USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 33
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In 1854 Mr. Collins was united in marriage with Miss Lavinia M. James, of Ohio, who passed away on the 4th of October, 1860. To them were born three children: Clinton A., now a resident of Wahoo, Nebraska; Mrs. Alice E. Gilson, who passed away at Holyoke, Colorado, in 1899; and Delphine, who died in infancy. On the 4th of October, 1864, Mr. Collins was joined in wedlock with Miss Anna Thompson, of Center county, Pennsylvania. She was born there in 1841, a daughter of Elias and Rebecca (McKain) Thompson, of English and Scotch parentage respectively. Her father died in 1848 but her mother survived him for many years. She passed away more than three decades ago. To them were born seven children and a sister of Mrs. Collins is still residing in the Keystone state. As her father died when she was but seven years
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of age, Mrs. Collins was reared by a family named Ferguson and in 1861 accompanied them to this state. She taught school several years in Marion county before her marriage and has resided at or near Knoxville for more than fifty years, being highly esteemed in the county. She is a faithful and active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. To Mr. and Mrs. Collins were born the follow- ing children : La Fayette S., a resident of Knoxville; Grant, who is connected with the Cedar Rapids Oil Company at Cedar Rapids; Mrs. N. H. McCorkle, of Mountain View, California; June, now Mrs. E. O. Ames and a resident of Omaha; Belle, who married R. H. Jacobs, of New York city; Scott, associated with his brother Grant in the Cedar Rapids Oil Company; Joy, who is employed in the Citizens Bank of Knoxville; Anna, who died in 1870; and Hope, whose demise occurred in 1893.
Mr. Collins was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church from 1853 until his death and contributed liberally of his means to its support, while he was always willing to give his time and efforts to the furtherance of its plans. In 1895, when the pres- ent fine church structure was erected, he was a member of the build- ing committee. For several years he served on the board of trus- tees of the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant and in this way aided the cause of Christian education. In 1858 he became an Odd Fellow and from 1861 was a past grand in that organization, always taking a great interest in its affairs. Although ten years have passed since the death of Mr. Collins his influence is still strongly felt in the financial life of his city and his many friends cherish his memory as they knew him to be a man of high purpose and fine achievement.
CAPTAIN CALEB J. AMOS.
Marion county pays honor to a most worthy man when she makes mention of Captain Caleb J. Amos, who was numbered among the lowa pioneers who represented the state upon the battlefields of the south during the darkest hour in the country's history and who was afterward identified with business interests in this state, becoming a merchant of Knoxville. Ohio claimed him as a native son, his birth having occurred in Highland county, that state, on the 31st of July, 1839. His father, Pleasant Amos, was born in Grayson county,
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Virginia, and represented one of the old colonial families of that section of the country. He removed from Virginia to Ohio and in the autumn of 1848 brought his family to lowa, again casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers. He took up his abode near Red Rock, in Marion county, and Captain Amos, who was then a lad of nine years, was largely reared to manhood in Marion county, meeting with many of the experiences of pioneer life.
The latter attended the common schools and afterward became a student in Central University at Pella, where he pursued his studies for three or four years. He had almost reached the point of gradua- tion when his course was interrupted by his military life. All of his preconceived plans were put aside when the Civil war broke out, for on the 12th of August, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company H of the Fortieth Iowa Infantry and assisted Dr. Johnston in raising that company. His father had been a soldier in the War of 1812 and the military spirit was strong within him. He was chosen second lieutenant of his company, but was commissioned first lieutenant when the regiment was mustered into service at Iowa City on the 15th of November, 1862, being the youngest commissioned officer in his brigade. The following winter was spent in Kentucky and in the summer of 1863 he participated in the siege of Vicksburg. Later his command was stationed for a year and a half at Little Rock, Arkansas, and when Captain Richards retired from the command of the com- pany Mr. Amos was appointed to that position on the 9th of April, 1864, and thus won the title by which he was afterward known. He was at that time acting quartermaster of his regiment in the place of A. B. Miller of Knoxville, who had retired. Captain Amos saw strenuous service in the Camden expedition, in which he was twice wounded, though not so seriously as to necessitate his leaving the company. He was on duty at Fort Smith and at Fort Gibson and when, in May, 1865, the victorious Union army marched through the streets of Washington in the Grand Review-the most celebrated military pageant ever seen on the western hemisphere-Captain Amos stood at the head of his company and participated in that event. He was mustered out with his command on the 2d of August, 1865.
Captain Amos at once returned to Marion county and on the 20th of May, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Emily A. Hestwood, a daughter of the Rev. Samuel Hestwood, who for many years was a distinguished minister of the Methodist Episcopal church in Iowa. They became the parents of four children, all of whom died in infancy, with the exception of one son, Charles, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work.
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Following his marriage Captain Amos located in Essex, Page county, Iowa, where he engaged in business for three years and took an active part in the upbuilding of the town during the time when the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was built through there. In 1875 he moved to Knoxville, erected a business block and con- ducted a dry-goods and general store until 1878, becoming one of the leading merchants of the city. The success which he achieved in that connection led him to seek a still broader field of labor and in October, 1878, he went to Chicago, where he engaged in the live stock commission business to the time of his death. He was a man of energy and prudence, possessed sound business ability and good judgment and obtained in large measure the rewards of business appli- cation and enterprise. He was also a man of scholarly tastes and habits and in the midst of pressing business duties found time to keep abreast with modern thought and to inform himself concerning ques- tions of vital and significant importance. Of him it was said: "He was known among his associates as a thoughtful, well informed man and one possessing broad views of public matters and of life. To him the world was more than a place in which to make money."
Captain Amos passed away at his home in Chicago on the 7th of January, 1893, and his remains were taken back to Knoxville, Iowa, for interment. He was for many years an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity and to the time of his death retained his membership in the lodge at Knoxville, which organization conducted his funeral services. He was also a member of Abraham Lincoln Post, G. A. R., and many of its members were present when he was laid to rest. No better indication of his life and character can be given than by quoting from one of the Knoxville papers, which said of him:
"Captain Amos was deservedly held in high esteem by all who knew him. He had the confidence and esteem of his business asso- ciates in an unusual degree. In the army he was loved, honored and trusted by his comrades and showed marked qualities for leadership. He was a man of commanding presence, generous heart and broad sympathies and loved to do a kindly deed. He was an upright, manly man. He had no patience with meanness, trickery or dishonesty. His most marked characteristic was sterling honesty. He sought to be an honest man in business, in his social relations, at home, every- where. He was a man of courage on the field and was no less brave in the defense of what he believed to be right at home. And with these qualities he was fitted to take a manly part in the wonderful development through which our country has passed since the war and
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in the growth of the great western metropolis in which latter he had made his home. In his home life he was a dutiful son, a brother beloved, a kind and loving husband and father and everywhere a genial and companionable man."
REV. JOHN FORSYTHE ROUZE.
Rev. John Forsythe Rouze devoted thirty-six years of his life to. preaching the gospel and his influence was of no restricted order, for he was not denied the full harvest nor the aftermath of his labors. In fact he contributed in large measure to the moral progress of Marion county and he was a man highly beloved and respected by all who knew him.
He was born in Butler county, Ohio, January 1, 1823, and was one of a family of five sons and five daughters who were children of Joseph and Susan (Forsythe) Rouze, both of whom were natives of New Jersey, where they were reared and married. They removed to Ohio and later to Indiana, where their last days were spent.
The Rev. John F. Rouze received only such meager educational opportunities as the schools of that early day in the pioneer district afforded. He was quite young when he started out in life on his own account and prior to the Civil war he came to Marion county and entered land from the government. The fact that property could be secured in that way is indicative of the conditions of the county at the time. He lived to see remarkable changes and bore his part in the material development of this section as well as in the moral progress. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church in early manhood but afterward became identified with the Methodist Protestant church, believing that more good could be accomplished through that avenue. For thirty-six years he engaged in preaching and his work was fraught with good results for the benefit of his fellowmen.
Mr. Rouze was three times married and his children were all born of the first union. His last marriage was celebrated Septem- ber 4, 1865, when Mrs. Nancy J. May became his wife. She was the widow of Alexander S. May, who came to this county with his parents when the Indians were here. After the outbreak of the Civil war he offered his services to the Union and served as a member of Company E, Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His remains now rest in a cemetery in New Orleans. Mrs. Rouze is a daughter of
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S. P. and Alsina (Robinson) McCorkle and she became the wife of Mr. Rouze in the old Knoxville courthouse. For a time there- after they resided upon his farm and he gave considerable attention to its development and improvement, but he never ceased his labors as a minister of the gospel and his efforts in that direction were large- ly beneficial. At different times he was called to public office by his fellow townsmen, who recognized his worth and ability. He was a member of the Masonic order and also the Knights of Pythias. He died August 28, 1901, since which time Mrs. Rouze has taken up her abode in Bussey, where she still resides. His life, ever honorable in its purpose and high in its ideals, left a deep impress upon many with whom he came in contact and his memory now remains as a blessed benediction to all who knew him.
N. J. GESMAN.
N. J. Gesman is a well known real-estate dealer of Pella and has also been prominent in the political affairs of the city, serving for two terms as mayor, during which time he was instrumental in closing up saloons and objectionable resorts. He was born in Pella on the Ist of November, 1865, a son of N. J. and Anna (de Jong) Gesman, both natives of Holland. The father was but a child when brought by his father, A. G. Gesman, to the United States in 1847, and the family resided in St. Louis for two years but in 1849 removed to Pella. A. G. Gesman, being a carpenter, built many of the first residences in this city and followed contracting until his demise, which occurred about 1889.
N. J. Gesman, Sr., was but eleven years of age when the family came to Pella and he received the greater part of his education here. He studied law and was admitted to the bar about 1872, but prior to this he engaged in teaching school for a time. He continued in the practice of his profession here until about 1890 and won a reputation as a lawyer of ability and integrity. He was connected with many phases of life in the city, as, in addition to his experience as teacher and his practice as a lawyer, he was for the last seven years of his life a minister in the Dutch Reformed church and for a time owned and edited the Pella Gazette. He passed away in 1894. His wife is a daughter of Arie de Jong, who in 1855 brought his family from Holland to the United States and came direct to Pella. Mrs. Gesman survives her husband and resides in Pella at the age of seventy-nine
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years. She is an active church worker, as was Mr. Gesman, the latter being one of the founders of the Second Reformed church. They had nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Arie is now living in Omaha; Mrs. John Korver is a resident of Pella; G. A. lives in Lavina, Montana; N. J., of this review, is the next of the family; and Mrs. S. B. Grant resides in Pella.
N. J. Gesman of this review received a public-school education and subsequently attended the Central University of Iowa at Pella. After leaving school he clerked in the city for several years, but in 1888 went west, remaining there until 1900, when he returned to Pella. During the fourteen years that have since passed he has devoted his time to the real-estate business and has become recognized as an authority upon realty values. He has negotiated many important transfers of property and is recognized as one of the prosperous busi- ness men of the city.
Mr. Gesman is a democrat in his political belief and has taken a prominent part in public affairs of the city. In 1909 he was elected mayor and reelected in 1911. The question at issue was the liquor business and his election meant the complete rout of the saloon inter- ests. He enforced the law strictly and under his administration all saloons and objectionable resorts were closed. It was also while he was mayor that the bonds were issued for the city water, light and sewers. All who know him concede his sincerity and integrity and honor him for the moral courage which characterizes all of his transactions.
M. L. CURTIS.
M. L. Curtis has been associated with journalism, with the excep- tion of little more than a year, ever since leaving college and in the intervening fifteen years has added wide experience to his excellent general training and is now one of the most able men associated with the press of the smaller cities of the state. He owns a half interest in the Knoxville Journal, which is a publication of wide circulation and of a high standard throughout.
Mr. Curtis was born in this county on the 6th of January, 1876, a son of Joshua and Margaret E. (Andrews) Curtis, both natives of Ohio. The paternal grandfather, Truman Curtis, was also born in the Buckeye state but eventually became a resident of Iowa, although his arrival was subsequent to that of his son Joshua. Tru-
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man Curtis, a cabinet maker by trade, opened a shop at Knoxville in 1859 and continued to reside in this city until his death. The family is of English descent. Joshua Curtis came to Knoxville in 1850 and opened a wagon and blacksmith shop. In 1862 he enrolled in the Union army, becoming a member of Company A, Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served until the end of the war, holding the rank of sergeant during the last of his term of enlistment. After the close of hostilities he returned to this county and began farming, so continuing during the remainder of his active life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his political alle- giance was given to the republican party. On the 4th of October, 1894, he passed away but his widow survives and lives in Knoxville. To their union were born five children: one who died in infancy; George, a farmer of this county ; Charles E., a resident of Knoxville; Frederick, who is a farmer of this county and who is married and has three children; and M. L., of this review.
The last named received his elementary and secondary education in the public schools of the county, graduating from the Knoxville high school, and he subsequently entered the State University of Iowa, completing a course there in 1899 and receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In April, 1898, at the outbreak of the Spanish- American war, during his term at the university, being a member of Company D, Fifty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Mr. Curtis left school, joined his company and accompanied his regiment to San Francisco. He was a sergeant. After being mustered out, March 4, 1899, on account of physical disability, he returned to school and graduated with honors in his class. His high scholarship also won him election to Phi Beta Kappa, a national fraternity formed for the purpose of fostering a love of learning. For a year and a half he taught school in Knoxville and then, deciding that better opportuni- ties for advancement were to be found in other fields, he purchased an interest in the Daily Republican of Boone, lowa.
In August, 1901, the Iowa Publishing Company, which issued the Boone Daily Republican and the Atlantic Messenger, purchased the Knoxville Journal, of which Mr. Curtis was made manager. He has since been connected with it and in January, 1902, became the sole owner of the paper, buying it from the Iowa Publishing Com- pany, but late in 1903 T. G. Gilson purchased a half interest in the publication. Mr. Curtis is the editor of the paper and his ability to judge of the news value of a happening of local or general interest and his well developed literary sense have been important factors in making the Knoxville Journal one of the best papers of its size
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in the state. Especial attention is given to the reporting of local happenings but news of a general character is not neglected by any means and the editorials are timely and are clearly and succinctly written. As the paper has a large circulation list and as its subscribers are the representative people of the city and county it is valuable as an advertising medium and is patronized as such by the local merchants.
Mr. Curtis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and politically is identified with the republican party. He is an enthusi- astie Mason and has been prominently identified with Masonic circles in this part of Iowa. He is a member of Oriental Lodge, No. 61, A. F. & A. M .; Tadmor Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M .; Melita Commandery, No. 64, K. T .; Des Moines Consistory, S. P. R. S .; and Za-Ga-Zig Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is also a member of Zabud Council, No. 2, R. S. M. at Oskaloosa. He is a past master of the blue lodge, past high priest of the chapter and past prelate of the commandery. He is a man fitted by natural ability and training for leadership and as editor of the Knoxville Journal he wields no small influence in the public affairs of city and county and this power is always used for the furtherance of the public welfare and the development of the commercial interests of Knoxville. His activities in the councils and affairs of the republican party are of an important character. He has always exerted a strong influence in political mat- ters and his value has been recognized by his party, and in the cam- paign of 1914 he was one of five men chosen by Senator Cummings personally to manage his senatorial campaign. Mr. Curtis has never sought nor accepted political preferment as an office seeker. He is held in high respect throughout his native county and has many per- sonal friends, who value greatly his good opinion.
JOHN ANDREW AYERS.
Closely connected with agricultural and stock-raising interests in Marion county for many years was John Andrew Ayers, who passed away on the 23d of May, 1913, after a residence of many years in this county. He was born in Illinois on the 26th of January, 1853, his parents being Andrew and Susanna (Smith) Ayers. At an early day the family was established in Marion county, becoming identified with the development of this part of the state when the work of progress and improvement had scarcely been begun here. The family Vol. 11- 22
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home was established in Liberty township and Andrew Ayers carried on general farming up to the time of his death. He also took an active interest in community affairs and cooperated in many plans and move- ments for the development and upbuilding of the county. Both he and his wife were people of the highest respectability and their lives. at all times honorable and upright, won for them warm regard.
John A. Ayers was a pupil in the public schools of this county, to which he came with his parents in early life. He started out on his own account when but a youth and was always identified with general agricultural interests. He also followed carpentering and was a good workman in that line. He thoroughly understood the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops and as the years passed on he brought his farm to a high state of cultivation and re- ceived therefrom a gratifying annual income, for the large crops which he harvested found a ready sale.
On the 17th of April, 1879, Mr. Avers was married to Miss Mary MI. Yeater, a daughter of James R. and Virginia (Shaw) Yeater. To Mr. and Mrs. Ayers were born three children, Elmer, Mamie and Alfred, all of whom survive. The father passed away on the 23d of May, 1913, and was laid to rest in the Bussey cemetery.
His political allegiance had always been given the republican party from the time when age conferred upon him the right of fran- chise and for several terms he had efficiently served as road supervisor of Liberty township. He did not seek nor desire office, however. He was essentially a home man and preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and the enjoyment of the companion- ship of his family, to whom he was a devoted husband and father. In friendship, too, he was faithful and true, and he was highly regarded by all who knew him, so that his death was the occasion of deep regret throughout the county.
GARRY D. CLARK.
For the past seven years Garry D. Clark has resided at Knoxville, having retired from the active cultivation of his farm, which is lo- cated five miles from the city. He was born in Humboldt county, Iowa, October 10, 1857, a son of Albert B. and Elizabeth (Decker) Clark, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father was born in Marion county, that state, in January, 1832, a son of Garry and Salina (Holcomb) Clark, both natives of Hartford, Connecticut,
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whence they removed to Marion county, Ohio, at an early day in the history of that state. There both passed to their reward. The father, who was a farmer and cabinet-maker by occupation, died in 1857, when over fifty-one years of age, as his birth occurred November 5, 1805. He was married in June, 1828, at Hartford, Connecticut. Both he and his wife were for many years members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he was for a long time superintendent of the Sunday school. His wife died in Columbus, Ohio, about 1901 at the age of ninety-four years.
Albert B. Clark was reared near Bucyrus, Ohio, and in 1854 came to Iowa, first locating in Marshall county. Shortly afterward he removed to Humboldt county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and where he erected two houses, one in town and the other upon his farm. After spending about a year there he returned to Ohio at the time of his father's death. On again coming to Iowa he made the trip alone and located in this county. He is a cabinet-maker, as was his father before him, and also a carpenter and joiner, and among other things has made many fine coffins. He was early convinced of the value of land and at different times has owned several hundred acres. He purchased a farm in this county soon after the Civil war and lived there for several years. He owned a residence in Knoxville and also one in the country, but for several years past has made his home with his son, Garry D., as he is eighty- three years of age. In addition to following his trade he engaged in the nursery business for a number of years, dealing especially in trees. He is a Methodist in religious faith and has conformed his life to the teachings of that faith. His personal habits have always been most exemplary as he has never smoked, chewed, used liquor in any form nor been profane in his language. His wife passed away on the 20th of February, 1886, on a farm in Knoxville township, when more than fifty years of age. To their union were born two sons: J. B., a farmer in Knoxville township; and Garry D., of this review.
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