USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 34
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In January, 1897, Mr. Kurtz was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Kaufman, a daughter of Jacob Kaufman. She was a native of Germany, where her parents spent their entire lives, the mother passing away dur- ing her childhood. To Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz were born three children : Angeline, who is thirteen; Gerald, a lad of twelve; and Myron, who is nine years of age. After an illness of three days the wife and mother was called to her final rest, January 18, 1903. On January 27, 1904, Mr. Kurtz married Mrs. Clara Gelski Peck, a dangliter of Stanislaus and
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Martha (Kurka) Gelski. The father was born on the Atlantic ocean, a son of Polish emigrants, while the mother, whose birth occurred in the United States, is also of Polish extraction. In the early '6os Mr. Gelski came with his parents to Jefferson county, where they engaged in farming. After finishing his schooling he worked out until he had sufficient means to buy some land in Walnut township that he improved and operated until 1909. He then disposed of his farm and removed to Missouri, where he continues to follow agricultural pursuits. Of Mr. Kurtz's second mar- riage there have been born three children: Veronica, seven years of age; Johnnie, who is six, and Martha, who has passed the first anniversary of her birth. Mrs. Kurtz has a son by a former marriage, Thomas Peck, who was born August 4, 1900, and now makes his home with his mother.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz are communicants of the Roman Catholic church and he votes the democratic ticket. He takes an interest in the township political activities and is now serving as a township trustee. In the promotion of the agricultural development of this section, Mr. Kurtz is contributing his full quota as is attested by the well kept and attractive appearance of his property.
LEVI G. MYERS.
Levi G. Myers, a veteran of the Civil war, is living retired in the vil- lage of Packwood but is still the owner of a good farm property which he personally cultivated for many years, making it one of the most attrac- tive features of the landscape in Polk township. He was born in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1846, his parents being Stephen and Sarah (Huffman) Myers, both of whom were natives of the Key- stone state, where they were reared and married, residing there until 1855, when they came to Jefferson county, Iowa. The father secured a farm on section 34, Polk township, and there they took up their abode, making it their home until August, 1872, when both died within a week. They were respected and worthy residents of the community and their loss was the occasion of deep regret to all who knew them.
Levi G. Myers was a pupil in the public schools of Pennsylvania until the family came to Iowa, when he continued his education in the district schools of Polk township. He also attended the Axline school in Fair- field for two terms. On the home farm he received thorough training that cultivated in him habits of industry and enterprise. He continued with his father until he had attained his majority and then started out in life for himself by renting a farm in Polk township. He carefully
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saved his carnings and after a short time purchased a part of the old homestead, upon which he resided for forty years. During that period he converted the place into one of the fine farms of the county, adding to it many modern improvements and bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation. In 1910, however, he came to Packwood, purchasing town property here and renting his farm.
In carly manhood-when about seventeen and a half years of age- Levi G. Myers gave practical evidence of his loyalty to his country by enlisting at Abingdon, Iowa, on the 22d of February, 1864, as a member of Company K, Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served lintil the close of the war. He was mustered in at Davenport and was at once sent to the front, taking part in several engagements, including the battle of Lay's Ferry, Georgia. He also marched with Sherman to the sea whereby the Confederacy was proven to be but an empty shell, the troops having been drawn from the interior to protect the border. He also took part in the campaign through the Carolinas and marched in the grand review at Washington, on the 23d of May, 1865, when thousands of victorious troops passed through the streets of the capital and by the reviewing stand, where the president greeted the returning army. At length he was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, July 12, 1865. He was then but eighteen years of age and yet he has met with most of the hard experiences of military life.
When the war was over Mr. Myers returned to Iowa and resumed farming, adding to his original purchase a tract of one hundred and forty- eight acres, making his farm one of two hundred and forty acres. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Mary A. Longer- bone, whom he wedded in Jefferson county October 3. 1867. She was born in Ohio, a daughter of Parker and Lucinda (Grist) Longerbone, who were natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. The year 1865 wit- nessed their arrival in Jefferson county, at which time they located in Polk township, where the father's death occurred upon his farm in 1889. His wife survived him until 1897, and also passed away on the old home- stead. Mr. Myers was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife on the 8th of February, 1883. The children of that marriage were five in number. Otho B., the eldest, is a member of the firm of Caviness & Myers, dealers in hardware, farm implements and automobiles in Packwood. He married Miss Bertha Moorman, of that place. Clara, the second of the family, is the wife of J. S. Snyder, a resident farmer of Polk township, and they have one child, Perry. Merta is the wife of James A. Caldwell, a cement manufacturer of Hedrick. Iowa, and they have seven children, Ray, Fay, Mary Leola, Edna, Hazel, Mark and Lucile. Raymond, the fourth of the family, is a farmer of the state of Washington, who is mar-
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ried and has one child, Grace. Leroy is engaged in farming in Arkansas. On the 30th of May, 1884, Mr. Myers was again married, at which time Miss Martha B. Hinton became his wife. She was born in Jefferson county, a daughter of Ezekiel and Arena (Ramey) Hinton, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio. They came to Iowa at an early day, locating in Jefferson county in the '50s, and here the father engaged in teaching school and in farming. He died in Wapello county in 1859 and was long survived by his wife, whose death occurred in Polk town- ship, this county, in 1895. The children of Mr. Myers' second marriage are Floyd G. and Lester G. The latter, ten years of age, is attending school in Packwood. The former took charge of the old homestead farm when his father removed to Packwood. He married Susan Baker, of Abingdon, Iowa, and they have three children, Irene, Claude and Erma.
Mr. Myers votes with the republican party and has been somewhat prominent in local political ranks. He served as assessor of Polk town- ship for six years, in 1889 was a member of the county board of super- visors, serving on the board when the county court house was built, and in 1890 was enumerator for Polk township. He also served as secretary of the township school board for thirty years and as school director for several years, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion whose labors have been an effective force in raising the standards of public instruction in his locality. Both he and his wife are devoted mem- bers of the Baptist church and for a number of years he held member- ship with the Grand Army of the Republic. He is still affiliated with Abingdon Lodge, No. 468, I. O. O. F., of Abingdon. He is one of the well known and highly respected residents of Polk township and is as true and loyal to the best interests of citizenship today as when he fol- lowed the old flag upon southern battlefields. In business, too, he has been found thoroughly reliable, his success coming to him as the legitimate outcome of earnest, persistent and honorable effort.
WILLIAM BRUCE FRAME.
A resident of Jefferson county, Iowa, for fifty-two years, William Bruce Frame has been a witness of the countless changes which time has wrought in the country round about him. He came to this section of the country when Iowa was a part of that great wild prairie almost untouched by civilization, which was only beginning to push its way over the hither- to formidable barrier, the Mississippi river, and has lived to see the land plotted out in rich farms yielding abundant crops and affording wealth to
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thousands of families who unlocked the gates of fortune by tilling the soil. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, June 16, 1836, and was a son of Joseph M. and Susan (Cobourn) Frame, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Delaware. On September 25, in the year 1841, Joseph M. Frame brought his family from Indiana to Iowa, establishing his new home near Salem, Henry county, where he opened a blacksmith shop, which he operated for five years. He then purchased eighty acres of land in Henry county and set about to clear and improve this farm, cultivating it until 1883. when he sold and removed to Nebraska. Still active and in good health, he continued his agricultural pursuits and bought a farm which he operated until his death, February 18, 1888. His wife survived him thirteen years, departing this life in March, 1901.
W. B. Frame pursued his education in the schools of Salem, in Henry county, Iowa, and was reared to the duties of farming, mastering the many phases of this occupation thoroughly before reaching maturity. At the age of twenty-three years he left the parental roof in order to engage in farming for himself and after his marriage came to Jefferson county to establish his new home. Here he rented a farm and worked in the fields for two years, when the results of his industry enabled him to buy a farm, choosing for this purpose a site of one hundred and one acres in Round Prairie township. With characteristic energy and application he devoted his efforts to clearing the land and has improved this farm ever since that time, having occupied it now for fifty years. Scarcely a farmer in Jefferson county is better known than Mr. Frame for his long connec- tion with agricultural interests and his intimate acquaintance with every chapter in the history of this county.
On November 3. 1859, Mr. Frame was united in marriage to Miss Harriet N. Tilford, a daughter of James and Mary (Workman) Tilford, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Frame's parents were reared in Kentucky, whence they removed to Illinois, and in 1835 to Jefferson county, Iowa, being interested in the agricultural development of the newly opened country. They entered from the government six hundred and forty acres of land in Round Prairie township and this they cleared and improved. dividing it into three farms. Mr. Tilford cultivated the land on this place until his death, December 28, 1860, his wife having passed away the pre- vious spring, on April 28th. Mr. and Mrs. Frame were the parents of five children : Mary and Susan, who are living at home; Joseph C., who is married and assumes the chief responsibility in operating his father's farm : John T., who died in 1877; and Julia A., who died in 1872. A heavy shadow was cast over the Frame home by the long continued ill health of Mrs. Frame, her death occurring in November, 1905, after having been an invalid for forty years.
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In his political affiliations Mr. Frame is in sympathy with the repub- lican party and in his religious faith he subscribes to the tenets of the Bap- tist church. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Fairfield lodge. In connection with his agricultural interests Mr. Frame acted as secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company for twenty-three years, having just recently resigned from this position. He is a man of strong personality and much stability of character, and possesses many friends who regard him with high esteem.
REECE WOLFE.
Many of the early settlers of Jefferson county have passed away and it is a public duty and honor to perpetuate the memory of these men who endured the hardships of the pioneer and fulfilled their obligations to posterity by opening up new territories. The greater number of these pioneers were men of sterling worth, who lived and worked for the wel- fare of their families and community without seeking the applause of the outer world. Such a man was Reece Wolfe, whose birth occurred in Greene county, Ohio, on March 17, 1841, his parents being William and Margaret (Elliott) Wolfe. The father was a native of New York state and in early life was engaged in school-teaching in Greene county, Ohio, but after coming to Iowa in the late '50s took up farming. He settled in Keokuk county, two miles northwest of Packwood, just across the line from Jefferson county, and here the son spent his early life, attending the district school and assisting his father on the home place. The latter passed away in 1863 and the mother's death occurred in 1872.
When Reece Wolfe was twenty-one years of age he enlisted in Com- pany F, Seventeenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and served for three years, after which he again enlisted and was in service until the close of the war. He took part in many important en- gagements and skirmishes, among them being the battle of Jacksonville and the siege of Vicksburg. At one time he was taken prisoner and sent to Andersonville but was later transferred to Libby Prison, from which place he was exchanged just as the war drew to a close. During his service he was wounded only once but had many narrow escapes, in one engagement his hat being pierced by bullets five times although he received no injury. After the close of hostilities, in 1865, he returned to his father's farm in Keokuk county but the same year removed to Polk town- ship, Jefferson county, where he purchased eighty acres, upon which he resided until his death on the roth of June, 1871.
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On the 20th of November, 1865, Mr. Wolfe was married to Jane Lock, a daughter of William and Mary (Boage) Lock, both of whom were born in England, the former being of Scotch and the latter of English descent. They came to the United States in 1851 and located in Pennsylvania, near Pittsburg, where they lived for a short time before coming to Black Hawk township, Jefferson county, Iowa, and taking up their residence on a farm which he secured from the United States government by patent. Mr. Lock was one of the pioneers of the township and resided upon his original farm until his death, which occurred in 1901. His widow still makes her home upon this place. Their eldest son, John B. Lock, enlisted at the age of eighteen years and served in the Civil war three years in the Nineteenth Regiment of the Iowa Volunteer Infantry. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe three children were born. Margaret, the eldest. was married in 1885 to John Bennett, and they are the parents of five children: Ray, who married Inez Estes and is an agriculturist of Keokuk county ; and Treba, Genevieve, Lela and Ava, all attending school in district No. 7 of Polk township. Mary Jane, the second member of the family, was married in 1890 to Ed Dellinger, a farmer of Davis county, and to them six children have been born, William, Ralph, Vera, Ada, Bernie and Pearl. Addie, the youngest, was married in 1889 to Alvin Street, an agriculturist of Keokuk county, and they are the parents of one child, Leotta.
In politics, Mr. Wolfe cast his vote for the republican party and, al- though he never sought office, he took a keen interest in the issues of the day and did what he could to further all local measures relating to the improvement of the county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe held membership in the Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal church of Polk township. Throughout his life he was quiet and unassuming and devoted his leisure hours to the family circle rather than to lodges and social gatherings, but he held the respect and admiration which a community gives to its citizens who are strongest morally and most loyal and active industrially.
C. W. BAILEY, M. D.
Dr. C. W. Bailey has practiced medicine at Pleasant Plain continuously since September, 1899, and is now enjoying an extensive and lucrative patronage as the only physician of the town. His birth occurred in Cedar township, Jefferson county, Iowa, on the 22d of November, 1871, his parents being Cyrus D. and Iowa (Conley) Bailey, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Lee county, Iowa. Cyrus D. Bailey
DR. C. W. BAILEY
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came to this county in 1864, purchased, cleared and improved a farm in Cedar township and operated the same until 1897. In that year he dis- posed of the property and purchased a farm in Van Buren county, to the further cultivation and improvement of which he has devoted his attention to the present time.
C. W. Bailey obtained his early education in the district schools of this county and later entered Birmingham Academy. Having determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he read under the direction of Norris Brothers, of Birmingham, Iowa, for eighteen months and then entered the Keokuk Medical College, from which institution he was gradu- ated with the class of 1897. During the Spanish-American war he served as first assistant surgeon to Dr. Roberts, who was the regimental surgeon. He was mustered out, on the 8th of July, 1899, and in September follow- ing came to Pleasant' Plain for the practice of his profession. There were five physicians in the town at that time, but Dr. Bailey is now the only representative of the fraternity here-a fact which speaks most eloquently for itself. An extensive practice has been accorded him in recognition of his skill and ability in the line of his chosen profession, with the ad- vancement of which he keeps in close touch through his membership in the Jefferson County Medical Society and the Southeastern Medical So- ciety. He acts as health officer of the board of health of Walnut township, Penn township and the town of Pleasant Plain. In addition to his office building he owns four residence properties, a store building and the livery stable property in the new town of East Pleasant Plain.
On the 18th of May, 1900, Dr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Hosette, a daughter of Francis Xavier and Mary Elizabeth (Hisel) Hosette, who were natives of France and Belgium, respectively. The father, who came to Jefferson county, Iowa, in an early day, pur- chased and improved a farm in Cedar township. Subsequently he became a dealer in horses, going to France to make his purchases in person. He died at sea, in 1895, while on his way home on one of these trips. His wife was called to her final rest on August 8, 1910. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Bailey has been born a son, Earl E., whose natal day was February 22, 1906.
Dr. Bailey gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as republican central committeeman from Penn township for three terms or six years. He has long served as a councilman and has also been mayor of the town of Pleasant Plain, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many progressive measures. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Benev- olent Protective Order of Elks at Fairfield and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Glasgow, Iowa. His religious faith is that of the
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Presbyterian church, while his wife is a communicant of the Catholic church. Of a sociable nature, he has found life enjoyable in the acquire- ment of a circle of friends that grows as grows the scope of his acquaint- ance, while his advancement in his profession has been equally agreeable.
PERRY THOMAS MITCHELL.
Among the county's citizens who have always resided within her bor- ders Perry Thomas Mitchell is numbered and the success he has achieved places him among the representative men of this district. He has always followed farming and stock-raising and today ranks with the foremost representatives of those lines of business in eastern Iowa. He was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, January 9, 1855, his parents being Abraham and Elizabeth (Frush) Mitchell, who were natives of Maryland and of Ohio respectively. The father was a farmer by occupation and in 1853 came to Iowa, settling on the Barr farm, near Fairfield, in Jefferson county. There he resided for two years and then removed to a farm, a mile north of Packwood, in Polk township, where he resided until his death, which occurred April 22, 1908. He was truly a self-made man, for he was in very limited financial circumstances when he came to Iowa and at the time of his death was the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and twenty acres of rich and arable land in Polk township, together with a fine city property and a lot of five acres in Richland, Iowa. His first wife died when a comparatively young woman and in 1880 Mr. Mitchell was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary Townsend, who is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Nellie Johnson, on a farm north of Richland. By the first marriage there were nine children: Mrs. Amelia Jane Ingalls, a resident of Gentry county, Missouri; Mrs. Amanda Frances Smith, of Norwalk, Iowa; Perry Thomas; Henry S., a ranchman residing in Custer county, Montana; Mrs. Lilly De Armund, of Mary- ville, Missouri; Mrs. Lizzie Wilcox, living in Grand Forks, North Dakota ; Mrs. Anna Benn, the wife of Robert Benn, of Wapello county, Iowa; Harry, a resident farmer of Polk township; and George, who became a ranchman of Custer county, Montana, where he was shot and killed by sheep herders, on the 5th of September, 1908. By the father's second marriage there was one child, Mrs. Nellie Johnson, now of Keokuk county, Iowa.
Perry Thomas Mitchell has been a lifelong resident of Jefferson county and has always followed farming within its borders. He attended the
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Pleasant Hill school when the old-time pioneer benches and desks were used and when not busy with his text-books he assisted in the work of the home farm. He continued to aid his father up, to the time of his marriage in 1879 and then began farming on his own account. He had no ready capital at his command and so rented land, leasing the Gray farm in Polk township for two years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and his economical expenditure had brought him a sum sufficient to enable him to purchase the farm in Polk township on which he resided for thirty-one years. In February, 1901, he removed to Packwood, where he has since made his home. However, he still owns the farm of three hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Polk township upon which his eldest son now resides. He and his two sons carry on the farm and buy, feed and ship cattle, hogs and horses ex- tensively. After his removal to Packwood Mr. Mitchell rented his farm for five years but found this unsatisfactory and so again assumed personal management with the aid of his sons. They are now among the largest stockmen of this part of the county, shipping on an average of a carload of stock each week throughout the entire year. They ship cattle and hogs mostly to Chicago, although they sometimes ship hogs to Ottumwa, Iowa. Mr. Mitchell owns a small farm adjoining his city property, where with commodious barns he does some of his feeding in the winter. His Polk township property, covering a half section, is a well improved stock farm. He also carries on general agricultural pursuits and the property is splen- didly improved, being equipped with all modern accessories and conven- iences and with the latest machinery. There is a fine young orchard on the place, good water and no waste land and its splendid appearance indi- cates the practical and progressive methods of the owner. In addition to his other business interests Mr. Mitchell is a stockholder in the Farmers Savings Bank of Packwood.
In 1879 Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Clara Coykendall, a daughter of Joseph and Judith (Moss) Coykendall, both of whom were natives of Illinois. In 1873 they came to Iowa, settling on a farm in Polk township, Jefferson county, and it was upon that place that Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell were married. In 1880 Mr. Coykendall removed from this county to Colorado and is now located at Platteville, where he is living retired. At the present writing he is filling the office of justice of the peace. In the fall of 1911, although now eighty-four years of age, he took part in a celebration there. With his nineteen-year-old driving horse he entered a free-for-all race and drove the animal himself and made the mile in 2:19. This broke all Colorado records for an eighty-four year old driver. His horse had been a former grand circuit winner. In the public life of Platteville Mr. Coykendall has been quite prominent, serving
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