USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
The death of Mr. Linderman occurred April 15, 1907, after which the various societies to which he belonged took official action concerning his death, writing most fitting resolutions of honor and respect. In his demise
15
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
the county lost one of its earliest pioneers, most honored citizens and a man whose long life was a credit to himself and to the people among whom he lived. His modest, unassuming manner often hid his real worth. Where- ever he was known he was held in the highest respect for he lived close to the high ideals of honorable manhood and upright citizenship. Moreover, his was a most kindly, genial nature that inspired and retained friendship.
MONT MORRIS.
The agricultural interests of Nodaway township find a worthy represen- tative in Mont Morris, who is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres situated on the southwest quarter of section 23. This farm is largely devoted to the raising of stock and Mr. Morris is well known as a breeder of shorthorn cattle. He was born in Champaign county, Illinois, October 22, 1866, and is a son of Price W. and Elizabeth (Horr) Morris, both of whom were natives of Ohio but spent their last days in Page county. The father devoted his entire life to general agricul- tural pursuits, conducting his farming interests on an extensive scale in early life. In Ohio he married Miss Elizabeth Horr and removed thence to Illinois, while later he became a resident of Kansas and subsequently ar- rived in Page county, Iowa. Unto him and his wife were born seven children. V. W., who was a locomotive engineer, was killed in July, 1902, in a wreck on the Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad, about fifty miles south of Kansas City. Kate is the widow of Morgan Burwell and resides in Clar- inda, where she is conducting the Powers Hospital. R. George and C. C. are both living in this county. Rachel is a resident of Chicago. J. H. is also living in this county.
Mont Morris, who is the youngest member of the family, was only about three years old when his parents removed from Champaign county to Greene county, Illinois, and he went with them to Kansas when a lad of about ten years, the family home being established at Paolo, Miami county. There he continued until July, 1902, when he came to Page county, where he has since remained. The occupation to which he was reared he has made his life work, continuously following it with the exception of one year which he devoted to railroading. About 1903 he purchased his present property, becoming the owner of one hundred and sixty acres constituting the southwest quarter of section 23. Nodaway township. Of this he has since sold forty acres so that his farm now comprises one hundred and twenty acres. He is extensively and successfully engaged in stock-raising, is a breeder of shorthorn cattle and keeps on hand from twenty to one hundred head of shorthorns. He is an excellent judge of stock, owns some very fine animals and makes exhibits at the county fairs where he has won verions premiums.
In January, 1899, Mr. Morris was married to Miss Grace P. Abbott, who was born in this county, June 26, 1873, and is a daughter of J. H. and
16
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Phoebe Jane Pfander Abbott. The father was a lifelong farmer but retired about two years ago and is now living in Clarinda.
Mr. Morris is a member of Clarinda Lodge, No. 109, I. O. O. F. He takes little active interest in affairs aside from his farm, concentrating his energies upon the development of a prosperous business here. He is re- garded as one of the best judges of live stock in this part of the state and has done not a little to improve the grade of cattle raised through the conduct of his individual interests.
CHARLES WESLEY FOSTER.
Charles Wesley Foster, deceased, who was one of the public-spirited citizens of Page county, honored and respected wherever known but most of all where best known, was born May 19, 1833, in Canton, Fulton county, Illinois, where he acquired his education in the public schools. At the age of fifteen years he went to Peoria to learn the tinner's trade and there re- mained for four years. When nineteen years of age he went to Abingdon, Illinois, and conducted the first hardware and tin store in that place. Four years later he removed to Bushnell, Illinois, where he also became the pioneer hardware merchant. It was during that period of his life that he was married on the 22d of November. 1855 to Miss Elizabeth A. Latimer, of Abingdon, whose death occurred on the 2d of April, 1857.
In the following month Mr. Foster removed to Clarinda, Iowa, and here opened a dry-goods store, which he conducted for two years. On the Ist of December, 1859, he was married to Miss Ann L. Alden, who was born and reared in Ohio. They became the parents of four children : Mary, the wife of John N. Miller: Julia, the wife of Herbert H. Scott; Harriett ; and Annie, the wife of Alfred B. Loranz. All are yet residing in Clarinda.
It was in the spring of 1860 that Mr. Foster removed with his family to Tarkio township, where he engaged in farming for several years, but in 1864 the place of his residence was changed to Nevada, Ohio, where he again engaged in the hardware business but the charm of the west was potent and in 1865 he yielded to it, locating in Galva, Illinois, where he continued until 1867. In that year he again came to Page county and pur- chased a farm in Nebraska township, which was his home until 1872, when Mr. Foster came to Clarinda to form one of the firm of Collins & Thompson. At the end of a year, however, he withdrew from that firm and returned to the farm in Nebraska township, on which he resided until January 15, 1876. At that time he became a member of the hardware firm of Dunlap, Miller & Foster, of Clarinda, and for many years thereafter was closely as- sociated with business interests of the city. In 1886 he joined William Butler in establishing the Bank of Newmarket in Taylor county, Iowa, where he conducted a banking business for eight years, his family home during that period remaining in Clarinda. The firm of Foster & Abbott
17
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
was formed in October, 1892, for the purpose of conducting a mercantile enterprise in Clarinda and when Mr. Foster's health failed two years later he retired permanently from active business.
Mr. Foster was always public-spirited and worked unceasingly for the welfare of Clarinda and vicinity, withholding his cooperation and support from no measure or movement which he deemed of value to the community at large. He was deeply interested in agricultural matters and was for several years president of the County Agricultural Society, while in other official ways he promoted its interests during its most flourishing period. During the time he was a member of the city council of Clarinda he was active in securing grounds for park purposes and was probably the origin- ator in the city in establishing the city park, that now bears his name, and planned the arrangement of the trees it contains. For almost six years he was mayor of Clarinda and was serving in that capacity at the time of his death, which occurred on December 26, 1904. His administration was characterized by several valuable restrictive and regulative measures as well as large constructive work and that he received public indorsement of his course was indicated in the fact of his reelection.
GEORGE W. SCHOLES.
George W. Scholes is a well known and worthy representative of the farming interests of Harlan township, now busily engaged in the cultiva- tion and improvement of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 26. Nearly every state in the Union has furnished its quota of citizens to Iowa and among those sent by Ohio is Mr. Scholes, whose birth occurred near Loudonville, on the 7th of July, 1840. He was one of five children born unto Elijah and Caroline ( Tracy) Scholes, who were also natives of Ohio. The mother died in that state in 1850 and the father was afterward married in Iowa to Salina Cox. Both died in Harlan township, Page county, Mr. Scholes passing away in 1876 at the age of seventy-seven years. He had followed farming throughout his entire life and had thus provided a com . fortable living for his family.
By his first marriage he had five children. Benjamin T., now de- ceased, served in the Twenty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war. He responded to the country's first call for troops and on the expira- tion of the three months' term of enlistment was again enrolled as a soldier. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga but was not discharged until the close of the war. George W. was the second of the family. John W. was a member of the first Nebraska regiment for three years and then veteranized. He has never been heard from since the war and was reported among the missing. He was probably killed on the frontier for his horse returned with an empty saddle. Francis M. enlisted in Page county as a member of the eighth Iowa Cavalry under Captain Burns and was dis- charged at the close of the war after having participated in all of the en-
18
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
gagements with his regiment. The daughter of the family, Elizabeth Scholes, became the wife of John A. Brown but is now deceased. The four sons of the family were away to the war at the same time and the parents with difficulty succeeded in keeping up the farm property. In addition to the four brothers, James A. Cox, who had been reared by Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Scholes, also joined the army, serving with the Third lowa Cavalry. He, too, is now deceased.
In taking up the personal history of George W. Scholes we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Page county for he has resided upon his present farm in Harlan township for forty years. He was a youth of eleven years when in 1851 he came to Iowa with his parents, the family home being established in Lee county. Three years later they came to Page county, arriving in 1854, and in 1869 George W. Scholes took up his abode upon the place which he now owns. Hle was a youth of fourteen when the family came to the county and in the early days he shared in the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. He can well remember the time when much of the land was unculti- vated, being covered with brush or the native prairie grasses. One could ride for miles without coming to a fence or house to impede his progress but with the passing years great changes have been wrought and the county is today thickly settled, while its wild prairie has been made to bloom and blossom as the rose.
Mr. Scholes continued in active identification with farming interests until after the outbreak of the Civil war when, feeling that his first duty was to his country. he joined the army as a member of Company A. Eighth lowa Cavalry, under command of Captain Burns. He was in all of the engagements with his company and was honorably discharged at the close of hostilities. When the war was over he resumed farm work here and in 1869 took up his abode on section 26, Harlan township, where he now owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine land. There are good improvements upon it, all of which were made by Mr. Scholes and the substantial buildings are a monument to his thrift and enterprise. He raises both grain and stock and he has recently sunk a coal shaft upon his farm, and has struck a two-foot vein-as large a one as has ever been found in this locality.
Not long after his return from the war Mr. Scholes was married to Miss Elizabeth C. Blair, who was born in Indiana, November 4, 1842, and in 1866 was married. She came to this county in 1856 with her parents, Robert and Jane C. Blair. Her father died in Superior, Nebraska, where her mother now resides at the age of eighty-six years, making her home with her oldest son. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Scholes has been blessed with seven children : Etna Arminnie, who is now the wife of Harry Wilkie, of Kansas. Jennie Ellen, who is the wife of Samuel Toner, of Harlan township: Eveline C., the wife of J. D. Knowles, of Amity township; Bertha, the wife of Willis Baird, also of Amity township : Mary, at home ; Willie, who is living in Amity township ; and Elmer, at home.
The family attend the Reformed Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Scholes is a devoted and active member. He has served on its board of trus-
19
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
tees for thirty-two consecutive years and takes a helpful part in all of the work of the church. His long residence in this county has made him widely known and his sterling qualities are recognized by all, who have found him honest and diligent in business, loyal in citizenship and faithful in friendship. He is numbered among the honored veterans that Page county sent to the Civil war and is as true to the country today as when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields.
ED F. ROSE.
Ed F. Rose, as president of the Clarinda National Bank, needs no in- troduction to the readers of this volume. The institution bears the impress of his individuality in its progressive methods. His course at all times will bear the closest investigation and his name is synonymous for business probity, while his word is as good as any bond ever solemnized by signature or seal. He was born in McDonough county, Illinois, July 24, 1859, his parents being Charles M. and Elsie H. (Buckner) Rose. The father was for some years engaged in various pursuits and following his removal to Page county, Iowa, made his home in Shenandoah, where he was connected with the grain trade.
Ed F. Rose pursued his early education in the public schools of Prairie City, Illinois, and afterward benefited by the system of public instruction in Shenandoah, subsequent to the removal of the family to this state. When his school days were over he entered a grocery store, where he was em- ployed for a year, after which he became connected with the grain business owned and carried on by his father. This association was maintained in Shenandoah until 1879, when they removed to Coin and continued in the grain trade. In 1887 they purchased a humber business, which they car- ried on under the firm style of C. M. Rose & Son. In 1892 the father re- tired from active business life and two years later passed away. On his father's retirement E. F. Rose took over the business, which he conducted and successfully managed in Coin until 1902, when he sold out. The suc- ceeding three years were spent in Washington and Oregon, where he in- vested quite largely in timber land. In 1905 he came to Clarinda and accepted the position of vice president of the Clarinda National Bank and on the Ist of January, 1906, was elected to the presidency of this institu- tion, which is regarded as one of the most substantial moneyed concerns of the county. It was founded on a safe, substantial basis and has been conducted along conservative lines, yet the spirit of modern progressive- ness has not been lacking. Back of the bank are large securities and in con- trol of the affairs of the institution are men of marked business capacity and power.
On the 12th of October, 1886, Mr. Rose was united in marriage to Miss Clara Howell, of Lovington. Illinois, a daughter of Charles Howell, a farmer of that locality. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rose have a wide acquaintance
20
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
in Clarinda and have won the warm friendship of many with whom they have been brought in contact. Mr. Rose is a well known Scottish Rite Mason, having attained the thirty-second degrec, and he also belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He is never remiss in the duties of citi- zenship and in fact gives hearty cooperation to many progressive public movements, yet he regards his business affairs as the chief feature of his life, and year after year, whether in the grain trade or in banking, he has wrought along modern lines, never considering any points as too unessential to claim his time and attention if it promises to contribute to the substantial growth and upbuilding of the business. His interests have been advanced in accordance with the old and time-tried maxims-"there is no excellence without labor" and "honesty is the best policy." As the years have passed he has enlarged the sphere of his activity, and his labors and influence have been potent elements in general progress as well as individual success.
W. P. FERGUSON.
It is not the distinctive and specific purpose of biography to give expression of a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave the record establishing his position by the consensus of public opinion. Judged in this manner W. P. Ferguson is numbered among the eminent representatives of the Iowa bar and for many years has been termed "the first citizen of Shenandoah," not only in the fact that he was the first to establish himself in business licre, but also because he has ever stood as a leader in the work of public progress and improve- ment, contributing in most substantial measure to those causes which have been foremost in upholding the legal and political status and in advancing the material, intellectual, social and moral interests of the city.
Judge Ferguson is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, his birth having oc- curred in that city, July 29, 1843. He was a lad of five years when with his parents he crossed the Atlantic to America on a sailing vessel, which was thirty days in making the voyage. During that period the family lost an infant son and brother, who was buried with marine service on board ship. For a few years after their arrival in this country the family resided in Erie county, New York, and then removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, where Judge Ferguson was reared to manhood. He supplemented his pub- lic-school education by study in the Londonderry Academy and while there pursuing his course became aroused by the wave of patriotism that swept over the country following the attack of the south upon the Union. Offering his services to the government he enlisted as a member of Com- pany B, Fifth Independent Batallion Ohio Cavalry, and subsequently re- enlisted in a company of United States engineers. He did important service at the front and after the war was over returned to his childhood's home, but soon started westward, traveling by rail to St. Joseph, Missouri, then up the Missouri river on a steamboat to Nebraska City, Nebraska. The
H. P. Ferguson
خر
23
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
desire to enjoy better business opportunities than could be secured in the east prompted him to take this step and, becoming identified with educational interests, he taught in a Nebraska school for a time, while later he accepted the superintendency of the public schools at Sidney, Iowa, and at Ham- burg, Iowa. Eventually, however, he gave up school work at the latter place to enter the profession of law and removed to Shenandoah.
Judge Ferguson had previously read quite extensively, becoming fa- miliar with Kent, Blackstone and other commentaries and in the month of August, 1870, having been admitted to the bar at Sidney, Iowa, he came to Shenandoah, where he at once began the erection of a little office building, the dimensions of which were probably about ten by twelve. This was, however, among the first improvements ever made upon the uncultivated grounds of Shenandoah. Judge Ferguson has remained here continuously since and was at all times actively engaged in the practice of law until the month of April, 1907, when he was elevated to the bench of the superior court through the appointment of Governor (now Senator ) A. B. Cummins. He has since occupied the judgeship and his record on the bench has been in harmony with his record as a man and lawyer distinguished by unfal- tering fidelity to duty and by a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution. His decisions are based upon the law and the equity in the case and indicate thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence and large familiarity with precedent. His life has been one of extraordinary activity and there are but few of the great legal battles that have occurred in Page county in the last thirty-five years that he has not actively participated in and he has had the reputation for a number of years of being one of the most successful trial lawyers in southwestern Iowa, unusually successful in the cases that he has appealed to the supreme court.
Judge Ferguson's work at the bar would alone entitle him to representa- tion in this volume as one of the leading citizens of Page county, but in other directions his work has been equally noteworthy, far-reaching and beneficial. He prepared the incorporation papers for the town, wrote the ordinances for Shenandoah and has been directly identified with every improvement, public and private, that has been promulgated for the benefit of the city since he became its first settler thirty-nine years ago. It was he who first prepared the plans and secured the proposition that has re- sulted in a college for Shenandoah. While acting as mayor he corresponded with parties at Bushnell, Illinois, concerning building a college here and was one of two men who furnished funds for expenses of a man to come to Shenandoah and present the plan to the people. The two things the judge is especially proud of is the fact that all will acknowledge him to be the founder of the college and Presbyterian church here. He was also active in the building of the Wabash Railroad through Shenandoah, in the es- tablishment of the fair grounds and in many other improvements which have been of material benefit here. His fellow townsmen have honored him with the office of mayor, in which he gave a public-spirited and business- like administration. He also held the office of county attorney of Page county for two terms. In politics he has always been an ardent republican,
24
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
taking an active part in the various political campaigns which have occurred since he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln.
On the 17th of June, 1874, Judge Ferguson was married to Miss Julia Burnet, who was at that time a school teacher in Shenandoah. They have become parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, and with the exception of one daughter now living in Seattle all are residing within a block of the old homestead, at No. 305 Church street. There is a sub- stantial and modern residence, justly celebrated as the abode of hospitality. Judge Ferguson is a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, which he joined on its organization in 1872, while his wife is an Episcopalian in religious belief. His present duties as judge of the superior court keep him busy in the trial of cases, but he still finds time to lead a literary life and has gradually built up one of the most extensive libraries of history and biography in this part of the state. Considering all that he has accomplished in the profession and all that he has done for the city of his residence it may well be said of him when his life's labors shall have ended-and may that day be far distant :
"He leaves a patriot's name to after times,
Linked with a thousand virtues-and no crimes."
EARL R. FERGUSON.
Earl R. Ferguson, a man of purpose whose plans are well formulated and who accomplishes what he plans, is a native son of Shenandoah, his birth having here occurred April 30, 1876. He is a son of Judge W. P. Ferguson, mentioned elsewhere in this volume, and his work has been in accordance with the example set by his honored father, who from the earliest days of Shenandoah's development has been a most important factor in its growth and upbuilding. At the usual age he was sent to the public schools and passing through the consecutive grades was graduated from the high school with the class of 1893. He afterward spent two years as a student at the Western Normal College and also one year on the Gal- veston ( Tex.) News, his newspaper experience being a source of benefit in widening his information and giving him practical business experience.
Returning to his home, Earl R. Ferguson took up the study of law, which he read with his father as his preceptor for three years. He was then admitted to the bar in 1900 before the supreme court at Des Moines, and at once entered upon active practice in Shenandoah, where he has since re- mained as a successful and capable follower of the profession, being recog- nized today as one of the leaders of the Page county bar, although the years of connection therewith of most of its members far outnumber his own. In no calling is advancement more dependent upon individual effort and it is by reason of his comprehensive knowledge of the law, his careful prepara- tion of his cases and his keen discrimination in seeing the relation between legal principles and points in litigation that Mr. Ferguson has gained the
25
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
place of distinction that he now occupies at the bar of southeastern Iowa. In the contested election of Hon. W. P. Hepburn versus W. D. Jamieson, although a republican Mr. Ferguson represented Mr. Jamieson, the demo- cratic contestant, who was successful.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.