USA > Iowa > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 6
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MYRON PHELPS, M. D.
Dr. Myron Phelps, who is the leading physician and surgeon of Van Wert, was born in Waterloo, Iowa, February 17, 1866, a son of Stephen and Amelia (McComb) Phelps. The father was born February 6, 1839, in Fulton county, Illinois, of English stock and
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for over fifty years has been a minister of the Presbyterian church, having been ordained in 1861 at Sioux City, Iowa. He made a thor- ough educational preparation for his life work and is a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College of Washington, Pennsylvania. He has continued an earnest student of men and affairs and was for eight years president of Coe College at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His clear insight into conditions and his power of constructive thought have been recognized and he is a prominent figure in his church in the middle west. He has gained considerable reputation as a speaker and has addressed many important gatherings. Although he was for eight years president of Coe College, as before stated, the greater part of his life has been devoted to pastoral work and he has served the charges at Sioux City, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Council Bluffs, Iowa, and is now pastor of the church at Bellevue, Nebraska. He was married in Fulton county, Illinois, to Miss Amelia McComb, who was born on the 27th of December, 1838, and who died at Vin- ton, Iowa, three decades ago. Subsequently he married Miss Sadie Miller, of Vinton, who is still living.
Dr. Myron Phelps acquired his early education in the public schools and was later for several years a student at Coe College at Cedar Rapids. Upon leaving that institution he entered the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated in the class of 1891 with the degree of M. D. He first located for practice at Harlan, Iowa, and remained there for two years, but in the fall of 1893 he came to Van Wert, where he has since remained. He has advanced steadily in his profession and as his knowledge and skill have grown his practice has increased proportionately and he is now recognized as the foremost physician and surgeon of this place. He has never allowed himself to think that his student days are over, but lias con- tinued to read widely along the lines of medical science and has kept informed of the advance which is continually being made in the knowl- edge of the cause and cure of disease.
Dr. Phelps was married in 1897 to Miss Olive Blades, a daughter of W. J. and Agnes (Rockhold) Blades, the former a native of Ken- tucky. He was a farmer by occupation and located on land in Decatur county, Iowa, at an early day in the history of this section. During the Civil war he served as a member of an Iowa regiment but after he had been at the front a year his leg was broken by a kick from a horse and he was honorably discharged from the army. He returned to the farm in Long Creek township, this county, which he had entered from the government before the war, and again gave his attention to agricultural pursuits. He passed away on his place, which com-
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prised two hundred and eighty acres of excellent land, on the 25th of December, 1912. His wife was a native of Fulton county, Illi- nois, but their marriage occurred at Mount Pleasant, Henry county, Iowa. She is now making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Phelps.
Dr. Phelps is independent in politics, voting for the candidate whom he deems best suited for the office in question without regard to his political affiliation. He belongs to the Decatur County Medi- cal Society and for two terms was health physician of Van Wert, doing much valuable work in behalf of public hygiene during his con- nection with that office. His wife is a member of the Christian church. During the two decades and more that Dr. Phelps has resided in Van Wert he has not only won an enviable professional reputation but has also gained the respect of and warm regard of all with whom he has come in contact.
E. W. GAUNT.
E. W. Gaunt, one of the successful agriculturists and influential citizens of Garden Grove township, has been a resident of the county for more than four decades and has devoted his attention to general farming throughout his entire business career. His birth occurred in Eureka, Illinois, on the 3d of May, 1855, his parents being John D. and Judith A. (Major) Gaunt, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, the former born in Hopkinsville. John D. Gaunt removed to Illinois in early life and subsequently came to Decatur county, Iowa, here continuing to make his home until he passed away in 1891. During his active business career he followed farming and merchan- dising, conducting a mercantile establishment in Illinois for several years before coming to this state. In religious faith both he and his wife were Presbyterians. To them were born six children, three of whom died in early life, while those who grew to maturity are as fol- lows: Mary F., who is the wife of John W. Russell; John B .; and E. W., of this review.
The last named acquired a public-school education in his youth and also spent one year as a student in Westminster College. He was reared on the home farm and remained in his native state until 1873, when he came to Decatur county, Iowa, where he has resided continuously since. As above stated, general agricultural pursuits have claimed his time and energies throughout his entire business
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career and he is now widely recognized as one of the enterprising and prosperous farmers of Garden Grove township.
In 1892 Mr. Gaunt was united in marriage to Miss Grace McNeil, her father being S. P. McNeil, a highly respected pioneer of Decatur county. He is an agriculturist by occupation and has reared a fam- ily of nine children. To Mr. and Mrs. Gaunt have been born three children, namely: Joseph, Arnold and John.
Mr. Gaunt gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and since 1912 has served as president of the school board of Garden Grove township, being a stanch champion of the cause of education and lending his support to every movement and measure instituted to promote the general welfare. Wherever known he is highly esteemed and respected by reason of his genuine personal worth and excellent qualities of character.
HON. EZEKIEL J. SANKEY.
Hon. Ezekiel J. Sankey, of Leon, has taken a very important part in local public affairs and for three terms represented his district in the lower house of the state legislature. He was for many years a farmer and stock-raiser in Decatur county but is now engaged in the real-estate and farm-loan business. His birth occurred on the 2d of August, 1843, at Potters Mills, Center county, Pennsylvania, and he is a son of Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Brown) Sankey. The Brown family is of English descent and was early established in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where representatives of the name gained prom- inence as cloth manufacturers. The paternal grandfather, Ezekiel Sankey, who with two brothers emigrated to America from Scotland before the Revolution and located in Pennsylvania, enlisted in the Pennsylvania line for service in the war for independence and par- ticipated in the battle of Long Island, where he was wounded and captured by the British. He was held on the British prison ship in Wallabout bay, Brooklyn, New York, and suffered the cruelties then inflicted on prisoners by the enemy. At length he was exchanged and as soon as he had sufficiently recovered from the effects of his wounds he reentered the service and was at the front until the close of the war, being with the colors in all for five years and nine months. After the close of hostilities he was married and settled in York county, Penn- sylvania. He was the father of three children, Sarah, Thomas and Ezekiel.
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Ezekiel Sankey, the father of our subject, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, and is a second cousin of the late Ira D. Sankey, the noted evangelist, who worked for many years with Dwight L. Moody. Ezekiel Sankey was a minister of the gospel and a co- laborer of John Winebrenner, one of the founders of the church of that name. Mr. Sankey preached in Pennsylvania but in 1849 came west to Burlington, Iowa, intending to locate upon a farm and devote his time to agricultural pursuits. On the 26th of April of that year he arrived in Burlington with his family and ten hours later his son Thomas died of cholera, while two hours after the demise of the son the father died of the same dread disease, which was then epidemic. The mother of our subject was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, and was married in 1839. There were but two children in the family: Ezekiel J., of this review; and Thomas D., who was born on the 4th of July, 1845. Following the sudden demise of the latter and of the father Mrs. Sankey and our subject were left alone among strangers two thousand miles from home and with but limited means. The mother would have returned to Pennsylvania but was forbidden to do so by the health authorities. In the fall of 1849 some Penn- sylvanians of her acquaintance came west and she joined them, settling in Concord township, Louisa county, Iowa. Subsequently she married Samuel Fittro, a native of Pennsylvania, and they resided twelve miles southwest of Muscatine until the demise of Mr. Fittro in 1854. In 1856 she removed to Decatur county, where she resided until 1901, dying at the age of eighty years, in the faith of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, to which she belonged. All of the children of the second marriage are deceased and our subject has practically no relatives living save his immediate family.
Ezekiel J. Sankey attended a subscription school from 1850 to 1851 and later the public schools. In 1856 he removed with his mother to this county, locating four miles north and a half mile east of Leon, where he resided until August 15, 1861, when he enlisted in Company L, Third Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. In January, 1864, he reenlisted for three years as a veteran, and on the 11th of June of that year was wounded at the battle of Guntown. He was sent back to Memphis and then returned home on furlough but as soon as pos- sible rejoined the army although the wound in his leg was not yet healed. He was honorably discharged on the 26th of February, 1865, on account of wounds, after serving for almost four years. He was with the Army of the Tennessee and participated in the campaigns in Tennessee and Mississippi. His regiment was a part of Wilson's Cavalry Corps, which was under the command of General Wilson.
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Twenty years after the close of the war it was necessary to have his left leg amputated about eight inches from the thigh joint as a result of the wound received at Guntown.
Upon returning home from the front Mr. Sankey purchased one hundred and eighty-five acres of land in Franklin township, Decatur county, and turned his attention to the operation of his farm, while his mother kept house for him until his marriage. In 1867 he was elected sheriff of Decatur county and two years later was reelected to that office, having proved able and fearless in the discharge of his duties. At the expiration of his second term he purchased a farm on West Elk creek, in Grand River township, and operated it as a stock farm until January 1, 1878. He then removed to Leon, as he had been elected county treasurer. He has since resided in Leon and during the intervening thirty-seven years has contributed much to the development of the city. From 1885 until 1889, or for four terms, he was clerk of the district and circuit courts and since leaving that office has devoted the greater part of his time to the real-estate and farm-loan business, in which he has met with gratifying success. In 1900, however, he was the democratic candidate for clerk of the supreme court and received about one hundred and eighty-nine thou- sand votes as against one hundred and ninety-one thousand votes cast for the republican candidate. In 1903 he was chosen to represent his district in the house of the state legislature and served throughout the thirtieth and thirty-first general assemblies. In 1908 he was again elected as state representative, defeating his republican oppo- nent by a majority of two hundred and four although the district normally returns a three hundred and fifty republican majority. No better proof of the confidence in which he is held by his fellow citizens could be found than in his repeated election to offices of trust and responsibility and he has at all times proved worthy of the honor.
Mr. Sankey was married in Center township on the 6th of May, 1866, to Miss Mary M. Gillham, who passed away in 1907, when fifty-nine years of age, leaving eight children, namely: Eugenia, the wife of Fred Teale, cashier of the Farmers & Traders' Bank of Leon; Moreau, of Des Moines, who is married and has three sons; Kate, the wife of T. J. Smith, of this county; Lois, who married James A. Lea, of Pocatello, Idaho; Newton, who is engaged in min- ing in southwestern Colorado; Cleora, a trained nurse now living in San Francisco; Warren, who is a traveling salesman with head- quarters at Indianapolis and who is married; Carlisle, a resident of Iowa, who is married. Thomas and Bessie died at the ages of fifteen and six years respectively.
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Mr. Sankey is one of the leaders in democratic circles in this part of the state and has done much to secure the success of the party at the polls. He at one time belonged to the Masonic order but is not now affiliated with that organization and has also allowed his mem- bership in the Grand Army of the Republic to lapse although he helped to organize the local post. He is in sympathy with the beliefs of the Protestant churches and his life has conformed to high moral principles, but he is not a member of any church. He gives the credit for whatever success in life he has achieved to his mother, whose energy, ability and unswerving integrity have been an inspiration to him to perform every duty to the best of his ability. When the rail- roads were first being built in this part of the state, in 1872, he did much to secure rail connection with the outside world for Decatur county and throughout the more than half century that he has resided in this county he has at all times sought to further its advancement. There are few if any better known men in the county and none are held in greater respect and esteem than he.
J. F. McMORRIS.
J. F. McMorris, a successful farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 9, Eden township, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, on the 8th of February, 1853, a son of James and Jane (Gibson) Mc- Morris. The father was born in Virginia of Irish ancestry but in 1828 removed to Ohio and there engaged in farming until his demise, which occurred before the birth of our subject. In 1880 J. F. Mc- Morris came with his mother to Decatur county, Iowa, and settled upon the farm on section 9, Eden township, where he still resides. His mother purchased eighty acres of land and continued to make her home there until her demise in January, 1899.
J. F. McMorris taught school for seven years in Ohio and after coming to Iowa taught one term at Eden Center in this county. Subsequently he purchased an additional forty acres of land and gave his attention to the cultivation of his farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He still owns the place but leaves the greater part of the work of its operation to his son. At one time he raised thoroughbred Shrop- shire sheep and Hereford cattle, but subsequently gave up breeding pure blooded stock and now raises a good grade of cattle and hogs, selling to the local shippers.
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In 1889 Mr. McMorris was married to Miss Sutari Creveling, who was born in Fayette township. An account of the lives of her parents, Clemuel and Eliza Creveling, who were pioneer settlers of this county, appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. McMorris died upon the home- stead on the 24th of May, 1909, and her demise was the occasion of much sincere grief. She was the mother of five children, namely: Arthur, who is at home and has charge of the work of the farm; Jay, who owns and operates two claims in Montana comprising three hundred and twenty acres; Madge, who graduated from the Leon high school with the class of 1914 and who is at home; Joseph, who is attending high school; and May Ellen, who is attending the district school.
Mr. McMorris is an old line republican and, although he has always worked loyally for the success of his party, he has never been an office seeker. However, he was school director for several years and for eight years was treasurer of the Eden township school board. For thirty-five years he has been a prominent member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Leon, of which his wife was also a member. During his active connection with agricultural interests he was known as an energetic, alert and progressive farmer and gained a competence which insures him comfort for the remainder of his days. In all of his dealings he has been upright and honorable and he holds the respect of all who know him.
GEORGE SMITH.
George Smith is one of the prosperous agriculturists of Decatur county, owning three hundred and twenty acres in his home place on section 36, Long Creek township, and eighty acres in Franklin town- ship. He was born near Burlington in Des Moines county on the 29th of December, 1839, a son of Peter and Martha (Ellison) Smith. His parents, who were natives of England, emigrated to America in 1835 and, making their way westward, settled near Burlington, Iowa, the father entering land three miles south of that city. Al- though he followed the miller's trade while living in England, he gave his attention to agricultural pursuits after coming to this coun- try. He became the owner of four hundred acres of fine land, which he operated until his demise, which occurred in 1870 when he was seventy-five years of age. His widow survived until 1881, passing away when eighty-one years old. To them were born thirteen chil-
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HISTORY OF DECATUR COUNTY
dren, as follows: Ann; William; Edward; Samuel; Jane; John; Ellison; George; Sarah; James; Alfred, who died while crossing the ocean; and two who died in infancy.
George Smith was reared in Des Moines county and after com- pleting the public school course entered Denmark Academy at Den- mark, where he supplemented the education which he had previously acquired. He remained with his parents until he was of age and then rented land from his father, which he operated until 1871. In that year he came to Decatur county and purchased eighty acres of land in Long Creek township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies until 1875. He then bought an additional eighty acres, removing to his new holdings, where he re- sided until 1899. In that year he purchased an adjoining one hun- dred and sixty acres and took up his residence on that place. He has brought his home farm, which comprises three hundred and twenty acres, to a high state of cultivation and has also made many improvements upon an eighty acre tract in Franklin township which he owns. There are two sets of buildings upon his land and every- thing is kept in excellent condition, while he has always used im- proved machinery and progressive methods in the work of the farm. His labors have yielded him a good income and he has accumulated a competence.
On the 3d of May, 1865, occurred the marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Margaret Jane Sharp, who was born on the 15th of De- cember, 1843, in Mount Sterling, Brown county, Illinois. Her parents, John and Sarah (Hemphill) Sharp, were both natives of Pennsylvania and were born of Irish and of Scotch ancestors re- spectively. They became early residents of Illinois but after remain- ing there a few years removed to Des Moines county, Iowa, where the father entered land, to the operation of which he devoted the re- mainder of his active life. He died in January, 1881, when seventy- three years of age, and the mother died in July, 1913, when she had reached the remarkable age of one hundred and one years and four months. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born nine children, five of whom survive, namely: Martha E., born February 6, 1868, who is now the wife of C. A. Imhoff, a farmer of this county; Alfred G., born April 22, 1870, who is farming land belonging to his father; Sarah Alice, whose birth occurred September 30, 1872, who gave her hand in marriage to Arthur Richey, an agriculturist of this county; Carrie A., born December 12, 1880, who married George Redmond, a farmer of Long Creek township; and Horace Guy, born February 27, 1884, who is carrying on agricultural operations in
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Long Creek township and who married Maud Severn. Those who are deceased are: Frank O., born February 14, 1866, who died in November, 1881; Charley, born July 3, 1875, and who passed away March 15, 1906; Harry S., whose birth occurred on April 27, 1878, and who died in January, 1881; and Maggie, born September, 1887, who passed away the following month.
Mr. Smith is a stalwart democrat but has never taken an active part in political affairs. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. On the 3d of May, 1915, he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, on which occasion all of their chil- dren and grandchildren and other relatives were present, and the occasion was a thoroughly enjoyable one. The house was beautifully decorated and a fine dinner was served the guests. Mr. and Mrs. Smith received many presents and all rejoiced with them in the many years of happy married life which it has been their privilege to en- joy. During the afternoon friends and neighbors called to extend their congratulations and good wishes.
JOSEPH BAILEY.
Joseph Bailey, who is successfully carrying on general farming and stock-raising in High Point township, was born in Cambridge- shire, England, May 7, 1841, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Saun- ders) Bailey. They were the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters, of whom five are still living.
When eighteen years of age Joseph Bailey emigrated to the United States in company with a brother, who had previously resided in this country. Our subject settled in Beaver county, Illinois, where he was employed at farm work for fifteen years, after which he removed to Iowa, buying a farm in Lucas county. He lived there for seven years and then removed to Wayne county, where he followed agricultural pursuits for a like period of time. He next removed to this county, buying a farm on which he resided for twelve years and which he has since given to his son Joseph R. He still owns an excel- lent tract of land on section 1, High Point township, and for seven years has made his home there. He concentrates his attention largely on the raising of cattle and horses for the market and his business yields him a good profit annually.
On the 24th of June, 1870, Mr. Bailey was married to Miss Vir- ginia Arnold, a daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Ross) Arnold,
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of Uniontown, Ohio, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Bailey has two brothers and one sister living. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have been born seven children, namely: Margaretta, who died when nine years of age; Della, the wife of Robert Sayres, of Des Moines; Grace, who married William Cartwright, a farmer of this county, by whom she has three children; Herbert, who died when twenty-two years old; George, who is farming with his father; Joseph R., an agriculturist of this county; and Gladys, who lives at home.
Mr. Bailey attends the Methodist Episcopal church and can be counted upon to further all movements seeking the moral advance- ment of his community. His political belief is that of the democratic party. He has gained a gratifying measure of material prosperity and has also won the unstinted respect of his fellowmen.
FRED E. TEALE.
Fred E. Teale, who is the efficient and popular cashier of the Farmers & Traders State Bank at Leon, has occupied that position since the establishment of the bank in 1894. He was born near Lamoni on the 22d of October, 1869, a son of Thomas and Lucinda (Graham) Teale, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He attended school at Des Moines, Leon, Lamoni, Davis City and Decatur City and after leaving high school completed his education by taking a commercial course at the Western Normal College at Shenandoah. About 1885, when still in his teens, he became con- nected with merchandising at Lamoni and was later connected with mercantile establishments in Leon and Weldon. For the past twenty years, however, he has given his attention to banking. Before he became connected with the Farmers & Traders State Bank at Leon he was in a bank at Lamoni which his father and his brothers organ- ized in 1892 and which they sold in 1894. In that year the father organized the Farmers & Traders State Bank, of which he is presi- dent and our subject cashier. The latter is also financially interested in the Leon Savings Bank at Leon, the Iowa State Bank at Mount Avr and the Farmers State Bank of Lamoni, of which he is president. He understands banking thoroughly in principle and detail and has proved an excellent cashier, at once safeguarding the interests of depositors and stockholders and promoting the legitimate expansion of business in his community. He has invested heavily in farming land and is interested in the Continental Hotel at Centerville.
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