History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II, Part 39

Author: Wright, John W., ed; Young, William A., 1871-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 452


USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 39


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J. H. Chrisman spent the greater part of his youth in Laporte went to Missouri. Two years later he arrived in Marion county, county, Indiana, and was a young man of twenty years when the family


419


HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY


where he has since remained and he has ever been numbered among the worthy and respected citizens of his part of the state. On the 22d of April, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza A. Hodges, of Knoxville, Iowa, and they removed to a farm six miles east of the town, on the Pella road. Mr. Chrisman bent his energies to the development and improvement of that place and followed that occupation until nine years ago, when he removed to Knoxville and put aside the active cares of business life. He had brought his farm to a high state of cultivation, had added to it many modern acces- sories and conveniences, and as the result of his careful management had acquired a substantial competence as the years went by. To him and his wife were born four children : W. T., who is now living at Long Beach, California; Ora G., now the wife of M. R. Voorhees, of Kansas City, Missouri; Gertrude, at home; and James G. B., who is living on a farm in Knoxville township.


An important chapter in the life history of J. H. Chrisman is that which covers his service as a soldier of the Civil war. He enlisted as a member of Company A, Thirty-third Iowa Infantry, under Major C. B. Boydston, and was with that command on every campaign save the one to Little Rock. His military history is that of the Thirty-third Iowa and with his command he participated in many hotly contested engagements. Today there is scarcely a member of the old company remaining, four or five living in Knoxville or vicinity. His family have every reason to be proud of his war record, for he was among those who won for Iowa her splendid reputation in connection with the defense of the Union. Mr. Chrisman has adhered to the religious faith of the family. His moral standards are high and he has lived up to them. One who knows him well said : "His word is as good as his bond ; he is the soul of honor and the better one knows him the greater the respect and the warmer the friendship. His home life has been beautiful and satisfying and in it he has found his chief enjoyment."


J. B. CHRISMAN.


J. B. Chrisman is a well known farmer and stockman of Marion county, operating the old home farm that belonged to his father. He also owns and cultivates one hundred and ninety-seven acres adjoin- ing, in the east part of Knoxville township and also across the border in Clay township. Thus he operates altogether about five hundred


420


HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY


acres of land, which he devotes to general agricultural pursuits and to stock-raising, making a specialty of Polled Angus cattle and Poland China hogs. He is a very energetic, enterprising young man, per- sistent, determined and capable, and in his business affairs displays splendid ability. He was born in Clay township, this county, on the 26th of January, 1880, and is a son of J. H. Chrisman, mention of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. He attended the public schools through the period of his youth and in vacations worked in the fields. The greater part of his life has been devoted to farming and success has attended his efforts. His methods have always been practical and he has ever kept abreast with the progress of the times, which is manifest as strongly in connection with agricultural inter- ests as in other phases of business activity.


On the 6th of April, 1904, Mr. Chrisman was united in mar- riage to Miss Mamie Blanche Gee, who was born in Knoxville township, February 7, 1881, a daughter of the late Amos and Saman- tha (Scott) Gee. Her father came to the middle west from Tomp- kins, New York. When a young man he removed to Mason county, Illinois, and there he enlisted in response to the country's call for troops, joining Company M, Second Illinois Cavalry, with which he served on active duty until he became ill. He was afterward in a hospital for some time and was then honorably discharged. In the spring of 1868 he came to Marion county, Iowa, taking up his abode in Knoxville township, where he carried on general farming to the time of his death. He passed away on the old homestead December 11, 1906, at the age of sixty-seven years, and there were many friends who deeply regretted his demise because of the sterling traits of character which he displayed and which endeared him to those with whom he was associated. He was twice married. In Illinois he wedded Miss Mary I. Knight, who died in Nebraska, March 15, 1866, leaving a daughter, Lucy, who has now passed away. On the 21st of March, 1869, Mr. Gee wedded Samantha Scott, who is now living on East Main street in Knoxville. They became the parents of nine children, of whom seven survive, as fol- lows: Mrs. J. B. Chrisman; James N., who is a resident of Texas; Mrs. Dora V. Noftsger, living in Knoxville township, this county; Mrs. Bessie I. Amsberry, also a resident of Knoxville township; George W., who makes his home in Raton, New Mexico; Ralph, of Knoxville township, this county; and Benjamin H., who lives at home with his widowed mother. Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman have two children, James Francis and Robert Amos, who are eight and four years of age respectively.


421


HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY


Politically Mr. Chrisman is a stalwart republican, supporting the party which was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war and has always been the party of reform and ad- vancement. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church and their lives accord with its teachings. In all business affairs he is thoroughly trustworthy and at the same time is progressive and determined, so that he carries forward to .successful completion whatever he undertakes. He is today extensively engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising, about five hundred acres paying tribute to the care and cultivation which he bestows upon his fields. He'also has a large herd of Polled Angus cattle and many hogs of the Poland China breed and he has done much to improve and raise the stand- ard of stock handled in this county. His success is the merited reward of his labors and the good name which he bears is the legiti- mate result of a well spent and honorable life.


WATSON H. VANDERPLOEG.


Watson H. Vanderploeg is a native of this county and one of the most prominent younger business men in Pella. He is cashier of the Farmers & Merchants Bank and is also an attorney. He was born on the 24th of December, 1888, a son of R. and Pietje (Terpetra) Vanderploeg, natives of Holland and New York, respectively. The paternal grandfather was Dirk Vanderploeg, who brought his family to the United States, arriving at Pella, Iowa, on the 4th of July, 1857. He was a farmer by occupation and located upon land in Lake Prairie township but later removed to Summit township. His son, the father of the subject of this review, is president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank, which was organized in 1905, and is an important figure in the financial life of the city. His wife is a daughter of Watson Terpetra, a native of Holland, who in early manhood went to New York. Subsequently he came west with his family and arrived at Pella about 1857. He was a farmer by occupation. To Mr. and Mrs. R. Vander- ploeg have been born eight children: Mary C., the wife of Arie Vander Waal, a resident of Des Moines, Iowa; Delia, who became the wife of Simon De Haan; Anna, at home; Charles, a farmer living near Monroe, Iowa; Linnie, the wife of James Cochrane, a resident of Monroe; Margaret, at home; W. G., living in Knoxville; and Watson H., of this review.


422


HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY


The last named completed the course in the public schools of Pella and then entered the Central University of Iowa, located there, and was graduated from that institution. He subsequently read law with a brother and in 1912 was admitted to the bar and has since practiced his profession here. However, part of his time has been taken up by other duties, as he is cashier of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of this place. He has already accomplished much and his keen intellect and splendid training presage yet greater achievement.


Mr. Vanderploeg is a member of the Baptist church and is an active worker in those movements which seek the betterment of his community. Politically he is a republican and fraternally he belongs to Pella Lodge, No. 55, F. & A. M .; and to the Knights of Pythias. Among his marked characteristics are initiative, sound judgment and energy that constantly impels to action and achievement, and these traits, together with a high sense of right and justice, have gained him the respect which is accorded him in business circles of Pella. His personal friends are many and hold him in the warmest regard.


JOHN A. WELCH.


John A. Welch was born in Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, No- vember 24, 1834, and was the fourth son and fourth child of a family of seven children. His father, John R. Welch, was born May 24, 1805, in Bath county, Kentucky, and died on the 18th of May, 1891, in Salem, Oregon. He was of English parentage. The mother of our subject, Matilda Lowry Welch, was of Irish and German de- scent. She was born on the 27th of November, 1807, and died in Butler, Missouri, November 28, 1880. The father moved with the family to Iowa in the year 1843, making the journey with ox teams. They located temporarily in Jefferson county but after a residence there of ten or eleven months moved on further west in May, 1844, and located in an unorganized part of the country, which was later organized and given the name of Marion county.


Here John A. Welch grew to manhood. During the summer of 1854 he with his brothers, James and Isaiah, drove cattle overland to California and was four months lacking a few days in making the trip. He worked in the gold mines most of the time in the central and northern part of the state for three years. In the spring of 1857 he with his brother Isaiah returned to Iowa by way of Panama and New York. James had previously returned by the same route. After


423


HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY


reaching home he attended school and taught school alternately until the commencement of the Civil war in 1861.


On account of a war scare along the southern border of the state he with nearly one hundred other men from Marion county volun- teered their services to aid others from different parts of the state to repel the invaders. On arrival at the war threatened district the ex- pected invaders had returned south. After a reconnoissance lasting four weeks through northwestern Missouri without a conflict, all parties returned to Iowa and were disbanded without the loss of a man. Soon after returning home from this expedition Mr. Welch enlisted and was regularly mustered into the United States service in G, Company Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. After nine months' service he was discharged at Corinth, Mississippi, on account of disability.


About one year after returning home from the army he engaged in the mercantile business in Attica in the southeast part of the coun- ty, with J. M. Cathcart as a partner, under the firm name of Cath- cart & Welch. A few years later, in 1872, a change of location was made to Knoxville, the county seat, where a mercantile partnership was formed with D. T. Welch, and they did business under the firm name of Welch & Welch. From this time on he was in business in one way and another in Knoxville for ten years. In 1882 he moved to Burrton, Harvey county, Kansas, where he resided for twenty- six years, during which time he was engaged in mercantile, banking or lumber business, at the end of which time he retired and removed to Hutchinson, Kansas, where he now resides at 620 North Main street.


A few days after Mr. Welch had volunteered his services to the United States, he was married to Mary E. Haines, October 22, 1861. She was of Welsh and Scotch lineage and of Quaker parentage, born in New Jersey, January 27, 1840. Both are now living and have passed their fifty-third wedding anniversary.


INDEX


Amos, C. II.


18


Cooper, Sampson 237


Amos, C. J.


358


Core, Reuben, Sr. 123


Amos, G. H.


265


Craig, Thompson 116


Amos, J. M.


228


Crew, W. F. 255


Anderson, Allen 251


35


Culbertson, Cambridge 192


Andrews. W. F.


148


Cummings, E. Il. 256


Avery. J. W


274


Cunningham, J. D. 15


Ayer-, J. A. 365


Curtis, M.


363


Bane, Walter 246


Daniels, W. H. 173


Banks, W. A.


161


Davis, A. A. 338


Batten, L. D.


303


Davis, E. J. S. 377


Beach, B. R .. 249


Davis, F. (). 172


Beaver, A. M. 343


De Kock. Stephanus 389


Debout, J. N. 94


Dennis, Eugene 373


Beem, Mr. and Mrs. J. K. 126


Derry, G. W.


105


Bellamy, J. S. 283


Doughman, N. Il


258


Douglass. J. B 49


Durham, J. P 90


Eliott, D. B. 288


Elliott, F. D.


390


Braam, John, Jr.


16


Bradey, I. W.


59


Brennan, C. M. 266


Bridgen, Joseph 99 Bridgman, H. L. 177


Fee, J. F.


61


Fergus. Clinton 178


Finarty, J. W 234


Fisk, H. M. 157


223


Flanagan, W. P


86


Fowler, W. II.


224


Free. J. W.


58


French, J. T


320


Fry. M. D. 103


Fultz. T. G. 254


Gates, D. C. 395


Gesman, N. J 362


Gilson, T. G. 276


Goldizen, Verna Mae. 372


Grant, F. P. 137


Gregory, T. R.


120


Clark, A. M. 100


Clark, Frank 260


366


Guaranty Bank


156


Clark, J. L.


353


Cline. J. R. 248


218


Gustin, G. L. 183


Cole, C. N. 279


134


Hammond, Jaeob 144


Hammond. . I. A. 150


Hanna, W. R. 108


Conrey, H. H.


231 Hardman, C. L 238


425


Griffith, S. R. 54


Grubb, Clarenee 189


Gullion, Thomas 162


Gullion, William 286


Cole, T. R., Sr.


Collins, A. W. 313


Collins, S. L. 356


346


Bybee. L. L. 293


Bye, E. P


7


Camp, .I. H. 382


Carpenter, F. F 166


Carruthers, Frank 216


Casey, W. J. 13


Chambers, J. 1. 80


Chambers, Zephanial 312


Chesunt. Henry 57


Chrisman, J. B. 419


Chrisman. J. II. 417


Citizens National Bank. 348


Elliott, W. V. 330


Fee, G. W. 270


Brobst, A. B .. 212


Buffington, J. F 17


Butcher, Osa


65


Butterfield, G. L.


Fitzgerald, J. H


Bittenbender, J. W 210


Bos, C. N .. 232


Bousquet, L. F 191


Bingaman, G. H. 402


Boyd, J. W. . 341


Elliott, J. B. 76


Clark, G. D.


Cloe, Frank


Crouch, C. N. 125


Andrews, Hiram


426


INDEX


Harkin, Myles


394


Mitten, J. C .. 152


Harrington, C. M.


370


Molesworth, Alfred


Harsin, J. D 400


Monroe, F. A. 306


Hart, (. K. 186


Moon. W. H


80


Hartley, J. A. 295


Morgan, J. L


20


Morris, A. J.


41


Mullen, T. I


272


Harvey. H. W.


331


Hendricks, Udell 2215


Murr, A. S.


275


Ilestwood, Samuel 317


407


Hodgson, Laban


Neal, S. S.


196


Hogate, E. C ..


245


Hollingshead, G. S


154


Horsman, Harrison


350


Hunt, Daniel 380


Hunt, Emerson


384


Hunt, J. W.


398


Hunt, Leroy 387


Hyer, W. E.


297


James, C. E.


72


Parsons, B. L.


180


Pascoe. 1. . ] 185


166


Pella Overall Co.


153


Jolinson, II. F. 195


149


Jones, Price


291


Jordan, A. D.


198


Jordan, E. R. 111


Jordan, Frederiek 340


Reaver, F. V. 349


Reynolds, A. D.


268


Reynolds, J. M.


78


Richards, John


281


Richards, Joshua


263


Richards, J. A.


305


Richards, William


32


King, G. L ..


369


Kinkead, Lemuel


326


Kirk, J. W. 44


Roberts, J. J.


290


Roberts, W. L.


280


Robek, J. T


26


Rogers, J. D.


392


Roorda, E. R


269


Rose, G. H.


87


Rose. T. E.


1]


Rouze. A. F.


67


Rouze, Homer


170


Loynachan, Edward


355


Lyman, J. B. 142


Lyon, W. H


84


McClain, J. W., Jr. 203


Savage, W. B ..


81


Schlotterback, J. D 414


Schmidt, G. W 139


Scott, C. J. 342


Sharon, C. C. 230


404


Simmons, Jesse


187


Spiker, W. A


250


Marsh, A. B.


121


Marsh, Daniel


336


Marsh, J. P.


83


Marsh, S. J.


112


Mathews, B. A


28


May, J. M ...


352


Mentzer, JJ. F 396


Metz, John


95


Thomassen, G. J 184


Mickle, J. M


267


Miller, N. F. 51


van der Ploeg. John 311


Vander Ploeg, W. G. 22~


97


Porter, R. I.


325


Keables, H. F 300


Kelly, J. W. 214


176


Kelly, W. A. 347


Kendall, C. C. 413


Rietveld, John


316


Rinehart, JJ. O.


14


Rinehart, W. E.


188


Knoxville Express 141


Knoxville National Bank 151


Kuyper, A. J. 324


Kuyper, Arnoldus 386


Kuyper, P. 11. 393


Leiby. S. L. 253


Lowman, W. Il.


Rouze, II. N.


34


Konze. J. F. 361


Ruckman, E. B 167


Sandiland. W. A 204


McClain, J. W., Sr. 344


McCoy, Edmund 130


McMillan, John 233


McMillan, T. T. 242


McTaggart, D. A


220


MeVay, E. W


190


Maddy, F'. A ..


209


Manhardt, J. W


308


Stapp, Il. T


31


Steele, G. A. 302


132


Stiernemann, Jacob


Stilwell, J. G.


75


Stout, G. A. 298


Strond, W. H. 217


Teter, Samuel 287


Mitchell, J. E. 102


Osborn, E. M. 296


Overton, A. S.


158


Overton. Tyler 309


Owen. B. W


416


Park, L. ES .. 335


Jenkins, Joshua 24


Jenkins, Stephen 138


Johnson, E. A. 159


Pella's Weekblad


136


Jones, F. G.


Phelps, Burr


316


Porter, C. A.


Hodgson, I. R.


Neal. I. A. 412


135


Neiswanger, T. J 379


Norris, J. W. 226


Ilarvey, A. L. 208


llarvey, Edward


118


Munsell. A. L 27


Sherwood, F. ]]


Klein, A. T. 89


Kelly, R. P.


Pauls Lumber Co.


INDEX


427


Vanderploeg, W. H.


421


Welch, T. E.


315


Van Gorp, P'. Il.


403


Welsher, Ashlie


114


Van Hemert, JJohn


334


Whitlatch, Charles


115


Van Houweling, A. B. .


50


Whitlatch, George


174


Van Spanckeren, B. H.


122


Whitlateh, W. J.


244


Varenkamp, E. C.


275


Williams, J. F


107


Verros, Mathys


243


Wilson, W. J


374


Vriezelaar, J. B


42


Wren, M. M ..


406


Wright, J. R.


241


Wagner. Daniel


332


Wright, J. W.


5


Walker, J. J.


205


Wright, O. L.


63


Walker, J. U.


53


Wright, O. P.


47


Ward, H. W.


98


Young, J. H.


68


Way, C. O.


36


Young, W. A.


10


Way, Seth


409


Welch, John A


422


Zin, George


261


DEC 12 1947





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