USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 41
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James Frederic Clarke has always made Fairfield his home, save during the periods spent in acquiring his education. After attending the public schools he was for three years a student in Parsons College. During this time he was one of the founders of the first Agassiz Society in Iowa-a scientific organization which flourished for years and had branches all over the state. These Agassiz clubs finally united in a state organization and Mr. Clarke was elected the first president of this "Iowa Assembly of the Agassiz Association."
From Parsons College Dr. Clarke went to the Iowa State Uni- versity, where he graduated on the honor roll in the class of 1886 with the degree B. S., his graduating thesis being a study of Indian corn. He next entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and was there given the degree of M. D., after a three years' course of study and again was on the honor roll for scholarship in 1889. The same year he received his Master's Degree from the University of Iowa for work in physiology.
After graduating in medicine, Dr. Clarke entered the competitive ex- amination for the position of resident physician in the Philadelphia Hos- pital. Being successful in this, he served two years in this venerable insti- tution of seventeen hundred beds, acquiring a broad practical experience in medicine and surgery. For a time he was chief resident physician and while here, he published a study of the mercurial tremors of felt-hat makers.
Returning to Fairfield Dr. Clarke began the practice of his profession and after a few years work, he spent one further year in post-graduate study in Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and in the University of Goettingen, Germany.
Dr. Clarke has always taken an active interest in medical and scientific. societies. He has been a member of the American Society of Microsco-
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pists, the American Public Health Association, the Philadelphia Patholog- ical Society and aside from all the local medical societies he belongs to the American Medical Association, the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science and is a fellow of the Iowa Academy of Sciences. He has sometime served as president of the Des Moines Valley Medical Association and of the Southeastern Iowa Medical Association and as first vice president of the Iowa State Medical Society.
In 1900 Dr. Clarke was appointed "lecturer on hygiene" in the medical and dental departments of the State University of Iowa. For the past eight years he has been lecturer on bacteriology in Parsons College, in Fairfield. He has made a special study of defective children, having dis- covered and relieved many cases of sporadic cretinism and, through ad- dresses in various parts of the state, he has called wide attention to this often misunderstood condition.
In 1891 Dr. Clarke was united in marriage to Miss Melinda E. Clapp, a native of Ohio, then living in Lee Center, Illinois, a daughter of Sylvester Clapp. In 1906 Dr. Clarke was elected to represent Jefferson county in the Iowa state legislature. Though a democrat he had a majority of six hundred votes in a county which has a normal republican majority of one thousand. Jefferson county had not before sent a democrat to the legis- lature for forty years. Dr. Clarke was for one term mayor of Fairfield, during which time he labored for the construction of a sewer system and other city improvements. Failing to carry his cherished plans through a factional city council, he resigned for the purpose of focusing public atten- tion on the situation. The letter of resignation, widely published. helped in the accomplishment of the city's advancement. He is connected with the blue lodge, chapter and Knights Templar of Masons and is a member of the Congregational church.
At the beginning of the Spanish war. Dr. Clarke, who had long been connected with the Iowa National Guard, was commissioned major and surgeon of the Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and he served in this rank throughout the war, in Florida and Cuba. Most of this time he was on detached duty, in charge of the medical wards of the second division hospital of the Seventh Army Corps. Here, with at times thirteen as- sistants, he cared for the sick in a hospital of seven hundred beds. Know- ing from experience the value of trained women nurses, Dr. Clarke, early in the war, asked that they be employed to care for the sick soldiers in these semi-field hospitals. This attempted innovation for army hospitals met with the emphatic disapproval of the regular army corps surgeon. Disregarding army traditions, in the cause of dying soldiers. Dr. Clarke went over the heads of his superiors and appealed through the governor of Iowa to the secretary of war. For this insubordination he was sent
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back to his regiment by the corps surgeon, but his object was accomplished. The governor of Iowa was allowed to send graduate women nurses to care for Iowa soldiers, the precedent was established, and soon female nurses were employed throughout the army hospitals in the field. The cause of Dr. Clarke's dismissal being brought to the attention of General Fitzhugh Lee, the corps commander, he was soon reinstated to his position as chief physician in the division hospital. Dr. Clarke later established and had charge of the Convalescent Hospital at Pablo Beach, Florida.
At the present time Dr. Clarke is witnessing the completion of a project for which he has worked for twenty years, the establishment of a hospital in Fairfield. For all these years he has agitated this subject and finally, when the Munger law made the voting of a hospital-tax possible, he as a committee of one, appointed by the physicians of the county, had sole charge of the campaign which carried at the polls, by a five-hundred- majority vote, a tax to build a hospital.
Though some time president of the local Old Settlers Association, a director in the Chautauqua Association and active generally in the public life of Fairfield, the following three things, Dr. Clarke feels, are his only important contributions to the welfare of his fellowmen: The introduction of trained women nurses in army hospitals .- The development of many imbecile cretin-children into normal individuals .- The building of a hos- pital in Fairfield. Dr. Clarke's principal writings, other than those already mentioned, are: "Huber." A Hospital Story. Midland Magazine. "What Iowa People Eat." New York Medical News, 1898. "The Plasmodia of Malaria." Studies in the Philadelphia Hospital. Reports of cases of Sporadic Cretinism in the Medical Fortnightly and the Journal of the American Medical Association at various times. "A Medical History of the Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry." Iowa Medical Journal. "The Water Supply of Fairfield." Fairfield Tribune. "Who are the Doctors of Medicine." President's Address.
LEE T. GOBBLE.
Lee T. Gobble, a resident of Fairfield since 1896, during which period he has been actively connected with the banking and mercantile interests of the city, being now senior member in the firm of Gobble & Heer, cloth- ing and men's furnishing goods, was born in Abingdon, Jefferson county. Iowa, December 18, 1859, a son of T. W. and J. E. (Taylor) Gobble. The former was a native of Virginia, born August 20. 1818, and the latter was born in England, March 1, 1839. T. W. Gobble continued his resi-
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dence in the Old Dominion until twenty-six years of age when he came to Jefferson county, in 1844, and took up his abode in Abingdon, where for sixty years he engaged in merchandising. His wife became a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois, and removed with her parents to that place during her early girlhood, afterward going to Granby, Missouri, where she remained until she became a young lady. She then came with her foster parents to Polk township, Jefferson county, and was there married. By a former marriage Mr. Gobble had six children, four of whom are now living and by his second marriage, to Miss Taylor, there were born seven children of whom six yet survive.
Lee T. Gobble, the eldest of the second family, spent his youthful days in the usual manner of farm lads, to whom carefully alternated play and work brings a well rounded development. In 1882 he took up the occu- pation of merchandising in Abingdon in connection with his father and there remained actively in business for fourteen years, or until 1896, when he transferred his interests to his younger brother and removed to Fair- field. He entered business circles of this city as a clerk in the Iowa State Savings Bank and thus served until elected assistant cashier, while subse- quently he was chosen to the office of second vice president. He continued in that position until 1899, when, in connection with Charles A. Heer, he purchased their present clothing business from the W. H. Booker estate. Under the firm style of Gobble & Heer they have since conducted a well established business in clothing and men's furnishings, conveniently located on the north side of the square. They have a well selected stock and in the conduct of the business employ only such methods as will hear the closest investigation and scrutiny. Mr. Gobble is also the owner of farm property to which he gives his personal supervision and he is likewise president of the Fairfield Farm Company, Incorporated, which owns a rice plantation in Arkansas county, Arkansas, while in connection with C. H. Gage he is interested in rice lands in Poinsett county, Arkansas. In business affairs he is both forceful and resourceful and his enterprise enables him to overcome difficulties and obstacles, while his industry pro- motes that constant progress which is bringing him to the goal of success.
In 1882 Mr. Gobble was married to Miss Mary M. Flindt, who was born in Abingdon, this county, on the 12th of November, 1860, and is a daughter of John D. and Laura (Schneider) Flindt. Her father was born in Holstein, Germany, May 20, 1819, a son of K. Flindt, a native of that place. In 1849 the father came to America, settling in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he followed the wagon-maker's trade. After a resi- dence of four years in the Keystone state he removed westward to Iowa and took up his abode in a house in Abingdon, which remained his home until his death, on the 30th of December, 1893. His wife, who was born
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in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1832, was of German lineage. They were married in Marshall county, West Virginia, November 17, 1851, both being residents of that county at the time. The death of Mrs. Flindt occurred at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gobble, January 30, 1899. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Flindt were born three children: Sarah, the wife of Charles H. Gobble, an insurance man of Muscatine, Iowa ; Mary, the wife of Lee T. Gobble; and John W. Flindt, a grocer, of Abingdon, who married Lilly Johnson, a daughter of M. J. Johnson, of Fairfield. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gobble have been born two sons, Robert Bruce and Carl Flindt. The former, born February 12, 1883, is associated with his father in business here. He married Vera Atchison, of Albia, Iowa, and they have one child, John Robert. Carl Flindt, born September 7, 1885, is now professor of animal husbandry in Purdue University, of Lafayette, Indiana. He is a graduate of the Ames Agricultural College, of the class of 1910. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gobble are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Fairfield and he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In church work Mrs. Gobble has been particularly helpful, acting as a teacher in the Sunday school from early womanhood, and for the past twelve years she has been president of the Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal church of this city. She is also a member of the Fairfield Ladies' Improvement Society, and Social and Literary Clubs, and is widely recognized as a woman of innate refinement and liberal culture, well qualified to take a leading position in the social circles of the city. Mrs. Gobble has for years been a contributor to various papers and magazines, her pen name of Margaret Flindt, which is a part of her maiden name, being well known in household and farm papers. She was a member of the first board of directors of the Fairfield Chautauqua Association and was a member of that board when the park was purchased, and permanent improvements made. She is especially interested in all educational and philanthropic lines of work.
Mr. Gobble has been associated with a number of interests of a semi- public character wherein the public has been a direct beneficiary. His deep interest in the cause of public education was manifest in his nine years of service as a member of the school board, during which period the Lincoln school building was erected. His labors in behalf of the system of public instruction here have been far reaching and beneficial. He was also one of the first subscribers to the Chautauqua Association and he acted as one of the committee to raise a bonus to secure the establishment of the plant of the Iowa Malleable Iron Company in Fairfield. He also acted as a member of the committee planning for the rebuilding of Parsons College. He stands always in favor of progress and improvement to the extent of
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being willing to give his active aid and cooperation to various measures for the general good. His work has been a tangible asset for advance- ment and for business enterprises as well, which, after all, constitutes the real foundation of a city's growth and prosperity.
SANFORD HUMPHREY.
A well earned rest is now being enjoyed by Sanford Humphrey, who for many years was identified with general agricultural pursuits but at the age of seventy-two years is now living retired. He was born in Penn township, this county, November 22, 1839, and is undoubtedly one of the oldest, if not the oldest, native son. He can tell many interesting tales of the early days, when Iowa was still a part of the territory of Wisconsin, when its broad prairies were uncultivated and when in certain districts of the state the Indians were more numerous than the white settlers. He has seen much wild game and remembers the days when there were no railroads and comparatively few wagon roads.
His parents were Raleigh and Phoebe (Edwards) Humphrey, both of whom were natives of Virginia, but in 1839 the family home was estab- lished in Jefferson county, Iowa, the father here entering land from the government in Penn township. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place, but he at once set about clearing and developing the property and continued the cultivation of his fields through- out the remainder of his life. He died in April, 1877, at the age of sixty- nine years, and his wife passed away in 1905. at the remarkable old age of ninety-six years.
Sanford Humphrey was reared upon the old homestead farm and early became familiar with the arduous tasks incident to the development of new fields. In his youthful days he attended the district schools and, after putting aside his text-books, he continued to devote his energies to the work upon the home farm, until he reached the age of thirty years. He then started out independently, purchasing eighty acres in Penn town- ship, which he at once began to cultivate. Year after year he tilled the fields and good crops were harvested, for his methods were practical and progressive. He studied the best time to put in his seed and cultivated such cereals as are best adapted to soil and climatic conditions. From the sale of his crops he was able to add something to his income each year and in 1908 he retired with a handsome competence, removing to Pleasant Plain, where he purchased a fine home which he has since occupied.
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On the 25th of May, 1871, Mr. Humphrey was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Kendall, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Engle) Kendall, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father was a cooper by trade and followed that pursuit for some time but afterward purchased a farm in Penn township and at once began to clear and improve it. Year by year he operated his land until 1893, when he sold out and retired from business life, removing to Fairfield, where his remaining days were spent in the enjoyment of well earned rest. He died in September, 1901; at the age of eighty-two years, and was survived by his wife until 1909, when at the age of seventy-five years she was called to her final rest. Their daughter, Mrs. Humphrey, was born in Ohio, in 1851, and was brought to this county by her parents in August, 1855. By her marriage she has become the mother of ten children: Minnie M., now the wife of G. A. Spielman, a resident of Packwood; Alonzo A., residing at East Pleasant Plain; Leward S., who makes his home in Jacksonville, Illinois ; Clarence Emmett, living in Superior, Nebraska; Charles R., a harness dealer of Pleasant Plain; Frank R., who resides in New York; Wilford K., who met his death in a railroad accident in 1909; Iva E., who is at- tending school at Cedar Falls, Iowa; M. Zona, at home; and Wilbur Clyde, who died in January, 1881. The family attend the Friends church and are loyal to its teachings. Politically Mr. Humphrey is a republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has always been loyal to the best interests of the community and his life has ever been an upright, honorable one, commending him to the confidence and good-will of all who know him. He has never sought to figure prominently in public affairs but has been content to do his duty well day by day and the years have brought him the high regard and honor of his fellow townsmen.
CHARLES W. BENN.
Charles W. Benn, one of the best known horsemen of Jefferson county, is the owner of some excellent horses of more than national fame. A native of Polk township, he was born September 7, 1866, a son of Alex- ander P. and Phoebe (Cowger) Benn, the former being a native of Vir- ginia of Irish descent, and the latter of Indiana, of German descent. Alexander P. Benn came to Iowa before the Civil war, at which time he was only seventeen years of age, and located in Jefferson county. He worked out by the month for a while but after his marriage he bought a fine farın in Polk township, where he lived during the remainder of his
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life, dying in 1891, while his wife passed away in 1888. Mr. Benn was one of the pioneer threshers of Iowa, owning and operating a threshing machine all his life and even at the time of his death, when he was 110 longer able to oversee the running of the machine, he still owned one. His first thresher was an old style chaff piler. He became a very noted stockman and wealthy farmer in Iowa and was highly honored throughout the county whose early growth and development he had witnessed.
Charles W. Benn attended the district schools in Polk township and then helped his father on the farm and at threshing until he was twenty- four years of age when, on August 26, 1891, he married Miss Minnie Swain, of Fairfield, Iowa, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Stewart) Swain. The father was born in Virginia and died there when Mrs. Benn was a small child. The mother came to Iowa over thirty years ago and settled in Fairfield, where she now lives. At the time of his marriage Mr. Benn moved to one of his father's farms, which he purchased shortly afterwards. Selling this tract of land, he afterwards bought and sold a number of farms, and on December 16, 1904, having disposed of his farm property, he went to Packwood, where he now resides. Since his boyhood days Mr. Benn has been engaged in the threshing business and for over thirty years has owned and operated a machine. Today he owns and operates one of the largest and best steam outfits in this part of the country. During this time he has purchased five new steam-power ma- chines which he bought from Russell & Company, of Massillon, Ohio. He, however, began this work with an Altman & Taylor horse-power machine. To Mr. and Mrs. Benn has been born one child, Robert K., aged nineteen, who is a graduate of the Packwood high school in the class of 1911 and is now a student in the Kansas City Veterinary College.
Mr. Benn has always been a lover of good horses and was not twenty years of age when he bought his first stallion. There have been very few years since that he has not owned from one to half a dozen blooded. stallions or at least has had an interest in some. In 1908 Mr. Benn took his son Robert into partnership, under the firm name of C. W. Benn & Son. Today they have in their stables seven finely bred animals, namely : Paul-his foreign registered number being 45371, his home number 40400 -Percheron Norman, was imported from France in 1903, at the age of two years. This animal is well known in the horse world, having won repeatedly from all competitors in show rings in France and America. Ben Hur-No. 49550 Percheron Norman, is American born, was foaled in 1907 and is recorded by the Percheron Society of America. Gredin- No. 64447-was imported from France in 1909 and is five years old. Sheffield-No. 42440-Percheron Norman, is American born, was foaled in 1904 and is recorded by the American Percheron Horse Breeders and
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Importers' Association. Romulus-No. 22674-imported Percheron, was bred by the famous Coco and Brilliant families and imported from France in 1899. Packwood Boy-known as Billy-is a standard bred and regis- tered in Rule I of the American Trotting Registry Association. He is five years old. A stud colt two years old is unnamed and unregistered and is sired by Paul.
Mr. Benn gives his support to the democratic party and is very active in local politics, having served one term as mayor of Packwood and three terms as a member of the city council. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic Lodge of Abingdon, Iowa; with the commandery and Royal Arch chapter of Fairfield; with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Abingdon; with the Modern Woodmen of America at Packwood; and with the Knights of Pythias of Packwood, having been a member of the latter organization throughout the entire period of its existence. As a lifelong resident of Jefferson county, connected with many fraternal or- ganizations and so well known in the business world, Mr. Benn's record is that of an eminently successful and prominent citizen.
JOHN F. MANN.
One of Jefferson county's enterprising sons is John F. Mann, who in connection with the operation of his fine homestead and the supervision of his various other personal interests is creditably discharging the duties of township clerk. He was born in Walnut township, on the 17th of March, 1871, and is a son of the late Christopher and Catherine (Wend- ling) Mann, the father a native of Germany and the mother of the state of Ohio. Christopher Mann spent the first ten years of his life in the land of his birth, whence he emigrated to the United States with his parents. Upon their arrival in this country they located in Jefferson county, the father entering a tract of land in Walnut township, which he put through the various preliminary operations preparatory to its cultivation. There he spent the remainder of his life, as did likewise his wife. The education of Christopher Mann was completed in Jefferson county, fol- lowing which his youthful energies were expended in assisting with the operation of the home farm until the breaking out of the Civil war. With most commendable patriotism he volunteered his services in the Union cause, enlisting in Company K, Seventh Iowa Volunteers, and went to the front where he remained until the close of hostilities. Upon receiving his discharge he returned to this county and resumed the duties of civil life as a farmer, and for some years thereafter gave his entire attention
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to the cultivation of the family homestead. By means of his thrift and capable management during that period he acquired the means to enable him to buy one hundred and forty-seven acres of raw land in Walnut township. This he cleared and improved and after erecting thereon a house and barn, settled there, all of his future efforts being directed toward its further improvement. He was very successful in both his farming and stock-raising and in addition to his valuable property had accumulated a very comfortable competence at the time of his death, on the 2d of May, 1902. The mother is still living and now makes her home in Brighton, Washington county.
Walnut township has practically always been the home of John F. Mann, who is indebted to its district schools for his education. As is usually the case on the farm, when old enough he was assigned the lighter duties about the homestead. After mastering the common branches he laid aside his school books and gave his entire attention to the work of the farm, remaining at home until he had attained his majority. When he was twenty-one he became associated with two others in the equipment of a threshing outfit, that they operated until 1902. During the season when he was not occupied with threshing he followed the carpenter's and painter's trades until the death of his father, when he rented the old farm, until after the estate was settled in 1906, when he bought the interest of the other heirs and acquired the full title to the property. Here he has ever since resided, and during the period of his ownership has greatly enhanced the value of his place by the addition of various modern improvements and conveniences, consistent with the spirit of progress that characterizes all of Mr. Mann's undertakings. He devotes his fields to the cultivation of such cereals as are best adapted to the soil and climate and is annually reaping abundant harvests. Besides his agricultural pursuits, he owns a half interest in two threshing outfits and is a stockholder in the Mutual Telephone Company. Thrift and industry have been salient features in the career of Mr. Mann, who is one of the substantial citizens of the township as is manifested by his fine property and other interests.
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