USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II > Part 18
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president of Ames College, as the first, and Mr. Armstrong as the second. In 1908 Mr. Armstrong made a further experiment. He had planted one hundred and sixty acres of corn which was drowned out and on the 10th of July, simply as an experiment, he planted his second erop of corn, which developed and matured perfectly. There is no one more competent to speak in authority on the production of this great American cereal than is he. The value and worth of his work is inestimable for the production of corn is one of the greatest sources of the country's wealth and from America its use has been introduced into other lands, where it is becoming more and more popular.
Mr. Armstrong was married in Peoria, Illinois, on the 25th of July, 1860, to Miss Louise Hoag, of Galesburg, Illinois, who was a graduate of Knox College of that city in 1858. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have been born two sons and five daughters: Sarah C., the wife of Richard De Rouse, of Shenandoah ; Grace, the deceased wife of William H. West ; Orah, who resides at home ; Mary, deceased ; Jerome B., Jr., a member of the firm of J. B. Armstrong & Son ; Carl, of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Louise, the wife of Calvin Sturtzbach, of Tampa, Florida.
In early life Mr. Armstrong gave his political allegiance to the whig party and was one of the organizers of the republican party, with which he has since been identified. He has never sought, however, the reward of office for party fealty. He is a member of the Shenandoah Lodge, 1. O. O. F., and has assisted in instituting numerous lodges, being much interested in the work of the order. He has now passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey but seems a man of much younger years, being keenly interested in matters relative to the world's progress and especially in what is being done in agricultural lines. His own contribution to the world's advancement has been a notable and commendable one and will make his name honored for years to come.
THOMAS R. SHAW.
Thomas R. Shaw, filling the position of postmaster at Coin, is well known as a representative citizen of the town. Ile owns five acres of land where he lives and also ten acres ncar by. For a long period he was identi- fied with general farming but in 1897 took up his abode in the town, and since 1896 has filled his present position. He was born in Perry county, Ohio, August 24, 1845, his parents being John and Elizabeth (Rinehart) Shaw, who were early settlers of Perry county. The father was a promi- nent agriculturist of that locality and the parents both died during the early boyhood of Thomas R. Shaw, who was the youngest of three children, the others being: Maria, the wife of John Baker, who resides at New Lexing- ton, Ohio; and Harriett, the wife of George Essington, who is living at New Lexington.
T. R. SILAW
٢
K
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Owing to the fact that he was left an orphan at an early age, Thomas R. Shaw was thrown upon his own resources when a lad of ten years, being bound out to work for a farmer at that time. When the war broke out he ran away and enlisted. The man for whom he worked made no effort to get him to return for he believed that the boy would soon come sick of military life and return of his own free will. He did not, however, but con- tinued at the front, serving throughout the entire war. It was on the 29th of September, 1861, at New Lexington, Ohio, that he was enrolled as a member of Company K, Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, joining the regiment at Zanesville. The Sixty-second went into camp at Camp God- dard, where they were drilled for three months and were then sent to Cumberland, Maryland, and proceeded down the Potomac to the Shenan- doah valley. Mr. Shaw participated in the battle of Winchester : was under General Shields in the attack on General Jackson; also took part in the siege of Petersburg, the battle of Deep Bottom, the charge on and capture of Petersburg, and the battle of Appomattox where General Lee sur- rendered. He was also in the siege of Fort Sumter and in the reduction of Fort Wagner, one of the defenses of Charleston, South Carolina, where for gallantry and bravery he received a medal August 23, 1863-the day before the eighteenth anniversary of his birth. He was in a large number of skirmishes and although he participated in twenty-one different engage- ments in all he was never wounded nor away from his regiment. He acted as sergeant and color sergeant for a long time but was mustered out as a corporal, for the promotion was never regularly made. He was only sixteen years of age at the time of his enlistment and he still has the medal of honor presented to him. He was mustered out at City Point, Virginia, at the close of the war and at once returned to Perry county, Ohio.
Like many of the soldiers he gladly returned home when the country no longer needed his aid and sought to establish a home of his own by his marriage. On the 16th of November, 1865, he wedded Miss Sarah J. Lower, a daughter of Elijah and Elizabeth Lower, of Perry county. In 1866 they removed westward to McDonough county, Illinois, where Mr. Shaw rented land on which he lived for two years. During that period his in- dustry and careful expenditure enabled him to gain a sufficient sum of money to purchase eighty acres and he made investment in McDonough county, where he lived for seven years, or until the spring of 1875, when he sold his property there and made his way to Page county, Iowa. There he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land near Coin. There was a house upon it when he took possession and he at once began to further develop and improve the place, remaining there for twenty-one years, dur- ing which time his carefully directed business affairs won him success in agricultural lines. On the expiration of that period he sold out and re- moved to Coin. Here, in October, 1896, he was appointed postmaster by President Mckinley and through the intervening years has occupied the position, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have been born eleven children. T. Semma is the wife of Wesley K. Stitt, a resident of Marcus, Iowa, and they have
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three children, Earl, Ruth and Dorothy. William died at the age of thirty- one years. Ella is the wife of James Adamson, of Coin, and they have four children, Arthur, Gail, Paul and Russell. Mary died at the age of two years. Inez is the wife of Ernest Veeder, of Illinois, and they have one child, Clark. John H., who is conducting a feed store at Coin, wedded Edna McMichael. Vannie is at home. Stella died at the age of twenty years. Jessie is the wife of G. F. Mitchell, cashier of the Farmers & Mer- chants Bank of Coin. Charles is acting as assistant postmaster. Wellborn, who completes the family, is yet at home.
In the spring of 1909 Mr. Shaw erected a fine residence, which he now occupies and which is located in what is know as Shaw's addition to Coin. He and his wife have long been well known in the town and occupy an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Shaw is a member of Warren Post, G. A. R., of Clarinda, and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He is also a prominent member of the Methodist church and for many years has been president of its board of trustees. Starting out in life for himself when only ten years of age he has made steady progress in the business world and is now comfortably situated in life. Indolence and idleness, however, are utterly foreign to his nature and he finds pleasant employment for his time in discharging the duties connected with the distri- bution of the mails, performing his service in a most competent and satis- factory manner.
JOSEPH E. HILL.
For almost a half century Joseph E. Hill has resided in Clarinda and through the intervening period has taken an active part in affairs relative to the general progress and improvement of the city and county. He is well known as a lawyer and representative member of the bar, while as mayor of the city he largely promoted its interests and in an unofficial capacity has also done excellent service for the interests of the community at large. He came to Clarinda in 1860 from Highland county, Ohio, where he was born February 26, 1844.
At the usual age Mr. Hill began his education in the public schools of Ohio, remaining there until sixteen years of age, when he came with a family of his acquaintance to Iowa and here worked on a farm until the outbreak of the Civil war. He watched with interest the progress of events in the south, noted the threatening attitude and resolved that if a blow was struck to overthrow the Union he would stand loyally in its defense. Ac- cordingly in the opening year of the war he enlisted as a member of Com- pany F, First Nebraska Infantry, joining the regiment as a private. With his command he was sent to Missouri in August, 1861, and participated in the battle of Black Water and in the operations of the army along the Mississippi. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Cape Girardeau, St. Francis River, Jacksonport and in numerous skirmishes. This
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brought him up to the winter of 1864-5 when, with his command, he was sent to the frontier to hold the Indians in check. His company was the first organized in Page county and he was in continuous service until the Ist of July, 1866. His military duty, therefore, covered five years, for the date of his enlistment was June 15, 1861. He was ever a brave and loyal soldier, fearlessly defending the cause which he espoused, and in Novem- ber, 1865, he was promoted to the rank of commissary sergeant. Later he was made first sergeant and after leaving the service he returned to Clarinda with a most creditable military record.
On again reaching Page county Mr. Hill resumed farming operations and was identified with agricultural interests until the fall of 1870. He was appointed deputy sheriff in 1871 and served until 1874. In the latter ycar he was elected clerk of the district court and that he proved a most capable and trustworthy official is indicated by the fact that he was re- elected five times, serving altogether for ten years. He was then admitted to the bar and has since been engaged in general practice. His public ser- vice also includes four years in the office of mayor for he was reelected as chief executive of Clarinda. He gave to the city a business like and public- spirited administration with fair treatment to all. For four years lie served as city clerk and was for eight years clerk of the interstate foreign commerce committee at Washington, D. C., and rendered valuable service there. In addition to his other public service he has acted as a member of the board of commissions of insanity for fifteen years. For twelve years he has been a member of the soldiers' relief commission, in both of which connec- tions he has put forth effective and beneficial effort. He also does a large pension business, having nearly all of the patronage of this character in this vicinity.
Mr. Hill has been married twice, the last time to Miss Emma J. Spunan- gle of Clarinda. He has six children: Walter W., Elmer E., George G., Helen, Birdic B. and Joseph E.
Mr. Hill belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and wears the Grand Army button, holding membership in the post at Clarinda. His long residence in this city has made him very widely known and the value of his work is uniformly acknowledged. Over the record of his of- ficial career there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil and he is today one of the most valued and representative citizens of this part of the state.
WILLIAM S. SMILEY.
William S. Smiley, a well known and successful farmer residing on section 22, Amity township, is also engaged in dairying and stock-raising to some extent. He was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on the IIth of February, 1849, his parents being Robert and Phoebe Ann (Pat- terson) Smiley, both of whom were natives of Washington county, Penn- sylvania. They came to Page county, Iowa, in 1864, taking up their abode
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on the farm in Amity township where our subject now resides. Upon his arrival here the father first purchased a tract of sixty-three aeres and six months later bought a quarter section of land adjoining. Several years afterward he further extended the boundaries of his property by an addi- tional purchase of forty acres and through the careful conduct of his agricultural interests won a gratifying and well merited degree of prosper- ity. He was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, however, being ealled to his final rest in 1866 when forty-eight years of age. His wife, long surviving him, passed away in 1892, when she had attained the age of seventy-two years.
William S. Smiley was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, at- tending school during the winter months, while during the summer seasons he assisted in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting. When eighteen years of age he attended the Amity Select School at College Springs. Page county, for one term, and after the death of his father took charge of the old homestead farm, being the eldest child in the family. He has always continued to reside on this place and several years subsequent to the demise of his father he bought one hundred and sixty acres from the estate, later disposing of forty aeres thereof to his brother, Thomas A. Smiley. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and cli- mate he also conducts a dairy business and likewise raises stock to sell to shippers. He feeds hogs and also has a fine flock of Shropshire sheep and in his various undertakings is meeting with a measure of success that at- tests his capable management and excellent business ability.
In 1871 Mr. Smiley was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Me- Michael, a daughter of William and Martha (Parker) McMichael, both of whom were born in County Antrim, Ireland. They crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1850 and after landing in New York made their way to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they remained for eight years. On the expiration of that period they came to Page county, Iowa, locating in Amity township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. MeMichael secured a farm of one hundred and sixty acres by land warrant and was successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits through- out his active business career. Both he and his wife lived to attain the age of seventy-five years, passing away in 1884 and 1889 respectively. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smiley have been born six children, four sons and two daughters, as follows: John Patterson, who is engaged in farming in Cass county, North Dakota; William Ross, a resident of Bottineau, North Dakota; Mrs. Martha Riley, living in Canton. South Dakota; and Robert, Samuel and Mrs. Anna E. McDonald, all of whom reside in Colfax town- ship, Page county, Iowa.
Mr. Smiley exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and his fellow-townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to various positions of public trust. Hle has now held the office of township clerk for eighteen years and is likewise acting as secretary of the township school board, the duties of which posi- tion he has faithfully discharged for the past twenty-three years. He has
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been a member of the township school board since 1879 and has done effective and valuable service for the cause of education. Both he and his wife are devoted and consistent members of the United Presbyterian church at College Springs, in which he is now serving as an elder, having been elected for a six years' term in 1908. Mr. Smiley has been a resident of Page county for about forty-five years and during this long period has witnessed much of the growth and development of the district from a wild region into one of rich fertility, while thriving towns and villages have sprung up and the county has been placed in the front rank among the counties of the state. The prosperity which he now enjoys is well merited, for he has ever followed the most honorable business methods in his deal- ings with his fellowmen and therefore enjoys the high regard of all with whom he is brought in contact.
J. F. MARTIN.
J. F. Martin, a respected and prominent resident of Clarinda, now living retired, was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, on the 9th of January, 1845. his parents being Frederick and Maria ( Walters) Martin, who were also natives of that place. Both the paternal and maternal grand- parents spent their entire lives in Hanover. Frederick Martin, the father of our subject, followed agricultural pursuits as a means of livelihood and three years after the death of his first wife was again married, afterward emigrating to the United States in 1853. He settled in Cook county, Illi- nois, but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, passing away two years afterward. He had been accompanied on the voyage to the new world by his two sons, J. F. and Henry. The latter was twice married, his first union being with Miss Maggie Kennett, by whom he had six children, of whom three daughters and one son still survive. Subsequent to the death of his first wife he wedded Mrs. Hattie Bonham and they make their home at College Springs, Iowa.
J. P. Martin was a little lad of eight years when brought to the United States by his father and stepmother and obtained his education in the dis- trict schools of Cook county, Illinois, where the family home was established. When fourteen years of age he put aside his text-books and afterward turned his attention to the work of general farming and, with the exception of two years spent in Chicago, was actively identified with agricultural pur- suits in Cook county until he had attained the age of twenty-four years. In the meantime, the Civil war having broken out, he offered his services in de- fense of the Union but was rejected because of his slight stature. The year 1868 witnessed his arrival in Harlan township, Page county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres in 1870. It was all prairie land but he resolutely set to work and gradually transformed the place into a rich and productive farming property, there successfully carrying on his agri- cultural and stock raising interests until 1894. He then bought the John
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Morlin farm, situated a mile and a half west of his place, and continued to reside thereon until 1903, when he retired from active labor and came to Clarinda, where he has since made his home, owning a fine residence on Sixteenth street. He still owns both of his farms, which he rents, and is a stockholder in the Clarinda Trust & Savings Bank.
On the 30th of March, 1871, in Harlan township, Page county, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Pollock, a native of Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John and Margaret ( Donahue) Pollock, both of whom were born in Ireland. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been born seven children, as follows: R. J., residing southwest of Clarinda, who married Elizabeth Young and has two children, Harold and Annie ; W. G., who also lives southwest of Clarinda and wedded Miss Emma Kaufman, by whom he has four daughters, Velma, Mildred, Bernice and Gladys; Frank, who follows farming in Jackson county, Kansas; Bertha, living near Denison, Kansas, who is the wife of John Young and has one daughter, Pearl; Myrtle, living six miles southwest of Clarinda, who is the wife of Archie Tippin and has a daughter, Fern; Herbert, who wedded Miss Mary Black and lives on the home place ; and Grace, at home.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Martin are valued members of the Reformed Pres- byterian church and have an extensive circle of warm friends throughout the county in which they have so long resided. Mr. Martin has fully 11- derstood the value of industry and close application and by reason of the exercise of these qualities he has advanced in his agricultural and financial undertakings until his success makes him one of the prosperous retired residents of Clarinda.
JOHN H. EISCHEID.
John H. Eischeid, president of the lowa Wagon Company and vice president and secretary of the Economy Ilog & Cattle Powder Company, doing business in Shenandoah, was born in Waterloo, Iowa, on the 8th of January, 1872. Ile is a son of John and Margaret ( Haas) Eischeid, both of whom were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married. In 1869 they bade adieu to the fatherland and cmigrated to the new world, bringing with them the one child who was born to them in Germany. Lo- cating in Waterloo, Iowa, the father later engaged in merchandising there and was identified with that line of business until 1886, when he removed from Waterloo to Clyde, Nodaway county, Missouri. There he was en- gaged in the hardware and implement business up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1890. In all of his business affairs he was thoroughly reliable, enterprising and industrious and those qualities won him good success. In politics he was a stanch democrat, while in religious faith both he and his wife were members of the Catholic church. After los- ing her first husband Mrs. Eischeid wedded Peter Horig and resided in Washburn, Iowa, until her demise which occurred in 1907.
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John H. Eischeid was reared at home and acquired his education in the public schools. After his father's death in 1890 he started out in life on his own account, entering the office of the Omaha & St. Louis Railroad Company at Shenandoah in 1893. There he learned telegraphy and was identified with this road as operator, agent and assistant agent until 1902. In 1902 he became associated with the Pacific Express Company and also with the Economy Hog & Cattle Powder Company, in a clerical capacity. In September, 1905, he severed his connection with the express company for his other interests required his entire time, and to the upbuilding of the business he has largely contributed through his enterprise, careful man- agement and diligence. In 1907 he acquired an interest in the business and was made vice president and secretary of the company. He is also the president of the lowa Wagon Company and is a stockholder in the Com- mercial National Bank.
Mr. Eischeid is a member of Shenandoah Lodge, No. 1122, B. P. O. E., and is its treasurer. He also belongs to Nishna Lodge, No. 249, A. O. U. W., and is a member of the Catholic church. His political allegiance is given to the democracy but he has never sought nor desired office. Pleas- antly situated in his home relations he was married in 1897 to Miss Ella Schurtz, of Shenandoah, and unto this marriage have been born two chil- dren, Mark and Sarah Margaret.
Mr. Eischeid owes his advancement and success in life entirely to his own labors. He has worked diligently and persistently as the years have gone by and his efforts have made him a forceful factor in commercial cir- cles, winning him a creditable measure of prosperity.
W. T. GHEAN.
Prominent among the young and enterprising business men of York- town is W. T. Ghean, who is conducting a furniture and undertaking es- tablishment at this place. He is a native son of Page county, born near Hawleyville, December 14, 1870, the second in order of birth in a family of four children, whose parents were W. T. and Martha E. (Grinnell) Ghean, the former a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, while the latter claims Ban- gor, Maine, as the city of her nativity. The father removed to Washington county, Kansas, from Page county and passed away in that state in 1890, at the comparatively early age of forty-seven years. The mother was af- terward married to J. B. Hunt, their home being in Haddam, Kansas.
W. T. Ghean has but one surviving sister, Emma, now the wife of William Johnson, of Haddam, Kansas. Two sisters, Anna and Frances, died in childhood, the former at the age of seven years and the latter when three years of age. The son was reared in Page county to the age of nine years, his education being begun in the schools of this section. At that age lie accompanied his parents on their removal to Washington county, Kansas, the family home being established on a farm. He remained un-
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der the parental roof until he had reached the age of about twenty-two years and then went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he secured employ- ment with the National Biscuit Company, remaining with that firm most of the time for seven years. On the expiration of that period he went to Manhattan, Kansas, and for a time worked as clerk for W. Holt, a whole- sale and retail grocer of that city.
During this time Mr. Ghean carefully saved his earnings so that he felt justified in entering business on his own account, and accordingly, on the Ist of February, 1909, returned to Page county, and purchased the stock of furniture and undertaking goods of J. W. Iluell in Yorktown. Although he lias been located here but a short time, he has already built up a good trade and his modern methods, push and square dealing will undoubtedly win him still greater success in the future. In August, 1909, lie com- menced the erection of a five thousand dollar business block, which is an indication of the business he has built up in Yorktown.
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