USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume II > Part 5
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E. A. Grimwood acquired his early education in the public schools. He was forced for a time to discontinue his studies, but in May, 1887, after having devoted three years to the mastery of the scientific principles which constitute the basis of knowledge for a pharmacist, he received his diploma from a school of phar- macy and in September of that year came to Oxford Junction as assistant to Dr. G. R. Moore. · Other business and professional demands made upon the physician caused the management of the store to devolve upon Mr. Grimwood, and after a few months' experience in which he proved his capability, he was admitted to a partnership. Active in the management of the store from that time, his enterprise and determination were salient features in its success and the business was carefully and successfully conducted. In 1898 a disastrous fire swept over Oxford, in which the store of Mr. Grimwood was destroyed. Im- mediately, however, he secured a lot and erected upon it one of the finest modern store buildings in the town, the first floor being used for the conduct of his business interests and the second floor for office and lodge rooms. He has a splendidly equipped drugstore and not only carries a large line of drugs and physician's remedies, but also wall paper and house decorating materials. He gives careful attention to the wants of his patrons, and his reasonable prices, fair dealing and enterprising methods have won him a liberal and growing trade that has made his business one of profitable proportions. He carries in addition to other lines mentioned toilet articles, stationery, books and magazines, and his
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close study of the public taste has enabled him to supply his store with a stock that finds ready sale.
Mr. Grimwood is not only well known as an energetic and progressive business man but is ever a welcome figure in musical circles in the town, possessing a fine voice which has constituted an attractive feature in the choir of the Luth- eran church for many years and in various musical entertainments given in Ox- ford. His social qualities, too, render him popular with many friends, and he is well known as a member of the New Era Lodge, No. 88, K. P., and Zealous Lodge, No. 435, A. F. & A. M. A stanch republican in his political views, he exerted his ability as an organizer in the interests of his party and has been a member of and chairman of the county central committee for several years. A man of forceful character, he has left the impress of his individuality upon the public life of the community as a business man, a citizen, a musician and a political leader, and his genuine worth is attested by all who know him.
THOMAS H. DUNN.
Thomas H. Dunn, who was called to his final rest on the 7th of May, 1906, was for almost a half century actively and successfully identified with the agri- cultural interests of Jones county and was well known within its borders as a most respected and worthy citizen. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of October, 1834, being the only child of Thomas and Catherine Dunn. The father, who was a stone cutter by trade, having been employed on Girard College, worked in that capacity until the fall of 1836, when he con- tracted lung fever and passed away. Shortly afterward his widow removed with her little son to the vicinity of Boston, where she had relatives.
In early life Thomas H. Dunn learned the wheelwright's trade, working at that occupation in factory and shop and caring for his mother until she, too, was called to her final rest. She passed away in the summer of 1848, dying suddenly of heart disease. Mr. Dunn continued a resident of Massachusetts until the spring of 1853, when he went to Providence, Rhode Island, securing employment in the machine shop of the Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Com- pany, where he remained until the fall of 1855. He had been married in the meantime and on leaving Providence brought his young wife to the state of Minnesota, where he took up a claim among the Indians, the survey not having been accepted by the government. The year following his arrival in Minnesota he worked at the carpenter's trade at Zumbrota, helping to cut the logs for the first house that was there erected. Zumbrota was about twelve miles distant from his claim and his wife would stay alone from Monday morning until Sat- urday night, nothing daunted by the fact that there were two or three hundred hostile Indians in camp less than a mile from her little home. The panic of 1857 came the next year and times were very hard. Shortly afterward there began to be rumors of rich mines being discovered at Pike's Peak and every one who could get away left for the gold fields. In 1859, in company with others, Mr. Dunn and his family started for Pike's Peak, but they were late in getting
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started and it was the middle of June before they reached the California trail in Iowa. Seeing so many teams returning, they believed it best to go no farther but wait until the next year when they could start with the California train, as the Indians were very troublesome. Having ox teams they were prepared to break prairie, which they did during the summer, intending to go on to California or Pike's Peak the following spring. Before that time, however, they had be- come favorably impressed with this portion of the country and continued to remain residents of Rome township, Jones county, until the spring of 1877. Mr. Dunn then disposed of his place to H. L. Smith and purchased the Hutchins farm of two hundred and four acres on section 19, Wayne township, which re- mained his home until he passed away. As the years passed by he placed many substantial improvements on the property and brought the land under a high state of cultivation, the fields annually yielding bounteous harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestowed upon them. The oldest house in Wayne township still stands on this farm, it having been erected in 1843 by Aaron Spencer, who utilized it as a tavern and residence. Mr. Dunn made his home therein until he erected the dwelling in which his widow now resides.
On the 19th of April, 1855, in Providence, Rhode Island, Mr. Dunn was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary A. Farnham, whose birth occurred in North Andover, Massachusetts, on the 9th of September, 1835, her parents being John and Almyra (Ames) Farnham. The father, who was a farmer by occu- pation, spent his entire life in the old Bay state. When seven or eight years of age Mrs. Dunn was brought by her parents to Lowell, where she was reared to young womanhood and then went to Providence and was married. Mr. and Mrs. Farnham reared a family of five children, namely: William, whose demise oc- curred in 1907; Henry, a resident of Boston; Sarah, who became the wife of Thomas Hall and passed away in Oregon; Mrs. Dunn; and Hiram, living in Morley, Iowa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dunn were born eight children, as follows : William, who died in infancy; W. E., who makes his home at Plankinton, South Dakota; Mary Estella, who likewise died in infancy; Henry, living in West Bend, Iowa; John E., of Coggon, Iowa; Mrs. Grace Wallace, a resident of Cass Center, Iowa; Clara M., who married G. L. Grete of South Dakota; and Leslie, who is still at home with his mother.
Mr. Dunn gave his political allegiance to the men and measures of the repub- lican party and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to various positions of public trust. In the fall of 1894, he was elected to the office of county supervisor and was twice re-elected, remaining the incumbent in that position for nine years. He was called to his final rest on the 7th of May, 1906, at the age of seventy-one years, six months and twelve days, and as the circle of his friends was almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances, his death was the occasion of deep and sincere regret throughout the community.
The following is an extract from an obituary written by B. H. Miller and published in the Anamosa Journal : "At all times Mr. Dunn was of a cheerful disposition and kindliness of soul that made him friends wherever he was known. He was brave and courageous in defense of the right and the truth, strong in its support, and mild and determined in his resistance to the wrong. His was not a disposition to use policy as an art, but to be politic in all things. When re-
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proving anyone for an immoral act, it was in that kindly spirit that won and held the friendship of those he so advised. In every position we have known him in life. whether it were private or public, the same honorable manhood characterized him. * * As a neighbor and friend he held and deserved to hold the respect and affections of all who knew him. In public life he was held in the same confi- dence and respect. In fact, so far as our knowledge and acquaintance of and with him, he was a model man when and wherever found. He was a devoted friend and always held his friendships sacred ; spoke ill of no man; devoted to his wife and children and did all within his power to make life pleasurable for them." Mrs. Dunn, who still survives her husband, has now made her home within the borders of Jones county for fifty years. She is a gentle, kindly woman, chari- table in her estimate of every one and her many excellent traits of heart and mind have won for her the esteem and admiration of a host of warm friends.
ROBERT JOHNSON.
Expression of public confidence came to Robert Johnson in his election to the office of mayor of Anamosa in the spring of 1909. He is, moreover, well known as a real-estate dealer of the city and is now conducting a successful business in that line. He was born in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1837. his parents being Adam and Saralı (Hazelett) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Augusta county, Virginia. The family went to Ohio in 1833 and were pioneers of that state. Adam Johnson was very prominent in the community in which he lived, exerted considerable influence in shaping the political policy of the state and was an intimate friend of George H. Pendleton. In his family were eleven children : Evelyn, who is now the widow of James Riley and resides in Ohio: Jessie, who served as a soldier of the Civil war. being captain of the Fifty-first Illinois Regi- ment ; Robert, who was the third in order of birth; Elizabeth May, the wife of Snell Brookings, a resident of Ohio: Amos, who married Harriett Elliott and served for three years in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war. after which he became an ordained minister of the Presbyterian church and died in Jefferson county, Iowa, in 1904 : Thomas Jefferson, who served for four years as a defender of the Union cause and died in 1902, leaving a widow who bore the maiden name of Mary A. Seeman and now' resides in Jefferson county, Iowa; Emerson, who wedded Cynthia Jones and makes his home in Huron, South Dakota : William, who wedded Nellie Elliott and resides in McCook county. South Dakota; Cor- delia, the wife of Joe Wagner, a resident of Fort Scott, Kansas: Elmore, a resident of South Dakota ; and one who died in infancy.
Robert Johnson was reared in his father's home, where lessons of industry and integrity were early impressed upon his mind. The full story of his career is another instance of the fact that "truth is stranger than fiction." I:1 his early manhood he was a prosperous and substantial farmer, surrounded by a happy family when through some strange irony of fate he was made the victim of a most malicious prosecution. To maintain his honor and integrity he was forced into a costly litigation, which was carried on through the courts for a period of many
ROBERT JOHNSON
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
years. His entire fortune was required to meet the expenses of the law suit and the best years of his life were used in that way. He was, however, a hard fighter and through all the weary years in which the legal battle dragged on and amid all the losses and discouragements he never wavered nor had a thought of giving up. In nearly every one of the many hard trials he won the decision of the jury, but afterward some judge would reverse the decision until finally the judgment was sustained. He has lived to see his name vindicated and honored, while his enemies who were active in the prosecution with the exception of one have long since gone the way of all the earth.
The litigation in which he was involved is known throughout the Iowa courts as "The Jones County Calf Case." It is the most noted case of the character that has ever been tried in the state. Mr. Johnson had become a resident of Iowa in 1857 and was recognized as a man of excellent character, living as a prosperous farmer about twelve miles south of Anamosa in Rome township. His attention up to this time had been directed to the development and improvement of his farm and he was winning success in his undertakings, while his straightforward busi- ness methods at all times commended him to the confidence and regard of his fellowmen. In 1874 a man named Potter, then of Greene county, Iowa, with whom Mr. Johnson had had an acquaintance from boyhood days, came to Jones county for the purpose of buying calves and stated also that he would continue his journey to the east for the same purpose. He asked Mr. Johnson while he was gone to pick up some cows for him and he would take them on his return. The next day Mr. Johnson, while in the store of Coppess & Der in Olin, inquired of the firm whether they knew of any cows for sale. A stranger in the store spoke up and said he had some for sale and that they were running on the commons near Sergeant Bluff. Mr. Johnson replied that he and his brother were on their way to Stanwood and if the man, who gave the name of Smith and said he was the son-in-law of Clem Lane with whom Mr. Johnson was acquainted, would go with them and point out the calves they would look at them. The three men started and when they reached the bluffs found three of the four calves which Smith said were his. Mr. Johnson bought the calves in his brother's presence, told Smith to leave them in the Len Heins pasture and come to his house for his money. Smith replied that he must have the money that afternoon as he had been sued, so Mr. Johnson gave him what money he had and borrowed the balance from his brother to make full payment. Smith took the calves to the Heins pas- ture and was seen on his way by several people.
Not long afterward Potter returned from the east with a drove of calves and secured of Mr. Johnson the four he had purchased of Smith and two or three others which he had bought of other parties. By this time John Forman, a neigh- bor of Mr. Johnson, lost four calves and after searching for them for some time learned that Potter had taken a lot of cattle west to Greene county. Forman went there and found his calves or, at least, claimed that he found them in Potter's herd. Potter said that he got them of Johnson or some other man whom he named. Potter and Forman then came to Jones county and Forman told Mr. Johnson that he had found his four calves in Potter's herd, while Potter claimed that he thought that he got those four calves of Mr. Johnson. The last named then told how he had purchased the calves and, having implicit confidence in both Potter
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HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
and Forman, he had no doubt that he had handled the Forman calves and that they were the ones which he had bought of Smith. He told Mr. Forman that he would give him his note for the calves and that he would then have Smith arrested for stealing them. This was agreed to but before doing it Mr. Johnson insisted that Potter and Forman go with him to the store of Coppess & Der and talk with Mr. Coppess, which they did. Mr. Coppess informed them that he was present when the man named Smith offered to sell the calves. Mr. Johnson gave his note for the calves and then got out a warrant for Smith's arrest and started to find him. In order to do this he went to Clem Lane, the supposed father-in-law of Smith, who said that he had no such son-in-law and that there was no man of the name living in the neighborhood. Mr. Johnson searched diligently for Smith but was never able to find him.
At that time there was an organization in the southern part of Jones county called the lowa Branch of the Northern Missouri Anti-Horsethief Association. Members of this association heard of the transaction and evidently thought that Mr. Johnson should be prosecuted. Forman and Potter became members of the association and through their efforts, together with those of some other members, Mr. Johnson was indicted for the larceny of the Forman calves. He and his brother then went to Greene county and had Potter point out the four calves claimed by Forman. They proved to be high grade calves and one of them was nearly white. The calves that Johnson had bought of Smith were scrubs and of dark color. Mr. Johnson then for the first time discovered that he had not han- dled the Forman calves at all and began to think that Potter had stolen them and laid it to him. He then refused to pay the note that he had given for the calves and suit was brought before a justice. Mr. Johnson defended on the ground that there was no consideration ; that is, that he had never handled the calves at all. But after long and expensive litigation he was beaten and had to pay the note on the ground that it was in the hands of an innocent purchaser. In the meantime excitement in his neighborhood was intense. Colonel Preston, then one of the leading lawyers of the state, filed a demurrer to the indictment. While this was pending Mr. Johnson was the recipient of anonymous threatening let- ters. His demurrer, however, was sustained. . Another indictment was found. A change of venue was taken and a trial resulted in the jury standing eleven for Mr. Johnson and one for the state. Another trial resulted in his acquittal.
Several years had passed. He had expended all that he possessed in defending himself. He then began the famous suit of Johnson versus Miller et al. The de- fendants were Forman, Potter, Miller and three or four other prominent farmers, whom he thought had been very active in his prosecution. The suit was for mali- cious prosecution and he asked for ten thousand dollars damages. After several changes of venue it came for trial and was tried twice at Vinton, resulting each time in a verdict for Mr. Johnson, but each time the judge refused the verdict. A trial was afterward held in Clinton, giving Mr. Johnson a verdict of seventy- five hundred dollars, but this the judge set aside. In Waterloo the case was tried four times, each time a verdict being returned for the plaintiff and the last trial in 1898 gave to Mr. Johnson the judgment with costs amounting to about six thousand dollars, which was finally paid. During the progress of this litigation the most prominent lawyers in the state were engaged by the respective parties
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at one trial or another. It lasted nearly a quarter of a century but in the end Mr. Johnson was vindicated, and he has lived not only to enjoy the respect and good will of his fellowmen but to be honored by his fellow citizens to the highest office within their gift, having been elected mayor of Anamosa in 1909.
It was in July, 1861, that Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Saune, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Saune, natives of Ohio. The par- ents went to Indiana in 1842 and a few years later to Jones county. Here the mother died in 1874, while the father, long surviving her, passed away in 1908. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born a son and a daughter, Frank and Alma.
Mr. Johnson and his son are now engaged in the real-estate business and have secured a large clientage. They have handled many important realty transfers and are thoroughly conversant with property values and with the real estate that is on the market. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson hold membership in the Methodist Epis- copal church. He was one of its founders and builders and is now serving as one of its stewards. His first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln and he now usually votes with the democracy, but does not consider himself bound by party ties. Notwithstanding the opposition which he met with he has held to the course which he has believed to be right and the hardships which he encountered served to prove to him the strength of some of the friendships which were his. He is now numbered among the most worthy, valued and respected citizens of Anamosa and as its chief executive officer is now giving to the city a public-spir- ited and beneficial administration.
J. P. ELLISON.
Prominent among the representatives of business life in Jones county is J. P. Ellison of Martelle, the owner of extensive farming interests and closely associated with financial and commercial enterprises in the village as the owner of the bank and also of a large double general store. He has made rapid and substantial progress in his business career as the result of his ready and intelli- gent appreciation for and utilization of opportunities that others pass by heed- lessly. Energy and perseverance constitute the foundation upon which he has builded his business prosperity, and the reliability of his course furnishes an example well worthy of emulation. Mr. Ellison was born on a farm three miles north of Mount Vernon, Linn county, Iowa, April 26, 1851, and is a son of Samuel Ellison, who arrived in that county in 1840 and homesteaded the place upon which the subject of this review opened his eyes to the light of day eleven years later. Samuel Ellison had been married in 1848 to Miss Mary Scott, and they became the parents of the following named: William G., who resides on the old home- stead ; J. P., of this review ; Mrs. Ruth A. Chamberlain, whose home is north of Mount Vernon ; Mrs. Mary M. Oxley, residing cast of Marion, Iowa ; and Mrs. Jane Platner, whose home is near Mechanicsville. The death of the husband and father occurred on the old homestead March 23, 1888, but Mrs. Ellison still survives and is now living in Mount Vernon. Samuel Ellison was of that
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type of pioneers who developed the rich resources of the state and profited by their labors, which were not only a source of individual success but also consti- tuted a potent element in the development of the state.
J. P. Ellison was reared on the old homestead and assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm, continuing his work in the fields as the years went by. His educational opportunities were those afforded by the common schools while his business training was of the practical character that comes with farm work.
On the 2d of January, 1884, Mr. Ellison was united in marriage to Miss Eva Newman, a daughter of Emanuel and Elizabeth (Spade) Newman, who were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, all of whom are living in Greenfield township with the exception of Elmer, who resides in Lee county ; Otis, whose home is in Linn county; and Mrs. E. E. Miller, who is living at Estherville, Iowa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ellison have been born two children, Samuel H. and Ethel G., both of whom are at home with their parents. After attending the public schools in Anamosa they became students in Drake Univer- sity at Des Moines, from which institution the daughter was graduated in June, 1907. She afterward returned to Drake University where she studied music for a year. Both the son and daughter are now assisting their father in his banking and commercial enterprises. ,
Mr. Ellison is one of the extensive land owners of Jones county, owning a homestead property of six hundred and fifteen acres on section 4, Greenfield township. This is valuable property and the soil, naturally rich and productive, brings forth large crops as the reward of the care and labor bestowed upon the fields. The farm is splendidly equipped with all modern accessories and con- veniences and from his agricultural interests Mr. Ellison derives a substantial annual income. Seeing the necessity for a bank in Martelle he organized one, placed it upon a substantial basis and inaugurated a safe and conservative policy which has won for it substantial success. It has, moreover, proved a valuable adjuct to the business interests of the village, and that the townspeople are ap- preciative of the convenience which it affords is indicated in the liberal patron- age accorded it. Mr. Ellison is also the owner of a large double store in Mar- telle in which he carries a complete line of hardware, dry goods, groceries and shoes. He also derives a gratifying income from numerous residence properties which he owns. In matters of business judgment he is seldom if ever at fault and he does not fear to venture where favoring opportunity leads the way. His judgment of men and circumstances is sound and his recognition of possibili- ties in the business world has led him into important relations whereby his own success has been greatly promoted while the welfare and progress of the town have likewise been augmented.
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