USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 33
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Thomas McKee received his education in the district schools and first at- tended school in a log cabin, in which the only seats were rough benches hewn out of logs. The building, its equipment and the methods of instruction were all primi- tive considered from the present-day standpoint, but they served well their pur- pose and trained men and women who have performed successfully the tasks that have fallen to them. Mr. McKee remained at home until he attained his majority and then became a farm hand, being so employed until 1876. In that year he started out as an agriculturist on his own account and cultivated land in Wash- ington county until 1900, when he removed to Madison county, where he has since lived. He has a quarter section of fine land and does general farming and stock- raising. His practical methods, his energy and his judicious management of the financial phases of farming all contributed in large measure to the success which he enjoys.
Mr. McKee married Miss Anna M. Gormly, a native of Crawford township, Washington county, and a daughter of William and Susan J. ( Hareld) Gormly. the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania on the 3d of September, 1817, and the latter in Virginia on the 12th of March, 1828. Mr. Gormly, who was a farmer, removed to Washington county, Iowa, about 1850 and became one of the worthy pioneers of that section. The Harelds were probably the second family to settle in that county, arriving in 1839. Mr. Gormly was quite active in repub- lican circles and for about twenty-five years held the office of road supervisor. He was a devout and influential member of the United Presbyterian church. He owned one hundred and twenty acres of land near Crawfordsville and passed away there on the ist of January, 1894. His wife survived him until 1897. To Mr. and Mrs. McKee have been born five children. Frank R., whose birth oc- curred on the 31st of December, 1878, married Miss Cora Banks and they have three children, Elmer D., Clive and Harry Lincoln. Harry I., born January 20. 1880, is engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Linnie Strown, bv whom he has a son, Leslie W. James Wilbert, the assistant cashier in the Citi-
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zens Bank of Winterset, married Miss Effie Banks and they have a daughter, Helen M. William Dean, a graduate a Monmouth College, is principal of the Media Academy of Media, Illinois. John L., who is living upon the home farm, married Miss Elsie Addie.
Mr. McKee has for years been a leader in the local ranks of the prohibition party and has held a number of township offices. He has been very active in the work of the United Presbyterian church and has served as elder and trustee. His life is guided by the highest ethics and his hearty cooperation is given to all good causes.
JOHN W. BEEM.
John W. Beem, who has lived in this county for a half century, being brought here by his parents when but two years of age, has devoted his attention to gen- eral farming with excellent results and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land on section 8, Scott township. His birth occurred in Jackson county, Indiana, on the 29th of Jannary, 1862, his parents being Richard and Elsie (Newkirk) Beem, who were born, reared and married in Indiana. They came to Madison county, Iowa, in 1864 and took up their abode in Scott township, the father being employed as a laborer in the old Buffalo mills. To Mr. and Mrs. Richard Beem, both of whom are deceased, were born the fol- lowing children : Emmarietta, the deceased wife of Ezra Hermon, of Scott town- ship; Lemuel, who is a resident of Winterset; Lnzetta, who died at the age of thirteen years ; John W., of this review ; Sarah, who gave her hand in marriage to Ed Mendenhall, of Kansas City, Kansas; Rose, who was the wife of Walter Young and passed away four years ago; Walter, living in Winterset, Iowa; Ollie, who married George Peel, of Omaha, Nebraska; Newton, a resident of Winter- set ; and Maude, who is the wife of Milo Smith, and resides in Indiana.
John W. Beem remained under the parental roof until twenty-five years of age and then started out as an agriculturist on his own account, purchasing forty acres of land near Macksburg, this county, which he cultivated for ten years. On the expiration of that period he bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 8, Scott township, and has been engaged in its operation con- tinuously since, annually gathering good harvests which find a ready sale on the market. His property is well improved and he has long been numbered among the enterprising and substantial citizens of the community.
In 1889 Mr. Beem was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Viola Hircock, who was born in Madison county, Iowa, on the 25th of November, 1867. Her father, William Hircock, a native of England, was but nine years of age when he emi- grated to the United States with his parents, Peter and Elizabeth Hircock, who settled first in Ohio and subsequently took up their abode in Scott township, this county, here spending the remainder of their lives. William Hircock followed general agricultural pursuits and owned a good farm in Scott township. His demise, however, occurred in Nebraska. He was twice married, his first wife being in her maidenhood Miss Elizabeth Armstrong, a native of Ohio, while his second wife was Miss Hannah Maxwell. The record of his children. three of
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whom were born by his first wife and five by his second, is as follows: Julia Etta, the wife of Edgar Harrell, a resident of Scott township, this county ; Mrs. Mary Viola Beem; John Omer, of Winterset; Flora, who gave her hand in marriage to John Kennedy, of Merna, Nebraska; Charles Wesley, a resident of Arizona; Dora, the deceased wife of Carl Whitney, a resident of Merna, Nebraska; Fred J., also a resident of Merna, Nebraska ; and William, of Merna, Nebraska.
To Mr. and Mrs. Beem have been born seven children, namely: Bertha, who is the wife of Robert Clopton, of Winterset, Iowa; Percy, Eunice and Mary, all at home; Lenore and Lorraine, twins; and Dorothy. The family is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community and it is with pleasure that we present this record to our readers.
HENRY ROWE.
Henry Rowe was for many years a successful farmer but is now living in Macksburg and dealing in horses. Born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of April, 1849, he is a son of Andrew Rowe, who was born in Stutt- gart, Wurtemberg, Germany, on the 27th of January, 1809. In 1822 the father came to the United States and eleven years later was united in marriage to Eliza- beth Glassburner and they settled in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. They also lived in Westmoreland, Greene and Washington counties, that state, but in 1855 removed to Davis county, Iowa, where both spent the remainder of their lives. He was a farmer by occupation. In their family were eight children, as follows: Jacob, who is living at Bloomfield, Iowa; Martin, who resides in Macksburg; D. G., who died in this county ; Elizabeth, the wife of William Bradley, of Carson, Iowa; Andrew, who died in this county ; Henry, of this review; Mary Ann, now Mrs. Larkin Shackelford, of Elk county, Kansas; and Washington, who died in infancy. The four older sons were all soldiers in the Union army during the Civil war.
Henry Rowe spent his boyhood and youth in Davis county and acquired only a limited education, much of his time being taken up by farm work. He worked as a hired hand for a considerable time and for nine years was foreman on a large farm. He was married in Davis county and in 1874 removed to Madison county, locating on eighty acres of land which he had previously purchased. At that time the only building on the place was a small shanty but during the years that the farm was in his possession he made many improvements and erected suit- able buildings, besides adding forty acres to his original purchase. In 1914 he sold his place for one hundred and fifty dollars per acre, the highest price ever paid for land in his township. The farm is recognized as the best improved place in the township and in the development of his property Mr. Rowe manifested not only a progressive spirit but also sound judgment. The sale of his grain and live stock returned to him a good income and he found the raising of Black Polled Angus cattle and Poland China hogs especially profitable. Since selling his farm and removing to Macksburg he has dealt extensively in horses, and has suc- ceeded in that occupation also. He is an excellent judge of horses and has owned
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HENRY ROWE AND GRANDSONS
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some valuable animals. He has one of the finest homes in Macksburg and it is provided with acetylene gas light, furnace heat, hot and cold water.
Mr. Rowe married Miss Almira Johns, who was born on the 18th of January, 1851, of the marriage of James and Lucinda ( Morton) Johns, natives of Ohio, who settled in Davis county, Iowa, at an early day in the history of this state. Her father was a contractor and lumberman in Ohio but after removing to Iowa engaged in farming. Both he and his wife died in Davis county. Mr. and Mrs. Rowe have two children. Mamie is the wife of Charles Southworth, of Macks- burg, and they have two children. Their daughter Bonnie is the wife of Gardner Crawford and has two children, Beulah and Jane, so that Mr. and Mrs. Rowe are great-grandparents. Pearl, the younger daughter of our subject, is the wife of Eugene Wilson, of Winterset, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, and they also have two children.
Mr. Rowe is a republican but has never aspired to political preferment. He has given the strictest attention to his business affairs, has sought continually to increase his efficiency, and his energetic and progressive spirit has been a large factor in his attainment of success. He was influential in getting a railroad built to Macksburg, giving liberally of both time and money to the project.
DAVID P. EGY.
David P. Egy is residing upon the family homestead in Lincoln township, where his birth occurred on the 15th of December, 1860, in a log house which was built by his father in the early '50s and is still standing. Detailed mention of his parents is given in the sketch of J. S. Egy, of Winterset.
David P. Egy has always lived in this county and remained with his parents until they were called to their reward. He then came into possession of the home place, which comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land. He has erected new buildings, including a nice residence and two good barns, and takes pride in keeping everything about his place in good repair. Since boyhood he has devoted his energies to farming and as he is an energetic and efficient agriculturist, he derives a good income annually from his land. In addition to raising the usual crops he feeds stock, the sale of which nets him a considerable profit.
On the IIth of December, 1889, Mr. Egy married Miss Myrtle M. Rehard, a native of Madison county and a daughter of John and Mary Ann (Rogers) Rehard, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, October 20, 1824, and the latter in Ohio, October 26, 1833. They were married on the 18th of October, 1855, and became the parents of four children, two of whom died in infancy, and Ragan died in 1910. Mrs. Egy completes the family. The father died on the 3d of January, 1912, and the mother on the Ist of May, 1902. He also had two children by a previous marriage : John, who is deceased ; and L. H., who is resid- ing with a daughter in Madison county. Mr. and Mrs. Rehard came to this county in 1865 and settled in Douglas township, where the father successfully followed the occupation of farming. Mr. and Mrs. Egy have had eleven children, Martha Mary, Walter John, James Glenn, Hugh Paul, Laura Ruth, Naomi Lillie, Ray Hoyt, Joe Ellis, Dean, deceased, Claude Philoh and Hazel May.
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Mr. Egy is a republican but has never felt the least desire to hold public office. He has concentrated his entire attention upon his farming and claims to have done more work than any other man in the county. His labors have been effective and he is now financially independent, he and his wife together owning over five hundred acres of land, all of which is very fertile and is under cultivation. Fra- ternally he is connected with Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., at Win- terset and is a Mason in spirit as well as in name, being at all times ready to serve a brother in the lodge or indeed anyone who is in need of his assistance.
J. D. CRAVEN.
J. D. Craven, a veteran of the Civil war and an able farmer of this county. passed to his reward many years ago but his memory is still cherished by those who knew him well. He was born in Morgan county, Indiana, July 31, 1830, of the marriage of Ira and Abigail ( Barker) Craven, both natives of North Carolina, who removed to Indiana and there passed away.
J. D. Craven was reared in the Hoosier state and in 1856 came with his wife to Madison county, Iowa, buying eighty acres of unimproved land in Grand River township. He built a log cabin but while he and his wife were on a trip to Indiana their house was blown away by a tornado. Upon their return to this county they traded that eighty acre farm for an eighty acre tract south of Macksburg and there Mr. Craven engaged in farming until 1862, when he enlisted in Company H, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was with the colors for three years, or until the end of the war, and proved a courageous and loyal soldier, never faltering in the performance of duty no matter how dangerous it might be. Al- though he was never wounded nor in a hospital he was home for six weeks on a sick furlough. After the close of the war he returned to this county and re- sumed farming. He not only cultivated the soil but also raised stock and was con- sidered an excellent agriculturist. He passed away when forty-six years of age, dying on the 21st of November, 1876. He was the first veteran of the Civil war to pass away in his locality and when the post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized in Macksburg it was named in his honor the J. D. Craven Post, No. 322.
On the 19th of September, 1852, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Craven and Miss Eliza M. Duncan, who was born in North Carolina on the 23d of Au- gust, 1832, a daughter of John B. and Cynthia (Trogden) Duncan. Her father was born on the 18th of January, 1804, in North Carolina and passed away on the Ist of May, 1857. The mother was also born in that state on the 21st of April, 1811. They removed to Indiana when their daughter, Mrs. Craven, was three years of age and both died in the Hoosier state. Mr. and Mrs. Craven had eight children : Sylvester, a resident of Canada, who married Alice Jessup, now de- ceased ; Cynthia A., who is the widow of Daniel Herr and resides in the state of Washington ; Nancy Jane, the wife of Albert Charlton, of Loup City, Nebraska ; Mary E., who gave her hand in marriage to Francis Saltus, of Sherwood, Oregon ; John D .; Charles, who married Mary Blair, now deceased, and lives in Sherwood,
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Oregon ; Emma E., the wife of William Pyle, of Des Moines ; and Frank, a resi- dent of Macksburg, who married Emma Conway and has five children.
Mr. Craven gave his political allegiance to the republican party and conformed his life to the teachings of the Baptist church, of which he was a member. In his demise the county lost a good citizen and there were many who felt a sense of personal bereavement when he was called to his reward.
Mrs. Craven remained upon the farm for two years after the death of her husband and then removed to Macksburg, where she owns a comfortable home. She is now in her eighty-third year but is still in splendid health and does all of her own work. She is noted for her skill in cooking and for twenty-five years has conducted a hotel. When she first moved to Macksburg there was no hotel in the town and she began keeping travelers as there was no place else for them to go for she could not bear to see them lack comfortable lodging and good food. She is not only one of the oldest but is also one of the most esteemed residents of Macksburg and her reminiscences of life in the early days are of value in linking the present with the more primitive past which has made the comforts of today possible.
HOMER D. BROWN.
Homer D. Brown, a well known jeweler of Truro, who was serving as post- master at the time of his demise, was born in Madison county on the 9th of Feb- ruary, 1873, of the marriage of J. Rush and Arminda (Cassidy) Brown. The father, who was born in Laporte county, Indiana, on the 22d of March, 1837, was a merchant and farmer but in 1861 put aside all personal considerations and en- listed in Company G, Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, remaining in the military service of the United States until 1865, when he was mustered out. At Clinton, Iowa, in 1866, he married Mrs. Arminda Cassidy Schaffer, who was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1840. Some time after their marriage they removed to Prole, Iowa, and later to Indianola, where they resided for several years, after which they became residents of Truro, where both passed away, the father on the 13th of March, 1902, and the mother in March, 1909.
Homer D. Brown after attending the public schools of Indianola was a stu- dent in the high school there and later in Simpson College at that place. Upon putting aside his textbooks he learned the jeweler's trade at St. Charles, Iowa, under Mr. Wise and in 1898 came to Truro, where he engaged in that business. He opened a store which was well patronized, as he carried a line of jewelry that was attractive and in excellent taste and also moderate in price. He was appointed postmaster under President Roosevelt and was still the incumbent in that office when he passed away on the 28th of December, 1913, his long tenure of office being indubitable proof of his efficiency and courtesy.
On the 25th of June, 1902, Mr. Brown married Miss Bradie J. Creger, a daughter of Samuel M. and Rebecca J. (Reed) Creger, an account of whose lives is given in the sketches of two of Mrs. Brown's brothers, which appear elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown was born a son, Samuel Ken-
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neth, whose natal day was the 19th of March, 1903, and who is now a student in the Truro high school.
Mr. Brown was a republican in politics and took the interest of a good citizen in everything relating to the public welfare. He was successful as a business man and as postmaster was efficient and systematic in the management of the affairs of the office and all who knew him respected him highly. At the time of his death his wife was assistant postmaster and after serving out the unexpired term she was appointed postmistress by President Wilson, her retention in the office by the new administration proving her popularity and capability. She understands thoroughly the routine work and as she is energetic and' systematic the mails are handled quickly and accurately. Her business ability commands the respect of her fellow citizens and her fine womanly traits of character bind her many friends to her with strong ties of affection.
THOMAS CLAGUE.
Thomas Clague, a highly respected farmer and stockman residing on section 6, Douglas township, was born on the Isle of Man, September 18, 1854, a son of Thomas and Ann (Cubbin ) Clague, also natives of that place, the father born in 1804 and the mother in 1818. Both are deceased, the death of Mr. Clague occurring in 1859, and that of his widow in 1873. The father was a farmer and stock-raiser and passed his entire life in his native locality. He was a member of the Methodist church and held the esteem of those who knew him. To him and his wife were born three children, of whom Thomas is the youngest.
The last named attended school on the Isle of Man and remained there until he was nineteen years of age. In company with his brother, he then emigrated to the United States and began farming in the vicinity of Mon- mouth, Warren county, Illinois. In 1802 he removed to Madison county, Iowa, and purchased land, upon which he has lived continuously for twenty-two years. His holdings comprise two hundred and eighty acres and he has a good substantial residence. He feeds both cattle and hogs and raises the grains best adapted to soil and climate. The operation of his farm requires his full time and his labors secure him a good income annually.
Mr. Clague was married in 1877, Miss Mary E. Ray becoming his wife. She was born in Warren county, Illinois, of the marriage of G. B. and Mary (Moore) Ray, both natives of Edmonson county, Kentucky. The father was born on the 29th of April, 1824, and passed away on the 23d of January, 1879, while the mother's birth occurred on the 18th of November, 1829, and she died on the 28th of December, 1872. Mr. Ray removed from Kentucky to Illinois about 1850 and settled in Warren county. He was an organizer and charter member of the Union Baptist church of his locality and was quite active in public affairs, although not a politician. He owned six hundred acres of land at the time of his death and had gained a high reputation as a farmer and stock-raiser. To him and his wife were born six children, of whom Mrs. Clague is the fourth in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Clague have become the
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parents of the following children: Charles E., born November 30, 1878, died August 16, 1901; Arnold, born March 2, 1880, and died May 22, 1887; Edgar, born June 17, 1882, a land owner of Douglas township, married Dolores Kingery, by whom he has a child, Gaylon; Willis E., born September 25, 1884, a farmer of Madison township, married Bernice Knox and has two children, Elsie B. and Earl W .; Nettie is the wife of Frank Stanley, a farmer of Penn township, by whom she has one child, Glenn; Ralph, born October 7, 1888, mar- ried Miss May Anderson and is farming land belonging to his father; Mabel is at home; Glenn, born October 18, 1893, and Evert Ray, born January 29, 1897, are also at home.
Mr. Clague takes a commendable interest in public affairs, although not an office seeker. He is a Baptist but his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church at Worthington, in which his wife and daughter Mabel take a very active interest. Mr. Clague has gained financial success in his adopted country and a place of honor in this county, where he has lived for so many years, his life of efficient labor and unswerving integrity winning him the confidence, good will and respect of all who know him.
CHARLES WILLIAM HAYS.
Charles William Hays, a prosperous farmer of Douglas township, is a native of this county, born October 7, 1866. His parents, Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Shroll) Hays, were born, respectively, in Indiana on the 29th of June, 1825, and in Harrison county, Pennsylvania, on the 23d of June, 1832. The father removed with his parents to Macon county, Illinois, when but a boy and con- tinued to reside there for a number of years after reaching maturity. In 1865 he came to Madison county, Iowa, and bought the farm upon which our subject now lives, devoting his time to agricultural pursuits until his retirement. In that early day it was necessary to haul grain to Des Moines, as there were no nearer markets, and there were many inconveniences incident to living in a district that was as yet largely unsettled. He was a democrat and was quite active in local political affairs, but never desired to hold office. He was interested in the welfare of the schools and churches, although not a church member, and believed enthusiastically in the future of his county. He passed away April 13, 1903. Three of his children survive, as follows: G. R., of Earlham; E. T., of Joliet, Montana ; and Charles William, of this review.
The last named was given the usual educational advantages of country boys, attending the district schools in his neighborhood. As he was the youngest child, he continued to reside upon the home farm with his parents, assisting his father in its cultivation until the latter's death, when it came into his possession and he is still residing there. It comprises one hundred and seventy-five acres and is excellently improved. He understands its operation thoroughly and his activities as a general farmer and stock-raiser bring to him a good annual income.
In 1894 Mr. Hays married Miss Mary I. Brown, likewise a native of this county and a daughter of Bradley and Mary Ann (Whitenack) Brown, the
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former of whom was born in Indiana. Mr. Brown emigrated to Iowa before the Civil war and enlisted in Company I, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, for service in the Union army. He died shortly after his return to Winterset from a disease contracted while at the front. He was a farmer by occupation and was highly esteemed in his locality. Mr. and Mrs. Hays have the following children : Florence Ellen, who is attending the high school at Earlham; Robert Riley, born August 12, 1901 ; Ebenezer, born February 22, 1904; and Charles W., Jr., whose birth occurred November 15, 1912.
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