USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 38
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Mr. Sawhill has no political aspirations but can be counted upon to further worthy public measures. He is a member in the Pitzer United Presbyterian church and while living in Canon City, Colorado, was an elder in the church there. He is widely known in his locality and as he is upright and just in all his dealings his fellow citizens entertain for him high regard and sincere respect.
E. K. ANDERSON, M. D.
Dr. E. K. Anderson, a well known physician and surgeon of St. Charles, Iowa, is a native son of the town which is still his home. He was born on the 4th of August, 1867, a son of the late Dr. William M. Anderson, who is mentioned else- where in this work. He passed the days of his boyhood and youth in St. Charles and at the usual age entered the common schools, where he received his elemen- tary education. He continued his study at Simpson College, Indianola, and later entered the medical department of Drake University, known as the Iowa College of Physicians and Surgeons. In early manhood he taught school, entering that profession when he was twenty years of age. During the scholastic year of 1887-8 he taught seven and a half miles north of Winterset and was subsequently employed as teacher in various parts of Madison and Warren counties, teaching for eleven terms in one district in Pleasant Valley township, Warren county. Altogether he taught nineteen terms of school. After finishing his medical course he returned to St. Charles and opened an office, being for sixteen years actively engaged in practice here. He is well prepared for his work and, as he has main- tained the mental attitude of the student, seeking always to learn more of the science of medicine, his power of quick and accurate diagnosis has grown with the years and also his ability to decide what is the most efficacions remedy in a given case. He erected a residence twenty years ago and has later added thereto, his home being now one of the most comfortable and attractive in St. Charles.
On the 7th of December, 1893, Dr. Anderson married Miss Mary F. Smith, who was born in Gilman, Illinois, a daughter of James and Persis A. (Dunwell) Smith, both deceased. The father was a butcher by trade and in 1882, on com- ing with his family to St. Charles, conducted a butcher shop here until his demise, which occurred on the Ist of April, 1890, when he was sixty years of age. His wife was called to her reward on the 26th of January, 1901, at the age of sixty- eight. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church here, but
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while living in Illinois belonged to the Baptist church. Mr. Smith was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, but when ten years of age came to America, and Mrs. Smith was born in Vermont. They were married in Akron, Ohio, and to them were born five children, one of whom died in infancy The others are: Orville D., who is engaged in the livery business in Cozad, Nebraska ; Albert J., a farmer of the same place; Sophronia A., the wife of E. R. Beitzell, of Lincoln, Ne- braska; and Mrs. Anderson. Dr. and Mrs. Anderson have become the parents of six children but one of whom is living, Paul Eugene, who was born in Feb- ruary, 1901. Donald Dunwell died in childhood and the others died in infancy. Mrs. Anderson is well known in St Charles, having resided here since she was a girl of fourteen and having for a number of years taught in Madison and War- ren counties.
Dr. Anderson is a democrat and has done much work in behalf of his party. Fraternally he belongs to the county and state medical societies and the American Medical Association. He is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his wife belongs to the Rebekahs and to the Woman's Relief Corps. She is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, which the family attend, and they have the full respect and the sincere regard of the people of St. Charles, among whom they have lived for many years.
SYLVESTER NEWTON TRAVIS.
Sylvester Newton Travis, a farmer and stockman residing on section 15, Wal- nut township, was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, on the 3Ist of October, 1847, a son of Martin B. and Lavina ( Beyer) Travis, also natives of Pennsyl- vania, the latter born in Huntingdon county. The father came of Irish stock and the mother of German descent. Being left an orphan Martin B. Travis was bound out at the age of thirteen years to learn the blacksmith's trade which he followed for almost fifty years, until he was sixty-two years of age. On the 12th of October, 1855, he started west with his family and on November 3d located in Winterset, Iowa. In January, 1856, he purchased a farm in Walnut township and moved thereon, but continued to work at his trade in Winterset until 1861, after which he lived on his farm until his demise. During the summers of 1860 and 1864 he worked at his trade in Colorado, shoeing horses at the stations of the Wells Fargo Express Company for a distance of one hundred and fifty miles east of Denver. In the fall of 1864 he returned to this county and opened a blacksmith shop upon his farm, but subsequently removed his shop to Peru, where for six years he did a big business. He was not only a blacksmith but was a general mechanic and made all kinds of fine tools used upon a farm and for years dressed all of the stone burrs in the mills of Madison, Warren, Clark and Dallas counties. He passed away upon his farm on section 9, Warren township, April 14, 1879, when sixty-two years of age and was survived by his wife until June 22, 1903, her demise occurring when she was seventy-six years of age.
Sylvester N. Travis attended school in Pennsylvania, at Winterset, Iowa, and in Walnut township, this county, and under his father's instruction became proficient in blacksmithing. When twenty-two years of age he opened a shop of
MARTIN B. TRAVIS
جديد
" كعيد النصر
TRAVIS FAMILY REUNION GROUP
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
his own in Peru, having previously worked in Winterset, but in 1887 he disposed of his business and removed to a farm on section 15, Walnut township, which he had purchased in 1880. He still lives upon that place, which now comprises one hundred and twenty acres of land, and has just bought ninety-five acres adjoining. He carries on general farming and stockraising and for eighteen years past has raised pure blooded Jersey Red hogs. He feeds both cattle and hogs for the market and derives a good profit from the sale of his stock. He has a forge upon the farm and still does all of his own blacksmithing.
On the 12th of March, 1871, Mr. Travis married Miss Mary E. Hillman, a daughter of Edmund and Ann (Donnelley ) Hillman. Her father was born in New Jersey of German lineage and her mother in Pennsylvania of Irish parentage. When two years of age Mr. Hillman was taken by his parents to Preble county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and learned the carpenter's trade. He was mar- ried to Miss Donnelley in that state and in the spring of 1841 they removed to Burlington, Iowa. In 1869 they came to Madison county, locating at Old Peru in Walnut township, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He passed away in 1880 and was survived by his widow until 1897. Mrs. Travis was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, November 10, 1844, and her entire life has been passed in this state. She served as postmistress of Peru for five years under President Harrison and extending into President Cleveland's administration and finally resigned much to the regret of her patrons.
To Mr. and Mrs. Travis have been born five children, four of whom survive. Maude is the wife of A. A. Lorimore, a railroad man of Schama, New Mexico, and they have three children, Raymond, Cecelia and Madge. Elbert died when nineteen years old. Martin Beatty, a farmer of Scott township, married Miss Nellie Hoover and they have five children, Joseph, Edith, Maude, Wilma and Sylvester. Cora Inez, the widow of Wood Dowler, has three children, Curtis, Clarke and Lucile. Lysle Edmund, who is at home with his parents, assists his father with the work of the farm and specializes in the breeding of high grade Shire horses. He married Miss Cora Benson and they have two children, Lor- raine and Mary.
Mr. Travis is a republican and for two terms was the capable and popular township trustee. He has served upon the school board for two years and in that connection has manifested a sincere devotion to the welfare of the public- school system. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Epis- copal church of Peru and he is also identified with Hazel Lodge, No. 577, A. F. & A. M., of East Peru. Mr. Travis had a number of interesting experiences in his boyhood days-experiences which help us to realize the wonderful advance in civilization in the last fifty or sixty years. When thirteen years of age he was hunting cattle upon the land which now comprises his farm but which was then school land, and in the evening he came upon a camp of about two hundred Indians, who were making sugar. Naturally enough he was frightened but re- alized that to betray uneasiness or fear would only increase his danger and, accordingly, rode boldly straight through the camp, going slowly until he was well past it, when he spurred his horse and rode as fast as he could until he reached home in safety. He takes an added pleasure in the security and comforts of life in Madison county at the present time because his parents before him and he in his day have had a part in the mighty transformation that has substituted highly Vol. 11-19
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cultivated fields, beautiful farm homes and prosperous villages and towns for the wild, unbroken prairie, with trees only, along the water courses and inhabited only by game and roaming Indians
SAMUEL FIFE.
Samuel Fife, eighty-four years of age, is still quite active, his mind clear, his physical powers but slightly impaired. There is scarcely, a resident in Madison county who was here at the time of his arrival and his reminiscences of the early days, which appear in the historical section of this work, are most interesting, giving an adequate and comprehensive picture of pioneer times. He is now living retired in St. Charles, enjoying the esteem of young and old, rich and poor. His birth occurred in Columbiana county, Ohio, January 9, 1831, his parents being Samuel and Elizabeth ( Robinson ) Fife. The father was a son of John Fife, a native of Scotland, who came with his father to the United States in the year 1766, settling in Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Robinson was a daughter of Jonah Robinson, who was born in Pennsylvania, while his father came from Ireland.
Samuel Fife spent his early boyhood under the parental roof and acquired a common-school education. He was but three years of age at the time of his mother's death and was a youth of seventeen when his father passed away. From the time he was fourteen years of age he lived with relatives, working for his board and the privilege of attending school. In other words, he has earned his own living from the age of fourteen. In the summer of 1849 he arrived in Madison county, Iowa, in company with his two brothers, David and Amos, having made the journey westward by way of the water route. They arrived at their destination in the month of December, at which time Samuel Fife was practically penniless. But he possessed industry and determination and soon found employment, working for fifty cents per day for about four years. In that way he saved money enough to enter one hundred and sixty acres of land in South township. He first entered the employ of Joel Clanton, one of the first settlers of Madison county, continuing with him until 1851, when he secured a position with George Hartman, who was the pioneer moneyed man of the set- tlement. Mr. Fife assisted him in laying out the town of St. Charles in the fall of 1852 and continued in Mr Hartman's employ, living in his home, up to the time of his marriage. He drove an ox team for Mr. Hartman to Burlington to get the "irons" for the first sawmill built in the township, and performed all of the work incident to the development of a frontier region. At the time of his marriage, which was celebrated in 1855, he took up his abode upon the land which he had secured and with characteristic energy began its development and improvement, transforming the wild prairie into well cultivated fields. He was thus engaged until the 17th of August, 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company F, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry. He was with that command for three years, serving until the close of the war, when he was mustered out at Washington, D. C., June 5, 1865. The proudest day of his life was the day when he participated in the Grand Review, which occurred on the 24th of May, 1865, and was the most celebrated military pageant ever seen
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on the western hemisphere. Mr. Fife participated in the Atlanta campaign and in many of the battles and engagements of that section but managed to escape without being wounded, nor was he ever taken prisoner. He was with Sherman at the time of the surrender of Joseph E. Johnston's army.
With the close of the war Mr. Fife returned to his farm and his family and again carried on agricultural pursuits for many years, but at length rented his land and removed to St. Charles in order to give his children the benefit of the city schools. He has since made his home in St. Charles and throughout the entire period has been honored as one of the representative citizens and worthy pioneers of the county.
It was in 1855 that Mr. Fife was united in marriage to Miss Frances A. White, who was born in Virginia but was reared in Indiana and came to Madison county in 1852 with a brother-in-law and sister. She died January 23, 1890, her death being deeply regretted by her many friends in this part of the state. By that marriage there were twelve children, of whom two died in infancy, the others being : Nancy Anna, now the wife of Dan Swearingen; David O., who died in May, 1911, aged fifty-three years; Elizabeth, the wife of E. E. Kale, of Truro, Iowa; Alice, the wife of William A. Kale, living at Kingfisher, Oklahoma ; Emily B., the wife of Charles Downs, of Ottawa, Kansas; William G .; Minnie E., at home; Homer H. C., living in Omaha, Nebraska; Nora, the wife of Walter Bumbarger, of St. Charles; and Della May, the wife of C. W. Thompson, of Lorimor, Iowa.
In his political views Mr. Fife has been an earnest republican since the organi- zation of the party. He has held various township offices and was the first con- stable of his township, filling that position in 1852. Since its organization in 1858 he has been a faithful member of the Church of Christ at St. Charles and has served as elder for sixteen years. The events which have shaped the history of Madison county have made a strong impress upon his mind and he relates many interesting tales concerning the early days and the people who have guided the destiny of the county and promoted its upbuilding. He receives the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded one of his years whose life has been honorably passed and no history of this section of the county would be complete without mention of Samuel Fife.
JAMES McKIBBAN.
James McKibban, a prosperous farmer of Lincoln township, was born in Knox county, Illinois, on the 30th of August, 1858, a son of Joseph McKibban, whose birth occurred in Clinton county, Ohio. In 1854 the father removed to Knox county, Illinois, where he resided for ten years. On the 16th of October, 1864, he came to Madison county, Iowa, and settled in Lincoln township, buying six hundred and forty acres of land. The country was still rather sparsely settled and much of the work of development yet remained to be done. Mr. McKibban resided upon his farm until he retired from active life, when he took up his resi- dence with his daughter, Mrs. Black. He passed away when nearly seventy- nine years of age, as he was born on the 9th of April, 1816, and his demise oc-
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curred in February, 1895. He was married in Ohio to Miss Mary Ratcliff, a native of Clinton county, that state, who died upon the farm in Lincoln township, this county, on the 3d of May, 1902, at the advanced age of eighty-two, her birth having occurred on the 29th of April, 1820. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: J. R., deceased; L. C., who resides in Macksburg, Iowa; Josiah, who has passed away ; Columbus, who is living in Texas; Sylvester, de- ceased; James, of this review; Elizabeth, the wife of Andrew Macumber, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Eliza, the wife of Abner Black, of Winterset; and two who died in infancy.
James McKibban has passed his entire life upon 'a farm and much of his boyhood and youth were spent in this county as he was but six years of age when he accompanied his parents here. He received valuable training in agri- culture through assisting his father with the work of the homestead in Lincoln township and found farming so much to his liking that he has continued to follow that occupation since arriving at years of maturity. He owns one hundred and thirteen acres of the homestead and forty acres of timber land in Monroe town- ship and his well directed efforts are rewarded by a good income from his land. He possesses marked industry and everything about his place is kept in excel- lent condition, while he uses improved machinery in the various operations that constitute farming.
Mr. McKibban married Miss Sarah Rippey, a daughter of Dr. M. P. Rippey, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. McKibban have six children : Ethel, who is teaching in Macksburg, Iowa; Loudon and Nel- son, who are attending school in Des Moines; and Lee, Lucile and Marjorie. Mr. McKibban is a democrat in politics and takes a commendable interest in everything relating to the general welfare. He has won a large measure of suc- cess as a general farmer and has also gained the sincere friendship of many, who value highly his good opinion.
LEVI S. RAY.
Levi S. Ray is a well known farmer living on section 18, South township, and is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Madison county. He was born September 7, 1863, in the township where he still resides, his parents being Levi and Frances ( Allcock) Ray. The former was a native of Indiana and came to Madison county ir. 1856, when a youth of nineteen years, in company with his parents, Barnabas and Mary ( Hill ) Ray, who settled in Scott township, where they spent their remaining days. The paternal grandfather of Levi S. Ray was not only an enterprising farmer of the locality but was also a local min- ister of the Methodist Episcopal church. Levi Ray removed from Scott to South township, where he continued to carry on general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred March 6, 1863, when he was in his twenty-sixth year, his birth having occurred September 6, 1837. His wife, who was born in Gentry county, Missouri, was a daughter of Norvil S. and Lucy ( Page) Allcock. Her father was born in Virginia and in his boyhood days was bound out but ran away. After attaining his majority he was married in Virginia to Miss Lucy Page. He
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and his wife walked to Kentucky. He was a great hunter and enjoyed the oppor- tunities which the pioneer districts afforded for indulging in hunting. In 1847 he came by team to Iowa and settled where the town of Hanley now stands, at which time there were but three or four families in this section of the state. He was indeed one of the pioneer residents of the locality and took an active part in the early development and progress of the community. He became one of the first county commissioners of Madison county and was otherwise identified with its early development. He lived to the advanced age of about ninety-two years, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy-two or seventy-three. He, too, was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and was one of the organizers of the Elm Grove congregation. His daughter, Mrs. Ray, was reared in this county and continued her residence here until her death.
Levi S. Ray was born after the death of his father. He spent his boyhood days with his mother and stepfather, living at home until twenty years of age and then starting out in life on his own account on a rented farm in Scott town- ship, where he remained for ten or twelve years. He then purchased his present farm, comprising forty-two acres, and he has since added to this until he is now the owner of one hundred and forty acres of rich and valuable land, which he has carefully, systematically and wisely cultivated, making it a productive tract, yielding to him a gratifying annual income. He carries on general agricultural pursuits in the raising of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and he also breeds shorthorn cattle.
On the 3d of April, 1884, Mr. Ray was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Beem, who was born in Scott township, this county, September 11, 1862. Their five children are as follows: Frank M., a resident of South township; and Fred J., Jennie L., Carl G. and Beulah E., all at home.
The parents are consistent and faithful members of the Methodist church. Mr. Ray belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen camp and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He has filled several local offices, serving as township clerk, as township assessor for four years and as census enumerator in 1910. He has led an industrious life characterized by the strictest honesty and the fact that he enjoys the confidence of his fellow townsmen is indicated in his being called upon to settle several estates in the county.
MATTHEW PATTERSON RIPPEY, M. D.
For many years Dr. Matthew Patterson Rippey lived in Lincoln township and was active in the practice of medicine but he is now retired and makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. James McKibban. He was born in New Jersey on the 15th of November, 1833, and is a brother of J. C. Rippey, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He passed his boyhood and youth in his native state and attended school, both public and private, there and in Delaware. His excellent general education proved of value as a foundation for his professional study in the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia. After completing his medical course he joined his parents, who had previously removed to Keithsburg,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Illinois. He practiced in that place for some time and then went to Missouri, conducting a drug store at Springfield. In 1874 he arrived in Madison county and found employment in a drug store in Winterset, to the management of which he devoted his time until he located upon his mother's farm in Lincoln township. He continued to reside there and to practice his profession until 1894, when he took up his residence with his daughter in Lincoln township. He suffered a stroke of paralysis a number of years ago and is quite feeble but still prescribes for some of his neighbors. He won the confidence of his colleagues as well as that of the general public and during his active years had a large and profitable practice.
Dr. Rippey was married in Keithsburg, Illinois, to Miss Isabelle Loudon, who was born in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, December 13, 1828. Her father, James Loudon, was also a native of Pennsylvania but her grandfather, Archibald Loudon, was born in Scotland. He emigrated to the United States and fought in the Revolutionary war. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Maloney, died when Mrs. Rippey was but four years of age. The latter, one of the oldest residents of the county, is exactly fifteen days older than "Uncle Billy" Hartsook, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, and they have been neighbors for forty years.
Dr. and Mrs. Rippey became parents of six children, three of whom lived to maturity namely : Loudon Rippey, the deputy auditor of Audubon county, Iowa ; Mrs. McKibban ; and Dr. John H., of Kingsley, Iowa, who died in 1906.
Dr. Rippey gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. During the forty-one years that he has resided in this county he has made many warm personal friends and he is rich not only in years but in the honor and esteem of his fellow citizens.
CHARLES G. SHELDON.
Charles G. Sheldon, a retired farmer of Monroe township, was born in Rupert, Bennington county, Vermont, on the 13th of January, 1840, a son of Joseph and Fannie Woodbury (Reed) Sheldon. The father, whose birth occurred in Con- necticut, was a farmer by occupation, and both he and his wife passed away in Vermont. They were the parents of five children, but our subject is the only one living. A brother, M. R. Sheldon, came to Madison county in 1867 and was well known here.
Charles G. Sheldon, who was reared under the parental roof, attended the common schools and following the completion of his course taught for one year. In his youth he also learned the carpenter's trade and many times in his life has found this knowledge of benefit to him. On the 12th of August, 1861, when a young man of twenty-one years, he enlisted in Company E, Fifth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and went with his command to St. Albans, Vermont, where they rendezvoused. They then proceeded to Fortress Monroe, where he saw the Monitor, which was derisively called "The Yankee cheese box on a raft," about a week after her encounter with the Merrimac. The company then proceeded in the march on Richmond and Mr. Sheldon remembers how severely General Mc-
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