USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 15
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CHARLES EVERETT HOWELL.
Charles Everett Howell, an enterprising farmer and stockman of Douglas township, was born in Jefferson township, near the Union Chapel, on the 16th of February, 1874, a son of Lanson and Elizabeth (Hughart ) Howell. The father was a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, born September 23, 1847, and the mother was born in Kentucky. When but two years of age the father was brought by his parents in an emigrant wagon to Warren county, Iowa. In 1849 the grandfather, Aaron Howell, came with his family to Madison county, buying land from the government at a dollar and a quarter per acre. He was an indus- triouts and capable man and at the time of his death owned twenty-five hundred acres, from which he derived a handsome income. There were four sons in his family : Emerson, who served in the Civil war as a member of Company C,
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Forty-eighth lowa Infantry ; Lanson; Nelson, whose death occurred October 10, 1908, in Lee township, Madison county ; and Wilson, who died in infancy.
Lanson Howell gained his early education by attending the district school taught by Sarah Gamble. The term was short, the building crude in its appoint- ments and the curriculum was limited, but that school and others like it were an indomitable force in the development of the intellectual life of the state in pioneer times. When Lanson Howell was twenty-one years of age he began farming in Lee township, but as his wife died and his father was stricken blind he returned to the homestead and has lived there continuously to the present time. He has been a heavy feeder of stock and is known as a prosperous stockman. He owns eighteen hundred and thirty acres of land in this county and four hundred and thirty in Warren county, being one of the most extensive land owners in the community. His interests also connect him with financial affairs as he is a director and stockholder in the First National Bank of Winterset. He has held all of the township offices but has not cared to take an active part in a wider political field. He considers religious work of paramount importance and is an active member of the Methodist church and is assisting substantially in building the new church of that denomination at Patterson, Iowa. His first wife passed away October 19, 1877, and Charles E. is the only surviving child of that mar- riage. His sister Ollie died in infancy. The father married a second time and has a number of children by that union.
Charles E. Howell became a student in the district schools at the usual age and after completing his elementary and secondary education entered Simpson College at Indianola, Iowa. He took an active part in college affairs and for one year played upon the varsity football team. When he had attained his majority he began farming near Patterson and lived there for six years. How- ever, on the 18th of February, 1901, he purchased three hundred and forty- seven acres of fine land in Douglas township and removed to his newly acquired property. Although he was compelled to go in debt to buy his farm he soon paid off all of his obligations and is ranked among the well-to-do men in his locality. He has bought other land from time to time and now owns six hundred and ninety acres in this county and one hundred and sixty acres in Kansas. The stock business has seemed to him to offer unusual opportunities and he feeds from three hundred to five hundred head of cattle a year, the sale of which nets him a good profit. The buying, feeding and selling of cattle demands prac- tically the whole of his time but he has not neglected any of the duties devolving upon him in connection with public affairs. He is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Winterset and is well known in financial circles of the county. His gratifying success is the reward of his own efforts and business acumen and in all of his dealings he has observed the rules of business honor and integrity. His home is supplied with modern conveniences and is a true index of the progressive spirit of its owner.
On the 30th of January, 1895, Mr. Howell married Miss Sadie Lovelace. who was born near Patterson, a daughter of Samuel A. and Mary (Glosser) Lovelace, both natives of Hocking county, Ohio. Her father, who was born on the 9th of December, 1846, was a farmer in his early life and in the '50s made the overland journey from Pennsylvania to Iowa. While living in this county he was for some time a preacher in the United Brethren church and after remov-
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ing to Montgomery county was stationed at Grant City. He passed away No- vember 21, 1891. His wife was born on the 16th of February, 1837, and is now residing with Mrs. L. T. Fogler on a farm near Patterson. The Glosser family were early settlers of Madison county and were honored by those who knew them. Mrs. Howell is the only child born to her parents and by her marriage has seven children: Hazel, who was born December 5, 1895, and is at home ; Lanson Orville, who was born in 1897, and is assisting his father with the farm work: Mardacie, born February 6, 1899; Garland Claire, born December 23, 1903; Clarence Everett, born September 24, 1904; Blanche M., born August 4, 1906; and Charles Aaron, born January 14, 1910.
Mrs. Howell is a member and an able worker in the West Star Methodist Episcopal church of Douglas township. Mr. Howell joined the Masonic order at Pitzer and held office in the lodge at that place. The room in which the meet- ings were held burned and the lodge is now extinct but Mr. Howell is a member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., of Winterset. He is also a member of Lebanon Chapter, R. A. M., and belongs to Des Moines Consistory, No. 3, and to Za-Ga-Zig Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines, having attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. His political adher- ence is given to the democratic party and he has held a number of local offices, being at present township trustee. His father is known as one of the foremost residents of this county and Mr. Howell of this review has proved worthy of his parentage, there being no better known or more highly esteemed man in the county than he.
MRS. MARY K. BONINE.
Since the death of her husband Mrs. Mary K. Bonine has been operating a farm on section 13, Madison township, with the assistance of her son, and she has proved herself an able business woman. She was born in Delaware county, Indiana, April 9, 1843, a daughter of Nathan P. and Elizabeth (Norris) Goff, natives respectively of West Virginia and Kentucky. Mr. Goff, who was a farmer by occupation, removed to Indiana in the early days of that state and there cultivated land until 1864, when he and his family became residents of Madison county, Iowa. He purchased land in Jefferson township but subsequently removed to Douglas township, where he farmed for many years. At length he was enabled to retire and passed his declining years with his children. His death occurred in February, 1900, and his wife died on the 16th of August, 1894.
Mary K. Goff was reared and acquired her education in the Hoosier state. When eighteen years of age, or on the roth of August, 1861, she became the wife of Joseph D. Simmons, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Dungan) Simmons. The father followed agricultural pursuits and Joseph D. Simmons was early trained in the work of the farm. He and his bride came to Madison county, Iowa, in 1864 with her parents and Mr. Simmons operated land given him by his father- in-law for twelve years. He then sold it and removed with his family to De Soto, Dallas county, this state, where he worked at his trades, being a carpenter, stone-mason and also a plasterer, and known as a thorough and painstaking
JOSEPH D. SIMMONS
MRS. MARY K. BONINE
A
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workman. He met death by accident in De Soto on the 3d of February, 1877. During the Civil war Mr. Simmons manifested his patriotism by trying to enlist in an Indiana regiment in 1861 but was refused on account of impaired hearing, caused by scarlet fever. Later, however, he was drafted and faithfully served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Indianapolis, Indiana.
To Mr. and Mrs. Simmons were born seven children: Florence, whose birth occurred in Indiana, July 3, 1863, and who died on the 4th of July, 1864; a son, born December 2, 1864, who died in infancy; Amanda J., born May 12, 1866; William E., who was born August 23, 1868, and is living in Colorado; Nathan E., whose birth occurred on the 16th of December, 1871, and who is assisting his mother in the operation of her farm; Lydia O., born April 6, 1873; and Mattie J., born April 19, 1877.
Following the death of her husband Mrs. Simmons removed to Madison town- ship and made her home with her parents until the 24th of April, 1884, when she was again married, her second husband being Thomas E. Bonine, a son of Thomas and Martha ( Talbert) Bonine, both natives of Indiana. Thomas E. Bonine was born in Hendricks county, that state, and when fifteen years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Madison county, Iowa. He became the owner of eighty acres of land on section 13, Madison township, which he developed and operated until his death, which occurred on the 15th of October, 1909.
Since his demise Mrs. Bonine has operated the farm with the assistance of her son and everything about the place is kept in excellent condition. They raise high grade Duroc Jersey hogs and shorthorn cattle as well as the usual grains and derive a gratifying income from their agricultural interests. The son, Nathan E. Simmons, is a republican and takes a commendable interest in public affairs. His fraternal connections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church, to which his mother also belongs. Mrs. Bonine has resided in this county for many years and her circle of friends is only limited by her circle of acquaintances.
ROBERT B. TERRILL.
Robert B. Terrill & Son are proprietors of one of the leading general stores of Winterset, where Robert B. Terrill has been actively engaged in business for many years. He is a native of Newtown, Connecticut, born September 6, 1852, and there his boyhood days were spent. He received his education in the public schools, thus preparing himself for the duties of life. In January, 1879, when twenty-six years of age, he came to Winterset and formed a partnership with his brothers, L. B. and M. B. Terrill, for the conduct of a dry-goods and shoe store. They located on the north side of the square and soon gained a place in the business life of the town. After two years M. B. Terrill sold his interest to his brothers, who continued to conduct the store for a year or so, at the end of which time our subject purchased his brother's interest and managed the business alone for some time. At length, however, he sold a half interest to E. W. Jones and was associated with him for five or six years. At the end of that time Mr. Vol. II
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Terrill sold out his interest to Mr. Graham and for about six months was not actively engaged in any business. At the end of that time he associated himself with Tidrick Brothers, the firm becoming the Tidrick-Terrill Company, and that connection was maintained until May, 1914. At that time H. G. Tidrick took charge of the furniture and undertaking part of the business and Mr. Terrill and son, M. T., became owners of the grocery, dry-goods and meat market. He studies carefully the needs of his patrons and seeks to carry stock in the various branches of his business that will meet their needs. He has an excellent trade and his reliable business methods insure him the continuance of custom when it is once gained. In the rear part of his store he conducts a creamery and makes the butter which he sells.
On the 15th of September, 1883, Mr. Terrill was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Tidrick, a native of Winterset and a daughter of M. R. and Mary A. Tid- rick, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Terrill have seven children : Mortimer T., who graduated in civil engineering and is now in business with his father; Levi M., who is Kentucky state students' secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association and is located at Lexington; Bernice F., who graduated from the Winterset high school and subsequently was for a year a student of Columbia University and is now teach- ing in Madison county ; Gertrude, likewise a teacher in this county ; Charles F., a high-school student ; and Eugene and Lanning, both at home.
Mr. Terrill is a republican but has been too busy with his mercantile inter- ests to take an active part in political affairs. Fraternally he is a member of the Maccabees, and both he and his wife belong to the Presbyterian church, in which he has been trustee for several years. He is highly respected in the busi- ness world of Winterset and is known as a merchant who is at all times ready to aid in any way possible in the commercial expansion of his city. As a man and as a citizen he has always lived up to high ideals and fully deserves the high place in his fellow citizens' estimation that is accorded him.
GEORGE K. FOSTER.
George K. Foster, who for many years was successfully engaged in the opera- tion of a good farm in Monroe township, was born in Ohio on the 4th of April, 1831. Detailed mention of his parents will be found in the sketch of John C. Foster, which appears elsewhere in this work. When seventeen years of age George K. Foster went to Massillon, Ohio, and there learned the carpenter's and cabinetmaker's trades. In 1852 he went to California by the water route and was for fourteen years employed at his trade in the Golden state. His parents were getting advanced in years and needed someone to care for them and to carry on the work of the farm in Madison county, Iowa, upon which they had settled in 1855. He therefore returned east and took up his residence with then and during their remaining years served them as a dutiful son and operated the farm. After they passed away the land came into his possession and he continued to reside thereon until he too was called to his reward on the 20th of January, 1886. He did general farming and stock-raising but also found time to work at
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his trade and was for ten years a foreman in the employ of the county, superin- tending the construction of bridges.
In 1870 Mr. Foster married Miss S. C. Ward, who was born in Ohio on the 16th of August, 1844, a daughter of J. S. and M. M. Ward, natives of Ohio, who in 1860 located in Story county, Iowa. In 1867 they settled in Scott township, Madison county, and here the father died on the 16th of March, 1888, when over seventy years of age, his birth having occurred on the 27th of December, 1817. The mother, who was born on the 9th of August, 1819, is still living in Kansas at the remarkable age of ninety-five years. Mrs. Foster was given a common and high-school education, attending school at Story City and Nevada, Iowa, and for eight years taught school. After her family removed to Madison county she returned to Story county and taught school for three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Foster were born three children : Oscar and Iver W., both of whom died in young manhood, the former in Winterset and the latter upon the farm ; and Melvin, who is operating the homestead in Monroe township. He married Miss Edna Orr, extended mention of whose parents is made elsewhere in this work. She is the mother of a son, George, who is named after both his grandfathers.
Mr. Foster supported the republican party in his political views but was content that others should hold public office, believing that the care of his private interests demanded his entire time. He made many friends in this county and his demise was sincerely regretted. His widow has resided in Winterset for the last eight years, but has recently purchased the John C. Foster farm, to which she intends to move in the spring of 1915. She has been a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church for many years, and her character is one which inspires both respect and warm personal regard.
A. J. JONES.
A. J. Jones, who now owns and cultivates two hundred and ninety-one acres of rich and productive land on section 28, Scott township, has continuously resided on his present farm for the past half century. His birth occurred in Menard county, Illinois, January 22, 1862, his parents being John T. and Harriet Jones, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work in con- nection with the sketch of B. F. Jones, brother of our subject. On the 11th of October, 1864, they came to Madison county, Iowa, and took up their abode on the farm which has since remained the home of Mr. Jones of this review, who was then but two years old. On starting out as an agriculturist on his own account he purchased the old homestead place in association with his brother, B. F., in partnership with whom he cultivated the property for many years. In 1893, however, he bought his brother's interest and now owns two hundred and ninety-one acres of valuable land which he cultivates with excellent results, the well tilled fields annually yielding bounteous harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them. He erected his residence, which is the third dwelling to be built on the farm, and also has commodious and substantial out- buildings for the shelter of grain and stock.
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In 1885, in this county, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Catherine Beem, a native of Madison county and a daughter of William and Amanda Beem. To them have been born five children, as follows: Bertha, at home; Lloyd F., living on his father's farm, who wedded Miss Margaret Pickens and has one child, Garnita; Loren D. and Raymond A., both at home; and one. who died in infancy.
Mr. Jones exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and has acted in the capacity of township trustee for six years, while for a similar period he has served as a member of the board of supervisors, ably discharging his duties in those connections. In religious faith his wife is a Baptist, belonging to the local church of that denomination. He is a man of cordial, genial disposition who easily wins and retains friends and has long been numbered among the prosperous agriculturists and representative citizens of the county.
CHESTER L. DICKINSON, M. D.
Dr. Chester L. Dickinson, a well known retired physician of Winterset, was born near Fort Wayne, Indiana, on the 30th of March, 1849, a son of Morgan L. and Balinda ( Ackley ) Dickinson, both natives of Pulaski, New York, where their marriage was solemnized. They became residents of Indiana in an early day in the history of the state and the father farmed there until his demise, which occurred in 1853. The mother subsequently came to Iowa and was residing in Ringgold county when she passed away at the age of eighty years.
Dr. Dickinson was the youngest in a family of five children and passed his boyhood days upon the home farm. On the 27th of March, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, Sixth Michigan Heavy Artillery, at Coldwater, Michigan, and as a private served until the close of the war, being discharged on the 9th of Septem- ber, 1865, in Detroit, Michigan. He was in the Department of the Gulf and participated in twenty-three engagements, including Hudson, Vicksburg, New Orleans and Fort Gaines. Although often in the thickest of the fight he was never wounded nor taken prisoner. During part of his enlistment he was on detached service as nurse in a hospital at New Orleans. He lacked a few days of being fifteen years of age when he enlisted but gave his age as eighteen and wrote over eighteen on a slip of paper which he placed in his shoe, and as he was quite large for his age he was accepted.
After the close of the war Dr. Dickinson went to Steuben county, Indiana, and continued his interrupted education, becoming a student in the public schools. He later entered the Northeastern Indiana Institute and after leaving that insti- tution received his medical education in what is now De Pauw University at Greencastle, Indiana, which was then known as Asbury University, remaining there for two and a half years. While attending school he alternated his study with the work of teaching, thus acquiring the funds to pursue his education. In all he taught seven or eight terms in Indiana, proving very successful in that profession. After leaving school he spent two years at Orland, Indiana, and then came to Iowa, taking a commercial course at Ottumwa. He next located in
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Des Moines, where he practiced for four years, after which he removed to Win- terset, where he followed his profession for two years. He then removed to Macksberg and became known as an able practitioner of that town. In 1903 ill health forced him to retire and he has since lived in Winterset.
On the 22d of March, 1885, Dr. Dickinson married Miss Fannie V. Roby, a native of this county, who passed away on the 24th of December, 190.4, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was a member. Dr. and Mrs. Dickinson became the parents of four children: Ora R., who was run over by a train when twenty years of age; Louis L., who graduated from the Shenan- doah (Ia.) College and is now upon a ranch near Miles City, Montana; Flossie M., who is with her brother Louis L .; and Mamie A., who died in 1912 when fourteen years oid.
The Doctor is a republican but has never desired to hold office, believing that his professional work should receive his entire attention. He is a prominent member of the local Methodist Episcopal church and has been very active in the work of that organization, especially in the Sunday school. He was secretary of the first Sunday-school convention held in this county, in 1874 or 1875, and has had much to do with the subsequent organization and development of Sun- day-school work here. He is a member of Pitzer Post, No. 55, G. A. R .; has always taken a great interest in that organization and has held various offices in the same. At the state encampment held at Des Moines in 1913 he was the youngest of the eight thousand veterans present. While in active practice he was recognized as a well equipped and successful physician, and his many patients had full confidence in his ability, as did his colleagues in the profession as well.
JOHN C. MARDIS.
John C. Mardis, of Des Moines, is one of the best known contractors of Iowa, his business having reached extensive proportions. He was born September 9, 1861, in Osceola, this state, a son of Thomas F. Mardis, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was but a small boy when the family removed to Winterset, Mad- ison county, Iowa. where he was educated and then began learning the mason's trade under the direction of his father, who was a practical and prominent con- tractor of Winterset. He mastered the business and worked with his father until 1884, when, seeking a broader field of labor offered in a larger city, he removed to Des Moines and here engaged in the contracting business, forming a partner- ship with James Robinson that continued until 1890. He was afterward alone until 1895, when he formed a partnership with J. B. McGarrick and the extended scope of their operations included contract paving work as well as building. They built the Sixth avenue bridge in Des Moines and took many other important con- tracts. In 1904 they dissolved the partnership and in 1905 Mr. Mardis removed to Lincoln, Nebraska, in order to execute some big contracts which had been awarded him there. He erected the state farm buildings and state university buildings at Lincoln, also the building of the H. P. Lowe wholesale grocery firm. In May, 1905, he went to Omaha, where he also erected many large buildings,
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including the Henshaw and Rome Hotels, and the Paxton & Gallagher wholesale grocery house, which was erected at a cost of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He also built the M. E. Smith building at a cost of five hundred and ten thousand dollars and many other of the larger structures of that city. While a resident of Omaha and of Lincoln he still retained his office in Des Moines and did much work throughout Iowa. In 1912 he returned to Des Moines, where he makes his headquarters, but also has an office in Cedar Rapids and in Omaha, Nebraska. He has erected many of the largest buildings of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and other cities of the state. He was awarded the contract for the Silver- burg building of ten stories in Des Moines, the Masonic Temple, the Wilkins Brothers building and in fact has erected fully two-thirds of the largest business blocks of the city. Throughout the middle west his name is well known as a con- tractor and builder and the nature and volume of his building operations places him as one of the foremost contractors of Iowa, with few equals and no supe- riors.
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