History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II, Part 25

Author: Kershaw, W. L
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 656


USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II > Part 25


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The parents are members of the Presbyterian church, to the support of which they contribute generously and in the work of which they are ac- tively interested. Mr. Sperry belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the Knights of Pythias lodge, and both he and his wife occupy an enviable posi- tion in social circles, the hospitality of their pleasant home being greatly enjoyed by their friends, who are legion.


JAMES M. McCLOY.


James M. McCloy, a representative citizen of Shenandoah and one of the best known auctioneers in this part of the country, was born in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, Jannary 4, 1843. He is the son of Robert W. and Julia M. (McClellan) McCloy, both of whom belonged to Wash- ington county. The mother was in fact a native of that county, and the father went there as a very small boy with his parents from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, the place of his birth. He had learned the trade of a cabinetmaker in his early youth and followed that line of work until his death, which occurred in his fifty-fifth year. His wife survived him by nearly a quarter of a century, having attained the advanced age of seventy- three when death came upon her.


James McCloy lived under the parental roof until he was twenty years of age. He received the fundamentals of his education in the common schools. supplementing the course here by study at Duff's Business College in Pittsburg. During his youth he worked with his father at carpentering and cabinetmaking, but upon attaining his twentieth year he decided to make a change in his occupation and embark in the world of business for himself at a new place. He went first to Illinois, where he spent some five years in Knox and Warren counties. In 1868 he came to Iowa on a visit and was so well satisfied with the outlook here that the next year he came to stay, locating about five miles southwest of Shenandoah, in Fremont county. For perhaps five years he farmed as a renter, and then purchased a farm of eighty acres. This he subsequently sold to purchase another of one hun- dred and sixty acres, which in turn he sold to buy another of eighty acres. In 1800 he sold his last farm, which, like the other two he had owned, had been considerably improved while he was in possession, and he then removed to Shenandoah and has since given his entire time to crying sales. Auc- tioneering has, in fact, been his principal occupation during the past thirty- five years, since 1874, and he is in consequence one of the best known men


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engaged in that profession in this section of the country. His services are in demand wherever there are sales to be cried, as may be judged from the fact that last year, which may be taken as an average year, he conducted seventy sales.


On the Ist of January, 1870, Mr. McCloy was united in marriage to Miss Emma E. Maxwell, of Abingdon, Illinois. Eight children have been born to them: Mary, who is the wife of E. A. Moore, of Shenandoah ; Archie G., of Lincoln, Nebraska; Vesper Bell, who is the wife of W. R. Beeson, of Shenandoah ; Clarence W. and James P., who are both residents of Shenandoah; the twins, Edith and Ethel, and Emma, the youngest, all live at home.


Mr. McCloy has made a success of the difficult business of auctioneer, to which he has devoted himself with so much energy. He has many other interests, however, and is known for his capacity to fill offices demanding an equal amount of ability. Mr. McCloy was one of the organizers of Tri- centum Lodge. No. 300, F. & A. M., and also of the Farragut lodge, though he has transferred his membership in this latter to the Shenandoah lodge. He belongs also to Sheshbazzar Chapter, R. A. M. In polities Mr. McCloy votes the democratic ticket and has ever evinced a strong interest both in the principles of the party and in the progress of local affairs of government. His attitude has been appreciated by the voters of this section, who have elected him for ten years to serve as assessor. The position he has filled with honor to himself and to the complete satisfaction of his constituents, but shortly after his last election he felt that it was necessary to resign it. A man widely known Mr. McCloy has never felt any regret at the reputation that has spread concerning him, for it is one which any might desire to claim, that of an honest man, who does not shirk the measure of work that falls to his share.


FRANK H. CLARK, M. D.


In a history of the medical profession of Clarinda mention should be made of Dr. Frank H. Clark, who is one of the younger representatives of the profession but his years do not seem any bar to his progress or his success. He was born near Stansbury, Missouri, February 6, 1877, and is a son of William H. and Mate ( Holbrook) Clark. The family remained residents of Missouri nntil 1879 when they removed to College Springs, Iowa. The father followed merchandising for a long period from early manhood but some years ago retired from active business life and is now living in Blanchard, Iowa, in the enjoyment of well earned rest.


Dr. Clark was educated at Amity College in College Springs, there pursuing his literary course, after which he decided upon a professional career and made choice of the practice of medicine as a life work. With this end in view he took up the study of medicine in the Central Medical College at St. Joseph, Missouri, from which he was graduated in 1900. He


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then located at Wathena, Kansas, where he opened an office, remaining there for two years. In order to further equip himself for his chosen calling he took up special courses of medicine in the medical department of the Uni- versity of Illinois at Chicago and was graduated there in 1903.


In that year Dr. Clark located at Shambaugh, lowa, where he continued in practice until January, 1909, when, seeking a broader field of labor, he came to Clarinda where he has since been located. Although a resident here for less than a year he has made substantial progress in his profession and his labors have been attended with a degree of success that indicates his thorough understanding of medical principles and also the confidence reposed in his professional ability by his fellow townsmen.


On Christmas day of 1900 was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Clark and Miss Ora Sherman of Clarinda, a daughter of Samuel L. Sherman, a real-estate operator. This marriage has been blessed with one child, Alice Marjory. Dr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are prominent socially. They have made many warm friends during their residence in Clarinda and are widely and favorably known in the county. In his fraternal relations Dr. Clark is a Mason and is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is likewise a member of the Page County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and thus he keeps in touch with the ad- vanced thought of the profession.


ALEXANDER SHUM.


Alexander Shum, who for thirty-six years has made his home in Page county, residing throughout this period in the vicinity of Clarinda, owns and cultivates two hundred and forty acres of rich farming land of which one hundred and fifty-three acres is in the home place a mile north of the cor- poration limits of the city. He is far separated from the place of his birth, for he is a native of Rutland county, Vermont, his birth having there oc- curred June 26, 1852. The Shum family is of French descent and was es- tablished in Canada at an early date. The parents of Alexander Shum were Peter and Elizabeth ( Penor) Shum, who were natives of the province of Quebec, born near the Vermont line. They were married in the Green Mountain state, where both removed when about fifteen years of age. They continued residents of Vermont until 1857, when they removed west- ward to Iowa, settling in Lee county, where they lived for sixteen years, and then came to Page county in 1873. The father still resides in Clarinda but the mother passed away in that city in February, 1900, at the age of sixty-eight years. Alexander is the eldest of their ten children, the others being Peter, George, Joseph, John, William, Moses, James, Anna, all liv- ing ; Elizabeth and Abraham, deceased.


Alexander Shum was a little lad of five summers at the time of the re- moval of his parents to Lee county, lowa. There he was reared and in the


ALEXANDER SHUM


ASTUR, LENOX ANS TILDEN FOUNDATIONS K


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public schools of his home neighborhood pursued his education. While not busy with his text-books his time was largely given to the work of the fields on his father's place. He was twenty-one years of age when, in 1873, he came to Page county, since which time he has resided in the vicinity of Cla- rinda. His entire life has been devoted to farming and the place of two hundred and forty acres which he owns is the visible evidence of his well directed thrift and industry. He is numbered among the self-made men of the county, owing his prosperity to his earnest labor and wise utilization of his opportunities. He has in his home place one hundred and fifty-three acres, situated a mile north of the corporation limits of Clarinda, and here he has lived for sixteen years. On the farm are found good buildings and all modern improvements, and these have been placed there by Mr. Shum, who carries on general farming and stock raising, meeting with well mer- ited success in his undertakings. He is diligent, persevering and determined, and these qualities are always valuable elements in the attainment of pros- perity.


On the 8th of June, 1878, Mr. Shum was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. McCowen, who was born in Nodaway township, this county, February 27, 1859, her parents being James and Hulda McCowen, who are men- tioned elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of her brother, Noah McCowen. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shum have been born four daughters : Carrie Maude, now the wife of Arthur Apple, of Nodaway township, by whom she has two children, Dale and Nina; Bessie Laverne, who is the wife of J. E. Bean, of Nodaway county, Missouri, by whom she has five chil- dren, Thelma, John, deceased, Raymond, Burrell and Vera Bernice; Katlı- arine and Geneva May, the younger members of the family, both at home.


Mr. Shum has given his political allegiance to the democracy since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has never held office save some minor local one, as his ambition is not in the line of office holding. He belongs to Clarinda Lodge, No. 109, I. O. O. F., and is in sympathy with the beneficent spirit of the order, for he is a gentleman of broad hit- manitarian principles. In the work of the farm his life has been passed and, realizing that success is not a matter of genius but rather the outcome of clear judgment, experience and industry, he has worked persistently to at- tain the creditable position which he now occupies as a representative of agricultural pursuits in his adopted county.


KNOX ALEXANDER.


Among the valuable farm properties of Page county is that owned and managed by Knox Alexander, called the Fairview Farm. It is situated on sections 26 and 27, East River township, and in its seemly appearance in- dicates the careful supervision of an owner who is at once practical and progressive in his methods of farm work. Moreover, he is entitled to rep- resentation in this volume from the fact that for a half century he has


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resided in Page county. He is, in fact, one of its native sons, his birth hav- ing occurred in Harlan township, February 15, 1859.


His parents were David and Mary Ann ( Stoops) Alexander. The former was a son of John and Mary Jane ( Richmond) Alexander, natives of County Armagh, Ireland, whence they crossed the Atlantic to Canada with their two children. Subsequently they went to New York, afterward re- moved to Pennsylvania, later to Ohio, then to Illinois and in due time to Page county, lowa. There were the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters: Philip, Sarah, Agnes, Jane and David, all of whom are now deceased; and John R. P.


David Alexander, the father of our subject, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1835, and from that district removed to Mercer county, Ohio, and afterward to Mercer county, Illinois. He came to Page county, Iowa, in 1856, and resided here until 1861 when, in response to the country's call for aid to crush out the rebellion in its incipiency, he joined the army, enlisting on the 15th of June, 1861, with the First Nebraska Volunteer Regiment. After three years he veteranized on the Ist of Jan- uary, 1864, and his service continued for four years and nine months. He was wounded at Fort Laramie and never fully recovered from his in- juries. In fact his death was occasioned thereby. He passed away Feb- ruary 8, 1875, at the comparatively early age of about forty years. He had followed farming and carpentering as a life work and was ever a man of undaunted industry and of unfaltering business integrity. In early man- hood David Alexander wedded Mary Ann Stoops, who was born in Green- castle, Indiana. May 6, 1841, and now resides in Ray, Colorado. They were the parents of two children: Knox and Frances Mary. the wife of F. M. Forney, who is living in Kansas City, Missouri.


Soon after the war David Alexander removed with his family to Rock Island, Illinois, and the following year went to Washington county, Iowa. There Knox Alexander remained until 1872, when he came to Page county but the following year returned to Washington county. There the father died February 8, 1875, after which Knox Alexander with his mother and sister came to Page county. He began learning the plasterer's trade in Clarinda in 1877 and followed that pursuit until 1892. He remained in Clarinda until 1885, when he went to Kansas City. Missouri, where he continued until 1880, after which he spent about three years in St. Louis. In 1892, however, he took up his abode on the Fred Fisher farm near Clar- inda, where he lived for six years. In 1898 he came to his present place, which is appropriately termed the Fairview Farm. It comprises two hun- dred acres of rich and productive land on sections 26 and 27, East River township, beside fifteen acres of timberland on section 21. It is now a valuable property, lacking in none of the accessories and conveniences of a model farm. In 1906 he erected a ten-room residence, which is the finest home in the township. modern in every respect and supplied with every con- venience known to the city home. It stands on an elevation commanding a fine view of the surrounding country and thus its name of Fairview Farm was chosen.


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Mr. Alexander makes a specialty of the breeding and raising of horses, handling draft and general purpose horses. He keeps on hand about forty head and at one time he was also engaged in the raising of mules but does not do so now. In addition to his other interests he feeds cattle and hogs, for which he finds a ready sale upon the market. On the place are two good barns which he built together with all of the latest improved machinery. Aside from his agricultural interests he is a stockholder in the Trust & Savings Bank of Clarinda, is a stockholder in the Chautauqua Association, in the Cooperative Livestock Company and in the Page County Fair Asso- ciation. He stands for progress along any line on which he thinks it can be achieved and his own efforts have been potent forces for general ad- vancement.


Mr. Alexander is pleasantly situated in his home life. On the 9th of September, 1880, he wedded Miss Laura Bell Fisher, who was born March 24, 1859, about a mile northwest of Clarinda and is a daughter of Fred- erick and Elizabeth (Palmer) Fisher. Her father was a native of Baden, Germany, while her mother was a native of England, and they were mar- ried at Bucyrus, Ohio, after which they came to Page county, lowa, in 1856. Both are now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have been born two children but they lost the elder, Fred, at the age of nine years. The younger, George, was born on King's Highway in St. Louis, Missouri, June 14, 1893.


In politics Mr. Alexander is a stanch democrat, never faltering in his allegiance to the party, for he deems its principles most conducive to good government. He has held several township offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. He has been interested in many movements for the general good, for he endorses every measure for general development, and his interest in educational affairs is proven by his coopera- tion in the Chautauqua movement.


GEORGE WUBKER.


George Wubker, a retired agriculturist now making his home in Clar- inda, was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, on the 23d of February, 1846, a son of William and Lena Wubker, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father, whose birth occurred in 1816, came to the United States alone when twenty years of age, while the mother, whose natal day was August 21, 1818, also sailed for the new world when a young lady of about twenty years. On landing in this country William Wubker first made his way to Pensacola, Florida, and afterward removed to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was married. Subsequently he brought his young bride to Jacksonville, Illinois, where he learned the trade of a brickmason and plasterer, at which he worked for several years and in 1856 took up his abode on a farm in Virginia, Illinois. There he successfully carried on his agricultural and stock-raising interests until called to his final rest on the 12th of November,


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1802, passing away in the faith of the German Lutheran church. His po- litical allegiance was unfalteringly given to the democracy and he was widely recognized as a most substantial, progressive and enterprising citizen. His widow remained on the old home farm until the 2d of April, 1908, when she located near Red Oak, Iowa, where she has since continued to reside, making her home with a daughter. She is now in her ninety-first year. By her marriage she became the mother of six children, namely: Henry, residing in Oklahoma; George of this review; Sarah Caroline, living on a farm in Montgomery county, Illinois, who is the wife of James McDowell and has seven children ; John, who passed away in 1900; Mary E., who is the wife of William A. Moore, has three children and makes her home on a farm four miles from Red Oak, Iowa : and William, whose demise occurred on the 25th of April, 190S.


George Wubker spent the first eight years of his life in the place of his nativity and there began his education in the district schools. In 1856 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Virginia, Illinois, where he attended the country schools during the winter months and in the summer seasons assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority and then operated a rented farm of fifty acres in Cass county, Illinois, for one year, at the expiration of which period he rented another farm of fifty acres in the same county, continuing its cultivation for a similar period. Subsequently he spent a year on the home farm and then again rented a tract of fifty acres in Cass county for a year, while afterwards he removed to still another farm of fifty acres, being engaged in its operation as a renter for twelve months.


In 1872, having accumulated sufficient capital by dint of close economy and careful expenditure, he purchased forty acres of land in Red Oak, Iowa, to which he afterwards added by additional purchases until the farm comprised one hundred and twenty acres, on which he made his home for twenty-three years, devoting his time and energies to the tilling of the soil and the raising of stock. In 1894 he disposed of this property and bought three hundred and eleven acres of land three miles from Red Oak, there carrying on his agricultural and stock-raising interests for a period of six years. At the end of that time he sold the land for fifty-two dollars per aere and bought a two hundred and forty acre farm near Red Oak, paying sixty-five dollars per acre for the property. When a year had passed he disposed of it at eighty-two and a half dollars an aere and took up his abode on a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, six miles southwest of Clar- inda, which he had purchased.


After remaining on that place for four years Mr. Wubker put aside the active work of the fields and removed to Clarinda, where he has since lived retired in a fine residence at No. 507 West Main street. The pros- perity which has attended his efforts is entirely the result of his own untir- ing and well directed labor, for he started out in business life on his own ac- count with but one team of horses, given him by his father. Working dili- gently, persistently and energetically as the years went by, he advanced steadily and surely toward the goal of success and his landed holdings now


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include a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, two town lots and a block of ground, three hundred by three hundred and sixty feet, on the corner of Water and Twenty-first streets. He likewise owns the attractive and commodious dwelling in which he resides and is widely recognized as one of the most substantial, respected and representative citizens of the community.


In 1870, in Virginia, Illinois, Mr. Wubker was united in marriage to Miss Lorinda A. Moore, a daughter of William and Keziah (Moore) Moore, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Moore had a family of thirteen children, namely : Manelis, James Nelson, Fetina and Robert Bruce, all of whom are deceased; Thomas Sylvester: Mandy ; William, who has also passed away: John : Charles ; Ulysses ; Lorinda A .; George, who is likewise deceased; and Alma.


Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wubker have been born thirteen children, as follows : Keziah, the deceased wife of Alonzo Shank, a merchant of this state; Nan- nie, the deceased wife of William Pond, of lowa, by whom she had two children, Iru and Lewis ; Mary, who is the wife of Friedman Copley, a cabi- netmaker residing in Lincoln, Nebraska; Lena, who makes her home with her uncle, Ulysses Moore, in Holdredge, Nebraska; Cora, who is the wife of Williston Campbell and lives in Centerville, Kansas; Emma, residing in Red Oak; Owen, who is an agriculturist by occupation; Walter, who fol- lows farming two miles south of Yorktown, Iowa, and married Rachel Baylus, by whom he has two children, Earl and Marjorie; James, living in Lincoln, Nebraska, who wedded Miss Mary McGraff and has two chil- dren, Helen and Gerald; John, who belongs to the United States navy, on board the West Virginia; Harvey, a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska ; Nellie, who is pursuing a commercial course at College Springs ; and Elsie, who is still under the parental roof and is a public school student.


Mr. Wubker is a stalwart democrat in his political views and while living in Red Oak acted as school director for six years, while for eight years he was treasurer of the school district, the cause of education ever finding in him a stanch champion. A man of exemplary habits, of high principles and of upright conduct, wherever he is known he commands the good will and trust of those with whom he is associated.


ALPHONSO EDMONDS.


In the fall of 1856 Alphonso Edmonds arrived in Page county, accom- panied by his bride, for he had been married only a few days before. They cast their lot with the pioneer settlers of this section of the state and he has since been numbered among the progressive and enterprising agriculturalists and business men. His labors have been a substantial factor in the growth and progress of the county and at all times he has taken the keenest interest in everything pertaining to the public good.


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He was born in Clermont county, Ohio, April 12, 1830, his parents being Thomas and Elizabeth ( West) Edmonds, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Clermont county, Ohio. Thomas Edmonds lost his father when he was only four years of age and afterward removed to Bourbon county, Kentucky, and subsequently to Clermont county, Ohio. There he continued until 1839 when he went to Clay county, Indiana, where he resided for about seventeen years, after which he came to Iowa in 1856 with his son, Alphonso. His last days were spent in Page county. He was born December 3. 1791, and passed away January 8, 1860, while his wife, who was born in July, 1804, died May 30, 1885. He was a brick mason by trade but during much of his life owned and cultivated a farm. His family numbered twelve children, namely: Maximillian, Ellis, William, Alphonso, Burke, Perry, Ethelbert, Thomas, Isaac, Thornton, Robert and Mary Ann. Of these Alphonso, Thomas, Robert and Mary are the only ones now living. The family has a creditable military record, the father of our subject having served in the war of 1812, enlisting from Clermont county, Ohio, while four of the sons became soldiers of the Union army in the Civil war. Ellis enlisted from Page county in 1862 as a member of Company F, of the Twenty-third Iowa Regiment and died at the hospital in St. Louis while still in the service. Burke enlisted at the same time and Ethelbert joined the army with the troops from Jasper county, Iowa, while Robert was also a member of the Twenty-third Regiment.




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