USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 43
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Mr. Pope gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. In his early manhood he was a member of the Church of Christ, but helped to organize the Webster Methodist Episcopal church and also contributed generously toward its building fund. Since 1857. or for fifty-eight years, he has resided continuously in this county, and he has witnessed almost the entire development of this section of the state, which has been so rapid as to secm little short of miraculous. He has not been merely a spectator, but has done his share in bringing about the material prosperity and advance in civilization that have characterized the last half century.
JOSEPH LELAND HARWOOD.
Joseph Leland Harwood, a landowner of Walnut township, residing on sec- tion 9. devotes much attention to the raising of fruit, holds the position of vice president of the Peru Savings Bank and also engages in the private loan busi- ness. He was born in Clinton county, Iowa, on the Ist of May, 1864, a son of Joseph and Mary (King) Harwood, the former a native of Warsaw, Kentucky, born of German and English lineage. The mother, who was born in Maryland, was of Yankee stock. They were married in Illinois on the 4th of December, 1856, and on coming to Iowa located in Clinton county, where they remained for three years, after which they took up their residence in Cedar county. In 1868 they came to this county and settled upon the farm where our subject and his brother, W. A. Harwood, now live on section 9, Walnut township. The father, who was a successful agriculturist, purchased eighty acres of land on his arrival in this county and later added to his holdings until he acquired seven hundred acres. He disposed of some of that, but at his death in 1908 owned a
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section of land. His widow survived him a year, dying in 1909 on the home place.
Joseph L. Harwood remained at home during his boyhood and youth and his time was divided between attending the school of district No. 3 and helping his father with the work of cultivating the fields and caring for the stock. After he reached maturity he continued to reside at home until he was twenty-six years of age, when he was married and began his independent business career. He traveled for a time, but in 1899 again turned his attention to farming. Mate- rial prosperity has rewarded his labors and he now owns three hundred and forty acres of good land, most of which he rents. In 1900 he began making a spe- cialty of fruit growing and his business has been developed from year to year until he is now recognized as one of the few really successful fruit growers of this county. He raises apples, peaches, plums and berries of various kinds and finds that the proper care of his orchards makes heavy demands upon his time. He himself does practically no general farming or stock-raising. He has other interests, however, as he was one of the organizers and is vice president of the Peru Savings Bank and he also loans money privately. He owns valuable business property in East Peru and is considered one of the substantial men of his township.
In 1891 Mr. Harwood married Miss Marilla Stanfield, and they became the parents of four children, Grace, Edward, Isaac and Walcott. On the 29th of October, 1908, Mr. Harwood married Miss Charlotte May Gifford, a daughter of Isaac John and Sarah ( Porter ) Gifford. Her father, a native of Carlisle, Iowa, is a stone mason and farmer and is now living upon a farm east of Peru, but her mother passed away upon that place in 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Harwood have two children: Bessie Levina, born August 4, 1909; and Mabel Almy, whose birth occurred on the 3Ist of July, 1912.
Mr. Harwood is a republican, but has been too busy with his private affairs to take a very active part in political matters, although he is never remiss in the performance of the duties of a good citizen. He is a factor in the financial life of his community and in demonstrating that fruit can be profitably grown in large quantities in this county he has contributed not a little to its horticultural develop- ment. He is well known and the esteem and warm regard in which he is gener- ally held are evidences of a life well spent.
ALFRED LEMAN BENNETT.
Alfred Leman Bennett is a native son of Madison county, Iowa, as he was born about a mile from the farm upon which he now resides in Douglas town- ship, March 4, 1869. His parents, Andrew and Mary (Gideon) Bennett, were born respectively in Marion county, Indiana, and in Ohio. The father's birth occurred October 22, 1835, and his death in Madison county, Iowa, on the 14th of December, 1905, but the mother, who was born April 24, 1841, is still living here. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Bennett, was born in Fayette, Pennsyl- vania, in 1800 and in 1851 removed to this county from Indiana, where he had previously settled, making the trip with ox teams and wagons. He was well-to- do and brought five thousand dollars in gold with him. Generosity was one of his
MR. AND MRS. ANDREW BENNETT
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
salient characteristics and at times when his neighbors had no crops nor money with which to buy, he gave them of his store, although he might have sold his grain elsewhere at a dollar a bushel. He became an extensive landowner, holding title to over one thousand acres. He was very public-spirited and took an active part in the betterment of conditions in his locality. He gave the ground for the first school building in Madison township and served as supervisor. His life was devoted to agricultural pursuits and he made further improvements on his place from time to time. His first residence was a log cabin, in which he lived in true pioneer fashion. His son Andrew drove a team on the journey to Iowa and in the early days when deer and elk were plentiful he caught several young elk and broke them to drive. Many times he drove them into Winterset but finally traded them to his brother in Missouri for mules. Like his father, he had no political aspirations but was very active and energetic and did much to assist his poor neighbors. The big snow storm of 1855 caused the family considerable hardship and there were the usual discomforts of living in an unsettled region. There were eighteen children in the family, of whom he was the fifth in order of birth.
Our subject's maternal grandparents were Henry and Nancy Gideon, who came to Iowa in October, 1854. The grandfather was born September 28, 1798, and the grandmother September 28, 1806. They had a family of eleven children, nine sons and two daughters, all of whom were born in Ohio, namely: Jacob ; Alfred; Sarah Ann, who died August 3, 1894; Joseph ; James, who died August 31, 1903; Peter; Valentine; Sanford, who died December 28, 1902; David, who died October 3, 1861 ; Mary E .; and Oliver. The father of these children died on the 22d of November, 1882, and the mother passed away July 5, 1860. Their son Oliver was married October 16, 1867, to Mary E. Kerrick, by whom he had five children, four sons and one daughter. They made their home on the banks of North river and during the flood of July 4. 1876, their house was washed away and the wife and three children were drowned. Oliver, with the two remaining children, managed to hold on to a little green sapling all night before he was rescued by a neighbor, William Terry. A search was then made for the other members of the family, and the wife and two children were found about a mile down the stream, but the body of the baby was not recovered until the following day. They were all laid to rest in what is known as the Bennett graveyard.
Alfred Leman Bennett attended school in the first schoolhouse built in Douglas township and took advantage of the educational opportunities of that early day. When twenty-two years of age he began farming in Douglas township and with the exception of the year 1892 has continued to reside there. He owns one hun- dred acres of excellent land and in addition to raising the usual crops is a stock- man. He keeps the farm work well in hand, sees that all necessary repairs and buildings are made and that the fields are in a high state of cultivation. As he is efficient and prevents as far as possible all waste of time and energy he has time after his farm work is done to devote to outside affairs. He possesses the family trait of dislike of publicity, but is always in the front rank when there is anything to be done for the good of the community. He has no political aspirations, but his neighbors, who recognize his ability, have elected him to a number of town- ship offices.
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In 1890 Mr. Bennett was married to Miss Ola Negus, a native of Jefferson, Greene county, Iowa, born December 28, 1871, a daughter of Obed Warren and Hannah (Hungerford) Negus. Her father was born in Fabius, New York, May 31, 1826, a son of Thaddeus Negus and a descendant of revolutionary stock, his ancestors having fought for the independence of the colonies. He passed away at Atlantic, Iowa, on the 20th of April, 1895. His wife, who was a rela- tive of Colonel Bob Ingersoll, was born March 4, 1848, and is still living at Minneapolis, Minnesota. The grandfather of Mrs. Bennett was related to Col- onel Wallace of the English army. Mr. Negus in early life attended the schools of Fabius, New York, and was a classmate of General. Slocum. He also had an appointment to West Point, but, having lost an eye through an accident on a hunting trip, he was unable to pass the entrance physical examination. He learned the shoemaker's trade. Upon his removal from New York he settled in Galva, Illinois, where he engaged in the hotel business, but in 1869 went to Jeffer- son, Iowa, and in partnership with O. J. White conducted a boot and shoe store. He also became a land owner there. In 1872 he located in Des Moines, where he followed his trade, being very skillful in the making of fine boots and shoes, but at the end of two years came to Winterset, where he remained until 1893, when he removed to Atlantic and continued to follow his trade there until his death in 1895. He was quite active in local republican circles and while living in Galva, Illinois, served as mayor of that municipality. He was also at one time United States marshal. To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have been born the fol- lowing children : Josephine, whose birth occurred on the 2d of December, 1891 ; James Warren, born Angust 29, 1893; and Andrew Floyd, born December 21. 1912.
Mr. Bennett is a member of the Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., of Winterset, and also holds membership in the Odd Fellows. The spirit of benevolence and kindness has found expression in his daily life, he is at all times ready to assist a neighbor, and there are many in the county who are indebted to him for encouragement or material help given when they were in need. He has worthily carried on the family tradition of public-spirited service and there is no more valued citizen in Douglas township.
MORLEY WHITWORTH.
Among those who are following agriculture as a life work is Morley Whit- worth, who owns a farm on section 11, Grand River township. He was born in Cambridgeshire, England, on the 16th of February, 1850, a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Green) Whitworth, more extended mention of whom is made in con- nection with the sketch of William Whitworth, which appears elsewhere in this volume.
Morley Whitworth was less than three years of age when brought to the United States by his parents, and he grew to manhood in Madison county, Iowa. Upon reaching maturity he began farming for himself, buying eighty acres of land in Grand River township, on which he still resides. He has made a number of improvements upon his place and his industry and practical methods have
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enabled him to gain considerably more than a livelihood from his agricultural operations. For thirty-six years he has resided upon the same farm, and in that time has won a place among the successful agriculturists of his locality.
Mr. Whitworth married Miss Phoebe Ballard, whose birth occurred in Henry county, Illinois, on the 18th of November, 1858. Her parents, Samuel and Martha Ballard, came to Madison county in 1867, and here the father passed away but the mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Whitworth have one son, Lyle M., who was born on the 17th of October, 1886, and married Miss Mary Brown, a native of Pilot Mound, Iowa, and a daughter of Thomas J. and Alice (Skidmore) Brown, natives of Illinois. Her father, who was a Methodist minister, died suddenly, being taken ill during a meeting, but her mother sur- vives and makes her home in Indianola.
Mr. Whitworth is a republican and for many years held the office of township trustee, his services in that connection being very satisfactory. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a member for twenty years, and she has been identified therewith since a girl of twelve years. Mr. Whitworth and his son are farming in partnership and own one hundred and twenty acres of rich land. They raise both grain and stock, finding that by so doing they receive the largest financial return from their land. Both are highly esteemed by those who have been associated with them and both are valued residents of their township.
ANTHONY SCHOENENBERGER.
Anthony Schoenenberger, deceased, was a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Madison county, and was numbered among the capitalists of the county. He was born on the 27th of November, 1852, a son of Nicholas and Louisa (Tennis) Schoenenberger, who in 1855 settled in this county. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom survive, namely: John and Ed, both of whom are rep- resented elsewhere in this work and both of whom reside in Walnut township ; Henry, of Winterset ; Lou and Christina, of Des Moines, Iowa; and Ida Tresa, who is living in Union county, this state. Further details concerning the lives of the parents are found in the sketch of John Schoenenberger.
Anthony Schoenenberger received a common-school education and in his youth was trained to agricultural pursuits. At an early age he began farming for himself and as he was not only energetic and progressive in the cultivation of his land and the care of his stock but also possessed marked business ability and managed his financial interests ably he became in time one of the most exten- sive farmers and stockmen of this county. He resided four miles west of East Peru, in Walnut township, and his farm home was a very attractive one. At his death, which occurred on the 3d of June, 1910, he left eleven hundred acres of fine land, all in a high state of cultivation and improved with excellent buildings.
Mr. Schoenenberger was twice married, his first wedding being solemnized in Walnut township on the 19th of April, 1881, when Miss Emma Greer, a daugh- ter of Thomas and Sarah Greer, became his wife. Mrs. Schoenenberger passed away in 1887. She was the mother of two children: Walker, who is farming in
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Alberta, Canada, and who married Miss Rose Moon ; and Estella, who died when eight months old. On the 25th of September, 1904, Mr. Schoenenberger mar- ried Mrs. Rhoda ( Fenimore) Hiatt, of East Peru. She is a daughter of William and Martha (Ogburn) Fenimore, the former of Scotch descent and both natives of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Fenimore were married in the Hoosier state but re- moved to Iowa in 1859, locating in Scott township, this county, upon the farm where their son, Anderson Fenimore, now resides. Mr. Fenimore, Sr., was a farmer and stockman by occupation during his active life but is now living retired at Carthage, Missouri, where he removed in 1909. He is eighty-one years of age and still enjoys excellent health and takes an interest, in the events in his com- munity and in the world at large. His wife passed away upon the farm in Scott township. Their daughter Rhoda became the wife of Joseph Hiatt and to this union were born four children, two of whom survive, Eulah and Vellma, who reside with their mother and are now attending college at Albany, Missouri. By her marriage to Mr. Schoenenberger she had two children, Frank and Merle. aged respectively eight and seven years, both of whom are attending the East Peru schools. Mrs. Schoenenberger continued to live upon the farm in Walnut town- ship until 1910, when she rented it as well as the other land and removed to East Peru, where she is now living. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of that village and takes a part in its work. She was born in Scott town- ship and has passed her entire life within the borders of this county, where she is widely and favorably known.
Mr. Schoenenberger gave his allegiance to the democratic party but was not active in political affairs as the oversight of his farming and stock-raising activi- ties demanded his entire time and attention. He was not, however, lacking in public spirit but on the contrary participated in many movements that sought the welfare of the community. He was upright and honorable in all of his dealings and many there were who were glad to call him friend.
ERNEST SLAVENS.
Ernest Slavens, who devotes his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits with excellent results, is the owner of a well improved farm of one hun- dred and fifty-four acres on section 5, Madison township. His birth occurred in Nebraska in November, 1877, his parents being William and Adeline (Gowin) Slavens, both of whom are natives of Indiana. The father, a carpenter by trade, worked at that occupation in the Hoosier state for some years and subsequently went to Nebraska, where he remained for one year. On the expiration of that period he came to Iowa, locating near Colfax in Jasper county, where he cultivated rented land for a time. Returning to Indiana, he operated a rented farm in that state for some time and then removed to Oklahoma, where he worked at the car- penter's trade for eight years. At the present time he is living retired in Waukee, Dallas county, Iowa, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease.
Ernest Slavens was reared and educated in Indiana and when a youth of thirteen began working as a farm hand, being thus employed for twelve years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Adair county, Iowa, and started
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MR. AND MRS. ERNEST SLAVENS
J
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
out as an agriculturist on his own account, eultivating a rented traet of land near Stuart for two years. Subsequently he came to Madison county and after culti- vating a rented traet for four years purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres in Madison township, which he improved and operated for some years. Disposing of that property, he bought his present place of one hundred and fifty- four acres on section 5, Madison township, which he has operated continuously since and which is now a valuable and excellently improved farm. The success which has come to him well entitles him to recognition among the substantial and representative agriculturists of his community.
In November, 1901, Mr. Slavens was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Fry, a daughter of Benjamin F. and Martha ( Boyd ) Fry, who were natives of Indiana and Ohio respectively. They took up their abode among the pioneer settlers of Madison county, Iowa, and here the father carried on farming for some years. Subsequently he followed agricultural pursuits in Dallas county, this state, for a number of years but now makes his home with his children and is enjoying hon- orable retirement. His wife was called to her final rest in August, 1901. To Mr. and Mrs. Slavens has been born one child, Hazel, who is eleven years of age.
Mr. Slavens gives his political allegiance to the republican party, while his religious faith is that of the Friends church. He is a man of many excellent qual- ities of character, and his industry, integrity and ability have brought him a gratifying degree of prosperity.
JAMES BREAKENRIDGE.
James Breakenridge is well known in agricultural circles of this eounty and all who have been brought into eontaet with him hold him in sincere respect. He owns the Maple Grove stock farm, which comprises a quarter section of splen- did land on section 35, Jackson township, and is successfully engaged in rais- ing shorthorn cattle.
The birth of Mr. Breakenridge oeeurred in Linn county, this state, on the 5th of December, 1860, and his parents were James and Clarinda ( Scannel) Breakenridge. The father was born on the 14th of May, 1820, in Bennington, Vermont, and the mother was a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, born on the 5th of March, 1830. The paternal grandfather was Colonel Francis Breakenridge, who was born in Bennington, Vermont, on the 12th of January, 1792, and who gained considerable fame in the War of 1812. He passed away on the 19th of January, 1869. His wife, who was before her marriage Miss Emily Babbitt, was born on the 13th of November, 1797, and died at Bennington, Vermont, on the 25th of February, 1836. The great-grandfather of our subject in the paternal line was James Breakenridge, who served as a lieutenant in a Vermont regi- ment in the Revolutionary war. He was one of the first colonists to oppose the autocratic rule of George III, who determined to make him an example to others who might prove recalcitrant. However, Lieutenant Breakenridge and fifty friends barricaded themselves in a house and withstood the bullets of those rep- resenting the king's government. The Vermont Gazetteer gives the details of the oeeurrenee.
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James Breakenridge, the father of our subject, learned the trade of spinner and worked in cotton mills in Vermont for some time and likewise followed the tanner's trade to some extent. He was also a brick and stone mason and worked on the Erie canal. In 1856 he made the overland journey to, Linn county, Iowa, in a linchpin wagon. Conditions were then largely those of a pioneer region but he felt that the opportunities offered there more than compensated for the discomforts endured. He followed his trade of a brick and stone mason and had the contract for the lime material used in building Western College in Linn county. In 1872 he left that county and, using the same wagon, removed to Penn town- ship, Madison county, where he continued to follow his trade and also farmed. He resided in that township until his death, which occurred on the 7th of Novem- ber, 1882. He was a republican and quite active in politics in Madison county. His religious allegiance was given to the Evangelical church and he did much toward furthering the cause of Christianity in the communities in which he lived. His widow passed away on the Oth of February, 1889, having survived him for more than six years.
James Breakenridge was the fifth in a family of seven children and as his boy- hood days were passed in Linn county he attended the pioneer district schools there in the acquirement of an education. In 1881 he began farming on his own account in Penn township, this county, and resided there until 1889, when he removed to Jackson township, taking up his residence on the homestead of his father-in-law. Subsequently he returned to Penn township, where he resided until 1908, when he removed to his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 35, Jackson township, which he had purchased the year previous. He raises thoroughbred shorthorn cattle, representing the best strains in Iowa, and as he uses good business judgment in the management of his affairs his re- sources are constantly increasing. His farm is known as the Maple Grove stock farm and is one of the best kept up places in his locality.
On the Ist of February, 1888, Mr. Breakenridge and Miss Helen Perkins were united in marriage. She was born in New Hampshire and is a daughter of Erastus G. and Rosetta A. ( Merrill) Perkins, the former born in Orange county, Virginia, May 20, 1822, and the latter in Charleston, New Hampshire, on the 21st of November, 1824. The father was educated at Newberry Seminary. in New Hampshire, and remained in that state until he was twenty-one years of age. For four years he engaged in the grocery business in New York city. In 1847, his father being congressman from New Hampshire, Erastus G. Perkins was appointed by President Pierce as clerk in the census office and for a time resided in Washington, D. C. In 1851 he came to this county and entered two hundred and forty acres of land from the government but after partly improving his place returned to New Hampshire, where he farmed for six years. He then came again to this county, bringing his family, and settled in Lincoln township, where he resided for ten years. He was postmaster, his home being the postoffice. He returned to Madison county in 1857 and there were then many evidences of the ravages of the hard winters of 1855 and 1856. Upon leaving Lincoln township he took up his residence on two hundred acres of land in Jackson township, where he resided until his death in 1889. In 1864 he was deputized county treas- urer and recorder and he also served as county supervisor in addition to holding all of the township offices. He was quite active in the Grange, could be counted
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