USA > Iowa > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 28
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On the 6th of April, 1884, Mr. Manchester married Miss Rosa De Long, a daughter of I. N. and Editha (Brooks) De Long. Her father, who was born in Indiana of Irish and French ancestry, re- moved to Ohio when a boy and in his early manhood came to Decatur county, Iowa, where he was numbered among the pioneer settlers. He was a farmer by occupation and was highly esteemed in his com- munity. During the Civil war he served in a Missouri cavalry regi- ment. His wife, who was born in Kentucky of Yankee stock, was reared in Harrison county, Missouri, and there their marriage occurred. To this union were born ten children: Mrs. Manchester; Alonzo, of Texarkana, Texas; Marcellus, also of Texarkana; Hulda, who married Joseph Braby, now living in Harrison county, Mis- souri; John, of Lamoni, Iowa; Josephine, who married C. E. Weabel, of New Buda township; Fred O., of Bevier, Missouri; Blanche, who married William Dexter, of Lamoni, Iowa; Newton, of Lamar, Colo- rado; and Eunice, the wife of Roy Atterberry, of Blythedale, Mis- souri.
Mr. and Mrs. Manchester are the parents of eleven children: Stella L., who was born May 14, 1885, and is the wife of Ephraim McDaniel, a farmer of Blythedale, Missouri, by whom she has two children, Fern and Forrest; Garvin A., whose birth occurred Novem- ber 17, 1886, and who is at home; Grace, born September 8, 1888, who died when ten months old; Bertha M., born December 27, 1889, now the wife of Carl McDaniel, a farmer of New Buda township, by whom she has a son and daughter, Clarence and Opal; Ernest E., Vol. II-18
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born September 16, 1891, who is at home; Claude W., born January 21, 1893, who is at home; Florence Belle, born February 22, 1895, at home; Dorcas, born February 20, 1897, who will graduate from the Davis City high school with the class of 1916; and Morris May- nard, born November 24, 1899, Marjorie B., born April 11, 1902, and Mark W., born December 18, 1904, all attending the district school.
Mr. Manchester is independent in politics, voting for the man whom he deems best suited for the office in question. For two years he served as assessor of New Buda township and for fifteen years he has been school director, doing much in that time to promote the advancement of the public schools. He was for many years a mem- ber of the Masonic blue lodge at Leon, but is not now affiliated with that body. Both he and his wife belong to the Church of Christ at Davis City and take a keen interest in the furtherance of its work and the spread of its influence.
JAMES F. BOLON.
James F. Bolon was very successful as a farmer and stock-raiser and owned two hundred acres of fine land in New Buda township. He was born in Knox county, Ohio, on the 17th of December, 1837, a son of Ferdinand and Harriet (Bradfield) Bolon, both of whom passed away in the Buckeye state.
James F. Bolon was compelled to earn his own living when only twelve years of age and worked as a farm hand until he was nineteen years old. He then came to Decatur county, Iowa, and located in Morgan township, near Spring Valley, working for John Clark for four years. Subsequently he farmed in Morgan township until 1893, when he removed to New Buda township and purchased two hundred acres of fine land, upon which he resided until his death, August 12, 1911. He carried on general farming and stock-raising and as he was practical and energetic his labors were rewarded by excellent success.
On the 11th of January, 1859, Mr. Bolon was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Clark, a daughter of John and Grace (Gammill) Clark, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. To this union were born four children: Robert C., whose birth occurred on the 2d of May, 1860, and who is represented on another page of this volume; Althea, who was born July 22, 1861, and married James C.
JAMES F. BOLON
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Keshlear, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this volume; Grace B., born June 9, 1868, who married John Gates, a banker of Davis City, and has three children, Dean, Robert and Bradford; and Margaret, who was born September 7, 1878, and is the wife of J. Smith, a farmer of Davis City.
Mr. Bolon was a republican in his political belief but never sought office. Mrs. Bolon is a Presbyterian and has taken an active part in church and Sunday school work. She resided upon the homestead with her son Robert until 1914, when she removed to Davis City and took up her abode in a fine residence which she erected. She has many friends in the county and is respected by all who know her. Mr. Bolon resided in this county for fifty-six years and was widely and favor- ably known. His dominant characteristics were energy, progressive- ness and unswerving integrity, qualities which invariably command respect.
S. A. EDWARDS.
S. A. Edwards, of Pleasanton, has built up a large produce business and is respected as a man of ability and good judgment. He was born in Pleasanton on the 16th of April, 1861, a son of Charles and Ann (Crawley) Edwards, natives of England and of Tennessee respectively. The father emigrated to America when a young man and located at Council Bluffs, Iowa, whence he removed to Pleas- anton, this county. He was a carriage maker by trade and worked at that occupation here and in Leon until the beginning of the Civil war, when he left to find a more favorable location and was never heard from again, the supposition being that he joined the army and was killed in battle. His widow survived until 1902.
S. A. Edwards grew to manhood in Pleasanton and acquired his education in the local schools. Upon starting out in life on his own account he worked as a farm hand for three years, after which he rented land which he operated for five years. He was next with a railroad bridge gang for eight years and then turned his attention to the produce business, in which he is still engaged. He is energetic, pays close attention to all the details of his business and the volume of his trade is constantly increasing.
In June, 1892, Mr. Edwards was united in mariage to Miss Vena M. Spencer, a daughter of Elijah and Etta (De Voss) Spencer, who are now living in Oklahoma although for many years they resided
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in this county, where the father followed agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Edwards taught school in Pleasanton for thirteen years and was very successful in that profession. To Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have been born two children: Arthur L., who was married June 24, 1914, to Opal Bott and is engaged in the piano business in Humeston, Iowa; and Anna L., who was married November 25, 1912, to F. Leslie Grimes, of Leon, and has one son, Paul.
Mr. Edwards is a republican but has never desired to hold public office although he discharges all the duties of a good citizen. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Homesteaders, and his religious faith is that of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints, of which Mrs. Edwards is a member. She also belongs to the Royal Neighbors, the Rebekahs and the Homesteaders. Mr. Edwards has been a lifelong resident of this county and has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his community.
WILLIAM H. AKERS.
Among the well known and successful farmers of Decatur county is William H. Akers, of Grand River township, who was born in this county on the 22d of November, 1855, the fourth in order of birth of the twelve children born to the union of Benjamin and Mary Jane (Gunter) Akers. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Bede Akers, was born in Kentucky in 1799 and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Lydia Collings, was born in that state in 1802. They were married in 1819 and ten years later removed to Indiana, whence in 1839 they went to Missouri. They were the parents of thirteen children. Bede Akers passed away in Missouri in 1847. In 1852 his widow was united in marriage to John Tash and in that year they removed to Decatur county, where she passed away in 1877.
Benjamin Akers was born in Indiana, June 17, 1830, and on the 23d of February, 1851, was married in Mercer county, Missouri, to Miss Mary Jane Gunter, whose birth occurred in the Hoosier state on the 30th of October, 1831, and whose parents, Thomas and Nancy Gunter, became residents of Mercer county, Missouri. In 1851 Mr. and Mrs. Akers removed to Decatur county, Iowa, locating in De- catur township, where the father entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. The mother died May 6, 1873, and in 1875 the father was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Hickman. who passed away in
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1878. Later the father was again married, Mrs. Mary A. McLaugh- lin becoming his wife. He passed away on the 25th of January, 1894, in this county. He was a democrat in politics and his religious faith was that of the Baptist church, in which he served as deacon. Benjamin and Mary Jane (Gunter) Akers were the parents of the following children: Elzann, who was born February 11, 1852; Sarah Ellen, whose birth occurred on the 23d of February, 1853, and who passed away February 19, 1870; Nancy Emorine, born May 8, 1854; William H., of this review; Lydia Ann, who was born July 16, 1857, and died September 8, 1876; Thomas F., born March 27, 1859; Jesse D., whose birth occurred February 8, 1861, and who died in Oregon, December 28, 1890; John H., who was born July 18, 1863, and who died September 10, 1864; Laura E., born August 17, 1865; Benja- min F., born May 22, 1867; Edgar B., whose birth occurred Novem- ber 5, 1869, and who died June 9, 1870; and Mary Eva, born Feb- ruary 10, 1872. To the third marriage of Mr. Akers two children were born: Austin Elmer, whose birth occurred September 12, 1879; and Hattie L., born June 26, 1882.
William H. Akers was reared on the home farm in Decatur town- ship and in the acquirement of an education attended the Huff school- house in that township, four miles northeast of Decatur City. The building was of logs and the furniture was very crude, the seats being long benches of slabs with pins for legs and without backs, and a rude desk was made by driving wooden pins into holes bored in the wall by an auger and by laying boards over the pins. In this pioneer school Mr. Akers acquired not only a knowledge of books but also habits of industry and application and through the training which he received at home he became familiar with agricultural methods and became impressed with the value of industry and integrity. On reach- ing mature years he determined to follow the occupation to which he was reared and has never had occasion to regret his decision as he has found farming both congenial and profitable. He owns one hun- dred acres of excellent land in Grand River township and his enter- prise and progressiveness have enabled him to accumulate a com- petence.
Mr. Akers was married on the 17th of February, 1878, to Miss Mary J. Hickman, whose birth occurred on the 4th of July, 1863. Her paternal grandparents were Kimball and Mary (Cooper) Hick- man, natives of Virginia, from which state they removed to Ohio and later came to Decatur county, Iowa, in 1859, settling in Eden town- ship on a five hundred acre farm. There Mrs. Hickman died in 1865 and Mr. Hickman passed away in 1877. In their family were
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ten children, including Joseph Hickman, the father of Mrs. Akers. He was born and reared in Ohio and came with his parents to this county, where he was married in 1861 to Miss Elizabeth Mclaughlin, also a native of Ohio and a daughter of Henry and Susanna Mc- Laughlin, of Missouri. Mrs. Akers' father died in 1871, and her mother passed away in 1878. She has two brothers: Henry K. Hick- man, who now owns and operates a cattle ranch in the state of Wash- ington; and Albert M., who has a well improved and valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Bloomington township, Decatur county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Akers have been born six children, namely: Hallie A., who was born November 24, 1878, and who died April 12, 1888; Harry L., whose birth occurred July 31, 1881, and who died in August, 1883; Henry M., born September 10, 1886, who married Ruth Hoffman on the 28th of August, 1912; Jesse F., born January 12, 1890, who married Lavon Dufty on the 4th of March, 1914; Liz- zie L., who was born March 26, 1892, and who on the 12th of March, 1913, was united in marriage to Joseph H. Board; and Elmer O., born November 14, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Akers have one grandchild, Merlin Josephine Board, who was born February 15, 1914.
Mr. Akers is a republican and consistently supports the candi- dates of that party at the polls. He holds membership in the Pales- tine Baptist church of this county and is now serving as deacon therein. His life has measured up to high standards and he is re- spected not only because of his ability and enterprise but also because of his integrity.
MORTON W. ORDWAY.
Morton W. Ordway, a prosperous farmer residing on section 33, Burrell township, is a native of that township and was born on the 28th of December, 1875. His parents, Frank and Amelia (Lucia) Ordway, were natives respectively of New York and Canada. The father, who was by occupation a farmer, lived in Illinois for some time but at length came to Iowa. He eventually settled in Decatur county, buying the farm that is now in the possession of our subject. He devoted his time to the cultivation and improvement of that place until 1908, when he sold the farm to his son, Morton W., and removed to Davis City, where he has since resided. He enlisted in Nebraska for service in the Civil war and served at the front for four years,
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five months and twenty-two days. He is now eighty-one years of age and his wife is seventy-six years old.
Morton W. Ordway was reared in this county and attended the public schools in the acquirement of an education. He assisted his father with the work of the homestead until he attained his majority and then purchased sixty acres of land in New Buda township. After operating that place for eleven years he bought the homestead, which comprises eighty acres of excellent land on section 33, Burrell town- ship, and during the years that have since elapsed has devoted his time and energies to its further development, making a number of improvements. He has eight fine milch cows and is engaged in the dairy business to some extent. His knowledge of agricultural pur- suits, combined with his energy and good management, enable him to net a good profit on his year's work.
On the 8th of December, 1896, occurred the marriage of Mr. Ord- way and Miss Hattie Stevens, a daughter of Tip and Sarah (Burrell) Stevens, natives respectively of Indiana and Iowa. The father was brought to this county when but three years of age and was here reared and educated. On reaching man's estate he turned his atten- tion to farming and continued to follow agricultural pursuits until he retired from active life and removed to Davis City, where he passed away July 14, 1913. His widow survives and still lives in Davis City. Mr. and Mrs. Ordway have become the parents of five chil- dren: Sarah, who died July 13, 1898, when fourteen months old: John, who died in August, 1901, when two and a half years old; Frank, eleven years of age, and Opal, aged eight, who are attending school; and Roy, who is an infant of one year.
Mr. Ordway gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and fraternally is a member of the Masonic order. He is highly spoken of in his community and has many sincere friends, his life having been lived in accordance with high standards of morality.
JOHN F. McWILLIAMS.
John F. McWilliams is living retired in Pleasanton in the enjoy- ment of a period of rest and leisure made possible by former well directed work as a farmer. He was born in Knox county, Illinois, on the 19th of April, 1843, and is a son of Robert and Margaret ( Thurman) McWilliams, natives of Ohio. The father removed to Knox county, Illinois, when that region was still a pioneer section and
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there engaged in farming during the remainder of his life, passing away in 1890. His widow survived him for seventeen years, her de- mise occurring in 1907.
John F. McWilliams passed his boyhood and youth under the parental roof and attended the public schools of his native county in the acquirement of an education. When he attained his majority he began farming for himself and continued to reside in the Prairie state until 1880. In that year he came to Decatur county, Iowa, pur- chasing land in Decatur township, which he cultivated and developed until 1900. He was at once practical and progressive and as he man- aged his financial affairs well he gained a competence which enabled him to retire from active work in that year. About 1912 his health became greatly impaired and he removed to Pleasanton, where he has since resided.
On the 19th of April, 1865, occurred the marriage of Mr. McWil- liams and Harriet Barbero, a daughter of Frederick and Malinda (Bartlett) Barbero, natives of Oswego county, New York. The father was a farmer and in an early day he moved to Knox county, Illinois, where he followed agricultural pursuits for many years. He passed away in 1900, when ninety-two years of age, but was survived by his widow until 1904, her demise occurring when she was eighty- four years old. Mr. and Mrs. McWilliams have had three children : Andrew Adelbert, who is farming in Hamilton township; Mabel, who died in 1900; and Jennie P., who passed away in 1893.
Mr. McWilliams is a democrat and is stanch in his support of the candidates and principles of that party. He belongs to the Christian Union church and in his daily life exemplifies the teachings of that organization. He has resided in this county for thirty-five years and for a great part of that time was a factor in its agricultural develop- ment. He values highly the financial independence which he has won but esteems yet more the respect and confidence which his fellow citizens accord him.
JAMES M. ASHBURN.
James M. Ashburn, who has resided in Decatur county for almost sixty years, is now living retired at Lamoni. He was born in Taze- well county, Illinois, October 9, 1842, a son of Jesse and Elmira (Glass) Ashburn, natives respectively of Tennessee and of Ohio. They were married, however, at Vandalia, Fayette county, Illinois,
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and resided in that state until October 9, 1856, when they came with their family to Decatur county, Iowa, and located in Burrell town- ship. Eleven years later they went to Omaha, Nebraska, where the mother died when almost eighty-seven years of age. The death of the father occurred at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, when he was sixty- eight years old. They were the parents of ten children, who grew to maturity, nine of whom are still living.
James M. Ashburn was just fourteen years of age when he arrived in this county and has since made it his home, although he was for two years in Missouri and spent four years at the front during the Civil war. He enlisted in Company D, Fourth Iowa Infantry, and later veteranized in the same company and regiment. On returning from the army he concentrated his attention upon farming and stock- raising and for twenty-five years followed those pursuits successfully. He shipped stock extensively, deriving a good income from his activ- ity in that line. After residing upon his home place for a number of years he and his wife removed to another farm which he owned near Tuskeega, where they lived for twelve years. At the end of that time they sold that property and returned to the home place, where they resided until they removed to Lamoni. Their farm, which comprises four hundred and twenty acres in Bloomington township, is now rented.
Mr. Ashburn was married on the 9th of May, 1867, to Miss Ruth E. Mercer, who was born in Putnam county, Indiana, July 3, 1847, a daughter of John and Margaret (McCulley) Mercer, who settled on Elk Creek, this county, in February, 1854. After residing there for a year they removed to a farm now included in the property owned by Mr. Ashburn. The father died in St. Louis, Missouri, on the 9th of February, 1863, when almost forty-four years of age. At the time he was a soldier in the Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His widow died on the 9th of October, 1867, when forty- five years old. Mrs. Ashburn, who is one of three children, is the only one still living. By her marriage she has become the mother of twelve children, eleven of whom survive: Laura Lucretia, the wife of Benjamin Warren, and a resident of Lamoni; James, deceased; Luella J., the wife of Charles R. Piercy, further mention of whom is made in this work; Margaret A., who married George Allen, of Lamoni; Dithema, the wife of William Turner, of Kirksville, Mis- souri; Nina, who married R. H. Brown, and lives at Wray, Colorado; William T., who owns two hundred and twenty acres of land and resides upon the old homestead; Armetta, the wife of B. F. Brown, who lives near Lamoni; Nellie L., who married Luther L. Bason, a
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resident of the vicinity of Davis City ; Jesse M., at home; and John T., who is married and resides on the homestead.
Mr. Ashburn is a republican and has served in a number of local offices, including that of township trustee. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Lamoni, of which lodge he is a charter member. He is also identified with John R. Andrews Post, G. A. R., of Lamoni, and has filled several offices in that organ- ization and also in the Odd Fellows. The leisure which he is now enjoying is well deserved and all who know him accord him unquali- fied respect and high esteem.
JOHN BELL.
John Bell has been engaged in wagon making in Leon since 1869 and some of the wagons which he made thirty-five years ago are still in use, which is proof of the excellence of his work. He was born at Keedy's Mill, on the Antietam river, Maryland, August 13, 1838, a son of Daniel and Mary (Warner) Bell. The father was born at Bedford, Pennsylvania, and was a son of John Bell, a miller by trade, who emigrated from Germany to America prior to the Revo- lutionary war and settled in Pennsylvania. He fought for the inde- pendence of the colonies and was a man of many admirable qualities. Daniel Bell conducted a shop at Hagerstown, Ohio, for some time, but subsequently removed to Stark county, that state, where he fol- lowed his trade until his demise, which occurred when he was in his seventy-sixth year. His wife was also born in Pennsylvania and was a daughter of John Warner, who farmed and conducted a sawmill in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. To their union were born eleven children, of whom our subject is the sixth in order of birth and of whom eight grew to maturity. All are now deceased, save John and a sister, Mrs. Susan Fouts, who is living at Canton, Ohio.
John Bell accompanied his parents to Harrison county, Ohio, when eight years of age and later removed with the family first to Stark county and then to Tuscarawas county, that state. He at- tended the subscription schools and also learned the wagon maker's trade from his father during his boyhood. On the outbreak of the Civil war he joined the Union army, enlisting in Company A, Thir- teenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on the 18th of April, 1861. When the three months for which he had enlisted expired, he reenlisted for three years and in 1864 veteranized in the same company and regi-
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ment, serving in all for four years and eight months. He was first with the army in Virginia and later was with the western army in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana and went with Sher- man as far as Atlanta, Georgia. He was discharged at San Antonio, Texas, to which point his command had been sent. He participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, took part in the fighting about Atlanta and was in twenty-three general en- gagements. He was twice wounded and was twice taken prisoner by John Morgan's men, once near Nashville, Tennessee, and the other time near Whitesburg on the Tennessee river. After being discharged from the service he returned to Ohio, but in 1869 he settled in Leon, Decatur county, Iowa, which has ever since remained his home. He immediately opened a wagon shop and has made many of the wagons used in this county, where he has long been recognized as an excellent workman and as a thoroughly reliable business man. From time to time he has also given some attention to farming and to carpentering.
Mr. Bell was married in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in April, 1867, to Mrs. Mary A. Yanney, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on the 25th of August, 1843, a daughter of Henry and Mary ( Kanagy) Reefy, both natives of Switzerland, where their marriage occurred and where two of their children were born. Upon emigrating to the United States with their family, they settled in Wayne county, Ohio, where Mr. Reefy gave the greater part of his attention to farming, although he was by trade a shoemaker. Both he and his wife passed away in Tuscarawas county, that state. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Bell is the seventh in order of birth. One died in Switzerland and three sons and three daughters reached maturity, but Mrs. Bell is now the only one living. She was reared in Tuscarawas county and first married Edward Yanney, who served in the Civil war in an Ohio regiment and who died at Franklin, Ten- nessee. To that union was born a daughter, Ida M., the deceased wife of W. A. Alexander, of Leon. . Mr. and Mrs. Bell have five children: Eva, who married O. S. Long, of Shenandoah, Iowa; Harry P., who is a pharmacist by profession; Edgar E., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Ralph R., who was killed in a railroad accident near Davis City, this county, when twenty years of age; and Susan, the wife of R. A. Grimm, who is manager of the Bell Telephone Company at Omaha.
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