USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 7
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as follows : Joseph V., of this review ; William, deceased; Samuel, a resident of Edwards county, Kansas ; Mary Smith, a widow living at Mount Pleasant ; Annie, who married Oscar Cornell, of Pawnee county, Kansas; Nora Jane, who married W. S. Shoemaker of Ottumwa, Iowa; John M., who has also passed away ; Thomas M., of Hutchinson, Kansas; and Amanda, the wife of Elmer Richardson, of Wilmore, Kansas.
Joseph V. Clark spent the first seventeen years of his life in Van Buren county and then, in 1866, came with his parents to Jefferson county, making his home in Liberty township until his marriage. He then took up his abode in Wayne county where he resided for one year, after which he returned to Liberty township, here engaging in agricultural pursuits until twenty years ago. At that time he removed to Birmingham and at once began deal- ing in horses and at the same time carried on a real-estate business. Later he became identified with financial interests as a director of the Birmingham Savings Bank, in which capacity he has served since its organization, and since its inception has also served as a director of the Farmers Exchange Building of Birmingham. For nineteen years he divided his attention be- tween these various enterprises and by reason of well directed efforts and keen business sagacity came at length to be ranked among the most pros- perous and representative residents of the town. He continued actively in business there with increasing success until about a year ago, when he re- turned to country life, taking up his home upon his home farm of one hun- dred and fifty acres located on section 27, Liberty township. He also owns another tract in Ford county, Kansas, and one in Haskell county, that state, and in the conduct of his farming enterprise his labors are likewise proving most profitable. He is well known and influential in agricultural circles in this district, serving at present as secretary of the Van Buren County Farm- ers Institute, which office he has filled for several years and in which capacity he is doing all in his power to stimulate the interest of his fellowmen in all that tends to promote progress in agricultural lines.
Mr. Clark was married February 18, 1873, to Miss Ella M. Tower, who was born in Ripley county, Indiana, on the 24th of February, 1852, and came to Jefferson county, Iowa, November 1, 1854, with her parents, J. H. and Philena (Burton) Tower. Her father, born February 24, 1825, is still living at the venerable age of eighty-six years. When he came to Iowa he entered two hundred acres of land near Batavia. He now makes his home in Pamona, California, but the mother passed away in 1869. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Clark there are three children, namely: Clara M., who is the wife of Dr. A. E. Nelson, of Sidney, Iowa, and they have two children, R. and A. C .; Lester T., has four children, A. C., Mary LaRue, Ralph Edmund and Robert Dale, residing at Palisade, Colorado; and Inez J., at home, who graduated from Birmingham high school, from the College of
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Oratory of Drake University and from Fremont, Nebraska, College, and who for a time was principal of the schools of Broken Bow, Nebraska. The other children also graduated from the high school. Since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Clark has voted for republican candidates and principles and has served in various minor offices, including that of school director, in which capacity he has acted for many years. He is well known throughout the community for the interest which he takes in all matters of public improvement, is a man worthy of the con- fidence of the people and is one of the township's most substantial business factors.
JOSEPH ALISON McKEMEY.
Indelibly interwoven with the annals of Jefferson county is the name of Joseph Alison McKemey, numbered among those who laid the foundation for the present progress and prosperity of this section of the state. More than seventy-two years have come and gone since he first took up his abode in Iowa, which, however, was then a part of the territory of Wisconsin. The date of his arrival here was June, 1839, and the condition which met him was that which is usually found on the frontier. There was acre after acre of untilled and unclaimed land and in the summer time the prairies were starred with a million wild flowers, while in the winter seasons they presented the appearance of one unbroken and dazzling sheet of snow. Only here and there had a little settlement been made, showing that some courage- ous pioneer was braving the hardships and dangers of life in a district on the very borders of civilization.
Joseph A. McKemey was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, born March 27, 1815, and his parents were James W. and Martha ( Alison) McKemey, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. Both were born in Franklin county, the former in 1785, and the latter March 19, 1793. James W. McKemey died in 1816, at the early age of twenty-nine years, and a few years later his widow became the wife of Jacob Slagle, who proved a kind and devoted father to Joseph A. McKemey, who was the only child of the mother's first marriage. Mrs. Slagle died in St. Louis, Missouri, May 15, 1858, while on the way to visit her children in Iowa.
Joseph A. McKemey served a regular apprenticeship to the trade of saddler and harness maker under his stepfather, working in the shop until he attained his majority, after which he was employed as a journeyman in various cities of Ohio and Indiana. In the spring of 1839 he accompanied three older men on the long journey from Washington, Pennsylvania, to the territory of Iowa. They traveled on horseback, crossing the three states
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of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and after a month spent upon the road reached Burlington, Iowa, on the 24th of June. They had proceeded as far as Decatur, Illinois, when they found it was impossible to continue their journey because of swollen streams and remained from Friday until the following Tuesday at a hotel where Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Doug- las were guests. The time was enlivened by the conversation and sallies of wit between the two young men who were later to become national charac- ters. On reaching Springfield, Mr. McKemey and his companion found that Mr. Lincoln was already there, having preceded them on foot. From Burling- ton, Iowa, Mr. McKemey traveled to Bentonsport, and there established a little general store and harness shop, conducting business at that place until 1842, when he became a resident of Jefferson county. Here he pur- chased a claim of four hundred and eighty acres, which was situated about two miles south of Fairfield, entering the land at the government sales and immediately afterward beginning the improvement of his property. He possessed the courageous spirit and indomitable energy which characterized so many of the pioneer settlers and had soon converted a considerable por- tion of his wild prairie into productive fields.
For a companion and helpmate on life's journey Mr. McKemey chose Miss Cynthia Hemphill, whom he wedded February 28, 1844. She was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Adley Hemphill, and in her girlhood removed with her parents to Wayne county, Ohio, whence the family came to Jefferson county, Iowa, in 1842. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McKemey were born seven children: Martha Jane, the wife of Daniel De Vecmon, of Denver, Colorado, now deceased; Margaret, who died at the age of thirty years; one who died in infancy; Elizabeth, the wife of Cap- tain S. J. Chester ; Jacob S., also of Fairfield; Mary A., the wife of Rollin J. Wilson, son of Senator Wilson, also of Fairfield; and Flora, the wife of Dr. J. C. Sutton, now deceased.
In 1845 Mr. McKemey left the farm and established a harness shop in Fairfield, continuing in that business until elected county treasurer in the fall of 1857. He then sold out and on the Ist of October, that year, re- sumed the duties of the office to which he was twice reelected, serving for six years, at the end of which time he declined a renomination. He then purchased a harness shop in Fairfield and built up a gratifying trade, con- tinuing in the business until December 18, 1885, when, at the age of seventy years, he retired from active life. His capable management and well directed industry had brought him substantial success and a com- petency sufficient to meet all of his requirements through the evening of his days.
Throughout the entire period of his residence in the county, Mr. Mc- Kemey bore an active and helpful part in public affairs both along political
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lines and otherwise. In early manhood he gave his support to the whig party and stanchly maintained an attitude of opposition to slavery. In 1847 he met with seven others in Fairfield and organized an anti-slavery associa- tion for the purpose of opposing the system that prevailed in the south and also of aiding escaping fugitives. When the republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery he joined its ranks and was a delegate to the first state convention in 1854. He continued an ardent ad- vocate of that party until 1888, when, believing that the temperance ques- tion was then the dominant issue before the people; he joined the ranks of the prohibition party, supporting Fisk and Brooks, its nominees for president and vice president respectively. Thereafter he maintained an unfaltering allegiance to the party and was unceasing in his efforts to promulgate tem- perance principles. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church and remained a member thereof until 1860, when, not being in sympathy with the attitude of that church toward the slavery question, he and his wife withdrew and joined the Congregational church. Mr. McKemey reached a ripe old age and passed away in 1898, "full of years and honors." His life was indeed one of usefulness. His quiet manner, his easy dignity, his frankness and cordiality of address, with a total absence of anything sinister or anything to conceal foretoken a man who was ready to meet any obligation of life with the confidence and courage that come of con- scious, personal ability, right conception of things and an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.
C. W. WHITHAM.
In the business circles of Center township. C. W. Whitham occupies a prominent position as proprietor of the Fairfield Nursery. At the same time, he is also successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising, being numbered among the prosperous and progressive residents of this section of the county. He was born in Fairfield on the 29th of May, 1857, a son of J. M. and Emily Elmira (Dravo, nee Munhall) Whitham, who came to Fairfield about 1845. and were here married. The father, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, had in early life learned and followed the tailor's trade, but, after his arrival in Fairfield, he en- tered the bakery and grocery business. Subsequently, he purchased a small farm east of the city and there instituted the Fairfield Nursery, in the conduct of which his son is now engaged and to which he gave his attention from 1865 until 1880. In the latter year, he removed to Nebraska and for a time operated a lumber yard at Imperial, that state.
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After selling out his interests. there, he went to Colorado about the time Holyoke was started, and purchased at auction a lot and there built a gen- eral mercantile business which he conducted until called from this life. He passed away in Holyoke, in 1898, at the age of seventy-four years ; and his widow now makes her home in Seattle, Washington. By a former mar- riage, he had four children but unto his second union there were born twelve. Four children passed away in early life, while out of the entire sixteen nine are still living.
C. W. Whitham, the eldest child of J. M. and Emily E. Whitham, was a lad of four years when the family removed to the farm; thus his father's place was the training ground upon which he received his preparation for subsequent activity in the business world. He has continued a resident of Jefferson county since that time, with the exception of three years imme- diately following his marriage which he spent in Nebraska, where he home- steaded a claim. He now resides on a farm consisting of one hundred and forty-five acres on section 28, Center township, and here is busily engaged in the conduct of the Fairfield Nursery of which his father had been the original proprietor. He also carries on general farming and stock-raising, owning in connection with his son a tract of two hundred and sixty acres in Cedar township. In the management of his various interests, he mani- fests a thorough understanding of each resulting in the attainment of a prosperity which is substantial and creditable.
The year 1880 witnessed the marriage of Mr. Whitham and Miss Iowa Ellen McCormick, who was born in Buchanan township, Jefferson county, January 22, 1863 ; a daughter of George and Sarah (Howard) McCormick. Her parents were both natives of Indiana and came to Iowa in the same fall, the father when thirteen years of age and the mother at the age of twelve. The former followed the occupation of farming all his life. He passed away on the 9th of July, 1911, when seventy-four years of age. His widow still survives and now makes her home at Beckwith. In their family were eleven children of whom five died in infancy while the other six are yet living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Whitham were born ten children but six passed away in early life, those remaining being: Raymond Arthur, a resident of Fairfield, who married Mildred Dana and has one child; Roy R., residing on a farm near the old homestead, who married Bertha Mc- Grew and now has two children ; and Bessie Ellen and Iowa Daisy, whose births occurred just five years apart, their natal day being February 16th. The parents and their family hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and are well known in the social circles of the community in which they live. Mr. Whitham belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and his political support is given to the Republican party. Although not remiss in the duties of citizenship, he has never sought to figure in any
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public light but has preferred rather to concentrate his energies upon the conduct of his private affairs. Possessing a laudable ambition to succeed in the avenue of business activity which he has chosen as his life work, Mr. Whitham has earnestly and persistently pushed forward toward the goal of prosperity, and the success which has attended his efforts is all the more creditable because it has been won through honorable methods and fair dealing.
ISAAC D. JONES.
Isaac D. Jones is today one of the veteran members of the Iowa bar, having practiced continuously in Fairfield since 1860. Moreover he has been a resident of the state since its territorial days and has not only been an interested witness in the transformation that has here been wrought but has also actively participated in the work of development and progress which has brought Iowa to its present high place in the sisterhood of states. His birth occurred in Johnson county, Indiana, April 9, 1832. One of his great-grandfathers was Christopher McCannon, who served on the Virginia line during the Revolutionary war and was wounded at the battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina, after which his wife, Hannah, the great-grandmother of Mr. Jones, took care of him while he lay wounded on the battlefield. He did not recover from his injuries but soon passed away and was buried at Richmond, Virginia. The parents of our subject were William C. and Pamelia A. (Vaughan) Jones, the former born in North Carolina, July 9, 1809, and the latter in Virginia, October 3, 1811. They were reared, educated and married in the south and in 1831 removed from Virginia to Johnson county, Indiana, where they ar- rived on the 3Ist of December of that year. For about fourteen years they remained in Indiana and on the 30th of March, 1845, came to Iowa, settling in the eastern portion of Jefferson county. They first took up their abode on government land and later the father purchased other prop- erty, continuing to engage in farming until 1876. He then retired and removed to Fairfield, where his death occurred September 10, 1898. His wife had passed away in this city in 1889. They both had the warm friendship of many who knew them and Mr. Jones was regarded as a valuable citizen whose labors contributed to the work of general progress and improvement. He held a number of local offices including those of township assessor and county assessor in Indiana. He was likewise a member of the board of commissioners, was collector and treasurer and served as sheriff of Johnson county, Indiana. In 1840 he was also made
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deputy United States marshal for the district which included Johnson county. In 1860 he made the enumeration in the east half of Jefferson county and for two terms he filled the position of school fund commis- sioner. He also acted as justice of the peace and was clerk and member of the school board, being continuously identified with the interests of public education in Cedar township until his retirement from the farm in 1876. No public trust reposed in him was ever betrayed in the slightest degree and his loyalty to the best interests of the community marked him as one of the representative and worthy citizens of his part of the state. In politics he was a lifelong democrat, voting with that party since casting his first presidential ballot for Andrew Jackson in 1832. Both he and his wife held membership in the Christian church and were always loyal and true to their professions. Unto them were born six children of whom Isaac D. is the eldest. William H., who was a druggist of Fairfield for twenty-two years, is now deceased. Cornelius, who had conducted a drug store in Fairfield for twenty-eight years, is also deceased. Martin V. B., who had followed carpentry during the greater part of his life and who served for two years in the Twenty-sixth Missouri Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, was wounded at Champion's Hill, being shot through the knee, after which he was honorably discharged. He then returned to Fairfield where he continued his residence until called to his final rest. Wiley A. is a physician now living in Cantril, Van Buren county, Iowa. He served as hospital steward with the Tenth Iowa Infantry during the Civil war. Elizabeth R., the youngest of the family, died in 1864.
In early life Isaac D. Jones was handicapped by lameness, suffering, in 1845, from an illness which left him a cripple so that he has since used a crutch and cane. He has never allowed this, however, to retard his energy and laudable ambition, his dominant qualities, but has wisely used every opportunity that has come to him for the advancement of his interests. He continued to reside in Jefferson county until 1855, when he went to Missouri where he spent three years. He then returned to Fairfield in 1858 and, having determined to make the practice of law his life work, became a student in one of the law offices in this city. His further pre- liminary reading secured his admission to the bar in 1860 and he has since practiced here, being today the oldest representative of the legal profession in Fairfield. He has displayed marked ability in handling his cases which he always prepares with profound care, and his work in the courts has altogether been of an important character. From time to time as oppor- tunity has offered he has made judicious investment in real estate and has bought, sold and traded considerable property. He still has good holdings in Fairfield and from this derives a substantial annual income.
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On the IIth of December, 1856, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Rachel E. Young, who was born in Johnson county, Indiana, January 7. 1830, and was brought to Jefferson county in 1853 by her parents, Joseph and Mary (Moore) Young, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jones are: Anna M., who is the widow of Fred Moore and resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Kate M., an abstractor of titles occupying offices with her father; Eliza- beth R., who has been a national organizer with the Young Women's Christian Association for a number of years and is now located at Bisbee, Arizona ; Effie M., the wife of Frank C. Brown, a farmer of Greeley, Colorado; and Frank H., a traveling salesman residing at Waterloo, Iowa.
In politics Mr. Jones has always been an active supporter of demo- cratic principles. He served as postmaster of Fairfield under President Johnson and was also mayor of the city for one term. He filled the office of deputy treasurer, collector and recorder for three years, being chosen to the position upon the creation of that office in 1851. He has long been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has been honored with the presidency of the Historical Society of Jefferson county since its organization. His has been a well spent life and in many respects his service has been of signal usefulness and benefit to the county of his adoption. His influence has ever been found on the side of improvement and progress and in passing judgment upon vital questions he brings to their consideration the analytical power of the lawyer and the logical de- ductions of the judge.
JOHN H. BOOS.
John H. Boos, one of the worthy native sons of Jefferson county, is actively and successfully identified with its business interests. He con- ducts a mercantile establishment at Lockridge, in partnership with his brother. His birth occurred in Lockridge township, in September, 1867, his parents being John and Louisa (Shuppy) Boos; the former a native of France, and the latter of Pennsylvania. John Boos crossed the Atlantic to the United States, and, in 1855, located in Jefferson county, Iowa, purchasing a farm in Lockridge township, which he cleared and improved. The further development and cultivation of that property claimed his atten- tion until 1897, when he sold the place and bought a small farm near Fair- field, operating the same until called to his final rest on the 22d of March, 1905. His demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for he had gained an extensive circle of friends during the half century of his
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JOHN II. BOOS AND FAMILY
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residence in this county. His widow has attained the age of seventy-one years, and still resides on the old home place, near Fairfield.
John H. Boos was reared and educated in his native township, pursuing his studies in the district schools. He remained on the home farm until thirty-two years of age; he then devoted his attention to the cultivation of rented land for two years. On the expiration of that period, he pur- chased a tract of one hundred and forty acres in Round Prairie township, being engaged in its operation for two years, after which he rented the place and worked as a farm hand for five years. At the end of that time, Mr. Boos came to Lockridge and embarked in mercantile business in asso- ciation with his brother. Ever since, he has conducted an establishment of this character with gratifying success. The brothers carry a large and well selected line of goods at reasonable prices. Always aiming to please their patrons, their trade has steadily grown.
In November, 1900, Mr. Boos was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Graf. a daughter of John and Louisa (Snyder) Graf, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father emigrated to America at an early day and took up his abode in Jefferson county, Iowa, here following general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life. He passed away in May, 1911, but is still survived by his widow, who still resides on the old home place. In 1901, our subject was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, whose demise occurred in October of that year.
Mr. Boos gives his political allegiance to the republican party, and has served as assessor of Lockridge township. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Lutheran church. He has remained a resident of Jefferson county from his birth to the present time; and enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance within its borders.
GUSTAVUS A. FLINSPACH.
A well improved and valuable farm of eighty acres in Buchanan town- ship pays tribute to the care and attention bestowed upon it by Gustavus A. Flinspach who throughout his entire lifetime has made his home in this section of the county. He was born in this township on the 5th of May, 1873, a son of Lawrence and Caroline (Schmetsnigler) Flinspach. His parents, who were born and reared in Germany, came to the United States at an early day and were married in Fairfield, Iowa, where they continued to make their home throughout the remainder of their lives. The father, who followed agriculture as an occupation, owned a good farm in Buchanan township, and to its cultivation and improvement he
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