USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 12
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Edmund McCoy has always lived in this county. He was edu- cated in the district schools near his home and as a boy learned farm- ing. For many years he continued to follow that occupation and gave special attention to the raising of cattle and hogs. He also bought stock which he fattened and then marketed. For a long time he resided upon a farm comprising three hundred and twenty acres on sections 7 and 8, Washington township, but eight years ago he sold that land and purchased his present farm, which comprises four hundred and twenty acres and is situated in Knoxville town- ship. At that time he removed to the city of Knoxville, where he still resides, as he was elected county treasurer and found it necessary to live in the county seat. He served in that office for four years, or two terms, and proved a systematic and reliable official. Although he has largely retired from active life, he still supervises the opera- tion of his farm and the raising of live stock .:
On the 27th of January, 1884, Mr. McCoy was married in Wash- ington township to Miss Nancy J. Hunt, who was born in this county in June, 1863, a daughter of Jefferson and Annie Maria (White)
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Hunt. After farming for many years they retired to Knoxville, where they died, the former when seventy-eight years of age and the latter when seventy-two. Both died in 1911, the father in Novem- ber of that year and her mother in June. Mrs. McCoy was reared and educated in this county and by her marriage has become the mother of two children. Herbert D., a farmer and stockman, owns and operates two hundred and forty acres of fine land in Knoxville township. He married Miss Carrie M. Dear, whose father lives at Dallas. Marjorie G., born on St. Valentine's day, 1894, is now attending college at Ames, Iowa.
The family were members of the Methodist Protestant church, but as there is no church of that denomination in Knoxville they affiliate with the Congregational church here. Mr. McCoy is a republican in his political belief and has held a number of offices. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order and has filled all chairs in the blue lodge, and also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the modern Woodmen of America. His daughter belongs to the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs and his wife to the latter organization. He has not only won financial prosperity but has also made many friends who hold him in warm regard, and all respect and esteem him.
GEORGE A. STEELE.
For the past half century George A. Steele has resided in the same locality in Knoxville township, and is known as a prosperous general farmer. He was born in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1854, a son of Charles and Amy (Delp) Steele. The father spent his boyhood and youth in Union county, Pennsylvania, where his parents both passed away. His father was Andrew Steele, a journeyman blacksmith, who also owned and operated a farm. Charles Steele was one of a family of four sons and three daughters, all now deceased. He was married in Pennsylvania and subsequently removed to Marion county, lowa, where he operated a blacksmith shop for a number of years and where he also owned land. In religious faith he was a Baptist. He passed away on the 26th of February, 1889, when more than fifty-nine years of age. His ancestors were German and Irish. His wife was born in Middlesex county, Pennsylvania, of German parentage, a daughter of George and Sarah Ann (Swartslander) Delp, who were living in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, at the time
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of her marriage to Mr. Steele. She was likewise a member of the Baptist church and died on the 14th of May, 1914, when eighty years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Charles Steele were born ten children, of whom the subject of this review is the fourth in order of birth. Five survive, the others being two sisters living in Oklahoma, a sister in Montana, and a brother, William, who is a resident of Hot Springs, South Dakota.
George A. Steele was ten years of age when brought by his parents to this county and grew to manhood here. Under the instruction of . his father he learned the principles of agriculture and also the trade of blacksmithing, and since reaching manhood has followed these occupations, devoting the greater part of his time to farming. How- ever, he still does his own blacksmith work, such as horse-shoeing. Early in life he was taught the value of promptness and industry and he has founded his success upon his energy and determination. He owns two hundred and fifty acres on sections 17 and 18, Knoxville township, his land comprising his father's homestead on section 18. As he is but five miles west of Knoxville, he has a good market for his grain and stock and this adds to the value of his property.
Mr. Steele was married on the 21st of August, 1874, to Miss Eleanor Noles, a native of Hancock county, Illinois, born on the 16th of October, 1852, and a daughter of James and Caroline ( Brown- lee) Noles, residents of Illinois. The Noles family removed to the Prairie state in pioneer times from Ohio and the Brownlees emigrated there from Pennsylvania. James Noles was a soldier in the Mexican war and after the Civil war went to Pike's Peak, to which he had previously made two trips, and he lost his life there. He was also a blacksmith by trade. His widow died at the home of a son in Colo- rado about two decades ago at sixty-five years of age. Mrs. Steele is one of seven children and has four brothers living. She, however, is the only one of the family who resides in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Steele have been born five children : Jessie, the wife of Mark Jacobs, of Saskatchewan, Canada; Edna, who married John Kelly, a farmer of Knoxville township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work ; Ada, the wife of Fred Harvey, a teamster of Dallas, this county ; Charles, a farmer of Knoxville township, who married Miss Anna Gardner, by whom he has two children; and Howard, who married Miss Nora Sutherland and is operating a part of his father's farm.
Mr. Steele is a republican and his allegiance to that party has never wavered, as he is convinced of the soundness of its policies. A half century of continuous residence here has made him quite an
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authority on the history of the county, and his active and honorable life has won for him many true friends, who hold him in the highest esteem.
THOMAS R. COLE, SR.
In time of peace and in time of war Thomas R. Cole, Sr., has always proved a man whom one could trust to perform well what- ever duty lay nearest at hand. He served in the northern army, de- fending the integrity and indivisibility of the Union, and the for- tunes of war were such that for several months he was confined in southern prisons. He was born in Ashland county, Ohio, on the 4th of May, 1838, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Ross) Cole, both natives of Ohio. The maternal grandfather, Thomas Ross, came to Iowa in 1844 and settled in Mahaska county with his son, who entered government land there. Mr. Ross, Sr., passed away in that county when ninety years of age. Samuel Cole and Sarah Ross were mar- ried in Ohio in 1828 and in 1848 removed to Mahaska county, Iowa. The former entered government land and continued to farm his place until his death, which occurred on the 2d of January, 1880. His widow survived him for many years, dying in 1898 when about ninety years old. To their union were born ten children, five of whom sur- vive. Four died in childhood.
Thomas R. Cole was the fifth in order of birth in this family and was reared upon the homestead in Mahaska county, as he was but ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal there. He was given a common-school education and was carefully trained in the work of the farm. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served with his command until the close of the war, holding the rank of sergeant when dis- charged. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Marks Mill and for ten months was confined at Tyler, Texas. After being given his freedom on the 25th of February, 1865, he was granted a furlough. He afterward returned to the army and remained with his command until the close of hostilities. Among the battles in which he partici- pated were those of Fort Pemberton, Helena, Little Rock, Elkins- ford, Prairie De Anne, Camden and Marks Mill, where he was captured. After his return to the life of a civilian he attended school and taught for nine years. In 1874 he opened a store in Lovilia, Iowa, and subsequently located in Bussey. In 1878 he went to Marysville,
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where he established a general store and drug store, which he con- ducted for thirty-three years. At the end of that time, or in 1911, he located in Knoxville, where he has since lived retired, as, in his long years of connection with merchandising, he had acquired a compe- tence.
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Mr. Cole was married on the 18th of March, 1875, to Miss Luella Clark, a daughter of P. R. and Frances Ruby (Deveraux) Clark, who in 1851 came to this state from Ohio. Her father was a physi- cian, but in his later life abandoned that profession and turned his attention to mercantile business. To Mr. and Mrs. Cole has been born a son, Thomas R., who is cashier of the Buxton Savings Bank at Buxton, Iowa. He married Alice Tucker and has a son, Thomas R., who is a child three years of age.
Mr. Cole of this review was for a number of years a member of the Masonic order, but withdrew from that organization. He wears proudly the little bronze button which indicates his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a comrade of John T. Fer- guson Post. He is an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church and in his daily life endeavors to practice the teachings of Chrisian- ity. He votes for the candidates of the republican party and has been prominent in political councils. He was always diligent in business and in investing his capital displayed good judgment and now has his reward, as he has an assured income. He makes and retains friends and is highly respected wherever known.
LABAN HODGSON.
Laban Hodgson is a well known and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of Swan township, owning seven hundred acres of land on sections 26, 35 and 36. His home stands on section 35 and there he has made many substantial improvements. He has been a life- long resident of the county, his birth having occurred November 20, 1869, a mile east of his present home. He is a son of the late Isaac Hodgson, one of the pioneer settlers and prosperous farmers of the county, who passed away in 1914 and who is mentioned at length on another page of this work.
Laban Hodgson was reared and educated in this county and attended the public schools. He has always followed farming and stock-raising. He was carefully trained in business ways by his father and early began to work in the fields. He started out for
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himself as a young man and about 1898 purchased his first tract of land, comprising sixty-seven acres, to which he has since added, while from his father he has also inherited some property until his holdings today embrace seven hundred acres. He is busily engaged in the further development and operation of his farm, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. He has good buildings upon the place and all modern equipments in the way of well kept fences and the latest improved machinery. His farm work embodies the most modern methods of cultivating the soil and caring for the crops and his success is gratifying.
On the 26th of November, 1891, Mr. Hodgson was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Williams, who was born and reared in this county, a daughter of Frank T. Williams, of Pleasantville. They have become the parents of four children : Oscar, twenty-one years of age, who is attending the State Agricultural College at Ames ; Wayne, who is assisting in the work of the home farm; Ethel, at school ; and Forrest, who was born December 5, 1910.
Mr. Hodgson is a democrat in his political views, and his wife holds membership in the Christian church. They are both well known in the county and have an extensive circle of friends, for their social qualities have endeared them to many. Mr. Hodgson has always lived in the county and his acquaintance is wide, for he has long been recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of Swan township.
PELLA'S WEEKBLAD.
Pella's Weekblad has a large and representative circulation among the residents of Iowa and adjoining states who are of Dutch birth or ancestry, and is one of the leading papers in this section of the country printed in the Dutch language. It was established in 1861 by Henry Hospers, a prominent figure in the state at that time. About 1870 he sold the business to H. Neyenesch, who took charge June 20 of that year and conducted it until January 1, 1899, and then sold it to the Rev. H. Poot, who conducted it for thirteen months, when Mr. Neyenesch bought the paper again and conducted it until Octo- ber 11, 1901. He then sold the subscription list to Jansma Brothers, who were the publishers of the Nieuwsblad, which they had estab- lished on the roth of February, 1899. On the 11th of October, 1901, they combined the two papers, retaining the name of Pella's Week-
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blad, as that was the older and better known publication. On the 28th of February, 1902, John Jansma died and his brother James continued to publish the paper until 1904, in which year H. F. Johnson, the present business manager, purchased a half interest. On New Year's day, 1909, Mr. Johnson and H. L. Boland bought James Jansma's interest in the paper and have remained its sole owners ever since.
Pella's Weekblad, as its name indicates, is published weekly and is an excellent paper of eight pages of six columns each. It is printed in the Dutch language and has a large circulation which is steadily increasing. Its editor, E. C. Varenkamp, is a man of broad learn- ing, with an intimate knowledge of the life of the people in whose interests it is printed, and under his direction a high standard of journalism is maintained and at the same time it is popular in its appeal. The business phase of this publication is ably managed by H. F. Johnson and its finances are in excellent condition.
FRED P. GRANT.
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Fred P. Grant is the owner of the only ice company in Knoxville and has developed his business to large proportions. He was born in New York state, at the foot of the Catskill mountains, on the 25th of February, 1846, a son of John F. and Mary M. (Miller) Grant. His paternal grandfather was General Grant, who was in command of militia from New York in the War of 1812. John F. Grant was a lumberman by occupation.
Fred P. Grant was taken to Pennsylvania by his parents when but ten years of age and lived there until his marriage. He then removed to New Jersey, where he resided until he came to Iowa, being superintendent of a lumber company in the east. In 1881 he came to Pella, this state, but late in the same year removed to Knox- ville, where he started a creamery and conducted it until 1896. He then established the ice business of which he is still the owner. In the fall of 1913 a rival company was bought out and the Fred P. Grant Company now has the field to itself. It handles more than two thousand tons of ice per year and runs three or four wagons. The ice sold is natural ice and thirty-five men are employed in putting it up. Great care is exercised to prevent its contamination in any way, full weight is invariably given and the price is fair and reason-
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able. William L. Grant, the son of our subject, is associated with his father in business.
Fred P. Grant was married in 1872 to Miss Millie M. Pellett, of Pennsylvania, a daughter of Calvin and Eunice Pellett. Her father devoted his life to the work of the farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Grant were born four children : William L .; Nellie A., at home; Carrie B., who married Homer Carpenter, a resident of Trinidad, Colorado; and Edna, at home. Mrs. Grant passed away on the 9th of June, 1910.
William L. Grant, who was born in New York state on the 24th of September, 1873, after completing the public-school course at Knoxville, became associated with his father in the ice business when a young man. From 1903 to 1906 he was deputy sheriff of the county, serving under Sheriff Bybec. At the expiration of his term of office he lived in Colorado for seven years, but in 1913 returned to Knox- ville and purchased the Goodspeed ice business, which he consolidated with that of his father, and he has since been a member of the Fred P. Grant Ice Company. He married Kate Kimball of Knoxville. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and belongs to the Knights of Pythias, in which he is past chancellor.
Fred P. Grant is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a republican in his political belief and has served as alderman from the third ward. He has been successful in busi- ness but has not allowed his private interests to take up his entire time, as he has always cooperated with those who have sought to promote the welfare of the community.
STEPHEN JENKINS.
Stephen Jenkins, who is a prosperous farmer residing two and a half miles south of Knoxville, is a son of the late Joshua Jenkins, who is mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work. He was born upon the family homestead in Knoxville township, this county, on the Ist of September, 1863. Upon reaching the proper age he entered the public schools and after completing the course there became a student in an academy at Knoxville. Although he has devoted the greater part of his life to farming and stock-raising, for two years he conducted a grocery store at Knoxville. He now operates a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres on section 19, Knoxville township, which he owns and upon which he has made many improvements. His residence is modern in its appointments
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and the buildings for the shelter of grain and stock are substantial and well adapted to their purpose. He uses the latest models of agricultural machinery and overlooks nothing the doing of which might add to the value of his farm or increase the efficiency of his work. In early manhood he spent a year in the west but decided that the advantages of his native county were cqual to those offered else- where, and since returning he has remained a continuous resident of Marion county. He carries on general farming and stock-raising but pays special attention to the raising of Poland China hogs and shorthorn cattle.
On the 6th of February, 1887, Mr. Jenkins was united in mar- riage to Miss Zella Rogers, who passed away on the 31st of January, 1914, aged forty-eight years, two months and eleven days. She was born in this county on the 20th of November, 1865, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary Elizabeth (Ruffner) Rogers. Her father died on the 12th of September, 1905, and her mother is still living, making her home at Knoxville. To Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins was born a daughter, Mabel, who has completed the course in the local high school and is now at home.
Mr. Jenkins is a progressive democrat in his political affiliations and has held school office, as did his father, who was for many years secretary-treasurer of the school board. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was his wife, and willingly con- tributes of his time and means to the furtherance of its work. His practical knowledge of agriculture, coupled with his energy and good business judgment, has enabled him to win financial success in his chosen occupation and the straightforwardness and uprightness of his life have gained him many friends, who value highly his good opinion.
GEORGE W. SCHMIDT.
On the list of Marion county's honored dead appears the name of George W. Schmidt, who passed away on his home farm in Knox- ville township on the 21st of September, 1900. He was numbered among the "boys in blue" of the Civil war and throughout his life manifested the same spirit of loyalty in the discharge of all duties of citizenship. At different periods he was connected with industrial and agricultural pursuits and ultimately became one of the substan- tial farmers of Marion county, his success being attributable entirely
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to his well directed labors. A native of Ohio, he was born near Loudonville on the 29th of April, 1843, a son of Charles and Mary M. (Claus) Schmidt, who came to Marion county prior to the Civil war and spent their remaining days here as farming people. In their family were two sons and four daughters and of that number one daughter and one son are now deceased.
George W. Schmidt spent the first fifteen or sixteen years of his life in his native state and then came with his parents to Iowa, remain- ing upon the home farm until after the outbreak of the Civil war. He was but nineteen years of age when in 1862 he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in Company A of the Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served until the close of the war, and although he particpated in a number of hotly contested engagements, he was never wounded. He suffered, however, from disease. When hostilities were ended he returned home with a creditable military record. In business he was successful notwithstanding the fact that he had to start out without capital. In early life he learned and followed the carpenter's trade, being identified with building opera- tions for a number of years, but when his industry and economy had brought him a sufficient sum of money to purchase land he invested in eighty acres, was married and established a home of his own, after which he added to and improved his farm and was identified with general agricultural interests until his demise.
It was in October, 1870, that Mr. Schmidt wedded Miss Margaret J. Bridgen, who survives him and for the past two years has made her home at the Armstrong place on section 35, Knoxville township. She was born near Zanesville, Ohio, January 24, 1849, and was only about five years of age when her family removed to Marion county, her girlhood days being spent in a log cabin upon the home farm where she now resides. To Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt were born eight children, of whom one died in infancy, while seven are yet living: Ernest E., an agriculturist of Knoxville township; Mary M., the wife of John Rietvelt, who follows farming west of Knoxville; Katherine, at home; Fred, an agriculturist by occupation ; Frank, who is engaged in farming in Knoxville township ; Jessie, at home; and Horace, who is married and operates the old home place. Mrs. Schmidt is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and has many sterling quali- ties which have gained for her the warm friendship of those with whom she has been brought in contact.
Mr. Schmidt was a democrat in his political views, always giving stalwart support to the party which was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. He wore the little bronze
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button which proclaimed him a member of the Grand Army of the Republic his local connection being with J. C. Ferguson Post. He greatly enjoyed meeting with his old army associates and they enter- tained for him warm regard. He was never neglectful of duty, whether in relation to his country, to his home locality or to his friends, and when he passed away on the old homestead in Knoxville township, September 21, 1900, genuine grief was felt on the part of many besides his immediate family. The greater part of his life had been passed in Marion county and those who knew him recog- nized the fact that he had many sterling traits of character.
THE KNOXVILLE EXPRESS.
For many years the Knoxville Express has been a factor in the formation of public opinion in Marion county and has given to its readers a clear and, as far as possible, accurate account of the happen- ings first in the county and second in the world at large. It was established under its present name in 1878 by Drewry Overton, who purchased the Marion County Democrat from J. L. McCormack and continued to publish it as the Knoxville Express. The Democrat was first issued September 5, 1865. The office and printing plant then occupied a frame building which stood south of the present site of the city hall, but the paper was later published on West Main street, after which removal was made to the east side of the square, over the store owned by Dickerson Brothers. In 1905 the owners of the paper erected a building a half block south of the Citizens National Bank and the paper has been published there ever since. The equipment is thoroughly up-to-date and the paper is typo- graphically excellent as well as an interesting and reliable news sheet. It has a large advertising and subscription patronage and is one of the best and most prosperous weckly journals of this part of the state. The paper is democratic politically and stanchly advocates the prin- ciples of that organization.
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