USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 22
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G. W. GILLELAND.
G. W. Gilleland, the efficient steward of the county farm, is a native of this county, born on the 8th of September, 1867, of the marriage of David W. and Nancy ( Nichols) Gilleland. The father was born in Hope, Bartholomew county, Indiana, on the Ioth of August, 1839, and when a boy removed to this county from the Hoosier state, the journey being made in a wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen. He witnessed many interesting events in pioneer days of this region and experienced the life of an early settler with all of its hardships and struggles but with its compensating sense of worthy achievement. On the 2d of April, 1862, feeling that the need of his country was paramount to all else, he accordingly enlisted in Company F, Fourth Iowa Infantry. He saw much active service, being at the front for four years and four months and taking part in the battles of Pea Ridge, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, the first battle of Jackson, fought on the 4th of May, 1863, the siege of Vicksburg, the second battle of Jack- son, on the 12th of July, 1863, and the battles of Lookout Mountain and Ring- gold. On the 22d of September, 1863, he left Vicksburg and went by way of Corinth to join General Sherman. His company was with Hooker at Lookout Mountain on the 24th of November and at Missionary Ridge on the day follow- ing. Mr. Gilleland fought in over thirty battles and met the enemy in eight Con- federate states. His company had the remarkable record of never being repulsed. On the 3d of September, 1865, he was mustered out and returned to Winterset, where he worked until 1868, and then began farming in Douglas township. He was the owner of forty acres of well improved land and resided there until his death, which occurred on the 19th of March, 1902. He was buried in the Worth- ington cemetery. He was very active in local republican circles and held a num- ber of township offices. He was always seeking to promote the progress of his community and his energy and enthusiasm enabled him to accomplish much along that line. His wife, who was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on the 24th of July,
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1839, is still living and resides with two of her children in Des Moines. There were seven children in all and four are residents of this county.
G. W. Gilleland received his education in the district schools of Douglas town- ship and when but sixteen years of age began working as a farm hand, receiving eleven dollars a month for his labor. For twelve years he was so employed and then rented land, which he operated on his own account. In 1889 he was appointed assistant steward of the county farm and was in charge of the insane there for three years. In March, 1914, he was made steward and has proved an excellent man for the place. He understands the peculiar problems that confront him and manages affairs so as to save the county unnecessary expense and yet provide well for those who are the county's wards.
On September 24, 1892, Mr. Gilleland married Miss Cynthia Harrison, who was born in Johnson county, Iowa, a daughter of James and Martha ( Hamilton) Harrison. Both of her parents were natives of the Hoosier state, the former born November 20, 1839, and the latter May 6, 1840. Mr. Harrison removed to Illinois when of age and resided there for some time. He afterward settled in Johnson county, Iowa, and he and his family lived upon a farm there until 1876. In that year a removal was made to Madison county, the family home being established in Webster township, where the father became a well known farmer and stock-raiser. He was prevented from enlisting in the Union army because of defective eyesight but his two brothers, John and Joseph, became Union soldiers and one gave his life in defense of his country. James Harrison was throughout life a republican and took considerable part in local political affairs. He passed away on the 16th of August, 1907, and is survived by his widow, who resides in Winterset. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilleland has been born a son, Albert, whose natal day was July 12, 1894, and who is now assistant manager of the Citizens Lumber Company of Win- terset. He entered the employ of that concern early in March, 1914, as driver of a wagon, and his ability won him unusually rapid promotion. Mr. and Mrs. Gille- land have a niece, Cynthia A. Harrison, who makes her home with them.
Mr. Gilleland is a stanch republican and has held many township offices and his official record has always been one of honor. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Madison Lodge, No. 136, at Winter- set, and he is also a member of the Maccabees, in which he has been master of the guard. He is widely known throughout the county and is popular as a man and as an official.
E. VINCENT NICHOLS.
E. Vincent Nichols, a farmer of Madison township, who has won a deserved reputation for progressiveness and ability, is a native son of this county, born December 10, 1869. His parents, George T. and Mary C. (Johnson) Nichols, were both born in Indiana, whence the father removed to this county in 1854. buying land in Madison township. That farm remained the family home for many years and there both the father and mother passed away, the former on the 3d of March, 1888, and the latter on the 2d of January, 1909. Mr. Nichols erected the Worthington Methodist Episcopal church in Madison township.
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E. Vincent Nichols grew to manhood upon the home farm and acquired his education by attending the country schools in his neighborhood, while much of his time was devoted to farm work, as he assisted his father more and more as his strength increased. Upon putting aside his textbooks he concentrated his energies upon agricultural pursuits and remained with his mother until he was thirty-one years of age. He then bought an eighty-acre tract of land near the Worthington church and began farming for himself. After eight years he sold that place and bought his present farm, which comprises one hundred and sixty acres and is situated on section 23, Madison township. He has spared neither thought nor time in his endeavor to make it one of the best improved places of the county and its excellent condition bears testimony to his energy and good judgment. He raises nothing but thoroughbred stock, specializing in shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs and Shropshire sheep, and the sale of his stock yields him a gratifying addition to the income received from his general farming.
Mr. Nichols married Miss Gertrude A. McIntyre on the 20th of June, 1896. She is a daughter of Robert and Rhoda ( Finley) Melntyre, the former born in Maine and the latter in Ohio. Mr. McIntyre devoted the greater part of his life to school teaching, first following that profession in Illinois and later in Cass county, Iowa, where the family resided for twenty-two years. He passed away in 1894, but his widow is still living and makes her home in Des Moines. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have four children, namely, Verde, George, Howard and Ray, all attending school.
Mr. Nichols is an adherent of the republican party and is consistent in his sup- port of its policies. In religious matters his belief is that of the Methodist Epis- copal church and both he and his wife are members in good standing of the local society of that denomination. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge and his relations with his fellowmen are in harmony with the spirit of that great friendship upon which the order is based. The use of approved methods of agriculture, combined with industry, foresight and excellent judgment as to financial affairs, has made Mr. Nichols a prosperous agriculturist and makes certain his continued success in his chosen occupation.
JOHN RISER, SR.
John Riser, Sr., is one of the best known stock-raisers of Madison county and has been very successful in breeding thoroughbred Belgian horses. He was born in Berne, Switzerland, on the 24th of November, 1843, a son of Jacob and Eliz- abeth ( Witmer) Riser, also natives of that country. The father was a farmer and passed his entire life in the land of the Alps, dying there in 1901. He had survived his wife for two years.
John Riser, Sr., was reared and educated in Switzerland and as a young man was employed as a farm hand there. In 1869, when twenty-six years of age, he became convinced that more favorable conditions awaited him in the new world and, accordingly, emigrated to America. He made his way to Ottawa county, Ohio, and settled on land in what was known as the Black Swamp. He improved and operated his property for five years and then traded it for land in Clermont
MR. AND MRS. JOHN RISER, SR.
TILL
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
township, Fayette county, Iowa. He turned his attention to its development and improvement and later added to his holdings until he became the owner of four hundred acres. After cultivating his land there for twenty-eight years he sold it and removed to Madison county, buying a half section of land on sections 8 and 17, Madison township. He subsequently purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 29. While living in Fayette county he engaged in the dairy business, keeping only Holstein cattle and making a great deal of cheese. Since coming to this county he has turned his attention to the breeding of Bel- gian horses, and the name of Riser & Sons is associated with thoroughbred stock. His farms are all well improved and are operated by his sons in partner- ship with our subject, who lives upon a ten-acre tract in Earlham, where he has resided for thirteen years. Their stock-raising interests are extensive and profit- able and they have fine young horses for sale at all times.
Mr. Riser was married on the 17th of November, 1864, to Miss Maria Hun- ziker, a daughter of Andrew and Mary Hunziker, natives of Switzerland. The father, who was a farmer, passed away in that country in 1852, and in 1870 his widow and her children came to America, settling in the Cumberland moun- tains of Tennessee. She passed away there on the 14th of September, 1885. To Mr. and Mrs. Riser have been born ten children, of whom five daughters and two sons survive, the latter being in partnership with their father, as before stated. Six of the children were present when Mr. and Mrs. Riser celebrated their golden wedding, November 17. 1914, at their home in Earlham.
Mr. Riser is independent in his political views, feeling that in order to secure honest, efficient government it is necessary to decide public questions without reference to the dictates of party bosses, who serve their own ends rather than the public good. He has always manifested a praiseworthy interest in com- munity affairs and served for six years upon the Clermont school board in Fay- ette county, being president thereof for a number of years. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and is thoroughly in sympathy with the purposes and ideals of the craft. His religious faith is that of the Reformed Swiss church and he is equally loyal to that organization. He has succeeded above the average in agriculture and in the raising of fine horses and has not only gained individual prosperity, but has also contributed to the development of his county along those lines and is justly entitled to the place of leadership which he holds in agricultural and stock-raising circles.
WILLIAM A. CHACE.
Among the esteemed residents of Winterset is William A. Chace, a retired farmer who owns two hundred and sixty acres of land in Douglas township. He is a native of Indiana, born in Boone county, on the 13th of February, 1844. a son of Augustus and Jane (Blades) Chace. The birth of the father occurred in New York on the 27th of April, 1802, and as a youth he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed in Indiana. He became the owner of a farm there and also followed agricultural pursuits to some extent. In 1848 he left the Hoosier state and came to Madison county, Iowa, here entering land. He then
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returned to Indiana but the following year brought his family to this county and established his home in Douglas township, his farm being cultivated by his son- in-law, while he operated a grist mill at Somerset, Warren county, for a couple of years. He then returned to his farm in Douglas township. He was a school director when the Stringtown school was built and served acceptably as justice of the peace. He became one of the substantial men of his township, owning six hundred and forty acres of land on which he carried on general farming and stock-raising. His wife's father, Thomas Blades, was a slave owner, but, becom- ing convinced of the iniquity of the practice before the war freed one hundred slaves voluntarily. To Mr. and Mrs. Chace were born thirteen children, of whom our subject is the youngest and only two of whom are living, both in Iowa. Nine of the thirteen children were left widowers or widows and Augustus Chace took some of the grandchildren to his home and reared them to years of maturity. Both he and his wife were charter members of the West Star Methodist Epis- copal church in Douglas township and their faith was manifest in their daily lives.
William A. Chace attended school in a log cabin which was also used for a blacksmith shop and the only seats were rough benches, the other furniture being correspondingly rude. As a boy it was often his task to take corn to be ground at the old Buffalo mill and from his early childhood he assisted to the extent of his strength in the work of the farm. He remained upon the homestead and aided in its operation until he was thirty-six years of age, although previous to that time he had bought land of his own. He is now the owner of the one hun- dred and sixty acre farm which his father entered from the government and he derives a good income therefrom. While he was actively engaged in agricul- ture he raised the usual cereals and also paid considerable attention to the raising of high grade stock. In 1911 he removed to Winterset and has since lived retired, enjoying a leisure that is the more pleasant because truly deserved.
In 1880 Mr. Chace married Miss Viola Rutledge, who was born in Wapello county, Iowa, in 1856 of the marriage of Archibald and Mary J. (Johnston) Rutledge. Her father's birth occurred upon the ocean while his parents were crossing to this country from Ireland, his natal day being the 31st of July, 1825, but he always claimed New York city as the place of his nativity. His death occurred on the Ist of May, 1892. His wife, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on the 27th of April, 1826, was called to her reward on the 8th of August, 1886. Mr. Rutledge resided in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, for some time, removing to Wapello, Iowa, in 1851. He became a merchant of Eddyville, own- ing a general store, and many of the pioneers of the surrounding region were his customers. In 1862 he came to Douglas township, this county, purchased land and began farming. He followed agricultural pursuits until 1885, but in that year he retired from active life and passed his declining years with a daughter on the farm. He was a republican and did much to secure the success of the party in his locality. He was equally loyal to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a member, and served faithfully as a steward thereof. He was one of the charter members of the West Star church in Douglas township. To him and his wife were born eight children, of whom Mrs. Chace is the third in order of birth. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children : Elsie Branaman, a trained nurse who is at home; Lee, who married Miss Nota Stark, a grand-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
daughter of Richard Bruce, a well known pioneer of this county, to which union have been born three children, Clarence, Cecil and Hubert; and Edna, the wife of Ersey Griffith, a farmer of this county, by whom she has two sons, Robert and Paul.
Mrs. Chace is one of the leaders in church and Sunday-school work and also belongs to the Woman's Relief Corps and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Mr. Chace is a republican and was for six years school director. Ile holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and attends services both in Douglas township and in Winterset. His life has been a successful one both as regards attainment of material prosperity and as regards the gaining of stanch and loyal friends.
GEORGE COX.
George Cox, a leading carpenter of Winterset, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, on the 6th of August, 1850, the third in order of birth of the twelve chil- dren born to Eli and Mary ( Mills) Cox, natives respectively of Clinton county, Ohio, and Tipton county, Indiana. The birth of the father occurred in August, 1825, and that of the mother in 1826. Eli Cox was reared upon a farm and as he grew to manhood his knowledge of agricultural work increased. When twenty years of age he learned the carpenter's trade and while still living in Ohio erected a number of barns and other buildings. In 1856 he came overland with his family to this county, settling on section 36, Madison township. Returning to Cincinnati, he there had a sawmill built, which was shipped to Keokuk and thence hauled by ox teams to North river, where it was put up in 1857. It was the only sawmill in that region and did a large business. Mr. Cox engaged in contracting and erected a number of the early bridges in this county. During the last years of his activity in that line he built two of the finest barns in the county, one for David Mills in Madison township, and the other for George Miller in Jefferson township. The Cox family only resided in Madison township for about a year, as in 1858 they removed to section 5, Union township, where the father owned about eleven hundred acres of land. He hired others to cultivate the fields and care for the stock, while he devoted his time to contracting. He was affected by the hard times of 1856 and 1857 but later retrieved his losses. He held a number of local offices and in the late '6os served as county supervisor from Union town- ship. His religious faith was that of the Quakers. His demise occurred in 1885 and he was survived for many years by his widow, who passed away in 1909.
George Cox attended the pioneer schools of this county, the schoolhouse being built of logs, the furniture and curriculum being equally primitive. When eighteen years of age he began to assist his father in the operation of the latter's sawmill and continued to conduct the mill after the father's death until 1895. He has much mechanical ability and, being a skillful workman himself, he refuses to tolerate any slipshod work from those in his employ. As a contractor he has erected many of the better structures in the county and in 1894 and 1909 served as foreman of the county bridge gang. For many years he lived in Union town- ship, where he owned land, and he gave some attention to farming, although that
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occupation is not at all congenial to him, and most of the time he left the opera- tion of his farm to others. In 1908 he removed to Winterset, where he is still residing.
On the 6th of January, 1878, Mr. Cox was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Mills, who is a native of Jefferson county, Iowa, and a daughter of Enos and Elizabeth ( Baldwin) Mills, both born in the Hoosier state, the former in 1819 and the latter in 1821. Mr. Mills, who was a carpenter by trade, came to Mad- ison county in 1850 but found conditions so much those of the frontier that he started to return to Indiana. Stopping off in Jefferson county, Iowa, he lived there until 1857, when he returned to Madison county *and settled in Douglas township upon the place that he had selected as a location in 1850. He farmed and worked at his trade in this county until 1866, when he removed to south- western Missouri, where he remained until 1873. He then took up his residence in Atchison, and later went to Rice county, Kansas, where he again turned his attention to carpentering. He was working at his trade with his son when he met death by accident. He was a very active member of the Church of Christ and quite frequently preached. He passed away in 1886, having survived his wife since 1859.
Mr. and Mrs. Cox have six living children : Viola, the wife of Jed Osborne, a farmer of Walnut township, by whom she has two children, Mildred and Lor- raine; Letta, the wife of E. W. Jones, a farmer of Nebraska, by whom she has four children, Millard, Doris, Donald and Eldridge; Sylvanus, a farmer of Ne- braska; Casper, who is following agricultural pursuits in Walnut township, this county ; Elsie, who gave her hand in marriage to H. I. Killion, a farmer and school teacher of Bourbon county, Kansas; and Herman, who was born on the 4th of July, 1894. and is associated with his father in the contracting business. He married Miss Beulah Light and they have a daughter, Iva Viola.
Mr. Cox is a republican and has held a number of township offices. Frater- nally his affiliation is with the Masonic order, belonging to both the blue lodge and chapter of the York Rite. He has a deservedly high reputation as a con- tractor and he is equally esteemed as a citizen and as a man.
WILLIAM WALLACE WRIGHT.
William Wallace Wright, a retired farmer and an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic of Winterset, was born in Ontario, Canada, on the 26th of February, 1836, a son of Charles and Diana (Mott) Wright, the for- mer born in New York in 1799 and the latter in the Dominion of Canada about 1807. The father accompanied his parents to Canada when he was but a boy and was reared there. He followed farming during his active life and was well known in his community, although retiring in disposition. He passed away in 1839 when but forty years of age and was survived by his widow until 1888.
William Wallace Wright was the third in a family of four children and his educational opportunities were those afforded by the public schools in the neigh- borhood of his home and the public schools of the state of New York, as the family removed there in 1848. Ten years later he returned to Canada, where
WILLIAM W. WRIGHT
בזד
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he resided until 1861, in which year he came again to the States, settling in Des Moines county, Iowa. His energies were utilized in farming and in working in a mill until 1863, when he felt it to be his duty to assist in the preservation of the Union and accordingly he enlisted in December of that year in Company D, First Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. He served until the 15th of February, 1866, when he was discharged at Austin, Texas, and returned to Des Moines county, Iowa. In 1867 be removed to Ohio township, Madison county, and acquired title to land here. He cast in his lot with the agriculturists of the county and was successful in the work of cultivating the soil and raising stock. In 1881 he removed to Scott township, where he resided until 1893, when he put aside the cares and responsibilities of active life and removed to Winterset, where he is now living retired. He owned one hundred and forty-two and a half acres of land and as his place was well improved and kept in fine condition it was one of the valuable properties of his neighborhood.
On the 13th of September, 1866, Mr. Wright was united in marriage with Miss Sarah McMaken, who was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, on the 14th of March, 1843, a daughter of John Lowrey and Eliza (Cummins) McMakin, both born in Butler county, Ohio, the former in 1815 and the latter in 1818. Mr. McMakin passed away in Burlington, Iowa, in 1898, having survived his wife for many years, as she died in Des Moines county in 1870. He farmed in Ohio, but feeling that better opportunities awaited the agriculturist in the west, he came to Iowa in the fall of 1838 to attend land sales. The following year his family came with a colony of settlers, making the trip down the Ohio and up the Mississippi in a chartered boat. He owned three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land, and although it was unimproved when it came into his pos- session he made it a well developed farm. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church and was active in building a number of houses of worship in the early days. All public affairs were of interest to him and he was always eager to cooperate with others to secure the general good.
Mrs. Wright has always lived in Iowa and has experienced many of the pri- vations that were the inevitable accompaniments of pioneer life. In her girl- hood she attended the first schools of Des Moines county, which were then held in log schoolhouses, and also assisted her mother in the many and varied duties that fell to the lot of the pioneer women. Many tasks that are now done out- side of the home in those days were performed by the women of the household, and theirs was a busy life indeed. Added to the never-ceasing work there were the severe winters to be endured, the absence of the conveniences and comforts of a later civilization and at times a sense of loneliness, but the women of that early day proved themselves of courageous spirit and did their part not only willingly, but even gladly, rejoicing in the fact that homes were being builded in the west and that in time the country would be upon as high a level of civil- ization as the eastern states. As Mrs. Wright grew to womanhood she assumed more and more responsibility, and since her marriage she has proved a helpmate indeed, and Mr. Wright gives her much of the credit for the success that he has gained. Both are earnest members of the Methodist church and he is also connected with Pitzer Post, No. 55, G. A. R., and values highly the opportunity of meeting with his comrades in blue. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and he takes a commendable interest in all public movements.
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