USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 21
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In June, 1891, Mr. Guiher was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Evans, who was born in Winterset, Iowa, a daughter of E. W. and Maria L. (Faurote) Evans. The father was born in Granville, Ohio, and the mother's birth likewise occurred in the Buckeye state .. The father passed away in 1870 but the mother is living with her daughter in Winterset. Mr. Evans came to Iowa in the late
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'50s and was engaged in the butcher business and was also interested extensively in real estate, owning four hundred acres of farm land and town property as well. He was quite a young man when he died but was one of the substantial men of the county. He dealt in live stock in addition to his other interests and found that a profitable business. Mrs. Guiher is the only child born to her parents.
Mr. Guiher is a republican and since attaining his majority has taken a keen interest in political affairs. He is at present serving as school director. His religious allegiance is given to the Presbyterian church and for several years he has been an elder. Fraternally he is well known, belonging to the Masonic lodge, Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. As a man and as a lawyer his conduct has measured up to the highest standard and the respect which is generally accorded him is to be ascribed to his integrity and unswerving rectitude as well as to his professional ability.
C. E. JESSUP.
C. E. Jessup, a representative of one of the pioneer families of this county, is farming in Lincoln township. His birth occurred in that township on the 18th of April, 1862, and his parents were Isaac and Melinda ( Brinson) Jessup, both natives of Indiana. The father was born in Switzerland county on the 10th of May, 1824, and the mother's natal day was the Ist of January, 1824. They were married in the Hoosier state and in 1847 removed to Linn county, Iowa, but the following year came to Madison county and settled in Lincoln township, where Mr. Jessup entered forty acres of land from the government, paying the usual price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. He entered several other tracts, which he subsequently sold. He was a cooper by trade and as his sons grew up he left most of the work of the farm to them, as he preferred to follow his trade. He was probably the first cooper in the county and was an expert workman. At a certain time of the year he gathered hickory poles, which he used for hoops and which lasted him for about a year. He also split white oak staves and put them where they would dry, thus becoming suitable for use. The cooper's adz which he used has been presented by his son to the Madison County Historical Society. He also had a sorghum mill on his farm, which at first had wooden rollers, although he later installed cast rollers. He was a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting at Winterset in Company F, Fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, on the 15th of July, 1862, and on the 28th of that month was transferred to the Invalid Corps. When he first came to this county there were but very few settlers, con- ditions were most primitive and prices for both labor and commodities were low. He found work at splitting rails at twenty-five cents a hundred, but on the other hand he bought meat at ten cents a pound. For eighteen months he carried corn on his back to the Buffalo mills, where it was ground, and then carried the meal home, where it was converted into breadstuff for the family. In that day wheat bread was almost an unknown luxury. Mr. Jessup was much interested in the establishment of good schools and gave the land where the Washington school was located. He passed away on the 14th of March, 1902, and was survived for several years by his widow, who died on the 28th of June, 1907. To them were
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born eight children, namely: Harvey, who lives in Oklahoma; Joseph Marshall, who passed away in Wisconsin; Mary Elizabeth, who died in infancy; John Milton, who died when a child of two years ; Daniel H., a resident of this county ; William O., who is farming in Lincoln township; George T., a farmer of Adair county ; and C. E., of this review.
The last named was reared in Lincoln township and received but limited schooling. When twenty-three years of age he married and began farming on his own account. He has continued to follow agricultural pursuits and is culti- vating an excellent farm comprising eighty-nine and three-fourths acres of fertile land on section 7, Scott township, and on sections 12 and 13, Lincoln township. He does general farming and his land yields him an income that is sufficient for his needs.
Mr. Jessup married Miss Ora L. Owens, who was born in Jackson county, Indiana, on the 20th of August, 1870, a daugliter of James and Mary E. ( Har- rell ) Owens, natives of Indiana, who in 1872 removed to this county. The father has passed away, but the mother survives. Mr. and Mrs. Jessup are the parents of seven children : Bessie, who became the wife of C. W. Wright and died sud- denly at her home in California; Bertha, the wife of John Evans, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Pearl, now Mrs. Walter De Bord, of Winterset ; Hazell Etta, who gave her hand in marriage to Chester Evans, of this county ; and Opal E., Alvin and Meta, all at home.
Mr. Jessup is a republican in his political views and is loyal in his support of his party. He has in his possession various interesting relics of pioneer days, including a bedspread woven by his mother more than sixty years ago. Since 1848 the name of Jessup has been well known in this county and as all who have borne it have been men and women of fine character it is held in high esteem.
JAMES ABRAHAMS.
James Abrahams is successfully operating a fine farm which he owns on section 24, Douglas township, and is recognized as a good citizen and able agricul- turist. He was born in Miami, Indiana, June 5, 1845, a son of Stephen and Sarah (Kelso) Abrahams. The father was born in Virginia on the 7th of June, 1794, and having removed to Indiana as a young man, he followed agricultural pursuits there, cultivating land which he owned. On the 7th of August, 1854, he came overland to Madison county, Iowa, and bought land for a dollar and a quarter per acre. However, the land which he bought for his home place was improved to some extent as there was a cabin upon it, considerable fencing had been done and some of the land was broken, and for this tract he paid fifteen dollars an acre. At that time there were only three houses between his home and Winterset and the prairies still stretched unbroken as far as the eye could see. He was married in Ohio to Miss Sarah Kelso, who was born in that state in 1806, and there were eleven children in the family when removal was made to this state in 1854. It required four wagons to bring them and their household belongings and the journey was a long and tedious one. After the home had been established here there were many privations to be endured and the big snow
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storms of the first few years were noteworthy, as they were so heavy that it was necessary to tunnel a way from the house to the barn. Mr. Abrahams owned four hundred and forty acres in Grand River township besides the home farm in Douglas township and the care of his property required his undivided atten- tion. He gave the district the use of land near his home as long as it was occu- pied by a schoolhouse. At that time oxen were used exclusively in farm work and some idea of the extent of his operations may be obtained from the fact that he used from ten to fifteen yoke. Only two of the eleven children born to him and his wife are now living, the brother of our subject being a resident of Texas.
James Abrahams, who was the ninth child in order of birth, pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse in Indiana and attended the early district schools in Douglas township, this county. He remained at home with his parents and cared for them during their declining years, his father passing away in March, 1877, and his mother July 11, 1884. Following their deaths he came into pos- session of the homestead and has continued to operate it until the present time. It comprises one hundred and twelve acres of land and is in a high state of culti- vation, as he has always followed approved methods of farming and has spared neither time nor energy in developing and improving it. He engages in general farming and stockraising and the gratifying measure of prosperity which he is enjoying is well deserved. As a young man he was compelled to haul provisions from and drive stock to Keokuk or Eddyville, as there were no railroads in this county.
In 1879 Mr. Abrahams married Miss Carrie Sargent, who was born in Mo- mence, Kankakee county, Illinois, a daughter of Levi and Rebecca ( Beedle) Sargent. Her uncle, John R. Sargent, was one of the early settlers of this county. Both her father and mother were born in Fountain county, Indiana, the former's birth occurring in December, 1829, and the latter's natal day being the 8th of October, 1831. Levi Sargent was a farmer, carpenter and wagonmaker, having learned his two trades from his father, and while living in Illinois he worked at carpentering and wagonmaking. In the late 'Gos he came west to Iowa, settling in Union township, Madison county, and continued to follow his trades, being connected with Gould & Howell, who were in the implement business in Winter- set. His eyesight partially failed as the result of a wound sustained in the Civil war and he was compelled to give up that work. He enlisted in the Union army from Momence, Illinois, in 1862, as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and became first lieutenant. He participated in many engagements, including those of the siege of Vicksburg, and his record was in all respects one of which he had just cause to be proud. He was honorably discharged in 1864. In 1883 he removed to the state of Washington, where his death occurred in 1901, and his widow is still living at Aberdeen, that state.
To MIr. and Mrs. Abrahams have been born four children : William B., own- ing and operating a farm in Douglas township, married Miss Grace Wescott, by whom he has two children, Clyde and James; Walter, a farmer of Jackson town- ship, married Miss Vergie Eldridge, by whom he has a son, Dean ; Laura is keep- ing house for her father; Leonard is attending school at Winterset. The wife and mother has been an invalid for ten years but her courage and cheerfulness have equalled the devotion with which the family have ministered to her. . Al-
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though she is a member of the United Brethren church she has reared her chil- dren in the Baptist faith and has taught them to live lives of uprightness and consideration for others.
Mr. Abrahams has never been active in political affairs but has served as school director, thus expressing his interest in the public-school system. He has so ordered his life that it has contributed to the moral advancement and material prosperity of his community, and the name of Abrahams is an honored one in his locality.
J. M. KILLAM.
J. M. Killam, senior member of the Hall & Killam Lumber Company, of Truro, Iowa, is a successful and highly esteemed business man and a public- spirited citizen. He was born in Clayton county, Iowa, on the 30th of June, 1847, a son of Timothy and Rebecca Ingram ( Billings) Killam, who were mar- ried in Hartford, Connecticut. The birth of the father occurred in that state and his wife was also of Yankee stock. Following their marriage they settled in Clayton county, Iowa, and were among the very earliest residents of that section of the state, as they were the third family to locate between Dubuque and Mc- Gregor, then known as Fort McGregor. The father preempted land and the family continued to live there for about twenty-three years. In 1867, however, a removal was made to Madison county and they settled on Coon Divide, south of Van Meter. Later that place was sold and they removed to Adair county, where the father passed away about 1896. In their family were six children, four sons and two daughters, being in order of birth as follows: Maria, the wife of Good- liff Brooker, of Earlham; Elizabeth, the wife of George Brooker, of Van Meter, Iowa; J. M., of this review ; C. D., a resident of Morningside, Sioux City ; T. I., of St. Charles ; and George M., of Denver, Colorado.
J. M. Killam attended district schools in Clayton county, Iowa, and the Upper Iowa University at Fayette. During the Civil war he served for seven months in the Union army in the commissary department, and after leaving the Federal service located in Delaware county, Iowa, but the next year came to this county and entered the mercantile field at Patterson. A year later he removed his store to St. Charles, where he was in business for seven years. At the end of that time he purchased a farm and in partnership with his brother, C. D. Killam, also en- gaged in the lumber business in St. Charles. Fifteen years later he sold out his interests and removed to New Virginia, where for two and a half years he con- ducted a lumber business, selling out at the end of that time to the Lee Lumber Company. His next removal was to Truro, where he opened a lumber yard, con- ducting the business alone until March, 1912, and then took his son-in-law, Ray Hall, into partnership under the firm name of the Hall & Killam Lumber Com- pany. Mr. Hall was made manager of the concern, Mr. Killam retiring from active business. Since that time he has been the silent member of the well known firm, which has a gratifying patronage in its line. The business community of Truro holds Mr. Killam in high respect, as he has many times demonstrated his
J. M. KILLAM
MRS. J. M. KILLAM
TILL K
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ability to cope successfully with vexing financial and business problems and as in all of his dealings he has steadfastly adhered to honorable principles.
Mr. Killam was married on Christmas Day, 1867, to Miss Elocia Josephine Finney, who was born on the 21st of May, 1850, of the marriage of Nelson and Matilda (Bowersmith ) Finney. Her father was born in Franklin county, New York, on the 20th of March, 1821, of English descent, and her mother was a native of Licking county, Ohio, born on the 6th of April, 1823. On the 16th of September, 1842, they were united in marriage by Rev. Daniel Long, in Union county, Ohio. About 1855 they left that state and made their way to Washington county, Iowa, whence after a year they removed to Adair county, west of Win- terset. The father purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on the line between Madison and Adair counties and planted the famous Walnut Grove there. This farm was considered the family homestead but in 1860 a removal was made to Adams county, the family residing in Nevenville while Mr. Finney went to Pike's Peak and Salt Lake City in search for gold. Upon his return in 1868 he purchased a farm in Penn township, Madison county, south of Dexter, and resided there until 1873. In that year he took up his residence in Winterset, where for four or five years he conducted a store, and upon selling that business he bought land in Lincoln township, which he operated until 1896, when he dis- posed of it and removed to Winterset, where he continued to reside until his demise, which occurred on the 3d of February, 1900. He was a pioneer and possessed those qualities of perseverance, independence and dauntless courage that characterize those who first take up their abode in a new country. He accumulated considerable property but did not confine his attention to material affairs, as he realized the value of the moral and civic development of a com- munity. He was one of the consistent and active members of the Christian church for many years and did much to further its work. All of his children were well educated and well trained so that they became useful and honored citizens of their respective communities. Ruhama, who was born on the 6th of August, 1843, died on the 19th of January, 1900. Diadamah, who was born on the 10th of September, 1845, married Wesley Prather on the 24th of December, 1865, and they are now residents of Texas. Their son Elmer is a hypnotist with a large hospital in Paris, France, and is quite wealthy. Much of his work is that of hypnotizing patients who have to undergo operations. Alonzo and Lorenzo, twins, were born on the 6th of March, 1847. Alonzo married Alice Garrettson and they reside in Winterset, and Lorenzo, who married Sarah Gordon, also lives in Winterset. Christiana, whose birth occurred on the 29th of October, 1848, became the wife of John Epperson. Elocia Josephine, the wife of our sub- ject, is the next in order of birth. Sarah, whose natal day was the 6th of Sep- tember, 1852, married J. M. Hall and resides in Winterset. John W., born September 30, 1855, married Miss Laura Lunbeck. Melissa, who was born on the 12th of February, 1857, died in infancy. Electa, whose birth occurred on the Ioth of August, 1859, married John McDowell and they reside in Des Moines. Benjamin, the youngest of the family, was born on the 27th of December, 1861, and is a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
To Mr. and Mrs. Killam were born eight children. Elmer N., who was born on the 4th of January, 1870, and is working in a sash and door factory in Denver, Colorado, married Miss Agnes Sherard. Cora, born April 21, 1873, became the Vol. II-11
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wife of Luther Lyons, a farmer living near St. Charles, and they have three chil- dren, Blanche, Dorothea and Clarence. Grace, whose natal day was the 6th of June, 1878, is the wife of J. R. Hall, of Truro, and they have a daughter and son, Clara and Raymond. Herman, born October 16, 1883, is now living in St. Charles. He married Miss Catharine McManus. Elizabeth, whose natal day was the 2d of February, 1885, is the wife of R. E. Erb, a barber of St. Charles, Iowa. Maude, whose birth occurred on the Ist of June, 1887, gave her hand in marriage to Elmer D. Goodrich, a farmer of Ohio township, and they have five children, Mary, Ralph, Glen, John and Opal. Clarence, who was born on the 2d of September, 1875, died January 4, 1884; and Mabel, born, March 23, 1880, died January 16, 1884.
Mr. Killam is a republican and is also unflinching and unwavering in his sup- port of the temperance cause, refusing absolutely to vote for any man that does not stand for temperance. For four years he was mayor of Truro and during that time he stood firmly for prohibition, no matter how strong the opposition. For forty-four years he and his wife have been members of the Methodist Epis- copal church and for thirty years he has taught the Bible class in Sunday school. For twenty-three years his wife has been teacher of the infant class and the extent of their influence cannot be estimated. There is no office in the church that he has not held and for forty years he has been a member of the official board, while for twenty-five years he has been recording steward. His sincerity and loyalty to his convictions has commanded the respect that is always given to honesty and courage, and there is no more esteemed citizen of Truro than J. M. Killam.
R. A. HOLMES, D. D. S.
Dr. R. A. Holmes has heen continuously engaged in the practice of dentistry at Earlham for the past twelve years and is the only representative of his pro- fession in the town. His birth occurred in Warren county, lowa, on the 17th of March, 1879, his parents being William A. and Elizabeth (Ogle) Holmes, who were natives of Ohio and Iowa respectively. The father, an agriculturist by occupation, removed to Warren county, this state, in an early day and there pur- chased and improved a farm which he operated successfully for a number of years or until the time of his retirement. In 1910 he removed to California, passing away in that state on the 25th of December, 1912. His wife was called to her final rest in the year 1884.
R. A. Holmes acquired his early education in the public schools and continued his studies in Simpson College of Indianola, Iowa. Subsequently, having deter- mined upon a professional career, he entered the College of Dentistry of Drake University at Des Moines, which institution conferred upon him the degree of D. D. S. in 1903. In that year he opened an office at Earlham, Madison county, where he has remained continuously to the present time, being the only dentist of the town and enjoying a well merited and gratifying practice. With the prog- ress of the profession he keeps abreast through his membership in the American Dental Society and the Iowa State Dental Society.
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On the 29th of November, 1905, Dr. Holmes was united in marriage to Miss Viola Garmon, a daughter of N. O. and Julia (Johnson) Garmon, who were born in Michigan and Indiana respectively. They took up their abode among the pioneer residents of Union county, Iowa, where Mr. Garmon successfully fol- lowed farming for a number of years. Eventually, however, he put aside the active work of the fields and came to Earlham, where for four years he con- ducted a lumber business. At the present time he makes his home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Dr. Holmes has sup- ported the men and measures of the republican party, believing firmly in its prin- ciples. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, while fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In both social and professional relations he holds to high ideals and has commanded the esteem and confidence of all who know him.
J. S. EGY.
Although he has taken up his residence in Winterset and is living to a large extent retired, J. S. Egy still spends much time upon his farm, finding it impos- sible to content himself with a life of inactivity. His birth occurred in Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of March, 1851, his parents being David and Martha ( Hughes) Egy, both natives of that county, the former born in 1824. They were married on the 7th of December, 1847, and in 1854 came to Iowa, settling on government land in Lincoln township, Madison county. They lived in a log cabin until our subject was past twenty-one years of age and their surround- ings were in all respects those of a pioneer region. Mr. Egy entered one hundred and twenty acres of land from the government and in time brought it to a high state of cultivation .. He passed away in 1869, when in the prime of life. His parents were of German birth and his mother never learned to speak English. The maternal ancestors of our subject were Scotch and Welsh. There were five children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. David Egy, namely: Jonathan, now living in Alberta, Canada; J. S., of this review ; G. M., who is residing in Kan- sas; Sarah E., who died in young womanhood; and David P., who lives on the old homestead in Lincoln township.
J. S. Egy was not quite four years of age when he accompanied his parents to Iowa from Pennsylvania but he remembers quite distinctly being on a boat and later upon a train. At the Mississippi river the family were met by a man named Samuel Myers, who lived on what is now the Brock farm in Lincoln town- ship, and he transported the family and their household goods by team to this county. Mr. Egy grew up amid pioneer conditions and well remembers the time when it took three days to make the trip to and from the mill to get the wheat ground. There were corn crackers, or mills for grinding the corn, on Middle river, but flour mills were quite a distance away. It is worthy of note that the father was so enterprising that he raised wheat the first year of his residence in this county, a rather unusual achievement. When past twenty-one years of age J. S. Egy left home and removed to O'Brien county, Iowa, where he homesteaded
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land and lived for six years. Upon his return to this county he purchased a farm in Lincoln township which he operated until he retired and came to Winterset. His property comprises one hundred acres and is excellently improved, although it was but slightly developed when it came into his possession. He carried on general farming and stock-raising and gained an enviable reputation for industry, perseverance and good management. He now rents the farm but spends quite a little of his time there and often aids in the farm work.
Mr. Egy has been twice married, his first union being with Miss Emily Well- man, a native of Cass county, Iowa, who died leaving two children : Sarah, who keeps house for her father; and a son, John, who has passed away. For his second wife Mr. Egy married a Mrs. Neel, who is also deceased.
Mr. Egy is a republican and for six or seven years held the office of township trustee. He resides in a comfortable home on South Seventh avenue in Winter- set, and has many friends in the city as well as in the township where he resided for so many years.
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