New Buda township, Decatur county, buying sixty acres of land. Five years later he added forty acres to his holdings and he devoted his time to the cultivation of his land until his demise, which occurred in 1888. His wife was also born near Danville, Indiana, and came of Yankee stock. Their marriage occurred at Danville. She passed away in 1902 in Davis City, to which place she removed following the demise of her husband.
Emory Thompson received a good education, attending the public schools of Wapello county. On putting aside his textbooks he con- centrated his energies upon helping his father with the work of the farm and following the demise of the latter took charge of the home place, which he has since operated. He owns one hundred acres of excellent land and in addition to raising the usual crops breeds high grade stock and feeds a large number of cattle and hogs annually which he sells to shippers.
On the 14th of November, 1886, Mr. Thompson married Miss Abigail Robbins, a daughter of John Porter and Rachel (Davis) Robbins. Her father was born in Athens county, Ohio, and came of Yankee ancestry. In 1845 he removed to Decatur county, Iowa, and cast in his lot with the early settlers of New Buda township, where he entered land. His demise occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Sidney Morris, at Bethany, Missouri, on the 7th of December, 1913, when he had reached the advanced age of seventy-nine years, two months and nineteen days, his natal day being September 18, 1834. His wife, who was born in Ohio, became a resident of Missouri in her girlhood and there their marriage was solemnized in 1860. She passed away in 1890 near Akron, Missouri. Mrs. Thompson is one of eleven children and has become the mother of six children, as follows: Elva, who was born August 26, 1887, died when nine months old. Floyd, who was born May 14, 1889, is assisting his father with the farm work. He is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Davis City. Myrl, who was born October 6, 1892, is the wife of Roy Mitchell, a farmer living near Fairfax, Missouri. Earl, a twin of Myrl, died when five months old. Fay, whose birth occurred February 13, 1898, will graduate from the Davis City high school with the class of 1916. Mary Dean, who was born April 30. 1905, died at the age of eight years.
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Mr. Thompson is a democrat and for twenty-eight years has been a member of the school board of independent district No. 2, of New Buda township, and for a number of years was president of that body. He is characterized by industry and, as he plans his work well, he has met with a gratifying measure of success in his farming operations.
CHARLES FRANCE.
Charles France, the president of the Lamoni Telephone Com- pany, is in active control of that concern and its success is due largely to his able management of its affairs. His birth occurred in Kewanee, Henry county, Illinois, December 29, 1865, and he is a brother of W. A. France, further mention of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
Charles France received his education in the public schools of Illinois, but in his youth accompanied the family to Decatur county and for about fifteen years resided upon the home farm in Fayette township. He was then for five years engaged in carrying mail to Togo but at the end of that time turned his attention to other pursuits and was for a while connected with a meat market and later was identified with the lumber business in connection with his brother W. A. Upon the discontinuance of that association he became inter- ested in the telephone field and for a number of years has been presi- dent of the Lamoni Telephone Company, which has a large number of subscribers and the volume of whose business. has shown a steady growth from the time of the organization of the company. Mr. France gives the greater part of his attention to the direction of its affairs and has proved a capable executive, one who does not lose sight of the larger problems of administration and who at the same time is able to keep a close watch on the details of the business. He owns the fine postoffice building, which he erected, is interested in land and has considerable real estate.
Mr. France married Miss Florence Woolfenden, a native of England, who emigrated to America when but fourteen years of age in company with her widowed mother. They located in Utah and there she met Mr. France. To their union have been born three children, Helene, Charles and Roy Kenneth, all attending school.
Mr. France is a democrat and for twelve years has been a member of the town board and during the past two years he has also served
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as township trustee. Since attaining his majority he has manifested a lively interest in everything.relating to the civic welfare and is recog- nized as a public-spirited citizen. Both he and his wife hold member- ship in the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints and the various phases of the activity of the church profit by their cooperation and material aid. Mr. France rightly ranks among the leading business men of Lamoni and Decatur county and has used his excellent judg- ment and power of initiative for the benefit of the community as well as for his individual gain, the Lamoni Telephone Company under his direction giving excellent service at reasonable rates. His fine home in the western part of Lamoni has been lately remodeled and both he and his wife find pleasure in entertaining their friends there. In his early manhood he traveled extensively over the western part of the United States but he found no section that offered greater opportunites than Decatur county, and he has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his community.
The Lamoni Telephone Company, which was promoted by W. A. Hopkins, was incorporated in 1897. The line extends through Decatur and Ringgold counties, Iowa, and Harrison county, Mis- souri, and through its connections with the Bell Telephone Company gives its subscribers long distance as well as local service. The com- pany employs about five girls, a number of linemen and two or three men who assist Mr. France in the office work. The present officers are: Charles France, president; W. A. Grenawalt, vice president; Dr. W. J. Mather, secretary ; and G. H. Derry, treasurer. The above named gentlemen also constitute the board of directors.
GRANT MALLORY.
The Davis City News, which was established by Grant Mallory and which is still conducted by him, has gained a place among the wide-awake and reliable weekly newspapers of this section of Iowa. Mr. Mallory was born in Delaware county, Iowa, on the 12th of June, 1869, a son of Alvador H. and Rebecca E. (Cuppett) Mallory, natives of New York and Pennsylvania respectively. The father, who was by occupation a farmer, removed to Delaware county in the early days of the history of this state and entered land from the government. He made three trips by ox team to California during the gold craze, but subsequently gave his attention to farming in Delaware county, Iowa, until 1880, when he sold his land there and
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moved to South Dakota, where he purchased land. He also rented a considerable tract and one season had one thousand acres in wheat. Eventually he retired from active life and removed to Canton, South Dakota, where he resided until his demise in 1903. His widow died in 1909.
Grant Mallory was reared at Manchester, Iowa, and Canton, South Dakota, and after completing the course offered in the public schools attended Augustana College at Canton for one year. He remained with his parents until he was eighteen years of age and in his youth learned the printer's trade. Upon leaving home he went on the stage and was quite successful as an actor. He followed that profession until 1907, when he was married. In April, 1910, he removed to Davis City and founded the Davis City News, which he has since published. It now has a sworn circulation of five hundred and is patronized to a considerable extent by the local merchants, who recognize its value as an advertising medium. It has a good news service and its editorials are clearly and forcibly written. Mr. Mallory has equipped his plant with modern machinery and does job printing in addition to printing the Davis City News.
Mr. Mallory married Miss Bessie Carter, of Savanna, Illinois, who is a daughter of Isaac and Laura (Lee) Carter, natives respec- tively of Ohio and New York. Her father has been in the employ of the Wells Fargo Express Company for many years and is still resid- ing in Savanna, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Mallory have a daughter, Rosamond, who is now in her third year.
Mr. Mallory is a republican and personally and through the medium of his paper does much in behalf of that party, although he places the best good of the community above party success. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and since coming to Davis City he has made many warm friends, while all who know him hold him in sincere respect.
CHARLES F. FIERCE.
Charles F. Fierce, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising in Long Creek township, is a native son of Decatur county, born on the 17th of July, 1868, on the Fierce homestead, of the marriage of William E. and Anna (West) Fierce, natives re- spectively of Indiana and of Ohio. The father became a resident of Decatur county when but a child and here grew to manhood. He
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was reared to farming and on starting out on his independent career purchased land in Long Creek township, which he improved and oper- ated until called by death. He enlisted from this county in the Union army and served at the front for a year. He passed away when fifty-two years of age on the 10th of July, 1895. His wife is still living at Van Wert at the age of sixty-four.
Charles F. Fierce attended the district schools in Long Creek township and assisted with the work of the farm during his boyhood and youth. When he was twenty years old he rented land and con- tinued to cultivate land belonging to others until his father's demise. He then inherited forty acres and purchased an additional forty acres on section 24, his holdings now comprising eighty acres. In addition to cultivating his own land he and his brother E. W., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, farm the adjoining eighty acres owned by their mother. Mr. Fierce of this review remodeled his residence and erected a barn upon his farm, which is now one of the well improved places of his locality. He carries on general farm- ing and also raises high grade stock. He finds the feeding of hogs for the market exceptionally profitable and sells many head annually to the shippers.
On the 10th of May, 1891, Mr. Fierce was married to Miss Mar- garet Barrackman, who was born on the 2d of September, 1871, at Van Wert. Her parents, John and Emma (Iams) Barrackman, were born respectively in Owen county, Indiana, in 1841 and in Holmes county, Ohio, May 31, 1842. The father was brought to Decatur county, Iowa, by his parents when he was still a lad and grew to manhood in Long Creek township. On reaching mature years he purchased eighty acres of land in Franklin township, upon which he lived until 1894, when he removed to Kingfisher county, Oklahoma, and took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he is still living. His wife was taken by her parents to Clarke county, Iowa, when she was eleven years of age and the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Barrackman occurred in that county on the 27th of January, 1863. She passed away in Kingfisher county, Oklahoma, on the 24th of March, 1914. To them were born ten children: Mrs. Ida Hill, of Custer, Oklahoma; Mrs. Dora Brown, of Kingfisher, Oklahoma; Mrs. Sarah Smith, of Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. Laura Frans, of Thomas, Oklahoma; Mrs. Margaret Fierce, of Van Wert, Iowa; William H., of St. Joseph, Missouri; David H., of King- fisher, Oklahoma; Charles, of Oklahoma City; Mrs. Mauna Frans, of Clinton, Oklahoma; and Mrs. Harriet Frans, of Kingfisher, Okla- homa. To Mr. and Mrs. Fierce have been born three children,
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namely: Helene, whose birth occurred on the 10th of March, 1895, and who is now a student in the Des Moines College; Gerald, born November 26, 1896, who graduated from the Van Wert high school with the class of 1915 and is now helping his father with the work of the farm; and Lucille, born February 8, 1901, who is a student in the Van Wert high school.
Mr. Fierce is a republican in politics and is serving his third term as township trustee, while for six years he was director in school district No. 2, of Long Creek township. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Yeomen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the lodges of those organizations at Van Wert, and his wife is identified with the Rebekahs. He and his family all belong to the Methodist Episcopal church of Van Wert and are working members of that congregation. Throughout his entire life Mr. Fierce has resided in this county and the high esteem in which he is generally held is proof of his integrity and rectitude.
WILLIAM RUSSELL MANCHESTER.
William Russell Manchester, a well known and highly regarded farmer of New Buda township, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, on the 7th of March, 1856. His father, Isaac Manchester, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, of English and Holland Dutch ancestry and grew to manhood in Ohio, where he was taken when two years of age. He was married in Holmes county, Ohio, to Miss Emily Ross, who is a native of that county and is descended from Scotch and English stock. In 1866 they came west and located southeast of Leon in Decatur county, Iowa, where the father farmed for three years. At the end of that time a removal was made to New Buda township, where they resided for two years, after which they again located near Leon. In 1871, however, they went back to Ohio, where they continued to reside until 1878. In that year they returned to Iowa and located west of Lineville, where they remained for two decades. The father died near Mineral Springs, Missouri, March 21, 1915, but the mother is still living and makes her home with her son Hiram, who resides near Davis City. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Manchester were the parents of seven children, namely: William Russell; Simon C., a resident of Alaska; Hiram, of Leon; Lydia, now Mrs. Samuel Stuteville, of Morgan township; John; Wylie; and Paul A., of Mercer county, Missouri.
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William Russell Manchester attended district school in Holmes county, Ohio, and in Decatur county, Iowa. In his early manhood he taught school in Holmes county, Ohio, in Decatur county, Iowa, in Missouri and in Colorado, following that profession for fifteen terms in all. When.twenty-three years of age he worked on the con- struction of the railroad between Corydon and Centerville, Iowa. In 1884 he located two miles west of Lineville, Iowa, and after farm- ing there for two years removed to the vicinity of Ravenna, Missouri, where he followed agricultural pursuits for two years. At the end of that time he removed to Baca county, Colorado, where he rented land for about seven years. He was then for two years in the Ozark mountains in Missouri, but in 1896 returned to this county and oper- ated a rented farm until 1901. In that year he purchased forty acres on section 15, New Buda township, and in 1908 he bought his pres- ent farm of a quarter section on section 16, New Buda township. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and in the conduct of his work displays foresight, initiative and good management.
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