USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 3
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
enjoy all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. A street in Winter- set has been named in honor of Mr. Hutchings, thus perpetuating the memory of one who proved a valuable factor in the development of the city in pioneer times and through the later period of its progress.
GEORGE N. SKINNER, M. D.
Dr. George N. Skinner, successfully engaged in the practice of medicine in Winterset, has won his present prominence and success through ability that is based upon broad reading and conscientious observance of duty, combined with fidelity to the highest ethics of the profession. He was born in Birmingham, Van Buren county, Iowa, May 28, 1854, a son of John S. and Catherine ( Rail) Skinner. The father was born in New Jersey but was reared in the Empire state and became captain of a canal boat, on which he continued until 1838, when he came west to Iowa at which time the state was under territorial rule. He located on a claim near Birmingham in Van Buren county, becoming one of the pioneer settlers in that district. The Indians still visited the neighborhood and wild game of all kinds was plentiful. In fact, the work of civilization and de- velopment seemed scarcely begun, but Mr. Skinner joined with other pioneer residents in converting the wild prairie region into a prosperous county, in- habited by a contented and happy people who were utilizing the natural re- sources to the best possible advantage. He performed the arduous task of breaking wild prairie land and upon the farm which he developed he engaged in the cultivation of grain and the raising of stock to the time of his death, which occurred in 1887 when he was seventy-six years of age. He met with a fair measure of success.
Mr. Skinner held various township offices and he lived an upright, honorable life. Although not a member of any church, he closely followed the golden rule and he was ever loyal to the teachings of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. in which he held membership. He could truly be called a self-made man. At an early age he was left an orphan and he worked his way steadily upward through his ability, close application and well directed energy. His wife was a native of Pennsylvania, but was reared in New York, where they were married.
On coming to the west, they made their way down the Ohio river on a flatboat and up the Mississippi. Mrs. Skinner survived her husband until April, 1906, passing away when in her ninetieth year. She was a member of the Methodist church and she had a family of ten children, of whom three died in infancy.
George N. Skinner was the seventh in order of birth. He spent his boyhood days upon the home farm and supplemented his early education, acquired in the public schools, by study in Birmingham Academy. He afterward turned his attention to the profession of teaching, which he followed for four years in the district schools, but he regarded this profession as merely an initial step to other professional activity. It was his desire to become a member of the medical fraternity and to that end he entered the Keokuk Medical College, in which he pursued a thorough course. He afterward located at Truro, where he practiced for five years, and then continued his studies in Drake University, from which he
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
was graduated with the class of 1889. For a year thereafter he engaged in prac- tice in this county and then went to California, where he spent one year. In 1892 he returned and settled in Winterset, where he has remained continuously since, covering a period of about twenty-three years. His ability is widely recognized. He studies each case thoroughly, is most careful in his diagnosis and sound in his judgment. Desired results have attended his efforts in the majority of cases and his ability is recognized not only by the general public but by his professional brethren as well.
On the 27th of August, 1882, Dr. Skinner was united in marriage to Miss Laura L. Rankin, a native of Middletown, lowa, who was reared at Peru, this state. They have two children : Frank R., who was graduated from Drake Uni- versity on the completion of a course in pharmacy and is now engaged in the drug business in Des Moines ; and Zoe M., who completed a course in the liberal arts department of Drake University with the degrees of Ph. B and Ed. B. and is now teaching mathematics in the high school at Fort Madison.
Dr. Skinner gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, but does not seek nor desire office. He has served on the school board, however, for a number of terms and the cause of education has profited by his cooperation in behalf of the public-school system. He is a member of Lotus Lodge, No. 48, K. P., and he is a pension examiner. He is also a member of the Madison County Medical Society, the Missouri Valley Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. Through the proceedings of those bodies he keeps in touch with the general trend of thought and progress along the lines of medical and surgical practice and he employs the most scientific methods in his efforts to relieve suffering and restore health. That he has been largely successful is attested by the liberal patronage which is now accorded him.
M. W. PEACH.
Among the respected citizens of Winterset is M. W. Peach, who for many years was actively engaged in farming but is now living a retired life. He was born in Logan county, Ohio, on the 4th of February, 1841, a son of Joseph Peach, whose birth occured in Maryland in 1808 and who was married in Ohio to Miss Rachel Brooks: Joseph Peach, Sr., the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a slaveholder in Maryland but after reaching middle life became convinced of the evil of holding men and women as chattels and accordingly liberated his slaves, fifty in number.
It was on the 17th of March, 1841, that the parents of our subject left Ohio and started for Iowa. They floated down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi to Burlington, whence they made their way by team to Van Buren county, lowa, where the father raised one crop. In the meantime he took up a claim in Davis county, about twenty miles west of where he was living in Van Buren county. In the fall or early winter of 1841 he located upon his claim and during the re- mainder of his life devoted his attention to its cultivation and improvement. He died in October, 1850, leaving his widow with six small children to care for, the
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
oldest of whom was a daughter fourteen years of age. Our subject was at that time a lad of nine years. The mother kept the family together until they were able to care for themselves and when Mr. Peach of this review was eighteen years of age she accompanied him to Madison county, where he provided for her needs and wants until she, too, passed away, about six years after the close of the Civil war.
M. W. Peach received but a limited education as the pioneer schools were primitive in curriculum as well as in other respects. He pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse in Davis county and later attended a school taught by Mr. Gos- horn, the father of Arthur Goshorn, who taught what was known as the Beer- bower school, west of Winterset. Under the instruction of that excellent teacher Mr. Peach learned all that he knew about reading, arithmetic and grammar in thirty-two days. At the age of sixteen years he began working for others by the month during the summer seasons and was thus employed until he attained his majority, turning over every cent of his wages for the support of the family.
On the 5th of August, 1862, Mr. Peach went to the defense of the Union, join- ing Company A, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, which was commanded by Captain G. N. Elliott. Following the battle of Resaca, the Thirty-ninth Iowa was detailed to guard Rome, Georgia, which had been captured, and Mr. Peach was there until the battle of Allatoona Pass, after which he joined Sherman and went with him on his march to the sea. He was not in many severe engagements but at the battle of Allatoona Pass had a number of holes shot through his clothes. In the night following that battle he noticed a defect in his hearing, which has been impaired ever since. He was mustered out at Washington, D. C., and dis- charged at Clinton, Iowa. He returned home with a creditable military record and the consciousness that he had been of service in preserving the Union and abolishing the institution of slavery, which had aroused his moral indignation.
Mr. Peach again turned his attention to farming, cultivating forty acres of land in Scott township, which he had previously purchased for the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars. Some time later he went to Buena Vista county and homesteaded land, living there for a decade. At the expiration of that period he removed to northern Missouri and after a year went to Arkansas where he lived for eleven years. In 1894 he returned to Madison county, Iowa, and pur- chased land in Scott township, which he farmed until 1907, when he turned the cultivation of his land over to others and removed to Winterset, where he is now living retired in a comfortable home at No. 803 East Court avenue.
In 1871 Mr. Peach married Miss Laura B. Welsh, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Samuel and Susan (Hazlett) Welsh, born respectively in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Just prior to the Civil war the family removed to Iowa, settling in Wapello county, and in 1865 took up their residence in Doug- las township, this county, but a few years later Mr. and Mrs. Welsh removed to Scott township, where both passed away.
Mr. Peach is stanch in his allegiance to the republican party, which stood loy- ally by the Union in its time of peril and which has since carried through to com- pletion so many policies that have worked to the advantage of the country. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is an enthu- siastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is entitled to honor as one of those brave men who unhesitatingly left the work in which they were
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
engaged and answered their country's call for soldiers, offering their lives if need be for the preservation of the Union. His record in times of peace has been equally honorable and public-spirited, and he is rich in the esteem of his fellow- men.
D. M. GRISWOLD.
D. M. Griswold is a thoroughly up-to-date agriculturist residing on section 23, Madison township, and has one of the finest farm homes in the county. He was born in Marion county, Ohio, on the 5th of September, 1863, a son of Martin and Mary J. (Withrow) Griswold, also natives of the Buckeye state. The father, who was a farmer, cultivated land in his native state until 1866, when he removed with his family to this county, purchasing land in Grand River town- ship and operating his place until 1871, when he sold it and bought land in Penn township, to the cultivation of which he devoted the remainder of his life. He passed away on the 14th of December, 1880, when sixty-two years of age, but his widow is still living at the age of seventy-five.
D. M. Griswold entered the district schools as a child and passed from grade to grade until he had completed the course therein. He then became a student in the Dexter Normal School at Dexter, Iowa, where he supplemented his earlier education. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-seven years of age and then rented land, which he operated for five years. At the end of that time he removed to Earlham and turned his attention to teaching school, a pro- fession which he had previously followed while living under the parental roof. Altogether he taught for twenty-seven terms and proved a capable and popular teacher.
Upon turning to other pursuits Mr. Griswold engaged in the telephone busi- ness and on the Ist of January, 1899, was elected secretary of the Hawkeye Tele- phone Company. He remained with that concern for thirteen years and for the last five years of that time was general manager, having oversight of the com- pany's interests in fourteen counties. Although he proved a thoroughly efficient executive, he desired to return to the land and severed his connection with the telephone company and took up his residence upon one hundred and twenty acres of fine land that he owned on section 23, Madison township. He has since con- centrated his energies largely upon the development of his farm and has proved very successful as an agriculturist, his early training in that line standing him in good stead. Everything about the place is in the best of condition, the equip- ment for the work of the farm is complete and up-to-date and the residence itself is one of the best country homes of the county.
Mr. Griswold was married on the 11th of March, 1891, to Miss Lula E. Piatt, a daughter of Jacob H. and Emeline ( Nelson) Piatt, natives of Ohio and Edgar county, Illinois, respectively. Mr. Piatt became a resident of Illinois at an early day and engaged in farming in Henry county, that state, until 1879, when, ac- companied by his family, he removed to this county, buying land in Penn town- ship, which he operated during the remainder of his life. He passed away in March, 1889, when but forty-nine years of age, but his widow reached the age of
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
seventy-five. Mr. and Mrs. Griswold have had three children: Glenn H., at home; Alice, who is studying music at the conservatory of Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa ; and one who died in infancy.
Mr. Griswold is a republican and was a candidate for state representative upon that ticket but was defeated at the primaries. He has served as trustee of his township and at the last election was elected assessor of the same. For some time he served as clerk of Penn township, to which office he was elected by popu- lar suffrage. He attends the Presbyterian church and his life is proof of the sincerity of his faith. He is a business man of ability and sound judgment who is finding in farming an opportunity for the application of those principles that underlie all business and his land is yielding him a large return annually. He does not confine his interest, however, to his own affairs but finds time to co- operate heartily in many movements that seek the public welfare and is a valued citizen of his township and county.
JOHN R. THOMSON.
After many years of connection with business interests of Madison county John R. Thomson is living in honorable retirement in Earlham. He was born on Great Howard street, Liverpool, England, on the 25th of July, 1839, a son of Hugh M. and Jennie ( Robertson ) Thomson, both natives of Scotland. The father was a farmer in that country but upon accepting a position as government inspector went to Stafford, where he served as inspector of weights and measures for three years, and was then promoted to inspector of police at Liverpool. Dur- ing the fight between the Catholics and Orangemen he was twice carried home as dead. On the 17th of June, 1844. he and his family emigrated to America and located upon a farm twelve miles north of Davenport, Iowa, and for twenty- eight years he was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. He passed away in 1889. His widow survived until 1911, reaching the remarkable age of ninety- seven years. He was very prominent in his locality and was elected to the tenth and eleventh general assemblies. He was also a trustee of the State College of Agriculture at Ames for many years and planted a number of trees that are now upon the campus of that school.
John R. Thomson passed the greater part of his boyhood and youth in Scott county, being but five years old when taken there by his parents. In the dis- trict schools of that county he acquired his education and after putting aside his text-books continued to reside with his parents until he was twenty-six years of age. Previous to that time he had operated a threshing outfit for several years. In 1868 he purchased four hundred acres of land in Dallas county but did not farm long as on the 20th of December of that ycar he was hurt in a run- away accident and was compelled to abandon agricultural pursuits. He came to Earlham and entered the general merchandise business, in which he continued for twenty-three years. His stock of goods was up-to-date and well adapted to the demands of the community and as his prices were as reasonable as are con- sistent with good quality he gained a large share of the patronage of the public. After selling out that business he operated a quarry for about ten years. Since
f.R. Thornton
TILDEN R
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
disposing of that interest he has lived practically retired in Earlham. He owns a fine residence here, in which he has lived since 1869, or for more than forty- five years. While a factor in the business world he proved energetic and de- pendable and well earned the right to spend his remaining years in rest and leisure.
Mr. Thomson married Miss Margaret Madden, a daughter of John and Ellen ( Spencer ) Madden, natives of England, who emigrated to this country and settled in Scott county, Iowa, in 1850. Mr. Madden was a shoemaker in Eng- land but after his removal to Scott county turned his attention to farming. Both he and his wife died in that county. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson were the parents of three children : Hugh S., cashier of the Bank of Earlham; John Charles, a traveling salesman who resides at Storm Lake, Iowa; and Robert B., who died when three years old. Mrs. Thomson passed away July 15, 1904, and Mr. Thomson married Miss Mary \. Chappel on the ist of August, 1906. She is a daughter of John J. and Mary ( Robinson) Chappel, who spent their entire lives on Prince Edward Island.
Mr. Thomson is a republican and has supported that party since he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has been one of the men of affairs of Earl- ham, as for many years he served upon the council, and he has also been mayor of the municipality, proving a businesslike and incorruptible official. He was the second postmaster of the town and heid that office for three years. Frater- nally he is connected with the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge, of which he is a charter member. the chapter and commandery. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and his religion finds expression in his every day life, which is guided by principles of Christianity. Public spirit and integrity have ever been among his salient characteristics and have won for him the respect of those who have come in contact with him.
J. C. THORNBRUGH.
J. C. Thornbrugh, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest living native of Scott township and probably Madison county, owns and operates a farm of one hundred acres on sections 6 and 7, that township, which has been his home from his birth to the present time. His natal day was November 20, 1848, his parents being James and Elizabeth ( Fidler) Thornbrugh, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Nelson county, Kentucky. In 1846 they came to this county, settling first on Walker's Ridge and in the spring of the following year taking up their abode on the farm which is now in possession of our subject. James Thornbrugh was one of the very earliest settlers of Madison county and assisted in laying out the town of Winterset. His holdings embraced one hundred and sixty acres of land and when he passed away, at the age of thirty- nine years, the community mourned the loss of one of its representative agricul- turists and honored pioneers. His widow, who survived him for many years, was called to her final rest on the 28th of May, 1882. They became the parents of seven children, of whom but two are yet living, namely : J. C., of this review ; and Mrs. Rebecca Crawford, who is a resident of Topeka, Kansas.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
J. C. Thornbrugh has always operated the farm which was his birthplace and general agricultural pursuits have claimed his time and energies throughout his entire business career. He owns one hundred acres of land on sections 6 and 7, Scott township, and in the careful conduct of his farming interests has won an annual income that has enabled him to provide for the support and comfort of his family.
In 1875 Mr. Thornbrugh was united in marriage to Miss Emily Evans, who was born in Kansas in 1855, her parents being Henry and Elizabeth (Adkison) Evans, deceased, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Thornbrugh are the parents of nine children, as follows: Mabel, who gave her hand in marriage to Fred Hood and resides in Idaho; Arthur, who is married and makes his home at Valley Junction, Iowa ; Lester, a resident of Denver, who is married and has two children, Mabel and Margaret; Alvin, of Valley Junction, Iowa, who is married and has two chil- dren, Helen and Beatrice; Ivy, the wife of Ged Cook, of Des Moines, by whom she has one child, Lucia; Nina, who is the wife of Fred Wilcox, of Ashton, Idaho; Grace, the wife of Fred Compton, of Winterset, by whom she has one child, Margery Maxine; Elizabeth, at home; and James Henry Lloyd, also at home.
The period of Mr. Thornbrugh's residence in this county covers two-thirds of a century and he has been an interested witness of its development from pioneer times down to the present, noting the wonderful transformation that has occurred as frontier conditions have given way before the onward march of civilization. The circle of his friends and acquaintances is a wide one and therefore this record cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers.
JOHN L. ROY.
John L. Roy, a farmer of Lincoln township, was a representative of a family who early settled in the county. He was born in Indiana, a son of Thomas and Priscilla (Free) Roy. The father, who was born in Kentucky, was taken by his parents to Henderson county, Indiana, when but eight years of age and there he grew to manhood and upon reaching mature years became a farmer. In 1856 he came with his family to this county and settled in Lincoln township. He served in the Civil war for two years as a member of Company A, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was with Sherman on his memor- able march to the sea and participated in all in twenty-three battles. He felt a just pride in his war record and was a member of John A. Pitzer Post, G. A. R., of Winterset. His wife, who was born in North Carolina, was taken to Indiana when quite small and was there married. She accompanied her husband to this county, the journey being made by wagon. She passed away when seventy-six years of age, two years before the demise of her husband, who was called to his last reward on the 8th of March, 1905. They were members of the Baptist church. Their children were nine in number and all but four are deceased.
John L. Roy came to this county with his parents and experienced many of the hardships incident to pioneer life. As he grew older he assisted more and
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
more in the cultivation of the home farm and upon his father's death fell heir to the property, which compriscd about one hundred and twenty acres. He op- erated his farm, following general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire active life.
On the 13th of March, 1877, Mr. Roy married Miss Paulina Bishop, a native of this county, born on the 3d of August, 1854. She passed away on the Ist of June, 1898. She became a Christian at the age of twelve years and remained a lifelong member of the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Roy became the parents of five children : Denny, who died in infancy ; Edward, who is farming in Webster township; Iva, who was born August 6, 1881, and died November 10, 1896; Fred, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; and Burt, deceased. Mr. Roy gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and was never remiss in the dis- charge of the obligations of citizenship. He passed away April 13, 1912, and his demise was the occasion of sincere regret to his many friends, who held him in warm regard.
JAMES G. SHRIVER.
James G. Shriver is engaged in the real-estate business in Winterset. He is energetic, capable and determined and these qualities have contributed to his increasing success. He opened his present office in 1906 and in the intervening period to the present has negotiated many important realty transfers.
Winterset numbers Mr. Shriver among her native sons. He was born July 9, 1881, his parents being Captain William R. and Martha (Foster ) Shriver, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. The father was reared in the Buckeye state, pursued his education in the public schools there and in the year 1854 arrived in Madison county, Iowa, where he engaged in wagon making for many years. At the time of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal considerations and responded to the country's call for troops, becoming a captain of the First Iowa Cavalry. He was at the front for three years and made an excellent record by reason of his valor and loyalty, inspiring his men to deeds of bravery by reason of his own fearlessness. When the war was over Mr. Shriver followed his trade for a time and then turned his attention to farming. He was called to the office of county clerk by popular suffrage and for two terms filled that position in a capable manner. He also served as postmaster of Winterset under President Benjamin Harrison. In 1890 he retired from business and went to California for the benefit of his wife's health. He remained for two years on the Pacific coast and then returned to Iowa. In 1900 he once more went to Cali- fornia, locating at Los Angeles, where he is now making his home at the age of more than eighty-three years. He is still remarkably preserved for one of that age, retaining his physical and mental faculties to an unusual degree. He belongs to Pitzer Post, No. 55, G. A. R., of Winterset, and is a very active Mason, holding membership in both the lodge and Royal Arch chapter. His political allegiance has long been given to the republican party, which has ever found in him a stal- wart advocate. His wife was a native of Indiana and in her girlhood days was brought by her parents to Iowa. She passed away in August, 1890, at the age of
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