USA > Iowa > Mills County > History of Mills County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 73
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BROTHERS, S. T., M. D., was the first physician locating in Mal- vern. He came there in 1866, from Ohio, his native state, where he was born July 12, 1827, in Carroll county, in which he lived until 1856, and where he procured a common school education, and a professional education in Western Reserve College, of that state. He practiced his profession for some two or three years in his native county, after which, in 1856, he came to Eastern Iowa, where continued his professional work until 1860, when he returned to Ohio. Like most people who have ever lived in the grand state of Iowa, Dr. B. had an unconqerable desire to return, which he did in 1866, this time locating in Mills county. As already noted, he was not only the first physician, but was the second person who located in the then new town of Malvern. As a practitioner Dr. Bro- thers has been a successful master of the healing art. He has secured for himself a farm of 280 acres located in Pottawattamie county, where he may retire in quiet, when the years of the shady side shall overtake him. March 30, 1854, he married Eves A. Graham, of Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, and thereby added to his domestic circle seven more to join in the great tide of life, and to make that circle more cheerful and interest-
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ing: Alice, Howard, Lily, Flora, Charlie, Rebecca, and Ralph. The Doc- tor is a member of the Masonic order.
BENTLEY, LEANDER, a native of Kentucky, was born near Lex- ington, September 27, 1831, where he remained until about nine years of age. In 1840, he "went west" with his people, locating in Boone county, Missouri, where he secured a common school and academic education, the latter at the Lathrop Academy. While at Rockport, Missouri, he pursued a general mercantile business. In 1860 he came to Iowa, locat- ing at Sidney, Fremont county, where he continued the mercantile trade until 1865, when he served in the county treasurers office until 1870. In 1872, he started the first bank at Riverton, which he left in 1875, and came to Malvern and filled the position of cashier of the First National Bank, of that place, which position he still retains. Mr. B. married Miss A. M. Ross, at Rockport, Boone county, Missouri, February 13, 1855. Six children: Mary R., John H., Frank, R. E. Lee, Annie D., Charles A., are rising up to call them blessed. He is a member of the Nish- nabotna Lodge, 153, of Masons; and also a member of the Baptist church.
BUFFINGTON, F. M., is a native of Meiggs county, Ohio, where his nativity commenced March 12, 1835. At the age of three years he was taken to Adams county, Illinois, where he grew up to young manhood; meantime gathering a common school education. At the age of nine- teen years he came to Mills county, settling in Oak township, where he worked at farming until 1879, when he purchased the Malvern Mills, and from thence forward he carried on the milling business. His was a com- mon school education. May 16, 1860, Mr. B. formed a marital alliance with Miss Sara Byers, of Mills county. Of this union there are five living children: Carrie, John, Jennie, Francis and Effie. Mr. B. is a member of the M. E. church.
BLACK, WM., is a native of Scotland; born March 9, 1817. In 1838, he came to America, and located near Rochester, New York, where he remained until the autumn of 1838, when he moved to central Ohio. In July, 1871, he located in Malvern, Mills county, and entered the hardware trade which he still continues. September 9, 1841, he married Miss Mar- tha Reed, near Zanesville, Ohio. Four children were theirs, two sons and two daughters; two of whom are settled in Licking county, Ohio, and two in Mills county. Mr. Black was educated in the common school, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. His fellow citizens have, on several occasions expressed their confidence in his good citizenship, by conferring upon him official positions of trust. Several times trustee of his town, then mayor, and now school director and presi- dent of the board, which latter position he has held some five years. In 1850, Mr. Black was one of the "Argonauts" who made his way to Cali-
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fornia in search of the "golden fleece," of which he obtained a fair share. In 1865 Mr. B. was a delegate from Zanesville, Ohio, to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, at Pittsburg. He surrendered the services of two sons to his country, to aid in suppressing the rebellion.
CAMPBELL, P. M., begun his mortal career the tenth day of April, 1848, at Jackson, Michigan. When about the a year old he emigrated with his parents to Canada, returning to Michigan, however, at about the age of twelve years, where he remained until 1865, when he came to Iowa, stopping in Dallas county until 1870, in which year he went to Mis- souri. In 1880 he returned to Iowa, locating this time at Malvern, Mills county. He attended the public schools, and worked upon the farm; from which field of labor he rose to more responsible positions. He has been in the employ of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad Company for the past ten years, as an agent and telegraph operator, which position he now occupies. In Salisbury, Missouri, October 24, 1871, he married Miss Nora E. Ammerman. Two children make their household bright and cheerful-Ray and Edwin Willie. He is a member of the Masonic order.
CURTIS, M. J., came to Malvern at the age of twenty-three years. At the age of five years he removed from his native place-Bucksport, Maine, where he was born, September 6, 1847-with his parents to Ros- coe, Illinois, where he remained until he came to Mills county, in 1870- Since Mr. Curtis' residence in Malvern, he has been engaged in the grain business. In this connection he has also conducted a farm of 282 acres, on which he has fed about a hundred head of cattle each season for the market. Mr. C. was educated where the great majority of the American people were, in the common school. He is a member of Masonic order- Silver Urn Lodge 234, of Malvern. Is also a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. C. being one of the early settlers of the town, has been identified with all of its material interests. He has held the office of mayor, school director and treasurer of the school board, thus affording evidence of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. At his native town of Bucksport, Maine, he married, November 3, 1869, Miss Helen L. Sweetser, the choice of his youth. An adopted child makes their household cheerful.
DEAVER, G. W. F., is a native of Maryland, where he first became a conscious mortal, January 26, 1823, in Hartford county. There upon his native heath he spent the first forty-seven years of his life, where he acquired his education in the public school, and where he learned the occupation which he has pursued for the past thirty years, that of a car- penter and bridge-builder. In 1869, he came " west," stopping in Hen- derson county, Illinois, for two years. From thence he went to Burling- ton, Iowa, where he remained about five years, after which he pushed westward to Malvern, Mills county, where he has resided since about
1
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October, 1875. He married Mary J. Baxter, in Hartford county, Mary- land, October 13, 1853. The result of this union is a prolific one -- ten children living-Annie L., George G., James T., John McK., Charles W., Edwin L., Mary V., Hannah M., Benjamin F. and Harvey W. He is a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellow orders, and of the M. E. Church. He is also one of the present "city fathers" of Malvern.
DONNER, RICHARD, J., is of foreign birth, a native of Germany, where he entered life, December 13, 1850. When five years old he came to America with his parents, and proceeded from New York to Kalama- zoo, Michigan, where they remained until the spring of 1856, when they moved to Mills county, Iowa and lived upon a farm. Mr. D. here pro- cured a common school education, during the winter season, and worked upon the farm until 1874, when he became one of the first settlers of Mal- vern, where he purchased a half interest in the grain elevator at that place; and with his brother carried on the grain business for some four years, during which period their elevator-the first built in the town- burned, but which they promptly rebuilt. Subsequent to this, Mr. D. carried on the agricultural implement business for a time; then engaged in the livery business which he still continues. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Knights of Pythias. In 1869 Mr. D. made a trip to California, where he spent about a year looking at that golden country.
GIDLEY, RICHARD L., is a cousin from over the sea. He is a native of Cornwall, Wales, born Tune 4, 1841. At the age of five years he immigrated to America with his parents who located in Wisconsin. Here Mr. G. remained until 1865, when he went to school some, and com- menced learning the carpenter's trade. That year he came to Iowa, stop- ping at Des Moines, where he remained until 1868. From thence he went to Council Bluffs, remaining until 1870, when he sought Malvern for his future home, of where he was among its first settlers. In it, he has held various positions of trust-Mayor, town trustee, twice, and is now serving his third term under the present organization. He has worked at the car- penter trade for twenty-five years, having commenced to learn its myste- ries when but fifteen years old. He is now the proprietor of the Inter Ocean Hotel of Malvern. Sena Mabee, of Monroe county, Iowa, joined Mr. Gidley, as a co-laborer in his pilgrimage through life's journey, April 15, 1878. One child, Richard E., born at Malvern, August 24, 1879, has been added to that home circle. Mr. D. did good service for his adopted country in the rebellion. He enlisted in company I, of the second Wis- consin infantry, in April, 1861, and served in the army until June 30, 1864. He was in the battles of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Charlottsville, South Mountain, Antietam, and Gettysburg, at which battle he was wounded. He explains that he fired the first shot from the infantry, at the battle of
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Gettysburg. From the effects of his wound he was confined to the hospital some eleven months. He was a prisoner for the three days the rebels occupied the town. He is a Mason and was master of the Silver Urn Lodge of Malvern for two terms.
GRAY, G. W., is a native Iowan, born in Mahaska county, January 10, 1857. When two years of age he removed with his parents to Page county where he procured a common school education. In July, 1877, he made Malvern his home, and made the harness manufacturing business his avocation, which he still pursues. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows, and of the Malvern cornet band.
GARRIGUS, JAMES EDWARD, is a native of Indiana, having en- tered the conflict of life the sixth of Oct. 1852, in Dearborn county, where he continued to sojourn for the first twenty years of his existence, when he launched out for new climes; tarrying at Trenton, Clinton county, Illi- nois, for four years. He continued toward the "Star of Empire," until he reached Malvern, Mills county, Iowa, where he hung up his hammock, and with a will he laid hold of the opportunities which presented them- selves for his future success. He received his education in the common school, and Moore's Hill college, Indiana, from which he graduated in 1872. Afterward he was chosen the principal of the public schools at Delaware, Indiana, for a year, and after coming westward he taught a public school for a year in St. Clair county, Illinois; and subsequently was principal of the public schools at New Memphis, Illinois, for three years. Soon after his arrival at Malvern, Iowa, he was chosen principal of the public schools of that town for a year. After his graduation at Moore's Hill, Mr. G. began reading law, which he continued during intervals while teaching; and during his vacations while teaching in Illinois, he read in the office of G. Van Horbecke, at Carlisle. He completing his law read- ing in the office of D. H. Solomon, Esq., of Glenwood, in the spring of 1878, when he was admitted to the bar, and formed a copartnership with Robert Aiton for practice. After three months he continued alone until September 1, 1879, when he formed a co-partnership with A. L. Young, which still continues under the firm name of Young & Garrigus. On May 1, 1880, he formed another co-partnership with Miss Clara L. Boeh- ner for life for the practice of love and affection, and the domestic and social amenities of life as well. To this firm has been added another mem- ber; though brief in lite, little Helen bids fair to add abundant sunshine to the domestic circle. Mr. G. is a member of the masonic order, and also of the Baptist church.
GRAY, WILLIAM E., began life September 1, 1851, in Guernsey county, Ohio. At the age of five years he went with his parents to Mahaska county, Iowa, remaining there until the spring of 1858, when he removed to Page county, Iowa, thence to Taylor county in 1874. and
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finally brought up in Mills county the next year. Mr. Gray was the recipi- ent of a common school education; he read law with Morledge & McPher- rin, and was afterward admitted to practice at Malvern, which profession he has pursued to the present day. He joined his fortunes with Miss E. J. Calhoun, of Page county, Iowa, October 5th, 1875, whose increase are two children: Byron O. and Jesse E. Mr. G. is a member of the I. O. of O. F., being a Past Grand of the order. Two terms he has held the scales of justice in his township, as justice of the peace, and still holds them for the third term. He assisted in the incorporation of the town as one of the attorneys. Mr. G. made his own way through the world from fourteen years of age without means or aid. He first worked in a woolen factory at a early age, and remained until eighteen years old, when he began to learn the tinner's trade. From twenty-one years of age he taught school during the winters, and read law summers. To-day he has a comfortable start in life.
GOODWIN, CHARLES F., is a native of the "city of churches." March 12, 1855, he began his mortal career, and in the fifth year of his boyhood he went to Flushing L. I., and whiled away two years more of his youth; after which he peregrinated to Buckport, Maine; thence to Wintersport; thence to Buckport again; thence to Roscoe, Illinois, and thence to Malvern, Iowa, which place he reached in 1870. He was edu- cated in the common school, concluding at the East Maine Conference Seminary, at Buckport, including a commercial course. He was married August 16, 1878, to Miss Anna Evans, of Malvern; and one child, Frank E., is the comfort of the twain. Mr. G. is a member of the firm of Mun- ger & Goodwin, druggists and dealers in jewelry, bocks, etc. He is a member of the Silver Urn Lodge, 234, of masons.
HERSHEY,ALBERT, a Pennsylvanian by birth, entered life Sep- tember 8, 1847, in York county, where he obtained a common school edu- cation, closing with a course in the Normal school in Lancaster county. In 1866 he came west to Muscatine county, Iowa, where he made but a short stay, pushing on to Boone county, in this state, where he was engaged in the grain business. In February, 1871, he sought Malvern as his future home, where for a time he contiued the grain trade, until now he is engaged in farming. October 15, 1879, he observed the scrip- tural injunction by taking unto himself a help-meet, in the person of Miss M. Jennie Place, of Malvern, Mills county. But the " replenishing " part of the scriptural injunction does not appear to have been observed thus for in their marital co-partnership. Mr. and Mrs. H. are both members of the Presbyterian church.
JOHNSON, JOHN M., a native of England, was born in Cambridge- shire, July 29, 1834. He immigrated to America in 1851, locating in St. Joseph county, Michigan. After a seven years stay here, he changed his
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location to section 29, Silver Creek township, Mills county. In 1861 he removed to the farm on which he still resides, in section 16, containing 340 acres of prairie and timber. He came to Mills as a pioneer in his township, and with but slight means, save his sturdy hands. His fine farm with excellent house, out buildings, and other modern improvements, are the accumulations of his own hands, aided by the economy and indus- try of his wife, who was Mary M. Hicks, prior to November 30, 1856, on which day he united his fortunes with her, at St. Joseph county Michi- gan. Five children: James E., Ira, Minnie, Susan and John M., have risen up to call them blessed. Mr. J. served his country three years dur- ing the late rebellion, as an enlisted soldier in company B, Twenty-ninth Iowa infantry. He was in the battles of Helena, Arkansas, Fort Span- ish, and Fort Blakely. He is one of the six neighbors who entered the service, and served their three years, returned without mishap, and are still living near each other. Mr. J. has been elected township trustee several times and served as school director for some twelve years. He received his education in the common school, has always been a farmer, and himself and wife are members of the Baptist church, of Malvern.
MERWIN, CHARLES, REV., is a native of Yankeedom, where he lived until four years of age. He first saw the light at Fairfield, Con- necticut, October 1, 1810. With his people he emigrated to western New York, which was then considered " west," and settled in Victor, Ontario county, where Mr. Merwin continued to reside until he reached young manhood-twenty years of age. After quitting the common school, he pursued a collegiate course in the University of New York, and also a theological course in the Auburn (New York) Theological Seminary, pre- paratory for the ministry. At the age of thirty years-June 10, 1840- Mr. Merwin married Miss Amelia Oliphant, at Auburn, New York, who died in December, 1871. He married October 15, 1873, as his second wife, Sara Randall, of Buffalo, New York. He has four living children, three by the first marriage: Charles H., Amelia F., and Sarah F .; and by the second marriage, one, Abbie F. Mr. Merwin was the first pastor of the Presbyterian church of Malvern. Among other worldly effects Mr. Merwin has a farm of 160 acres, lying in White Cloud township, Mills county.
METZ, PIERCE, is a native of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. His career of life began July 12, 1852. In 1855 he, with his parents, came to Marion county, Iowa, where he remained until the age of twenty-five, when, in November, 1877, he moved to Malvern. He was married in Marion county, to Miss Josie L. Rungan, May 13, 1875. His education was received from the common school. His occupations were somewhat varied. He paddled his own canoe from the age of about nine years, and his first voyage was in a woolen factory, which continued for five sum-
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mers. Next he worked at the carpenter trade for some three years, then taught school three years. Since the last period he has pursued the mer- cantile business, which has brought him a good measure of success. He belongs to Silver Urn lodge of the Masonic fraternity.
MUNGER, JAMES P., entered life in Fulton county, Illinois, July 12, 1847. Here he spent the first eighteen years of his youthful days, dur- ing which period he acquired a common school education. In 1865 he removed to Hancock county, Illinois, where he remained until 1873, which year he sought Iowa as his future home, making a three year's sojourn in Adams county, where he engaged in the grocery trade. In the cen- tennial year he moved to Malvern, Iowa, where he has since resided, con- tinuing the grocery business until 1878, when he sold it out and entered the drug business with C. F. Goodwin, by purchase of the establishment where they now are. November 29, 1877, Mr. Munger married Miss Julia A. Newcomb, of Belfast, Maine. One child, a boy, Curtis B., brightens the parental home. Mr. Munger received the recognition of his fellow townsmen by being once elected recorder of the town, and once clerk of the township. Mr. Munger took a course in the Keokuk Commercial College, and graduated in 1870, and devoted himself to book- keeping until he entered his mercantile pursuits. His perseverance and industry has secured him success and a comfortable capital in business.
PADDOCK, CHARLES H., first saw the hills, of his native county of Steuben, New York, March 18, 1846. The same year of his advent in life he moved with his parents to Henry county, Illinois, where he re- mained until 1861, when he went out with the Fifteenth Illinois infantry, as orderly for his father, who was captain of company F. Returning home in the fall of that year, he remained until 1863, when he enlisted in company I, of the Ninety-fifth Illinois infantry, with which he remained until the autumn of 1865, when he was transferred to company K, of the Forty-seventh Illinois infantry, with which he was mustered out in the spring of 1866, at Springfield. He was at the battle of Durassey, also in most of the engagements on the Red river expedition. He was in the battle of Guntown, and was one of the seven who were left of the com- pany; the rest of it being either killed or taken prisoners. He was also in the raid which pursued Gen. Rice through Missouri; also in the battle of Nashville, Tennessee; Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely and the capture of Mobile. January 4, 1874, Miss Mattie McBride, of Malvern, took Mr. Paddock "for better or for worse," and thus barring the "Mc," she be- came his bride. Little Sarah is the seal, the only seal, of that marital bond which makes it stronger and more sacred. Mr. Paddock was the second male settler in the town. He was educated in the common school. He, with his brother, John D., opened the first store in Malvern, and are both still engaged in the same pursuit.
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HISTORY OF MILLS COUNTY.
PADDOCK, JOHN D., a native of Steuben county, New York; was born June 17, 1842. At the age of two years he removed with his parents to Michigan, where they made a short stay, then moved to McHenry county, Illinois. Here John D. remained until eighteen summers had ripened him for active life, when he went out into the central part of the state and taught school, which work he continued for some three years. In 1863 he graduated from a commercial school in Chicago. However, while in the college, he enlisted in the 134th Illinois hundred-day infantry. He returned to Chicago and engaged in book-keeping for about six years. From Chicago Mr. Paddock came to Malvern-then known as Milton-in August, 1869, where he built the first building ever erected in that place, from lumber brought from Chicago, and wagoned from Pacific City. He was also the first postmaster and the first express agent of the town. In connection with his brother he opened the first store for the sale of general merchandise, and is still engaged in the same mer- cantile line in the same building. He has been the recipient of several official positions from the citizens of the town since its organization. March 1, 1869, he married Miss Helen L. McRae, of Woodstock, McHenry county, Illinois. He has adopted son, the child of the Rev. J. W. Rae, late pastor of the Baptist church of that place, now deceased.
RINGLAND, I. B., is a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and his birth was December 9, 1827. At the age of twenty-seven, 1854, he was elected auditor of his native county, and in 1856, resigned and moved to Marshall county, Iowa. April 16, 1857, he married Mary A. Evans, and remained in that county until 1863. In 1869 he came to Mal- vern where he engaged in the lumber business. Was mayor of the town; a member of Silver Urn Masonic order, and of the Christian church. He died December 8, 1880.
SMITH, T. P., a Marylander, a native of Baltimore, added one to the census record of that city the 24th of September, 1813, where he spent his minority, and received a public school education. In 1834, he came to Springfield, Illinois, where he resided for eighteen years, when he was married to Sara Jones, March 21, 1837, who died July 20, 1851, at St. Joseph, Missouri, to which place he had removed shortly prior. He mar- ried Susan Mattingly as his second wife July 12, 1858: Affie A., W. T., who is a presiding elder in the M. E. church, and Elizabeth T. are the children of the first marriage. Hotel-keeping is the vocation which Mr. Smith has pursued for years, and is the present proprietor of the Malvern House. In 1862 he entered the Union forces-company F, Twentieth Missouri infantry-remaining in the service a year. He was in the bat- tles of Fort Donelson, Fort Henry and Shiloh. For a time he had charge of some sixteen patients as nurse, on the steamboat Memphis. He
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was a member of the M. E. church, and his present wife a member of the Catholic church.
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