USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 5
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JAMES B. DOUGLASS.
James B. Douglass has been successfully engaged in the lumber business at Harvey since 1900 and also holds the office of city assessor, ably and faithfully discharging his duties in that connection. His birth occurred in Iowa City, Johnson county, Iowa, on the 30th of September, 1867, his parents being William and Lucinda (Dent) Douglass, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respec- tively. Their marriage was celebrated in Putnam county, Illinois, to which place the mother had removed with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. William Douglass came to Iowa in the early 'sos and in this state spent the remainder of their lives. To them were born eight children and all are yet living.
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
James B. Douglass enjoyed the advantages of a college education in his youth and spent the period of his minority under the parental roof. In 1893 he embarked in the lumber business at West Branch, Cedar county, Iowa, there conducting an enterprise of that character until 1900, when he came to Harvey, Marion county. Here he com- menced business as a lumber dealer, handling all kinds of building materials. In 1902 he sold out to the Anthes Lumber Company, managing their business. They in turn sold out to the Pauls Lum- ber Company, Mr. Douglass continuing as manager. His reputa- tion for integrity is unassailable and his well directed efforts have resulted in success. He owns an attractive residence and also some lots in Harvey, where he is well known as an enterprising, progres- sive and representative citizen.
. On the 2d of January, 1895, Mr. Douglass was united in ma,- riage to Miss Fannie Belle Miller, a native of New Jersey and a daughter of Aaron and Nettie (Taylor) Miller, who were born in New Jersey and Iowa respectively. Both have passed away and one of their two children is also deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Douglass have been born four children, as follows: Dent, whose natal day was February 6, 1896, and who is a graduate of the Knoxville high school; Grace E., who was born February 8, 1902, and died January 3, 1903; Hugh T., whose birth occurred November 3, 1903; and Lois B., born November 10, 1906.
In politics Mr. Douglass is a stanch republican and at the preser.t time acts in the capacity of city assessor, making a creditable and commendable record in that connection. Fraternally he is identi- fied with the Masons, belonging to Lodge No. 381, A. F. & A. M .; Chapter No. 18, R. A. M., at Knoxville; and Chapter No. 164, O. E. S. He is likewise affiliated with Lodge No. 199 of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and with his family he attends the services of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Douglass is interested in all the principal phases of life in his adopted county and his influ- ence is ever on the side of progress and improvement.
ALBERT B. VAN HOUWELING.
Albert B. Van Houweling, connected with the financial affairs of Pella as vice president of the Security Bank, in which capacity he has served since 1912, was born in this county, on the 8th of June, 1885, a son of Albert and Annie (Klein) Van Houweling, both
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
natives of Holland. The former was a son of Gysbert Van Houwel- ing, who in 1847 brought his family to this country and settled at Pella. He was a farmer by occupation and was a man of strict integrity of character. The father of the subject of this review was also an agriculturist and was very successful in that occupation. He died in October, 1892. His wife, who also came to Pella in 1847, accompanying her parents, survives at the age of seventy years. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Van Houweling were members of the Dutch Reformed church. To them were born eleven children, four of whom have passed away.
Albert B. Van Houweling was given the advantages of a public- school education and subsequently took a business course in Central College at Pella. He desired a more liberal general education, how- ever, and for two years was a student at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. Upon leaving school he entered the banking busi- ness and since 1912 has been vice president of the Security Bank, which is one of the reliable financial institutions of Pella. Although quite a young man, he has demonstrated his fitness for responsibility and his friends predict a successful career for him.
Mr. Van Houweling was married on the 7th of August, 1912, to Miss Nettie Van Zante, of Portland, Oregon, and has a daughter, Anna Elva May. Mr. Van Houweling is a member of the Dutch Reformed church and in politics casts an independent ballot, prefer- ring to judge for himself as to the candidate most capable of filling the office in question without reference to party affiliation. He and his wife are popular among the young people of the city and often entertain their friends at their hospitable home.
NEWTON F. MILLER.
Newton F. Miller is a progressive farmer residing in the vicinity of Knoxville and is well known in Marion county. He was born in Highland county, Ohio, in 1849, a son of Jacob and Eliza (Weir) Miller, natives of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and Highland county, Ohio, respectively. The father was born in 1816 and the mother in 1823. Their marriage occurred in Highland county, Ohio, and the mother passed away there in 1867. The father removed to Warren county, Iowa, in that year and in 1868 came to Marion county, purchasing land in Pleasant Grove township, which
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
he farmed until about 1888. He then went to Pleasantville and lived retired until his death, which occurred in 1890. He was a democrat in politics. Following the death of his first wife he mar- ried Mrs. Ducksworth, by whom he had one child. Newton F. Miller was the third in order of birth of the six children born of the first marriage.
Mr. Miller of this review accompanied his father to Iowa in the late '6os. His education was mainly acquired in Ohio, but he studied for a term in the Central University of Iowa at Pella after the removal to this county. When twenty-one years of age he married, and began farming for himself, previous to which time he had taught school in the winter and assisted his father in the work of the home farm during the summer. The first year that he farmed for himself he rented land, but at the age of twenty-two years he had saved suffi- cient to enable him to purchase forty acres in Pleasant Grove town- ship. He subsequently purchased a farm in Franklin township and in 1899 bought the farm where he now resides, which is situated on section 2, Knoxville township, and consists of fifty-five acres. He also owns two hundred acres on section 3, that township, a part of the last mentioned tract of land being rented and part devoted to pasture. Mr. Miller has about forty head of cattle and also raises Red Jersey hogs, devoting more attention to the raising of stock than to the cultivation of grain, as he believes it more profitable. He has resided in Knoxville township since 1894, although he did not pur- chase his present home farm until 1899. He has made all of the improvements upon the place and everything is in a splendid condi- tion, his residence being large, comfortable and of attractive appear- ance. On the Ist of October, 1909, at the suggestion of Judge Crozier he organized the bank in Knoxville which is known as the Guaranty Bank and was cashier of the institution for three years and nine months. At the end of that time he sold his interest to E. R. Jordan, assistant cashier of the Citizens Bank of Pleasantville, and his brother for a consideration of ninety-five hundred dollars, or one hundred and twenty-five dollars a share, as he owned seventy-six shares. Mr. Miller placed the bank upon a sound basis and it is now one of the most substantial institutions of the kind in the county.
Mr. Miller was married to Miss Mary J. Elliott, who was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, about 1846 and passed away in 1870. Mr. Miller subsequently married Miss Candis Marsh, a native of this county, and they have five children: Ruby M., who is a sopho- more at Simpson College, Indianola; Ruth Helen, who is a fresh- man at the same college and who won a scholarship, as she was the
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
valedictorian of the class of 1914 at the Knoxville high school, and Edna Frances, Leon N. and Robert L., all in school.
Mr. Miller is a democrat and from 1896 to 1900 served accept- ably as county auditor, being the first auditor who had offices in the new courthouse which was finished in January, 1897. His activities as a farmer have not only won him financial independence but have aided in the agricultural development of the county, and his upright and straightforward life has gained him general respect.
JAMES U. WALKER.
James U. Walker is a representative of one of the pioneer fam- ilies of Marion county. He owns and occupies a splendidly improved farm of one hundred and fifty acres and lives in the old home of his father, Francis M. Walker, who is mentioned elsewhere in this vol- ume in connection with the sketch of another son, John J. Walker. It was on the 18th of October, 1873, that James U. Walker first opened his eyes to the light of day. He was reared upon the old home farm and after attending the common schools near his home spent a year as a student in Ackworth. He has followed farming successfully since starting out in business life on his own account and has made many of the improvements upon his place. He has a fine home here and the farm presents a neat and thrifty appearance. A glance at the place indicates that its owner must be a man of pro- gressive spirit and of unfaltering diligence, for the fields are well tilled, the fences and buildings are kept in good repair and there is every evidence of careful supervision and progressive methods. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate Mr. Walker also engages in the raising of graded stock and his annual sales bring to him a gratifying income.
Mr. Walker has been married twice. On the 7th of February, 1895, he wedded Miss Della Camp, a daughter of the late John Camp, and to them was born a son, Francis Marion, who was named for his paternal grandfather and who is at Fort McDermott, Nevada, with his mother. Mr. Walker's present wife was Miss Mamie Mote, whom he wedded February 23, 1910. She was born in Pal- myra, Iowa, a daughter of Ephraim and Ann Eliza (Gilman) Mote. The family were early settlers in Warren county, having taken up their abode near Palmyra in 1846, when Ephraim Mote was but a young lad. His parents removed from Ohio to Iowa and cast in
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
their lot with the pioneer residents of this state. Ephraim Mote was born in 1834 and was therefore seventy-eight years of age when, in July, 1912, he passed away. His widow is now living in Des Moines, at the age of sixty-eight years. Mrs. Walker was reared and edu- cated near indianola and by her marriage has become the mother of one daughter, Esta Bernice, born July 19, 1911.
Politically Mr. Walker is a republican, voting for the men and measures of the party, yet never an ofnce seeker. Fraternally he is connected with both the subordinate lodge and encampment of the Odd Fellows, while he and his wife are connected with the Rebekahs. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge and of the Modern Woodmen camp of Pleasantville, while his wife is a mem- ber of the Christian church. They are both well known in this county and many speak of them in terms of high regard. Mr. Walker is, moreover, recognized as one of the leading farmers of Swan township, employing all the modern methods which have made this one of the rich agricultural districts of the state.
SAMUEL ROSS GRIFFITH.
Samuel Ross Griffith, a well known farmer and stockman of Knoxville township, was born at Mount Morris, Pennsylvania, June 4, 1867, a son of Samuel and Juliana ( Burris) Griffith, both of whom were born near Morgantown, West Virginia. The father's natal day was September 30, 1814, and the mother's January 9, 1829. They were married at Mount Morris, Pennsylvania, and the father farmed in that state until 1868, when the family removed to Pella, Marion county, lowa. The following December they located in Wayne county, this state, and remained there for three years, after which they returned to this county and the father purchased the land now owned by our subject. He was a soldier of the Civil war and was faithful in the discharge of all duties. He died on the 6th of August, 1888, and his wife passed away on the 7th of July, 1907. Further information concerning them is found in the sketch of S. J. Marsh, published elsewhere in this work.
Samuel Ross Griffith was about a year old when brought by his parents to this county and the greater part of his boyhood was passed upon the farm where he still resides, although he lived for three years in Wayne county, this state. He was educated in the common schools and his training thus acquired was supplemented by a prac-
S. Ross. Griffith
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
tical knowledge of agriculture gained by assisting in the cultivation of the home farm. Since starting out in life for himself he has devoted his time and energy to the work of the fields and has gained an enviable reputation as a successful farmer and stockman. He owns two hundred and thirty-eight acres on section 5, Knoxville township, and as the land is fertile and everything about the place is kept in good condition the property is a valuable one.
Mr. Griffith is a republican but has never aspired to office, pre- ferring to concentrate his attention upon his agricultural operations. Fraternally he belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose at Knoxville and he attends the Methodist church. His life is guided by honor- able principles and he is recognized not only as a successful man but as an upright and conscientious citizen.
HENRY CHESNUT.
Henry Chesnut, whose widow resides in the village of Columbia, was born in Illinois on the 26th of July, 1858, and in that state was reared and educated. Many years ago he came west to Iowa and at Knoxville, on the ist of May, 1888, was united in marriage to Mrs .. Elizabeth Smith, the widow of David Smith and previously the widow of Peter Butterfield. Her parents were John and Rebecca (Kay) Wilson. By her first marriage Mrs. Chesnut had five chil- dren, of whom three died in infancy, the others being John Oliver, who died at the age of two years, and George L., who lives near Flagler in this county. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Chesnut removed westward to Keith county, Nebraska, where they had a large ranch and twelve hundred head of cattle. He con- ducted extensive farming and stock-raising interests and his well managed business affairs resulted in the attainment of a most credit- able and gratifying measure of success.
Mrs. Chesnut's parents came to this county many years ago and are now buried at Newburn. They had a family of twelve children, all of whom reached adult age, but all are now deceased save Mrs. Chesnut. Three of the children, sons, were lost while serving as soldiers in the Civil war. Henry Harrison Wilson was poisoned by water and died from the effects. John Oliver Wilson had his arm shot off and died from gangrene. Jacob was killed at the battle of Shiloh. Another brother, Leonard, enlisted and was never heard Vol. II 4
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
from again, so it is supposed that he, too, laid down his life upon the altar of his country.
The death of Mr. Chesnut occurred at Salina, Kansas, July 18, 1906. He was independent in politics but was interested in public affairs and cooperated in various movements for the general good. He was ever a busy man and his life was one of usefulness as well as of activity. While his later years were passed in the west, he is yet remembered by many of the older settlers of Marion county who knew him in youth and young manhood and entertained for him warm regard.
JOHN W. FREE.
John W. Free was a respected and representative citizen of Indiana township for many years and when death called him in 1906 his demise was deeply regretted by many friends as well as by his immediate family. He was born in Ross county, Ohio, September 16, 1829, and was therefore about seventy-seven years of age when called to his final rest. His parents, Frederick and Susan (Mark) Free, were also natives of the Buckeye state, where they lived until 1853 and then started westward by wagon with Marion county as their destination. By the slow stages of that method of travel they proceeded until they at length reached Iowa and took up their abode upon a farm in this part of the state. For one year their home was a log cabin and at the end of that time they built a frame house, which they occupied until they were called to their final rest. In their family were five children but all have now passed away.
John W. Free spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native state and was a young man of about twenty-four years when the family came to Iowa. In the fall of 1860 he was married in this county to Miss Mary Walker, who was also a native of Ross county, Ohio, her parents being John and Juda ( Benson) Walker, who were likewise natives of Ohio and were of Scotch descent. In the fall of 1850 they removed westward to this county, taking up their abode upon a farm, and for five years they lived in a log house. At the end of that time the father had won a substantial measure of prosperity, so that he was enabled to erect good buildings. Other improvements were added to the farm and the land was brought under a high state of cultivation, so that the place became one of the attractive and valuable farming properties of the county. Both Mr. and Mrs.
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
Walker continued to reside upon that place until called to their final rest. In their family were five children, of whom three are living. After their marriage Mr. Free began the cultivation of the farm upon which he and his wife resided almost five decades. His work was soon manifest in highly cultivated fields which were yielding good harvests. As science and investigation brought changes in methods of farming he eagerly embraced these and purchased the latest improved machinery in order to facilitate the work of the fields. He was energetic and determined and as the result of his labors gained a handsome competence. Those who knew him recog- nized in him sterling traits of character and thus it was that his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret when in 1906 he was called from this life. In politics he had always been a stanch repub- lican but not an office seeker.
Mrs. Free survives and is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Indiana township and also of a fine resi- dence in Attica, which she now occupies. She is a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, widely known as an earnest Christian woman. For many years she has been numbered among the pioneer settlers of the county and a witness of its many changes. The logs that were used in building the first courthouse of Marion county were cut from the farm which she now owns. She can relate many interesting incidents of the early days and her reminiscences constitute a delightful tale, giving a vivid picture of conditions which existed a half century ago, of the methods of life at that time and of the hospitality and good-will which was everywhere prevalent among the early settlers.
ISAAC WESLEY BRADEY.
Isaac Wesley Bradey owns and operates a farm of sixty-eight acres on section 35, Knoxville township, and has made many of the improvements thereon, which render his place one of the valuable and productive farms of the neighborhood. His birth occurred on this section on the 9th of December, 1852, and the old frame dwell- ing in which he first opened his eyes to the light of day is still one of the landmarks of the community. Prior to its erection the family occupied a log cabin, for they were among the pioneer settlers of the county and were closely identified with the early phases of frontier life here.
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
The parents of Mr. Bradey were Isaac and Lydia Ann (Cloe) Bradey, both of whom are now deceased. The father, who was born in Indiana in 1811, passed away December 7, 1874, and the mother, who was born in Stafford county, Virginia, March 13, 1813, died on the 3d of February, 1894, when in the eighty-first year of her age. She was a daughter of Henry and Ann Cloe, who removed to Ken- tucky in 1816 and in 1831 took their family to Vermilion county, Illinois. That was a year before the Black Hawk war occurred. In 1832 she became the wife of Gilbert Cloe, who died in 1833, leaving a daughter, Narcissus, who is now the widow of William London and resides at Carson, lowa. In the 'Jos Isaac Bradey arrived in Marion county, lowa, after having spent some time in Vermilion county, Illinois. It was there that he was married in 1836 to Mrs. Lydia Ann Cloe and three children were born to them in that state. In 1845 they left Illinois for lowa, casting in their lot with the pioneer settlers of Marion county at a day when the government owned much of the land. Mr. Bradey secured a claim on section 35, Knoxville township, a part of which is now owned by his son, Isaac W. Bradey. The family shared in all of the hardships and privations incident to settlement upon the western frontier and par- ticipated in the work which brought about the transformation of the county from a wild and undeveloped region into one of the populous and prosperous sections of the state.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bradey were members of the Methodist Pret- estant church and took an active and helpful interest in its work. They had a family of nine children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: John, who resides in Knoxville; H. B., who died in Knoxville township about 1899; Elizabeth, who is the widow of Hezekiah Davis and resides in Missouri; Nancy Ella, the wife of S. G. Elder, of Knoxville township; Martha Ann, who married Captain Henry McCoy, of Knoxville; Isaac Wesley; S. B., who lives in Knoxville but is the owner of a farm in this county; and Lydia, the wife of Van O. Davis, of Madison county, Nebraska.
Isaac W. Bradey, born in this county in pioncer times, was edu- cated in the public schools and has always remained a resident of Knoxville township with the exception of a period of three years. His life has been devoted to farming and he is today the owner of sixty-eight acres of land situated on section 35, Knoxville township, which is a part of the old homestead claim that was entered by his father from the government.
On the 15th of July, 1875, Mr. Bradey was united in marriage to Miss Mary Asbury Scott, a daughter of Robert Scott, who resided
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
near Attica and died in 1857. Her mother afterward became the wife of a Mr. Walls and passed away in Minnesota. Mrs. Bradey was born in Knoxville township, in 1855, and her only brother died in the west in early manhood. Mr. and Mrs. Bradey became the parents of six children: Mossey, the wife of William Calkins, of Indiana township; Willis, a farmer and trader of Marysville; May, the wife of Ira Ingram, living in Decatur county ; Oscar and Worth, both of whom died in childhood; and Fern, fourteen years of age, at home.
Mr. Bradey, his wife and family are all members of the Chris- tian church. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. He and his family occupy an enviable position in social circles and the high esteem of many friends is freely given them.
JOHN F. FEE.
John F. Fee, a farmer and stock-raiser of Knoxville township, has resided in this county since 1849 and is a brother of George W. Fee, whose record is given elsewhere in this work. He was born in Crawford county, Indiana, August 11, 1841, a son of Christopher and Susan (Means) Fee, who in 1846 removed to Van Buren county, lowa, and three years later to Marion county. The father was a native of Virginia.
John F. Fee was eight years of age when he accompanied his parents to this county and has resided here continuously since. As a boy he attended subscription schools, in which his entire education was acquired, as he never went to a free school. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Western Army and participated in the siege of Vicksburg. He was then sent west to the Yazoo river, to Arkansas and to the Indian country and was mustered out at Gibson, in the territory belonging to the Cherokee Nation. He was in the army something over three years and when discharged held the rank of color bearer of his company. He was never injured but suffered from disease, though he never drew a pension until his age entitled him to one. After returning from the front he remained upon his father's farm for two years but after his marriage, which occurred in 1867, he located upon the James Gamble farm near Knoxville, where he remained until the fall of 1879, when he removed to his
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