USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume II > Part 46
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On the 20th of February, 1902, Mr. Chamberlain was married to Miss Lena V. Hubbell, a daughter of C. M. and D. Augusta Hubbell, of Anamosa. Their children are: William Hubbell, born May 5, 1904; and Augusta Lucile, born June 25, 1905. Mr. Chamberlain is a republican in politics and is well known through his fraternal connections, holding membership in Anamosa Lodge, No. 46, A. F. & A. M .; Mt. Sinai Chapter, No. 66, R. A. M .; Mt. Olivet Commandery, No. 36, K. T .; El Kahir Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. at Cedar Rapids ; and De Molay Consistory of the Scottish Rite at Clinton, Iowa. He is likewise a mem-
PARK CHAMBERLAIN
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ber of Sumner Lodge, No. 92, K. P. As legal counselor and official in one of Anamosa's leading financial institutions he sustains important relations to the public, while his personal characteristics have won him high regard and warm friendships in fraternal and social circles.
JAMES A. HAMILTON.
In the half century and more that Clay township has been the place of resi- dence of James A. Hamilton, many changes have taken place which have ad- vanced its value manifold. These he has witnessed and in these he has partici- pated, for the greater part of the one hundred and sixty acres he owns today were obtained by his father when he came first to Jones county to better his fortunes. Sloan Hamilton, the first of his branch of the family to settle in this county, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, September 7, 1832. In 1847 he came to America, locating first in Connecticut, where in 1853 he was married. That same year he started for Iowa, and after his arrival bought first a tract of timber land, which he cleared and prepared for cultivation. In 1875 he purchased eighty acres of prairie, to which two years later he added another tract of eighty acres. In 1886 he bought another farm of eighty acres, but afterward sold forty, so that he owned two hundred acres all told. Mr. Hamilton had begun life in this country almost penniless, but the gradual accretion of land just enumerated evidence with what success he pursued his vocation as a tiller of the soil, and indicate the prosperity which graced the declining years of his life. He knew well the value and necessity of hard work, but he also knew that in- dustry without purpose and thrift accomplished little. He never left a task, however difficult, until he had accomplished his end; and he never permitted his labor, any more than his savings to be wasted through thoughtlessness. He died May 4, 1903. His wife, who was Miss Nancy Johnston, in her maiden- hood, was also a native of County Antrim, where she was born May 25, 1829. She came to America in 1847 and became the mother of seven children, of whom two are deceased. The others are: Mrs. A. Dewitt, Mrs. John Young, Mrs. James Smith, James A. and Thomas W. Thomas W. resides in New Haven, Connecticut, where for many years he has been connected with the Bethel Presbyterian church. Mrs. Hamilton passed away January 17, 1891.
James A. Hamilton, the subject of this sketch, was born in Clay township, June 22, 1858. He attended the district schools in the vicinity of his birthplace and he was early called upon to assist in the work of the home farm. Indeed, almost his whole life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and the greater part of it has been spent in the operation of the farm, or a part of it, on which he now lives. As his father advanced in years our subject shouldered the heav- ier cares, which had formerly devolved upon him and after his death fell heir to one hundred and sixty acres of his landholdings. Eighty acres of this con- stitute the old homestead, while forty are in timber. Mr. Hamilton has pur- sued general farming but he has also given considerable time and attention to the raising and feeding of hogs, cattle and horses, finding that both adjuncts
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of his business have rendered him large returns for the amount of labor he has spent upon them. In the cultivation of his fields he has spared neither industry nor study to reap the largest harvests possible; and in his stock industry he has employed means of housing and caring for his animals and of feeding them which have proved efficacious for the purpose for which they were designed. Progressive, energetic and a good manager, Mr. Hamilton well merits the posi- tion he holds in the agricultural community of Clay township. His success is representative of its best interests.
On the 7th of May, 1887. Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss Jennie Ed- wards, who was born October 17, 1866, and is a daughter of Green and Minerva Edwards, who lived in Jones county, during their lifetime. Her father was a soldier in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, being corporal of Company E, Fifth Regiment of Veteran Volunteer Cavalry. He was honorably discharged from service in 1865 and died in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are the parents of seven children: Elsie, M., born June 19, 1886; Blanche, born May 8, 1889; Al, born August 17, 1892; Hazel H., born August 9, 1894; Max D., born November 14, 1899; Mildred, born June 11, 1902; and Teddy R., born February 17, 1905. The children are being educated in the public schools, and Blanche is a graduate of the Onslow high school and is now engaged in teaching.
Mr. Hamilton has consistently given his support to the candidates of the republican party ever since he has been old enough to vote. His adherence in matter of religion has been accorded to the Presbyterian church, and his life has been ordered in harmony with its teachings. While the extent of his farm proclaim the success with which he has pursued his chosen calling, this is per- haps indicated in an even greater degree by the fine quality of the buildings he has erected upon his place. These are modern in every respect, his home in particular attaining to the highest standard of convenience, for in addition to other suit- able appointments it is provided with an excellent furnace, which heats it throughout.
GLENN A. PEET.
Glenn A. Peet, one of the native farmers of this county, was born in Green- field township, January 22, 1870, and is the son of E. G. and Oriana (Chapin) Peet. He grew to manhood on the old homestead, and as he was the second in a family of nine sons, he early assumed his share of the work which was carried on there. He attended the public schools, from which he received a fair educa- tion, and when he decided to start in life for himself he came to Fairview town- ship. Here he has one hundred and forty acres of land, well improved, showing a good state of cultivation and the use of modern methods of agriculture.
Mr. Peet has been twice married. On the 28th of September, 1893, he was united to Miss Clara Robbins, whose father is living in Martelle, Iowa, but her mother, who was Miss Mary Durant in her maidenhood, has passed away. To this union was born one child, Harlan Gail, who died at the age of one year and seven months. Mrs. Peet died March 20, 1900, and on the 7th of February,
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1901, Mr. Peet married again, the bride of this union having been Miss Evelyn Miller, a daughter of Abraham Miller and his wife. He passed away June II, 1892, but Mrs. Miller resides near Anamosa. They had twelve children, eight sons and four daughters : Charles Nelson, of Los Angeles, California; Jesse, who is living near Springville, Iowa; Sylvester, living near Morley ; Evelyn, who is Mrs. Peet; Mrs. Isabel Colwell, of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Caroline Hay, who lives near Martelle; Mrs. Myrtle Kyes, who lives in Arizona ; Wilbur, of Los Angeles, California; Clifford Caspar, who lives near Martelle; Amon, a resident of Los Angeles, California; Carl, of Anamosa; and Chauncey, of Anamosa. To Mr. Peet's second union have been born four children : Ray Cecil, born April 28, 1902; Ora Fern, January 15, 1904; Lottie Pauline, May 17, 1905; and Grace Isabel, January 22, 1909.
Mr. Peet has for a number of years been school director and is now secretary of the board of education of Fairview township, and has ever exerted his in- fluence toward promoting better institutions of popular instruction. He enjoys pleasant fraternal relations with White Rose Lodge, No. 279, K P., of Martelle, and among his brothers has inade many strong friends.
ASA E. BOYER.
Asa E. Boyer, filling the position of county recorder, to which he was elected on the 3d of November, 1908, is one of the native sons of Jones county, his birth having occurred in Fairview township, in October, 1887. His parents, B. F. and Margaret (Falor) Boyer were natives of Indiana and Jones county, Iowa, respectively, and are now residents of Anamosa. Their family numbers but two sons, the younger brother being Clarence Boyer, who also resides in Anamosa. The family is of German lineage and was founded in America by Joseph Boyer, a native of Germany, who came to the United States at an early age and settled first in Pennsylvania. He afterward removed westward to this county, becoming one of its pioneer residents. Isaac Falor was for a long time a partner of Mr. Metcalf in a sawmill and was a prominent man. It will thus be seen that the family has been a factor in the development and progress of this section of the state for a long period and the name has ever been a synonym for good citizenship.
At the early age of fourteen years Asa E. Boyer was thrown upon his own resources and as the architect of his own fortunes has builded wisely and well. He was first employed in the telephone office where he remained for about a year and a half, when, realizing the necessity and value of further education as a preparation for life's practical duties if he would work his way upward, he reentered the public schools, which he attended until eighteen years of age, when he was graduated from the high school. He was then employed in dif- ferent ways for about a year, devoting some time to teaching school and later resumed his education as a student in the State University at Iowa City. There he remained for about a year, when he met with an accident which incapacitated him for active work for some time. Returning to Anamosa in May, 1908, he
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secured employment in the Welch factory and there continued until the opening of the succeeding year.
In the meantime he had been made the democratic candidate for the office of county recorder and the election, which was held on the 3d of November, 1908, showed that he was the popular choice for the position On the Ist of January he entered upon his duties which he is now discharging in a systemat- ic, prompt and capable manner, his record being equal in its efficiency to that of any previous incumbent in the position. He has always been an advocate of democratic principles since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He belongs to the Episcopal church and is a young man whose sterling traits of character have won him a strong hold upon the regard and affections of his fellow townsmen.
E. E. MYERS.
E. E. Myers, who is devoting his time and attention to agricultural pursuits, owning and operating a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Hale township, is meeting with success in his undertaking and is ranked among the representative farmers of his section of the township. He was born in Franklin county, Ohio, near Canal Winchester, February 9, 1865, and is a son of Ezra and Mary (Bush) Myers, who were natives of Pennsylvania and were married in Ohio. The father passed away in Indiana in 1899 at the age of seventy-two years, while his wife still survives and makes her home near Indian- apolis, Indiana. Their family consisted of nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom our subject was fifth in order of birth.
The early childhood days of E. E. Myers were spent in his native county and when five years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to Chats- worth, Illinois, where they resided for six or eight months. They then established their home in Marion county, Indiana, and in the district schools of the latter county Mr. Myers acquired his education devoting the periods of vacation to assisting his father in the work of the home farm. He remained there under the parental roof until eighteen years of age, and then, starting out in life on his own account, he came to Jones county in 1882, here working as a farm hand by the month for one year. At the expiration of that time he returned to Indiana and for a period of one year resided in Indianapolis. He then went to Cowley county, Kansas, where he remained for four years, and again returned to Indianapolis for a few months. Going back to Kansas he remained there a short time and then came to Iowa, where he made his home for two years. Then deciding to try his fortune in the far west he went to California and for some time was there engaged in fruit raising and kindred enterprises. He later returned to the middle west, locating in Jones county, Iowa, where he was married in the year 1893 and has since continued to make his home. He began his domestic life on a rented farm two miles north of the Wapsi river in Rome township, and operated it in that capacity for one year, after which he purchased the property and made it his place of residence for nine years. He then sold
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the place and invested in his present farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in section 20, Hale township, while he also owns twenty acres of fine timber land north of the river. His farming property is all under a high state of culti- vation and annually yields rich harvests in return for the care and labor be- stowed upon it. In connection with general agricultural pursuits he devotes some time to stock raising and is enjoying a most gratifying remuneration from the fact that both branches of his business -- the raising of cereals and the raising of stock -- are proving very profitable.
On the 18th of January, 1893, Mr. Myers was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Rose, who was born in Jones county and is a daughter of L. K. Rose, one of the pioneer residents of this county. Unto this union were born three children, namely, Mary Elizabeth, Ida Josephine and Ezra Henry Mckinley. Fraternally Mr. Myers is identified with the Masonic order, holding membership in Ancient Landmark Lodge, No. 200, A. F. & A. M., of Olin, and also belongs to Knights of Pythias lodge of Olin. In politics he is a republican and is a stanch supporter of the principles of that party. He does not, however, seek to figure publicly in the affairs of the community, the only office which he has held being in connection with the school board. He is, nevertheless, loyal and true in his citizenship, doing all in his power to further those measures which have for their object the substantial growth and development of the community. His business career has been characterized by industry, diligence and perseverance, and to these qualites are due in large measure the success which he today enjoys in his agricultural pursuits.
JOHN F. RUSSELL.
John F. Russell, of Anamosa, was born August 1I, 1852, in Highland, Ohio, and is a son of John and Margaret (Feehan) Russell. In the fall of 1852 his parents came to Iowa and after living for twenty years in Jones county, removed to Des Moines in ,1872, making that city their home during the term of Mr. Rus- sell, Sr., as Auditor of State.
With the exception of the first few months of his life John F. Russell has been continuously a resident of Iowa and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges, while the spirit of progress which has been the domi- nant feature in the upbuilding of this section of the state has prompted him to put forth effective and earnest effort for success. In early manhood he engaged in the livery business in Des Moines, but afterward turned his attention to the hardware business. In 1893, however, he returned to the farm in Jones county, whereon he remained for seven years, carefully tilling the soil and gathering rich harvests as the result of his labor and enterprise. In 1906 he again took up the livery business, establishing a stable in Anamosa, where he is now en- joying an extensive patronage. He is recognized as the leading liveryman of the town, having good horses and fine turnouts, while his business has reached out to profitable proportions.
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On the 29th of September, 1880, at Des Moines, Mr. Russell was united in marriage to Miss Evelyn M. Chapman, a daughter of Philo Judson and Flor- ence (Taylor) Chapman. Mr. Chapman was a soldier of the Civil war and died in Andersonville prison. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Russell has been blessed with two sons and a daughter. Lester Wright, the eldest, is a veterin- ary surgeon, engaged in the practice of his profession in Anamosa, where he has a hospital in connection with his father's business. Hoyt Chapman resides at Wilson, Arkansas, where he is employed as manager for the American Coop- erage Company. Florence Margaret, the youngest, is at home. Mr. Russell's political allegiance is given to the republican party which he has stanchly sup- ported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but he has never sought nor desired public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs which, carefully directed, have brought to him the success which he is now enjoying.
GEORGE W. DAVIS.
George W. Davis is one of the prosperous farmers of Jones county and with the history of agricultural development in this part of the state has been closely associated for more than a half century. He was born in County Donegal, Ire- land, on the 23d of December, 1843, and is a son of George and Susanna (Fish- er) Davis, who were natives of Ireland but were of Scotch descent. The grand- father was Thomas Davis, and the great-grandfather, George Davis. The ma- ternal grandparents were James and Ruth Fisher, natives of Ireland, but of Scotch lineage and on both sides George W. Davis is descended from a long lived race. In the year 1854 his parents came to America with their family and settled in Philadelphia. They were twelve weeks in making the voyage on one of the old-time sailing vessels and after reaching their destination the father became connected with the grocery business in Philadelphia but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for his death occurred there in April, 1856, when he was fifty-two years of age. In October. 1856, the widowed mother and her children came to Iowa, residing for a few months in Linn county, after which they came to Jones county. James, the eldest son of the family, afterward wedded Mary Ann Clark and resided in Mount Vernon, Iowa, until his death in 1907. Thomas F. Davis, the next son, married Jane Kepler and had four children : Frank T., Ella, Robert and Clarence. William Davis. the fourth son, married Ruth Fisher and resided in Cedar Rapids until his death which occurred in 1907 when he was seventy years of age. He had but one child living at the time of his death, Harvey. Martha became the wife of John McPherson, of Grenfield township, and her children are John, George D., Samuel, Thomas, Ruth and Anna. Ruth Davis, the second daughter of the father's family, became the wife of John Fink, of Lisbon, Iowa, who died in 1907. Their children were Anna, Hattie, James, George, John and Sophia. George W. Davis of this review is the eighth of the family. Belle became the wife of Dan Conner, of Mechanicsville, Iowa, and their children are George, Bird, Joseph. Mrs. Mattie Baughman, John and Lewis.
GEORGE W. DAVIS
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Jane, a twin sister of Belle, is the wife of John F. Oldham, of Horton, Missouri, and their children are Edward, George, Mattie, Jessie and Mabel. The youngest of the family is John A. Davis, who married Julia Chapman and resides in Spring- ville, Iowa. Their children are: Nellie, Mabel, Harley, Clarence, Blanch and two who died in infancy.
George W. Davis, when but twelve years of age, or at the time the mother and her children reached Jones county, started out in life for himself. He was just out of school in Philadelphia. At that time there was no railroad west of Rock Island and the family came from Davenport to Jones county by wagon. The early death of the father left the family in straitened financial circumstances and on reaching Lisbon, before the family had decided on a location, George W. Davis started out in a snow storm and walked from farm to farm asking for employment. At length he reached the home of Samuel Pfoutz, who agreed to give him his board for his services. In the spring Mr. Davis went to Linn Grove, where he arrived in April, 1857, and there engaged with a farmer, Abner Lay- cock, for forty dollars per year. He was then butt thirteen years of age. He remained there until the spring of 1859, after which he hired out to another farm- er at eight dollars per month. He continued in the service of Henry Bausenburg through the summer of 1859 but afterward entered the employ of Ed Clark. with whom he continued through the winter of 1860-1. In the spring of the lat- ter year he returned to his former employer, Mr. Laycock, who agreed to pay him ten dollars per month for his services and he was thus employed until the Ist of July, 1861, when he could no longer content himself to remain at the plow while the Union was in peril. Responding to the country's call he enlisted as a soldier of Company I, Second Iowa Cavalry, under command of Colonel Wash- ington L. Elliott of the Second Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps. At Camp McClelland the regiment remained a month or six weeks, when Colonel Elliott formed a camp of his own at Davenport and named it Camp Joe Holt. They left Davenport on the 7th of December following, for Benton Barracks, Missouri. At Davenport Mr. Davis had been chosen out of the regiment of many men as Colonel Elliott's orderly. In February, 1862, the troops proceeded to Bird's Point, Missouri, and then to Island No. 10. The Second Iowa was the first regiment on the works. From that point they raided through Missouri, after Jefferson Thomp- son, and later joined Pope's fleet of forty-eight steamers at Island No. 10 and went down the river as far as Fort Pillow, when under General Grant they were ordered up the Tennessee river to Pittsburg Landing and formed the left wing of Pope's command. The brigade was then joined by General Sheridan, who was a captain in the regular army and had just received his commission as colonel of the Second Michigan Cavalry.
On the 9th of May, 1862, the regiment made the charge at Farmington, four miles from Corinth, where it lost fifty men in ten minutes. They formed the left wing of Pope's division under Colonel Elliott and made the first raid of the war on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. The purpose was to cut off Beauregard's supplies and forty miles of the railroad were torn up. Colonel Elliott had been promoted to brigadier general and General Phil Sheridan had been placed in com- mand of the brigade in which Mr. Davis was serving. Then Mr. Davis, with the Second Iowa participated in the battle of Booneville, Mississippi, after which
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the troops returned to camp. Mr. Davis was then chosen Sheridan's orderly and under him they fought the battle of Iuka and Ripley. Colonel Sheridan was then made brigadier general. In 1862 the troops were camped at Rienzi and Sheri- dan named his famous horse for the place. From that point they returned to Corinth and on the 3d and 4th of October participated in the battle there. Fol- lowing this Sheridan was made major general.
After the battle of Corinth the Second Iowa went to White Station, Tennes- see, near Memphis. The rebel General Forrest had gone to Jackson, Tennessee, and the regiment followed him and engaged his troops in battle there in the winter of 1862-3. The troops then proceeded to Guntown but Forrest had blocked the retreat and they were cut off from camp. They then fought the battle of Moscow, Tennessee. While there General Hatch, who had been bre- veted brigadier general, was shot through the right lung but afterward recovered. The troops were ordered back to White Station where they remained to have their horses shod and get their arms in condition for the great Grierson raid. They left La Grange in April, 1863, and went as far as Columbia. Mississippi, with Grierson, fighting Forrest and Wheeler back to White Station, thereby drawing the forces away from Grierson so he could make the raid through the Con- federacy. Having taken the Sixth and Seventh Illinois Cavalry with him, he made his famous raid, cutting the Confederacy in two. He went through Baton Rouge and on to Port Hudson. From White Station the section of the army with which Mr. Davis was connected made several raids, taking part in the battles of Collinsville, Oxford, Tupelo, Coffeeville, Palo Alto, Okalona, West Point, Campbellsville, Iuka, Franklin, Nashville, Hurricane Creek. Wall Hill, Law- renceburg, Springdale, Mount Carmel, Shoal Creek and numerous others, some sixty-one in all, the regiment losing seventy-one killed with some three hundred lost from disease and other causes.
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