USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 16
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
sides upon the old home place. The father was called to his reward on the 28th of May, 1913.
Ralph P. Kelly resided at home until he was twenty-eight years of age and was then married and began farming upon his own ac- count. His labors have been rewarded by excellent crops and the neat appearance of everything about his farm indicates his energy and good management. He understands the raising of crops from the preparation of the soil for the planting to the gathering of the harvest and as he is enterprising and industrious his land yields him a good income annually.
Mr. Kelly was married to Miss Maude Jordan, who was born upon the farm where she now resides, a daughter of Frederick and Henrietta Jordan, who were natives of Germany but came to this county in 1860 and settled in Knoxville township. Mr. Jordan was a large landowner, having at one time from seven hundred to eight hundred acres and when he died still held title to four hundred and forty acres. He made many improvements upon his land and was one of the substantial citizens of the county. He and his wife reared ten children who survive. Mr. Jordan died in 1900 when seventy- three years of age and his wife passed away in 1908 at the age of sixty-seven years. They were Presbyterians in their religious be- lief. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelly has been born a daughter, Irene Sarah, whose birth occurred on the 24th of January, 1908. She is now attending school.
Mr. Kelly is a republican and his allegiance to that party is unwavering. Both he and his wife belong to the Presbyterian church at Knoxville, attending its services faithfully and contributing to its support. He operates a fine two hundred acre farm west of Knoxville which is part of the Jordan estate, and an eighty acre tract which is a part of the W. A. Kelly place. In cultivating his places he is gaining personal success, but is also aiding in the agri- cultural development of the county.
HARRY L. BRIDGMAN, M. D.
Dr. Harry L. Bridgman, a well known young medical practi- tioner of Columbia, where he has followed his profession contin- uously since 1907, has won an enviable reputation as one of the skilled and successful representatives of the fraternity in Marion county. His birth occurred in Harrison county, Indiana, on the
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20th of June, 1882, his parents being John W. and Carrie (Thomas) Bridgman, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indi- ana. Their marriage was celebrated in the Hoosier state, where the mother passed away and where the father is still living. To them were born five children, three of whom survive.
Harry L. Bridgman remained under the parental roof until six- teen years of age and in the acquirement of an education attended the graded and high schools of his native state. Having determined upon a professional carcer, he entered the Kentucky School of Medi- cine at Louisville, which institution conferred upon him the degree of M. D. in 1907. The same year he opened an office at Columbia, Iowa, where he has since remained and has built up a liberal and lucrative practice, his skill and ability being widely recognized. With the steady progress of the profession he keeps in close touch through his membership in the Tri County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Associa- tion.
In 1910 Dr. Bridgman was united in marriage to Miss Beneti May, a native of Marion county, Iowa, and a daughter of G. W. and Nettie May, who were also born in this county. She is a high- school graduate and for some years prior to her marriage followed the profession of teaching. She now has one son, Harry L., Jr., born March 17, 1912. Dr. Bridgman is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Inter Ocean Lodge, No. 152, A. F. & A. M., at Lacona, Iowa, while his wife belongs to the Rebekahs and is also a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Both are prominent in the younger social set of the community, being well liked and highly estecmed for their many good qualities of mind and character.
CLINTON FERGUS.
Clinton Fergus, one of the venerable citizens and retired agri- culturists of Marion county, still resides on his farm of three hun- dred and forty acres on section 13, Liberty township. He has now passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey and the period of his residence in this county covers more than four decades.
His birth occurred in Indiana on the 4th of January, 1834, his parents being S. B. and Julia (McFaden) Fergus, who were natives of England and Ireland respectively. They emigrated to the United
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States in an early day and were married in Ohio. Subsequently they took up their abode in Indiana and in that state spent the remainder of their lives. They settled on a farm and experienced all of the privations and hardships of frontier life, for the community was still but sparsely settled and largely undeveloped. The father built a log cabin with clapboard roof, puncheon floor and stick chimney and the door of the little dwelling had a latchstring. This primi- tive abode remained the home of the family for a number of years. To Mr. and Mrs. Fergus were born thirteen children, seven of whom still survive.
Clinton Fergus received a common-school education in his youth, the little "temple of learning" in which he conned his lessons being constructed of logs. He spent the period of his minority under the parental roof and subsequently worked as a common laborer until the time of his marriage. Following that important event in his life he rented a farm in Indiana, which he operated for three years. On the expiration of that period, in 1864, he came to Iowa and pur- chased a farm in Mahaska county, where he successfully carried on agricultural pursuits for seven years. In 1871 he disposed of the property and came to Marion county, purchasing the farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 13, Liberty township, whereon he has resided continuously since. He later purchased two hundred and forty acres, but twenty acres were given to the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy and Wabash Railroads for right of ways. He erected substantial and commodious buildings on his place and in con- nection with the cultivation of cereals devoted considerable attention to stock-raising, meeting with gratifying success in both branches of his business. When his well directed activity had brought him a comfortable competence he put aside the active work of the fields and is now living retired, spending his declining years in the enjoy- ment of the fruits of his former toil.
In 1861 Mr. Fergus was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Litler, who was born in a log cabin in Indiana, her parents being Thomas and Susan M. (Fry) Litler, natives of Virginia. They established their home in Indiana in pioneer times but subsequently came to Marion county, Iowa, and purchased the farm which is now in pos- session of our subject. The remainder of their lives was here spent, and of their twelve children four are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Fergus became the parents of five children, as follows: Thomas B., who is living on a farm in this county; John R., a resident of Wis- consin; C. W., who makes his home in Marion county, Iowa; James Q., deceased ; and one who died in infancy.
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Mr. Fergus has always been a democrat in his political views and since 1872 has held the office of school director, the cause of education ever finding in him a stalwart champion. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Protestant church, to which his wife also belongs. He has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey and enjoys the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on this earthly pilgrimage and whose career has been at all times upright and honorable.
BENJAMIN L. PARSONS.
Benjamin L. Parsons is well remembered in the village of Colum- bia and throughout the surrounding country, although twenty years have come and gone since he was called to his final rest. He lived retired in the village, although in earlier years he was a very active, energetic business man. His birth occurred in Pennsylvania in 1804, and he was descended from old Quaker stock, the kind that upheld the political and legal status of the state and promoted its intellectual and moral progress. He was reared in the east, pursued his educa- tion there and for many years conducted business in Ohio as propri- etor of a store in Marion county.
Mr. Parsons came to Marion county, Iowa, about 1862, and at Columbia was united in marriage to Mrs. Salina Williams, the widow of Joseph Williams and a daughter of Adam and Mary Ann Quillen. Her first husband was a carpenter and cabinet-maker and followed those trades throughout his entire life. He built a mill at Columbia and operated it until it was destroyed by fire, when he re- tired from active business and spent his remaining days in the enjoy- ment of well earned rest. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams were born two children : Alice, now deceased; and Charlotte, who died when but two weeks old. Since the death of her second husband Mrs. Parsons has lived in Columbia, where she is the owner of town lots and other property. She is now eighty-six years of age and is a keen minded, well informed woman whose appearance greatly belies her age.
The death of Mr. Parsons occurred September 5, 1894, and he was laid to rest in the Columbia cemetery. During his later years, because of the fact that he was living retired, he had more leisure for social life than many a business man enjoys and he gained a large circle of friends in Columbia. His success in a business way was
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BENJAMIN L. PARSONS
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derived entirely through his energy, his industry, determination and diligence and his history illustrates what may be accomplished by close application and honorable purpose.
GEORGE L. GUSTIN.
Since March, 1910, George L. Gustin has resided in Knoxville, having retired from the active work of the farm. He was born at McArthur, Vinton county, Ohio, July 2, 1846, a son of Robert and Susanna (Speed) Gustin. The father came to this county on the 5th of April, 1847, located upon a claim in Union township, three miles from Red Rock village, entering a quarter section of land, and built the first hewn log house in that township. His wife and two children joined him in this county, which remained the family home thereafter. Mr. Gustin improved his first claim and subsequently traded it for another but resided in Union township until the spring of 1869. In that year he removed to Franklin township and pur- chased a farm, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1873, when he was fifty-three years of age. He was a typical pioneer and aided much in the early development of the county. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. George Gustin, the former of whom died in early manhood, but the latter lived to a ripe old age. Robert Gustin was born in Athens county, Ohio, as was his wife, who bore the maiden name of Susanna Speed and was the daughter of George and Mercy C. Speed, the former of whom spent the last years of his life in Marion county and here passed away, while the latter died in Ohio. A num- ber of representatives of both the Gustin and Speed families have lived in this county and the two names are held in high respect here.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gustin were at first members of the United Brethren church but later joined the Methodist Episcopal church. She died in November, 1911, in this county, when almost ninety years of age. To their union were born three children. James W., whose birth occurred July 6, 1842, and who died in Missouri in 1873, was a farmer for a time but subsequently engaged in the shoe business in the Iron state. He left a widow and several children, all of whom are now deceased but a son, who resides in Canada. The subject of this review is the next in order of birth. Mrs. Mercy Morgan, whose husband was for twenty years chief of the fire department of Portland, Oregon, passed away in that city in 1904, leaving three daughters. Vol. I1-11
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George L. Gustin was brought to this county when an infant and has lived here continuously since. For many years he followed farm- ing, raising grain and stock and gaining more than a competence. He first bought land in this county in 1869 and subsequently sold that tract and bought a finely improved farm in Franklin township, which he sold for one hundred and fifty dollars per acre in 1909. He has dealt in land to a considerable extent, has bought and sold or traded a number of farms and still owns many acres of good land. In 1910 he removed to Knoxville, where he is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens.
In 1871 Mr. Gustin was married to Miss Susan Glenn, who was reared from childhood in this county but whose birth occurred in Jefferson county, this state. Her parents, Thomas and Mary Glenn, came to Iowa from the vicinity of Albany, Indiana, shortly after their marriage and the father followed farming. Both have passed away. An uncle of Mrs. Gustin, William Glenn, was for many years a merchant at Pleasantville. To Mr. and Mrs. Gustin have been born two children. C. D., representing the Home Insurance Com- pany at Des Moines, married Miss Julia Welcher and they have three daughters, Gladys, Gertrude and Lois. Myrta married Clyde Flannagan, a farmer of Franklin township, by whom she has a son, Don.
Mr. Gustin is a stanch democrat and served for years in township offices while a resident of Franklin township. From January, 1884, to January, 1888, he was county auditor, and he has also served as a member of the board of supervisors. The family are members of the Free Methodist church of Knoxville and hold the respect of those who have come in contact with them as their lives are guided by high standards of morality.
GEORGE J. THOMASSEN.
George J. Thomassen, a well known lawyer of Pella and presi- dent of the city school board, is a native son of the city, born March 18, 1870. His parents were Geurt and Nellie (Rysdam) Thomas- sen, both natives of Holland, who in 1847 came to the United States, making their way direct to Pella. The paternal grandfather, John Thomassen, purchased a farm in Marion county in 1847 and also established one of the first stores in Pella, continuing to engage in merchandising until his death. Geurt Thomassen was in business
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with his father and after the latter's death continued alone in busi- ness until he too was called to his final, rest in 1899. The mother of our subject died in 1874.
George J. Thomassen was given excellent educational advantages, as, after being graduated from the public schools, he attended the Central University of Iowa, which is located in Pella, and still later entered the law department of Drake University at Des Moines, from which he was graduated in 1902. He immediately began prac- tice in his native city and has continued here until the present time.
In 1894 Mr. Thomassen married Miss Sarah Van Stigt, a daugh- ter of K. and Josephine Van Stigt, who left Holland in 1847 and emigrated to the United States with Pella as their objective point. Her father was for a time in the saddlery business but later turned his attention to boots and shoes. He died in May, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Thomassen have two children, Junella and Ruth, both at home.
Mr. Thomassen is a member of the First Reformed church and takes great interest in its work. Politically he is a democrat and is most active in the support of movements and institutions that make for the general good. He is president of the school board and trus- tee of the public library and in these capacities has been able to do much for the cause of general education.
IRVIN J. PASCOE, M. D.
Dr. Irvin J. Pascoe is a well known and successful young medical practitioner of Harvey and has already won an enviable reputation in professional circles of the county. His birth occurred in Wis- consin on the 27th of April, 1885, his parents being J. J. and Sarah E. (Trenery) Pascoe, likewise natives of that state. In 1886 they removed to Monroe county, Iowa, and have there resided contin- uously since. They became the parents of nine children, six of whom survive.
Irvin J. Pascoe, who was only about a year old when brought to this state, spent the period of his minority under the parental roof. Having determined upon a professional career, he entered the Chi- cago College of Medicine and Surgery and was graduated from that institution in May, 1910. He first located for practice at Hiteman, Monroe county, but at the end of two years opened an office in Har- vey, where he has remained continuously to the present time. He now enjoys an extensive and gratifying practice which has steadily
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grown as he has demonstrated his skill and ability in coping with the intricate problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts to restore health and prolong life. Through his mem- bership in the Iowa State Medical Society he keeps in close touch with the progress of the profession.
In 1910 Dr. Pascoe was united in marriage to Miss Mildred Merrill, a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a daughter of Sanford and Mary (Miller) Merrill, both of whom were born in Ohio. The father is now a resident of Chicago and is superintendent of the Oak Park schools, but the mother has passed away. Their four children are all yet living. To Dr. and Mrs. Pascoc have been born three children, namely: Gladys M., Merrill B. and Irvin Theodore.
Dr. Pascoe gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is fraternally identified with the Masons, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter, while his wife is a member of the Eastern Star. He is likewise affiliated with the Yeomen and the Red Men, and both he and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. They have won many friends throughout the com- munity and are very popular in social circles.
GARRET K. HART.
Garret K. Hart is an attorney of Knoxville who devotes much time to the abstract business, which he has found to his liking and profitable. He was born on the 22d of April, 1846, in New Jersey, a son of John T. and Mercy ( Howell) Hart. The former was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, and the latter in Warren county, that state. The paternal grandfather was John Hart of New Jersey, of English descent, the family emigrating to this country from Eng- land in the pre-Revolutionary period. The maternal grandfather was Levi Howell and he came of Dutch ancestry.
After completing his public-school course in New Jersey, Garret K. Hart attended Heidelberg College at Tiffin, Ohio, for two years, and in the early part of the year 1869 came to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he entered the law office of Lafferty & Johnson, as student, and was admitted to the bar at the spring term of 1871 of the district court of Mahaska county, Iowa. He is recognized as a capable attorney and still appears as counsel in trials, but a great deal of his atten- tion is given to the abstract business in which he has been engaged for a number of years.
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Mr. Hart was married in New Jersey, March 23, 1871, to Miss Henrietta Samantha Van Horn, a daughter of Isaac and Rebecca (Stillwell) Van Horn, and settled in Knoxville, Iowa, where he has resided ever since. The one child of this union, Tobias Van Horn, married Miss Blanche vander Linden, of Pella, Iowa, and has two children. Mrs. Henrietta Samantha Hart passed away November 27, 1912.
Mr. Hart is a member of the Methodist church and fraternally affiliates with the Masons and the Odd Fellows. He is a republican in politics and takes a praiseworthy interest in public affairs. As an attorney, as a business man and as a citizen he conforms his life to high standards and has won the unqualified respect of his fellow townsmen.
JESSE SIMMONS.
Jesse Simmons, one of the venerable citizens and retired agricul- turists of Marion county, has resided within its borders for a period of sixty-eight years, being brought here by his parents when a little lad of but four years and having therefore witnessed the development and growth of the district from pioneer times to the present. He devoted his time and energies to farming throughout his active busi- ness career and is now living retired in Attica, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease. His birth occurred in Logan county, Illinois, on the 27th of February, 1842, his parents being Smith and Nancy (Stroud) Simmons, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. Removing to Illinois, they remained in the Prairie state until 1844, when they came to Iowa, settling first in Mahaska county. Two years later, however, they took up their abode in Marion county and here the remainder of their lives was spent. They became the parents of six children, two of whom survive.
Jesse Simmons, as above stated, was a little lad of but four years when brought to this county, and he spent the period of his minority under the parental roof. In 1864, when twenty-two years of age, he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company I, Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, remaining with that command as a brave and loyal soldier until the cessation of hostilities. He was then mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, and returned to this county, taking up the pursuits of civil life as an agriculturist. The work of the fields claimed his attention throughout his active business career
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and in his undertakings he won a gratifying and well merited measure of success. He is now spending the evening of life in honorable retirement at Attica and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the esteemed pioneers and prosperous citizens of the county.
In January, 1864, Mr. Simmons was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca C. Gullion, who was born in Marion county, Iowa, in 1846, her parents being Jeremiah and Hannah ( Pierson) Gullion, natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. They came to this county in 1844, entering one hundred and sixty acres of land in Liberty township on which the father built a log cabin that was the family home for several years. Their children were ten in number and five are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons became the parents of nine children, as follows: Jeremiah; Nancy A .; William S .; Hallie, the wife of Thomas Hartness; Wyant, who is deceased; Fred; Jessie: Hannah, who gave her hand in marriage to Alford Righter; and Columbus. The parents are devoted and consistent members of the Methodist Protestant church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have lived in Marion county throughout a period covering nearly seven decades and they are widely and favorably known here, having won the warm regard and friendship of all with whom they have come in contact.
WILLIAM EDSON RINEHART.
William Edson Rinehart is serving as city clerk of Knoxville and is a successful business man of the city, owning a department store. He was born in Knoxville on the 5th of April, 1884, a son of S. S. and Alma (Ogle) Rinehart, who were natives of Ohio and Illinois respectively. They were early settlers of the county and the father engaged in blacksmithing for many years.
William E. Rinehart obtained his education in the common schools and subsequently clerked in a dry-goods store belonging to T. H. Heiny. Later he was employed in a similar capacity by J. D. Hanks and by Younker Brothers, of Des Moines. After again working for Mr. Hanks he opened a department store of his own in Knoxville on the 25th of March, 1910. The building is twenty by one hundred feet in dimensions and is located on the south side of the square. His long experience in mercantile houses has thor- oughly qualified him for the management of such an enterprise, and the variety of goods offered, the nice balance maintained between
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quality and price and the courteous treatment given all customers are among the factors that have made his store one of the leading mercantile establishments of Knoxville.
Mr. Rinehart was married on the 8th of November, 1909, to Miss Mary Kinney, of Donley, Iowa, a daughter of J. J. Kinney. Mr. Rinehart is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is well known and popular in that organization. Politically he is a democrat and manifests a keen interest in everything relating to local governmental affairs. In 1908 he was elected city clerk and served for two years. On the 9th of July, 1913, he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the same office and is at present the incumbent thereof. He is a forceful factor in the expansion of the city's business interests and as a public- spirited citizen cooperates heartily in a number of measures calcu- lated to benefit the community as a whole.
CLARENCE GRUBB.
Since 1911 Clarence Grubb has carried on business as a lumber dealer of Tracy and in this connection has built up an enterprise of extensive and gratifying proportions. His birth occurred in Morgan county, Ohio, on the 7th of May, 1875, his parents being B. F. and Mary (Boileau) Grubb, likewise natives of the Buckeye state. In November, 1880, they came to Iowa, settling first in New Sharon, Mahaska county, and subsequently in Oskaloosa, that county, where they have made their home continuously since. To them were born six children, five of whom survive.
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