USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 11
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number of years Edward Harvey built a frame residence and as time passed on he added many modern equipments and improve- ments to his farm. In tilling his fields he followed progressive methods, with the result that in the course of years he gathered abundant harvests. He also began raising stock and has long made it a special feature of his business, deriving therefrom a substantial annual income.
On the 9th of October, 1851, Mr. Harvey was united in marriage to Miss Sarah H. Chaney, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Solo- mon and Margaret (Lane) Chaney, who spent their last days in the Buckeye state. To this marriage were born four children: Thomas B .; Margaret A., now the widow of James Koons; Francis R. and Mary E., both now deceased. The mother passed away in the early `6os and was laid to rest in the Brackenridge cemetery. About 1864 Mr. Harvey was again married, his second union being with Miss Martha J. Rich, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Alexander and Rachel Rich, both of whom are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Harvey were born eight children: Eva J., the wife of G. A. Perry; George W .; J. E .; Ida M., the wife of James Loynachan ; F. A .; Nettie E., the wife of William Loynachan; Henry W., deceased ; and one other who has passed away. The mother of these children died in 1902 and her grave was also made in Brackenridge cemetery.
Mr. Harvey is still the owner of one hundred and forty acres of land on section 16, Clay township, and has made his farm one of the highly improved properties of the district. His fields have been brought to a high state of cultivation and he has secured the latest improved farm machinery to facilitate the work of cultivating and caring for the crops. When he took up his abode upon this farm he had but ten cents in his pocket. He worked until he could secure a few bushels of corn and he had some meal for bread. He traded his clock for two shoats and since that time he has always been able to have meat. In a word, he has led a most busy life and his earnest, persistent labor has been the means of bringing to him substantial prosperity. In his political views he is a republican but has never sought nor desired political office. He has served, however, ås school director and trustee. Fraternally he is connected with Bellefontaine Lodge, No. 163, F. & A. M., in which he has filled some of the chairs, and he is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. For more than sixty-one years he has occupied the farm which is still his home and throughout the entire period has been accounted one of the leading farmers of Marion county. In all business affairs he
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has been thoroughly reliable and in matters of citizenship has been progressive, and in the community where he has now remained for almost two-thirds of a century he is held in the highest esteem.
T. R. GREGORY.
T. R. Gregory, who has spent his entire life in Marion county and has carried on general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career, still resides upon his farm of two hundred and fifty acres on section 17, Clay township, but is now enjoying well earned retirement. His birth occurred in that township on the 6th of December, 1853, his parents being James T. and Harriet (Ridlen) Gregory, both of whom were natives of Indiana. They came to Iowa in 1846, the father entering a tract of land in Clay township, this county, whereon he built a log cabin which was his home for some years. In 1863 he removed to Knoxville, where both he and his wife passed away at the age of eighty-eight years and in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which they were devoted members. To them was accorded the rare pleasure of celebrating their seventieth wedding anniversary, and eight of their thirteen children are yet living. James T. Gregory gave his political allegiance to the democracy.
T. R. Gregory acquired his education in the common schools and remained at home until past twenty-seven years of age or until the time of his marriage. Following that important event in his life he started out as an agriculturist on his own account and in 1905 pur- chased the farm on which he now resides and which embraces two hundred and fifty acres of valuable land on section 17, Clay town- ship. His undertakings as an agriculturist have been attended with a gratifying measure of prosperity and he is now living retired in the enjoyment of a comfortable competence.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Gregory chose Miss Sarah S. Rose, a native of Marion county, Iowa, and a daughter of Richard and Matilda (Glenn) Rose, who were born in Kentucky and Illinois respectively. They came to Iowa in 1855 and located on a farm in this county which Mr. Rose secured with a Mexican land warrant, having served throughout the Mexican war. Both he and his wife remained on the property until called to their final rest. They had six children and five of the number survive. Mrs. Gregory, who taught school for some terms prior to her mar-
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riage, has become the mother of four children, as follows: one who died in infancy; Glenn, deceased ; Jessie A., who had a high-school education and is now the wife of W. H. Stroud, of Clay township; and Ruth R., who is attending college at Pella.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Gregory has supported the men and measures of the democracy, believing firmly in its principles. For some years he has served in the capacity of school director. The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have spent their entire lives in Marion county and are well known and highly esteemed as people of genuine personal worth.
ARTHUR B. MARSH.
Arthur B. Marsh, a farmer and stock-raiser owning and operating two hundred and ten acres in Knoxville township, is a native son of that township, his birth occurring in the Daniel Marsh home on section 9 on the 28th of July, 1858. A sketch of his father, Daniel Marsh, is found elsewhere in this work.
Arthur B. Marsh has resided in Knoxville township during his whole life and since 1885 has lived upon the farm which is now his home, comprising two hundred and ten acres on sections 8 and 9. His early training as an agriculturist upon the homestead prepared him well for operating his farm and since reaching maturity he has continued to devote his time to the cultivation of the soil and the raising of stock. He is alert and enterprising and well deserved suc- cess rewards his industry.
On the 14th of April, 1885, Mr. Marsh was married to Miss Jennie Courtney, who was born in Ohio, January 13, 1860, a daugh- ter of Thomas and Mahala Courtney. The mother, who was born in 1832, is still living at Pleasantville, but the father has passed away. Mrs. Marsh died on the 28th of September, 1911, leaving two children. Ira, born on the 10th of October, 1889, married Miss Artie Brouse, of Knoxville, by whom he has two children, Doris and an infant. Daniel E., born on the 7th of November, 1891, mar- ried Miss Carrie Long, a daughter of B. M. Long, a farmer of Knox- ville township. The first born, Chester, whose birth occurred on the 21st of April, 1886, died on the toth of May, 1909.
Mr. Marsh is a republican and is stanch in his support of the policies and candidates of that organization, believing that its suc-
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cess at the polls means the welfare of the country. He has served as township trustee and as school director and is at all times interested in the community welfare. Fraternally he belongs to the Masons, holding membership in the lodge at Knoxville. Since pioneer times the name of Marsh has been intimately associated with the agricul- tural development of Marion county and the subject of this review has by his successful and upright life added to the esteem in which the family is held here.
B. H. VAN SPANCKEREN.
B. H. Van Spanckeren is the present efficient cashier of the Citi- zens National Bank of Pella and is recognized as one of the prom- inent business men of the city. He was born in Pella on the 2d of September, 1860, a son of B. H. and Dirkie (Ver Steeg) Van Spanckeren, both natives of Holland. In 1847 they emigrated to the United States and came to Pella, where their marriage occurred soon afterward. The father owned the first bakery in Pella, con- ducting the same until about 1871, and after that he was a proprietor of a dry-goods store until 1892. In the last mentioned year he retired and is still living at the age of eighty-eight years, having survived his wife for many years, her demise occurring in 1890. He is a member of the Baptist church, as was also his wife. Of the fourteen children born to them ten died in infancy. Those who grew to maturity are: B. H., of this review; Mrs. L. Recrink, the wife of a farmer living near Pella; Mrs. Dora Welle, a resident of Sully, Iowa; and J. H. H., a farmer.
B. H. Van Spanckeren was reared in Pella and attended the public schools in the acquirement of his education. For twenty- eight years he was engaged in the dry-goods business, having entered his father's store when but a youth. From 1882 to 1892 he was a partner of his father but in 1892 he became sole owner of the estab- lishment and managed it successfully until 1908, maintaining the high standard set by his father and keeping apace with the later developments in retail trade. In 1908 he sold the store and has since devoted his entire time to the banking business. He entered . the Citizens National Bank in 1906 and his knowledge of business conditions and methods led to his rapid advancement and he is now cashier of that institution, which ranks among the best banks of the county. He requires excellent security before loaning money, but
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if once convinced that the funds of the depositors will not be endan- gered, he is liberal in the extension of credit and in this way has made the bank of great service to the business men of the com- munity.
In 1882 Mr. Van Spanckeren was married to Miss Katherine Van Spanckeren, a daughter of L. H. and Harriett (Sleyster) Van Spanckeren. They settled in Pella in 1847 and the father for a num- ber of years conducted a general store but is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Van Spanckeren were born five children: Bern H., a farmer living in Mesa, Arizona; Mrs. A. W. Leland, a resident of Dixon, Illinois; L. H., a resident of Mesa, Arizona, and the teller in the Mesa City Bank; Warner J., who is employed in the Citizens National Bank of Pella; and Katherine Bessie, at home. The wife and mother was called to her reward on the 4th of October, 1914, at the age of fifty-five years. Funeral services were conducted on the 7th of October by President J. W. Bailey, of Central University. She was highly esteemed and as a mark of respect the business houses of the city were closed during the funeral.
The family belong to the Baptist church and guide their lives by its teachings. Mr. Van Spanckeren is a supporter of the republican party and belongs to the Masonic order. His life has been one of service to the community, as he has contributed to the business and financial growth of Pella, first as merchant and later as cashier of one of the leading banks of the city. He has spent his entire life here and has thoroughly identified himself with the progress of the community and has won the unqualified respect of his fellow citi- zens.
REUBEN CORE, SR.
Reuben Core, Sr., owns and operates a quarter section of fine land on section 9, Union township, and also holds title to four hun- dred and fifty acres in Red Rock and Polk townships, which he rents to others, and is one of the representative agriculturists of the county. He was born in Ross county, Ohio, October 25, 1848, a son of Isaac and Sarah (Himes) Core. The father was born in Maryland in 1799 and the mother's birth occurred in Ohio. She died when the subject of this review was a small boy. The father came to Iowa in 1854 and purchased land, increasing his holdings until he was the owner of four hundred acres. He passed away in January, 1874,
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when about seventy-five years of age. He was a republican in his political belief and took a citizen's interest in public affairs. He and his wife had nine children, four of whom survive. The subject of this review is the youngest in the family and at the time of his father's removal to Iowa was but a small boy of six years.
Reuben Core, Sr., received the greater part of his education in the country schools here. The schoolhouses were primitive at the time and the modern desks and seats were represented by simple slabs of wood. The schoolhouse itself was built of logs and there was school only a few months in the winter. Mr. Core began aiding with the farm work as soon as large and strong enough to do so and in this way he gained a practical knowledge of agriculture and was an efficient farmer by the time that he was grown. Upon starting out in life for himself he engaged in the mercantile business for four years, but after his marriage, which occurred in 1879, he began farming on his own account. He has since devoted his energies to agriculture and has attained marked success in that line. He culti- vates one hundred and sixty acres of land in Union township, where he has resided for about thirty-five years, and also owns four hun- dred and fifty acres in Red Rock and Polk townships, which he leases. For a number of years he raised full blooded Aberdeen Angus cattle but at present has no registered stock. He formerly fed stock extensively, having usually from seventy-five to one hun- dred head of cattle on the place. He does general farming and his knowledge of efficient methods, his energy and good management insure him handsome profits annually. He has made most of the improvements upon his place, which is well developed, and has about four acres of orchard, including apple, peach, pear, cherry and plum trees.
Mr. Core was married in 1879 to Miss Catherine Johnson, a daughter of Peter M. and Eliza (Girard) Johnson. The father was born in Ohio in 1819. He was a successful physician and well known in his locality. His demise occurred in 1881. His wife, who was born in Ohio, died in 1860. Mrs. Core was born in lowa in April, 1857, and in this state her parents had been married about fifteen years before. Her father was married four times and had fourteen children, she being the ninth in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Core were born ten children : Maude, who married B. F. Franks of Marion county; Clarence C., who married Gertrude McGraw of Marion county; Lyde, who married J. R. McGraw; Forest E., deceased; Grace, at home; Blaine, who married Naomi Shawrer; and Reuben, Hazel, Dale and Bernice, all at home.
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Mr. Core has supported the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he has taken an active part in public affairs. He has served as assessor, trustee, road supervisor and is at present upon the school board. He has also been a dele- gate to a number of county republican conventions. In his religious faith he is a Methodist and the integrity of his life is the best testi- mony to the sincerity of his religious belief.
CHARLES N. CROUCH.
Charles N. Crouch is now engaged in the real-estate and insur- ance business in Knoxville but was formerly a farmer and stock dealer of the county. He was born in Mason county, West Vir- ginia, October 23, 1851, a son of William and Emily (Hayes) Crouch. Upon both sides of the house he is of German descent. His father came to Marion county on the Ioth of May, 1856, and pur- chased a small farm in Polk township. He disposed of this and during the years that he resided here bought and sold farms several times. He was successful as an agriculturist and gained a compe- tence by his labor. He passed away in 1898 and was survived by his wife for six years, her demise occurring in 1904. Both were mem- bers of the Baptist church and people of estimable qualities of char- acter and he aided materially in the erection of the First Baptist church structure at Cold Ridge. Their children number ten, seven sons and three daughters.
Charles N. Crouch attended the public schools as a boy and thus acquired a serviceable education. He engaged in farming after arriving at mature years and was thus occupied until 1899. He paid special attention to raising and dealing in live-stock, breeding Black Polled cattle and Jersey Red hogs. He traded extensively in live- stock and found it a very profitable occupation. On the 2d of Decem- ber, 1899, he removed to Knoxville and has since engaged in the real- estate and insurance business in this city. He buys and sells farms and his practical experience as an agriculturist has proven of great value to him in this connection. He also makes loans and as he is judicious in the placing of money has throughout the years that he has been engaged in business suffered very little loss either of prin- cipal or interest. His success enables him to rank among the repre- sentative business men of the city and he has gained the confidence
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of those with whom he has dealt because of his fairness and strict integrity.
On Christmas day, 1873, Mr. Crouch was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Smith, of Marion county, a daughter of Charles and Mary Smith, who came to this county from Ohio in 1856. Her father was engaged in farming during his active life. Mr. and Mrs. Crouch have an adopted daughter, Ruth, who is now eight years of age. Mr. Crouch and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are active in its work and he is captain of the gospel team that holds meetings in various places in the county and thus stimulates church activity. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is always stanch in his support of its prin- cipłes. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has filled all of the chairs in the local subordinate lodge. The life of Mr. Crouch has measured up to the principles of jus- tice and brotherly kindness which he professes and he is accorded that respect which sincerity always commands.
MR. AND MRS. JONATHAN K. BEEM.
Jonathan K. Beem, a retired farmer, who for the past eight years has lived in Knoxville, still owns property in Pleasantville but has sold his farm. He was born in Licking county, Ohio, on the 14th of April, 1835, a son of Michael and Lucinda (Rose) Beem. The father was also born in Ohio, probably in Licking county, and farmed there for a number of years. The Beem family were early settlers in that locality and were quite prominent. They always held an annual reunion. When Jonathan K. Beem was quite small the family removed to Independence, Iowa, where his father followed farming until 1852 when the family took up their abode in Pleasant Grove township, Marion county, where the father entered one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, which he improved. He passed away in this county when seventy-seven years of age. He was a republican and a member of the Christian church. His wife was a native of Licking county, Ohio, where her marriage occurred, and she died in this county when sixty-six years old. She was also a member of the Christian church. Three of their twelve children grew to ma- turity, the brothers of Jonathan K. Beem being: Michael C., of Pleasantville; and Joshua, living in Lehigh, Webster county, Iowa.
MR. AND MRS. JONATHAN K. BEEM
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Jonathan K. Beem attended school both in Ohio and Independ- ence, Iowa, but only for a few months each year, and did not receive more than the rudiments of an education. However, he was thor- oughly trained in agriculture and learned many things of value that are not taught in school. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred in 1859, when he began farming for himself. In 1864 he enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infan- try, and served for nearly a year in the Civil war, his command being assigned to the Army of the Potomac. Two of his brothers were also in the Union service. Michael veteranized and took part in many severe engagements, having a number of narrow escapes. Although Mr. Beem of this review participated in several hotly con- tested battles, he was never wounded. After the war he returned home and resumed farming, being so occupied during his active life. He became one of the well-to-do and progressive agriculturists of the county, but has now sold his land, although he still owns prop- erty in Pleasantville and also his fine residence in Knoxville, where he has lived retired for the past eight years.
Mr. Beem was married in March, 1859, to Miss Malinda W. Proffitt, who died in 1904, leaving six children, five of whom sur- vive. William is deceased; Lucinda is the wife of George Irvin, an undertaker living in Van Buren county, Iowa; Wesley Michael, a merchant of Denver, Colorado, is married and has several chil- dren; Clara May is the wife of Charles Franks, a resident of Can- ada; Arthur is a farmer living in Oklahoma; and Ezra D. is engaged in the real-estate business in Pleasantville and is married.
On the 15th of January, 1908, Mr. Beem married Mrs. Sarah A. Manhardt, nee Gregory, the widow of Frederick Manhardt, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. She was born on the 11th of August, 1844, in Bartholomew county, Indiana, a daughter of James T. and Harriet (Ridlen) Gregory. Her father was a native of Fulton county, Indiana, to which state his parents removed from Tennessee. Her mother was born in Bartholomew county, and her father and mother were from Tennessee and Maryland respectively. Her grandfather Ridlen, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Beem, was born in England. Mr. and Mrs. James T. Gregory removed to Ful- ton county, Indiana, some time after the birth of their daughter Sarah A. and resided there for a year, but at the end of that time returned to Bartholomew county. In 1849 they came to Marion county, Iowa, arriving on the 29th of March and locating near Belle- fontaine. The father traded a wagon and team and paid forty dol- lars in cash for an improved eighty acre farm and the parents Vol. II- 8
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resided there for many years. He was a man of marked business ability and very successful as a farmer, becoming owner of three hundred acres of land which he cultivated until he retired from active life and removed to Knoxville, where he died September 13, 1913, lacking about a month of being eighty-nine years old. He was widely and favorably known in the county and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was also his wife. The latter died at Knoxville on the 24th of April, 1914, lacking just two days of being eighty-eight years of age. To their union were born thir- teen children, of whom nine grew to maturity, four sons and five daughters, namely: Sarah A., now Mrs. Jonathan K. Beem; Mrs. Nancy J. De Vore; Timothy R. ; James Douglas, living in Nebraska ; John, a resident of this county; Myrtle, who died when twenty-five years of age; Mrs. Lillie Butterfield, living in Everist, Iowa; Mrs. Melissa Mccarthy, living in Knoxville; and Worth, who owns forty acres of the home place in the suburbs of Knoxville.
On the 30th of May, 1861, Sarah A. Gregory was married to Frederick Manhardt, who died in March, 1906. He had been previ- ously married and had four children by his first union, all born in this county: Harriet, Lydia, Medora and Alice. By his marriage to Miss Gregory he had eight children, namely: Mary, the wife of Gilbert Gregory, who resides in Kansas; Emma, the wife of Charles Rose, of Kansas; James W., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Minnie, the wife of Charles Adam Koenig, who is a drayman of Knoxville; and four others who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Beem reside at No. 608 South Fourth street, Knoxville, which place they own and in which they often entertain their many friends. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, Mrs. Beem having joined when a child of ten years. Mr. Beem is a republican and has held several township offices. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Grand Army post at Knoxville, in which he is at present chaplain. Both he and his wife are widely known and highly esteemed and have the goodwill of all who know them.
EDMUND McCOY.
Edmund McCoy, who served for four years as treasurer of Marion county and is now living retired in Knoxville, was born in Dallas township, this county, July 9, 1860, a son of Henry W. and Margaret E. (Willis) McCoy. His father entered land in this
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county in the early days, having come here when a young man from Coshocton county, Ohio. He improved his land and added to it until at the time of his death he owned four hundred and forty acres, which for many years he personally operated, but some time before his death he gave each of his children eighty acres and kept one hundred and twenty acres for himself. He was a self-made man, as he left his home when fifteen years of age and thereafter provided for his own support. His father, Edmund McCoy, was a farmer in Ohio, and Henry W. was the only one of the family to locate in this county. The latter devoted his life to farming and stock-raising and was much interested in the latter occupation, it being generally con- ceded that he had the finest cattle in his section of the county. He was a stanch republican in his political belief and manifested a keen interest in public affairs. He died in April, 1901, when seventy- eight years of age. His wife was born and reared in Coshocton county, Ohio, but came to this county in her youth and here they were married. She survives and makes her home in Dallas at the age of eighty years. To them were born four children. Edmund is the oldest. Mrs. Allie Millen for the past ten years has resided in the vicinity of Sheridan, Lucas county, Iowa. R. G., who is now a resident of this county, although for twelve years he lived in Kan- sas and farmed in that state and in Iowa, is now living in Melcher and is cashier of the bank there. Mrs. Mary V. Damon is also a resident of Melcher.
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