USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
In 1885 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Butterfield and Miss Lily Gregory, whose family history is given in connection with the sketch of T. R. Gregory on another page of this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Butterfield have been born six children : John O., a member of
347
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
the United States navy; Myrtle E. and James H., both now de- ceased ; Tony R .; Harriett G .; and Sarah E.
Mr. and Mrs. Butterfield attend the Methodist Episcopal church and he holds membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Im- proved Order of Red Men. His political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party and he has always been a stanch advocate of its platform since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has served as school director but has never sought nor desired political preferment. His life may well serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished when perseverance and energy lead the way and when determination is of such strength that obstacles and difficulties are readily overcome. Having to earn his own living when a lad of ten years, his educational opportunities were necessarily limited, but he has found that experience is a good teacher and from her he has learned many practical lessons. Working his way upward step by step, he has constantly widened his opportunities and he certainly deserves the prosperity which has come to him.
WILLIAM A. KELLY.
William A. Kelly died in 1913 upon his home farm in Knoxville township, which is now the home of his son, John W. Kelly, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. For an extended period he had been connected with agricultural interests and had made for himself a creditable name and place as a representative of agricul- tural life in Marion county.
He was born in Ohio in 1842 and was a son of John Kelly, a native of Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio. For some time ere leav- ing his native state he made his home in Columbiana county, Ohio, and then in the year 1860 he and his brother, Thomas Kelly, brought their families to Iowa, establishing their homes upon farms in Knox- ville township. They became well known and representative agri- culturists of that district and had a large circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance.
The ancestral history of the family can be traced back to the colonial epoch in America. John and Thomas Kelly were sons of William Kelly, who was a descendant of Nathan and Ann (Smith) Kelly, Scotch-Irish people, who came to America in 1770. Nathan
348
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
Kelly enlisted for service in the Revolutionary war in 1778 and loy- ally aided the colonists in their struggle for independence.
Thus it was that William A. Kelly was eligible to membership in the Sons of the American Revolution. His patriotism was mani- fest during the Civil war by his enlistment September 3, 1861, in Company K, Third Iowa Cavalry, and on the Ist of January, 1864, he reenlisted. He was captured at Ripley, Mississippi, June 11, 1864, and was first confined in Andersonville prison and later at Lawton, Georgia, from which place he was taken to Florence, South Carolina. He was at length paroled on the 20th of March, 1865.
Mr. Kelly was one of a family of ten children who were brought by their parents to lowa, the family home being established in Knox- ville township, Marion county, where representatives of the family have since been found. His youthful experiences were those which usually fall to the lot of the farm lad. He assisted his father in the arduous task of developing and improving a new farm and ultimately he began farming on his own account, becoming the owner of an excellent tract of land which he carefully developed and improved to the time of his death, which occurred in 1913. Like others of the family he was well known and his progressiveness in connection with community affairs and his public-spirited citizenship established him firmly in the regard of his fellow townsmen.
CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK.
The Citizens National Bank of Pella was organized in January, 1906, with L. Kruidenier as president; B. H. Van Spanckeren, Jr., as cashier; and H. D. Wormhoudt as vice president. The capital stock was twenty-five thousand dollars and the institution purchased a building situated at the corner of Franklin and Main streets and remodeled it. It has three stories, the first being used by the bank, the second being given over to offices, while the third is devoted to lodge rooms. The bank is capitalized the same as at its organiza- tion and has a surplus of five thousand dollars, while the deposits total one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. The present officers are: H. D. Wormhoudt, president; J. S. Rhynsburger, vice president; and B. H. Van Spanckeren, Jr., cashier.
The bank has prospered steadily in the eight years in which it has been opened for business and has completely gained the confi- dence of the public as its policy has always been to make the safety
349
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
of its deposits the first consideration and the earning of dividends secondary in importance. However, due to the excellent business ability of its officers the institution has been a success from the point of dividends declared and its stock has advanced in price. It has correspondents in all of the leading cities and is able to give its de- positors and the business men of Pella all of the services of a modern bank.
FRANK V. REAVER.
Frank V. Reaver was for many years in the bakery and restaurant business but has now sold his interests in that connection and devotes his time to his duties as vice president of the Knoxville Gas Com- pany. He was born in Knoxville on the 23d of April, 1858, a son of John and Mary C. (Sherman) Reaver, natives of Philadelphia and Newcastle, Pennsylvania, respectively. The father brought his family to Knoxville in 1856 from Columbus, Ohio, where he was a baker and candy maker. He opened the first store of the kind in Knoxville and conducted the business personally until he retired in 1879. He had learned his trade in New York in 1851. He passed away in 1894 and was survived by his widow until September, 1912. Fraternally he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. To their union were born eight children, four of whom died in infancy. Those who grew to maturity were as follows: Mrs. R. O. Ayres, deceased; Frank V., of this review; J. O., a resident of Des Moines; and C. A., living in Eldora, Iowa.
Frank V. Reaver attended the public schools, gaining a service- able education, and as a youth of seventeen became associated with his father in the restaurant and bakery which the latter owned. In 1875, however, he embarked in the boot and shoe business, selling out in 1877, when he again became connected with his father in busi- ness. In 1879 he assumed charge of the bakery and restaurant, his father retiring from active life, and he conducted it successfully until 1908. In his restaurant and bakery alike he used nothing but pure materials and great care was exercised at all times to maintain strictly sanitary conditions and to avoid any possible contamination of the food. Since 1908 he has devoted his time to his other business inter- ests, especially to the gas plant, as he is vice president of the Knox- ville Gas Company.
Vol. II-21
350
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
In 1881 Mr. Reaver married Miss Hattie M. Taylor, of Bur- lington, Iowa, a daughter of Colonel J. E. Taylor. Mr. Reaver is a progressive in his political belief and is serving as alderman of the first ward. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He has a wide acquain- tance in the city and not only readily makes friends but holds them, as his character is one that commands respect.
HARRISON HORSMAN.
Among the active, energetic and enterprising business men of Marion county is Harrison Horsman, president of the Citizens Bank of Pleasantville, in which institution he has been a stockholder for the past twenty-two years or more. He is also the owner of a farm in Union and Pleasant Grove townships, comprising four hundred and thirteen acres and his rental of this property brings to him a gratifying annual income.
For sixty years Mr. Horsman has lived in Marion county, hav- ing arrived in November, 1854, at which time he took up his abode upon a farm in Union township. He was then a youth of fourteen years, his birth having occurred in Highland county, Ohio, June 2, 1840, his parents being Levi and Sidney ( Bonecutter) Horsman, who were natives of Virginia but were married in the Buckeye statc. They started west in 1844 and spent ten years in Shelby county, Illi- nois, whence they removed to Iowa in 1854, casting in their lot with the pioneer settlers of this county. The father here engaged in farm- ing after entering land from the government in Union township. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon his płace, but with characteristic energy he began its development and transformed the tract into richly cultivated fields to which he added from time to time until he became the owner of an extensive farm property, in the conduct and management of which he was very suc- cessful. He resided upon that farm until his death, which occurred in 1873 when he was sixty-five years of age. In politics he was a republican and gave loyal support to the principles of that party. Both he and his wife were consistent and faithful members of the Christian church. Mrs. Horsman survived her husband for a num- ber of years and passed away at the advanced age of eighty-eight. In their family were seven children, of whom five are yet living: David, who is now retired in Pleasantville; John, of Wichita, Kan-
351
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
sas; Joseph, living in Union township; Mrs. Grace Elder, a widow whose home is in Kansas; and Harrison. One sister died in carly life in Illinois and another died in this county.
Harrison Horsman was reared in Marion county and attended the public schools. He also pursued his education in Pella for a time and was a pupil there when the Civil war broke out. He watched with interest the progress of events, saw that the war was to be no mere holiday affair and, prompted by a spirit of patriotism, offered his services to the government, enlisting at Red Rock in 1862 as a member of Company H, Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years and three days, or until the close of hostilities. He became a noncommissioned officer and was mustered out at Fort Gibson, Arkansas, in the fall of 1865. He was never seriously wounded nor was he at any time held as a prisoner of war. He participated, however, in many hotly contested engage- ments, arduous campaigns and long, hard marches and returned to his home with a creditable military record. When the war was over he resumed farming, in which he was actively engaged until 1894, when he retired from business life and took up his abode in Pleasant- ville, where he erected the comfortable and commodious residence that he now occupies. While upon the farm he carefully managed the work of the fields and his energy and determination brought good results.
Mr. Horsman was married in Pleasant Grove township in 1867 to Miss Margaret Jane Logan, who was born October 31, 1849, at what is now Pleasantville, a daughter of Gilmore and Mary (Strat- ton) Logan, who had settled in Marion county in the fall of 1845, being among the pioneers of this part of the state. All around was the unclaimed and undeveloped prairie and the work of improve- ment had scarcely been begun, but with other pioneer settlers Mr. Logan aided in planting the seeds of civilization that in time brought forth abundant harvests. He entered land and followed farming and upon his original home place he resided until his death, which occurred in 1895 when he was seventy-five years of age. For a brief period he had survived his wife, who died in 1891. They were earnest, Christian people, loyal to their professions as members of the Baptist church. In the family were three sons and three daugh- ters, who are yet living: Mrs. Horsman; Charles, a resident of Knoxville; Albert, whose home is in Dallas, this county; George, living in Des Moines; Mrs. C. R. Johnson, who is located at Cen- tralia, Kansas; and Mrs. Bertie Elliott, of Des Moines. Mr. and Mrs. Horsman are the parents of four children: Leonard, who
352
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
died leaving a wife and one son, Gail, who are now residents of Knoxville; Iva Nora, who died in infancy ; Elva, the wife of Thomas Conway, by whom she has five children, their home being upon her father's farm; and Lula, who is the wife of Warren Summy. They also live on one of her father's farms and their family numbers three children.
Mr. Horsman exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and his fellow townsmen, appreciating his worth and ability, have called him to a number of local offices, including that of member of the board of supervisors, on which he served from 1896 until 1899, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many measures for the public good. He and his family are members of the Christian church and he is highly esteemed throughout the community in which he makes his home. More than two decades ago he became connected with the Citizens Bank of Pleasantville and since his retirement from farming has been called to the office of president, in which capacity he is now connected with the institution. He is a thoroughly reliable and energetic business man and in every relation of life commands the confidence and good-will of those who know him.
JAMES M. MAY.
James M. May is now living retired at the venerable age of eighty years, making his home in Columbia, where he has resided for more than a quarter of a century and where for a number of years he was actively and successfully identified with mercantile interests. His birth occurred in Indiana on the 25th of July, 1834, his parents being G. W. and Mary (Wood) May, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. They were married in Indiana and continued to reside in that state until called to their final rest. G. W. May went to the Hoosier state as early as 1814 and took up his abode in the tim- ber, living in log cabins for many years. He was an agriculturist by occupation and undertook the arduous task of developing a farm, first grubbing out the stumps and performing the other difficult labor necessary in a new district. To him and his wife were born two children.
James M. May received a common-school education in his youth and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. Subsequently he bought a farm in Indiana and devoted
353
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
his attention to its operation until 1861, when he removed to Mon- roe county, Iowa, there purchasing and locating on a tract of land comprising eighty acres. He cultivated that property until 1887 and in that year came to Columbia, Marion county, where he has resided continuously since. He was first engaged in business as a general merchant for three years, on the expiration of which period he sold out and embarked in the hardware business, enjoying a gratifying patronage in that connection until he disposed of the enter- prise and retired. He still owns sixty-three acres of land on sections 6 and 27, in Washington and Cedar townships, and is widely recog- nized as one of the substantial and respected citizens of his adopted county.
In 1856 Mr. May was united in marriage to Miss Susan Harned, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Real) Harned, who were born in Indiana and passed away in Marion county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. May became the parents of six chil- dren, as follows: G. W., who is engaged in business as a merchant of Columbia; Thomas V., an agriculturist of this county; John H., who is a resident of Ringgold county, Iowa; Elizabeth, who is the wife of W. S. Long, of Lucas county, Iowa; William B., living on the old homestead; and Rachel, who gave her hand in marriage to Bucl Maddy. Both Mr. and Mrs. Maddy are deceased.
Mr. May is a republican in his political views and has ably served as justice of the peace for cighteen years, while for twenty years he has acted in the capacity of school director, making a most creditable record in public office. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Tyre Lodge, No. 185, A. F. & A. M., of which he has been treasurer since 1894. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as class leader for years and to which his wife also belongs. They are widely and favorably known throughout the community, having won the unqualified confidence and regard of all with whom they have come in contact.
JAMES L. CLARK.
James L. Clark is one of the owners of a modern and well stocked men's furnishing and clothing store, in which he has had a half inter- est since 1910. He is a representative business man of Knoxville and is always willing to cooperate with others in securing the com-
354
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
mercial expansion of the city. His birth occurred in this county on the 18th of April, 1860, and his parents were James and Meri _a (Miller) Clark, natives of Warren county, Tennessee, and Putnam county, Indiana, respectively. His paternal grandfather was Bon- jamin Clark, who was a Baptist preacher and spent his life in " nessee. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent. James Clark, father of our subject, arrived in this county in 1849 and took up government land six miles northwest of Knoxville, at which time there were 10 neighbors within a distance of two miles. He devoted his life to farming and was a highly respected citizen of the county. He died on the 10th of April, 1902. His wife was a daughter of John and Willa Miller, who about 1848 came to Iowa and settled in Marion county, where they entered government land, their farm being lo- cated north of Dallas and becoming in time one of the well devel- oped properties of the county. Mrs. Merinda Clark passed away on the 11th of June, 1896. She attended the Baptist church, as did also Mr. Clark, and the latter was a democrat in his political belief. To them were born six children. Both had been married previous to their union and the father had six children by his first marriage and the mother two by her union with William Sunderland.
James L. Clark received a common-school education and in addi- tion to the lessons which he learned from books was given valuable training in agriculture, as he assisted his father in the work of the farm during his youth. On reaching manhood he continued to fol- low the occupation to which he had been reared until 1902 and also taught school during the winter months for eight consecutive years. He then went to Webster, South Dakota, where he engaged in the real-estate business for seven years, but in 1909 returned to this state, locating in Rock Rapids, where he entered the mercantile business. After one year he sold his store and came to Knoxville, where in partnership with C. Rouze Hunter he opened a men's furnishing and clothing store in March, 1910. They are usually able to antici- pate the fashions which are destined to be most popular and their stock offers a varied and pleasing line from which to select. As the clothing which they sell is at once correct in line, attractive in weave and lasting in wearing qualities, their customers are many and the volume of their business is steadily increasing. A feature of the store that adds much to its popularity is the courteous treatment given all and the sincere effort to aid customers in choosing that which will be the most permanently satisfying, as the partners realize that it is not enough to merely sell goods, as continued growth in a busi- ness depends upon the giving of real value and real service.
355
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
Mr. ( lark was married on the 26th of April, 1893, to Miss Fannie Hunter, a daughter of M. C. and Emily Hunter. They have three children: Lorein, Paul and James, all at home. Mr. Clark and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he has red as its treasurer since 1911. Politically he is an adherent of un democratic party and during 1902-3 he served as deputy county treasurer of Marion county. His social nature finds expression in his membership in Oriental Lodge, No. 61, A. F. & A. M., and in the Knights of Pythias. Throughout his entire life Mr. Clark has ordered his conduct in conformity to the standards of justice and right and his reward is the consciousness of duty faithfully per- formed and the esteem of his fellowmen.
EDWARD LOYNACHAN.
In the death of Edward Loynachan, Marion county lost a repre- sentative citizen who for a long period had been ranked with the prominent and successful farmers and business men of Clay township. He passed away at his home there on the 3d of September, 1906, when he had reached the age of seventy-two years, five months and twenty-two days. He was a native of Argyleshire, Scotland, and during his childhood was brought to the new world, the family home being established in Washington county, Ohio. There he remained throughout the period of his minority and on the 14th of April, 1857, he came to Marion county, his destination being Bellefontaine, near the present town of Tracy. He made his way up the Des Moines river and joined his brother David, who had preceded him to this state.
The brothers had previously worked on and along the Ohio river and had saved their money with the hope of ultimately investing in property, and after reaching this county they purchased a tract of between two and three hundred acres of government land in the vicinity of the present village of Durham. They lived in a log cabin on the land belonging to the brother, making their home together for some years, but ultimately Edward Loynachan built a house on his own land and kept bachelor's hall for six or seven years. Together the brothers broke the sod with ox teams and made rails from which they built a fence. They added other improvements from time to time as opportunity permitted and in the course of years the once wild prairie which came into their possession was transformed into
356
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
a valuable farm property supplied with all modern equipments and conveniences in the way of buildings and machinery, while the land was brought to a high state of cultivation. That success in large measure crowned the intelligently directed labors of Edward Loyna- chan is indicated in the fact that he was at one time the owner of seven hundred and seventy-one and a half acres in Clay and Knox- ville townships and was thus numbered among the large landowners of Marion county.
On the 27th of February, 1873, Mr. Loynachan was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Spohn, who was born in Highland county. Ohio, January 3, 1854, but lost her parents in early girlhood and was reared by an aunt. She came to Marion county just prior to the out- break of the Civil war and since 1907 has resided at Knoxville, own- ing and occupying a fine home at No. 1414 Montgomery street. She is still the owner of valuable farming property and her farm is oper- ated by a son. Mrs. Loynachan is a member of the Presbyterian church, which her husband attended and supported, and she also has membership with the Rebekahs of Knoxville.
To Mr. and Mrs. Loynachan were born three children : Oda May, now the wife of J. A. Hammond, mentioned elsewhere in this volume ; Clark C., who was born in 1879 and married Bertha Rouze, by whom he has four children; and David H., who was born December 14, 1 890, and married Ethel Whitlatch. They have one child, a daughter. Mr. Loynachan exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day but was not an aspirant for office. He felt that the pursuits of private life were in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts and he concentrated his energies upon his farming with the result that he won a creditable place among the substantial citizens of Clay township and by his honorable business methods gained the respect and good-will of all.
SAXTON LA FAYETTE COLLINS.
In the demise of Saxton La Fayette Collins, which occurred on Friday evening, August 19, 1904, Knoxville lost one of the men who were prominent in the organization and control of her banking insti- tutions. He was a man of marked financial and executive ability and left his impress upon the business life of the city.
,
357
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
He was born in Richland county, Ohio, December 12, 1830, a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Adgate) Collins, and spent his early life upon his father's farm. He attended the public schools in the winters and was also for one term a student at the Bellville (Ohio) high school. In 1850, when a young man of twenty years, he accom- panied his brother, A. W. Collins, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work, to Tipton, Cedar county, Iowa, and there worked for a year upon a farm, receiving fifty cents per day in return for his labor. He did the hardest kind of farm work, splitting rails, making fence, breaking the prairie and many other things. In 1852 he and his brother located at Knoxville and engaged in the mercan- tile business. In May, 1856, he opened a store in company with others at Gosport and continued in business as a merchant until 1865, when he sold out his interests in that line and, owing to fail- ing health, removed to a farm. In 1871 he became an organizer of the Knoxville National Bank and was for some years its largest stockholder. In 1883, in company with his sons, La Fayette S. and Grant, he engaged in merchandising and in 1885 they purchased the Earlville & Knoxville Coal Company and in 1889 established the S. L. Collins Oil & Tank Line. In 1891, together with J. Ramey, La Fayette S. Collins, L. O. Donnelly, A. J. Hanna and others, he organized the Citizens National Bank. In 1901 he was one of the incorporators of the Peoples Savings Bank of Albia, Iowa, among his associates being B. P. Castner, L. S. Collins and L. B. Myers. In 1903 Mr. Collins of this review was instrumental in founding the Iowa State Savings Bank and served as president for a number of years. He was the largest stockholder in all of the banks 'in which he was interested and was one of the most powerful men in local financial circles.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.