USA > Iowa > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 31
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Mr. Wion is a republican and gives his loyal support to the prin- ciples and candidates of that party. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Kellerton and both he and his wife are members of the Rebekahs. They also belong to the Metho- dist Episcopal church of Kellerton and no worthy cause lacks their support and cooperation. Mr. Wion has spent his entire life in this county and the fact that those who have known him since earliest boy- hood hold him in high esteem is proof of his uprightness and probity.
CHARLES W. DILLON.
Charles W. Dillon, who is engaged in general farming and stock- raising in Fayette township, owns one hundred and sixty acres in that township and he and his wife own one hundred and fifty-seven acres in Ringgold county. His birth occurred in Jackson county, Iowa, on the 18th of February, 1857, and he is a son of J. P. and Elizabeth (Larkey) Dillon, the latter of whom is still living in Fayette township, this county, at the age of eighty-eight years. The father died about eighteen years ago at Lamoni, where he took up his residence in the early '80s, some time before the town was founded. Previous to removing to this county he had resided for two years in Linn county, Iowa, and for five years in Illinois. He was a farmer by occupation and also devoted considerable time to missionary work for the Latter Day Saints church. He was liberal in his views and a friend to those needing help and encouragement. For these ad- mirable traits his memory will be lasting in the community. To him and his wife were born six children, all of whom became residents of this county, those besides our subject being: Frank; Emory; James; Riley; and Ella, who is now Mrs. Barrett. Mrs. Dillon was prev- iously married, her first husband being Otis Shumway, and they were the parents of two sons.
Charles W. Dillon was reared in Iowa and when about twelve years of age he put aside his textbooks and gave his undivided atten- tion to agricultural pursuits, assisting his father for some time. In the spring of 1871 he came to Decatur county and in the fall of 1872 he went to Missouri, residing there for two years. At the end of that time he returned to Decatur county and subsequently purchased a grain business at Lamoni which he conducted for a year, after which he sold out to J. R. Smith. Later, in partnership with Wilson Hudson, he engaged in the mercantile business for a few months.
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He then lived in Story county seven years, after which he removed to his present farm, on section 18, Fayette township, formerly known as the Millspaugh place. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land; he and his wife also own one hundred and fifty- seven acres in Ringgold county. With the assistance of his sons he operates both tracts and is recognized as a successful farmer and stock-raiser.
Mr. Dillon was married at Sandwich, De Kalb county, Illinois, to Miss Ency C. Ewing, who was born and reared in that place. Her parents, George and Deborah (Parsons) Ewing, both passed away in Davis City, this county. A brother of Mrs. Dillon is a well known stonemason of Lamoni. Five of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dillon survive, one having died in infancy. Martha is the wife of William T. Kaestner, of Des Moines. Roy E. is at home manag- ing the farm. Emory W., who is residing in this county, married May Grace Hartshorn and they have a son and daughter. Zadie is studying vocal music in Des Moines. May Elizabeth is at home with her parents.
Mr. Dillon believes in the wisdom of the policies of the democratic party where national issues are concerned but often votes an inde- pendent ticket, believing the qualifications of a candidate to be of greater importance than his political affiliation. He, his wife and their children hold membership in the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints and their religious belief finds expression in the integrity of their daily lives. The material success which he has gained is well earned, being the natural result of his energy, industry and good management.
JAMES F. JONES.
James F. Jones, a registered pharmacist, has been connected with the Barrows Drug Store at Lamoni since 1900 and his services have been very satisfactory to all concerned. His birth occurred at Davis City, this county, in 1881 and he is a son of Frank and Eliza- beth (Abbott) Jones. The father was born at Key West, Florida, and the mother was a native of New England but after the Civil war accompanied her parents to Illinois. Her father fought in the Union army as a member of a Vermont regiment. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jones located in Davis City in 1876 and the former, who was a con- tractor, had charge of the building of bridges along the Chicago, Vol. II-20
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Burlington & Quincy Railroad in this section of the state. He even- tually took up his residence in the south. His wife died at Lamoni about 1900, in the faith of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. To their union were born two children, the sister of our sub- ject being Mrs. Esmah Jones, of Lamoni.
James F. Jones was reared in Decatur county and attended the schools of Lamoni in the acquirement of his education, being grad- uated with the class of 1898. Subsequently he took a course in pharmacy at Highland Park College under Professor Babcock and since 1900 has been connected with the Barrows Drug Store of Lamoni. He is a registered pharmacist and not only has an accurate knowledge of his profession but is also very painstaking and accurate in his work.
Mr. Jones was married, in 1905, to Miss Pearl Pitkin, a native of Linn county, Iowa, who accompanied her parents to Lamoni about thirteen years ago. They now reside in Fayette township and have many friends in this county. In religious faith they are Latter Day Saints. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have a son, Maxwell Warren, whose birth occurred in 1912.
Mr. Jones is a democrat and is now both township and city clerk. He has always given his time and thought freely for the advance- ment of his community and has discharged all of the duties devolving upon him with conscientiousness and efficiency. Fraternally he be- longs to the Knights of Pythias and his wife is a member of the Re- organized Church of Latter Day Saints. His expert technical knowl- edge, his good business sense and his courtesy have been strong fac- tors in the growth of the Barrows Drug Store and in social, fra- ternal and political circles he is well known and highly respected.
JOHN CLARK.
Although more than a quarter of a century has elapsed since the death of John Clark, his memory is still enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him and the influence of his work is still potent. He was one of the earliest manufacturers of woolen goods in Iowa and was also connected with the development of the lumber industry in this state. For many years he resided in Decatur county and was prominently connected with its industrial and financial growth. His integrity and sense of justice were equally as well developed as his
JOHN CLARK
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business sagacity and power of initiative, and his life was a force for righteousness.
John Clark was born in Paisley, near Glasgow, Scotland, on the 25th of September, 1813, and three years later was brought by his father, John Clark, to America. The family landed at Philadelphia and settled on a small river flowing into the Delaware, about ten miles from that city, where the father conducted a cotton factory. While living in Scotland he had been a silk weaver. In 1818 removal was made to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and two years later he took his family and went to New Lisbon, Ohio, where both he and his wife spent their remaining days. She was a member of the royal family of Stuarts of Scotland, her father, Charles Edward Stuart, being the prince of Scotland and her grandfather the king of the united king- dom of England and Scotland. Her demise occurred when she was but forty-five years of age and her husband also died when compara- tively young, being forty-eight years old at the time of his death. They left four sons and five daughters, all of whom are now deceased.
John Clark of this review resided in Columbiana county, Ohio, until the fall of 1846, when he removed to Jefferson county, Iowa, with his family and engaged in the wool-carding and cloth-dressing business in connection with the manufacture of lumber. This was the pioneer plant of its kind in Iowa and was farther west than any similar establishment. In 1843 Mr. Clark lost the entire mill property by fire but through the assistance of others his machinery was replaced and he was enabled to resume business. His mill cut the first plank for the first plank road in Iowa and its history forms a part of the industrial history of the state. In June, 1856, Mr. Clark removed to Decatur county and settled in Morgan township, purchasing a thousand acres of land from the government, half of which was tim- bered. He erected a sawmill upon his holdings and added two burrs for the manufacture of flour and also carding machinery, while two years later he installed spinning machinery and looms, manufacturing all kinds of woolen cloth. During the Civil war the demand for woolen goods was so great that twelve looms were kept busy and he handled not less than seventy-five thousand pounds of wool annually. In 1869 the First National Bank of Leon was organized with a cap- ital stock of fifty thousand dollars and Mr. Clark was elected the first president of the institution, continuing in that position until it was reorganized as the Farmers & Traders Bank. In 1870 he, in connec- tion with his son William, bought the mill property at Davis City and five years later he and his sons erected the flouring mill which is still in operation at that place. He had that astuteness of mind
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which enabled him to recognize opportunities where others saw none and he also possessed the energy and aggressiveness to formulate and carry into execution plans for the utilization of such opportunities. These qualities made him a pioneer in the manufacture of cloth and lumber in Iowa and his connection with the industrial and financial development of Decatur county resulted in good to the community as well as in his own material prosperity.
Mr. Clark was married on the 25th of September, 1834, in Colum- biana county, Ohio, to Miss Grace Gammill, who died September 21, 1835. To them was born a daughter, Elizabeth, now the widow of James F. Bolon, of Davis City. On the 21st of September, 1836, Mr. Clark married Miss Margaret C. Gammill, an older sister of his first wife, both of whom were daughters of James Gammill, a native of York county, Pennsylvania. To this union were born two sons and four daughters, of whom two survive, namely: William, a resi- dent of Omaha; and Mrs. Caroline Biggs, of Leon. Mrs. Clark passed away upon her farm near Davis City in 1902.
Mr. Clark was a republican in his political belief but was never an aspirant for official honors. He never identified himself with any religious organization but realized that the work done by all the churches of a community is of great importance in promoting the moral welfare. He also saw the advantage of church unity and in 1878 erected a good church edifice which he presented to all of the religious societies of Davis City, representing two branches of the Methodist denomination and the Presbyterian and Christian churches. The building is still used by the three congregations and is known as the Union church.
At the time of his death the Decatur County Journal published the following: "Deceased died as he had lived, calm, placid and self- possessed, September 4, 1888, aged seventy-five years. Thus ended the life of John Clark, one of nature's noblemen, a model man and citizen, a noble and honored father, a loving and true husband, a friend whose friendship was like the light of the sun, true and steadfast in its course. The life of Mr. Clark furnishes an example to the youths of today of what may be accomplished by energy and continued labor, combined with the honest and noble resolution of benefiting his fel- lowmen with a portion of the material results of a successful life. Mr. Clark was fully aware of the seriousness of his last illness some time prior to his departure and made every arrangement for his burial. Also in talking over the matter with his children he stated: 'I know that my case is a critical one and that no physician can do me any good. I leave my case entirely in the hands of Providence and feel
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perfectly resigned, let that be as it may, it's all right.' This well balanced and perfect consciousness was with him when he breathed his last, for, leaning back into the arms of his son James, surrounded by those he loved, he said to all: 'I am going-I will soon be gone.'"
THOMAS A. SUTHERLIN.
Thomas A. Sutherlin is one of the men of wealth of Decatur county, owning seventeen hundred and sixty-five acres of excellent land in Burrell township. He was born in that township, upon the farm on section 21, where he still lives, on the 20th of February, 1856, a son of Alfred and Henrietta (Nichols) Sutherlin, both born near Louisville, Kentucky. The father was taken by his parents to. Indiana in an early day in the history of that state and remained there until 1854, when he removed to Decatur county, Iowa, and purchased the farm upon which our subject resides. He owned five hundred and eighty acres of excellent land, which he developed and cultivated until his demise in 1861, when still a young man. His widow subse- quently remarried and removed to Missouri, whence in 1872 she returned to Decatur county, Iowa, where she passed away about three months later.
Thomas A. Sutherlin received a very limited scholastic education but attended school for a short time in Decatur county following his mother's demise. When still a boy he worked for others as a farm hand and was so engaged until he reached the age of twenty years. He then began operating sixty-five acres which he inherited from his father and as his resources increased he added to his holdings. He is now one of the most extensive landowners of Decatur county, holding title to seventeen hundred and sixty-five acres on sections 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 and 28, Burrell township. He has made many im- provements upon his property and keeps everything in excellent con- dition. He farms individually about five hundred acres of land and rents the remainder. He gives his greatest attention to raising high grade stock and feeds about four carloads of cattle and four carloads of hogs annually, from the sale of which he receives a good profit. He also owns a number of business properties in Davis City and Decatur and was for about four years in the implement business in those cities.
Mr. Sutherlin was married on the 2d of June, 1878, to Miss Martha Farris, a daughter of James and Lucinda (Miller) Farris,
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natives of Indiana and Ohio respectively. The father joined the Union army when a lad of but fourteen years and served from 1862 until the close of the war. Subsequently he removed to Iowa and engaged in the implement business in various parts of the state, eventually locating in Davis City, where he conducted an implement store for eight years. For some time before his death, which occurred on the 7th of April, 1915, he made his home with our subject. His wife died in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherlin have two children: Nellie G., who after her marriage to Calvin V. Githens went to Seattle, where she completed a four years modern language course at the University of Washington and who is now connected with the pro- fession of music at San Francisco, California; and Luther W., who is a junior in the law department of the University of Washington at Seattle.
Mr. Sutherlin is a republican but has never been an aspirant for political honors as his business affairs have demanded his undivided attention. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and a canton Odd Fellow and is well known in local fraternal circles. His religious belief is that of the Methodist church and the teachings of that organ- ization guide his life. He has much business ability and his success is due to his astuteness and good judgment, combined with his prac- tical knowledge of farming and stock-raising. He values highly his material success but he prizes even more the goodwill and respect of his fellow citizens, which he has in full measure.
FRANK D. ORDWAY.
Frank D. Ordway, a venerable citizen of Davis City and an honored veteran of the Civil war, has been a resident of Decatur county for forty-six years and was long and successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits but since October, 1908, has lived retired. His birth occurred in Westville, Franklin county, New York, on the 24th of May, 1834, his parents being Hiram and Annie (Wheeler) Ordway, both of whom were natives of Vermont. The father followed farming in the state of New York for a good many years but in an early day removed to Illinois, where he was also en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for some time. Eventually he came to Decatur county, Iowa, here making his home with our subject until he passed away on the 2d of May, 1886, at the age of eighty-
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four years. The demise of his wife occurred in Illinois on the 16th of October, 1861, when she had attained the age of sixty-two years.
Frank D. Ordway was reared and educated in the state of his nativity and remained on the home farm with his parents until seven- teen years of age, when he made his way westward to Wisconsin, where he worked as a farm hand. In 1860, during the period of the gold craze, he went to Colorado but returned the following year and enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company F, First Nebraska Infantry, with which command he renklined for four years, five months and twenty-two days. He made an excellent record as a brave and valiant soldier, never faltering in the perform- ance of any task assigned him. When hostilities had ceased he re- turned to his father's home in Illinois and after following farming for a time was married and came to Iowa, settling in Pottawattamie county, where he purchased a tract of land. This he cultivated for but a brief period, however, after which he disposed of the property and removed to Red Oak, Montgomery county, Iowa. There his first crop was destroyed by the grasshoppers and he returned to Illi- nois. A year later, or in 1869, he came to Decatur county, Iowa, and purchased a tract of eighty acres on section 33, Burrell township, which he at once began improving and which he operated continuously and successfully until 1908. On the 2d of October of that year he sold the place to his son and bought a nice home and ten acres of ground in Davis City, where he has since lived in honorable retire- ment. His undertakings as an agriculturist were attended with a gratifying and well merited measure of success and he has long been numbered among the substantial and esteemed citizens of the com- munity.
On the 6th of October, 1866, Mr. Ordway was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Lucia, daughter of Edward and Julia (Bombard) Lucia, who were natives of Canada and were of French descent. The father, a cooper by trade, removed to Illinois in 1849 and worked at his occupation in the Prairie state for a time, but subsequently pur- chased land in Kansas, carrying on agricultural pursuits there for a number of years. His last days were spent in retirement in the home of Mr. Ordway, his demise occurring on the 25th of December, 1907. For more than a half century he had survived his wife, who passed away in Illinois in the year 1856. To Mr. and Mrs. Ordway have been born six children, as follows: Hiram, who is engaged in farm- ing in Nevada; Annie, who is the wife of A. D. Eaton, of Sandpoint, Idaho; Morton, an agriculturist of this county; Ingersoll; Josephine,
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who passed away in 1887; and Daniel, whose demise occurred on the 6th of December, 1871.
In politics Mr. Ordway is a stanch republican, ever loyally sup- porting the men and measures of the party which was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. He still maintains pleasant relations with the "boys in blue" as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has ever been as loyal to his country in days of peace as he was when he followed the stars and stripes on the battlefields of the south. He has now passed the eighty-first mile- stone on life's journey and his career has always been such that he can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future without fear.
WARREN J. LATTA.
Warren J. Latta is conducting a blacksmith shop at Davis City and has built up a large business by excellent workmanship and fair dealing. He was born in Akron, Missouri, April 16, 1858, a son of Calvin and Rachel (Jenkins) Latta, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The father was taken to Indiana by his parents when that state was still a frontier region and there grew to manhood. He turned his attention to farming and after following agricultural pursuits in the Hoosier state for several years removed to Muscatine, Iowa, where he engaged in teaming for some time. About 1855 he went to Akron, Missouri, where he farmed until 1866, when he came to Decatur county and purchased land in New Buda township. His farm, which comprised three hundred and thirteen acres, was well improved, and he derived therefrom a gratifying annual income. He passed away in February, 1892, but was survived by his widow for four years.
Warren J. Latta was reared and educated in Missouri and New Buda township, this county, and continued to reside with his parents until they were called by death. He and four brothers farmed the place in partnership until 1905, when they divided the land, his share being eighty acres. From 1905 until 1914 he farmed independently but in March of the latter year he sold forty acres and removed to Davis City, where he established a blacksmith shop, the only smithy in the town. While still living upon the farm he had for fifteen years done blacksmithing and had gained a reputation for excellent work in that line. He has met with gratifying success since coming to Davis
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City and derives a good income from his trade. He also owns a brick business building, two stories and basement, and holds title to his comfortable residence.
Mr. Latta was married on the 19th of March, 1890, to Miss Har- riet Robbins, a daughter of John and Rachel (Davis) Robbins, natives respectively of Indiana and Ohio. The father, who was one of the pioneers of Decatur county, Iowa, bought land in Burrell township in an early day and gave the remainder of his life to the operation of his farm. He passed away in November, 1913, and his wife died in 1893. To Mr. and Mrs. Latta were born twelve children, five of whom died in infancy, the others being: Perry and James, who are in partnership with their father and who also conduct a garage and machine shop; Martha B., the wife of Clarence Vandall, who is operating land belonging to our subject; Maude, who married Otho Wishon, a resident of Harrison county, Missouri; Alice W., who is keeping house for her father; and Charles and George, who are attending school. Mrs. Latta passed away July 9, 1913, after a prolonged illness, and her demise was the occasion of much sincere grief, for she had many warm friends.
Mr. Latta is a democrat and has at all times performed his duties as a citizen conscientiously. While actively engaged in agricultural pursuits he was recognized as a successful farmer and stock-raiser and gave particular attention to breeding thoroughbred Percheron horses. Since his removal to Davis City he has won a place among the town's prosperous residents and is highly esteemed here.
ELDER LEONARD G. HOLLOWAY.
Elder Leonard G. Holloway, of Lamoni, is an active and suc- cessful worker in the Reorganized church of Latter Day Saints and belongs to the Quorum of the Seventy. He was born in Harrison county, Missouri, November 20, 1876, and is a son of Jasper M. and Nancy J. (Bowen) Holloway, both of whom are residing in that county. The father was born there on the 3d of March, 1853, a son of George W. and Elvira (Hinton) Holloway, who removed to Missouri from Kentucky in 1852, settling on land near Newcastle, Harrison county. George W. Holloway died in 1863. His father was John Holloway, who resided near Boonesboro, Kentucky. Rep- resentatives of the family served in the Continental army in the Revo- lutionary war, and the ancestry has been traced back to England.
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
Mrs. Elvira (Hinton). Holloway was a grand niece of Daniel Boone. The mother of our subject was born in Thorntown, Boone county, Indiana, December 15, 1852, and is a daughter of Uriah and Eliza- beth (Moore) Bowen. Her father was born in Monongalia county, West Virginia, March 10, 1822, and died May 23, 1893, while her mother, who was a niece of Benjamin Franklin, was born in Ken- tucky on the 22d of July, 1830. The Bowens were Virginians but removed to Indiana in the early part of the nineteenth century. In 1852 Uriah S. Bowen went with his family to Harrison county, Mis- souri, and he spent the remainder of his life there. His widow is still living at the age of eighty-four years. Jasper M. Holloway was baptized in the church of Latter Day Saints on the 21st of April, 1883, and his wife was baptized the following year. They take an active part in the work of the church and are well known and highly esteemed in their community. He has followed agricultural pursuits and owns a large and well improved farm in Harrison county, Missouri. He has taken considerable interest in public affairs and has been called to office a number of times.
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