USA > Iowa > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
To him and his wife have been born six sons and two daughters, namely: Leonard G., of this review; Martha, the wife of Eugene Olmstead, of Harrison county, Missouri; Luella, who died in infancy ; Orton H., a ranchman living near Akron, Colorado, who married Miss Estella Rubideau; John W., who is engaged in the garage busi- ness at Blythedale, Missouri, in company with his brother James A .; U. Scott, a farmer of Harrison county, Missouri, who has held a number of township offices, and who married Miss Ethel York; James A .; and Newton L., now living with his parents.
Leonard G Holloway was reared in Harrison county, Missouri, and received a good education in his boyhood and youth. He also early became familiar with agricultural pursuits and engaged in farming until he was about twenty-two years of age. He then worked at the carpenter's trade for about six years, but for the past ten years he has devoted his time to the work of the ministry of the Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints. He belongs to the Quorum of the Seventy and has traveled over Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Idaho, Utah, Colo- rado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. His preaching is very effective and he has been instrumental in building up the churches where he has labored. For a number of years he has resided in Lamoni and in 1913 he erected a fine residence there.
On the 17th of March, 1907, Elder Holloway was united in mar- riage to Miss Blanche Henderson, of Seattle, Washington. . She
347
HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on the 6th of October, 1884, and is a daughter of John and Ada (Sperrin) Henderson, who removed to Seattle in 1900. Her father belongs to the Christian church and her mother to the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. Previous to her marriage Mrs. Holloway was an expert stenographer. Mr. and Mrs. Holloway have three children, Esther I., Erlene M. and Grace E.
Elder Holloway is a democrat in his political belief and keeps thoroughly informed on the issues that come before the public for set- tlement at the polls. He combines religious zeal with practical effi- ciency and his work has been productive of much good. He has many friends in Lamoni and those who know him best esteem him most highly, which is incontrovertible proof of his sterling worth.
WILLIAM E. LEE.
Among the well known residents of Davis City is William E. Lee, who is manager of the Davis City Elevator Company. He was born in Bureau county, Illinois, of the marriage of John and Mary (Fas- sett) Lee. The father, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio, of American parentage, was a farmer by occupation and for a number of years cultivated land which he owned in Fayette township, Decatur county, where he arrived in 1868. Subsequently he sold that place and removed to New Buda township, buying a farm there upon which he lived for some time. During the last years of his life he resided on a farm in Burrell township, although his demise occurred at Lamoni, May 19, 1902. His wife was born in Bureau county, Illinois, where their marriage occurred. She is still living and resides at Perry. To their union were born six children: Edith, the deceased wife of Joseph Turner; Allie, the widow of W. W. Peasley and a resident of Indianola; William E .; Esther, who married Clarence Smith, now a resident of Lamoni; Maude, the wife of H. E. Per- kins, of Perry; and a son who died in infancy.
William E. Lee remained at home until he was twenty years of age and attended the district school and the schools at Davis City. He assisted his father with the farm work until 1884, when he started out on his own account, going to Denver, Colorado, where for two years he drove a milk wagon. He was for some time a brakeman on the Rock Island & Pacific Railroad but in 1899 he returned to Decatur county and began farming on the ninety acre tract which he still
348
HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
owns in New Buda township. He has proved very successful as a general farmer and stock-raiser but since 1903 has given his entire time to his work as manager of the local elevator. The elevator was for years owned by the Iowa & Missouri Grain Company but in the fall of 1912 it was purchased by a stock company composed of local capitalists and its name was changed to the Davis City Elevator Company. The present officials are : C. R. Rauch, president; William E. Lee, vice president and manager; and J. M. Gates, secretary and treasurer, while the board of directors is composed of the officers and Oscar Judd and F. W. Rauch. The company buys and sells hay, corn, wheat and oats. The elevator has a capacity of ten thousand bushels and handles about eighty carloads of grain annually. His work as manager leaves Mr. Lee no time for other interests and he therefore rents his farm.
He was married in 1895 to Miss Carrie Cartwright, a daughter of W. T. and Matilda (Boldman) Cartwright. To this union has been born the following children: John, whose birth occurred Decem- ber 6, 1895, and who died when three years old; Ruth, born April 6, 1900, who is attending the Davis City high school; Naomi, who was born October 5, 1909, and is attending the district schools; and Marguerite, born May 13, 1911.
Mr. Lee is a democrat and since 1902 has served as treasurer of the township schools of New Buda. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic blue lodge at Davis City, the Royal Arch chapter of Leon and the commandery of Leon, while his wife belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star at Davis City. In addition to his farm Mr. Lee owns some valuable city property in Denver, Colorado, and is one of the substantial residents of Davis City. His personal qualities are such that he has won the warm regard as well as the respect of those who have come in contact with him.
WILLIAM H. MILLS.
William H. Mills, an honored veteran of the Civil war and a retired farmer of Eden township, was born in Fulton county, Illinois, July 23, 1843, a son of J. D. and Matilda (Johnson) Mills, both natives of the state of New York, where their marriage occurred. In 1843 they removed to Illinois and there the father followed the blacksmith's trade until 1852, when he removed with his family to Decatur county, Iowa, settling at Pleasanton. In that same year,
349
HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
while crossing Lake Erie, he witnessed a remarkable meteor shower, the meteors falling all around the ship. The first winter after arriv- ing in this county the family resided on land belonging to a Mr. Scott near the old Horse mill, but the following spring the father established a blacksmith shop at Pleasanton, which he conducted until 1863. He then removed to Leon, where he passed his remaining years.
William H. Mills received his education in the public schools of Pleasanton, but in 1861, when eighteen years of age, enlisted in Company H, Fifth Kansas Volunteer cavalry for service in the Civil war, remaining at the front for three years, one month and eleven days. He took part in the battles of Helena, Arkansas; Tupelo, Mississippi; Pine Bluff and Mount Elba, Arkansas; Drywood, Mis- souri; and also fought in many skirmishes in Arkansas and Missouri, for a considerable period, being under fire almost every day. He was discharged at Leavenworth, Kansas, and then returned to Decatur county, devoting his attention to farming on section 9, Eden town- ship. He purchased eighty acres on that section in 1865 and resided upon that place until his death. Later when his resources had increased he purchased an adjoining eighty acre tract, which he brought to a high state of cultivation. For many years he was actively engaged in general farming and stock-raising, but in 1914 turned the opera- tion of the farm over to his son, feeling that he had accumulated more than a competence and that he had earned a period of rest from business cares.
In 1865 Mr. Mills married Miss Lovisa Blake, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Blake, natives of England, who located in Coshocton county, Ohio, on their emigration to America. In 1854 they removed to Decatur county, Iowa, where the father followed agricultural pursuits and where both he and his wife resided until called by death. Mr. and Mrs. Mills became the parents of twelve children, as follows: Edith Llewellyn, who died in early womanhood; Henrietta, who remained at home; Zelia, now the wife of Albert Davis, who is farming in the state of Washington; Charles E., an agriculturist of Bloomington township, this county, who married Miss Effie Lindsay, of Davis City; Matilda, who gave her hand in mar- riage to Robert McKee, a rancher and orange grower of California; Frank, a rancher of the state of Washington, who married Miss Minnie McCune; Rolla O., who is a land agent of Tacoma, Wash- ington; Oscar A., a rancher of Colorado; Clifton P., a farmer resid- ing six miles east of Leon, who married Miss Nellie Gammill; Ralph E., who has taken the greater part of the responsibility for the opera-
350
HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
tion of the home farm; Myrgie, at home; and Fred Leon, who died in infancy. The wife and mother died on the 31st of December, 1913, and her passing was sincerely mourned not only by her immediate family but by many loyal friends. She was a member of the Church of Christ of Eden township and her religious faith was exemplified in her daily life.
Mr. Mills gave his political allegiance to the republican party. but never aspired to take a prominent part in public affairs. He, however, served as school director in his home district for a number of times and was greatly interested in everything relating to the progress of the schools of the county. He held membership in the Church of Christ of Eden township and the work of that organiza- tion profited by his cooperation and material support. Through his identification with the lodge of the Grand Army of the Republic at Leon he kept in touch with his comrades of the '60s and derived much satisfaction from the knowledge that in the time of his coun- try's greatest need he did not fail her. While actively engaged in farming he was energetic and progressive and not only gained indi- vidual success but also contributed to the development of his county along agricultural lines. He died June 14, 1915, in the seventy- second year of his age.
JOHN L. LATTA.
Since July 1, 1911, John L. Latta has been engaged in business in Grand River as a dealer in hardware and furniture and as an undertaker and embalmer. For many years he followed the profes- sion of teaching and gained an enviable reputation as an instructor. He was born in Akron, Harrison county, Missouri, six miles south of his present farm, on the 16th of October, 1864, a son of Calvin and Rachel (Jenkins) Latta. The Latta family is descended from French Huguenots, who fled from persecution in France to Ireland, whence in the seventeenth century William Latta emigrated to the United States, becoming one of William Penn's colony in Penn- sylvania. Our subject's grandfather, Moses Latta, removed with his family to Indiana when his son Calvin, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, was but a small boy. They settled in what was then" known as Dearborn county but which became Ross county on the subdivision of the former county. Moses Latta was a farmer and
351
HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
stockman and passed away in Indiana when he had reached a ripe old age. There Calvin Latta grew to manhood and on the 19th of March, 1846, his marriage occurred. Not long afterward he and his bride removed to Muscatine county, Iowa, where they resided until 1856, when he sold out and they removed to Akron, Harrison county, Missouri. He preempted one hundred and sixty acres of swamp land and although he met with reverses he continued to reside there until 1866, when he came to Decatur county, Iowa, locating in dis- trict No. 3, New Buda township. He became the owner of three hundred acres of fine land and was very successful as a farmer and stock-raiser, being noted as a breeder of fine Belgian horses. He passed away February 4, 1892, when almost seventy-four years of age, his birth having occurred on the 12th of February, 1818. His wife was born near Germantown, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of August, 1824. When she was a small child her father died and she lost her mother when she was but eight years of age. She was reared in the home of a Presbyterian minister and was given excellent edu- cational advantages. In her girlhood she removed to Indiana, where her marriage occurred. She passed away March 19, 1896, in the faith of the Presbyterian church, to which she had belonged for many years. She had seven children, five of whom survive, namely: Mary Ann, now Mrs. A. N. Willis, of this county; Moses, a retired farmer residing in Davis City; Warren J., a blacksmith of Davis City, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Stephen B., who is living on a farm in Eden township southeast of Leon; and John L. Two daugh- ters, Martha and Margaret, died in infancy.
John L. Latta was reared under the parental roof and at the usual age entered the public schools. After completing his course in the Davis City high school he began teaching and for eighteen years followed that profession and continued his studies. After serving for a year as assistant principal of the Lamoni high school he was made principal of the West Side school at Lamoni. In the fall of 1896 he accepted the principalship of the school at Grand River, where he remained for three years. He was next principal of the Weldon schools, holding that office for a similar period of time. Dur- ing these years he taught in the County Normal Institute. He had previously attended the Central Normal University at Humeston and there won the degree of Bachelor of Science. Not long after he was graduated from the school it was destroyed by fire. He felt that his work as a teacher would be benefited by further advanced study and in 1902 and 1903 he took a course at the Iowa State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Didactics
352
HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
from that institution. Following his graduation therefrom he taught at Sioux Center, Iowa, for a year and was then engaged in manu- facturing in Independence, Missouri, for two years, or until August, 1906. In that year he became superintendent of schools at Tripoli, Bremer county, and on leaving that place became teacher of mathe- matics in the high school at Iowa Falls and served during the two succeeding years as principal of that school.
On the 1st of July, 1911, Mr. Latta entered business circles of Grand River as the owner of a hardware and furniture store and he has since gained a place in the ranks of the leading and most suc- cessful merchants of the town. He is also a licensed embalmer and undertaker, having completed a course in embalming at Des Moines and having since taken a post-graduate course therein. His stock and fixtures are worth about seven thousand dollars and as he carries a complete line of hardware and furniture and seeks to give his cus- tomers the greatest possible value and the best service that it is within his power to give his patronage has grown steadily. He also owns ninety acres of land in the southeastern part of New Buda township and derives therefrom a gratifying addition to his income.
On the 10th of October, 1897, in Lamoni, was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. Latta and Miss Esther C. Cooper, who was born in Plano, Illinois, in 1874, of the marriage of I. N. W. and Sarah (Skeen) Cooper, natives respectively of Ohio and of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were married at Plano, Illinois, where they remained until they removed to Decatur county, Iowa, where they remained for three years and where a son, Daniel, was born. Follow- ing their return to Plano, Illinois, the mother passed away, her demise occurring in 1877. The following year Mr. Cooper married Miss Mell A. Skeen, a half-sister of his first wife, and in 1879 they located on a farm in Fayette township, this county, five miles southwest of Lamoni, where they continued to reside until 1890. In that year Mr. Cooper was accidentally injured and gave up the active work of the farm, removing to Lamoni, where he purchased a residence. He lived there for eight years and then removed to Independence, Missouri, where his death occurred in August, 1906, when he was sixty-three years old. In his early manhood he taught school in Plano, Illinois, and his wife followed that profession at Braddocks, that state. While living in this county he was for many years principal of the schools at Decatur City and was for several years treasurer and bookkeeper of the Herald Publishing Company. From the '60s until his demise he was a member of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints and served as an elder therein for a number of years.
353
HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
To Mr. Cooper and his first wife were born five children: Mrs. Anna May Mather, of Independence, Missouri; R. T., a banker of Los Angeles, California, who is an elder in the church; Daniel P., a physician of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Mrs. Latta; and Mrs. Sarah J. Conway, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. To the second union were born two daughters: Mrs. Pauline Smith, of Kansas City, Missouri; and Ruth, who is residing at Independence, Missouri, with her wid- owed mother. Mrs. Latta was reared at Lamoni and after completing the course in the local high school taught the first and second primary grades in the Lamoni schools until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Latta have a daughter, Vivian Lucile, whose birth occurred January 14, 1902, and who is a freshman in the high school at Grand River.
Mr. Latta is an active democrat and is a leader of that party in this county. He was at one time his party's candidate for county clerk and his personal popularity was attested by the fact that he ran ahead of his ticket. While living in Bremer county he was a candi- date for the office of county superintendent of schools but was defeated by the saloon element, which he fought in and out of season. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic lodge at Grand River and both he and his wife hold membership in the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints at Independence, Missouri. Both are highly educated and refined and have gained a large circle of friends in Grand River. Mr. Latta finds that the conduct of his growing business makes heavy demands upon his time but he also recognizes his obligations as a citizen and never fails to cooperate in movements seeking the com- munity welfare.
OREL P. ESTES.
Orel P. Estes is prominently identified with the business interests of Leon, having conducted a garage here for the past four years, under the firm style of Estes & Company. He is a native of Decatur county, his birth having occurred in Pleasanton in 1879. His father, J. N. Estes, was born in Tazewell, Tennessee, in 1850 and was only two years of age when brought to Pleasanton, Iowa, in 1832. For some years he was engaged in the harness and implement business there but in the spring of 1895 retired and is now living on a farm in Hamilton township. He was married in 1878 to Miss Rosa Bick- nell, who was born in Galva, Illinois, in 1859 and came to Iowa in 1868 with her parents, Robert and Elvira Bicknell, the family locat- Vol. II-21
354
HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
ing in Pleasanton. To Mr. and Mrs. Estes were born one son and three daughters, the sisters of our subject being: Vee, the wife of Frank Farquhar, of Leon; and Olive and Loreta, still at home.
Orel P. Estes, the only son of the family, was reared under the parental roof and completed his education in the high school at Cainesville, Missouri. When starting out upon an independent career he engaged in the restaurant business at Pleasanton for a number of years but subsequently he conducted a grocery store in Leon. He disposed of the latter in 1914, having in the meantime opened a garage, of which he has now been proprietor for the past four years, and which now claims his entire time and attention. He is conducting business under the firm name of Estes & Company and he has one of the best equipped plants in Decatur county. He handles the Ford car exclusively but formerly had the agency for a number of other makes. He has built up a good business and in 1914 his sales numbered seventy-five new cars in addition to other cars he sold. He is just in his treatment of his patrons, never taking undue advantage in a business transaction, and all with whom he comes in contact have for him words of praise and commendation.
Mr. Estes was married to Miss Maud Walker, who was born near Milo, in Warren county, Iowa, and there lived until the time of her marriage. They have one daughter, Ferne. In his political views Mr. Estes is a democrat, and for the past seventeen years he has been identified with the Knights of Pythias lodge. Both he and his wife are well known in social circles of Leon and Mr. Estes is classed among the successful business men of this section of Decatur county.
ROYAL RICHARDSON.
Royal Richardson, who is living on his place of fifty-four acres within the city limits of Pleasanton, has reached the venerable age of eighty-eight years and still takes a keen interest in the affairs of his community. He was born on the 12th of February, 1827, in Massa- chusetts, a son of James and Sophia (Danforth) Richardson, like- wise natives of the Bay state. The father farmed in Massachusetts during his active life but after he retired removed to Pleasanton, Iowa, making his home with our subject until his demise.
Royal Richardson received his education in Massachusetts and remained at home until he was fourteen years of age, when he left the parental roof and applied himself to learning the carpenter's
ROYAL RICHARDSON
357
HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
trade. He followed that occupation in the east for ten years. In 1854 he removed to Batavia, Illinois, and two years later came to Pleasanton, Decatur county, Iowa, purchasing the fifty-four acres which is his present home. He also bought a sawmill, which he oper- ated for ten years but eventually turned his attention to the mercantile business and conducted a store at the same time supervising his agri- cultural operations. Later he opened a hotel in the house where he still lives and which he erected in 1860, and for twenty-two years conducted that business, becoming well known and popular to the traveling public. In 1898 he organized a private bank but the cashier proved unworthy of trust and absconded with twenty thousand dollars belonging to our subject, who is now living retired, enjoying a period of well earned rest. He was United States marshal four years soon after the Civil war.
In April, 1851, Mr. Richardson married Miss Martha Johnson, a daughter of Jarus and Myra (Stone) Johnson, natives of Vermont, who resided for many years in Massachusetts, where the father fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. He passed away in 1828 but was sur- vived by his widow until 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson have no children of their own but have reared several, giving them parental love and care.
Mr. Richardson is a republican and for thirty years served as mayor of Pleasanton, his long continuance in that office being incon- testable proof of the acceptability of his service. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church. He has resided in Pleasanton for almost sixty years and has seen the entire development of the town, as it had just been laid out when he arrived here in 1856. He has done much to promote its development along many lines and one of the greatest services which he has rendered Pleasanton was his effi- cient work in securing the building of the Burlington Railroad through the town. He is not only rich in years but also in the knowl- edge of worthy accomplishment and in the honor and warm regard of a host of friends.
THOMAS A. FULLERTON.
Thomas A. Fullerton, who owns eighty acres of fine land in Richland township and also holds title to one hundred and sixty acres in Nebraska, is a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, his birth occurring on the 18th of April, 1840. His father, Thomas Fullerton,
358
HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
was born in Pennsylvania, March 23, 1813, of Irish parentage, and removed to Ohio at an early day in the history of that state. After following agricultural pursuits there for a number of years he came to Iowa, locating in Des Moines county, and three years later he made his way to Richland township, Decatur county, locating on section 1, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. There he continued to follow agricultural pursuits successfully until his demise, which occurred April 19, 1898, when he was eighty-five years of age. He was a republican and held a number of local offices. Fraternally he belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and while living in Ohio he was identified with the Covenanter church, although he became a member of the United Brethren church after removing to Iowa. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eleanor Thompson, was born in the Buckeye state on the 24th of July, 1819, and died about 1873. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom survive, and three are residents of Iowa, namely, Thomas A., James and George.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.