USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 17
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WALLACE WICKS.
Wallace Wicks, who has lived retired at Earlham since December, 1910, was long and actively identified with agricultural pursuits in this county, winning thereby the competence that now enables him to spend his declining years in well earned rest. His birth occurred in Jefferson county, New York, July 23, 1841, his parents being Benjamin and Chrilla (Comins) Wicks, who were natives of Vermont and New York respectively. The father, an agriculturist by occupation, operated a farm in the Empire state until 1856 and then came to Iowa, purchasing a tract of land in Warren county, which he cultivated for a time. His demise occurred in 1866. His first wife passed away about 1850, and he subsequently married Fanny Fuller.
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Wallace Wicks spent the first fifteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and then came to lowa with his father, driving from Iowa City, then the terminus of the railroad, to Des Moines. On attaining his majority he left the home farm and subsequently was engaged in teaming in Des Moines for a year or two. Later he operated a rented farm in Warren county for a few years and then bought forty acres of land there, which he later traded for an eighty- acre tract in Lincoln township, Madison county, on which he made substantial improvements. At the end of a few years he disposed of that place also and bought and improved a quarter section of land in Jackson township, where he carried on his agricultural interests with excellent succes's until the time of his retirement in December, 1910. He gave eighty acres of the farm to his son but still retains the remaining eighty. The past five years have been spent in hon- orable retirement at Earlham, where he owns a comfortable and attractive resi- dence.
In March, 1865, Mr. Wicks was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Barkley, a daughter of Samuel Barkley, who was a native of Ireland and came to the United States in a very early day, locating in Davis county, Iowa, where he fol- lowed farming until called to his final rest. To Mr. and Mrs. Wicks were born five children, as follows: Chrilla, who is the wife of Herman Nearman and re- sides in Missouri; Charles, who follows farming in Jackson township, this county : Hester, who gave her hand in marriage to Frank Ellsberry and resides in Earlham; Josephine, the wife of Oliver Haxton, an agriculturist of Guthrie county, Iowa ; and Roxie, at home. The wife and mother passed away in June, 1908, and her demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret.
Mr. Wicks gives his political allegiance to the democracy and is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity. The period of his residence in this part of the state covers nearly six decades, and he is widely known as an esteemed and venerable citizen of Madison county.
CHARLES POLK.
Charles Polk was for over two decades actively engaged in farming in Monroe township but has now disposed of his land and is living in retirement from active life in Winterset. He was born in Knox county, Indiana, on the 28th of August, 1838, a son of James and Harriet Polk, both natives of Kentucky, who removed to the Hoosier state in their youth with their respective parents. The father arrived there in 1804 and the mother in 1812, and hoth continued to reside there until called to their reward.
Charles Polk was reared upon the home farm and under the guidance of his parents learned many lessons of life that have since been of incalculable benefit to him. On the 5th of June, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a private. Subsequently he was transferred to the First Indiana Heavy Artillery and was promoted to various ranks, eventually becoming lieutenant of his company. He was mustered out on the 10th of January, 1866, at Baton Rouge, after having served at the front for four years and a half. He saw much hard fighting and participated in the battles of Fort Jack-
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son, St. Phillip and Baton Rouge. During the siege of New Orleans he was assigned to naval duty and subsequently he took part in the battle of Port Hudson, the Red River expedition and the siege of Mobile. He was never absent from his company and never wounded nor taken prisoner, although he endured many hardships incident to the campaigns in which he was engaged. He could always be depended upon to do his duty and never flinched in the face of danger.
After his return from the war Mr. Polk engaged in farming independently and also raised considerable stock. He was likewise for a time in the mercantile business. In 1873 he came in a covered wagon to Iowa, settling in Monroe town- ship, Madison county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of unim- proved land. The place remained his home for twenty-three years and in that time its appearance was greatly changed, as he divided the land into fields of con- venient size, erected good buildings and beautified the lawn about his residence and brought the land itself to a high state of cultivation. He prospered finan- cially and added an eighty acre tract to his quarter section and at length accumu- lated a competence that enabled him to retire to Winterset in 1896. He disposed of his land some time ago and now has no business cares to burden him and is enjoying to the full the leisure that his former industry and good management made possible.
Mr. Polk was married March 23, 1871, to Miss Minerva Scanling, who was born in Ohio in 1845 and was educated at Oxford College for Women at Oxford, Ohio, a well known girls' school. When but five years of age she was crippled and was practically so during her entire life. Her death was a tragic one, as she was burned on the farm in 1893 from a gasoline explosion. She had two daugh- ters: Mrs. J. H. Cochran, of Winterset ; and Mary E., a graduate of the State University of Iowa and now a teacher at Wasco, Oregon. Mr. Polk's second wife was in her maidenhood Miss Savannah Truitt, who was born in Davis county, Mis- souri, a daughter of Jesse and Mary ( Robinson) Truitt, both natives of Indiana. They were married in the Hoosier state and subsequently removed successively to Muscatine, Iowa; Missouri; and Madison county, Iowa, arriving here in 1858.
Mr. and Mrs. Polk are members of the Baptist church and aid in the further- ance of its cause. He is a republican, having supported that party since its birth, and has held a number of local offices, including that of assessor and of county supervisor, being a member of the board for three years. In 1880 he was census enumerator. Since 1896 he has resided in Winterset and his home on East Jeffer- son street is a popular meeting place for his many personal friends, who hold him in warm regard.
WILLIAM RUTHERFORD.
William Rutherford owns and operates a well improved farm of eighty acres on section 28, Scott township, whereon he and his wife have resided continuously since their marriage in 1867, or for a period of forty-seven years. His birth occurred in Clark county, Indiana, on the 15th of January, 1847, his parents being Elijah and Rebecca (Harlow) Rutherford, who were natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania respectively. They came to Madison county, Iowa, in 1858,
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and spent the remainder of their lives on the farm which is now in the posses- sion of our subject.
William Rutherford, who was eleven years of age when bronght to this county by his parents, has remained within its borders continuously since and has fol- lowed general agricultural pursuits throughont his entire business career, with good results. As above stated, his farm embraces eighty acres of rich and pro- ductive land on section 28, Scott township, and in the careful management of his interests he has won a gratifying annual income.
In 1867 Mr. Rutherford was united in marriage to Miss Susan James, who was born in Madison county, Indiana, November 8, 1847. her parents being Ben- jamin and Hannah ( Freestone) James, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Henry county, Ohio. They were married in Indiana and came to Madison county, Iowa, in 1854, settling first in Scott township and a year later in Douglas township, where both passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Ruther- ford have been born four children, namely: Luther J. and James S. F., both of whom died in infancy ; Erminta Isabelle, who is the wife of John McNeeley, of Winterset ; and Outher S., at home.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church. During the long period of their residence in this county Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford have made a host of friends who esteem them highly as people of genuine personal worth and upright, honorable lives.
JOHN T. YOUNG.
John T. Young, a retired farmer and stockman who is living in Winterset, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on the 12th of May, 1849, a son of George W. Young. The father was born in Fredericksburg, Maryland, of German descent. His parents both passed away in that locality and he was there reared and educated. In his youth he learned the miller's trade and upon removing to Ohio worked at that trade. In 1856 he drove through with horse teams to Madi- son county, Iowa, and became the owner of land in both Scott and Union town- ships. There was a small log house upon his farm when it came into his pos- session and that building remained his residence for some time. He spent the remainder of his life upon his farm and at the time of his death owned two hun- dred and eighty-four acres of finely cultivated land. He passed away in Novem- ber, 1878, and his demise was mourned by those who in the many years of his residence in this connty had learned to know and esteem him. He was not a member of any church, but assisted in building the church in his locality. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Moore, was born in Behinont county, Ohio, where she was reared and married. She accompanied her husband on the journey overland to Iowa and was one of the best known of the pioneer women in this county. She lived to the advanced age of eighty-two years, pass- ing away on the 4th of May, 1912. Her religious faith was that of the Presby- terian church, of which she was a consistent member. All of her seven chil- dren are still living, namely : John T., of this review ; William C., who is farm- ing in Minnesota ; Mary A., the wife of Edward Houtby, of North Loup, Nebras-
MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. YOUNG
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ka; George W., of Winterset; Nina, who makes her home with our subject ; James M., a farmer of Scott township, this county ; and Frances, who gave her hand in marriage to Hugh Thompson, of Earlham, this county.
John T. Young was a child of seven years when he accompanied his parents to this county and the remainder of his boyhood and his youth were passed under the parental roof. In common with other farmer boys he early began to learn practical methods of agriculture and as his strength increased assisted his father more and more. His education was not neglected, however, as he attended the district schools and there gained a knowledge of the fundamental branches of learning. When twenty-one years of age he became a teacher in the district schools but in the summer months engaged in farming. In 1878, at the time of his father's death, he assumed charge of the home place and was made adminis- trator of the estate. He operated the farm successfully until 1914, when he rented it and removed to Winterset, where he is now living retired from active labor. The estate has never been divided and he is still managing it to the satis- faction of all the heirs. He and his sister Nina live together and both have many warm friends, who esteem them highly for their many admirable traits of char- acter.
Mr. Young is a republican and has held a number of offices of trust and honor. In 1892 he was elected county recorder and the following year took office. His record was so satisfactory to his constituents that he was reelected in 1894 and served in all for four years. During that time he continued to super- vise the operation of the farm. He is a member of Lotus Lodge, No. 48, K. P., of Winterset, and in his quiet and unostentatious life manifests that spirit of fraternity and loyalty in friendship that is the foundation of that order.
THEODORE COX.
Theodore Cox was one of the most prominent men among the early settlers of Madison county and his demise was a distinct loss to the county. He was born in Talbot county, Maryland, on the 23d of September, 1817, and as his father died when he was quite small he made his home for a number of years with an uncle. When sixteen years of age he went to Baltimore and there became an expert machinist. He worked in the shops which built the rolling stock of the first American railroad and helped to construct the first locomotive used on that road. His health failing, he removed to Lafayette, Indiana, and there engaged in the stock business. The following year, 1845, he removed to Keokuk county, Iowa, and in 1853 went to Mahaska county. The next year witnessed his ar- rival in this county and he purchased a claim in Scott township, two miles east of Winterset. There he passed the remainder of his life, giving his time and energy to farming and stock-raising. He frequently shipped stock to Balti- more and in the early days it was necessary to drive stock to Eddyville, which was the nearest railroad point. He usually went with the stock, seeing that it was cared for properly on the long journey to Baltimore. He accumulated a con- siderable fortune and was very generous in his support of public measures of value. When it was proposed to build a railroad from Des Moines to Winterset Vol. 11-9
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he was one of the first to strongly advocate its construction and probably gave as much both of time and money to the project as any man in the county.
Mr. Cox married Miss Sarah Johnston in Keokuk county in 1846. She was a Kentuckian by birth and was a woman of much ambition and industry and proved a valuable helpmate to her husband. They became the parents of six chil- dren, two of whom remained in this county, namely : Mrs. E. W. Jones and Mrs. E. R. Zeller, both of whom reside in Winterset, and a sketch of E. R. Zeller is found elsewhere in this work. The Cox home east of Winterset was for years famed for its generous hospitality and was in the early times a favorite stopping place for travelers and home-seekers.
Mr. Cox was a democrat and was loyal in his support of that party in the times of its success and its defeat alike, losing no opportunity to champion its principles. He held a number of local offices and usually presided over the county democratic conventions. He never ceased to take the keenest interest in the public wel- fare along all lines of activity and in many ways aided in the advancement of his township and county. He passed away on the 12th of July, 1891, and there are still many who remember his life and his many good works and cherish his memory.
JAMES WINFIELD MILLER.
James Winfield Miller, former editor of the Madisonian and now owner and editor of the Reporter of Winterset, Iowa, was born at Mount Pleasant, Penn- sylvania, on the 5th of April, 1852, of the marriage of the Hon. William Edward and Mary (Robinson) Miller. The father was also born at Mount Pleasant in 1823 and the mother in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1828. In early life William E. Miller studied law in the Keystone state but in 1852 removed to Johnson county, Iowa, and there practiced his profession for a few years. He was elected district judge before the Civil war, holding court when there were as yet no railroads in his part of the state. He enlisted in the Union army and was colonel of the Twenty-eighth Iowa Regiment for a year, resigning at the end of that time on account of ill health dating from the engagement at White river. Upon his return to this state he practiced at Iowa City until he was appointed judge of the supreme court of Iowa. He served for three years upon the high- est state tribunal and the decisions which he handed down were distinguished by discrimination, thought, absolute fairness and lucidity of expression. At one time Judge Miller was the editor of the Iowa City Republican and he was very prominent in republican circles from the earliest days of that party, having helped in its organization in Johnson county. He was a Methodist and fraternally was connected with the Masons and the Odd Fellows, in both of which orders he was active. His father-in-law, James Robinson, was one of the organizers of the Johnson County Savings Bank and he helped to erect its building, which stood for many years as the finest structure in that part of the state.
When a boy of eleven years James W. Miller accompanied his father to the battle front and at Helena, Arkansas, acted as postmaster for the regiment and also served as messenger, carrying dispatches for the commanders, especially
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General Gorman. His father provided him with a colonel's uniform, the men of the regiment gave him a pony and a gunsmith made him a gun and he was very proud of his equipment and actually participated in several engagements with the guerillas and bushwhackers. His scholastic education was largely acquired in Iowa City and in 1871 he engaged in the lumber business, being connected with H. F. Getchell & Son. Two years later he removed to Winterset and became assistant manager of the foremost lumberyard there. He was so engaged until 1876, and in 1877 he became connected with the Madisonian in an editorial capacity and held that position until 1890. In that year he went into the stock business, specializing in the breeding of fine driving horses, many of which were tracked. In 1899 he was appointed postmaster of Winterset and held that office for four and a half years. In 1903 he became the owner and editor of the Re- porter, a republican paper of considerable influence, and under his management it has gained in circulation and advertising patronage and has maintained a high standard as to news service.
On November 23, 1876, Mr. Miller married Miss Laura Justina Cummings, who was born in Winterset, Iowa, a daughter of Henry J. B. Cummings, whose birth occurred in Sussex county, New Jersey, on the 21st of May, 1831. He taught school when in his teens and in 1848 began the study of law. The fol- lowing year, however, he went to Schuylkillhaven for three and a half years worked upon the "Schuylkillhaven Map." In 1854 he went to Muncy, Pennsyl- vania, and was there admitted to the bar. On the Ist of January, 1856, he crossed the Mississippi river and continued his way westward, settling in Win- terset, Madison county, Iowa. He returned to Muncy and on March 4, 1857, was married to Annie W. Robb. They lived to celebrate their golden wedding, he dying April 16, 1909, his wife having preceded him April 10 of the previous year. He organized the republican party in Madison county and held a number of local offices, such as those of mayor and prosecuting attorney, and he helped to organize both Adair and Cass counties. In 1869 he became editor of the Madi- sonian and in 1876 was elected to congress from his district. He introduced the arrears of pension bill, the passage of which caused one and a half million dollars to be distributed to the old soldiers residing in Iowa. At the time of the Civil war he organized a militia company which went to the front as Company F of the Fourth Iowa Infantry and he was captain of that company for a year and saw considerable active service. He proved such a capable leader that he was made colonel of the Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry and served at the head of his command for three and a half years. Mrs. Miller has in her possession his sword and also one belonging to her great-great-great-grandfather, General Daniel Broadhead, a member of General Washington's staff and the commander of Fort Pitt. She also has a letter written by General Washington to General Broadhead, giving the latter orders relating to Fort Pitt. Mr. Miller has the sword belonging to his father. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had two children, but both died in in- fancy.
Mr. Miller is a loyal republican and has served as chairman of the county central committee and attended as delegate many county and state conventions. He wields considerable influence in political circles both as an individual and as an editor, and he is always willing to do all in his power to further the interests of his party by honorable means. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and
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not only attends its services and contributes to its support but in many ways aids in its work. As a boy he played a part in the struggle to preserve the Union and throughout his entire life has manifested a willingness to place the general good above his private interests, and his public spirit has been a factor in securing the advancement of his community.
MICHAEL B. HOLMES.
Michael B. Holmes was for many years actively and prominently connected with the agricultural development of the county and his demise in 1894 was the occasion of much sincere regret. He was born in Indiana on the 17th of May, 1849, a son of J. S. and Elizabeth Holmes, who removed to Madison county, Iowa, when this district was still largely a frontier region. Further mention of the fan- ily is made in the sketch of J. W. Holmes on another page of this volume.
Michael B. Holmes was educated in the district schools and supplemented his scholastic training with practical preparation for an agricultural career, as he began to assist his father with the farm work when quite young. As he grew to manhood he determined to own land of his own and began saving his money with that end in view and was at length in a position to buy eighty acres of land in Scott township. He found sufficient scope for his energy and progressive- ness in the cultivation of his property and by unremitting toil and careful living was enabled to add to his holdings until he held title to two hundred and fifty acres of excellent land. He understood the work of preparing the ground for the seed, the best methods of sowing, the importance of cultivating the growing crops and the work of harvesting. He was not only successful as a grain grower but also raised high grade stock, the sale of which added materially to his in- come. He was still actively engaged in agricultural work at the time of his death, which occurred on the 6th of February, 1894.
On the 4th of July, 1878, Mr. Holmes married Miss Alice A. Harford, a daughter of D. A. and Mary (Armstrong ) Harford, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Harford resided in the Buckeye state for some time and in 1856 removed with their family to Madison county, Iowa, locating at Winterset, where Mr. Harford followed his trade of car- pentering. He also owned land and farmed to some extent. He passed away on the 26th of February, 1910, and his wife died on the 14th of April, 1896. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Holmes are as follows : Starling D., a farmer, re- siding near Mitchell, South Dakota, married Anna Jones and they have three children, Everett, Opal and Earl. Essie is the wife of Wesley R. Worley, a farmer of this county. Albert, a farmer of this county, married Ethel Herman and their children are four in number, John, Alice, Squire and Gladys. Fred, a farmer and stock dealer, residing on the home farm in Scott township, married Agnes Pickens, by whom he has two children, Helen and Herbert. Beulah is the wife of Fred Jones, a farmer of Madison county, and they have two chil- dren, Pauline and Lois. M. B., a farmer of Madison county, married Miss Gladys Tribby. Mrs. Holmes was left a widow with six children, the oldest of whom was only sixteen years of age, but she managed to carry on the farm with
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the assistance of her sons until December, 1912, when she rented the place to one of the sons and came to Winterset, where she now lives. She is a member of the Methodist church and is highly respected by all who know her.
Mr. Holmes was not especially active in political circles but discharged his duties as a good citizen and manifested a commendable public spirit. His political views were in accord with the policies of the republican party and he supported that ticket at the polls. He attended the Zion church and aided in furthering the work of that organization. He was essentially a home man and found his greatest enjoyment in the companionship of his family. He also loved the out-of- doors and for that reason farming was a very congenial as well as a profitable occupation. His home was the meeting place of the friends of the family as he was of a hospitable nature and delighted to welcome those whom he had honored with his friendship.
FRED B. SPATZ.
One of the highly respected residents of Earlham is Fred B. Spatz, who was born in Dallas county, Iowa, June 23, 1871, a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Webber) Spatz, both of whom were born in Germany. In 1854 they left the fatherland and came to the United States, locating for a time in New York. They then removed to Illinois and in 1859 removed to Dallas county, Iowa, where the father bought two hundred and ten acres of land in Boone township. It was tim- bered when it came into his possession, but he was not discouraged by the necessity of first clearing it and began its improvement at once. At length he had a fine farm cleared and under cultivation. He continued to farm until called to the Great Beyond on the 14th of July, 1907, at the age of eighty years, two months and four days. His widow died on the 21st of October, 1911, when she had reached the age of eighty years, two months and five days, living to be just one day older than was her husband at the time of his demise. Mr. Spatz gave indisputable proof of his allegiance to his adopted country by enlisting in Com- pany K. Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in the defense of the Union. He served for ten months and was wounded in the battle of Shiloh, losing one eye and his hearing.
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