USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 64
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The spring of 1862 found the family in Muscatine, Iowa, and William Davis in the employ of Neidig & Burtner as traveling salesman in Mereer and Roek Island counties, Illinois. In this he was quite successful. On the 7th of Ang- ust, 1862, General Davis enlisted as a member of Company B, Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry, under command of Captain A. B. John. On settling with his employer he was amazed at his remuneration, it being more than double what he had anticipated. Being a stranger or nearly so in the city and state, prefer- ment was neither sought nor expected with his company and regiment. He participated in a series of battles which resulted in the capture of Vieksburg under General Grant, the subsequent campaign of Sherman against Jackson, Mississippi, the Meridian campaign, the Red River expedition, including the battles of Fort De Russy, Henderson Hill and Pleasant IIill, and the operations at the mouth of the Black River. Later under the command of General A. J. Smith, he took part in the battle of Lake Chieot, Arkansas. The next few months were spent in West Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri, chasing Price and Mar- maduke from those distriets. This being aeecomplished, his command embarked at St. Louis and proceeded to Nashville, Tennessee, where under "Pap" Thomas,
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General Davis took part in a two days' battle that drove Hood from the state, continuing the pursuit to Eastport, Mississippi. A short respite from the strenu- ously active campaign and the troops then received orders to proceed to Mobile, Alabama, by way of New Orleans. While at Memphis, Mr. Davis, then a young lieutenant, received orders from the war department to report to General A. L. Chetlain at Memphis for assignment to duty. There he remained during the rest of his army life, performing all the duties pertaining to the office of his rank until his muster out, March 31, 1866, a portion of the time being in command of the "Irving Military Prison."
On his return from the army he found his father presiding over the destinies of Western College at Western, Iowa. He pursued a course in the business col- lege at Pittsburg, afterward becoming traveling salesman for N. B. Brown, a manufacturer of woolen goods in Cedar Rapids, later managing a couple of real-estate transactions at Lisbon, and then hung out his sign proclaiming him to be a dealer in drugs, paints, oils, wall paper, etc.
In 1867 General Davis was married to Miss Mattie W. Cowden of Pennsyl- vania. Prosperity and adversity in about equal proportions eame as they do to most people. The community was one day shocked by the suicide of the editor of the Lisbon Sun and his widow requested Mr. Davis to assume the manage- ment of the paper. Later he bought the plant and continued as editor and proprietor of the Sun during the succeeding ten years. Within a month after the beginning of General Grant's first term as president he was appointed post- master of Lisbon and continued in office for nearly a year after Mr. Cleveland's first term as president began, so that his incumbency covered more than sixteen consecutive years. Being of a military turn of mind, Mr. Davis soon after lo- eating in Lisbon organized a company of state militia, now the National Guard, and was elected its captain. A year later he was chosen lieutenant colonel of the First Regiment of the Iowa National Guard. The Lisbon company was then transferred to Cedar Rapids and George Greene was elected captain. Four years later Mr. Davis was commissioned colonel of the regiment which under his man- agement gained a reputation for efficiency and deportment and military bearing unequaled by any in the state. It was during his five years' serviee as colonel that he organized a battalion of the National Guard of the state, conducting them to Washington, D. C. The command was in the inaugural parade of President Benjamin Harrison. It is noticeable that this is the only instance in which Iowa troops ever participated in the inauguration of a president of the United States. The command was royally treated and was applauded voeiferously for its excel- lenee. The newly inaugurated president extended to the members a special reception at the White House and the newspapers of the city gave illustrations of the command in the procession, and also ents of the officers. When General B. A. Beeson was appointed by the governor to the office of adjutant general, Colonel Davis was chosen as his successor in command of the Second Brigade, I. N. G. It was during this period in his military career that the Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago and the ceremony pertaining to the dedication of the buildings was participated in by a large contingent of the military foree of several states. Adjutant General George Greene, under General Boics, by his orders organized a brigade of the First and Second Regiments from the Iowa National Guard, placing General Davis in command, although he was not the senior commanding officer. Disagreeable weather to a great extent marred much of the ceremony, yet on the day of the greatest display, General Miles, the Commander-in-Chief, took occasion to highly compliment Colonel F. W. Malin and his First Iowa Regiment for their almost perfect work as escort to the vice president, a part of which escort duty the regiment had to perform on double time. General Davis was placed on the retired list of the state at the expiration
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of his five years' service as brigadier general and has since continued in civil life.
Four children were born unto General and Mrs. Davis: Carrie, who is now head of a division in the agricultural department in Washington, D. C .; Lulu B., who is the widow of B. F. Tisdale and lives in this city; Arthur W., a letter- carrier connected with the Cedar Rapids postoffice ; and Ira J., who was drowned in the Cedar River near the Palisades, May 17, 1894.
General Davis is a member of the United Brethren church and is president of its board of trustees. He belongs to Mount Hermon Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Trowel Chapter, R. A. M .; Apollo Commandery, K. T., and also to El Kahir Temple of the Mystic Shrine. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but he has never sought elective office although he has been continuously in public service. He has made a distinguished record in military circles and manifests public spirit in his support of municipal interests, furthering every movement and measure for the general good.
N. B. RICHARDSON
Since 1893 N. B. Richardson has been identified with the interests of Coggon, where he is now engaged in the real-estate business and the loaning of money. His birthplace was in Delaware county, Iowa, and his natal day was July 6, 1857. He is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this state. His parents, Aaron and Maria E. (Belding) Richardson, both natives of Cheshire county, New Hampshire, were there reared and married, the year of their marriage being 1852. About 1854 or 1855 they located in Delaware county, Iowa. In the east the father was identified with railroading but after coming to Iowa located on a farm in Hazel Green township, Delaware county. Throughout a long period he was thus connected with the agricultural interests of that section of the state and took a most active part in development and progress along those lines. He spent his last years in Hopkinton, there living retired until his demise in 1904, when he was seventy-nine years of age. In politics a republican, he took a very active part in public affairs, doing all in his power to promote the interests of his party. He was a member of the board of county supervisors of Delaware county for many years and served in other local offices. He was likewise prominent in Masonic circles and was a well informed man, highly esteemed by all with whom he came in contact.
N. B. Richardson was reared in his native county and began his education in the common schools, the knowledge thus acquired being supplemented by study in Lennox College at Hopkinton and in Bailey's Business College at Dubuque. He graduated from the latter institution with the class of 1877, after which he returned to the home farm and assumed management of the same, being thus engaged until the time of his marriage in 1883. Following that event he con- ducted a creamery business in connection with farming for ten years. In 1893 he came to Coggon, Linn county, and entered the Coggon State Bank in the capacity of clerk, his capability in this connection winning him promotion to the position of cashier some three or four months later. He served continuously in the latter position for sixteen years, when he severed his connection with that institution to engage in business on his own account, being engaged now in the real-estate and loan business, and in both departments he is meeting with success. He has negotiated many important property transfers and loans money at a good rate of interest, so that he is now numbered among the wide-awake and enter- prising business men of Coggon.
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In 1883 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Richardson and Miss Flora J. McBride, of Delaware county, Iowa. Their union has been blessed with three daughters but the eldest, Winifred, is deceased. The two surviving daughters, Florence and Anna, are high school students.
Following in the political footsteps of his father, Mr. Richardson gives his support to the republican platform. At the present writing, 1910, he is a member of the town council and the school board, having served in both capacities for a number of years. He is a Mason, belonging to Mecca Lodge, No. 523, at Coggon, and he is likewise identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Rich- ardson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Richardson has put forward every endeavor to make today find him further advanced than yester- day and looks forward to the morrow to add to his attainment. Every change he has made in his business life has given him a wider outlook and broader scope for the exercise of his energy and ambitions and today his record is character- ized by those qualities which win him classification with leading citizens and reliable business men.
MANVILLE P. SMITH
Manville P. Smith is now living practically retired in Marion, having gained a handsome competence through the careful conduct of agricultural interests in this state. His birth occurred in Jones county, Iowa, his parents being B. A. and Irene (Reed) Smith, who were natives of West Virginia and Ohio respectively, the former born in 1833 and the latter in 1832. In the year 1849 they removed westward to Iowa, settling in Jones county, where the father entered a quarter section of land, making his home thereon throughout the remainder of his life. Until 1875 he lived in a log house which he had erected on his arrival but in that year replaced the primitive structure by a more commodious dwelling. He like- wise brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and improvement and made the farm a most valuable and productive one. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company G, Thirty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served three years and four months, participating in the battles of Shiloh, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain and other important en- gagements. He was also with Sherman on the march to the sea. He passed away in 1890 in the faith of the Baptist church, his remains being interred in the cemetery at Olin, Iowa.
Following his demise Mrs. Smith left the farm and removed to Olin, where she resided until called to her final rest in 1906. She was also a devoted member of the Baptist church and was buried in the Olin cemetery. Her family numbered eight children, as follows: Commodore A., who is married and lives in Texas; Katherine, the wife of C. A. Coppess, of Olin, Jones county ; Mary V., who is the wife of W. F. Giddings and resides in Hale, Iowa; Manville P., of this review ; Tilly I., the wife of W. H. Walston, of Dallas county, Iowa; Frank W., who is married and makes his home in Colorado; Ina B., the wife of W. F. Freeman, of Olin, Jones county ; and Ila V., who is the wife of J. Stokes and resides in Iowa City, Iowa.
Manville P. Smith remained at home until he had reached man's estate and then started out as an agriculturist on his own account, operating a rented tract of land for four years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a farm of two hundred and twenty acres in Marshall county, Iowa, resided thereon for five years and then leased the property to a tenant for one year, removing to Jones county. There he purchased one hundred and seventy acres of land and in 1895 also traded his Marshall county farm for one in Jones county, where his land
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holdings therefore aggregated three hundred and fifteen acres. After living in Jones county for eight years he sold his property and went to Cedar county, Iowa, where in 1902 he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land. He likewise bought property to the value of one thousand dollars in Oklahoma City, Okla- homa, which he later sold at a good profit. In Cedar county he made his home for five years and in 1907 came to Linn eounty, purchasing eighty acres of land within the corporation limits of Marion. After residing thereon for three years, however, he bonght eity residence property and is now living practically retired, having won a handsome competence through his successful operations as a dealer in Iowa land. In connection with the tilling of the soil he devoted considerable attention to the feeding of stock and this branch of his business likewise proved very profitable. He still owns the eighty-acre farm within the city limits of Marion and is interested in the dairy business which is there conducted by his son-in-law, Chester Knight.
On the 1st of January, 1885, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Emma B. Clay, a daughter of D. A. and Lovisa N. (Root) Clay, who are residents of Hale, Jones county, Iowa. The father was born in London, England, in 1842, while the mother's birth occurred in Connectient in 1849. Until his health began to fail in recent years, Mr. Clay took an active part in public affairs and served as trustec of his township and as a member of the county board of supervisors. His children were ten in number, as follows: Mrs. Smith ; Josephine, the wife of E. Sawyer, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Ida E., the wife of James Ballou, of Cedar county ; Oren E., who is married and resides in Spokane, Washington; Ozias, deeeased; one who died in infancy ; D. L., who is married and makes his home at Hartley, O'Brien county, Iowa ; Lyda, who gave her hand in marriage to J. W. Fowlie and resides in Cedar county ; Bertha I., the wife of L. A. Pattent, of York- shire, Iowa ; and Leona M., at home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born four children, namely : Clarence E., whose birth occurred on the 12th of March, 1886, and who passed away in September of the same year; Clayton P., at home, who is a high school graduate; Laverne E., who is the wife of Chester Knight and re- sides in this county on her father's farm, and Bert A., likewise at home.
In polities Mr. Smith has ever been a stanch republiean yet has never sought office as a reward for his party fealty. He belongs to the Sons of Veterans and is officially connected with the camp at Marion as eonsul. His wife is conductor of the Woman's Relief Corps, the ladies' auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Re- public. Both are devoted and consistent members of the Christian church and take an active interest in its work. Mr. Smith has gained the warm esteem of all with whom he has come in contact because of his upright and honorable life and also by reason of the straightforward methods he has ever followed in his business career.
E. G. ASHBY
The name of E. G. Ashby is on the roll of Union soldiers for at the time of the Civil war he valiantly espoused the cause which upheld the supremacy of the fed- eral government. He was born in Illinois and his parents, Daniel and Nancy Ashby, were also natives of that state. They came to Iowa, however, at an early period in its development, the father continuing his residence here until after the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south, when he joined the north- ern ranks and remained at the front until death elaimed him. His widow after- ward passed away in Iowa.
E. G. Ashby was reared under the parental roof, no event of especial import- ance occurring to vary the routine of life for him in his boyhood days. In the
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year 1861, however, there occurred an important event - his marriage to Miss Sarah E. Hollingsworth, who was born in Marion county, Indiana, in 1846, and is a daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Pollard) Hollingsworth, natives of Ohio. The year 1851 witnessed their arrival in Appanoose county, Iowa, where the father purchased land and developed a good farm, continuing its cultivation until his life's labors were ended in death. His widow still survives and is now living in Centerville, Iowa, at the age of ninety-three years. In their family were twelve children, of whom six are yet living.
Mr. and Mrs. Ashby had been married only a brief period when he felt that the country needed his aid and that it was his duty to go to the front. Accord- ingly he enrolled with the boys in blue of an Iowa regiment and for three years participated with his command in all of the skirmishes and engagements in which it took part. He left the army a nervous wreck but as soon as possible he re- sumed the duties of business life and thereafter gave his time and energies to teaching school and to farming. He was diligent, capable and persistent in all that he did and his energy and determination enabled him to provide a comfort- able living for his family. The cause of education found in him a stalwart champion and his methods of instruction were valuable in character while his ideas concerning the improvement of the schools were most practical. For four years he filled the office of county superintendent and during that time greatly further- ed the interests of public education in the county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ashby were born eight children: John C., now living in Centerville, Iowa; Flora, the wife of Judge Rall, of Cedar Rapids; Melville S., whose home is in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Katherine, living in New York city ; William C., who is located in Cedar Rapids; Evelyn, who is graduate of the high school and is at home with her mother; Berry U., deceased; and Delbert R., also at home.
In his political views Mr. Ashby was a republican, giving stalwart allegiance to the party from the time that age conferred upon him the right of franchise until his death. He always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day and he was a believer in progress and advancement, cooperating in all movements which he deemed would further the publie improvement. At his death, which occurred in Centerville, lowa, in 1896, many friends mourned his loss for he had greatly endeared himself to all who knew him. Mrs. Ashby still survives her hus- band and now makes her home at No. 1726 First avenue, in Cedar Rapids. She is a member of the organization known as the Millennium Dawn. Like her hus- band she has won high regard wherever she is known and her warmest friends are those who have known her longest.
FRANK O. THOMPSON
Frank O. Thompson devotes his time to the cultivation of one hundred and twenty aeres of land, located in Spring Grove township, this traet having been in his possession since 1904. IIe is a native of that township, born August 2, 1868, a son of James and Jane (Grant) Thompson, who settled in Linn county in 1853. Here the father operated rented land for three years, at the end of which time he purchased eighty acres, and a few years later made an additional purchase of eighty acres, his place comprising one hundred and sixty aeres. He became a prosperous man and was identified with farming interests in Linn county until his death, which occurred January 22, 1888. The mother survived for many years departing this life March 27, 1901.
Frank O. Thompson was reared under the parental roof, assisting his father in the work of the home place until the latter's death, after which he continued
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with his mother until his twenty-third year. At that period in his life he estab- lished a home of his own by his marriage on the 14th of January, 1891, the lady of his choice being Miss Lena Herriott, a daughter of Aaron C. and Rachel E. (Kerr) Herriott, natives of Ohio. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Thompson began their domestic life upon a farm, Mr. Thompson operating rented land for thirteen years. IIe then purchased one hundred and twenty acres, which is his present place of abode, this land being located in Spring Grove township. He has made modern improvements on the place and now owns a valuable property.
In politics a republiean, Mr. Thompson has ever taken a lively interest in public affairs. For four years he served as township trustec, while for two years he aeted as road supervisor. He was likewise school director for six years and in this connection did good service. In religious faith he is a Methodist, while his fraternal relations connect him with Wapsie Lodge, No. 235, at Central City, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of a son and two daughters, Roy Lewis, Pearl Edna and Hazel May, aged respectively, seventeen, fourteen and twelve years, and the family is one of the most prominent in Spring Grove town- ship. Mr. Thompson is a busy man, constantly occupied with the duties relative to the development and improvement of his farm, and during the years of his residence in this county his substantial probity as a business man and his pro- gressiveness in citizenship have gained him his present firm hold on the good will and regard of his fellow townsmen.
WILLIAM S. GRAFFT
After many years devoted to agricultural pursuits, William S. Grafft is now living retired in Central City, Iowa. Throughout life he has been identified with the interests of this state and has done much toward its development and im- provement, especially along agricultural lines. He was born in Jones county, five miles from the village of Olin, on the 28th of October, 1850, his parents being David W. and Christina (Byerly) Grafft, both of whom were natives of Ohio, though they were not married until after their removal to Iowa. At an early day our subjeet's paternal grandfather became a resident of Jones county, es- tablisliing his home near Olin, and a short time later, in 1846, was joined by his son D. W. Grafft, who continued his residence here until called to the world beyond, May 11, 1903, at the age of seventy-eight years. Throughout life he followed farming but also devoted considerable attention to the blacksmith's trade. It was on the 30th of March, 1843, that he was united in marriage to Miss Christina Byerly, a daughter of Francis Byerly, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, March 8, 1826, and died in Jones county, Iowa, January 16, 1899, having come to this state in 1846. From girlhood, Mrs. Grafft was an earnest and consistent member of the United Brethren church. She was the mother of nine children: William S., of this review; John H., who is living on the old home farm in Jones county ; Mary Catherine, the wife of Frank Blendy, a farmer of Jones county; Martha Ann, the wife of Lewis Porter, of Cherokee, Iowa; James Albert, a resident of Clovis, California; David Edward, of Rock Rapids, Iowa; Della Jane, the wife of Robert McMurren, of Cherokee, Iowa; Francis Marion, a farmer of Jones county ; and Elizabeth Elba, the wife of William Lusk, of Jones county.
The common schools of his native county afforded W. S. Grafft his educational privileges and he remained at home until he attained his majority, giving his father the benefit of his services in carrying on the home farm. On leaving the
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parental roof he worked as a farm hand for a time and then operated his father's farm for three years, at the end of which time he purchased land north of Central City, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies for three years. He then purchased one hundred and sixty-eight acres, which he still owns and was engaged in the enltivation and improvement of that place for several years but now makes his home in Central City, having retired from active life. Besides this farm, which he still owns, he has other property in Marion, Iowa. He was a progressive and up-to-date farmer and the success which he achieved was well merited.
Mr. Grafft was married March 3, 1880, to Miss Alice Kratzer, who was born in Davis, Illinois, a daughter of Samuel and Malinda (Drake) Kratzer. Her father was a native of Ohio, his birth place being near Cincinnati, but at an early day he removed to the Prairie state. His family consisted of ten children, namely : Lewis R., who resides near Walker, Iowa; S. N., living near Central City; Mary Ellen, the wife of John Allemang, who is living retired in Kansas City ; Martha Ann, whose home is near Center Point; Luey Jane, deceased ; David William, a farmer of Center Point; Alice, the wife of our subject; Sarah Malissa, the wife of Henry Barr, whose home is near Edgewood, Iowa; Emma Lavina, the wife of Charles Dilley, of Maryville, Missouri ; and Hannah Maria, also living near Maryville, Missouri.
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