USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume II > Part 35
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Of the family of seven children born to John Finn and his wife, Thomas J. and Michael, alone survive. The former was born September 7, 1845, the latter February 14, 1857, on the old homestead, on which they both grew to maturity. They attended the district school of Washington township, but the education derived there was meager indeed, so that the well informed minds, and the intellectual keenness which distinguish them today have been of necessity the result of patient home study and experience. When death deprived them of their father's assistance they came into the possession of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land. In the years that have since elapsed they have added to their heritage until they now own eight hundred and sixty acres all in one farm, which they own and operate in conjunction. In addition to general farm- ing, the brothers keep about one hundred and fifty head of cattle each year, about three hundred hogs, and have six horse teams. Unforgetful of the rule of life which brought such large returns to their father, with energy, industry and carefulness they have conducted their undertakings, regarding nothing as impos- sible, should they but put their minds to its accomplishment, but at the same time are aware that the reputation for honesty and integrity was as covetable a thing as the attainment of prosperity.
Thomas J. Finn has not married. but in 1893 Michael Finn was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Murray, a daughter of James and Bridget (Kinney) Murray. Her father was born in County Roscommon, March 25, 1826, but when a very young man emigrated to the United States. For a short time he lived in Fall River, Massachusetts, and then, in 1849, came to Jones county, Iowa, where he secured a farm. Here through industry and frugality he accu- mulated a large competency, until in 1890 he felt he was justified in retiring from active work. Accordingly he took up his residence in Cascade, which remained his home until he was called to his eternal rest. On the 26th of April, 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss Bridget Kinney, a native of this country, who with the following children survives him: Mrs. Frank O'Brien, of Washington township; Albert, of Cascade; Mrs. Michael Finn, of Washington township; and Josie. of Cascade. During his lifetime Mr. Murray was one of the strong men of the community, a type of the courageous citizens who contributed to the early development and settlement of the wilderness. A man of firm character and uprightness, the eighty years of his life were spent earnestly and honestly, as should be those of a man who is at heart a Christian. He was a member of the Catholic church.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Finn are the parents of three children, namely : Josephine, born March 21, 1895; Joseph Louis, born April 26, 1897; and John C., born September 1, 1899. All are attending school. The family are members of the Catholic church, devout and attentive in the performance of their religious duties. In political matters the brothers have supported the democratic party,
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and although ever strong in their adherence to it, some years ago when Thomas J. Finn was the candidate for county supervisor, he was elected largely through the votes cast by the republicans, an evidence of the general respect and high esteem in which he is held throughout the county. For twelve years he has also served as township trustee, and the public has had little need to regret their choice of a representative.
WILLIAM H. HANKEN.
Another of the estimable sons of Jones county who were born and bred within her boundaries is Wiliam H. Hanken, the date of whose birth is March 1, 1868. A glance at Mr. Hanken's lineage shows it to be German. Both of his parents, Wessely and Margaret (Hyen) Hanken, were natives of that country and it was there that they were married. Not long afterward, in 1854, they decided to try their fortunes in the new world and upon their arrival went west to Dixon, Illinois, where they tarried for a short time only. The opporunities of Jones county, Iowa, having been brought favorably to their notice, they con- cluded to investigate it for themselves, making the journey by team as the meager railway facilities of that day necessitated. With them came William Hanken's grandfather and three of his uncles, thus constituting quite a little company of kindred adventurers. The grandfather and two of the sons bought eighty acres of land apiece, the three tracts all adjoining. Upon the farm they found a log house, built by the former owner, and here they lived for some years. To add to the difficulties of living, all the supplies had to be bought at Dubuque and hauled home. The grandfather, whose name was Nanna Hanken, here spent the remainder of his life, dying at the age of seventy-five. The father met with prosperity and at the time of his death. October 6. 1906, he was the pos- sessor of a large farm, three hundred and eighty acres in extent. In his family were seven children, namely: Margaret, the wife of J. H. Eden; B. II .. a resi- cent, of Langworthy, Iowa; Dan, of Aurelia, Iowa; Gerhard, of Scotch Grove township. Jones county : John B., of Colorado; and Fred, of Langworthy, Iowa.
The subject of this sketch was reared at home and secured his education in the common schools. Until 1897 he worked for his father, but in that year he took the management of the home farm into his own hands, renting the place from his father. In March, 1903, he became one of the landowners of Jones county through the purchase of two hundred and seventy acres from the estate of his uncle A. H. Hanken. Since then he has added to his holdings from time to time until he owns at present a magnificent estate of five hundred and twenty- six acres. Besides this Lovell township tract he has ten acres of timber land in Richland township.
On the 16th of June, 1897, Mr. Hanken was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Stadtmueller, who was born in Castle Grove township, March 1. 1870. a daughter of John and Johannalı (Oltman) Stadtmueller. Her father is still living but her mother died June 28. 1909. Their other children were Max, a resident of Pomeroy, Iowa; Kate, the wife of Rudolph Jacobs, of Scotch Grove
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township; Minnie, the wife of B. H. Hanken; Ferdinand, of Langworthy, Iowa ; Austin, of Castle Grove township; Eliza, the wife of John H. Hanken; John, of Castle Grove township; Hannah, the wife of John Lienemann; and Ludwig, of Castle Grove township. Our subject and his wife have six children, who in order of birth are as follows: Hannah, Wesley, Rudolph, Gerhard, Lizzie and Minnie.
William H. Hanken is a stanch supporter of the republican party and is now serving his second term as township trustee. He is also a member of the school board and a valuable one as is attested by the fact that he has served in this capacity for the past ten or twelve years. Both he and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Hanken is one of those substantial citi- zens who form the bone and sinew of Lovell township.
D. A. CLAY.
D. A. Clay, one of the representative farmers of Hale township, is an English- man by birth and an excellent exponent of the best characteristics of his country. He was born in County Essex, England, March 10, 1843, a son of George and Argentine Clay. When he was about eleven months old the parents moved to London, making it their home until 1856, when the family came to Tama county, Iowa, setting sail from the London dock, the day the treaty of Nance was signed. Mr. Clay remembers well the decorations of the ships in the harbor on that occasion. They came on a sailing vessel, the Devonshire, the trip con- suming six weeks and three days, and they landed in New York city. From there they came by rail as far as Iowa City and thence by team to Tama county. This continued the family home until the Pike's Peak excitement, when they removed to Cedar county, and there lived until 1864. In the meanwhile John . Clay entered Company B, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry in 1862, and a year later his brother D. A. Clay, our subject, enlisted in the same company. The former served three years and the latter twenty months. Mr. Clay was with the Red River expedition, and participated in several engagements, being sent later to the Shenandoah valley. The regiment then joined Sherman's army at Savannah, Georgia. Owing to his state of health, having spen' three months in the hospital, Mr. Clay was sent by boat to New York city on his way to the Shenandoah valley, and was there three weeks before the order came for his removal to the front.
Returning to his father's home, Mr. Clay found the family located in Hale township, Jones county, to which place they had removed while the two young men were serving their country. This continued his residence until the spring of 1909, when he rented his farm and removed into the village of Hale.
Mr. Clay is one of a family of seven children, namely: John and William, who are deceased; D. A .; Joseph, who lives at Sioux City, Iowa; Eliza, who married Uriah Switzer and died in 1906; and George, who lives in Rome town- ship. Mr. Clay had an elder brother by the name of George, who served in the Crimean war and died afterward in the West Indies. George Clay, the father,
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died in Hale township when seventy-four years old. His wife died there at the age of seventy years. By trade he was a blacksmith and in England made a practice of shoeing stage horses on a route running into London, but farmed after coming here.
On January 1, 1867, D. A. Clay married Lovisa M. Root, who was born in Connecticut, December 23, 1847. Her parents, Ozias and Emily Root, moved to Ohio while she was still young and from there canie on to lowa by ox-team, entering land in Hale township at one dollar and a quarter per acre. Ten years later they went to Nebraska, entering a homestead, and there both died. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Clay are as follows: Emma, the wife of M. P. Smith. of Marion; Josephine, the wife of Edwin Sawyer, of Cedar Rapids; Ida, the wife of James Ballou, of Clarence ; Orin E., a resident of Spokane, Washington ; David O., who lives at Hartley, Iowa; Lydia, the wife of Wilbur Fowlie, of Stanwood; Bertha, the wife of Louis Patton, of Yorkshire, Iowa; and Leona, at home. Two other children died in infancy.
Mr. Clay has been very successful in his work, now owning three hundred acres of land, two hundred and twenty acres being in the home farm on sections 15 and 14 and eighty acres on section 16, Hale township. For years he carried on general farming and stock raising. He began farming with sixty acres and had to grub the land before he could put it under cultivation, the timber was so heavy on it. In politics he is a republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln while in the army. Mr. Clay has been road supervisor and township trustee for twelve years, and for eight years was a member of the county board of supervisors. A member of the Free Will Baptist church, he has always been prominent in its good work and is now one of its trustees and has held that position for many years. Ben Paul Post, No. 130. G. A. R., of Wyoming, claims him as one of its enthusiastic supporters, and he also belongs to the American Patriots of Wyoming. Many years have passed since this sturdy English-born man responded to the call of his adopted country and entered its service to fight for the Union, and yet the memory of those thrilling days remain with him as . vividly as ever. As a private citizen he has displayed that same loyalty to law and order which characterized his action on the battlefield, and his industry and thrift have been richly rewarded not only by material advancement but by the gaining of warm personal friends and the respect and confidence of the com- munity where he is such a well known person.
M. O. FELTON.
Very few of the men who came to Jones county in the early days are still liv- ing, and of these, few if any, had greater experience with the many different phases of pioneer conditions than M. O. Felton, who has now retired from the active life of a farmer and lives in Center Junction. Unbroken wilderness, prairie schooners, log houses, primitive schools, and all the hardships of those first years of colonization have left their impress upon his memory. This venerable citi- zen of Jones county was born in Highland county, Ohio, March 14, 1828, being
M. O. FELTON
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a son of Alexander and Frances (Wells) Felton. His is a representative of an old colonial family, the first of his ancestors to come to America being Nathaniel Felton, a native of England, who settled at Salem, Massachusetts. Many of his descendants still reside around Boston, while others have been pioneers of nearly every state of the Union. Our subject's grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier and other members of the family have fought on the right side of the other wars in which their country has engaged.
Alexander Felton, our subject's father, was a native of Franklin county, Mas- sachusetts, while the mother was born near Richmond, Virginia, but both had gone to Ohio as young people. In fact the mother was only twelve years of age when her parents took up their residence in that state, which was still in its primitive condition, and Mr. Felton was but little older when he began the work of clearing the place for himself. In Highland county, Ohio, the couple were married and in the spring of 1832, when M. O. Felton was about four years of age, they removed to Marion county, Indiana, locating near Indianapolis, where they joined the band of men and women who were endeavoring to reclaim the virgin country. There the parents passed the remainder of their lives, death calling the father when he was in his sixtieth year, and the mother when she had tolled off eighty-two years.
M. O. Felton was reared, from his fourth year, in Marion county, Indiana, and pursued his studies in a little log cabin school where the children of the pioneers acquired some knowledge of books. Rough hewn logs formed the sides of the little building, puncheons made the floor, and the pupils sat upon rude benches which consisted only of slabs of wood. When he was nineteen years of age Mr. Felton returned to his native state and in Highland and Brown counties obtained his first experience as a teacher. The next year he returned to his home, taught in the winter months, while he himself attended school through the summer, being a student at Marion Seminary, Indianapolis, in the summer of 1850. He taught in every state between Ohio and Iowa. In July, 1853, he came to this state, stopping first at Bloomfield. Davis county, and then locating in Jones county. In August, just before the elections, he ate his first dinner at the Waverly House in Anamosa, and that fall, it becoming known that he was a teacher of repute he was hired by the citizens of Scotch Grove township to conduct its school. A log cabin had been previously erected to serve as an educational institution, and here Mr. Felton opened his fall classes. But as the fame of his instruction spread and the number of his pupils increased, the little house was not large enough to accommodate the sixty boys and girls who came from far and near to profit by his training. Accordingly the church was turned over to school uses and the winter term was conducted in it.
Among the many enrolled in that first class in Scotch Grove township, was a young woman, who immediately attracted Mr. Felton's attention and who later became his wife, theirs being the first marriage celebrated in Madison township. He entered a quarter section of land, in what is now Madison township, but which was then included in Clay precinct, which comprised four of the present townships. In 1854, he married and that same year the young couple returned to Marion county, Indiana, for Mr. Felton's father had died and he was needed by his mother to care for the home farm. For two summers he
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operated the place and then in that year of 1856, he fitted out a prairie schooner and a team or horses, preparatory to bringing his wife and baby back to Jones county. He made his start after the nomination of the first republican presiden- tial candidate, and as his sympathies were with that newly organized party on the sides of his schooner he painted the banner "Fremont and Dayton Our Candidates." As the great wagon was hauled from Indiana to Iowa it tacitly did a great deal of electioneering, and, owing to the banner, Mr. Felton made on the journey a number of acquaintances, whose friendship lasted through many years. In the spring of 1857, he moved into the frame shanty, sixteen by eighteen feet in dimensions, which he had put up on his land and immediately commenced to break the soil which was to give him a livelihood. With so much diligence did he prosecute his work that in a few years it was blooming like a garden and returning to him a handsome interest upon his investment of thought and industry. For a period of forty years he pursued his vocation as a farmer, winning a success which justified him in relinquishing the heavier cares of life and removing to Center Junction, which has been his home since 1898. At one time he owned two hundred and eighty acres, all in one body, and the farm which was the scene of his labors and the home of his eight children until their maturity, is still in the possession of the family.
It was on the 29th of August, 1854, that Mr. Felton was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Kraus, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 14, 1833. She was only twelve years of age, however, when her parents brought her to this country, and after spending a few years in Kane county, Illinois, came in 1853 to Jones county. The eight children born to this couple grew to maturity but two of them have now passed away. Margaret. the eldest, born June 15. 1855, mar- ried George E. Kegley and died February 2. 1890. George Leslie, born Novem- ber 12. 1857, is a banker and merchant in Millerton, Oklahoma. Alford Nichols, born January 27, 1860, is a farmer and lives at Gooding, Idaho. Oliver John, who was born February 22, 1863, is a lawyer in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Charles Wesley, born October 31, 1865, is a railway division agent and lives in Sioux City, Iowa. Annie W., who was born December 31, 1867. became the wife of A. Porter and lives in Maquoketa, Iowa. Harlan Phillip, a physician. born December 21, 1871, has passed away. William Reed, the youngest of this family. born November 10. 1874, is a civil engineer in Miles City. Montana.
Few of the couples who have been married in Jones county can show a record of more than fifty-five years spent in harmony and companionship, as can Mr. and Mrs. Felton. And yet despite the hard toil, which is inseparable from the life of the husbandman, especially if he is a pioncer as well. Mr. Felton looks like a man of sixty-five or seventy years, so well preserved is he and such good health does he enjoy. Nor does his wife give much evidence of advanced years. They are devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which for more than two score of years Mr. Felton served on the official board. Politically he has always been a strong republican and during the years of his activity took a vital part in local affairs, for he was trustee and assessor of the township. and also served as justice of the peace. He belongs to Wyoming Lodge, No. 206, A. F. & A. M., and is a member of Keystone Chapter. No. 206. R. A. M., of that village. His life. long and useful. the years of which have contributed
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more than can be adequately told toward the development of Jones county. is a record of which Mr. Felton might be justifiably proud, while it is one which de- mands from his fellow citizens the most unqualified and unequivocal respect and esteem. As one of the very earliest settlers of this section of the state, he deserves distinction, but as a man of strong character and high principles he is worthy of the highest tributes which may be paid to any.
JAMES LUTHER PIKE.
James Luther Pike, one of the veterans of the Civil war now residing in Olin, whose record is one that is worthy of more than passing mention, has proven himself a patriot in both war and peace and is now realizing the esteem in which he is held by a grateful country. He was born near Columbus, Frank- lin county. Ohio, August 24, 1846, a son of Joel and Permilla (Newton) Pike, who were married in Coventry, Chenango county, New York, October 22, 1838, and emigrated later to Ohio. They were farmers and seeking better oportunities they came farther west to Jones county, Iowa, driving across the country, and both died in the new home, he January 21, 1853, aged fifty-three; and his wife August 14. 1860, aged fifty-two. The father had been married before and had three children as follows: Orlando and Albert, who have passed away; and Ma- tilda, who is the widow of Lucius Shepard, of Poweshiek county, Iowa. By his second marriage he had six children, namely: Clarissa, who married Usal Bar- ker ; Alma, who married Hiram Slagle, of Nebraska ; Ruth I., the deceased wife of John M. Mason; James Luther, who is the fourth in order of birth ; Simon P., who died in 1907 in Dakota; Eleanor who married John Shook, of Nebraska.
Losing his father when he was seven years old and his mother when but thirteen, James Luther Pike was early deprived of parental care and was forced to earn his scanty living working around among the neighbors by the month, until he was fifteen and one-half years old. It was then, when only a lad, he enlisted in Company K, Seventeenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Captain S. E. Hicks. and he served three years and three months. He veteranized in the Western Army under Grant and Sherman. Among other engagements, he participated in the battles of Iuka. Corinth, Vicksburg and Jackson, and was captured with his regiment at Tilton, Georgia, and sent to Andersonville prison. Then followed a terrible experience from October 13, 1864, to April 28, 1865. The only sickness with which he was afflicted was that of measles soon after join- ing his regiment.
Returning home this brave soldier who bore very plainly the traces of his sufferings in prison, engaged in teaming and followed this line of work for several years before the building of the railroad. He hauled goods from Clar- ence and later he ran a dray for fourteen years. He afterward rented a farm and conducted it for four years, and then retired to Olin, where he has since resided, enjoying a well earned rest, for his life has been a strenuous one.
On December 2, 1866, Mr. Pike married Eliza Bryan, born near Ticonderoga, New York, April 27, 1847, and came to Iowa when about ten years old with her
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parents, James and Lavina (Crossman) Bryan, the former of whom died in the service of his country during the Civil war, in Company B. Thirty-first Iowa, at Black River, Mississippi, while his wife died in Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Pike became the parents of two children: Enola, who married James Vernon, lives two miles south of Olin; and Hattie A. is at home. On April 4, 1909, Mr. Pike was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who then passed to her last re- ward. She was a lady of lovely, Christian character and her place can never be filled, although Miss Hattie is striving to comfort her father and take care of the home.
Mr. Pike has spent nearly all of his life in Jones county, and all of his ma- ture years with the exception of one when he was in Boone, Iowa, and one year in Nebraska. Although he was a veteran of years' standing, Mr. Pike was not old enough to vote until General Grant was the candidate for president and he takes pride in the fact that his first presidential vote was cast for him. He has been prominent in republican affairs and served as a member of the council for several years; is one of the present township trustees and is much interested in securing the best possible government for his community. In religious faith he is a member of the Christian church and he is one of the trustees of that body. He belongs to the Masonic order, being connected with Ancient Landmark Lodge, No. 200, of Olin, and he is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Energetic. interested in current matters, a good talker and possessed of a pleas- ant. convincing manner, Mr. Pike has many friends and is one of the highly esteemed men of Olin.
JOHN E. KETCHAM.
John E. Ketcham, who passed away on the 28th of June, 1902, is still well remembered by many residents of Cass township as a progressive and successful farmer and a public-spirited citizen who for more than three decades was help- fully identified with the affairs of the community. Born in Morris county, New Jersey, on the 29th of February, 1824, he was a son of John and Johanna (Bur- nett) Ketcham, also natives of that state. He spent the period of his boyhood and youth in his parents' home and at the usual age was sent as a pupil to the common schools, which he attended at intervals until he was nineteen years of age. After laying aside his text-books he learned the blacksmith's trade in Dela- ware county, Ohio, to which place he removed about 1848. He followed that occupation for about twenty years and then in 1867 came to Iowa, locating in Cass township, Jones county, where the remainder of his life was spent. He purchased two hundred acres on section 17, which was raw prairie land when it came into his possession, and immediately set about its improvement and de- velopment. He later purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 16, which had already been brought under cultivation and upon which the family now re- side. As the years passed and he prospered he was able to add still more to his property holdings, until at the time of his death he was the owner of four hundred and forty acres of farm and prairie land and fifteen acres of timber land,
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