USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II > Part 26
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Alphonso Edmonds was only nine years of age when in the fall of 1839 his parents removed to Clay county, Indiana. There he continued until the fall of 1856, during which time he assisted in the arduous task of clearing and developing a new farm, which lic hewed out in the midst of the forest. Not a stick had been cut nor an improvement made upon the place at the time the family took up their abode there. Wild game of all kinds was to be had, deer, turkey, prairie chickens and other kinds being very plentiful. Mr. Edmonds early learned the value of unfaltering industry and perse- verance and his entire life has been characterized by those substantial qualities.
In September, 1856, Alphonso Edmonds was united in marriage to Miss Peachy Sampson, who was born in Virginia in August, 1833, and in her girlhood went to Indiana with her parents, John and Clarissa (Jollet) Sampson, who were likewise natives of the Old Dominion. In the fall of 1856 a few days after their marriage Mr. Edmonds came with his bride to Page county, Iowa. The journey was made by wagon and they were a month on the road ere reaching their destination. Mr. Edmonds afterward entered eighty acres of land on the Nodaway river in Nodaway township and with characteristic energy began the development and improvement of his place on which he lived until 1868. He has since resided on several different farms but all in Nodaway township and has made his home at his present place of residence since 1887. Here he owns and cultivates a farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 7, Nodaway township, three miles north of Clarinda on the Wall Street road. He has an attractive and inviting home, a well kept lawn and good buildings, many of the improve-
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ments on the place being made by him. The farm is appropriately termed the Fountain Spring place for there is a fine spring near the home and the land is well watered for the Neely branch of the Nodaway river runs across his land. Mr. Edmonds carries on general farming and stock-raising, keeping on hand a high grade of shorthorn cattle.
In 1893 Mr. Edmonds was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife who died on the 20th of January, of that year, her death being deeply re- gretted by many friends as well as her immediate family. There were four children of that marriage: Seth Warren, of Nodaway township, who is married and has three children-Dosia, Della and Laura ; Amanda C., the wife of Henry Stafford, of Nodaway township, by whom she has three children-Frank, Zella and Harry; Elmira, the wife of George Smith, of Kensington, Kansas ; and Charles V., who operates the home farm for his father. He married Mattie Kelly and they have two children-Neola and Lois. Politically Mr. Edmonds has been a stalwart republican since Fre- mont became the first presidential candidate of the party. He has held various school and road offices and has always been interested in the growth and welfare of the community. He has witnessed the many changes which have been wrought by the white men during all the intervening years since 1856 and has cooperated in many movements for the general good. He can remember when much of the land was still unclaimed and uncul- tivated, much of the county presenting the appearance of unimproved prairie land, starred with a million wild flowers during the summer months and in the winter covered by an unbroken and dazzling sheet of snow. To- day rich crops replace the native prairie grasses and in place of the wild animals are seen some of the finest specimens of live stock to be found in the entire country. In his own farming operations Mr. Edmonds has been successfully and carefully carrying on his work until his labors have won him a substantial and well merited reward.
MILLER C. McVAY.
Miller C. McVay, a successful and enterprising grocery merchant of Clarinda, was born in Sidney, Shelby county, Ohio, on the HIth of Decem- ber, 1853 a son of Emanuel and Margaret L. (Cretcher) McVay. He is of Scotch-Irish descent on the paternal side and of German extraction on the maternal line. The father, an agriculturist by occupation, came to Clarinda in 1865 and was here identified with the drug trade for a year. On the expiration of that period, however, he again devoted his time and energies to the work of general farming and was actively engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits until the time of his retirement. He passed away at the age of seventy-eight years and is still survived by his widow, who is a well known and highly esteemed resident of Clarinda.
Miller C. McVay obtained his education in the public schools and early in life became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the
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agriculturist. He has been engaged in the work of the fields to some extent up to the present time and still operates his farm. In 1891 he established a shoe store in Clarinda. successfully conducting the enterprise until 1899, when he soll out. Two years later, in 1901, he purchased a general store in Braddyvill., of which he remained the proprietor for three years, winning a well merited measure of prosperity in that undertaking. In 1907 he opened a grocery establishment in Clarinda on the east side of the square and has already gained an extensive and profitable patronage by reason of his well selected stock, his earnest desire to please his customers and his straightforward business dealings.
In 1878 Mr. McVay was joined in wedlock to Miss Carrie E. Strong, a resident of Clarinda and a daughter of Nathan Strong, a farmer by occu- pation. By this union there are two children: Ona, the wife of J. G. Scroggs, of Clarinda ; and Edward E., who is associated with his father in business.
Fraternally Mr. McVay is identified with the Knights of Pythias, being now ex-chancellor commander of Clarinda Lodge, No. 139, in which he has filled all of the chairs. He is likewise a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the teachings of which he exemplifies in his daily life. Both he and his wife are widely and favorably known within the borders of this county, having ever displayed those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime win admiration and regard.
RALPH E. ANDERSON.
On the honor roll of Shenandoah's leading business men appears the name of Ralph E. Anderson, who is one of the more recent arrivals, and yet he has for many years been widely known in this part of the state as a leading, progressive and successful merchant. Throughout the entire period his commercial integrity has remained unquestioned and his pro- gressive spirit and close application have brought him creditable prosperity.
Mr. Anderson was born in Warren county, Iowa, on the 16th of March, 1861, his parents being William H. and Euphema ( Findley) Anderson, both of whom were natives of Cambridge, Guernsey county, Ohio, where they were reared and married. In 1854 they removed to the west, settling in Warren county. Iowa, where the father entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land. Subsequently he increased the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase and upon the place which he there developed he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred in 1889 when he was seventy-two years of age. His wife died in 1887 at the age of sixty-four years. Mr. Anderson had given his political allegiance to the republican party as an unswerving advocate of its principles and a stal- wart champion of its candidates. He was himself honored with several local offices and from 1875 until 1879 served as county treasurer. His opinions always carried weight in the party councils and he did not a little
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to promote republican successes. Both he and his wife were earnest Chris- tian people, active in the work of the United Presbyterian church.
Ralph E. Anderson is indebted to the public-school system for the edu- cational privileges which he enjoyed in his boyhood and youth. He, how- ever, put aside his text-books when in his sixteenth year and at that period in his life made his initial step in the business world, entering a grocery store in Indianola. There he acted as clerk for seven years and through this experience laid the foundation of his later success which came when he embarked in merchandising on his own account. His careful expenditure and his unfaltering industry at length bringing him sufficient capital, in 1885 he established a store of his own, opening a stock of groceries in Indianola, where he successfully conducted business for about ten years. On the expiration of that period he went to Atlanta, Iowa, where he carried on business for eight years and in 1903 he came to Shenandoah, where he established his present business. For more than thirty years lie has been identified with the grocery trade and also conducts a meat market. He has built up an extensive enterprise in Shenandoah, carrying a large and well selected line of staple and fancy groceries, which he places upon the market at reasonable prices and thereby secures a liberal patronage. In addition to his commercial interests he owns an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres with valuable water rights in Morgan county, Colorado.
In 1886 Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Ella M. Young, of Central City, Nebraska, and they have three children: Ross W., who is now sojourning in Boise City, Idaho, for the benefit of his health ; Gerald C. and Robert, both at home. The family occupy a handsome residence at No. III South Center street, which is the property of Mr. Anderson.
He is a well known member of the Shenandoah Commercial Club and has always taken an active and helpful interest in any movement pertaining to the city's progress. He belongs to Page Camp, No. 1049, M. W. A .; to Shenandoah Lodge, A. O. U. W. ; and to Lodge No. 1122, B. P. O. E., Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church, in which he is serving as a member of the board of trustees. He thus manifests an active and helpful interest in the social and moral development as well as the material progress of the city. His life record has been commendable by reason of his fidelity to duty and to his close adherence to high standards of manhood and citizenship.
WILLIAM HISER.
William Hiser is numbered among the substantial farmers of Tarkio township, where he owns a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres, located on section 16. He was born in Wood county, Ohio, November 28, 1848, of the marriage of Jacob and Catherine ( Isenauer) Hiser, both of whom were natives of Stark county, that state, where they were reared and married. Subsequently they took up their abode in Wood county,
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Ohio, where the father bought a farm, which he operated for several years, and then sold his land and removed to Sandusky county, Ohio. He also engaged in farming in that part of the state and made a specialty of raising horses. Both he and his wife passed away in Sandusky county.
Wilham Hiser of this review was reared under the parental roof and acquired his education in the public schools. When twenty-three years of age he began farming on his own account and for nine years operated rented land and assisted his father on the home farm. In 1881, subsequent to his father's death, Mr. Hiser came to Page county and bought one hun- dred and sixty acres of his present farm on section 16, Tarkio township. He made the purchase almost wholly on time but as the years passed was able to liquidate his indebtedness and add to his holdings, so that he now owns two hundred and forty acres in one body. In addition to general farming he has also for several years past engaged in breeding heavy draft horses. He owns two of the finest imported stallions in western Iowa, one a French draft and the other a Percheron Norman.
On the first of January. 1873, Mr. Hiser was married to Miss Mary E. Duke, a resident of Sandusky county, Ohio, and they have two sons, Pearl Sylvester and John William. The elder wedded Miss May Coy, of Tarkio township, by whom he has three children, Clyde Lawrence, Orville Leonard and Ortha Lillian. The younger son wedded Miss Anna Martin, a daugh- ter of Henry Martin, of College Springs. Page county. They have two daughters, Mabel, Irene and an infant son. Both the sons are identified with the father in his farming and stock-breeding interests and are worthy young men of the county.
Mr. Hiser is a republican in politics where national issues are con- cerned but at local elections casts his ballot for the men whom he deems best fitted for office. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge at Clar- inda and he also holds membership with Columbia Camp, No. 1892, M. W. A. Hle and his wife are devoted members of the Baptist church. They are people of the highest respectability and worth and fully merit the high esteem in which they are held.
HIRAM H. MURPHY.
Hiram H. Murphy follows farming on one hundred and sixty acres of land which he owns in Valley township. He well deserves to be mentioned among the older settlers of Page county, as he came to this section about forty-five years ago and has been a factor in developing the county and bringing it to its present splendid condition as a rich agricultural center.
Mr. Murphy is a native of the neighboring state of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Shelby county, July 9, 1841. His parents, Porterfield and Katharine (Dora) Murphy, were both born in Pennsylvania and re- moved westward to Indiana at an early day. They made a location on a tract of timber land, which the father had to clear before the fields could be
1
MR. AND MRS. H, H. MURPHY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILWEN FOUND
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placed under cultivation. The mother died during their residence in the Hoosier state and subsequently, in 1854, the father removed with his fam- ily, numbering six children, to Davis county, Iowa, where he spent four years, while in 1858 he returned to Indiana and there departed this life.
Hiram H. Murphy, the only surviving member of the father's family, accompanied his parents on their various removals up to the time of the re- turn to Indiana in 1858. During this time the son had pursued his educa- tion in the schools of the various localities in which the family lived. He was a youth of seventeen years when, the father returning to Indiana, he went to Van Buren county, Iowa, where he remained until 1863. He then came to Page county and purchased eighty-three acres of land, retaining possession of the same two years. In the meantime, in 1864, he made an overland trip to Denver, Colorado, with an oxteam, the long and wearisome journey requiring about four months. He spent about a year in the west but had only been in Denver about three weeks, when he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company C, Third Colorado Volunteer Cavalry, and for five months did duty fighting on the frontier. He was mustered in as corporal and did valiant service in defense of the Union.
Subsequent to his military service, Mr. Murphy returned once more to Page county and purchased the farm on which he has since made his home, the tract embracing one hundred and sixty aeres in Valley township. His first home was a log cabin, in which the family lived eight years, but at the end of that time, the country having become better developed, farmers be- gan making more modern improvements and it was then that Mr. Murphy built a comfortable frame dwelling and otherwise improved his place, add- ing a substantial barn and various other outbuildings for the shelter of his grain and stock. He gives his time to general farming and his efforts are meeting with success.
It was after his return from Colorado that Mr. Murphy was married on the 31st of December, 1868, to Miss Mahala A. Eperson, who was born in Monroe county, Iowa, a daughter of Thomas and Letha Mahala Eperson, both of whom were born in Tennessee and both are now deceased. Mrs. Murphy was one of a family of six children and by her marriage has be- come the mother of ten children, as follows: Dora, the wife of Wilber Lewis, a resident of Taylor county, Iowa ; Cyrus, of Valley township ; Mar- tin, still under the parental roof ; Anna, the wife of Andy Harris, who lives in Wyoming; Jennie G., the wife of Ed Cooper, a resident of Page county ; B. E., also in Page county ; Nettie M., the wife of John Ashmore, also of Page county ; Sarah, the wife of John Swan, of Taylor county, Iowa ; Effie, at home; and Frank, who has passed away.
Giving his political allegiance to the democratie party, Mr. Murphy has filled several publie offices, having for the past nine years served in the office of township trustee, and he has also served as school director and in other minor offices. He was likewise president of the Old Settlers As- sociation of southwestern Iowa, for two years. Mrs. Murphy is a devoted and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Murphy has
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made good use of his opportunities and as the years have passed has worked energetically and persistently until he is now in possession of one of the valuable farming properties of Valley township. He has advanced from adversity to prosperity and today, crowned with a goodly competence, he can look back over an honorable and well spent life, while he enjoys to the fullest extent the high regard of all with whom business or social relations bring him in contact.
ANSON DOUTHIT.
Anson Douthit, who is now deceased, was for many years actively connected with agricultural pursuits and as a result of well directed energy and enterprise his labors were crowned with a most gratifying measure of success. Ile was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, August 11, 1858, and was a son of Nathan and Sarah (Beatty) Douthit, who were of Scotch- Irish and German descent respectively. The parents were among the very earliest settlers of Page county, where they located upon a farm three miles north of Clarinda and where for a number of years they were ac- tively and helpfully engaged in the work of general transformation and improvement, aiding in converting the raw prairie land into richly cultivated fields. Subsequently they removed to Clarinda, where the remainder of their lives was spent, the father's death occurring in January, 1887, while the mother passed away in February, 1898.
Anson Donthit acquired his education in the common schools of his native state and was thirteen years of age when he accompanied his par- ents on their removal to the west. The intervening years, up to the time he had attained his majority, were spent on his father's farm with the ex- ception of two years, during which time he was employed by a bridge con- tractor of Clarinda. When he attained his twenty-first year he rented a farm five miles west of Clarinda, which he cultivated for some time, and later moved to Hitchcock county, Nebraska, where he remained for seven and a half years. Then for a similar period he resided in St. Clair county, Missouri, where he was engaged in the operation of a rented farm. In 1900 he returned to Page county, Iowa, and purchased a farm of one hun- dred and twenty-seven acres located on section 24, Amity township. He was permitted to enjoy his new home, however, for only a short time, as he was called to his final rest on the 29th of August, 1902. Throughout his business career his life had been one of continuous activity in which had been accorded due recognition of honest labor, and his many excellent traits of character made him a valued and respected citizen of the communities in which he resided.
On February 1, 1882, Mr. Douthit was united in marriage to Miss Fan- nie Hull, who at that time was residing three miles west of Clarinda, Page county. She is a daughter of George and Nancy (Lauver) Hull, both of whom were of German lineage and were born in Adams county, Pennsyl-
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vania. They came west in 1866, locating in Knoxville, Illinois, where they resided for four years, and then removed to Iowa, locating six miles east of Villisca, where they made their home for three years. For a short time they lived in various parts of Page county and they settled in Buchanan township in 1888, purchasing a farm of forty acres, which they made their place of residence for nineteen years, when they moved to Braddyville, where both are now residing. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Douthit was blessed with five children: Harry Irwin, at home; Mrs. Georgie Willa Smiley, residing in Amity township; and Elmer Wilkins, Grace Lucretia and Fannie Ruth, all living at home. Mrs. Douthit still resides upon the homestead, the management of which she leaves to her two sons. She is a most estimable lady and occupies a high place in the community in which she lives.
Mr. Douthit's political allegiance was given to the republican party but he never sought nor desired public preferment, choosing rather to devote his entire time and energy to the management of his private business affairs. He was a member of the Presbyterian church of Lowry City, Missouri, and was superintendent of the Sunday school, teacher of the Bible class and a deacon of the church for seven years. He was a most active Christian worker whose private life was at all times in harmony with his professions.
OWEN CLARK MCCORKLE.
A well improved farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres on section 18, Nodaway township, is the property of Owen Clark McCorkle and it pays a substantial annual tribute to the care and labor which he bestows upon the place. Here he carries on general farming and also makes a specialty of dairying. Iowa numbers him among her native sons, for his birth occurred in Lee county, December 6, 1860, his parents being James and Sarah (Clark) McCorkle, who were natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, the former born in 1816, and the latter in 1840. She was his second wife and now resides at Clinton, Iowa. The death of Mr. McCorkle occurred at Fort Madison, Iowa, in 1895. He had made farming his life work and was also a stock feeder and shipper, who owned a half section of land, con- stituting the farm upon which his son Owen was born. For many years he carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock raising but eventually put aside business cares and lived retired. He had two children by his first marriage: Addison, now living in California ; and William J., who makes his home with his brother, Owen C., who is the eldest of the four children of the father's second marriage, the others being: Eva, the wife of Charies Lawder, a resident of Dakota, Iowa; Clyde, who is now located in Boston, Massachusetts; and Bella, the wife of E. D. Goldsbury, of Clinton, Iowa.
Owen Clark McCorkle resided in his native county until thirty-three years of age. In his youthful days he pursued his studies in the public schools and afterward had the benefit of instruction in Whittier College, at Salem,
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Iowa. When not busy with his text-books his time was largely occupied with the work of the fields and he early received training in the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He continued to make his home in Lee county until the spring of 189.4, when he came to Page county and purchased eighty acres of his present farm on section 18, Nodaway town- ship. Later he added forty-four acres on section 17 and now has a farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres of rich and arable land, which in golden harvests responds readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon it through the period of plowing and planting. There are also good buildings upon the place which were erected by him. In 1903 his dwelling and two barns were destroyed by fire and also the sheds and cribs upon his place. He has erected all of the buildings now found here and has a farm of modern improvements, lacking in none of the accessories and conven- iences that constitute a most important feature in farming interests. He en- gages somewhat in dairying, milking about fifteen cows.
In 1881 Mr. McCorkle was married to Miss Maria N. Hill, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, May 1, 1859. She is a daughter of Stephen and Isabella (Clark) Hill, both of whom were natives of Penn- sylvania. The father died in the Keystone state and the mother came to Iowa about 1873. Here her remaining days were passed, her death occurr- ing in Lee county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McCorkle have been born three chil- dren : Leroy, at home ; Walter, who married Gertrude Larrabee, both being now employed at the State Hospital in Clarinda; and Grace, at home.
Politically Mr. McCorkle is a republican. Ile has served in school and road offices, being officially connected with the schools from the age of twenty-one years. He is an attendant of the Presbyterian church and his. substantial qualities have gained him the honor and confidence of his fel- lowmen. He has never been known to take advantage of another in any business transaction but is always reliable and persevering, placing his dependence upon indefatigable industry and careful management for the attainment of success.
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