USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 15
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FRED FARLEY CARPENTER, M. D.
One of the popular and up-to-date physicians of Pella is Dr. Fred Farley Carpenter, who was born in Adams county, Illinois, October 28, 1869, a son of L. J. and Sarah (Rood) Carpenter. He resided there until he was a child of seven years and then accompanied his parents upon their removal to Jasper county, Iowa. The father practiced medicine at Galesburg until a few years ago, when he removed to Pella, where he has since been associated with the subject of this review. There are three sons in the family, the brothers of Dr. Carpenter being : Oscar, a physician of Sully, Iowa; and Frank, a physician of Jasper county, this state.
Dr. Fred F. Carpenter obtained his general education in the public schools and took his professional work at Drake University, from which he was graduated in 1897 with the degree of M. D. He served
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for sixteen months in the United States army as hospital steward in the Philippines and subsequently practiced his profession in Gales- burg, Iowa. About eight years ago he came to Pella, where he has since resided and where he has built up an enviable reputation as a physician of ability and conscientiousness. He has the confidence alike of the general public and of his professional colleagues and is considered one of the representative physicians of the county.
On the 30th of June, 1897, Dr. Carpenter married Miss Mina Pahre and to their union has been born a daughter, Freda, who is attending school. The Doctor is a democrat and takes an intelligent interest in public affairs, being well informed on all questions of general concern. His fraternal affiliations are with the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and the Oskaloosa Lodge of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has won unusual success in his profession and has many warm personal friends who value his favor- able opinion highly.
ELIPHALET BENTON RUCKMAN.
Eliphalet Benton Ruckman is a farmer residing on section 11, Union township, this county, and is well known and highly respected in his community. He was born in Barren County, Kentucky, on the 28th of April, 1837, and his parents, Amos and Amanda F. (Houck) Ruckman, named him after Thomas H. Benton, the great senator of Missouri, and Eliphalet Knott, a famous orator. His paternal grandfather was Isaiah Ruckman and his great-grandfather was Joseph Ruckman. Amos Ruckman was born in Barren county, Kentucky, on the 17th day of February, 1806, the youngest of twelve children, and received his education in Kentucky and Ten- nessee. In early life he farmed in Kentucky, where his marriage occurred in 1836, but, as he and his wife believed it wrong to hold slaves, they left that state and came to Iowa in 1852. They started on the 14th of October with two yoke of oxen and two horses. It was fine autumn weather and for a time they made good progress. They crossed the Ohio river at Shawneetown and from there went through the cypress swamps in what is now known as Egypt in southern Illinois. They experienced the varied fortunes of the road and while in the swamp encountered a severe storm. In Illinois Mr. Ruckman purchased another yoke of cattle, making three in all. It was the year of the campaign for Pierce and Scott and liberty poles
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were seen in all the towns passed through. Before they reached their destination snow had fallen and the difficulties of travel increased. Their potatoes also froze. The family stopped near Keokuk, having crossed the river at that place. They were told that it was impossible to proceed farther on account of the rains, but the family continued on their way, however, by a devious route. They first went to Clark county, Missouri, thence to Bloomfield, Iowa, from which place they went to Drakesville, thence to Albia and then to Knoxville. They crossed White Breast creek on the 12th of December, 1852, just sixty days after they had started from Kentucky. They located on section 11, Union township, Marion county, where the father purchased one hundred and sixty-five acres of land. He used his oxen to break the first ground and energetically developed his property. As his re- sources increased he added to his possessions and became the owner of six hundred and forty acres of good land. He became well known in the county, was justice of the peace in Union township for four years and trustec for ten years. His political allegiance was given to the republican party. He was active in church work and was for some time clerk of the Baptist church in his locality. He passed away on the 26th of April, 1884, and in his demise the county lost a prominent pioneer farmer and a good citizen. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Miss Amanda F. Houck, was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Houck and was born in Kentucky on the 11th of May, 1812. She was educated in her native state and remained at home until her marriage. She was taught the art of weaving by a school teacher and as she was very ambitious became an expert weaver. The loom she used is now in possession of the subject of this review. She taught all of the women in the neighborhood the art and was famous as a housewife. Mr. and Mrs. Amos Ruckman had three children : Eliphalet B., of this review; John Lewis, who was born September 17, 1838, and fell in battle at Jackson, Mississippi, during the Civil war while commanding his company, which was Company B, Third Iowa Infantry ; and Joseph, who was born February 4, 1840, and was killed in battle before Jackson on the 12th of July, 1863. He was second lieutenant of the same company of which his brother was captain. Both were single. The mother of our subject died on the 30th of September, 1898.
Eliphalet B. Ruckman accompanied his parents to this state in 1852 and well remembers the erection of their home in 1853. It was made of logs and all of the work necessary in its construction was done by hand by members of the family. The rock to build the chimney was hauled from a nearby quarry and the father and sons
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broke it into pieces of the required shape and size. The subject of this review attended the school taught by Captain William Blaine, which was the first free school in the county. He taught for three months when in his twentieth year, receiving twenty dollars a month and boarding with the parents of the children whom he taught. He had thirty-six pupils and among them were a number of girls almost grown. Two of them were planning to play a joke upon him and enjoy a laugh at his expense, but he turned the tables upon them and sent them from the room. They were highly indignant and took their belongings and went home. Their mother told him to whip them, but he did not. He subsequently entered Central University of Iowa at Pella and was a freshman in the scientific course there at the out- break of the war. He left school and was never able to finish his course, as he was obliged to give his time to the work of the home farm for his two brothers had joined the Union army. After his father's death he succeeded to the ownership of the property, which comprises a quarter section of land on section 11, Union township. He does general farming and has been very successful in that occu- pation, gaining a competence which insures him comfort throughout his life.
Mr. Ruckman was united in marriage on the 17th of March, 1859, to Miss Charity Walker, a daughter of William and Mary (Teter) Walker. More detailed mention of the Teter family is found in the sketch of J. L. Teter, which appears elsewhere in this work. William Walker was the first male child born in Chillicothe, Ohio, and he resided there until April, 1857, when he came to Iowa, settling in Union township, this county. He farmed to some extent, but was a blacksmith and gunsmith and gave part of his attention to those trades. He was fairly successful in his farming and owned sixty-two acres of fertile land. He was also a musician of local note. He was an expert fifer and belonged to the Campbell Clan. He died two years after coming to this state, in 1859. His wife was born in Ross county, Ohio, and there their marriage occurred. To them were born five children, of whom Mrs. Ruckman was the youngest. Her birth occurred in Ross county, Ohio, October 30, 1841, and she died on the 25th of January, 1881. She was the mother of nine children : Robert Quintus, born December 20, 1859; Mary Elizabeth, who was born October 9, 1861, and became the wife of G. J. Jones; Eliza Jane, whose birth occurred on the 28th of December, 1863, and who mar- ried J. O. Rinehart; Hannah, who was born February 8, 1866, and died May 25, 1878; John Lewis, born January 25, 1868, who is a lawyer of Aberdeen, South Dakota, and is the representative of Brown
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county in the state legislature, having been reelected in November, 1914; Joseph Independence, who was born on the 4th of July, 1870, and is a resident of Union township; Zacheus A., born April 4, 1873, who saw service in the Philippines and who married Bertha Love and resides in Red Rock ; Martha S., who was born on the 29th of January, 1876, and is the wife of E. F. Carle; and William Clyde, born May 17, 1878, who married Miss Myrtle Moore and following her death was united in marriage to Miss Nellie D. Bellamy.
Mr. Ruckman is a republican and has held a number of local offices. He has been constable, trustee of his township, secretary of the school board, county surveyor, county supervisor and county audi- tor, and has been school director of sub-district No. 4 or Blaine district. He held office the greater part of the time for fifty-five years and has also served as a delegate to various county and state conven- tions of his party. For forty-one years he has been trustee of the Central University of Iowa at Pella. He is a Baptist in his religious belief and aids materially in the work of the church. He has lived in the county since pioneer times and has not only witnessed but has also furthered the development that has made this one of the most prosperous counties of the state.
HOMER ROUZE.
Homer Rouze owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 35, Swan township. The place presents a neat and thrifty appearance and gives every indication of the careful supervision of a practical and progressive owner. Mr. Rouze was born at the old town of Wheeling, in Marion county, April 13, 1858, a son of A. W. and Sarah ( Kavanagh) Rouze, who were married in Ohio and shortly afterward came to lowa, settling at Wheeling, in Marion county. The father was a teacher and followed that pro- fession for many years. He also followed farming in Swan town- ship in his later years. He had probably taught for a longer period than any other representative of the profession in Marion county and he imparted with readiness and clearness to others the knowl- edge that he had acquired.
A. W. Rouze was born in the Buckeye state and was educated in Oberlin College. After removing to the west he taught in Whecling and Pleasantville and also for a number of years in Warren county,
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at Hartford, Palmyra and other places. He also secured land and improved a homestead, converting his place into a fine farm. The family at first lived in a log house but as the years passed it became possible for him to provide for them a more modern residence and supply them with many comforts of life. Removing to Swan, the family there resided for a number of years, or until the death of Mrs. Rouze in July, 1902, when she was more than seventy years of age. Mr. Rouze then returned to the old home farm, whereon he passed away April 24, 1912, when more than eighty-two years of age. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while his wife held membership in the Christian church. He filled the office of justice of the peace for several years and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, based upon the law and equity in the case. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he was at one time a candidate for the office of county treasurer. In the family of A. W. and Sarah Rouze were five children, besides the subject of this review: H. H., a farmer now living near Min- neapolis, Minnesota; MIrs. Stella Moffatt, residing in Calhoun county, Iowa; Mrs. Sibyl Pyle, of Nebraska; William, who died at the age of sixteen years; and Albert, who died in infancy.
Homer Rouze was reared in Swan township, in which his birth occurred. His experiences were those which usually fall to the lot of the farm lad who divides his time between the duties of the school- room, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. He was married in this county March 13, 1884, to Miss Clara Spen- cer, who was born in Michigan, September 9, 1858, a daughter of John and Lucy (Abram) Spencer, who removed from Michigan to Indiana, where the mother died in 1862, leaving six children, of whom three are yet living: J. G., who is now a resident of Kansas City; Mrs. Emma Harmon, of Marshall county, Iowa; and Mrs. Rouze. It was in the year 1864 that John Spencer brought his fam- ily to Marion county, settling in Pleasant Grove township. He was a farmer and carpenter, devoting his entire life to those pursuits. Having lost his first wife, he married Mrs. Lovisa Pickett, née Miner, who is now also deceased. They had two children : William, now living in Kansas; and Mrs. Amanda Gish, of Washington. The death of Mr. Spencer occurred at his home in Pleasant Grove town- ship about 1878, when he was sixty years of age.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rouze were born ten children, of whom five survive, namely: Samuel V. and M. G., both of Minnesota; and Lloyd S., Grace and Loren, all at home. Those deceased were Alva, John Wiley, Ethel, and two who died in infancy.
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Politically Mr. Rouze is an carnest republican and an active worker in the local ranks of the party, doing all in his power to pro- mote its growth and insure its success. His fellow townsmen, appre- ciative of his worth and ability, have called him to a number of local offices. His wife is a member of the Christian church at Pleasantville. The family is widely and favorably known and warm regard is entertained for them by their friends and neighbors. For more than fifty-six years Mr. Rouze has resided in this county and is therefore numbered among the early settlers who have seen most of the county's development and progress, taking an active part in all that pertains to the upbuilding of the community in which he lives.
FRED ORA DAVIS.
Fred Ora Davis, engaged in the real-estate and loan business in Knoxville, with offices in the I. O. O. F. building, was born in 1877 in this county, a son of J. I. Davis, who came to this county in 1876 from West Virginia. The family is of Welsh descent but has been represented in this country for many years. Three brothers emigrated to America before the Revolution and one of the family served in that war. Members of the family have lived in Doddridge county, West Virginia, for over two hundred years. Both the grandfather and father of the subject of this review came to Marion county, Iowa, the former passing away here, while the latter engaged in farming here for many years but for the past seven years has lived in Wyoming. The mother of our subject was in her maidenhood Matilda Jane Wilson, a daughter of James Wilson, also of Doddridge county, West Virginia. She likewise survives. The family are Methodists in religious belief. The brothers and sisters of our subject are : Edgar, a farmer of Lucas county, Iowa; Walter, living in Wheatland, Wyo- ming; L. W .; Lovie, now Mrs. Johnson and a resident of Wyoming; and Ethel, at home.
Fred Ora Davis was reared and educated upon the home farm in this county and early became thoroughly acquainted with the details of agricultural work. Subsequently he mined coal for some time and was also engaged in the mercantile business. In 1903 he removed to Knoxville, where for the past ten years he has been engaged in the real-estate and loan business with offices in the I. O. O. F. building. He handles land in all sections of the county and annually negotiates many transfers of real estate. He has also placed
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a great many loans and in both branches of his business has been successful. He sometimes has more deals pending than he can give his own attention to and he then employs other men to act as his agents.
Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Annie Benteima, a resident of this county, and to them have been born four children, Bertha, May, Nora and Elmer. Mr. Davis is a republican in his political belief and loyally supports the candidates of that party at the polls. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to all branches of that organization, and is past grand of his lodge. He likewise holds membership in all branches of the Red Men, including the Haymakers Association, and belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose. His wife belongs to the Rebekahs. They own a comfortable home at the corner of Kent and Pleasant streets. Mr. Davis has contributed in no small measure to the development of Knoxville through his real-estate business and also by cooperating as a private citizen with a number of movements that have worked for the welfare of the community.
W. H. DANIELS, M. D.
Dr. W. H. Daniels is one of the younger representatives of the medical profession in Marion county but as a physician of Hamilton has already attained a position that many an older practitioner might well envy. He is one of the native sons of Iowa county, his birth having there occurred on the 7th of January, 1887. His youthful days were passed in that locality under the parental roof. His father, H. B. Daniels, was a native of Vermont, and after arriving at years of maturity he wedded Elizabeth Listenberger, who was born in Indiana. They are still living and yet make their home in Iowa county, where they have reared their family of seven children, six of whom are yet living.
At the usual age Dr. Daniels entered the public schools of his native county and after mastering the branches of learning therein taught he availed himself of his opportunities for further intellectual advancement, entering the University of Iowa, where he pursued a course in medicine and was graduated. He was afterward for one year connected with the government service in an official capacity and in 1912 he came to Hamilton, where he is now located. He has an excellent general practice and is most faithful and conscientious in
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the discharge of his professional duties. He reads broadly, thinks deeply and keeps in touch with the trend of general improvement along professional lines.
In 1909 Dr. Daniels was united in marriage to Miss Elouise Dillie, who was born in Johnson county, and to them has been born a son, Harrison W., whose natal day was May 16, 1912. Dr. Daniels and his wife attend the Baptist church and fraternally he is con- nected with the Masonic lodge at Hamilton and with the Royal Arch Chapter at Knoxville. His profession gives him ample opportunity to embody in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft which is based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness., He is most loyal to its teachings and along professional lines his efforts are of great worth.
GEORGE WHITLATCH.
George Whitlatch is one of the venerable residents of Indiana township, having passed the eighty-fifth milestone on life's journey. He has always carried on farming and there are few whose length of residence in Marion county approaches his own, for he arrived here seventy-one years ago. He was born in Adams county, Ohio, May 29, 1829, a son of Noah and Eva (Bible) Whitlatch, natives of Penn- sylvania and Virginia respectively. They were married, however, in Ohio and to them were born ten children, seven sons and three daughters. Of this numerous family only two, George and William, are now living.
On leaving Ohio the parents removed with their family to Indiana, where they lived until 1843 and then came to Marion county, Iowa, settling in Indiana township. This was then a frontier district and the seeds of civilization had scarcely been planted when they took up their abode here. Wild animals infested the forests; there were wolves, deer and many kinds of feathered game. Indians, too, were numerous but on the whole were friendly toward the settlers. There were no railroads, few wagon roads had been laid out and it was a long distance to mill and market. The settlers depended largely upon what they could raise for their supplies, although the skillful hunter had no difficulty in supplying his table with meat in the early days.
Mr. Whitlatch secured one hundred and sixty acres of govern- ment land and at once began the difficult task of breaking the sod.
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There were many hardships and privations to be met in those early days but the father, with the aid of his sons, continued the work of development and in the course of years his place became profitable. He was a democrat in his political views and was interested in public affairs, cooperating in various plans and movements for the upbuild- ing and improvement of the district in which he lived. He held some of the township offices and his duties were discharged with promptness and fidelity. He was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church in early manhood and afterward joined the Methodist Protestant church, living an earnest Christian life until called to his final rest in 1865. His wife long survived him and passed away in 1891, at the age of ninety-five years. They were laid to rest in a cemetery in this county.
George Whitlatch was a youth of fourteen years when brought by his parents to Iowa. He pursued his education in log schoolhouses both of Indiana and Iowa. Split logs were used for seats and desks and the building was heated by an immense fireplace. The methods of teaching were very primitive and the pupil had an opportunity of studying only a few branches. Mr. Whitlatch broke the prairie for a dollar and a quarter per acre in his early manhood and when twenty-seven years of age he left home and started in business on his own account. He has always followed farming and is still the owner of good property on section 20, Indiana township. In his earlier years he was very active in the work of the fields, doing everything necessary upon the farm for its development and improvement. In addition to cultivating corn, wheat and other cereals he engaged in the raising of graded stock and this also brought to him a substantial financial return.
On the 14th of September, 1856, Mr. Whitlatch was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Morrison, a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Whitlatch) Morrison, who in the year 1854 came to Iowa and settled in Marion county, taking up their abode in Indiana township. Both parents passed away here. The father was buried, however, in Cali- fornia and the mother in Missouri. They had a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitlatch were born seven children, namely : Mary J., who died at the age of eighteen ; Ida, the wife of Jackson Rogers; Frank ; Odella, who died in infancy ; Cora, also deceased; Amnie, who died at the age of two years; and Hugh, who is engaged in farming in Marion county.
The parents hold membership in the Methodist Protestant church and guide their lives by its teachings. In politics Mr. Whitlatch is a democrat and has filled a number of local offices with credit to him-
.
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self and satisfaction to his constituents. No history of this county would be complete without extended reference to him, so long as he resided here. As one of the pioneer settlers he is indeed widely and favorably known and there is no phase of the county's development and improvement with which he is not familiar. Many events which are to others a matter of history are known to him through personal connection therewith. He has seen the land claimed and cultivated, churches and schoolhouses erected and villages converted into thriv- ing towns and cities. As the years have gone on he has rejoiced in what has been accomplished and he loves to tell the story of what has been done-a tale which he relates in a most interesting manner.
RALPH P. KELLY.
Ralph P. Kelly owns and operates a fine farm of two hundred acres situated five and three-quarters miles west of Knoxville and also an eighty acre tract of fine land. He was born in Knoxville township on the 21st of March, 1872, a son of William Alexander and Sarah (Post) Kelly, both of whom are deceased. The father was born in Ohio on the 5th of August, 1841, and grew to manhood there. In 1859 or 1860 he came to Marion county, Iowa, and at the beginning of the Civil war, in 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Third Iowa Cavalry, serving under Captain Brown and participating in a number of important engagements. He was captured and spent nine months in Andersonville prison and three months in Libby prison. He was in the army for three years and his gallantry and faithfulness won him promotion to the rank of sergeant. At the close of hostilities he returned to this county and joined his parents, who had located near the site of the present Eden church and the Lincoln cemetery. William A. Kelly subsequently removed to a farm a half mile south of White Breast creek, which he purchased in time and which remained his home until his death. He was a republican and held a number of local offices. John C. Ferguson Post, No. 49, G. A. R., had no more enthusiastic member than Mr. Kelly, who greatly enjoyed his association with his old comrades in blue. He was married in Salem, Ohio, to Miss Sarah Post, who died in 1872, leaving an only child, the subject of this review. His second wife was Miss Mary Heckler, whom he married in Salem, Ohio, in 1876, and to that union was born one child, John, who re-
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