USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time, Volume II > Part 34
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Dr. William S. Norton spent his youthful days in his native city and at- tended the public schools, after which he pursued a university course in Urbana, Ohio. Removing westward to Topeka, Kansas, he secured a position as assist- ant to the paymaster of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, and subse- quently took up the study of pharmacy, being graduated from the pharmaceuti-
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cal department of the Kansas University, while in 1900 he was graduated as a physician and surgeon at the Kansas Medical College. In the meantime, in 1893, he had located in Muscatine, where he was engaged in the drug business until he took up the study of medicine. After attaining his professional degree he began practicing here in 1900 in partnership with his father-in-law, Dr. Mor- gridge, the partnership being maintained until the death of the latter, in Feb- ruary, 1909. Since that time Dr. Norton has practiced alone. He is now ac- corded a liberal patronage, the public thus giving expression of their confidence in his ability. He performs every professional duty in a most conscientious manner, is careful in the diagnosis of his cases, and that he is wise in the ap- plication of remedial agencies is indicated in the excellent results which follow his professional labors.
On the 7th of June, 1893, Dr. Norton was married to Miss Myrta E. Mor- gridge, a native of Montrose, Iowa, and a daughter of Dr. George O. and Ruth A. (Casebeer) Morgridge. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Iowa and for thirty years Dr. Morgridge was a most successful and honored physician of Muscatine, his many sterling traits of character winning him high and enduring regard. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted for active service and became captain of Company H, Eleventh lowa Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded in the battle of Shiloh and also in other battles, was in the At- lanta campaign and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. He took part in all of the engagements in which his regiment participated and returned home with a most creditable military record. He passed away in February, 1909, and is still survived by Mrs. Morgridge. Their family numbered but two children : Henry W., who died at the age of thirty years; and Myrta, now Mrs. Norton. By her marriage she became the mother of one daughter, Ruth May.
Both Dr. and Mrs. Norton are members of the First Congregational church and he is serving on its business committee. He belongs to Iowa Lodge No. 2, A. F. & A. M., and Wyoming Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and for three terms he served as county coroner, while at the present writing he is filling the position of county physician. Aside from his private practice he is surgeon for the Rock Island Railroad Company and he belongs to the Muscatine County Medical Society and the Iowa State Medical Society, thus keeping in touch with the progressive work of the profession. He is deeply interested in everything that relates to his chosen life work and continuous reading and research are ever promoting his efficiency
WILLIAM SEATON UNDERDONK.
William Seaton Underdonk is well known in Muscatine as joint agent for the Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- way Companies. Throughout Iowa he has a wide acquaintance because of his prominence in Masonic circles, in which he has been honored with the thirty-third and last degree. He was born in Jefferson county, West Virginia, December 21, 1855, a son of Jacob Van Doren and Sarah A. (Robinson) Under-
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donk, both of whom were natives of West Virginia. The father was a son of Henry Underdonk, a native of New Jersey and of Holland Dutch descent. He made farming his life work and thus provided for the support of his family, numbering four children: Jacob; Newton, who is living in Martinsburg, West Virginia; Mrs. Sarah Hanna, a resident of Charlestown, West Virginia; and Mrs. Ann Randall, of Hard Scrabble, West Virginia. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Underdonk was born in West Virginia and his family numbered two sons and a daughter, including Sarah A., who became the wife of Jacob Van Doren Underdonk. This marriage was blessed with eight children, of whom six are now living: William S., of this review; Jacob R., who is a resident of Moundsville, West Virginia; John E., living in Davenport, Iowa; Charles M., of Cumberland, Maryland; Sadie M., the wife of C. W. Show, of Harris- burg, Pennsylvania; and Robert M., who makes his home in Washington, D. C.
The father of these children was a carpenter and contractor who became well known in connection with building operations at Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where he lived for some time. His death there occurred in 1872 when he was about forty years of age. His widow survived him for a num- ber of years and passed away in 1885 at the age of forty-five. Both were Methodists in religious faith. The father was for a few months a conscripted soldier in the Confederate Army and participated in the first and second battles of Bull Run but his services were engaged principally in connection with the engineering corps used in building bridges. He was a Union man in sympathy and as soon as possible he left the Confederate ranks.
William S. Underdonk spent his youthful days in Shepherdstown, Jeffer- son county, West Virginia, and attended the public schools and an academy, from which he was graduated. His father died soon after the graduation of William S. Underdonk, who then started out in life for himself when about seventeen years of age. As he was the eldest of the family it was necessary for him to aid in the support of the younger members of the household. He learned the trade of handle making and followed it for about seven years. In the early 'Sos he removed westward to the Mississippi valley and spent one summer in working on a farm near Savanna, Illinois. He afterward went to Sabula, Iowa, and was engaged in teaming for a year in the employ of a mill- ing company. He next entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company as freight handler and also worked in the office, continuing in that position for eighteen months. He then returned to the east and worked at his trade for a time but afterward again came to the mid- dle west, settling at Davenport, Iowa, where for seven years he was employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. On the expiration of that period he was appointed agent of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & North- ern Railway Company and opened the station for them at Davenport. He continued in that service for eleven and a half years, at the end of which time he closed the office, for the road had been absorbed by the Rock Island Railway Company. He then went to Cedar Rapids, where he worked as freight clerk for a few months, at the end of which time he was appointed agent at Centerville, Iowa, by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company. He was then transferred to Columbus Junction, Iowa, where he acted as agent
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for two years and later was sent to Muscatine, where he is now filling the position of joint agent with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Companies. Much of his life has been spent in the railway service and he has ever proved most capable and faithful in this connection, discharging his duties with promptness and efficiency, thus winning the approval of his superior officers.
Mr. Underdonk has been married twice. His first wife was Eliza Bias. In May, 1903, he was married again, his second union being with Mrs. Ida Smith, the widow of Robert Smith. They now have one daughter, Mabel. Both Mr. and Mrs. Underdonk are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Underdonk belongs to Trinity Lodge, No. 208, A. F. & A. M., of Daven- port, of which he is a past master; Davenport Chapter, No. 16, R. A. M., of which he is a past high priest; and St. Simon of Cyrene Commandery, No. 9, K. T., of Davenport, of which he is a past eminent commander. He like- wise belongs to Zarephath Consistory, No. 3, A. & A. S. R., and Kaaba Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In recognition of his splendid service in behalf of the fraternity the thirty-third and last degree has been conferred upon him. He is a past officer in all of the bodies except the Shrine and he and his wife are members of Electa Chapter of the Eastern Star. Mr. Under- donk also belongs to Coeur de Lion Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a republican where national issues are involved but casts an independent local ballot and does not believe in the blind following of party leadership if it is contrary to the best interests of the majority. Those who meet him in business as well as social relations find him ever genial, courteous and obliging and those qualities have made him popular as a railway official.
IRA H. LEE.
Among the young men in Muscatine county who have made a fair start as progressive members of the farming community may be named Ira H. Lee. Born February 23, 1888, on the farm in Seventy-six township where he now lives, he is the son of Robert and Agnes (Baty) Lee. The father is a native of Ireland, and the mother of Dubuque county, Iowa. Robert Lee emigrated to this country in early days and became a prominent farmer of Muscatine county. He is now living retired with his wife at Muscatine, in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. In their family were three children, namely: Lola M., at home; Ira H., our subject; and Robert E. Lee, Jr.
Ira H. Lee was educated in the district schools and later took a course in a business college. As a boy he became well acquainted with the various de- tails of farm work and management. After laying his books aside he con- tinued on the home farm under his father and upon reaching manhood took charge of the farm of eight hundred acres, which is located in Seventy-six and Cedar townships. He raises cereals on a large scale but makes a specialty of raising and feeding cattle and hogs, shipping thirty carloads to market yearly. As a general farmer and stock-raiser he is meeting with most gratifying success.
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On the roth of March, 1909, Mr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Florence E. Zigler, who was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, June 2, 1886. She is a daughter of Albert and Florence Zigler, the former of whom de- parted this life in 1892. Her mother is now living at Burlington, Iowa.
Mr. Lee grew up under highly favorable conditions for a successful career as a farmer, and he has many friends who prophesy for him a bright future in his chosen pursuit. He is a supporter of the republican party. Both he and his wife are stanch believers in Christianity, Mr. Lee being a member of the United Brethren and his wife of the Methodist church. Socially, they are prominent factors in the community.
CHARLES BENJAMIN OGILVIE.
Charles Benjamin Ogilvie, attorney at law at Muscatine, who is also engaged in the loan and insurance business, was born in this city, January 14, 1855. A residence of more than a half century here has made him thoroughly familiar with the history of Muscatine and in many ways he has been a factor in the city's upbuilding and progress. His parents were Adam and Isabella (Milne) Ogilvie, and the family name indicates the Scotch ancestry. Both father and mother were born in the land of hills and heather. In the year 1835 the former crossed the Atlantic to America and made his way at once to Muscatine, then a small town upon the Iowa frontier, giving little promise of rapid develop- ment in the future. Mr. Ogilvie became its first merchant, conducting a general store and also acted as county agent in making out deeds for city lots. He re- mained in business here for many years, conducting an extensive trade which came to him from many of the pioneers of the surrounding country, and for a long period he was regarded as one of the leading and most honored business men of the locality. 'About 1855 he erected the Commercial Hotel, which he rented. The first floor was used for his store, having a stock of goods where the hotel office is now situated. He continued a prominent factor in the busi- ness and public life of the community until called to his final rest in 1865, when sixty-one years of age. His wife survived him for some time, passing away at the age of eighty-three years. Both were devoted members of the Presby- terian church and contributed to the moral as well as the material progress of the community. Their family numbered three sons and a daughter: William H. and Frank A., both deceased; Belle, the wife of Colonel Horton, of Marshall- town, Iowa; and Charles B., of this review.
The last named was reared in Muscatine and at the usual age entered the public schools, wherein he pursued his studies through consecutive grades. His more advanced literary and professional education was acquired in Princeton University, of New Jersey, from which he was graduated in 1877. Sometime later he was admitted to the bar but did not at once concentrate his energies upon his profession. In 1879 he served as principal of school No. 2 in Musca- tine. For thirty years he has engaged in the loan and insurance business and in this field has met with substantial success. At different times he has lived
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elsewhere than in his native city, remaining for varying periods at Minneapolis, Chicago, New York city and in Kentucky, but for the past twenty years he has remained continuously in Muscatine and is now well known here as a member of the legal profession and also as a loan and insurance agent.
On the 17th of October, 1878, Mr. Ogilvie was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Jackson, a daughter of Alexander and Lucy (Daley) Jackson. There were four sons born of this marriage, Glenn, Alexander, Clarence and Paul. Of this number the two eldest are now deceased, Glenn passing away in in- fancy and Alexander at the age of twenty years. The others are now attending school.
In his political views Mr. Ogilvie is a democrat, having always supported the party, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. The fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from boyhood is an indication that his life has been honorable and upright at all times. He is familiar with the history of Muscatine county, being an interested witness of its growth and progress from early times, and his cooperation is ever heartily given to measures and movements that are deemed an essential factor in the welfare of the district.
PHILIP MURPHY.
The life span of Philip Murphy covers the intervening years between the 28th of June, 1829, and the present time-the winter of 1910-11. He has there- fore traveled life's journey for eighty-one years, and is one of the venerable and highly respected citizens of Muscatine. He was born near Albany, New York, a son of James Louis and Susan (Damph) Murphy, who were also na- tives of Albany and spent the greater part of their lives there. About 1838, however, they removed to Ohio and both the father and mother died in Mus- kingum county. Their family numbered seven children : Philip; Alexander, who served for four years in the Civil war as a member of an Ohio regiment and is now deceased; James, who was also a soldier of the war and is now living at Adams Mills, Muskingum county, Ohio; Abram, who is a veteran of the war between the north and the south and is now postmaster at Adams Mills ; Edward, who enlisted in defense of the Union and returned home ill, his death resulting from his army experiences; Mrs. Elizabeth Van Kirk Leffler, deceased; and Mrs. Mary Cox, who has also passed away.
Philip Murphy spent the first seven years of his life in his native city, after which he and two brothers lived in a Shaker village eight miles northwest of Albany until he was eighteen years of age. In the fall of 1847 he left the Empire state for Coshocton county, Ohio, but in the spring of 1848 returned to Albany, where he worked for his uncle for one summer. In the fall of that year, however, he again went to Ohio and followed wagon making at a point eight miles east of Coshocton, where he remained for two years. He then again went to Albany, where he worked at his trade until the fall of 1851. At that
MR. AND MRS. PHILIP MURPHY
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A TOR, CHUI ANZ T DET FOUNDATION
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time he secured employment in a carriage shop at Dresden, Ohio, where he had spent the fall and winter of 1847 working at the shoemaker's trade. He con- tinued at Dresden until the spring of 1854, when he came to Muscatine, reach- ing this city on the 16th of April. He entered land in Orono township, Musca- tine county, recording the entry at Iowa City. In this manner he secured about forty acres, and he also purchased fifty-four acres. There he engaged in farm- ing in the usual pioneer way, breaking the sod with oxen, and after the land was plowed and harrowed he planted his seeds and began the development of the farm. Two years later he rented the place and in 1863 traded it for other prop- erty. In 1860 he began working at his trade in Muscatine in a wagon and buggy shop and followed it most of the time until 1879. He then purchased his pres- ent place of twenty-one acres at No. 2806 Mulberry avenue, near the corporation line. Here he has a fruit and garden farm, a fine little place which is highly cultivated and returns to him a substantial annual income.
In 1853 Mr. Murphy was married in Muskingum county, Ohio, to Miss Susan Feagans, who was born in Virginia township, Coshocton county, Ohio, December 15, 1834, a daughter of William Feagan, who was a native of Vir- ginia. Her father married a Miss Vickers and died in Ohio. The death of Mrs. Murphy occurred in Muscatine, June 5, 1906. She had reared a family of three children : James E., who is now a mail carrier of Muscatine; Mary Adaline, at home; and Bessie, the wife of George E. Sawyer, of Bloomington township.
Mr. Murphy has long been a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a fine old man of strong intelligence and of retentive powers of memory, and he relates many interesting incidents of the early days when Muscatine was a small town and the district around about was largely an uncultivated and undeveloped region.
CLAYTON S. JAMES.
The name of James is well known in Muscatine county, the family having for many years been identified with the agricultural development of this section. Clayton S. James belongs to the second generation of the family in this county and has proven himself to be a worthy representative of good ancestry. Born in Wapsinonoc township, January 8, 1881, he is a son of Gad James, record of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Clayton S. James received good educational advantages in the district schools and grew up as a member of a large family, performing his part as the years passed in work about the house and in the fields. Even as a boy he showed a natural inclination for agricultural pursuits. He continued at home until reaching maturity, when he purchased one hundred acres of the old homestead, which he has since greatly improved by the erection of buildings and fences and the setting out of shade and ornamental trees, making it one of the highly desirable properties of the township. He is engaged in general farming but gives special attention to raising and feeding cattle and hogs. He is a good judge of the grade and value of stock, and, being a man of industrious habits,
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he stands high in the estimation of his neighbors and of the entire community. Everything about his place indicates that he has prospered in his calling and is in comfortable circumstances.
In September, 1907, .Mr. James was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Heath, a native of Johnson county, Iowa, and a daughter of Charles and Lu- cinda Heath, who are both living in Johnson county. The home of Mr. and Mrs. James has been brightened by the arrival of a son, Raymond H., who was born September 5, 1909.
Ever since attaining his majority Mr. James has cast his ballot for the republican party, believing in so doing he is promoting the permanent welfare of the entire community. He is an active worker for the best interests of the township and county, and his voice is always heard in support of what in his opinion is right and true. He and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church, and their home is a welcome gathering place for the young people for many miles around.
THOMAS FRANKLIN BEVERIDGE, M. D.
Dr. Thomas Franklin Beveridge, physician and surgeon of Muscatine, with offices in the German-American Bank building, is a representative of that pro- gressive element of the profession which is constantly seeking out new and improved methods to alleviate suffering and restore health. Moreover, his judg- ment is seldom, if ever, at fault in recognizing the value of an idea or procedure in practice and his labors have therefore been attended with excellent results.
Ohio numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in High- land county, December 7, 1866. He is one of the nine children who were born unto Samuel and Christina (Kinzer) Beveridge. He represents one of the old families of Ohio, his great-grandparents having been residents of that state. It was there that Thomas Henry Beveridge, the grandfather, was born and lived until after his marriage, when he removed to Sullivan, Illinois. He made farming his life work and died at the advanced age of seventy-seven years, having long survived his wife, who passed away when about forty-four years of age. Their children were: Jacob, Samuel, LeRoy, John, Columbia, Elizabeth, America and Albert J., United States senator from Indiana.
Samuel Beveridge, the father of Dr. Beveridge, was born in Ohio, was reared to the occupation of farming and for many years engaged in the tilling of the soil. In 1881 he became a resident of Iowa, settling at Villisca, where he still resides. Some years ago he retired from farming, and is engaged in business as a dealer in poultry, butter and eggs. He wedded Christina Kinzer, who was born in Virginia, as were her parents. Her father died in early life and her mother lived to the age of sixty-eight years. They had six children, including Christina, who became the wife of Samuel Beveridge and passed away in 1886 at the age of forty-two years. She was a faithful member of the Christian church, to which Mr. Beveridge also belongs. He proved his loyalty to his country at the
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time of the Civil war, enlisting as a private of the Eighty-first Ohio Heavy Ar- tillery, with which he served for two and a half years. His family included three sons and six daughters, namely : Dr. Thomas F., of this review; Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Thomas J. Moffitt ; Effie, the wife of Dr. J. H. Wallahan of Corning, Iowa; Cora, who married W. C. Burge of Villisca, Iowa; John, of Spokane, Washington; Henry, of Hebron, Iowa; Sarah, the wife of Carl Stan- ley, of Corning, Iowa; Minnie, who wedded F. A. Swan of Vancouver, Wash- ington ; and Anna, the wife of Edward E. Phillips of Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
Dr. Beveridge was reared in Highland county, Ohio, to the age of fifteen years and began his education in the public schools there. He then accompanied his parents to Iowa and spent the remainder of his minority in Villisca, supple- menting his early educational training by a two years' course in the Iowa State University, while later he entered the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louis- ville and there prepared for a professional career. Following his graduation, he located for practice in Bridgewater, South Dakota, and in 1901 came to Mus- catine, where he has since lived. His professional work has been entirely sat- isfactory to the public, for it is known that he is most careful in the diagnosis of a case and extremely conscientious in the discharge of his professional duties. Moreover, his wide reading has kept him in touch with the work of the leading members of the profession, and he readily adopts the improved methods which his judgment indicates as of value.
On the 13th of May, 1896, Dr. Beveridge was married to Miss Clara Over- man, who was born near Atalissa, Muscatine county, a daughter of Cyrus and Elizabeth (Barkalow) Overman, who are residents of Muscatine. Her father was a son of Enoch Overman, a native of Ohio, who became a merchant. He married Miss Sarah Baldwin and they removed westward, becoming pioneer settlers of Muscatine county, where the grandfather operated the old Overman ferry. Both he and his wife died when well advanced in years. They reared a family of eight children : Sophia, Hannah, Mary, Ann, Caroline, Cyrus, Jesse and Levi. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Beveridge was Derrick G. Barka- low, a native of Ohio, who made farming his life work. He wedded Maria Beech, who died in the Buckeye state, and subsequently he removed to Iowa, when this was still a frontier region. The family of Derrick and Maria Barka- low numbered twelve children: Lewis, Munson, Benjamin, William, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary, and five who died in infancy. Following the death of his first wife, Derrick Barkalow wedded Mrs. Susan Jackson and they had two children, Der- rick and Nina. The parents of Mrs. Beveridge had a family of three daughters and two sons: Mrs. Maidie Nachbaur; Mrs. Harriet Moore; Mrs. Clara O. Beveridge; and Junius and Clyde, both deceased.
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