USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 28
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George P. Conlee attended the district school in Jefferson township. Lee county, Iowa, and after the death of his parents remained at home until the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1861, at Keokuk, Iowa, he joined Company A, Thirteenth Iowa United States Regular Infantry, remaining
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with that command for three years. He went with Sherman on his march to the sea and participated in the following battles: Birds Point, Mem- phis, Jackson, Vicksburg, Clayton, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Nashville, Cairo, Shiloh, Natchez, Bowling Green and Col- lierville. He also took part in numerous skirmishes and made a most cred- itable military record, never faltering in the performance of any task as- signed him. When hostilities had ceased he returned home and the same year was married. In 1882 he came to Jefferson county, locating on the farm where his widow and son, Charles C., now reside. In 1901 he re- tired from the active work of the fields, spending the remainder of his life in well earned rest. He became ill in August, 1910, and on the 17th of August, 1911, passed away.
Mr. Conlee was twice married. In 1865 he wedded Miss Jane Mas- terson, of Van Buren county, Iowa, who died in 1866 and by whom he had one child, who passed away in infancy. On the 25th of November, 1873, Mr. Conlee was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary A. Graves, who was born in Ohio, on the 20th of May, 1849. Her parents were Aaron and Sarah (Harvey) Graves, the former a native of Jackson county, Ohio, and the latter of Frederick county, Virginia. They were married in Ohio in 1844, and came west in 1856, locating at Hills- boro, Henry county, Iowa, where Mr. Graves maintained his residence while he farmed in the vicinity. In March, 1871, he passed away on his farm about two miles north of Hillsboro. His widow afterward sold the place and took up her abode in Hillsboro, where she purchased property and is now living at the ripe old age of ninety years. To them were born nine children, six of whom still survive, as follows: Jacob, a blacksmith living in Oregon; Mrs. Conlee; Frances, who is the wife of Charles A. Stevens, the postmaster at Salem, Iowa; Robert, a banker of Hillsboro, Iowa; Carlton, who follows blacksmithing in the city of Oklahoma, Okla- homa; and Naomi, the wife of Jerry Moxley, a farmer of Hillsboro, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. George P. Conlee were the parents of six children. Fred T., a bridge carpenter on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, lives at Mount Pleasant, Iowa and wedded Miss Maude Snyder, of Bir- mingham, Iowa, having one child, Otelia. Jessie M. is the wife of A. W. Davis, a bridge carpenter on the Rock Island Railroad at Fairfield and they have five children: George, who died at the age of two years and Charles, Daisy, Ada and Clair. George P. is master mechanic of the Pekin branch of the Santa Fe Railroad and resides at Pekin, Illinois. He mar- ried Miss Florella Palmer, of Fort Madison, Iowa, by whom he has three children : Ruth, Ethel and Beulah. Lillian, the next in order of birth, died when but eight weeks old. Mary is the wife of Sylvester Keller, a farmer of Cedar township, this county, by whom she has two children,
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George and Clarence. Charles C., who lives with his mother, operates the home farm of one hundred and five acres.
In politics Mr. Conlee was a stanch democrat and held the office of school director for ten years. He also served as justice of the peace for two terms and for several terms acted as constable. Fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the lodge at Montrose, Iowa. Prior to the Civil war he was a member of the Missionary Baptist church. His widow is a devoted and consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. She is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community, her many commendable traits of character having endeared her to all with whom she has come in contact.
LEWIS H. KIGER.
Lewis H. Kiger, a progressive and enterprising agriculturist of Round Prairie township, operates his father's farm of one hundred and seventy acres near Glasgow. His birth occurred in Ohio on the 30th of Septem- ber, 1867, his parents being Moses and Eliza (Hunter) Kiger, who are likewise natives of the Buckeye state. The father, an agriculturist by oc- cupation, operated a farm near Springfield, Ohio, until 1882, when he came to Jefferson county, Iowa, and for nine years cultivated a rented tract of land in Round Prairie township. On the expiration of that period he abandoned farming and took up his abode in Glasgow, where he made his home for one year. Subsequently he spent two years in Fairfield and then accepted the position of manager or overseer of the County Home, in which capacity he has ably served for the past fifteen years. In 1908 he purchased the farm of one hundred and seventy acres near Glasgow which our subject is now operating. The period of his residence in this county covers almost three decades and he is well known and highly es- teemed within its borders.
Lewis H. Kiger obtained his education in the schools of his native state and was a youth of sixteen years when he came to Iowa with his parents, remaining at home until twenty-one years of age, when he was married and started out as an agriculturist on his own account. He de- voted his time and energies to the operation of a rented farm in Round Prairie township until 1908 and then took up his abode on his father's farm in the same township, having since been engaged in its cultivation. In the conduct of his agricultural interests he has met with excellent re- stilts, the fields annually yielding golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.
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In March, 1889, Mr. Kiger was united in marriage to Miss Bertha McElwee, a daughter of William and Mary (Cochran) McElwee, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Iowa respectively. The father came to Iowa in an early day, locating in Henry county, where he followed photography for some time. Subsequently he farmed for several years in Round Prairie township, Jefferson county, and next removed to Clarke county, where he remained for some time. After returning to this county he purchased a farm and was successfully engaged in its operation until called to his final rest on the 12th of March, 1891. His wife passed away on the 10th of March, 1892. William McElwee served throughout the entire period of the Civil war as a member of Company F, Ninety-first Pennsylvania Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Kiger have three sons, namely : Harry W., a young man of twenty-one; Guy C., who is twenty years old ; and William Glenn, a youth aged sixteen.
At the polls Mr. Kiger casts his ballot for the men and measures of the republican party, believing that its principles are most conducive to good government. He has served as school director of Round Prairie township and the cause of education has ever found in him a stanch friend. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church, which his wife and children also attend. Mr. and Mrs. Kiger are highly esteemed through- out this locality as people of genuine personal worth and sterling traits of character, having gained the confidence and regard of all with whom they have come in contact.
JOHN WILLS McLEAN.
John Wills McLean was for many years closely associated with farm- ing interests in this county but since 1883 has lived retired, save for his service in connection with public office. He has now passed the age of seventy-seven years and his record is that of a useful life well spent. He was born in Chillicothe, Ross county. Ohio, February 6, 1834, his parents being Daniel and Elizabeth (Long) McLean, both of whom were natives of Nova Scotia. The mother came to Ohio with her parents in her girlhood days and Mr. McLean became a resident of that state in young manhood, or about 1812. They were married there and continued residents of Ohio until 1837, when they made their way westward and settled on the Black Hawk purchase before the territory of Iowa was or- ganized. It was on the Ist of March, 1838, that they crossed the Missis- sippi and for five years remained residents of Lee county, coming thence to Jefferson county in 1843. Here they located on a farm three-quar-
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ters of a mile west of the Rock Island depot and lived there until death called them. The father entered three hundred and twenty acres of land from the government. There was a small frame house upon the land and about sixty acres broke and fenced when it came into his possession but with unfaltering energy and firm purpose he began to break the sod and till the fields which in course of time brought forth abundant harvests. He died November 4, 1864, at the age of seventy-five years, one month and eleven days, and his wife's death occurred April 21. 1871, when she had reached the age of seventy-seven years, one month and fourteen days. They were parents of three sons: William L., now deceased ; John Wills ; and Daniel Frazier, who was born in Lee county in June, 1838, and now resides on the old homestead farm in this county.
John W. McLean was only four years old when the family came to Iowa and from the age of nine years has lived in Jefferson county. With the family he shared in all of the experiences and hardships of pioneer life, aiding in the arduous task of developing new land and converting the un- broken prairie into cultivable fields. His youth was indeed a period of earnest and unremitting toil. He continued with his parents until they were called to their final rest, after which he and his brother divided the place, John W. McLean remaining upon his half of the farm until 1883. when with a comfortable competence gained through his labors he removed to Fairfield where he now lives retired. He has since sold his farm.
The only interruption that came to Mr. McLean's labor as an agricul- turist was in May, 1864, when he enlisted for service as a member of Company I, Forty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, for one hundred days, being mustered out in the following October. It was after his return from war-in 1867-that he wedded Miss Mary Adelaide Worthington, who was born in Iowa City in June, 1845, and died November 7. 1880. She was a daughter of the Rev. David Worthington, a Methodist Episcopal clergyman and a pioneer of the state of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. McLean became parents of two children: Elizabeth, who was born September 24. 1868, and resides with her father ; and Thomas E., who was born July 28. 1873, and is a jeweler in Fairfield.
Mr. McLean gives his political allegiance to the republican party which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont and several times filled local office, serving as assessor of Center township for thirteen years and for a number of years as overseer of the poor, which position he is filling at this time. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Methodist Episcopal church and belongs to the Old Set- tlers Association of Jefferson county of which he served as secretary for twenty years. His long continuance in that position is indisputable proof
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of the high regard entertained for him by his fellow townsmen who, ap- preciative of his worth, honored him with election. He has always been a man of genial disposition, kindly, courteous and approachable, and his social qualities have won for him the friendship of all who know him.
CHARLES A. ANDERSON.
Charles A. Anderson, who was the popular host of the Q Hotel at Fair- field, was born in Sweden, January 7, 1862, his parents being A. Peter and Elizabeth (Anderson) Anderson, who were likewise natives of Sweden, in which country the father carried on farming until 1868. He then sailed with his family for the new world, making his way into the interior of the country. He settled in Round Prairie township, this county, where he in- vested his savings in a tract of land. It was totally unimproved at that time but he cleared and developed it and converted it into a valuable farm which he cultivated throughout his remaining days. He died in June, 1893, while his wife survived him for about fifteen years, passing away July 6, 1908.
Charles A. Anderson was reared and educated in Round Prairie town- ship, being but six years of age when the family came to this county. He attended the district schools and also worked in the fields as his age and strength permitted. When a youth of sixteen years he started out in life on has own account and worked as a farm hand, being thus employed until 1899, when, desiring that his labors should more directly benefit himself, he rented a farm which he cultivated until 1901. In that year he removed to Fairfield and for some time was in the employ of the Louden Manufac- turing Company. At length he sold his home and went to Burlington, Iowa, but remained there for only a brief period, returning to Fairfield. Here Mr. Anderson purchased the Q Hotel, near the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad depot, and continued in the hotel business until his his guests. He was thus engaged in business when, on the 19th of May, death, proving a popular host who carefully looked after the comfort of 1908, his life's labors were ended in death.
On the 27th of October, 1887, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Cora B. Archibald, a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Paxton) Archibald. They had two children: Elizabeth Pearl, twenty-three years of age, who is the wife of Ray Augstead, of Fairfield; and Otto, aged seventeen, now living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson also reared an adopted daughter, Goldie May, now ten years of age.
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Mr. Anderson belonged to Fairfield Lodge No. 4, I. O. O. F., and also to the Rebekah degree. His political support was given to the demo- cratic party and his religious faith was that of the Methodist church. He was always loyal to the principles which he professed and his name came to be a synonym for reliability as well as activity in business. His manner was genial, his cordiality unfeigned, and he won many friends. His widow since his death has purchased ground and erected an attractive residence · at No. 202 South H street where she resides.
LEWIS H. LONG.
Lewis H. Long is engaged in general farming in Walnut township where he owns one hundred and fifty-six acres of arable land. He was born in Buchanan township, Jefferson county, in December, 1848, and in the intervening period of sixty-three years has been an interested witness to the growth and changes which have taken this county out of the ranks of pioneer settlements and placed it with the leading counties of this great commonwealth. His parents were John and Barbara E. (Courtney) Long, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. It was in the year 1844 that the father came to Jefferson county, Iowa, living with his parents in Buchanan township until he had attained his majority, when he began farming on his own account. Finally he purchased a tract of land in Walnut township and undertook the task of clearing and improving this, converting one hundred and twenty acres into a richly cultivated tract. For a long time he operated that farm, after which he sold the property and removed to Wayne county, Iowa, there residing until his death, which occurred in 1899. His wife passed away about five years before, dying in 1894.
Under the parental roof Lewis H. Long spent his boyhood days and in the district schools acquired his education, while the summer months were devoted to the work of the fields. He was trained to habits of dili- gence and determination and continued with his parents until he reached adult age, when he started out in life on his own account, feeling that his experience was sufficient to enable him to obtain success. He rented a farm and continued its cultivation for nine years, after which he used his savings in the purchase of eighty acres in Walnut township. He then resolutely set himself to the task of improving the place to which he has since added by purchase until he now has one hundred and fifty-six acres of finely improved land, constituting one of the valuable farms of this part of the state. He raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate
L. H. LONG AND FAMILY
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and the plowing and planting at springtime give promise of abundant harvests in the late autumn. His success is attributable entirely to his own labors and not only has he established himself in a creditable posi- tion in agricultural circles but is also well known as a stockholder in the East Pleasant Plain Bank and in the North Lockridge Telephone Company.
In January, 1872, Mr. Long was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Hawk, a daughter of William and Frances (McClure) Hawk, of whom mention is made in connection with the sketch of her brother, Thomas M. Hawk, on another page of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Long have be- come the parents of two sons and one daughter, Lora A., William Ross and Thirza S. The son is now following farming in Lucas county, Iowa. Mr. Long has served as school director but has never been active as an office seeker, other interests fully claiming his time and energies. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, his religious faith is that of the Church of God and his fraternal relations are with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows of Salina. His has been a busy and useful life and yet he has never sought to figure prominently in public affairs. Year after year he has carefully done his work and performed his duties and because of his trustworthiness and fidelity he is accorded the friend- ship and esteem of those with whom he has come in contact. Moreover he deserves representation in this volume as one of the pioneer settlers. Few of the native sons of Jefferson county have lived for sixty-three years within its borders and in that period he has witnessed many notable changes, including the building of the railroads, the introduction of telegraph and telephone and the establishment of many important business enterprises which have done much to place the county on a plane of prosperity. He ever rejoices in the onward movement and feels that the county has every right to rank with the leading districts of the state.
GEORGE K. DAVIS.
George K. Davis, a retired farmer of Lockridge, Jefferson county, was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, on October 6, 1847, and is a son of George K. and Barbara (Kreglow) Davis. The parents were natives of Martinsburg, Berkley county, Virginia, where the father engaged in tailor- ing. During the pioneer days they came to Des Moines county, locating in Burlington, where for some years he was in the retail meat business. Later he changed to farming, a venture which did not turn out over-suc- cessfully and soon thereafter joined a party of gold seekers bound for Cali- fornia. They drove across the prairie with an ox team, lured on, despite
Vol. II-17
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dangers and hardships, by the wonderful tales they heard of the country and its opportunities. He remained in California for ten years, at the end of which time he returned to Des Moines county, where he made a short stop, before he went to Davis county, Iowa. He continued to reside there the remainder of his life, passing away in 1896. The mother early came to Jefferson county and purchased a farm in Round Prairie township. During her latter years, however, she resided with her son James B., in whose home she passed away in 1903, at the age of seventy-six years. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, six sons and two daughters.
George K. Davis was reared in the county of his birth, whose district schools he attended until he had mastered the common branches. He re- mained at home with his mother on the farm until he was twenty-four years of age when he was married and began for himself. For three years thereafter he farmed as a renter, with such lucrative results that at the expiration of that time he had sufficient means to enable him to be- come a property owner and he came to Jefferson county and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Round Prairie township. Eighty acres of this tract was still in timber and at the end of the first year of his residence he had cleared it and placed it under cultivation. Upon locating there he erected a log cabin twelve by fifteen feet to which he later made an addition and this building continued to be the residence of himself and his family for twelve years. At that time he built a comfortable eight-room frame house, and later added to his holdings another twenty acres of land, inaking the aggregate of his acreage one hundred and forty. The operation of this place continued to engage his attention until 1907 when he sold out and moved to Missouri. There he bought a small tract near Memphis upon which he lived not quite a year, when he returned to Jefferson county, purchasing his residence in Lockridge, where he has ever since lived in retirement. He has three lots here upon which he has erected a fine house, and now owns one of the attractive properties of the town.
In 1871 Mr. Davis was married to Miss Ellen Veach, who passed away in 1880. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Parnell (Murphy) Veach, natives of Delaware. They came to Iowa in the early days, settling in Des Moines county, where for many years the father was engaged in farming. There the mother died in 1850, but Mr. Veach was living with a daughter in Iowa county at the time of his death in 1883. Four chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis: William, John F., and George, all of whom are agriculturists of Missouri; and Lewis E., who is a butcher of Memphis, Missouri. In 1881 Mr. Davis was again married, his choice on this occasion being Miss Rachel Murphy, a daughter of Levi and Sarah (Bowers) Murphy, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of In-
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diana. They moved to Illinois, during the early years of their life, lo- cating in Fulton county. There the father when old enough began his career as a farmer, later going to Jefferson county, Iowa, where he pur- chased an improved farm in Round Prairie township. He operated this until his death in July, 1903. The mother had passed away ten years previously, her demise occurring on the 29th of February, 1893. Of Mr. Davis's second union five children have been born: Mary B., the wife of Will Stiver, a farmer of Missouri; Ella May, who died on April 7, 1901, at the age of eighteen years; Della E., the wife of Lee Coger, a farmer of Lockridge township; Bertha, who married Elmer Sharpe, of Fairfield ; and Arthur M., who is living in Lockridge.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis both affiliate with the Baptist church, while he gives his political support to the republican party. He has always taken an active interest in all municipal affairs, and has served as school director and while living in Round Prairie township acted as road supervisor for eighteen years. His residence in this county has covered a period of forty- seven years during which time he has noted the many changes and rapid advancement that has been made during the progress and development of a higher order of civilization. Mr. Davis is well and favorably known in the county, among whose citizens he numbers many friends.
LUTHER P. EMMONS.
· Luther P. Emmons, who is living retired upon his farm, has been a resident of Des Moines township for thirty-two years. His birth occurred in Waldo county, Maine, on October 30, 1846, his parents being George and Hannah (Laiten) Emmons. The father, a native of Massachusetts, was of Scotch and French extraction, while the mother, whose birth oc- curred in Maine, was of English and Irish descent. Agricultural pursuits engaged the attention of the father, who with his family removed to Wisconsin in 1853. He located on a farm in Rock county, and there the mother passed away in 1873, while his death occurred at Magnolia, that county, in 1887. Nine children were born of their marriage: James, a farmer of Guthrie county, Iowa; Nancy E., who married Wesley Smith, a farmer of Canada; Albert Weston, who died in infancy; Recta A., the widow of Martin A. Becker, an engineer who was killed in a gold mine in Utah in 1879; Helen Augusta, who died in infancy, and Henry Augus- tus, a manufacturer of brooms in Sullivan, Illinois, who were twins ; Luther P., our subject ; Eliza Josephine, who is deceased; and George, marshal of Ontario, California.
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Luther P. Emmons was only a lad of seven years when his people removed to Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood, obtaining his educa- tion in the district schools in the vicinity of his home. From his earliest boyhood he was trained in the work of the fields, so when ready to begin his independent career, naturally he turned to the occupation for which he was best adapted. He left the paternal roof at the age of twenty-one years and began working for himself. Three years later he was married and located on a farm in Rock county, where he lived until 1879. In the fall of that year he and his wife removed to Iowa to reside on a tract of one hundred and fifty acres in Jefferson county, that his wife's grand- father, Ira R. Peck of New York, said he would present to her if she would consent to live upon it. During the first two years they rented a place adjacent, during which time they placed their land under cultivation and erected upon it the necessary buildings. The soil proved to be most fertile and productive, so richly rewarding their efforts that they were subsequently able to extend their holdings by the addition of another ninety acres. Here Mr. Emmons engaged in general farming until the condition of his health necessitated his retirement in 1909, since which time he has been renting his land, but he and Mrs. Emmons continue to reside there. Although the pioneer period had passed when they came to Iowa, they endured many hardships and privations, as well as misfortunes and discouragements, through all of which they exhibited the fortitude that characterizes those who make a success of any undertaking.
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