USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 9
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In early life Mr. Metz learned the carpenter's trade under the direction of his father but after several years' identification with that occupation turned his attention to commercial pursuits in 1877 by embarking in merchandising, in which he has since been engaged. He is now proprietor of one of the leading general mercantile estab- lishments, not only in Marysville but in this section of the state, and he is enjoying a liberal patronage. He bears, too, an unassailable reputation for integrity and straightforward conduct in all trade relations.
In 1871 Mr. Metz was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Liike, a daughter of John A. and Johanna Liike, who came to Amer- ica from Germany at an early day and were pioneer settlers of Marion county. Mr. and Mrs. Metz have become the parents of six children : Charles and Lafayette, who are in business with their father; Roy, is engaged in farming in Idaho; Jacob, who is a farmer and painter and resides in Marysville; John, also residing in Marys- ville; and Archie, of Melcher.
The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Metz gives his political allegiance to the republican party, of which he became a stanch advocate on attaining his majority. Again and again he has been called to public office, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity. He served for twelve years as postmaster of Marysville, has been trustee and assessor, and in 1895 and 1896 filled the office of county recorder, during which period he resided in Knoxville, while his sons conducted the store in
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his absence. He has also been a member of the school board and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. A resident of the county from early boyhood, he is numbered among its pioneer settlers and has been an interested witness of the growth and develop- ment of this section from an early day, his memory forming a con- necting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. There have been no spectacular chapters in his life record and enter- prise in business combined with public-spirited citizenship and fidelity to duty in every relation have won for him the prominent place which he occupies in public opinion.
C. A. PORTER.
C. A. Porter, a mine operator, who for the past four years has re- sided at Knoxville, was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1871, a son of Jerome H. and Mary M. (Stolzer) Porter. The father was born in Ohio but in 1852, when a boy of ten years, accompanied his parents to Mahaska county, the family settling in White Oak town- ship, ten miles east of Oskaloosa. There the grandfather, John Porter, followed farming for some time but his death occurred in Missouri. Jerome H. Porter enlisted in the Federal army before he was fifteen years of age and served for three years in the Civil war. He followed the carpenter's trade, being mainly employed upon rail- road work. He spent one year in Mexico, but as his health became impaired he returned to Iowa, where he died when fifty-two years of age. His widow survives and lives in Oskaloosa at the age of sixty- four. C. A. Porter has two brothers living, R. H., who is a plumber of Knoxville and is mentioned on another page of this work; and Walter, a resident of Oskaloosa.
C. A. Porter grew to manhood in Mahaska county and acquired his education in the common schools. Since reaching adult age he has engaged in various occupations, having been a farmer and also a merchant, while at present he is a coal and lumber dealer. He not only deals in those commodities but operates a coal mine which yields a paying grade of coal in considerable quantity. At one time or an- other he has also dealt in real estate to a considerable extent, buying, selling and trading residence and business property. He has a native shrewdness and is an excellent judge of values and his many transac- tions have been upon the whole profitable. He has gained a compe tence and owns his comfortable residence in Knoxville.
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Mr. Porter was married in Mahaska county in 1896 to Miss Nettie E. De Long, a native of that county and the only daughter of Edward F. De Long. The De Long family settled in Mahaska county in 1842 and in 1847 Edward F. De Long went to the gold fields of California, but in 1850 he returned to Iowa, where he passed away when seventy-three years of age. He was a veterinarian by profession but the greater part of his time was devoted to other inter- ests, for he owned a farm and dealt largely in race horses. He was also active in politics. To Mr. and Mrs. Porter have been born three children: Mary M., who will graduate from the Knoxville high school in 1915; and Charles A., a lad of fifteen years, and Ruth N., a child of eight years, both in school.
The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and are active in the various organizations connected with that denomination. Mr. Porter is a republican and was the candidate for sheriff of Marion county at the last election and came very nearly being suc- cessful. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of the subordinate lodge, the encampment and the Rebekahs, and is likewise a member of the Knights of Pythias. His wife also belongs to the Rebekahs as well. His many friends hold him in high regard, knowing him to be a man of many admirable traits of character.
H. W. WARD.
H. W. Ward, a worthy native son and representative merchant of Marion county, is the proprietor of a general store and meat market at Harvey and is meeting with well merited success in the conduct of his business. His birth occurred on the 22d of November, 1876, his parents being Jeremiah and Mary (Cox) Ward, both of whom were natives of Indiana. They came to Iowa in the '6os and the mother is still living here, but the father has passed away. Their two children survive.
H. W. Ward received a high-school education in his youth but started out to earn his own livelihood at the early age of twelve years, working at farm labor until he had attained his majority. He then secured employment in the Morrell packing house at Ottumwa and subsequently returned to this county, becoming railroad agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company at Harvey. On July 4, 1903, he embarked in business on his own account as a
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merchant of Harvey, where he has since conducted a general store and meat market, being accorded a gratifying patronage in both branches of his business. He owns a substantial residence and two lots in Harvey and is widely recognized as a prosperous and esteemed citizen of the community.
In 1902 Mr. Ward was united in marriage to Miss Edith M. Harrington, a native of Marion county and a daughter of Thomas N. and Mary (Loynachan) Harrington, the former having passed away. They had ten children, eight of whom are yet living. To Mr. and Mrs. Ward have been born two children, Marvin Reed and Merlyn Watson. Mr. Ward gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has ably served as a member of the city coun- cil and also in the capacity of school director. He and his wife attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal church and are well known and highly esteemed for their many excellent traits of char- acter. They have spent their entire lives in this part of the state and have a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
JOSEPH BRIDGEN.
On the pages of pioneer history of Marion county the name of Joseph Bridgen is inscribed, for he cast in his lot with the early set- tlers of 1854. He was a resident of Ohio and came to the west from Muskingum county, that state. There he had been married, but he and his wife were both natives of Ireland and as young people had come to the new world, seeking the broader and better opportunities offered on this side the Atlantic.
Mrs. Bridgen bore the maiden name of Sarah McCollum and was a sister of the late James McCollum, a pioneer settler of Marion county, who arrived here in 1854. To Mr. and Mrs. Bridgen were born three children, of whom Mrs. Margaret J. Schmidt is the only one now living. One daughter died at the age of twelve years and the son, James Bridgen, died in early manhood.
Joseph Bridgen was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for, arriving in Marion county in March, 1854, he had scarcely begun the task of developing and improving his farm when death called him in October of the same year. Having lost her first hus- band, Mrs. Bridgen was married again in 1858, becoming the wife of Jackson Armstrong, who died in 1868. He, too, was one of the pioneer settlers of the county and aided in promoting its early devel-
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opment. To Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong were born five children, of whom two are yet living: Mrs. J. H. Pifer, whose home is at Lari- more, North Dakota; and Mrs. J. W. Everett, living at Booneville, Iowa.
Mrs. Armstrong passed away on the 19th of May, 1909, having reached the advanced age of eighty-two years. She was a most earn- est and consistent member of the Presbyterian church and exempli- fied in her life her Christian faith and belief. She did many good deeds, was a helpful friend and neighbor and a most devoted mother and, in the words of the Psalmist, her children rise up and call her blessed.
CAPTAIN ALEXANDER M. CLARK.
Captain Alexander M. Clark is a retired farmer living in Dur- ham and is also an honored veteran of the Civil war. He has today passed the eighty-second milestone on life's journey and receives the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded one of his vears whose life has been well spent.
His birth occurred in Belmont county, Ohio, on the 22d of Feb- ruary, 1832, his parents being Samuel and Mary (Morrison) Clark, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born in the year 1799 and the mother's birth occurred in 1801. They went to Ohio in early life and were there married, remaining residents of that state for many years or until 1851, when they came to Marion county, Iowa. The father entered land from the government, the possibility of this indicating how sparsely settled was the county at that time. He resided first in a log cabin with a clapboard roof and mud and stick chimney but later built a hewed log house, and the little home had its comforts and its advantages, even though it did not compare with the attractive farm residences now to be seen in the county. This log structure is still standing in Knoxville town- ship. With characteristic energy Mr. Clark began to cultivate his farm, breaking the sod on many an acre and transforming the land into richly cultivated fields. His remaining days were devoted to the further development of his place and thereon he passed away in 1882, having for fifteen years survived his wife, who died in 1867. In their family were nine children, of whom four are still living.
Alexander M. Clark spent the greater part of his boyhood and youth in Ohio and attended its public schools. He also had college
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training and taught school before entering the army. He was a young man of nineteen years when he came to lowa and upon the home farm he remained until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he responded to the country's call for troops, joining Company E of the Eighth Iowa Infantry, August 13, 1861, as a private, with which he served throughout the period of hostilities until discharged in May, 1866. On one occasion he was captured and was confined in various prisons for a period of six months and eleven days, a part of which was spent at Libby, sharing in all the hardships of military prison life. It was at Shiloh that he was captured and this was but one of the many important engagements in which he took part. He was never wounded, although often in the thickest of the fight, and on the 20th of April, 1866, in Alabama, he was mustered out, and was discharged at Davenport, Iowa, in May, 1866. He came out of the army with two commissions as captain, having worked his way upward from the ranks through valor and loyalty. In com- mand of his company he inspired his men with much of his own bravery and yet he never needlessly sacrificed those who were under his control.
After receiving an honorable discharge Captain Clark returned to Marion county and embarked in merchandising in Knoxville in partnership with John Reed. They continued in business together until 1871, when Captain Clark again turned his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, purchasing a farm in Clay township, on which he took up his abode. For about thirty-eight years thereafter his time and attention were largely given to the work of the fields, improving his farm according to modern methods. He lived upon that place until 1909, when he came to Durham, where he and his wife now reside.
It was while a soldier in the army that Captain Clark was mar- ried April 6, 1864, while at home on veteran furlough, to Miss Sarah J. McMillan, a daughter of Thomas McMillan, and to them have been born six children: Samuel W .; Thomas M., now living in Texas; Charles M., whose home is in Tacoma, Washington; Mary M., at home; Maria, deceased; and one who died in infancy.
In his political views Captain Clark has always been a stalwart republican and has filled several of the township offices, while for three terms he was county auditor, his reelection being proof of his fidelity and capability in office. He was for many years a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and thus maintained pleasant relations with the boys in blue with whom he served on the battle- fields of the south. Both he and his wife are members of the Pres-
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byterian church, in the work of which they have long taken an active and helpful part, the Captain serving as one of the elders of the church. He owns and occupies a pleasant residence in Durham and is also the owner of two hundred and twenty acres of rich and val- uable land on sections 7 and 18, Clay township, together with one hundred and twenty acres in Union county, Iowa. His property is the visible evidence of a life of well directed energy and thrift. He has worked hard and his persistency, determination and honorable dealing have been the chief factors in bringing to him the success that has placed him among the substantial citizens of Marion county and now enables him to live retired.
JOHN E. MITCHELL.
John E. Mitchell is a retired farmer living in Liberty township. He was born at Newport, Kentucky, February 24, 1838, his parents being Henry H. and Sarah (Harrison) Mitchell, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Pennsylvania. They had a family of five children, of whom two are yet living. In the year 1839 they left the Blue Grass state and came to lowa. Nine years later, or in 1848, the father took up his abode at Hamilton, in Marion county. In the meantime his first wife had died and he married again. He was both a farmer and tanner, following the latter trade in this county for a short time but giving the greater part of his attention to general agricultural pursuits. At the time of the discovery of gold in California he started for the Pacific coast, making the long journey in 1851 with ox teams across the plains, over the hot stretches of sand and through the mountain passes to the mines of the far west. In this county he became the owner of property and upon his land the town of Hamilton was laid out in the fall of 1850. He was always much interested in the welfare and progress of this part of the state and gave helpful support to many measures and movements for the public good. His political indorsement was given the republican party and he served as road supervisor. His death occurred April 20, 1892, while his wife survived him for eight years and was then laid by his side in the cemetery at Hamilton.
John E. Mitchell is one of the two surviving members of a family of five children. He had but limited educational opportunities, for he was reared upon the frontier, being only a little more than a year old when his parents came to Iowa, which was then under territorial
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rule. He shared with the family in all of the hardships and priva- tions incident to life upon the frontier and he had but little chance to secure an education. In 1856, when a youth of eighteen years, he went to California and after his return took up the occupation of farming, which he followed for twenty years. In the winter seasons he also engaged in the manufacture of brooms and thus he lived a busy and active life which in time brought him a substantial com- petence that now enables him to rest from further labor. He was also at one time a guard at the penitentiary in Fort Madison for sev- eral years and for twelve years acted as mail carrier.
On the 20th of September, 1860, Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Carr, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (McGruder) Carr, who in the fall of 1850 came to Marion county, settling in the same neighborhood as the Mitchell family. Her father passed away in 1852, having been permitted to enjoy his new home for only a brief period. His widow long survived him, her death occurring in 1909. To Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell were born eight children, Clara, Lottie, Eddie, Flora, Walter, and three who died in infancy.
Mr. Mitchell is entitled to wear the little bronze button of the Grand Army of the Republic, for on the 20th of July, 1861, he responded to the call for troops, enlisting as a member of Company E, Eighth Iowa Infantry, with which he served for three years and twenty-five days. He was wounded in the battle of Corinth and participated in the engagement at Shiloh and in other important battles. He has always been interested in matters of progressive citizenship and yet keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, notwithstanding the fact that he has passed the seventy- sixth milestone on life's journey. He has many good qualities and his friends entertain for him a kindly regard.
M. D. FRY.
For twenty years M. D. Fry was a successful and energetic farmer of Marion county, but for fourteen years he has lived retired in Knoxville, residing at No. 1620 Pleasant street. He owns two hundred and forty-three acres of land in Knoxville and Polk town- ships and is one of the well-to-do citizens of the county. He is a son of John and Hannah (Davis) Fry, the former of whom was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1819 and died in 1904.
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In 1854 he removed to this county, first locating in Red Rock town- ship, but he subsequently purchased forty acres in Union township and continued to buy land until at the time of his death he owned eight hundred acres located in Union, Knoxville and Polk town- ships. For twenty-six years he was actively engaged in farming and during part of that time also owned a dry-goods store in Knoxville. He was married in Indiana in 1842 to Miss Hannah Davis, who was born in Ohio in 1821 and died in 1906. When a girl she accom- panied her parents to Indiana and there grew to womanhood. There were eight children in the family of John and Hannah Fry, the record being as follows: Melinda, the wife of J. McClain of Knox- ville; Mary E., the wife of J. O. Burch of Knoxville township; W. M., a resident of Polk township; D. F., living in Knoxville; Julia A., the wife of J. O. West of Colorado; Eliza, who married F. M. Kerr, also a resident of Colorado; Allie, deceased, and M. D., the youngest.
The last mentioned was educated in the rural schools of Polk township and lived at home until his marriage to Miss Eva P. McLain, which occurred in 1887 at Knoxville. She is a daughter of J. B. and Lucy (Nichols) McLain, the former born on the 3d of July, 1833, at Shady Gap, Pennsylvania. His marriage occurred on the 23d of November, 1853, and in the late 'sos he brought his family to lowa. Five years later, however, he removed to Ohio, but in 1876 again came to this state and settled at Hampton, where he conducted a dry-goods store until 1880, when he removed with his family to Knoxville, where he passed away on the 18th of June, 1914. He was a veteran of the Civil war and a member of the Knoxville Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. His wife died on the 4th of March, 1901. To their union were born four children : Emily, the wife of W. L. Dickerson, of Knoxville; Fred. D., deceased ; Newton, also deceased; and Eva P., the wife of the sub- ject of this review. She was born in Fredonia, Ohio, in 1867 and was brought to lowa when nine years of age. Her education was acquired at Hampton and Iowa Falls. She later lived in Knoxville, where her marriage occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Fry have two chil- dren: Gail M., born on the 2d of February, 1889, graduated from the Knoxville high school in 1908 and subsequently married Frank Walter, who died in January, 1914. Since his death she has been attending business college in Des Moines. Erema S. was born on the 16th of November, 1892, and graduated from the local high school in 1909. She subsequently took a two years' course in music at Simpson College in Indianola, this state, and is now at home.
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Mr. Fry began farming upon his own account subsequent to his marriage and for twenty years was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He owns a finely developed farm of two hundred and forty-three acres in Knoxville and Polk townships and has made many improve- ments thereon. For the past fourteen years he has lived retired in Knoxville, as his former labors gained him more than a competence. He is a democrat in his political belief and has been quite active in local affairs. He has been delegate to a number of county conven- tions and for three terms served as alderman from the third ward. He is well known in the city and has many friends, as to come into contact with him means to honor and respect him.
GEORGE W. DERRY.
George W. Derry, residing in the village of Columbia, has been a witness of the growth and development of Marion county for many years and can relate many an interesting tale concerning events which figure prominently in the history of this section of the state. He is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in that state Jan- uary 23, 1843. His parents were Jacob and Eliza (Wilson) Derry, who were also natives of the Buckeye state and were there reared and married, while the mother died in Ohio. The Derry family was represented in that state from early pioneer times. The great-grand- father of our subject was greatly incensed at the Indians because of a massacre of his friends and relatives and swore eternal vengeance on every redskin who crossed his path. He resolved that other white people should not suffer as his friends and relatives had done if he could prevent it, and thus it was that he used every opportunity to exterminate the red men or drive them to districts further west.
In the family of Jacob Derry and his wife were nine children, of whom two died in early life, while two are yet living: George W., of this review; and Mrs. William Swing. The father came to the west in 1868 and settled in Marion county, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in Knoxville about 1898. After losing his first wife he married Anna Ogden and unto them were born nine children, so that altogether he had eighteen chil- dren. His widow survives and now lives in Knoxville. Mr. Derry was a democrat in politics but never held office nor desired political advancement of any kind. For many years he followed farming in
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Knoxville township, contributing much toward making it the rich agricultural district which it is today. In his later years he retired and took up his residence in Knoxville, where he remained until called to the home beyond.
George W. Derry was educated in the schools of Ohio, in which state the first seventeen years of his life were passed. He came to Marion county in 1860 and at once started out to earn his own liv- ing. He worked as a farm hand for a brief time but watched with interest the progress of events which marked the beginning of the Civil war, and when it was seen that the two sides were very evenly matched and that the question was not to be settled in a short time, he offered his services to the government, enlisting in Company G, Fifteenth lowa Volunteer Infantry, on the 24th of October, 1861, although a youth of only eighteen years. He was mustered in on the 2Ist of November for three years' service and on the 29th of Jan- uary, 1864, he reenlisted for the remainder of the war. He was pro- moted to sixth corporal in May, 1864; to fourth corporal on the ist of August, 1864; and to second corporal on the ist of January, 1865. On the 24th of July, 1865, he was mustered out at Louisville, having made a most creditable military record through the almost four years of his active service. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, in the siege and battle of Corinth, the hotly contested siege of Vicksburg, the hard-fought battle of Atlanta on the 21st and 22d of July and was again on duty at Atlanta on the 28th of July and through the siege. He was frequently in the thickest of the fight and he never faltered whatever the duty assigned to him.
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