USA > Iowa > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Iowa; Volume II > Part 3
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BARNEY D. ELY.
Barney D. Ely, who for seven years has been secretary of the Jackson County Fair Association, in which connection he has done much to stimulate local pride along the lines of advancement and progress in connection with live-stock interests, is well known as a representative breeder of standard bred horses. He makes his home in Maquoketa and from this point manages his business affairs. He was born in Clinton county, Iowa, May II, 1859, and is a son of Samuel and Catherine Ely, both of whom are now deceased. He remained at home until he had attained his majority but for the past thirty
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
years has lived in Jackson county. He was reared to the occupation of farm- ing and has always been identified with agricultural interests. He now makes a specialty of raising and breeding standard bred horses and has been the owner of some of the finest stock produced in this state. He bred and raised one horse, Guymore, which had a record of 2:12 1-4. He was sold to the sheriff of Carroll county, Missouri, for a large sum. Mr. Ely now has ten head of fine horses for sale, all highly bred, one having a record of 17 I-4, another of 17 I-2 and a third of 22 1-4, while still others are harness-broke and show good speed. Mr. Ely is regarded as authority upon questions con- cerning the breeding and raising of horses, and this branch of his business has proven an important and profitable one. He owns forty acres of land in Maquoketa, together with two business blocks and also two houses and lots.
In 1883 occurred the marriage of Mr. Ely and Miss Ida May Taft, a native of Jackson county. They have become the parents of eight children: Grace A., a graduate of the high school, who is now teaching in Maquoketa ; Clarence L., who is a graduate of the law department of the state university ; Lura, de- ceased ; Claude H., who has completed the high-school course in Maquoketa ; Madeline, DeLoss, Kathleen and Gordon, all yet at home. Mrs. Ely and her children are members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Ely gives his political allegiance to the democracy but has never sought to hold office. He belongs to Lodge No. 1186, F. O. E. and is interested in many progressive measures, cooperating at all times in those movements and projects which are instituted for the good of the community.
JOHN MARCH.
John March, who is now living retired on his place of one hundred and sixty acres in Perry township, devoted his attention to the work of farming and stock raising throughout his active business career. His birth occurred in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of May, 1824, his parents being Samuel and Elizabeth (Kline) March, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. On leaving Pennsylvania they took up their abode in eastern Ohio and there spent the remainder of their lives. They became the parents of nine children, three of whom still survive.
John March obtained a good practical education in the common schools and remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of twenty years. At that time he rented a tract of land in Ohio, in the cultivation of which he was actively engaged for twenty-four years. On the expiration of that period, in 1869, he came to Jackson county, Iowa, and purchased the farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Perry township which has remained his place of abode continuously since. He gradually brought the place under a high state of cultivation and improvement, and in addition to the work of farming also made a specialty of raising stock, meeting with a gratifying and well merited measure of success in both undertakings. When his untiring
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
industry and good management had won him a competence he put aside the active work of the fields and is now spending his remaining days in the enjoy- ment of well earned ease, but still makes his home on the farm.
In 1848 Mr. March was united in marriage to Miss Cynthia Simonson, a native of Ohio. Unto them were born two children, namely: Adele, who is deceased ; and Frank, residing on the home farm. The wife and mother passed away in 1885, in the faith of the Presbyterian church, and her remains were interred in the cemetery at Andrew.
Mr. March has always given his political allegiance to the democratic party and has served as the capable incumbent in several township offices. He has now passed the eighty-fifth milestone on life's journey and receives the respect and veneration which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on this earthly pilgrimage and whose career has at all times been upright and honorable.
GEORGE W. TABOR.
George W. Tabor is fortunate in that he has back of him an ancestry that is most honorable, for he is descended from an old southern family. There are few men whose lives are crowned with the honor and respect which is universally accorded to him, for through almost a half century's connection with the history of Jackson county, his has been an unblemished character. He has gained nota- ble success in life, for he now owns six hundred and forty acres of as valuable land as is to be found in eastern Iowa. However, this has not been the sole aim and purpose in his life, for he is ever mindful of the duties of citizenship and stands ready to give assistance where it is needed.
Mr. Tabor is a native of Jackson county, his birth having occurred on the home farm in Monmouth township, on the 6th of December, 1862. His paternal grandparents, Jesse and Lucretia (Skinner) Tabor, were both natives of Ken- tucky, the former born April 11, 1794, and the latter on the 9th of May, 1796. Their marriage occurred January 5, 1819. At an early day they made their way from the Blue Grass state to Indiana, where they reared their family, including Andrew J., who became the father of our subject. The family home was estab- lished in Jackson county, that state, and there Jesse Tabor was identified with many of the events which shaped the early history of his section. He followed farming throughout his active life and both he and his wife' died in Jackson county, Indiana.
Andrew J. Tabor, the father of our subject, was born on the old homestead farm in Jackson county, Indiana, his natal day being July 10, 1831. He was there reared to the occupation of farming, giving his father the benefit of his services until he reached man's estate. At that time, 1852, he came to Jackson county, Iowa, and in a short time purchased the land on section 9, Monmouth township, which is now owned by his son, George W. On the 10th of October, 1854, he further made arrangements for having a home of his own by his mar- riage to Miss Nancy L. Cooley, a daughter of Clarke and Mary (Sinkey)
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
Cooley. Her father was born August 14, 1797, presumably in Ohio, while the birth of the mother occurred August 18, 1809. Their marriage occurred in the Buckeye state on the 28th of August, 1826, and there they continued to reside un- til 1838, when they made a permanent location at Emeline, Jackson county, Iowa, where they became farming people. The father passed away September 30, 1863, when he was sixty-six years of age, while the mother, surviving for a num- ber of years, was called to her final rest on the 25th of August, 1881, when she had just passed the seventy-second anniversary of her birth. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Tabor were born five children, three daughters and two sons. Augusta M., the eldest, who was born May II, 1856, became the wife of Alexander Hale, their marriage being celebrated on the 21st of September, 1873. Her death oc- curred June 13, 1887. Cora J., whose birth occurred October 30, 1859, was mar- ried August 5, 1880, to H. S. Hunter and their home is at Plainfield, Iowa. George W. is the next in order of birth. John C., who was born April II, 1865, passed away August 2, 1866. Lutie A., the youngest of the family, was born June 10, 1870. She was married February 17, 1890, to John Lundy, and they re- side in Zearing, Iowa. Both the parents are deceased, the father passing away on the 10th of January, 1901, while the mother, surviving his death only a few years. departed this life November 12, 1905. Both lie buried in the cemetery at Baldwin The father was a democrat in his political views, strongly advocating the prin- ciples of that party. He was opposed to secret organizations and was not iden- tified with any church but attended the Methodist church. He did his full duty in establishing and maintaining the material interests of his section of the state and exerted a great influence in the community in which he so long lived and labored.
George W. Tabor, the third in order of birth in his father's family, was reared 'on the home farm and began his education in the district schools, while later he attended the schools of Baldwin. He gave his father the benefit of his services on the home farm until he attained his majority, after which they were engaged in their farming operations through partnership relations. Following his father's demise he purchased the old home place, comprising two hundred and forty acres, and he has since added to this until his holdings now embrace a section of land, or six hundred and forty acres. This is located on sections 8 and 9, Monmouth township. The house which he occupies had been erected previous to the time he purchased the land but all the other buildings which are here seen have been erected by Mr. Tabor. It will thus be seen that he carries on business on an ex- tensive scale and his labors have brought him a most gratifying return. He was one of the organizers and has been the only president of the Baldwin Savings Bank.
Mr. Tabor has found a most worthy helpmate in the lady who on the 27th of November, 1890, became his wife. She bore the maiden name of Miss Ella Gil- more, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children: Howard, who was born March 13, 1893 ; Clifford Gilmore, born September 16, 1898; Muriel Phylis, born April 30, 1901 ; and Dorothy Marie, born September 13, 1904. All are with their parents.
Following in the political footsteps of his honored father, Mr. Tabor votes for the men and measures of the democracy and is very active in campaign work, do- ing everything in his power to place in office the men whom he believes will best
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
conserve the interests of the community and the country at large. He attends and supports the Methodist Episcopal church. The history of the early settle- ment of Monmouth township would be incomplete without the record of the Ta- bor family, for its members have been prominent factors in its agricultural growth and development. Fifty-seven years have come and gone since Andrew J. Tabor arrived in Jackson county and the spirit which he manifested in behalf of public progress and improvement seems to be inherited by the son, who also puts forth strenuous effort toward the betterment of the community. While he has won suc- cess, he has not allowed the accumulation of wealth to in any way change his at- titude toward those less fortunate, but he is most charitable and kindly in nature and fully merits the respect which is uniformly accorded him.
JAMES YOUNG.
James Young, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Madison township, Jones county, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of January, 184I, a son of David and Eliza (Davidson) Young, both natives of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. He comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the Young family hav- ing been founded in America about the middle of the eighteenth century by Wil- liam and Mary (White) Young, natives of Scotland. They came to this country from the north of Ireland, where they were wealthy landowners and where his ancestors were said to have been baronets. In their religious faith they were Presbyterians and they came to the new world in order to escape the persecutions to which they were subjected by the Roman Catholics. Mr. and Mrs. David Young, the parents of our subject, were married in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and in 1843, after selling their farm, came west to Iowa, making their way down the Ohio River to Cairo, Illinois, and thence up the Mississippi to Bellevue, Jack- son county, Iowa. Mr. Young found a mill site on Brush creek, where he erected a mill and built a log house, with puncheon floors and clapboard roof held in place by weight poles, no nails being used in the construction of the cabin. The mill had but one iron wheel, the others being made of wood, the wooden cogs for which were boiled in lard three or four days. The father continued the opera- tion of the mill until his death, which occurred in 1846. The mother died at the home of our subject in 1889.
Coming to Iowa when but two years of age, James Young has therefore spent almost his entire life in this state and is indebted to the school system of Jackson county for the educational privileges he enjoyed. Under the parental roof he was reared to manhood and he worked in the mill until 1867, in which year he was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Prince. . In the spring of the following year he went to Jones county, locating in Scotch Grove township, where, in company with a brother, David D. Young, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land and eighty acres of timber land .. This they operated in conjunction until 1870, when they divided the property, and our subject continued to reside upon his portion of the land until 1882. In that year he removed to his present farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres on section 10, Madison town-
.
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ship, and he later acquired one hundred and thirty acres in Scotch Grove and Madison townships, which he recently sold to his son, E. R. Young. He has since devoted his energies to the development of his home farm, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation, and in his agricultural pursuits has met with marked success, becoming one of the successful farmers of his locality.
With the passing of the years the home of Mr. and Mrs. Young has been blessed with seven children, namely: Eliza M., the wife of Rev. A. B. Fickle, of Shells- burg, Benton county ; E. Ray, of Madison township; Dr. J. M., practicing medi- cine in Center Junction; David L., an attorney of Boise City, Idaho; John Ar- thur, a Methodist Episcopal minister of Ridgeway, Iowa; William Harvey, who is attending Grinnell College; and T. Ross, who is still under the parental roof.
Mr. and Mrs. Young hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, on the official board of which he has served for several years, while for many years he has been most active in Sunday school work. He has served as justice of the peace for two terms, and in politics is strong in his advocacy of the principles of the prohibition party, for he fully realizes that the liquor traffic is one of the worst evils against which the country today has to contend. His entire career has been characterized by high ideals and noble principles and in every relation of life his record has ever measured up to a high standard of honorable manhood.
PAUL H. SKOV.
Paul H. Skov, who owns and operates a well improved and productive farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Fairfield township, has devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits since coming to this county in 1874. His birth occurred in Schleswig, Germany, on the 10th of February, 1855, his parents being Hans Paulsen and Enger Maria (Berthsen) Skov, the former likewise a native of Schleswig. Hans P. Skov crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1882 and took up his abode in Spragueville, Jackson county, Iowa, where he followed the trade of wagon making until called to his final rest in 1902.
Paul H. Skov, who spent the first nineteen years of his life in his native land, set sail for the new world in 1874 and after landing on American shores came direct to this county. Securing employment as a farm hand, he thus worked for about six years and on the expiration of that period rented a tract of land in Van Buren township. He was actively identified with general agricultural pur- suits as a renter until 1900, when, having accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to buy land of his own, he came into possession of his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Fairfield township, to the cultivation and improve- ment of which he has since given his time and energies. The fields are now well tilled and the place presents a most neat and attractive appearance, bringing to the owner year after year rich harvests and a gratifying financial income.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Skov chose Miss Christiana Peterson Borggaart, her father being Peter C. S. Borggaart, a native of Denmark. Their union has been blessed with two children, Christian H. and Ida Maria H., both at home.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
When exercising his right of franchise Mr. Skov does not consider himself bound by party ties but casts an independent ballot. His religious faith is indi- cated by his membership in the Lutheran church, with which his wife is also identified. He is numbered among those who left the fatherland to identify themselves with American life and institutions, who have pushed their way to the front and who are a credit alike to the land of their birth and that of their adoption.
HON. JOSEPH KELSO.
There was no dissent to the opinion that Bellevue had lost one of its most honored, prominent and valued citizens when Joseph Kelso was called to his final rest on the 29th of March, 1898, at the age of eighty-four years. His life history was closely connected with the annals of Jackson county and the nature and variety of his public service, his identification with professional interests and above all, his pleasant and cordial relations with his fellowmen made his loss one that was deeply and widely felt. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, a son of the Rev. Joseph and Rebecca (Johnston) Kelso, who were also natives of Ireland but were of Scotch descent. The ancestors mi- grated from Scotland to the north of Ireland at the time of the rebellion. The Rev. Joseph Kelso was a Presbyterian minister and spent his entire life in the country of his nativity. Unto him and his wife were born the follow- ing named : John J., a physician, who died in Ireland; Robert, who was also practicing medicine in that country until his demise; Joseph, of this review ; Dr. James Kelso, a physician, who died at Ackley, Iowa; William Henry, who practiced medicine at Sterling, Canada ; Mrs. Jane Armstrong, who died in California; and Mrs. Maria Mckinstry and Mrs. Sarah Armstrong, who died in Ireland. There were also two half-brothers; the Hon. David Kelso, of Kansas, who served in the state legislature there and was prominent as attorney for the Kansas & Texas Railroad; and Thomas, who followed mer- chandising, at Belleville, Canada.
Judge Kelso, whose name introduces this record, spent his youthful days amid the refining influences of a cultured Christian home in his own land. He emigrated to America in 1840, settling first in Virginia, and subsequently he removed to Pike county, Ohio, where he engaged in teaching school, de- voting his leisure hours during that period to the study of law. In 1845 he entered upon a regular course of law studies under the direction of the Hon. Thomas Corwin, while later his preceptor was John M. Douglas, who after- ward became president of the Illinois Central Railroad. Following his ad- mission to the bar he came to Bellevue in 1849, locating here for the practice of his profession. From that time until his death he remained an honored and valued citizen of this county and was widely recognized as one of the foremost members of the bar of this part of the state. In the early '6os he became associated with W. L. Redmond in the banking business, under the firm name of Kelso & Redmond. The partnership was maintained
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
until 1868, when Mr. Redmond withdrew and Mr. Kelso remained alone in business as proprietor of a private bank up to the time of his death, when he was succeeded by his sons, Walter C. and Joseph Kelso. His law practice and his banking business, however, by no means comprised the field of his activity. He was prominently connected with public affairs in an official capacity at different times. Early in his practice here he was elected pros- ecuting attorney and served very acceptably in that office. In 1857 he was elected county judge of Jackson county and remained upon the bench for one term, his strictly fair and impartial decisions winning him "golden opinions from all sorts of people." He also held the office of mayor and was elected to other official positions within the gift of the city and county. He regarded a public office as a public trust-no trust reposed in him was ever betrayed in the slightest degree. It is said that while he was prosecuting attorney he prepared his cases so carefully and prosecuted them with such zeal that no person indicted by him escaped conviction. His political alle- giance was originally given to the whig party and upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the know-nothing party. Later he became a supporter of the democracy and affiliated with that organization until his demise. His position was never an equivocal one and he stanchly advocated at all appro- priate times and places the views which he held.
Judge Kelso was married twice. In 1858 he wedded Miss Eliza Cressy, of Beverly, Massachusetts. They traveled life's journey happily together for about nine years and were then separated by the death of the wife, who died in Bellevue in 1867, leaving two sons: Walter C., who is now a banker of Bellevue; and William, a grain dealer and banker of Hallock, Minnesota. In 1870 Judge Kelso was again married, his second union being with Miss Sophia F. Shaw, of Maquoketa, who was born in Ellisburg, Jefferson county, New York, December 3, 1836. Her father, John Shaw, was born in Palmer, Massachusetts, in 1790. He was a son of David and Elizabeth (McMaster) Shaw. In 1794 the family left New England and removed to Otsego county, New York, where John Shaw was reared to manhood on a farm. While he early became familiar with agricultural pursuits, he believed that other busi- ness lines would prove more profitable and congenial, and engaged in mer- chandising until he came to Iowa. It was in the spring of 1839 that he made his way to Dubuque, where for one year he engaged in the drug business. He then came with his family to Bellevue, where he remained two years, during which time he engaged in merchandising and also filled the position of postmaster. On the expiration of that period he located on land which is now a part of the present site of Maquoketa and there he spent his remain- ing days. He had secured this tract as a squatter's claim about 1836 and he bought the land from the government as soon as it was placed on the market. Thereon he remained up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1853. He married Sophia Fisk, a native of Massachusetts, who removed with her parents in 1820 to New York, where she resided to the time of her marriage. Her father was Dr. William Fisk. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shaw were born the following children: Sophia F., who is now the widow of Judge Kelso; John C., deceased; Laura, who is the widow of J. C. Brocksmit and
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Carrie E., who is the widow of Dr. W. H. C. Moore and is living in Essex, Iowa; Mary C., of Maquoketa; and Austin F., who died in 1890. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shaw were very public spirited and were actively interested in the advancement of educational and religious mat- ters in this community. They gave all their children a good education and thus were they well equipped for life's practical and responsible duties.
Mrs. Kelso, largely reared on the old homestead farm which her father had taken up from the government, began her education in the country schools and afterward attended the seminary at Rockford, Illinois, now known as Rockford college. She then took up the profession of teaching, which she followed in this county at intervals for sixteen years, the last year being spent as a teacher in the schools at Bellevue. Unto Judge and Mrs. Kelso were born three children : Carrie, now the wife of the Rev. Daniel Rus- sell, a Presbyterian minister who has occupied pulpits in New York and Pittsburg; Joseph, cashier of a bank at Bellevue; and Jennie, the wife of W. B. Guthrie, a professor in a New York city college.
The death of Judge Kelso occurred March 29, 1898, and thus was termi- nated a long and useful life. He was a man of the strictest integrity and honesty, who loved the truth in all things and abhorred falsehood. Though advanced in years he continued in active business until his last illness and his name was a synonym for integrity in all commercial and financial trans- actions. He held friendship inviolable and was a valued and progressive citizen, but his best traits of character were reserved for his own home and fireside. At the time of his demise one of the local papers said: "By the death of Judge Kelso his town has lost a sagacious and energetic man of business ; his fellow citizens a pattern of fidelity and industry; his friends a safe counselor ; his family a kind husband and indulgent father; but he has left them a legacy richer than his wealth in the memory of one who above all things hated falsehood and loved the truth, whose integrity was never doubted, who never failed in the fulfillment of a promise and who never broke his word."
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