USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States > Part 73
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 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122
659
HARRISON COUNTY.
Since coming to Harrison County, Mr. Reel has taken an active part in educa- tional inatters, and has been President of the School Board and School Treasurer of his township for several years.
Politically he affiliates with the Re- publican party. His wife belongs to the Baptist Church at Loveland.
G EORGE H. McGAVREN, M. D., was among the pioneer band who found their way to Western Iowa, in 1854. Our subject was born March 8, 1819, in Indiana County, Pa., and is the son of George and Nancy (Ewert) McGav- ren. He lived in Pottawattamie County, from 1854 to 1858, and was in partnership in the practice of medicine with his brother Dr. Robert McGavren for thirteen years, and in 1868 removed to Missouri Valley, where he continued to practice, until the winter of 1888, when he received a fall on the street, which injury caused a derange- ment of his mind, and in 1889 it became necessary to send him to the asylum at Clarinda, where he still remains. Our subject was first married in October, 1849, to Lucinda Fauchnaut, and by this union five children were born : Maria, deceased; Viola, widow of Reuben Palmer; Charles William, M. D., at Missouri Valley ; Le- nora, wife of C. C. Dorr, of Missouri Val- ley; and Jennie, wife of Lucien Cook, of the same place. The mother of these chil- dren, died December 23, 1861, and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, St. John's Township. Our subject's second mar- riage occurred in July, 1862, when he was united to Rosilla Terwilliger, a native of Clarion County, Pa, By this union five
children were born, three of whom still survive: Robert C., of Missouri Valley ; Hattie, wife of Mr. Sherwood, of Des Moines; and Nellie is living with her mother in Missouri Valley.
Dr. McGavren was elected as a member of the Iowa Legislature in 1869, serving one term. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Missouri Valley, and is a Re- publican of the deepest dye. He was at one time a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, and he and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was at one time in partner- ship with Dr. Coit, and also with D. Mc- Kelvy, and after his son Charles W. was graduated, they practiced together.
No man stood higher in the community, socially, professionally, and in a business point of view than did our subject, and the misfortune that overtook him toward the evening of life was deplored by the whole community. He was Chairman of the first Board of the County Supervisors of Harrison County.
C HARLES PLOTH, a farmer living on section 23, Magnolia Township, first settled on section 27, in 1870, and bought eighty acres of land, fifteen acres of which had been broken, and a small log house erected thereon, in which he lived until 1875, and then sold the place and rented for a year, after which he bought his present place. At the time there were one hundred acres partly im- proved, and a frame house 16x24 feet, to which he added in 1881, and the same year built a barn 26x40 feet. His farm now consists of three hundred and eighty acres, divided about equally into three places,
-
660
HARRISON COUNTY.
When our subject came to Harrison County, it was yet quite new, and there had been but little settlement made along the Willow, so that during these twenty- one years of his residence in this county, he has seen many changes-the wild prai- rie-land having been transformed into a vast and productive garden spot.
Our subject was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, August 28, 1837, and remained in his good old German home, Strelitz, until he was seventeen years old, and then full of the (nergy, so well known to the German youth, he worked on the farm by the year, receiving $18 for the year's work. This he continued for nine long years, until the spring of 1863, when he bid farewell to the Fatherland, and in company with his father's family, sailed for. America. They were six weeks and three days on the ocean, and after landing came direct to Cleveland, Ohio, where our subject worked two months on a farm ; worked in a brick-yard three months, and then worked at whatever he could get to do, until the autumn of 1870, when he came to Harrison County, Iowa. When he arrived at Cleveland. he only had $20 but when he came to Harrison County he possessed $2,000, which he had earned working by the month and otherwise. While working in the brick-yard at Cleve- land, he not unfrequently worked both day and night.
Our subject was married in Cleveland, Ohio, April 25, 1865, to Miss Caroline Michael, and they are the parents of six children-Mary, Anna, Bertha, Matilda, Mollie and William. Mary, Bertha and Matilda are deceased.
Caroline (Michael) Ploth, was a native of Mecklenburg, Strelitz, Germany, born September 4, 1842, and came to America with her parents the same time that Mr.
Ploth and his people came, and she also worked out by the month in Cleveland until she married. She had also worked out in her native land, for the magnificent sum of $12 per year, working for the same parties four years at one time. Her father died in Germany.
The father of our subject, Christian Plotlı, was born in Germany, and came to America and settled at Cleveland, where he worked by the day until he came to Harrison County, Iowa, where he died in 1883. His wife, the mother of our sub- ject, died in the Old Country when Charles was but two years old, and he married again.
Mrs. Ploth's father was born and died in Germany. Her mother, Dora (Giese) Michael, was born in Germany, and died in Harrison County, Iowa, in 1887. Our subject and his wife are both members of the German Lutheran Church at Magno- lia, as were the parents on both sides.
HOMAS ARTHUR, an Attorney-at- law of Logan, Iowa, wasborn in St. John's Township, Harrison County, Iowa, July 12, 1860. He is the son of Will- liam Arthur, a highly respected farmer of Jackson Township, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. His mother's name before marriage was Ella McWill- iams. Our subject is of a family of eight children, of whom he is the oldest. The children are: Thomas, William T., a resi- dent of Jackson Township; Anna, now Mrs. Hale, of Idaho; Fred, of Jackson Township; Mary B., Eugene L., Edwin and Leontine, at home.
Thomas attended the common schools at Harrison County, as well as the Mag-
661
HARRISON COUNTY.
nolia High School, and attended the State University at Iowa City two years, gradu- ating from the law department in June, 1881. At the age of seventeen he began teaching school in the country, continu- ing for two years. After graduating at Iowa City, he was made Principal of the schools at Little Sioux for one year, and in 1883, he was appointed Deputy County Clerk, which position he filled until the fall of 1886, when he was elected County Clerk by a majority of two hundred and eighty, he being the regular nominee on the Republican ticket. At the general election of 1888, he was re-elected by a majority of five hundred and fifty. After leaving the Clerk's office, he began the active practice of law, which profession he still follows at Logan.
Politically Mr. Arthur is identified with the Republican party, and is one of the strong young Republicans of the county. He is a member of the Masonic order, be- longing to Frontier Lodge No. 382, of A. F. & A. M. at Little Sioux as well as Tri- une Chapter at Missouri Valley. He was born, reared and educated in Harrison County, and to have been elected to the important office of Clerk of the Courts by good majorities for two terms in succes- sion, is a good index of his ability and popularity in his home county.
IRAM H. ROADIFER, attorney- at-law at Logan, Iowa, came to Harrison County in 1878. He was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, December 2, 1850, and emigrated to La Salle County, Ill., in 1855. He is a son of Daniel and Rhoda (Huff) Roadifer, both of whom are deceased. They were
the parents of seven children, six of whom still survive, our subject being the young- est of the family. Hiram H. spent his childhood days and received his early education in La Salle County, Ill. He attended college at Wheaton, Ill., and be- gan the study of law with Dickey, Boyle & Richolson, of Ottawa, with whom he re- mained three years, and then began the practice of law at Emerson, Mills County, Iowa, in 1876, and two years later came to Logan, Iowa, where he has since prac- ticed law.
Politically our subject is an ardent sup- porter of the Republican party and has held the office of Mayor of Logan for the years 1883-84-85-86. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity at Logan and has been a prominent factor in Harrison County ever since he came here.
He was united in marriage at Logan, Iowa, January 18, 1882, to Miss Amelia J. Smith, daughter of John H. and Eliz- abeth J. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Roadifer are the parents of three children-Paul E., born December 16, 1884; Jessie, Feb- ruary 26, 1888; and John S., February 8, 1891.
Our subject is looked upon as one of Harrison County's able attorneys and has been conspicuous in many prominent . cases, both within the county as well as abroad. In civil cases he has won dis- tinction in many courts. He acted as at- torney for the various school districts of Harrison County in the. several cases brought against the assignee of Cadwell's Bank to recover the money deposited in the bank by the School- Treasurer and secured an order in the District Court di- recting the assignee to pay such claim in full. The cases were of more than ordin- ary importance, for by their determination the right of school districts to follow their
54
662
HARRISON COUNTY.
funds and recover them from third parties was for the first time determined by a court of last resort. The order of the Dis- trict Court was by the Supreme Court affirmed and the School District of Harri- son County lost nothing by reason of the bank failure.
He was also one of the principal attor- neys for the town of Logan in the county seat contest between that town and Mis- souri Valley during the year 1874. He also appeared as attorney for Harrison County in both the District and Supreme Courts in the case against the Blair Bridge Company, wherein the Bridge Company sought to avoid the payment of its taxes. The county was successful in both courts. He has at present a large prac- tice in botli District and Supreme Courts. He has confined his practice almost ex- clusively to civil business and in equity cases he has been more than usually suc- cessful. In fact, as an attorney, in what- ever he undertakes he is more than ordi- narily successful.
B ARNEY MCELROY, an enterpris- ing resident of Harrison Township, is a native of the county of Louth,. Ireland, born December 25, 1835, the the son of Peter and Mary (McCoy) McElroy. His mother died when he was but three months old, and four years later le came to America with an uncle, and remained in New York State eight years. When four- teen years of age, engaged at the tailors' trade which he followed nineteen months. After this he spent four summers on the Delaware & Hudson Canal, and then located at Amboy, Ill., engaged with the railroad and also dealt in grain and lumber. The lastfew years he remained in Illinois he fol-
lowed car repairing, and July 3, 1869, came to Harrison County, Iowa, and located at Dunlap. For fourteen years after he came to Dunlap he was engaged with the Chi- cago & Northwestern Railroad Company as car repairer. He next purchased a team and engaged in the draying business for eight years. On account of ill-health, disposed of that and is now living a re- tired life in the north-east part of town, where he owns a comfortable and valuable home on Montague Street.
Our subject was married July 31, 1864, to Anna E. Ferren, who was born in the County of Louth, Ireland, April 30, 1844, the daughter of Peter and Bridget (Mur- tangh) Ferren. She came to this country while young. Mr. and Mrs. McElroy are the parents of nine children-Henry F., a resident of Portland, Ore., where he is Teller of the First National Bank. The date of his birth was August 17, 1865; Minnie, born October 6, 1867, has been a teacher in the public schools for the last five years; Jennie, born March 26, 1870, engaged at dress-making in Dun- lap; Nellie, born July 10, 1872, has been teaching school one year; Emina, born February 19, 1876, at home; James, born March 18, 1878, clerking in a restaurant ; Willie, born May 10, 1881; Asa, born March 7, 1885; Jesse, born May 11, 1887, died September 12, 1889.
Politically Mr. McElroy is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and he and the family are members of the Roman Catholic Church. The oldest son, Henry, was engaged as book-keeper and clerk for some eight years in the general store of J. B. Patterson; and during the years of 1888-9 was a member of the firm of Patterson & McElroy, of Dunlap.
In 1861 our subject went to Memphis, Tenn., where he was employed at com-
663
HARRISON COUNTY.
pressing cotton, and after four years was drafted into the Rebel Army but after three days' drilling he and a comrade (his partner) McAnortney, decamped for the Union lines, walking from Memphis, Tenn., to Cairo, Ill., which was attended with great danger and much privation.
The father of Mrs. McElroy, Peter Fer- ren, came to Dunlap, Iowa, in 1867, and opened a meat market and boarding house, remaining in that place until 1882 and then removed to Omaha with three of his daughters. After three years in the meat business he engaged at farming prior to his moving to Omaha, where he is now living a retired life. They reared a family of eight children-Mary, wife of T. F. Lony, of Omaha; Annie, wife of our sub- ject; Jennie, deceased ; Maggie, wife of J. B. Patterson, of Dunlap, Iowa; Henry, a resident of Marion, Iowa ; Katie, deceased; Jennie, clerk in N. B. Falconer's store, Omaha; Nellie, wife of A. L. Cooper, of Omaha.
Mr. McElroy had but one brother and one sister-Patrick, a resident of Sullivan County, N. Y., and Elizabeth, deceased, wife of Thomas McEnony. Our subject erected two residences in Dunlap and im- proved a farm about one inile south of that place. He is a highly respected citizen of Dunlap, always proving himself true to every interest of his cominunity.
L EONARD G. TYLER, drug dealer at Dunlap, was born June 3, 1849, in Berkshire County, Mass. He is the son of Henry N. and Harriet A. (Coon) Tyler, natives of Massachusetts and Vermont respectively, and of Eng- lislı-Scotch and Irish extraction. Our subject was reared in Chittenden County,
Vt., from his third year. In 1863 he went to Montpelier, where he entered the drug store of N. K. Brown, and in the autumn of 1865 went to Chicago, where he re- mained until 1869, and then went to Ore- gon, Ill., and after the Chicago fire re- turned to that place, continued in the drug business for a short time and then came to Harrison County, Iowa, and located on a farm three miles from Dunlap, where he partially imn- proved an one hundred and twenty-acre farm, and lived upon the same four years. He then came to Dunlap and engaged in the grocery business with his brother, Charles H. Tyler, who is now deceased, and who was the pioneer furniture dealer at that point. Our subject remained with his brother one year and then entered the employ of R. B. Hillis in his general store. After being in that store two years he took charge of the old Tyler Hotel for a few months, and then became a salesman with his brother-in-law, J. A. Nay, in the hardware business, continuing that for one year, and then entered the drug store of A. L. Manning, whose business he afterward purchased, and now operates. He carries a $5,000 stock of drugs and medicines. He also handles musical sup- plies and sewing machines.
He was married September.12, 1888, to Miss Edith J. Norton, of Blair, Neb., who is a native of Illinois. Her parents are Luther M. and Theodosia Norton. Our subject and his wife have one child-Le- one Genevieve.
Mr. Tyler is a believer in the principles of the Republican party and has belonged to the Odd Fellows Order for twenty-one years. He has passed all the chairs in the Subordinate Lodge and of the Encamp- ment.
Of our subject's father and mother, it
664
HARRISON COUNTY.
may be said, that they are both living, the father past eighty-five years and the mother past eighty years of age. They had a family of ten children-Laura, wife of J. A. Nay, of Long Pine, Neb. ; Charles, deceased; Albert, a resident of Defiance, Iowa; Frank, a resident of Omaha, Neb. ; Ida, wife of James Gurfry, residing in Iowa; Walter B., drowned in the Platte River in Nebraska; Edward V., deceased ; Percy W., living near Ute, Iowa; Ernest G., a resident of Logan.
Mr. Tyler has been a correspondent for some of the leading journals, and is one of the prime movers of the Chautauqua club, and takes an active part in all that tends to build up good society in Harri- son County.
R EV. JAMES FRANK MINTUN, of the Latter Day Saints Church at Magnolia, is a native of Harrison County, Iowa, born July 9, 1855. He remained on the farm with his father, working summers and attending school winters, until seventeen years of age, when he engaged at school teaching, fol- lowing it for eight years, after which he clerked in a general store at Magnolia, for J. M. Harvey. In November, 1881, he engaged in the missionary work in Neb- raska, and remained at that for three years, traveling over the counties of Burt, Washington, Dodge, Sarpy, Saunders, Douglas, Cass, Madison Dawes and Ham- ilton. At the end of that time he was appointed a Missionary, where he re- mained until the 20th of December, 1885, and then returned to Magnolia, where he engaged in the general mercantile busi- ness in partnership with A. M. Fyrando, and was appointed Postmaster January
21, 1886, receiving his commission, bear- ing date April 20, 1886, Mr. Fyrandò being his deputy. He held the Post-office until June 30, 1890, which time he resigned his office. He sold out his general store, April 6, 1889, but continued to deal in stationery and general notions, until Aug- ust 1, 13) ).
Old Mr. Fyrando requested Mr. Mintun, just before his death, to act as his admin- istrator, which request he carried out, completing the work in December, 1890. In June, 1886, he received his commission to serve as Notary Public, in connection with his other business, including insur- ance. He was selected Secretary of the Magnolia Old Settlers'Association, August 25, 1888, and has held that position ever since, except the year 1887. He united with the Latter Day Saints Church July 22, 1877; was ordained an Elder in 1878, and in September, 1879, was ordained one of the Seventies, and is such at this time. Since December, 1890, he has labored in Northwestern Iowa.
He was united in marriage at Magnolia, April 1, 1877, to Miss Mary E. Knight, and they are the parents of three children, born as follows: Ruth I., March 19, 1886; Alice E., June 29, 1889, and Guy F., in June, 1891.
Mrs. Mintun was born in Lucas County, Iowa, February 9, 1859, and came to Har- rison County, with her parents, in June 1869, settling in Raglan Township, where she remained until the date of her mar- riage. She united with the Latter Day Saints Church, July 22, 1877.
Mrs. Mintun's father, Allen W. Knight, was born in South Carolina in 1824, and came to Iowa when a young man. He married Mary H. Jenkins, January 1, 1850, and they were the parents of six children : Anna, Irene, John H., Edwin O., Mary
665
HARRISON COUNTY.
E., and James W. Mr. Knight enlisted in Company H, first Iowa Cavalry, in 1861, and died at Little Rock, Ark., in 1863. He was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church at the time of his death. His wife was born in Monroe County, Ind., September 11, 1822, and in 1844, accom- panied her parents to Jefferson County, Iowa, and from there to Lucas County, and from there in 1869 to Harrison Coun- ty. She now makes her home with her daughter Mrs. Mintun.
Our subject is a member of the Masonic order at Magnolia, belonging to Lodge No. 126, and is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
P ROF. HARVEY A. KINNEY, of the Woodbine Normal School, came to Harrison County in Au- gust 1878, and the first Monday in September took charge of the Magnolia High School, and was the Principal of the same four years. The next year he was assistant Principal of the Missouri Valley High School, and served as Principal of the same school the next three years. In the autumn of 1885, he was elected to the office of County Superintendent of Schools.
He remained in the Missouri Valley Schools until June 1886, and was a resi- dent of the place until the spring of 1887, at which time he moved to Woodbine. In the fall of that year Messrs. Kinney, Riddell and Matter, organized the "Wood- bine Normal", and about the same time our subject was re-elected as School Super- intendent.
Mr. Kinney is a native of the Empire State, born in Cortlandville, Cortland County, N. Y., December 10, 1854.
He is a son of John and Samantha (Cope- land) Kinney. The father was a native of New York, born in 1812, and the mother a native of New York, born in 1829. The father was a farmer and our subject remained at home, assisting on the farm until July 1878, when he started West, stopped one month in Butler County, Iowa, and then came to Harri- son County. After attending the common schools of his native county, in Septem- ber 1873, he commenced attending the State Normal School, at Cortland ville, N. Y., from which school he gradu- ated July 2, 1878. He had taught school in New York State, prior to coming to Iowa.
Mr. Kinney was united in marriage May 26, 1886, to Miss Minnie S. Smith, daughter of Rev. Cyrus and Amanda C. (Bessey) Smith, both natives of Ohio. Her father was born December 27, 1839, and the mother October 1, 1842. Our sub- ject's wife was born in Van Buren County, Mich., August 11, 1867, and removed with her parents to Mills County, Iowa, in 1885, where she remained until the date of her marriage. She received her education at the common and high schools, and for a short time attended Simpson College, at Indianolia, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Kinney are the parents of one child-Harvey S., born January 10, 1891.
In religious matters, our subject is a believer in the Baptist faith and a mem- ber of that denomination, while his estim- able wife is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Politically, Mr. Kinney, affiliates with the Republican party. As an educator, the Professor ranks high among the instruc- tors of the state. His work in the High Schools of Harrison County as well as in
666
HARRISON COUNTY.
the "Normal " at Woodbine, together with his efficient work as County Super- intendent, has made him a prominent factor in the role of an educator in Harri- son County. The reader is referred to the history of the Normal School for more concerning this man's educational career.
LEXANDER E. OCKERSON, a farmer living on section 18, Taylor Township, came to Harrison County in the spring of 1881, and settled on the farm he now occupies. He purchased two hundred and forty acres of land on sections 7 and 18, Taylor Township, and fifteen acres of timber in Clay Township. As the time he purchased this farm, there was a small frame house upon the place, and one hundred and forty acres under the plow. He lived in the old house until the autumn of 1888, when he erected a two-story frame house 16x28 feet, and an ell 16x24 feet. In 1885 he built a barn 16 x34 feet. His landed estate in Taylor Township, now consists of four hundred and seven acres. He also has seven hun- dred and twenty acres in Monona County, which he uses for pasture purposes, keep- ing his stock there during the summer. He usually keeps one hundred and fifty head of cattle and fifteen head of horses.
Mr. Ockerson was born in Sweden, Au- gust 6, 1844, and when quite young ac- companied his parents to America. They were intending to locate in Knox County, Ill. This was during the cholera epidemic, and his mother died of this disease near Peru, Ill .. and the father died just before reaching Knoxville. Our subject was then left with an older brother and sister to take charge of things. There were five children in the family, and they remained
a short time in Knoxville among friends, and then went to Galesburg, where the brother rented a house and the family lived there a short time, when a man named Palmer was appointed guardian for our subject and a younger brother. They went with him to Peoria, and remained with Palmer about three months, when a man by the name of Coolidge, took him to raise.
Our subject remained with Mr. Coolidge until twenty-one years of age, and then went to Minneapolis, Minn., remained about eighteen months in that vicinity, and then returned to Peoria County, Ill., where he lived two years, and then came to Iowa. He came by team, crossing the Mississippi River at Muscatine, and crossed the State in a northwesterly direc- tion to Lyons County. From there went to Mills County, and there hired out to husk corn, and remained there during that winter, working out by the month. The following autumn he made a visit to Illi- nois, remained a short time and returned to Mills County, Iowa, where he worked by the month the following summer, and the next year rented a farm and farmed on leased land for four years. During this time he had purchased a farm in Cass County, Neb., to which locality he went and remained until February, 1881, at which time he sold out and came to Harri- son County.
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.