USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 4
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Sheridan, born August 12, 1867, is now publishing the Creston (Iowa) Advertiser-Gazette and is a member of the firm in which his brothers are his partners. Robert Tupper was born June 23, 1871, and died in 1905.
Such in brief is the life history of William Wallace Junkin, whose residence in this state, covering a period of sixty-eight years, well entitles him to mention in this volume, for he is one of the pioneers of Iowa and the active and helpful part which he has borne in matters of citizenship indicates his public-spirited devotion to the general good.
SAMUEL SALTS.
An honorable record of service in the war and faithful devotion to the advancement of agricultural interests in Jefferson county places Samuel Salts among the number whose names deserve worthy mention in the pages of this history. He was born in Warren county, Indiana, August 30, 1844, his parents being John and Jane (Stephenson) Salts. The family, which was originally named Salt, was established in this country by the great-grandfather, Thomas Salt, who came from Ireland to Virginia in 1776, where he became a planter, taking up land under a patent issued by Governor Hastings of Virginia. The grandfather, John Salts, came from Ohio to Indiana, in 1832, and there took up land for cultivation. The patent conferring the title upon him was issued by territorial Governor Harrison, and is an interesting document in reference to its bearing on family history, since it shows the name to have been changed from Salt to Salts some time in the period intervening between 1776 and 1832. These two patents are at present in the possession of F. M. Salts, who regards them as among the most valuable relics in his antiquarian collection. John Salts, the father of Samuel Salts, was born in Ohio of Scotch-Irish par- entage. At the age of twelve years, he was taken by his parents to Warren county, Indiana, where he remained until his death. His wife, who still survives him and is at this writing in her eighty-fourth year, lives in Hedrick, Iowa.
Spending his boyhood days in his native locality in Indiana, Samuel Salts obtained his education in the Sumter school in his home district. When old enough to assist his father with plowing and reaping, he gave his attention to the cultivation of the fields, and chose this as the calling which he followed during his life. In April, 1864, at the age of twenty years, he entered the army, enlisting in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Volunteer Infantry, and served in the war until its close. During this time, he took part in a number of important skirmishes and
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did considerable garrison duty. He received his honorable discharge at Indianapolis, Indiana, and returned home to resume farming. In the spring of 1868, he came to Iowa, locating on a farm in Locust Grove town- ship. For four years after his arrival, our subject operated a sawmill, but discontinued this in order to devote his undivided attention to his agricultural interests. In 1874, he bought the farm on which he now lives ; a tract of ninety acres of fertile land, yielding abundant crops. He met with much success, the reward of steadfast toil and unflagging effort, devoted to progress and improvement. He is no longer actively occupied with the management of the farm, his son John now performing this work for him. He continues to live on the place, however, overseeing the man- agement and giving aid with wise counsel.
The marriage of Mr. Salts and Miss Rhoda Fisher, a daughter of a pioneer resident of Locust Grove township, occurred on September 21, 1871. Mrs. Salts' mother died when she was a child. Her father, George Fisher, who was of German descent, was born in Pennsylvania and as a young man came to Iowa in the early days before the land was opened to settlers ; when Indian barbarities were rampant throughout this territory. and the white man was outnumbered by his copper-colored brother in the proportion of five to one. He entered a claim in Des Moines township. Jefferson county. This tract he cleared and cultivated, remaining upon it until some time during the Civil war, when he sold it and removed to a new place which he purchased, in Locust Grove township, where he resided until his death. On July 30, 1898, Mrs. Salts departed this life. She was survived by her husband and two children: John, who is at home with his father and operates the home place; and Samuel Guy, who lives on a farm adjoining the father's and is married to Miss Martha J. Craw- ford, a daughter of William J. Crawford, a farmer of Locust Grove township.
In July, 1900, Mr. Salts was again married, the second union being with Mrs. Annie P. Hudgell of Fairfield, Iowa. She passed away on May 5, 1906, deeply mourned by her husband to whom she had been a faithful and devoted wife. Mr. Salts has two sisters and two brothers; four, besides himself, being all that remain of a family of twelve. They are: William Salts of Des Moines township; James O. Salts of Fairfield, Iowa; Lucinda, the wife of James Pelkenton of Fairfield, Iowa; and Rhoda, who lives with her mother in Hedrick, Iowa.
Politically, Mr. Salts is conservative, and stanchly upholds the princi- ples adhered to by the "stand pat" republicans. He is still serving as assessor of Locust Grove township, having held this position for the past thirteen years. He has likewise occupied the office of trustee of the town- ship for several terms, and was a director of the school board in the
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Brookville independent school district. In his fraternal relations, he is a loyal Mason, being a member of Fairfield Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M .; to which his sons likewise belong. The latter, also, are members of the Odd Fellows lodge of Fairfield. Mr. Salts is a good father and a loyal friend, possessing the warm regard of all who know him. He was appointed on General Tuttle's staff with the rank of captain.
LEWIS ACHENBACH.
Lewis Achenbach, well-known as a prosperous representative of the agricultural interests of Jefferson county, was born on the farm which he now operates, May 23, 1865. His parents, Ludwig and Margaret (Theo- phel) Achenbach, were natives of Germany. His father, on his arrival in this country, in 1849, located in Ohio, but soon went farther west, choosing Jefferson county, Iowa, for his home. Here, he located near the town of Lockridge and secured employment with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, which was then constructing its road through this region. He continued at this work for several years, when he bought forty acres of land in Lockridge township and engaged in farming. From time to time, he bought more land, increasing the size of his farm, until it comprised one hundred and seventy acres. He cultivated this land till eight or ten years before his death, when he rented it to his sons, and retired to live free from responsibilities thenceforth. His death occurred in July, 1898. His wife passed away many years earlier, in December. 1882.
Lewis Achenbach was brought up at home. He was sent to the Lock- ridge township schools, where he was educated in the common branches of learning. After concluding his schooling, he assisted with the work on the home farm. When he came of age, he rented land and began to farm for himself, living with his parents, however, with whom he remained until their death. On this occasion, the home farm came into his possession ; and to the cultivation of this tract of one hundred and seventy acres he has given his whole energies ever since. He is a practical farmer, and progressive in his methods; believing in the best possible equipment for a farm, in order to attain the most satisfactory results. The buildings, all erected by himself, are well constructed and modern in detail. He raises on an average sixty head of hogs a year; he keeps twenty-five head of cattle and ten horses.
On January 17, 1892, Mr. Achenbach was united in marriage to Mary L. Graf, a daughter of John and Louisa (Snyder) Graf. Her parents,
LEWIS ACHENBACH AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
too, were natives of Germany, having came to this country with the in- coming tide of foreign population, during the middle of the nineteenth century. When her father was old enough, he began to farm, buying for this purpose a farm in Lockridge township. Here he remained till death claimed him in May, 1911. His widow survives him and is now in her seventieth year.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Achenbach. Their names are: Clara E., aged eighteen ; Herman H., aged fifteen; Bertha A. died in 1900; Ruth M., aged eight; and William Henry, aged five. Mr. Achen- bach is a republican, and was elected by the members of his party to serve three terms as trustee and as secretary of his township. He was secretary of the school board for fourteen years. In his religious faith, he and his family give their support to the Lutheran church. Mr. Achenbach is a man of high moral character, and responsive to every appeal for the ad- vancement of his community.
JOHN L. WRIGHT.
John L. Wright, one of the prominent and substantial residents of Cedar township, owns an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 14 but has lived practically retired during the past four years, leaving the active work of the fields to his son, Henry Clay. His birth occurred near Winchester, Scott county, Illinois, on the 11th of September, 1840, his parents being Jacob and Rebecca (Groce) Wright. The father was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, on the 29th of May, 1803, and was a son of Philip Wright, a well known wheelwright of the Blue Grass state. In early manhood Jacob Wright removed to Cumberland county, Kentucky, where he was married. In 1829 he removed to Scott county, Illinois, where he worked at the wheelwright's trade and also followed farming. In 1847 he left that state and came to Jefferson county, Iowa, locating on the farm which is now in possession of our subject. He paid nine hun- dred dollars for a tract of three hundred and twenty acres and in the spring of 1848 took up his abode thereon. There was not a rail on the property and in addition to clearing the ground, he and his son William made four hundred rails per day, hauling them with oxen. Four years later Jacob Wright walked back to Illinois in order to obtain from his father-in-law sufficient cash to purchase a tract of one hundred acres lying north of his farm. That property is now the site of the Wright cemetery and was donated by Jacob Wright for a public burying ground. The body of his son, Josiah Wright, who died in 1852, was the first one to be interred
Vol. II-3
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therein. On the homestead on section 14, Cedar township, the parents of John L. Wright spent the remainder of their lives, the father passing away on the 21st of June, 1894, and the mother on the 30th of April, 1876. Their marriage had been celebrated in 1828. Their remains were interred in the Wright cemetery. Unto this honored pioneer couple were born ten sons, as follows: William, who is a resident of Fairfield, Iowa; Noah, who is deceased; Elijah, living in Wichita, Kansas; Peter, who has also passed away; Isaac, of Audubon county, Iowa; Thomas, who resides in Barton county, Missouri; John L., of this review; Alfred, living in Fair- field, Iowa; Isom, who is deceased; and Josiah, who died as a child.
John L. Wright remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. His mother taught him how to spin and in this art he became as proficient as any girl in the section where they resided. There being no daughters in the family, he assisted his mother in many of the duties which usually fall to the other sex. In 1865 he spent a brief period in Illinois as a farm hand. In 1875 he purchased eighty acres of land from his father and, as a reward for his filial devotion, was given the forty- acre tract on which stood the old homestead. At the present time he owns one hundred and sixty acres of as fine land as can be found in Jefferson county. In 1907 he put aside the active work of the fields and turned over the management of the farm to his son, Henry Clay, who himself owns a twenty-acre tract which he bought from his uncle Alfred in 1906.
On the 15th of June, 1879, in his own home, Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Laura Jane Rodabaugh, a daughter of Joseph and Catharine (Eichelbarger) Rodabaugh, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland respectively. The father's birth occurred March 16, 1818, while the mother was born on the 6th of November, 1822. They were married on the 13th of October, 1839, and in the spring of 1843 came to Jefferson county, Iowa, from Ohio. Joseph Rodabaugh owned an apple nursery three miles northwest of Birmingham, this state, and did an ex- tensive business, his being at that time the only nursery in the locality. In 1882 he left his farm and took up his abode in Birmingham, where his wife passed away on the 21st of July, 1898. Mr. Rodabaugh is now living in retirement in California, one hundred miles south of San Francisco, making his home with his daughter, Mrs. Mary De Hart. He is ninety- three years of age and promised that he would return to Iowa on a visit when he had reached the century mark. When eighty-one years old he married Mrs. Isabelle Rodabaugh, the widow of his brother, Daniel Roda- baugh, who was at that time seventy-nine years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Wright have one son, Henry Clay. whose birth occurred on the farm on which he now resides, on October 26, 1881. He attended the district schools of Cedar township in the acquirement of an
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education and since putting aside his text-books has devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits, being now numbered among the progressive and enterprising young farmers of the community. On the 2Ist of December, 1904, he wedded Miss Elizabeth Mardock, a daughter of William and Sarah (Wilson) Mardock, the former a native of Van Buren county and the latter of Jefferson county, this state. At the time of his marriage William Mardock resided on a farm a mile and a quarter south of that of John L. Wright. He is now employed in the Iowa tile ditcher factory and resides with his wife at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Wright have one child, Ruby Iola, who was born on the 12th of December, 1907. Henry Hammons, an uncle of Mrs. H. C. Wright, participated in the Civil war and had a brother, Wesley, who died while at the front. On the 29th of November, 1910, Mrs. John L. Wright passed away in the faith of the Freewill Baptist church, having been a member of a church of that denomination near Birmingham, Iowa.
Both John L. Wright and his son give their political allegiance to the democracy, believing firmly in its principles. Among the most valued objects in possession of our subject is a singing book which was used by his mother when a girl. He also has a spinning wheel made in Illinois by his father. who was a fine workman. Mr. Wright has now passed the seventy-first milestone on his earthly pilgrimage and is spending the evening of life in well earned ease, happy in the friendship and esteem of all who know him.
HENRY CLAY RANEY.
Henry Clay Raney, whose demise occurred on the 19th of August, 1903, was for twenty years one of the prominent members of the Jefferson county bar. He is one of the best known business and professional men of Fairfield, the city of his residence. His birth occurred on a farm in sec- tion 31, Cedar township, this county, on the IIth of December, 1855, his parents being William and Hannah (Loomis) Raney. The father, born in Berkeley county, West Virginia, on the 10th of August, 1821, was a gentleman of Scotch-Irish descent; and an agriculturist by occupation. Removing with his parents to Greene county, Ohio, he there remained until 1844, when he came to Iowa territory by horseback on a prospecting tour. Two years later, he returned to the new state of Iowa, locating on a farm on Lick Creek, Van Buren county. On the 13th of August, 1846, he wedded Miss Emily Alexander, of Greene county, Ohio, whom he brought to this state, and who passed away on the 19th of August, 1847. In 1851, William Raney married Miss Hannah Loomis, and, the following
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year, took up his abode on a farm in Cedar township, Jefferson county. Hannah Loomis, a native of Ohio, came to this county with her parents in 1839. Her father, Nathaniel Loomis, was a gentleman of Scotch-Irish descent, and a farmer of Holmes county, Ohio. In 1891, William Raney left the farm in Cedar township, and took up his abode in Fairfield, where he spent the remainder of his life in honorable retirement. He passed away on the 17th of October, 1892. He had been a resident of this county for four decades, and had gained an enviable reputation as a substantial agriculturist and representative citizen. His wife, surviving him for ten years, was called to her final rest on the 14th of November, 1902.
Henry Clay Raney began his education in a district school of Cedar township, and, later, attended the academy at Birmingham, Iowa. In 1877, he entered Parsons' College, from which he was graduated in June, 1880, being a member of the first class of graduates the institution sent out. He had completed the four-year course in three years. Having de- termined upon the legal profession as a life work, he read law for one year with the firm of Leggett & McKemey, and, on the 24th of August, 1882, was admitted to the bar. Subsequently, he pursued a course of office study in Chicago, preparatory to taking up the practive of law with Leggett & McKemey. After spending one year in the office of that firm, Mr. Raney opened an office of his own, and, for twenty years, or until the time of his demise, enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of the prominent members of the Jefferson county bar. His activities, however, were not confined to the practice of law. At the time of his death, he was a member of the firm of Raney Brothers, conducting the Fairfield Brick & Tile Company. He was likewise the president, and one of the organizers, of the Jefferson County Telephone Company. He proved so capable an official that he was chosen the president of the Iowa Telephone Association, and, afterward, became the chief executive officer of the Interstate Telephone Association.
On the 7th of February, 1883, Mr. Raney was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Bogle, a daughter of Samuel and Rachel (Wilson) Bogle, both of whom were natives of Perry county, Ohio; the former was born in 1832 and the latter in 1835. In 1856 they came to Iowa, locating in Lee county. The following year witnessed their removal to Van Buren county, where they continued to reside throughout the remainder of their lives. Samuel Bogle followed farming until 1867, when he took up his abode in Birming- ham, Iowa, there living retired until called to his final rest on the 27th of June, 1890. His wife passed away on the 7th of December, 1910. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Raney were born five children, as follows: William, who died in infancy; Franklin Clay, who is employed in the advertising department of the Hershall Company of Peoria, Illinois, and who wedded Miss Hazel Workman, of Mount Zion, Iowa; Ralph Bogle, who died at
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the age of eleven months ; Ellery M., now a student in Harvard University ; and Elizabeth, who attends the Fairfield public schools.
In politics, Mr. Raney was a progressive republican and was called upon to serve the public in the line of his profession. He acted as county attorney and also as city solicitor of Fairfield, and was a member of the city council during one year. He was a pronounced prohibitionist, bitterly opposed to the sale of liquor in any of its forms, and, during his term as county attorney, waged continual war against violators of the law in this and adjoining counties. Mr. Raney was a distinguished member of the Jefferson County Bar Association, which organization, together with the Iowa Telephone Association and the Fairfield Presbyterian church, paid glowing tributes to his memory. In boyhood, he joined the Presbyterian church and remained loyal to the tenets of that denomination throughout the remainder of his life. For twenty years, he was an earnest and active member of the Fairfield Presbyterian church and, during that entire period, was an efficient member of the board of trustees, acting as chairman of the board for fifteen years. His widow also belongs to that church. She now resides at No. 209 West Grimes street, where she took up her abode after the demise of her husband, who passed away in their home on South Main street. In the course of a successful business and professional career, Mr. Raney gave evidence of the possession of those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard. His memory remains as a blessed benediction to those who knew him.
JACOB S. McKEMEY.
Jacob S. McKemey needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for his long and prominent connection with the bar and his helpful advocacy of many progressive measures of citizenship have made him widely known. His entire life has been passed in Jefferson county and in his history there is no esoteric phase. He has always been actuated by a sense of loyalty to duty, which is as strongly manifest in his public relations and in his private life as in his professional connections, where he serves the interests of a large clientele.
Mr. McKemey was born in Fairfield, September 7, 1854, and is a representative of one of the oldest families of this section of the state, his parents, Joseph A. and Cynthia (Hemphill) McKemey, having come to Iowa in 1839, when this district was still a part of the territory of Wisconsin. Extended mention of his parents is made elsewhere in this volume, for no record of Jefferson county would be complete without
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mention of them. The youthful days of Jacob S. McKemey were passed in a manner similar to that of most lads of the period. He was a pupil in the public schools prior to entering Iowa College at Grinnell, and with a good literary education to serve as the basis for his professional knowledge, he took up the study of law in the office of the well known firm of Stubbs & Leggett of this city. His thorough preliminary reading qualified him for admission to the bar and on the 3d of May, 1877, he successfully passed the required examination. He then entered into partnership with his for- mer preceptor, Charles D. Leggett, and the association was maintained for ten years, or until Judge Leggett's elevation to the bench on the 6th of December, 1886. Mr. McKemey then formed a partnership with Eben F. Simmons, who had been a student and clerk in his office for several years but following the retirement of Judge Leggett from the bench the old partnership relation was resumed and the firm of Leggett & McKemey still continues. The years have chronicled a continuous increase in their business and there have been few important cases tried in the courts of this district with which they have not been associated either as counsel for the defense or prosecution. The zeal with which Mr. McKemey has devoted his energies to his profession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of his clients and the assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all details of his cases have brought him a large business and made him very successful in its conduct. His arguments have always elicited warm com- mendation not only from his associates at the bar but also from the bench. In addition to his law practice, Mr. McKemey is one of the stockholders of the Iowa State Savings Bank and was chosen a member of its first board of directors.
ยท Mr. McKemey has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Ada Light, a daughter of Solomon Light. She passed away on the Ioth of June, 1887, leaving a son, Charles L., whose birth had occurred July 27, 1882. On the 19th of June, 1889, Mr. McKemey was married to Miss Julia Scofield, a daughter of Bryant Scofield, of Carthage, Illinois, in which city Mrs. McKemey was born and from its college was graduated. Coming to Fairfield, she was elected superintendent of the schools here and by reelection served for four years at the head of the public-school system of this city. Both Mr. and Mrs. McKemey attend the Congregational church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party because of his firm belief in its principles. He has never been an aspirant for office, for he has ever felt that his professional duties demanded all his time and attention save that which he wished to give to home and social interests in his leisure hours. Choosing a business in which individual merit is the source of all advancement, he has gradually worked his way upward and the bar and the public both accord him prominence in the
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