USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 9
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In 1852, while residing in Pennsylvania, Captain Crail was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte McCaskey, a daughter of the Rev. George McCaskey, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and to them were born six children : James, a prominent dry-goods merchant of Washington, Iowa ;
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William H., a retired gold miner of Los Angeles, California; Susan, the wife of E. W. Steele, a retired capitalist of Los Angeles; Robert M., a traveling salesman of Marysville, Missouri; David E., of the firm of D. E. Crail & Co., meat dealers of Fairfield; and Frank A., who is a merchant of Burlington, Iowa. The wife and mother passed away in 1873 and in 1877 Captain Crail married Mrs. Nancy Steel, of this city, who died in 1891. By this marriage were born twin sons, Joseph S. and Charles S., who are engaged in the practice of law in Fairfield under the firm name of Crail & Crail. In 1895, Captain Crail was married to his present wife, whose maiden name was Miss Helen Richardson, a daughter of George Richard- son of Fairfield, and they have one daughter, Mary Helen, who will grad- uate from the high school with the class of 1913.
Both Captain and Mrs. Crail are members of the Christian church and in politics he is a stanch republican. He is one of the highly esteemed citi- zens of Fairfield, where he has made his home practically ever since the war and is widely known throughout the county. He is a most capable man as his long period of public service attests, having been elected to office and efficiently discharged his responsibilities long after reaching his three score and ten. Success has attended his efforts, because in all of his un- dertakings he has manifested the intrepidity, foresight and determination of purpose that characterized him on the southern battle fields. Although he always decided with but little deliberation what he desired to do, he never acted impulsively, always following a well conceived plan with a definite purpose in view. Doubtless from the plain where he now stands he sees mistakes he has made, but his life can hold few regrets, as his efforts were always intelligently directed, and he has had the satisfaction of seeing his children grow up into capable men and women, successfully pursuing their various careers.
ERNEST R. WAGONER.
Ernest R. Wagoner, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock- raising on ninety-four acres of land on section 35, of Cedar township, was born in Jackson county, Iowa, on the 27th of February, 1882. He is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Alexander) Wagoner, the father a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, of German extraction, and the mother of Dubuque, Iowa, and of Scotch descent. Before the war Daniel Wagoner, who was a carpenter by trade, removed to Iowa, locating in Jackson county, where he resided for forty-five years. After his sons were old enough to be of assistance he engaged in cabinet making at Otter Creek, Jackson
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county, the most of his time being devoted to the manufacture of coffins and wood work for buggies. He engaged in this occupation for eighteen or twenty years, then turned his attention to farming. Together with his wife and family he subsequently removed to Van Buren county, settling on a farm near Stockport, where he continued to make his home until death. In the spring of 1911 he went to visit a daughter living on a farm near Knoxville, Iowa, where he was taken ill and passed away on the 27th of May, 1911, at the age of eighty-four years. Following the death of her husband, the mother took up her residence with her son, our sub- ject, with whom she is now living. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wagoner there were born ten children, of whom our subject is the youngest ; the others are: Alexander, who is a ranchman in Idaho; Susan, who mar- ried John Rudolph, a farmer living at Collette, Iowa; Elizabeth, the wife of Wilson Brown, a farmer near Knoxville, Iowa; Charley, a farmer living a mile west of Stockport; George, who is a resident of Valparaiso, Nebraska, where he engages in contracting; Della, the wife of Lee Ritchie, a farmer near Stockport; Maggie, who married John Taylor, a farmer of Clay Center, Kansas ; Emma, the wife of Cyrus Irwin, a cattle buyer and stockman of Maquoketa; and Fred, a manufacturer of cement blocks at Valparaiso, Nebraska.
Reared at home, Ernest R. Wagoner obtained his education in the common schools of Jackson and Van Buren counties, which he attended until he was seventeen years of age. From the time he was old enough to be of assistance he had helped in the work of the farm, and after leaving school his entire attention was given to agricultural pursuits under the supervision of his father. He remained at home until he was twenty- two years of age, having during this period become thoroughly qualified as an agriculturist. In 1904 he began for himself by renting the August Keller farm, which contained a hundred acres, located in Cedar township. The operation of this property proved to be very lucrative, and at the end of a year he was in a position financially to purchase ninety- four acres of land on sections 35 and 26 of the same township. Three years later he erected upon this land a residence and barns and outbuild- ings, and here he has ever since resided. The cultivation of his fields he devotes almost entirely to such cereals as he can use in the raising and feeding of his stock, to which occupation Mr. Wagoner devotes his careful attention, to such excellent purpose that he is fast becoming to be numbered among the substantial farmers of his community. His endeavors to keep abreast with the most advanced ideas of modern farming are being at- tended with gratifying results. As he is able he extends the improvements upon his place, which is rapidly becoming supplied with all modern con- veniences and accessories for both general farming and stock-raising.
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On the 15th of November, 1904, Mr. Wagoner was united in marriage to Miss Mary Keller, a daughter of Anthony and Mary (Droz) Keller, both natives of France. The father, whose natal day was the 22d of February, 1843, emigrated to America when he was eighteen months old. Here he was reared to manhood and educated and was married in Fair- field to Miss Droz. They are now living on a farm in Cedar township. Mrs. Wagoner is the youngest daughter and the fifth in order of birth of the six children born to the parents, the others being: Louis, who is engaged in farming in Lexington, Nebraska; August, who is at home ; Edward, a farmer near Birmingham, Iowa, who married Iva Walker; Millie, the wife of Samuel King, a farmer of Cedar township; and John, who is the sixth in order of birth, a farmer of Cedar township. Mr. and Mrs. Wagoner are the parents of four children: Margaret, who is six years old and attending school in the home district; Ernest, four years of age ; Mabel, who looks forward to her fourth birthday; and Freddie, the baby of eighteen months.
Fraternally Mr. Wagoner was formerly identified with the Knights of Pythias of Stockport, and his wife with the Pythian Sisters, while his political allegiance is given to the men and measures he deems best quali- fied to serve the majority. He is one of the enterprising and progressive young farmers of the county, whose success seems to be assured.
E. F. SIMMONS.
E. F. Simmons is actively connected with a profession which has im- portant bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of every com- munity and one which has long been considered as conserving the ends of justice and maintaining individual rights. He entered upon the practice of law in Fairfield in 1885 and in the intervening period, covering more than a quarter of a century, has built up a reputation such as is gained only by individual merit and ability attested in the actual work of the courts.
Mr. Simmons is one of Jefferson county's native sons, his birth having occurred near Brookville, March 10, 1855. His parents were W. L. S. and Sarah (Weaver) Simmons, both natives of Clermont county, Ohio, the former born January 10, 1822, and the latter January 31, 1825. On the Ist of May, 1842, Mr. Simmons arrived in Jefferson county, Iowa, long prior to the admission of the state into the Union, entering land in Locust Grove township, after which he returned to his native state and in Cler- mont county married Sarah Weaver. The return journey to Ohio was made on horseback and the winter was passed in Illinois. He had to work
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untiringly and diligently in order to get enough capital with which to estab- lish his home and make a start in life. The marriage of the parents was celebrated in 1849, after which they journeyed westward to Iowa. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made on the place when it came into possession of Mr. Simmons but with untiring energy he under- took the task of breaking the sod and converting the wild lands into fields. He resided upon the farm near Brookville until April, 1861, when he again went to Clermont county, Ohio, where he remained until the spring of 1863. Once more he came to Jefferson county and was thereafter actively engaged in farming until 1896, when, with a comfortable competence acquired through years of earnest and persistent toil, he retired from business life to take up his abode in Fairfield, where his death occurred July 5, 1901. He had been more or less prominent in the public life of the community and in 1875 had been elected to represent his district in the state legislature as the candidate of the republican party. He held membership in the Methodist church and his influence was ever on the side of right, progress, reform and improvement. Not only did he witness a remarkable trans- formation in the county from the period of his first arrival until his death but was also an active participant in the labors and changes that brought the county up to a leading position among the foremost counties of this great commonwealth. Unto him and his wife were born seven children: E. F .; C. W., living in Plateau City, Colorado; Sarah B., a resident of Utah; Nancy W., of Chicago, and three that died in infancy.
E. F. Simmons has spent his entire life in Jefferson county with the exception of the brief period from 1861 until 1863, when the family were living in Ohio. His youthful days were spent upon the home farm and here he became familiar with the task of cultivating the fields and caring for the crops. After his public school education supplemented by study in Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, he took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of Leggett & McKemey, attor- neys of Fairfield, who directed his reading until he was admitted to prac- tice on the 9th of December, 1885, by the supreme court of the State of Iowa. In December, 1896, he formed a partnership with his preceptor, J. S. McKemey, which continued four years, after which he contracted a part- nership with H. C. Raney that continued until Mr. Raney's death in 1910. He is well versed in the principles of law and is seldom if ever at fault in the application of a legal principle or in the citation of a precedent. He prepares his cases with great thoroughness and skill and marshals the evi- dence with the precision of a military commander, never losing sight of any point that bears upon the case and at the same time always keeping to the fore the important point upon which every question finally turns. He has filled the office of county attorney for four years, having been first elected
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in 1895. On the Ist of January, 1896, he became city solicitor and filled that office four years, at the end of which time his record received public indorsement in his reelection in the spring of 1911.
On the 12th of August, 1891, Mr. Simmons was married to Miss Geneva M. McCoid, of Logan, Iowa, a daughter of James McCoid, and they now have five children, Beverly F., James M. and William W., twins, Edgar L. and Margaret. Mr. Simmons is giving his children good educa- tional privileges and is a warm friend of the public schools. He has served for three terms, or nine years, as a member of the school board and has done much to advance the standard of education in Fairfield. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. His life has been well spent and his record is as an open book which all may read. The com- rades of his youth remain the friends of his manhood and the circle of his friendship continually broadens as the circle of his acquaintance is extended.
WILLIAM H. BATES.
Agricultural pursuits have characterized the efforts of William H. Bates throughout his entire business career, and that his labors have been effect- ive forces in the attainment of prosperity is indicated by the neat and well improved condition of his farming property. He is one of Jefferson county's native sons, his birth having occurred in Cedar township on the IIth of April, 1851. His parents were Ephraim and Mary Ann (George) Bates ; the former born in Oxford, Ohio, and the latter on the state line near Union, Indiana. They were married in Indiana, and, in 1846, came to Jefferson county, Iowa, locating on a farm in Cedar township upon which their remaining days were spent. The father carried on general farming, to which occupation his entire life had been devoted. The subject of this review was second in order of birth in a family of eight children, the others being as follows: Jerry, deceased; Eliza A., the wife of J. J. Hutchinson, of Center township; Perry O., a resident of Buchanan township; James K., residing at Tekamalı, Nebraska; Emma, who married C. J. Sperry, of Brown county, South Dakota; Ollie, who passed away at the age of four- teen years ; and Ed, of Buchanan township.
No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for William H. Bates during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was passed amid the scenes and environment of rural life. Through the as- sistance he rendered his father in the work of the home farm, he gained valuable experience concerning the various branches of agriculture, and he continued to make his home with his parents until the time of his mar-
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riage, when about twenty-seven years of age. For about six years previous to that event, however, he had been employed by others in the locality of his home, working out by the month, and then he began farming on his own account, taking up his abode upon his present place. His first purchase consisted of sixty acres of raw prairie land, to the improvement of which he at once gave his undivided attention. After breaking the sod, he con- verted the tract into cultivable fields, planted the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and, from early spring until late fall, labored unceasingly in the further development of his property, which, under his careful man- agement, was soon brought under a good state of cultivation. As a direct result of unfaltering industry and unfailing perseverance, prosperity came to him in his undertaking, and, as success attended his efforts, he added to his original purchase, until today his farm consists of one hundred and ninety acres of land, located on sections 12 and 13, Center township, com- prising one of the well improved properties of the locality.
Mr. Bates has been married twice. In 1878, he wedded Miss Eva Carter, a native of Illinois, who passed away in 1884, leaving one son, Ernest, now engaged in farming in Buchanan township. For his second wife he chose Miss Ella Davis, a native of Pennsylvania, whom he married in 1887, and unto this union have been born four children, namely : Jesse, who passed away at the age of three years ; Ralph and Leslie, both at home ; and Willard, whose death also occurred when he was three years of age. The religious belief of Mr. Bates is indicated by his membership in the Christian church at Fairfield; in politics, he supports the principles of the democratic party. He is now serving as township trustee. He has held various road and school offices, and in all of his public work has proven himself a champion of material, intellectual and moral progress, recognizing that each has its place in the scheme of the world. His labors, therefore, have served as an element of growth along all those lines, so that, today, he is regarded as one of Jefferson county's valued and representative citizens.
WILLIAM WALTER STEWART.
William Walter Stewart has been a resident of Round Prairie town- ship, Jefferson county, since his birth which occurred September 2, 1863. When six months of age he was adopted by William W. and Rebecca (Right) Stewart, the former being a native of Maryland and the latter of Kentucky. William W. Stewart, Sr., came to Jefferson county in 1837.
WALTER W. STEWART
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accompanying his parents who entered land from the government and thereafter were associated with agricultural interests in this vicinity. At his marriage he received from his father a gift of sixty acres of land which he cleared and improved, adding to this tract by subsequent purchases until he owned in all three hundred and seventy acres. With characteristic energy and industry he improved the land, enhancing its value greatly, and in 1886 retired. He resides with his son, the subject of this review, being still in fair health and good spirits at the advanced age of ninety years. His wife died in January, 1909, having also been granted the heritage of sound health and the enjoyment of a long life.
Before his adoption W. W. Stewart possessed the name of Right, his father being a brother of Mrs. Stewart, his foster mother. Mrs. Right, whose maiden name was Maria Ball, was, like her husband, a native of Kentucky. Coming to Jefferson county, Iowa, in 1836, during the prog- ress of the Civil war, Mr. Right enlisted in the army, taking part in Sher- man's famous march to the sea. At the close of the war he returned to Jefferson county. He farmed here for a time and on marrying again made his residence in Illinois, where he remained until the death of his wife, in 1886. Thereupon he returned to Iowa and devoted himself to the culti- vation of the soil on a farm near Des Moines, where he made his home until 1899.
Tenderly nurtured under the devoted guidance of his foster parents, W. W. Stewart was educated in the schools of Jefferson county and was reared to manhood on the farm, becoming thoroughly familiar with the problems involved in agricultural pursuits. He never left the home place and in 1909 received by deed from William Washington Stewart, Sr., the latter's farm of three hundred and seventy acres. This he has operated with much success and has made many improvements, erecting more com- modious buildings and new fences. He is practical in his methods and employs the best machinery, believing that the most modern equipment will produce the best results. To his raising of live stock he devotes especial attention and annually ships about one hundred head of hogs, feeds sixty head of cattle and keeps twenty horses.
On January 5, 1882, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Sadie C. Barton, a daughter of Thomas C. and Elizabeth (Harshbarger) Barton, natives of Kentucky, the family being of German lineage. Mrs. Stewart's father came to Henry county, Iowa, in anti-bellum days and here purchased a farm of one hundred and forty acres which he has cultivated uninter- ruptedly since that time, meeting with much success in his work. His wife passed away in December, 1910. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, of whom four died in infancy. The others are: Maude, the wife of John F. Davis, residing in Memphis, Missouri; Bessie, the wife Vol. II-6
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of Charles Sturgiss, a farmer of Round Prairie township; Minnie, the wife of Walter Bower, likewise a farmer of Round Prairie township; Elsie, who married John Sharp and resides with her father; Maysel, the wife of Fred Briggs, a carpenter by trade, also residing on the home place ; and W. Terence, living at home. Mr. Stewart and his family are mem- bers of the Free Methodist church of Fairfield, Iowa, being earnest and helpful workers in advancing the interests of their congregation. In his political affiliations he votes with the republicans and has held various offices. At present he is one of the county supervisors and has also served as trustee and clerk of Round Prairie township. He is a man of genial disposition, big hearted and generous toward all, and honorable in every relation in life.
SYLVESTER BURK BISHOP.
Sylvester Burk Bishop, a resident of Liberty township, is the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and twenty acres on sections 22 and 23. It was in this township that he was born on the 8th of April, 1847, his parents being John and Mary E. (Huffman) Bishop, who were pioneer residents of this section of Iowa and witnesses of almost the entire growth and devel- opment of the state. The father was a native of Virginia, coming here at a very early age and spending the remainder of his life in this locality. His wife was the first white child born in Van Buren county. In their family were seven children: Talbott, of Libertyville; Sylvester B .; Ann, the wife of Samuel Berry, of Culbertson, Montana ; Robert, who died at the age of forty-seven years, leaving a widow and four daughters; Dr. Carl Bishop, a practicing physician of Glasgow, Iowa; Mary, the wife of Harl Hubledal, of Rock Island, Illinois ; and Emma, who was the twin sister of Mary and died in infancy.
Sylvester B. Bishop was reared upon the old home farm, acquiring his education in the common schools and aiding in the work of the fields through the summer months and after his school days were over. He con- tinued with his father until twenty-four years of age and then went to Cus- ter county, Idaho, where he spent four years, being employed as an amalga- mator in the Custer Mills. On the expiration of that period he returned to Iowa and three years later, on the 10th of March, 1888, was united in mar- riage to Miss Emma Healde, a native of Liberty township, and a daughter of John and Malinda (Grammer) Healde, both of whom are now deceased. The young couple began their domestic life upon a rented farm in Liberty township and for six years Mr. Bishop continued to cultivate land that he
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leased. He then purchased his present property comprising two hundred acres, constituting a valuable tract on sections 22 and 23. He and his brother, Dr. Carl Bishop, are administrators for their father's estate of three hundred and twenty-six acres and they have sold forty acres which was formerly a part of the father's property. Mr. Bishop is a progressive agriculturist and the farm which he owns has been well improved by him. He has added all the equipments and accessories of a model property of the twentieth century, utilizing the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields, while large barns and outbuildings furnish ample shelter for men and stock. The fact that his place is known as the Long View Stock Farm indicates that stock-raising is the principal feature of the farm. He has extensively engaged in feeding both cattle and hogs and also breeds horses, having two stallions, both a draft and roadster. Upon his place at present he has thirty-two head of high grade horses. The water supply of the place is furnished by two fine springs which are seemingly inexhaustible. Mr. Bishop also has a silo thirty-two feet high and eighteen feet in diameter. Everything about his place indicates his progressive spirit. He fed last year three carloads of cattle and one of hogs and his annual sales of stock bring him a good return. He is interested in the Farmers' Elevator Company at Libertyville and also in the Eldon Fair, together with the fairgrounds at Fairfield. He is regarded as a progressive business man, unfaltering in the accomplishment of what he undertakes, and thoroughly reliable in all trade transactions.
As the years have passed seven children have been added to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Bishop, Healde Judson, Mabel Cleo, Florence, Sherman, Clarence, Charles and Margaret. The daughter Mabel has for the past seven years been successfully engaged in teaching school. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Libertyville and Mr. Bishop is a republican in his political views but has never sought or desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs which, care- fully conducted, have brought him substantial and well merited success.
VICTOR SWANSON.
A highly improved and well cultivated farm of two hundred and forty acres in Lockridge township pays tribute to the agricultural skill of Victor Swanson, who has been engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Jefferson county for the past thirty-one years. He was born in Sweden on March 21, 1849, and is a son of Oliver and Catherine (Erickson) Swanson, who were born, reared and married in the old country. Mr. Swanson en-
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