USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 27
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Mr. Hartley usually supports the republican candidates at the polls but reserves the right to vote independently whenever he con- siders that the interests of good government will be best served by so doing. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is affiliated with the Masonic order. Mr. Hartley is a very practical man and manages his affairs excellently, displaying sound judgment and knowledge of business conditions. He is one of the well- to-do men of the county and it is generally conceded that his pros- perity is due to his enterprise and wise management. He is never remiss in the duties of citizenship and his influence is always on the side of justice and true progress.
EDGAR M. OSBORN.
Edgar M. Osborn is successfully engaged in merchandising at Tracy, having there conducted a general store since February, 1912. His birth occurred in Dallas county, Iowa, on the 13th of October, 1881, his parents being J. P. and Alice S. (Sumner) Osborn, both of whom were natives of Indiana. They removed to Dallas county, Iowa, in an early day, settling on a farm whereon the mother eventu- ally passed away. The father survives, however, and now makes his home in Arkansas. They had three children, all of whom are vet living.
Edgar M. Osborn had the advantage of a high-school education in his youth and remained at home until he was seventeen years of age. Subsequently he was employed in a grocery store for some time and in February, 1912, embarked in business on his own account, opening a general store at Tracy, where he has carried on merchan- dising continuously to the present time. He displays a large and well selected stock of goods and is accorded a liberal and gratifying pat- ronage because of his reasonable prices and his courteous treatment of customers.
In November, 1908, Mr. Osborn was united in marriage to Miss Leora M. Hanna, a daughter of William R. and Julia (Rouze) Hanna, who were born in Ohio and Iowa respectively. Their three
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children all survive. Mr. and Mrs. Osborn are the parents of a daughter, Alice J., who was born on the 26th of November, 1911. Mr. Osborn gives his political allegiance to the republican party, while both he and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He is one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of the com- munity, as well as one of the substantial merchants, and has many friends who accord him the esteem he well merits.
WILLIAM E. HYER.
For the past twelve years William E. Hyer, a retired farmer and stock-raiser, has resided in Knoxville and he is favorably known in this city. During his active life he followed agricultural pursuits in Union township. He was born in Highland county, Ohio, on the 27th of December, 1837, a son of Job and Angeline (Scott) Hyer, natives of Ohio and Spottsylvania county, Virginia, respectively. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Hyer, was born in Pennsylvania and served in the War of 1812. His father, John Hyer, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and assisted in freeing the colonies from the dominion of England. The family is of English descent. The mother of our subject removed to Ohio from Virginia when a girl and there married and resided during the remainder of her life. She lived to the advanced age of eighty-two years, surviving her husband for many years, as he died when but thirty-eight years of age. He was twice married and by his first union had a son, Rufus Hyer, who was killed in the Mexican war. Five children were born of his marriage with Miss Scott, the only ones surviving besides the subject of this review being a brother who is living in the Sol- diers' Home at Dayton, Ohio, and a sister.
When seven years of age William E. Hyer was taken to Ross county, Ohio, and there spent the greater part of his boyhood and youth. When nineteen years old he came to Iowa, arriving in Marion county November 2, 1857. He had no money and made the long trip from Ohio with an ox team. He was married and had one child and his family accompanied him on the journey westward. They settled in Polk township, where Mr. Hyer engaged in farming until the Civil war. On the 15th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Western Army until August 16, 1865, when he was discharged. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and the battles of Little Rock,
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Camden, Jenkins Ferry and Prairie De Ann but was fortunate enough to escape without being wounded. After receiving his dis- charge he returned home and began the cultivation of a farm in Union township. He first bought eighty acres of land but added to his realty until he became the owner of four hundred and forty acres. In 1902 he sold out and gave a considerable sum of money to each of his children.
On the 2d of November, 1856, Mr. Hyer was married in Ross county, Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Benson, who died in Marion county, Iowa, on the 2d of April, 1909. She was born in February, 1840, in Ross county and became the mother of nine children, all of whom survive, are married and have families. Two reside in Emmet county, Iowa; two in Marion county; one in Minnesota; two in Canada; one in Montana; and one in Page county, lowa. On the 16th of November, 1910, Mr. Hyer was again married. His present wife is a daughter of David Kuhns and was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the 23d of May, 1840. In the spring of 1851 she accompanied the other members of the family to Iowa, living in the vicinity of Bellevue, Jackson county, for twenty-three years. At the end of that time the family removed to Marion county, where the parents spent the remainder of their lives. The father was called to his final rest in 1885 but the mother survived until 1900, dying when eighty-seven years of age. To them were born nine children, six of whom are still living. Mrs. Hver gave fine proof of her filial devotion by lovingly caring for her parents during their later years and remained at home until both had passed away.
Mr. and Mrs. Hyer are members of the Congregational church and active in the support of all good causes. Although both have passed the three score years and ten allotted to man by the Psalmist they are enjoying good health and still have a part in the community life of Knoxville, where they are well known and highly respected.
G. A. STOUT.
G. A. Stout is the proprietor and publisher of the Pella Booster, an eight page, all home print weekly paper which has been instru- mental in securing many needed improvements in the city and county. He was born in Illinois on the 24th of April, 1868, a son of J. S. and Esther (Smith) Stout. The father was engaged in lead and zinc
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mining. Mr. Stout of this review was given excellent educational opportunities, as, after graduating from the public schools, he com- pleted a business course in the Penn College of Springfield, Mis- souri, being a member of the class of 1883. Upon leaving school he learned the printer's trade and for eighteen months was reporter upon the Globe-Democrat of St. Louis. He later turned his atten- tion to job printing and learned that business thoroughly, working for twenty-one months in some of the large print shops of St. Louis. In 1891 he established the Independent, a weekly paper published at Rossville, Illinois, and joined the fight on Joseph Cannon in 1892 when that redoubtable leader went down in defeat. In 1892 he sold that paper and came to Pella, where for several years he engaged in job printing. In the same year he founded the Pella Advertiser, but after publishing it for some time sold it to A. P. Heald. On account of his health Mr. Stout gave up the printing and newspaper business for a time and returned to Illinois, but after a few months came again to Pella. He again entered the job printing business and bought Pella's Weekblad and Blade of H. Neyenesch and con- solidated it with the Advertiser under the name of the Pella Chronicle. Mr. Stout in time disposed of this paper also and for a while traveled upon the road and also worked in Des Moines for a short time. In 1905 he again located at Pella, established a printing office and founded the Pella Booster. He still owns and publishes this paper, which is a weekly and which has a large circulation, its subscribers numbering at present fourteen hundred and fifty. It is in the main independent in political matters but has democratic lean- ings. It started as a four page paper, but now has eight pages, six columns to the page, and is all home print, which is rather unusual among the weekly papers in the smaller cities. In January, 1914, new and thoroughly modern equipment was installed, including unitype machines. Mr. Stout's thorough knowledge of the mechan- ical and technical side of printing insures the paper's typographical excellence and its editorial and news columns have attained an equally high standard. He is an editorial writer of force and lucid- ity and his leading articles are worthy of careful reading and thought. He has the journalistic sense highly developed and can gauge accurately the amount of space to which a news story is entitled. In the make-up of his paper he maintains a wise balance between local and general news and, as he exercises great care in determining the truth or falsity of accounts of happenings and places great stress upon accuracy, his paper ranks as one of the best weekly publications in this section of the state.
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In 1894 Mr. Stout was united in marriage to Miss Marie Lan- kelma, of Pella, a daughter of Peter C. and Anna Lankelma, who in 1856 settled in this city. The father was for many years in the hard- ware business but during his last years lived retired. He died on the 16th of July, 1914, having survived his wife since 1908.
Mr. Stout is a democrat in politics and has served upon the county democratic central committee. He has always been an active worker for the betterment of the city and did valuable service in arousing public sentiment in favor of a municipal light and water plant. Fraternally he belongs to the Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He is charter member of the local lodge of the last named fraternity. As a private citizen and especially as the editor of the Pella Booster he exercises a strong influence in the affairs of the city and county and this power is always used for the general good. His public spirit and his integrity have gained him the respect and con- fidence of his fellow citizens.
H. F. KEABLES, M. D.
For many years the name of Keables has been associated with the medical profession in Pella, as the father of our subject was a physi- cian and surgeon, practicing here for many years, and as Dr. H. F. Keables has for twenty years or more followed his profession here. He was born at Pella on the 3d of June, 1865, a son of B. F. and Sarah J. (Scholte) Keables. The father was a native of Geneseo, New York. As a young man he entered the Keokuk Medical College and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1850. In that year he came to Pella and opened an office, remaining in the active practice of his profession until his death. He was a member of the county and state medical societies and of the American Medical Association and was one of the originators of the county society. He was for many years a member of the pension board. To some extent he specialized in the diseases of women and children and became well known for his successful treatment of those diseases. At the time of the Civil war he was surgeon for the Third Regiment of Iowa Volunteers with the rank of major. He did much toward shaping public thought and action in Pella and many of the institutions and forces that make for the welfare of the community benefited by his counsel and work
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in their behalf. For many years he was president of the board of trustees of Central University of Iowa and was largely instrumental in retaining Pella as its location. In the 'zos he served in the state legislature for two terms and proved a wise and efficient member of the general assembly. During McKinley's administration he was postmaster of Pella and for a long time was a member of the city school board. Fraternally he was a member of the Masons, in which he attained the Knights Templar degree, and the Odd Fellows. He attended the Baptist church and contributed to the support of the work of that organization. He passed away in 1911 and in his death the community lost one of its most useful and most highly respected citizens. Two of his brothers were also physicians. His wife, who was a daughter of Rev. H. P. Scholte and who passed away Octo- ber 18, 1914, was highly esteemed by all who were privileged to know her. She was the mother of five children. H. S. is proprietor of the drug store in Pella which his father established in 1852. Kate F. is the wife of R. R. Beard and lives at Pella. J. B. is a resident of Des Moines. Dr. H. F., of this review, is the next in order of birth. May is the wife of Rev. J. B. Smith, a minister of the Baptist church, now stationed at Waterloo, Iowa.
Dr. H. F. Keables attended the Central University of Iowa for a time after his graduation from the public schools and subsequently entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, which institution gave him his professional degree in 1890 after he had completed the required course. He first located in Des Moines and practiced there for a short time, but soon he returned to his birthplace and has since, or for more than twenty years, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Pella. He has a keen realization of the fact that this is an age in which accurate scientific knowledge is of paramount importance and in which it is necessary to make continued progress if one would not be distanced in the achievement of success. He accord- ingly utilizes the available means for keeping abreast of the discoveries made by trained investigators who are constantly seeking to learn more of the nature and cure of disease. He belongs to the state and county medical societies and to the American Medical Association, reads much along professional lines and has taken post- graduate work in both Chicago and New York. His progressiveness, his knowledge of different systems of therapeutics and the genuine interest that he takes in every case in which he is called unite in mak- ing him one of the most successful and most prosperous physicians of the county. He holds alike the respect of the general public and of his professional colleagues.
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Dr. Keables was first married in 1892 to Miss Dora E. Narkel, who died in 1894, leaving one child, Benjamin Franklin, now a clerk in the postoffice at Pella. In 1896 the Doctor was married to Miss Jessie V. Dinsmore, of Boston, Massachusetts, and to this union three children have been born: Sarah A., Esther and Frances.
Dr. Keables is a republican in politics, as he is convinced that its principles and policies offer the best means of solution for the vexed problems of our national life. Fraternally he belongs to the Masons and is a past master of the local blue lodge. During the score of years in which he has practiced his profession in Pella he has served the community well and has always been among the leaders in the effort to make the place one of the model cities of the state in respect to public sanitation and hygiene, and the consciousness of a worthy work well done is by no means the least of his reward. He has also won financial success and is considered one of the representative residents of the city. His many fine traits of character have gained him loyal friends who esteem his good opinion highly.
JACOB STIERNEMANN.
Since 1867 Jacob Stiernemann, a well known blacksmith of Otley, has resided in this county, although he was born in Greneckin, Switz- erland. His birth occurred on the ist of October, 1840, and he was therefore a young man of twenty-six years when he emigrated to America, as he arrived in this country in 1866. His parents were Jacob and Maria (Wehrlie) Stiernemann. The father was born in Switzerland in 1809 and died there in 1894, and the mother, whose birth occurred in Switzerland in 1810, passed away in 1873 in her native land. To their union were born six children : Sallie, Samuel, Jacob, Mary, Andrew and Annie.
Jacob Stiernemann, the only surviving member of the family, received his education in Switzerland and after landing in New York in 1866 went south and for six months worked on a plantation near Brunswick, Georgia, which belonged to General Gordon. At the end of that time he went successively to Baltimore, Kentucky and Keokuk. He then came to Marion county and after staying at Pella a short time removed to Otley, where he purchased a lot and started a blacksmith shop. This was in 1867 and he has since worked at his trade, which he learned in Switzerland. In the intervening years he has bought out three men and now has the only shop in the town.
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His work is of a high quality and his services are satisfactory to those who patronize him. He has prospered financially and owns his com- fortable residence here and ten lots. He built his own home and also two other houses and derives a gratifying addition to his income from the rent of his town property.
In 1868 Mr. Stiernemann was married to Miss Maria Carter, a daughter of Daniel and Lydia (Brucher) Carter. On her mother's side she is of Pennsylvania Dutch stock. She was born in Ohio, but in 1850 accompanied her parents to Iowa. Their children were Reuben, Rachel, George, Maria, James, Elizabeth Rebecca, King and Lydia. Mrs. Stiernemann was educated in Ohio and remained at home until her marriage, which was solemnized two miles north- west of Otley. To Mr. and Mrs. Stiernemann have been born five children : One who died in infancy; Minnie, whose birth occurred on the 23d of April, 1872; John, born April 23, 1875; Simon, Janu- ary 29, 1880; and Herman, whose birth occurred on the 9th of November, 1881.
Mr. Stiernemann was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, from which he has never departed, and his influence is always on the side of right and justice. In politics he is a democrat and has served upon the school board for fifteen or twenty years. Fraternally he is quite well known, belonging to a number of orders. For ten years he has been a member of the Knights of Pythias of Pella, since 1873 he has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Monroe, and he belongs to the blue lodge of the Masons at Monroe and to the commandery at Newton, having attained the Knights Templar degree. His daughters are members of both the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs. His life has been at all times open and straightforward and his fellow citizens esteem him highly, as they know him to be a man of upright life and public spirit.
LORENZO DOW BATTEN.
One of the highly respected residents of Knoxville is Lorenzo Dow Batten, who for many years was actively engaged in business as a blacksmith in this city. He was born in Brown county, Ohio, on the 9th of July, 1845, a son of Thomas and Sarah (Bradford) Batten. His father was born in Highland county, that state, in 1812 and his mother in Brown county on the 12th of June, 1813. On the maternal side he is descended from William and Margaret (Parkin-
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son) Bradford, who removed from Virginia to Brown county, Ohio, in 1822. William Bradford was a son of Samuel and Sarah Brad- ford, who emigrated to America from England in 1765. Margaret Parkinson was a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Dickey) Parkinson, who came from England to the United States. The former was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, as was his father, William Parkinson. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Batten were married in Brown county, Ohio, in August, 1841, and resided there until 1851 or 1852, when they came to lowa, settling near Pleasantville. The father purchased land and farmed until he retired from active life. He was a Methodist in his religious faith and was highly esteemed by his neighbors and acquaintances. He passed away in 1881, having for many years survived his wife, who died in 1853 shortly after the family removed to this state. To them were born four children. Exira married James Ruby and died leaving one daughter, Eliza Jane. Lorenzo Dow is the next in order of birth. The two youngest children died in infancy.
Lorenzo Dow Batten was but a child when he accompanied his parents to this county and his education was gained in the public schools here. As a young man he learned the trade of blacksmithing and for about forty years has conducted a shop in Knoxville. He has built up a reputation for careful and thorough work and has gained a competence through his labors. His efficiency and integrity are alike above question and many of those who patronize his shop have done so for many years, as they are satisfied that they could not do better elsewhere.
Mr. Batten was married November 7, 1870, at Pleasantville, to Miss Martha E. Duncan, a daughter of Samuel Robb and Sarah Elizabeth (Miller) Duncan. The father was born in Highland county, Ohio, in 1822 and her mother's birth occurred in the same year in Loudoun county, Virginia. They were married on the 30th of March, 1843, in Highland county, Ohio, and there Mr. Duncan passed away. About 1861 his wife came to lowa with her children, only two of whom grew to maturity, namely: Mrs. Batten, who was born in Alexander, Missouri, November 28, 1849; and William Samuel. The mother passed away in Knoxville in 1904. Mrs. Batten is descended from Jacob Miller, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his wife, Elizabeth Hampton. Mr. and Mrs. Batten have two children, Flora Duncan and Sarah Ellen, both of whom are success- ful teachers. They were educated in the Knoxville public and high schools and also attended the Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls.
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Mr. Batten has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for years and both of his daughters are Rebekahs. They are also members of the Methodist Episcopal church and of the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution. His political adherence is given to the democratic party and he has served as a delegate to a number of local conventions. He takes great interest in all that affects the general good and is known as a public-spirited citizen.
JAMES ALLEN RICHARDS.
The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the pioneer records of this county without learning that the Richards family has been prominently identified with the work of development and upbuilding here for many years. Like others of the name, James Allen Richards was long closely associated with agricultural interests but since 1907 has made his home in Pleasantville, enjoying a well earned rest. He still derives a substantial income, however, from his farm property in Pleasant Grove and Swan townships, where he has three hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land which is cultivated partly by his children. His birth occurred in Coshocton county, Ohio, October 4, 1847, his father being William Richards, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. He was reared under the parental roof with the usual experiences of the farm boy who spends his early life upon the frontier. He attended the country schools and assisted in the arduous task of cultivating and developing new land. To his father he gave the benefit of his services until his marriage, when he secured a farm of his own and settled thereon, making it his place of residence until 1907.
It was on the 11th of August, 1892, that Mr. Richards wedded Miss Mary A. Fleck, who was born in Prairie City, Iowa, May 29, 1873, a daughter of James E. and Margaret ( McCleary) Fleck and a granddaughter of Ephraim and Rachel (Colliard) McCleary, who were Irish people, while the Flecks were of German descent. The paternal grandfather, David Fleck, was born in Germany and became the founder of the family in the new world, his son, James E. Fleck, being born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, whence he removed to Indi- ana. He was married in that state, at Warsaw, and afterward came to Iowa, settling near Prairie City, Jasper county. His wife died in 1879, at the age of thirty-nine years, when on a visit at Warsaw, Indi- ana. James E. Fleck went to California in the spring of 1891 and
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remained in that state for a year, subsequent to which time he located at Crow, Oregon, where he passed away in April, 1899, at the age of sixty-seven years, his birth having occurred March 1, 1832. Through- out the period of his residence in Iowa he followed farming, and while living in this state he also enlisted and served for one hundred days in the Civil war. Mrs. Richards was the seventh in a family of nine children, of whom the two eldest died in infancy. The others are yet living, namely: Alfred, who is a resident of Rockwell City, Iowa; David, living in Pleasantville, Iowa; J. Edward, who makes his home in South Dakota; Joseph, residing in Crow, Oregon; Mrs. Mary A. Richards; Anna, who is the wife of Joseph Power; and William, living in Canada. Mrs. Richards was reared in Jasper county, lowa, and acquired a common-school education. By her marriage she has become the mother of five children, namely: Jessie Hazel, Ray D., Ralph A., Esta Geraldine and James Albert, all at home.
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