USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 31
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Mr. Chamberlain was married on the 20th of December, 1881, to Miss Flor- ence Curtis, a native of Monticello, Jones county, Iowa, and a daughter of George W. and Catharine (Clemmer) Curtis, both of whom were natives of Antwerp, Paulding county, Ohio. The father was born on the 7th of July, 1829, and died on the 2d of March, 1913, while the mother, whose birth occurred on the 26th of December, 1831, died March 1, 1902. Mr. Curtis was engaged in the mercantile business in Antwerp with his father and also operated a large farm which he owned. In 1855 he migrated to Jones county, Iowa, purchasing land near Monticello, on which he lived for over fifty years. His farm com- prised two hundred acres and he derived a handsome income from its operation. In 1885 he retired from farming and engaged in the grocery business in Monti- cello for three years, but in 1888 he retired from that line of activity as well
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and at the time of his death was residing in Monticello. To him and his wife were born nine children, of whom Mrs. Chamberlain is the fourth. She has become the mother of three children. Clyde C., a farmer of Douglas township, married Miss Lois Knox, a daughter of J. H. Knox, who has resided in this county since 1879. Two children have been born to that union, Florence and Olive. Ernest, whose birth occurred in 1887, died in 1912. Catharine is the wife of Glenn Wray, a farmer of Douglas township. Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain are also rearing three other children, giving them a good home and education, namely, Lyle Sturtevant and Ruth and John Curtis.
Mrs. Chamberlain is very active in church and Sunday-school work and is a leader in the Ladies' Aid Society of the Worthington Methodist Episcopal church. Her son Clyde C. and daughter Catharine are also active in church circles. Mr. Chamberlain is a republican and for the last six years has served acceptably as township trustee. Fraternally he belongs to the Mystic Workers of the World. He has gained success and at the same time has won an honored name and the esteem of his fellowmen, as he has depended upon his own work and good management to win prosperity and has never taken unjust advantage in a business transaction.
WILBERT W. ATKINSON.
The success of the Truro Lumber Company has been due in part to the busi- ness astuteness and energy of Wilbert W. Atkinson, a member of the firm. He was born in Warren county, Ohio, on the 16th of December, 1863, a son of G. W. and Phoebe (Pierce) Atkinson. The father was born in Ohio, of Scotch-Irish descent, and the mother was also a native of that state but came of Yankee lineage. He was a graduate of the Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio, and for sixteen years practiced medicine at South Solon, Ohio. His marriage occurred in that state and his family accompanied him upon his removal to Madi- son county, Iowa, location being made two miles southwest of Truro. The father purchased a farm there and gave the greater part of his time to agricultural pur- suits, as the state of his health prevented him from practicing medicine to any great extent. He passed away upon the farm in March, 1889, having survived his wife for about two years.
Wilbert W. Atkinson attended the district schools of Ohio until he was thir- teen years of age and then began earning his own living. He worked as a farm hand for a time and after the removal of the family to Iowa assisted his father with the operation of the homestead in this county. In 1895 he accepted a posi- tion as yardman in the lumberyard of William Steer at Truro and worked in that capacity for five years. At the end of that time he purchased an interest in the business, the firm name being the Truro Lumber Company. In June, 1907, Mr. Steer sold his interest to C. W. Sweezy and in 1909 Mr. Atkinson bought the interest of Mr. Sweezy, becoming sole owner of the plant. On the roth of October, 1910, a disastrous fire occurred which destroyed all of the rough and planed lumber sheds, in fact everything except the ready made stock on hand and the office. Mr. Atkinson then sold an interest in the business to O. N. Archer,
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the name of the Truro Lumber Company being retained, however. The con- cern conducts a general lumber business and also handles coal and cement and buys and sells grain for the Talbot Grain Company of Osceola, Iowa. Mr. Atkinson has been connected with the lumber trade for many years and under- stands its every detail. Upon leaving his father's farm in this county he obtained work in the planing mill of Gotschall & Martin in Des Moines and found the work so interesting that upon returning to Truro he sought employment in Mr. Steer's lumberyard, as before stated, and from that time to this has devoted his ener- gies to the lumber trade. His success has been gratifying but it is merely the natural result of his thorough knowledge of everything relating to lumber, his natural aptitude for business and his strict adherence to the principles of honesty and integrity.
On the 21st of January, 1891, at West Liberty, Iowa, occurred the marriage of Mr. Atkinson and Miss Hattie B. Purvis, a daughter of John M. and Ada- line ( White) Purvis, both born in Morrow county, Ohio, the father at Carding- ton. Both came of Scotch-Irish descent and inherited the splendid traits of character usually associated with that race. They were married in Ohio but came to Iowa in an early day in the history of this state, locating in Muscatine county, where the father purchased land from the government. He continued to operate his farm until the death of his wife, which occurred in 1873, but later removed to West Liberty, where he passed away in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson have become the parents of six children : Harold, who was born June 6, 1893, and is at home ; Lucile, born January 21, 1896, also at home; Dorothy, born February 27, 1902, who is attending the Truro high school; John, whose birth occurred September 13, 1905, and who is in school; Richard, born Novem- ber 29, 1900; and Pauline, who died when three years of age.
Mr. Atkinson is a prohibitionist and is under all circumstances loyal to his belief and convictions. For three terms he served as mayor of Truro and under his administration the affairs of the municipality were ably and conscientiously conducted. He is now secretary of the township school board and it is largely to his credit that advanced steps have been taken in the public-school system. Both he and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal church of Truro and have aided in the spread of its influence. Fraternally he is connected with both the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges in Truro. He devotes his energies to the building up of his lumber business and also does some contracting in builders' supplies. He is a substantial business man and is highly thought of in his community.
JUDGE JOHN A. PITZER.
By E. R. Zeller.
Should some one ask who was the most prominent citizen of Madison county, we would answer without hesitation, John A. Pitzer. We accord him this honor because he was doubtless the first white man who thoroughly explored the county, lived here longer, and was more continuously and prominently identified with its affairs than any other. We do not accurately know the date when he first visited
JOHN A. PITZER
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the county, but it must have been prior to 1847, or about the time the state was admitted to the Union. We are led to this belief from the fact that he surveyed the north part of the county, and this was completed some time between the beginning of 1846 and 1847. After completing this survey, he became a prominent citizen of the county and remained so until his death.
He was born in Virginia in 1813. His father, Frederick Pitzer, was born and reared on the James river, in Virginia, where several generations of Pitzers lived before him. The first man of the family emigrated from Germany early in the history of our country. In 1815, Frederick Pitzer removed to Christian county, Kentucky. There he spent his youth and received such education as the meager facilities afforded. In 1834 the family moved to Macoupin county, Illi- nois, and when twenty-three years old, Mr. Pitzer married Elizabeth Rogers, of Morgan county, the same state. During his stay there he employed his time in teaching school and tending a small farin. In 1839 he moved with his family to Jefferson county, Iowa, first stopping at a small settlement called Lockridge, six miles from Fairfield. He afterward moved to Fairfield and became clerk of the territorial court. In the state archives may be found his name signed to many public documents, which he executed during his term of office. The clerk then performed all the duties now exacted from both the county clerk and county auditor. At the termination of his office as clerk of Jefferson county, he sur- veyed the north part of Madison county and south part of Dallas county, and in 1849 settled permanently in Winterset, which had then just become the county seat of Madison county. He started the first store of general merchandise on the west side of the square and the next year moved his family to town. There was at that time but one frame house in town, the rest being log cabins. The male population at that time consisted of Enos Berger, William Compton, J. H. Evans, Dr. Gaff, Jack Porter, Sam Peters, Squire Guiberson, Mr. Miller, A. D. Jones and John Daugherty, the last named being the proud owner of the one frame house. Some time later Mr. Pitzer became owner of the most eligible residence lots in the city, the same being the places now owned by Dr. Embree and J. J. Gaston. There he erected a two-story frame house, which in later years became the residence of J. J. Hutchings. Still later he became owner of the stone resi- dence which now constitutes the Arcade Hotel, built by Dr. Gaff, where he lived until his death.
In 1852 Mr. Pitzer became county judge and held that office continuously for eight years. He next gave his attention exclusively to mercantile business and continued as a merchant with the exception of his service in the army. For one term he was county treasurer. As a business man he was courteous, even tem- pered and generous. He did as much as any other man to improve and develop the town of Winterset, and possibly more, considering his means. One of the lasting monuments of his enterprise is the St. Nicholas Hotel, which he erected in 1855. and which for many years was the most popular and imposing hotel building in central Iowa.
In 1864 Mr. Pitzer was appointed paymaster in the army, with the rank of major. His son William was his deputy; they first went to St. Louis, and from there they went to pay off the troops in southwestern Missouri. While in that department General Price made a raid through the country, when he and his son barely escaped with over a million dollars. He was then assigned the duty of
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post paymaster at Little Rock, Arkansas, where he remained until after the close of the war.
During the years immediately following the war, a county office had become quite a lucrative and honorable position, and owing to the prevailing patriotic sentiment these honors and emoluments went by common consent to some veteran of the war; as a result the official so elected, while worthy in other respects, was in some cases deficient in ability. Captain Stitt was one of this kind. He was elected in 1865 and during his term of office a defalcation occurred. Out of this grew a division in the dominant party which took several years to dispose of. Upon Mr. Stitt's retirement Mr. Perkins, his deputy, was a candidate. Dr. Leonard was also a candidate. There were reasons why many actively advo- cated the nomination of Perkins, while there were reasons why others wanted Leonard, one of the most effective of which was his honorable record while in the army. Leonard was very outspoken and fearless and had the faculty of mak- ing enemies as well as friends. Leonard was nominated by a small majority over Perkins, the friends of the latter claiming by unfair means. Perkins bolted, ran as an independent candidate, and had the support of democrats as well as disgruntled republicans. The campaign was long and bitter. Leonard was elected. For some reason not necessary here to state, some of Leonard's friends turned against him during his first term of office and near its close a conference was held in the office of the clerk, at which place Dr. Bevington and Dr. Leonard were both present. The effort to settle the controversy failed, and Dr. Beving- ton, turning to Dr. Leonard, said, "We will beat you for a second term," and facing Judge Pitzer, who was also present, said, "This is the man we will beat you with." Judge Pitzer consented to run as an independent candidate. Some of his old time friends became his political enemies. Republicans patronized the democrats ; no one could tell who had the advantage until the votes were counted ; Pitzer received 1,119; Leonard, 977.
Judge Pitzer was a member of the Baptist church, in which he was honored and useful. As a citizen he was genial, generous and upright. He died sud- denly, May 19, 1876. So rapidly do the years move along and so great are the changes in population that but few remain who were acquainted with Mr. Pitzer ; the large majority of our people probably never heard of him but his life will remain one of the staples of Madison county history. Mrs. Pitzer, now ninety- seven years old, resides in California; W. F. in Oklahoma; Marsh Pitzer in Florida; Lester in Pennsylvania; Mrs. McCaughan, a daughter, lives in Mexico; Clara, a lovely girl, the youngest of the family, died years ago.
GEORGE W. TRACY.
George W. Tracy, a successful farmer of Douglas township, Madison county. Iowa, was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, upon a farm, on the 14th of February, 1840. His parents, Vezy and Nancy (Grennard) Tracy, were both born in Lexington, Kentucky, the father on the 9th of April, 1801, and the mother on the 6th of November, 1801. He passed away on the Ist of April, 1865, at the age of sixty-four, and her death occurred on the 21st of February, 1898.
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Vezy Tracy worked as a farm hand in Kentucky in his early manhood but in 1830 removed to Indiana and there continued to work for others for some time. He was determined to acquire land of his own and lived most frugally, saving enough from his wages at nine dollars a month to buy a farm from the govern- ment. He became the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land which was timbered and for a number of years devoted his time to clearing and improving his property. While living in Indiana he often went down the Ohio and Missis- sippi rivers to New Orleans in flat-boats and worked his way back. He had many interesting experiences on those trips and learned much of the country bordering the two great rivers. He resided upon his farm until his death and all who knew him spoke well of him. He was a sincere Christian, honest in all his dealings and ready to do another a favor and, moreover, he never used profan- ity. To him and his wife were born two children, of whom our subject is the elder.
George W. Tracy pursued his education in a log schoolhouse and was there taught the three Rs, but as the school system of the time was very primitive he did not progress much further in his scholastic training. However, he learned much concerning the best methods of agriculture, and the sturdy life of the pioneer impressed upon him the value of the virile qualities of determination, courage and self-reliance. When nineteen years of age he began operating his father's farm and so continued until 1864, in which year he removed by team to Henry county, Illinois, where he had previously purchased land. He still has in his possession an old rope-bottom bed which he hauled from Rock Island at that time. Four years later he removed to Madison county, Iowa, crossing the Mississippi river on the ice at New Boston, Illinois. Upon his arrival in this county he settled upon the farm in Douglas township which is still his home and immediately began the cultivation of his land. Although he pays consider- able attention to the raising of the usual crops he takes especial pride in his thoroughbred Hambletonian horses and his fine Hereford cattle. He has ex- hibited a number of the latter at the county fair and has always taken prizes, but he has bred his stock chiefly for commercial purposes and has made the ex- hibiting of it a secondary issue. When he came to this county from Indiana he purchased his first herd from General Lew Wallace, including the cow which was then the champion of Indiana. He owns two hundred and forty acres of good land, and his farming and stock-raising bring to him annually a good income.
Mr. Tracy was married on the ist of September, 1859, to Miss Sarah Gilky, who was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, on the 15th of August, 1839, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Switzer) Gilky, both natives of Kentucky. The father's birth occurred in 1797 and he passed away in 1855, in the Hoosier state, when fifty-eight years of age. His wife, who was born in 1806, died at the age of sixty-three. Mr. Gilky was reared to manhood in Ohio and removed to Indiana when that was still a pioneer state and there began farming his quarter section of land. He was a whig in his political belief and his religious allegiance was given to the Hardshell Baptist church. He was a substantial citizen and did well his part in transforming the region in which he lived from a wild district to a cultivated and prosperous one. To him and his wife were born five children, of whom Mrs. Tracy is the eldest. She has become the mother of five children, as follows: James A., who was born in Montgomery
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county, Indiana, on the 18th of June, 1860, married Miss Mary Polt, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, who died in March. 1907, leaving three children as follows: Roy, who resides in South Dakota; Winifred, who is teaching school in that state; and Edward, also a resident of South Dakota. James A. Tracy is a resident of Plankinton, South Dakota, and was for a number of years en- gaged in the agricultural implement business there. Effie May gave her hand in marriage to Dean Alexander and has passed away, leaving a son, Eugene. Edward, a landowner and farmer in Union county, this state, is married and has two children, Lester and Dora. Leota is the wife of Wesley Bishop, who is farming near Andover, Kansas, and they have a son, Alfred Dale. Oliver E., who was born April 26, 1867, is a farmer of Lincoln township. He married Miss Adella Wright and they have two children, Fay and Fern, twins, born in 1910.
Mr. Tracy is a democrat but has no desire to hold office. He was elected township trustee at one time but did not serve his term out. His religious affilia- tion is with the Christian church, of which he is a member in good standing. In 1867 he was made a Mason at Berlin, Illinois, now Swedona, and is at present a member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., at Winterset. For a number of years he was a member of the American Hereford Cattle Breeders Association. When he first came to this county it was necessary to haul lumber from Des Moines although Winterset was at that time quite a thriving village. He has never regretted his removal here and the county has benefited from his activities as a farmer and stock-raiser and from his public- spirited cooperation in many worthy movements.
JAMES KALE.
James Kale is the owner of eighty acres of good land on section 23, Scott township, and is well known and highly esteemed in his locality. He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, March 11, 1844, a son of John and Elizabeth (Thompson) Kale, also natives of the Buckeye state. When he was but ten years of age the family removed to Madison county, Iowa, and settled on section 25, Scott township. The father entered three hundred acres of land from the government and was one of the well-to-do early farmers of the county. Both he and his wife passed away here and are survived by their ten children, namely : James, of this review; Mary Ann, the wife of I. N. Landis, of Des Moines; Purilla Ellen, who married Caleb Sutton, of Ensign, Kansas; Elizabeth, . the widow of John Oglesby, of Scott township; Emma, who gave her hand in mar- riage to David Goodner, a resident of Kimball, Minnesota; Barbara, the wife of James Guiberson, of Winterset; Joseph, of Winterset; Susanne, who married Cassius Thayer, of Ensign, Kansas; Drusilla, the wife of William Whillon, of Winterset; and John R., also residing in Winterset. The father died in 1863 and the mother subsequently married Isaac Allen, by whom she had a son, Elmer Allen, of Winterset.
James Kale was reared under the parental roof and was not only instructed by his father in the best methods of tilling the fields and caring for the stock.
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but was also taught those lessons of industry and honesty that have had so large a part in shaping his life. In June, 1862, his love of country led him to enlist as a private, in Company A, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, his captain being G. N. Elliott. The company rendezvoused at Davenport, Iowa, and after going to the front participated in many battles, including that of Allatoona Pass at Shady Grove, Tennessee, where he was taken prisoner. He was paroled at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, remaining there until he was ex- changed. He then rejoined his regiment at Corinth, Mississippi, and was with it until the close of the war. The regiment was mustered out and discharged at Washington, D. C., and disbanded at Clinton, Iowa, having served for two years and ten months. Upon his return home Mr. Kale turned his attention to farming, purchasing eighty acres on section 23, Scott township, where he has since resided. He is industrious and so manages his work that his fields yield him a good return annually.
Mr. Kale married Miss Rue Evelyn King, a native of Menard county, Illinois, who passed away on the 26th of July, 1914, leaving the following children : Wilbur M., who married Louie Howard, and farms in South township; Ansel, who married Mabel Turner, of Des Moines; Cora, the wife of E. E. McNeeley, of Des Moines; Fred, who married Nannie Link, and resides in Scott township; Lester, who married Catherine Zeller and resides in Union township; Ettie, now Mrs. Ora Husted, who resides upon the farm which her paternal grandfather bought when he first came to this county ; and Ora Harvey, who married a Miss Stout and is now residing in Winterset.
Mr. Kale is a standpat republican and is unyielding in his loyalty to the party that stood by the Union at the time when it was assailed and that has played such an important part in the government of the nation since that time. He is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and makes his religion the basic element of his life. He is identified with John A. Pitzer Post, G. A. R., at Winterset and finds pleasure in meeting those who like himself offered their lives if need be in their country's defense.
MOSES BAILEY.
Moses Bailey, a retired jeweler and farmer living in Douglas township, was for a number of years actively connected with the agricultural and commercial interests of this county. His birth occurred in Highland county, Ohio, January 15, 1825. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Timberlake) Bailey, were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia. The father, who was born on the 4th of August, 1777, and passed away November 27, 1858, was a blacksmith: and followed his trade together with farming in Ohio. He also devoted some attention to the burning of brick and as a result nearly lost his eyesight. He was a Quaker in his religious faith and held a high place in the estimation of his fellowmen.
Moses Bailey learned the silversmith's trade in Ohio and in the fall follow- ing his marriage, which occurred in January, 1853, he and his wife came west to Cedar county, Iowa. In 1854, however, they removed to Van Buren county
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and the following year came to Winterset. Mr. Bailey engaged in the jewelry business there and was one of the early merchants of that city. His store was in a log house, which is still standing near the city park. At that time Winterset was but a village and both the courthouse and jail were log structures. Since 1870 Mr. Bailey has not been connected with commercial affairs but has lived upon his forty acres of land near Winterset. He devoted much attention to the raising of bees and to horticulture and found these occupations congenial and lucrative. He is now living largely retired.
On New Year's Day, 1853, Mr. Bailey married Miss Mary Chandler, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio, December 19, 1831. Her father, Eli Chandler, a son of Enoch and Hannah Chandler, was born in Pennsylvania, and her mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Horner, was a daughter of Ephraim and Katherine (Lawrence) Horner and was born in Pennsylvania in 1800. Eli Chandler removed from Belmont county to Harrison county, Ohio, where he became an extensive landowner and also the proprietor of a sawmill on Stillwater creek. Subsequently he took up his residence in Belmont county, Ohio, where he was known as a substantial and successful farmer and good citizen. He remained there until 1843 and then moved to Highland county, Ohio, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres and remained there until about 1853, when he located near Kokomo, Indiana, where both he and his wife died.
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