USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II > Part 5
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
severance and determination which characterized the conduct of his private business affairs. His record, taken all in all, is one of signal usefulness and honor and has brought him merited and high regard from his fellow townsmen.
JOSEPH C. FOSTER.
Joseph C. Foster, carrying on general farming interests for many years in East River township but now leaving the arduous labor of the farm to others, although he still gives to it his general supervision, was born in Madison county, Ohio, December 23, 1826. He is a son of Joshua and Sarah (Silver) Foster, both of whom were natives of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. The father was born there May 17, 1794, and when six years of age accompanied his parents to Ross county, Ohio, where he lived until eighteen years of age. A removal was then made to Madison county, Ohio, and with the exception of six years spent in Indiana, he continued in Madison county until 1848. At that time he removed to Knox county, Illinois, where he lived for two years, after which he spent five years in Ful- ton county, whence he returned to Knox county, where he made his home for twenty-seven years prior to his demise. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising, purchasing stock which he drove over the mountains from the west. He was married when twenty-two years of age to Miss Sarah Silver, of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and unto them were born thir- teen children, all of whom were living at one time, while eight of the num- ber were living at the time of the father's death. His wife passed away March 9, 1879, and their graves were made side by side in the Uniontown cemetery of Knox county, Illinois. In early life Mr. Foster joined the Methodist Episcopal church and ever afterward lived a consistent Chris- tian life. He always looked on the bright side of every question and when clouds of adversity were darkest was never known to complain. He was devoted to the welfare of his wife and family and was a most estimable citizen. The cause of education found in him a stalwart advocate and he was ever interested in the movements which tend to promoting the interests of civilization.
Joseph C. Foster was the youngest of four sons in his father's family and there were seven daughters younger than he. Born and reared in Mad- ison county, Ohio, he there resided until his marriage, after which he went to Knox county, Illinois, where he made his home until 1873, when he re- moved to Fulton county, that state. In the spring of 1875 he came to Page county, Iowa, settling first on the Linderman farm west of Clarinda. After spending four years there he removed to East River township, settling on the Hatfield farm, which he made his home for five years. He next pur- chased his present home of one hundred and thirty-two acres on sections 2 and II, East River township. This is a well improved property, having npon it good buildings which have been erected by Mr. Foster. Everything
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about the place is modern and substantial and he has met with substantial success in carrying on general farming and stock raising. His place is yet devoted to those two pursuits and both branches of the business return to him a substantial income.
It was on the 26th of October, 1848, that Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Maria C. Kingham, who was born in Wallingford, Berk- shire county. England, September 16, 1827. When two years of age she lost her mother and with her father came to America in the fall of 1832 on the sailing ship Cosmo, which was seven weeks in completing the voyage. The family home was established near Springfield, Ohio, where Mrs. Foster re- mained until seventeen years of age, when she went to Madison county, Ohio, where she was married. Her parents were William and Elizabeth (Cooper) Kingham and the father died in Madison county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Foster have been born nine sons: William, a resi- dent of Missouri; Thomas and John, twins, the former living in Ne- braska township, this county, and the latter in South Dakota; Homer, who is a resident of East River township; Smith, residing in Fulton county, Illi- nois ; Bruce, who is living in Shenandoah, Iowa; Scott, who died in Okla- homa; Richard, a resident of Taylor county : and Frederick, at home. All of the sons are farmers and most of them own large tracts of land. They all give their political allegiance to the democracy.
The father is also a stalwart democrat and has filled some township and school offices but has always preferred to leave office holding to others. He has been a Mason since 1861 and now belongs to Clarinda Lodge, No. 140. F. & A. M., and to the chapter, R. A. M., in Knoxville, Illinois. He has almost reached the eighty-third milestone on life's journey and his has been a creditable record, for he has lived a life of continuous business activ- ity and his carefully directed labors have brought him the success which has enabled him for many years to enjoy not only the necessities but also many of the comforts of life. His estimable wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
THOMAS HENDERSON READ.
With no special training for the conduct of important financial interests Thomas Henderson Read is now acting as president of the First National Bank of Shenandoah and has been since its organization and in the control of its affairs he has given proof of his ability to solve the more difficult financial and economical problems. The subjective and objective forces of life are in him well balanced, making him cognizant of his own capabilities and powers, while at the same time he thoroughly understands his op- portunities and his obligations. He was born in Huntsville, Schuyler coun- ty, Illinois, March 3, 1841, and is a son of Amasa and Jane B. (Hender- son) Read, natives of Massachusetts and Ohio respectively. The father
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
was twice married, his second wife being the mother of our subject. For some years Amasa Read operated a woolen mill in Oldtown, Ohio, and in 1837 removed westward to Schuyler county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming, continuing in agricultural life there until 1843, when he was called to his final rest.
Thomas H. Read was but two years old at the time of his father's death. He remained at home until his twenty-ninth year, but in 1870 sold his in- terests in Illinois and with a team started west on a tour of inspection. Ar- riving in l'age county he was so pleased with the country and its prospects that he determined to locate here and during the succeeding two years was engaged in the cattle business. In the fall of 1872 he opened a bank in Clarinda, which was conducted under the firm name of Read & Farnum. For three years the firm conducted that institution. at the end of which time Mr. Read purchased the bank of Moore & Webster in Shenandoah, then the only bank in this city. He arrived in Shenandoah on the 12th of June, 1875, the night before the grasshoppers came-a plague memorable in the history of this part of the country, the insects descending in swarms upon the entire countryside and within a few hours destroying every vestige of vegetation. Mr. Read entered upon his banking interest in this city under the firm style of Read, Farnum & Company. Soon afterward a second bank was organized under the name of Cole, Swain & Company. The competi- tion was then so strong that an effort was made to consolidate the two banks with a third party in Clarinda but Mr. Read found that he was to be frozen out when the papers for consolidation were all signed. Coming to an under- standing of the situation, he started out to organize the First National Bank of Shenandoah and in one night had forty-four thousand dollars subscribed out of the fifty thousand dollars necessary. He and Mr. Farnum bought out the remaining member of the old firm and completed the organization of the First National Bank. This bank today does the largest banking busi- ness in the county and since its organization has paid twenty per cent on its capital. It was organized on a safe, conservative yet progressive basis and the business methods pursued "have ever been such as to awaken un- qualified confidence and gain a liberal patronage. In all of his business affairs Mr. Read has been thoroughly reliable and straightforward, seeking success along the legitimate lines of business and his path has never been strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes. He has made steady progress by reason of his persistency of purpose, keen discrimination and sound judg- ment. and although he had no training for the work when he entered bank- ing circles he has become recognized as one of the strong and prominent representatives of banking interests in southwestern Iowa. He has or- ganized other banks, including the First National Bank of Farragut, of which he is president ; the First National Bank at Coin; and the First Na- tional Bank at Imogene, all of which are highly prosperous. For many years he has been the oldest banker in active service in Page and Fre- mont counties.
Mr. Read was married in 1873 to Miss Ermina J. Allphin, of Hunts- ville, Illinois, and unto them have been born four children: Elbert, who is
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
cashier of the bank; Thomas H., who is a graduate of the law department of the University of Michigan and is now acting as assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Shenandoah; Della, the wife of Edson R. Sun- derland, a professor of the law department of the Michigan University; and Luella J., who has won a degree at Tabor College in Iowa and Michi- gan University and has now passed her examination for a Doctor's degree.
Mr. Read and his family attend the Congregational church in which he holds membership. He is serving as treasurer of the church, contributes generously to its support and does all in his power to promote its interests. He was a leading factor in the erection of the library building in 1904, conducting the correspondence whereby a donation from Andrew Carnegie was secured. He was also president of its first board of directors and was chairman of the building committee. He has never let personal in- terests or ambition dwarf his public spirit or public activities and his feelings and views concerning public questions have ever found expression in prompt action. Without any special advantages at the outset of his career he has developed powers of mind and habit which have established him as one of the valued and representative citizens of this part of the state and his success is the merited reward of persistent, earnest and honorable labor.
MISS JESSIE FIELD.
The educational interests of Page county are capably directed under the supervision of Miss Jessie Field, who is serving for the second term as superintendent of schools. She makes her home in Clarinda and is well known throughout the southwestern portion of the state. Her birth occurred in Page county, June 26, 1881, her parents being Solomon E. and Lettie (Eastman) Field, who came to Iowa from Toulon, Illinois. Both her father and mother were teachers and actively interested in educational work, while four of her sisters and one brother have also been teachers of Page county. The family is one of strong intellectuality and their work has been of tan- gible benefit in promoting the public school interests of this part of the state.
At the usual age Miss Jessie Field entered school and passed through consecutive grades until she had completed the high school course. Sub- sequently she attended the Western Normal College at Shenandoah and was there graduated with the class of 1898. Desirous of making still further progress in intellectual lines, she next attended Tabor College at Tabor, Iowa, where she completed the classical course in 1903. Thus well qualified for the profession of teaching, she went to Antigo, Wisconsin, where she was prin- cipal of the Ward school for one year. She then became teacher of science in the Shenandoah high school, where she continued for a year, after which she went to ITelena, Montana, and was principal of the Jefferson school of that city for a year. In 1906 she returned to Page county, having been chosen
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
for the office of county superintendent of schools. She had been nominated at the primary for this position while she was still in Montana and was elected in that year without opposition and again in 1908, so that she is now serving for the second term. She is superintendent of one hundred and thirty country schools and thirteen town and village schools, with a total enrollment of five thousand pupils.
Miss Field is thoroughly interested in her work, zealous and active in be- half of the cause of public instruction and puts forth every effort in her power to further qualify herself for the responsibilities of her chosen calling. She keeps in touch with the foremost educators of the day through her mem- bership in the National Educational Association, has been vice president of the lowa State Teachers' Association and belongs to the Southwestern Iowa Teachers' Association, of which she was formerly president. She is likewise a member of the Iowa Educational Council and is a member of the Congre- gational church and is interested in all those things which work for perman- ency and improvement and are factors in the world's progress and civiliza- tion. Her work in connection with the schools of Page county is of a most practical character, attended with direct and tangible results and that it has received the endorsement of the general public was indicated in the fact of her reelection.
THOMAS EDWIN POWERS, M. D.
Thoroughly equipped by collegiate training and private research and investigation for the onerous and responsible duties of his profession, Dr. Powers has made continuous progress since entering upon his chosen life work as a physician and surgeon. Broad reading and study keep him in touch with the advanced ideas of the day and from experience he also learns many valuable lessons, while through the faithful performance of each day's duties he finds inspiration and encouragement for the labors of the succeed- ing day.
His parents, Jacob H. and Eliza B. ( Silver) Powers, arrived in Clarinda in 1854, coming from Muncie, Indiana. The father had visited the state in the previous year and then returned to Indiana, after which he brought his family to Iowa, driving the entire distance across the country. He was a native of Virginia, while the grandfather of Dr. Powers was also a Vir- ginian, removing from the Old Dominion to Indiana when his son, Jacob HI., was a lad of twelve years. The latter was there reared as a farm boy, carly becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist as he converts wild land into productive fields and annually brings forth rich crops. Not desiring to give his entire attention, however, to the tilling of the soil, he entered mercantile circles and for some time conducted a tannery. In 1853 he sold out and made the aforementioned visit to Clarinda, where he established a general mercantile store upon his return to this county with his family. He also purchased considerable property, including both city real-estate and farm lands and became an active
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
factor in the development, upbuilding and improvement of this part of Iowa. He was one of the pioneer merchants of the town and conducted stores on both the west and north sides of the square. In his mercantile ventures he was successful, carrying such lines of goods as the public demanded, while his reasonable prices and honorable dealing won him a continually in- creasing trade. His lands were adjacent to the city and with the growth and development of the county increased rapidly in value. Later he made investment in lands in Missouri, Texas, Florida and Kansas. As the years passed by, he conducted important business negotiations, prospering in his undertakings. During his later years he spent half of his time in Florida and the remainder in Clarinda. He was regarded as one of the city's best and foremost residents, stanchly supporting every cause for the public good and giving liberally where aid was needed. While he conducted important and extensive business affairs, he was ever reliable in his transactions, his negotations being in harmony with the strictest business ethics. He is survived by four children: Amanda T., now the wife of Harvey White, of Chino, California ; Sarah E., who is the widow of Charles Lindeman and resides in Clarinda : N. Olive, a resident of this city ; and Thomas E.
Dr. Powers pursued his preliminary education in the public and high schools of Clarinda and his more specific literary course in the Iowa State University. He also attended the medical college there and finished his course in the Missouri Medical College, now the medical department of Washington University at St. Louis, Missouri, being graduated therefrom on the 4th of March, 1881. He at once located for practice in St. Louis but on account of the illness of his father returned home and entered upon active practice at Clarinda and with the exception of two years he has been constantly in active practice here. For two years he was assistant su- perintendent of the Clarinda State Hospital for the Insane, acting in that capacity from 1891 until 1893. He was also health officer of the city for one term and for the past fourteen years has been one of the commissioners on the board of insanity. He was also pension examiner for the county from 1808 until 1906, when he resigned. His private practice is extensive and of an important character, for he long since demonstrated his ability to successfully cope with the intricate problems that continually confront the physician in his efforts to check the ravages of disease and restore health. He has for the past ten years been local surgeon for the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad Company and also for the Keokuk & Western Railroad Company. In 1904 he spent six months in Berlin, Germany, in the study of surgery, receiving the benefit of instruction from some of the most eminent surgeons of the old world. He also attended their clinics and in this way added much to his knowledge concerning the methods of prac- tice followed in Germany. He belongs to the Page County Medical So- ciety, the Iowa State Medical Society, the Southwestern Iowa Medical So- ciety, the American Medical Association and the Anglo-American Medi- cal Association at Berlin. Dr. Powers' clientele became so large and the demands upon his time so constant that in 1890 it practically became im- perative for him to establish a hospital. Consequently, in that year the
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Powers' Private Hospital came into existence and since that time has been devoted to surgical and gynecological cases. From the first instance the hospital has been a success and has met the anticipations of its friends and many patrons.
On the 25th of May, 1882, occurred the marriage of Dr. Powers and Miss Anna Peterson, of Clarinda, daughter of Andrew Peterson. She was a teacher in the schools of this city for a number of years before her mar- riage. The Doctor and his wife attend the Presbyterian church, although they do not hold membership therein. He is a Royal Arch Mason and was master of Clarinda Lodge from 1900 until 1905 and is one of the dis- trict lecturers in connection with the work of the grand lodge. He is an ex- emplary representative of the craft and frequently embodies its teachings in his practice, rendering brotherly aid to those in need when he has no hope of pecuniary recompense. In all of his professional service he is actuated by high ideals and his study and reading, combined with his ready adaptability, have placed him prominently before the public as one of the leading repre- sentatives of the profession in this county.
THOMAS WOODMANSEE.
Thomas Woodmansee, one of Page county's highly respected citizens, who passed away August 20, 1906, was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, Septem- ber 22, 1830, a son of Joseph Woodmansee, who was of French origin. When eighteen years of age, Thomas Woodmansee came to Iowa, locating near Fort Madison in Lee county, where he rented and operated a farm for about ten years. In 1857 he came to Page county, Iowa, and entered an eighty-acre tract of land located in Amity township. Being industrious and ambitious to follow agricultural pursuits on a larger scale, he worked un- tiringly and persistently until he was enabled to trade his small farm for one of twice its size, located in the same township. At length he sold this prop- erty and bought eighty acres just south of Amity, now College Springs, and in 1865, by additional purchase, he added eighty more acres to that farm. Not being strong physically, at times he was compelled to rent part of the farm out on shares and often hire most of the work done. However, in this way he followed general farming and devoted some attention also to stock raising until 1876, when he retired to College Springs, Amity town- ship, where he lived until his death.
In the fall of 1861 was celebrated the marriage of Thomas Wood- mansce and Miss Margaret Scroggan, a daughter of Alexander and Mary ( Featheringill) Scroggan, both of whom were of Scotch-Irish descent and were living at that time in Clay county, Missouri. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Woodmansee ; Mary Alice, who died when she was nine years old ; and Charles Herbert, who lived to the age of thirty- two years. They also adopted and reared Burdette Gurnsey, whom they took from a Milwaukee foundling institution when he was eight years old.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
The boy has now grown to manhood and greatly assists Mrs. Woodmansee. They also reared another boy, who is now married and lives in Oklahoma, and two girls, both married at the present time, one living in California and the other in Iowa. All were orphans when they came to live with Mr. and Mrs. Woodmansee. Mrs. Woodmansee now has the entire management of the farm property, which consists of twenty-nine acres of land in the home place, part of which is within the corporate limits of College Springs on section 17 and eighty acres of land two miles south of College Springs on section 29, Amity township.
Mr. Woodmansee was a strong prohibitionist in politics, taking a de- cided stand against the liquor traffic, while in religious faith he was a Bap- tist, holding membership in a church of that denomination in Amity town- ship until the time of the founding of the Free Methodist church of College Springs, at which time he joined that organization and continued in that faith until he died. During his life he was an earnest Christian man, try- ing to follow in the footsteps of Him in whom he believed, and he passed away as he had lived, strong and happy in the Christian faith. He was a member of the official board and trustees of the church for many years and many times served as a delegate to the annual conference. He also served as school director, the cause of education finding in him an earnest champion. Since her husband's death Mrs. Woodmansee, with the assistance of her adopted son, has successfully managed the home place and also pays more attention to stock raising interests than previously. She is an earnest Christian woman and a prominent worker in the Free Methodist church of College Springs.
G. F. MITCHELL.
Since the spring of 1905 G. F. Mitchell has been connected with the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Coin, in which he is now filling the position of cashier. He is a young man but his enterprise and energy have brought him into important business relations and his close application and the provident care which he displays make him an important factor in the control of this institution. He is a native son of Iowa and possesses that spirit of determination which has been an important factor in the upbuild- ing and development of the middle west.
His birth occurred at Weldon. Clarke county, Iowa, July 13, 1883, his parents being Charles W. and Lucinda (Westfall) Mitchell, who were early settlers of that county. The father was born in Meigs county, Ohio, Marchi 28, 1845, and was a son of Enos Mitchell, one of the early residents of the Buckeye state, where he followed the blacksmith's trade. Charles W. Mit- chell attended school in his native county and when a young man went to Knox county, Illinois, where he followed farming and was married. He was still a resident of that state when in 1862 he responded to the country's call for aid and joined Company G of the Eighty-ninth Illinois Volunteer
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Infantry. Subsequently he enlisted in the Eighty-fourth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry and remained in the service for three years. He was never injured except slightly, although he was frequently in the thickest of the fight, having participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge and Lookout Moun- tain and others of lesser importance. At the close of the war he was mus- tered out and returned home with a creditable military record. He con- tinued to reside in Illinois until about 1874, when with his wife and one son he removed to Clarke county, Iowa, where he purchased forty acres of land. There they lived for about ten years when, selling that property, they came to Page county, Mr. Mitchell purchasing land in Colfax township about three miles east of Coin. There they resided for some time and at various places since. At present Mr. Mitchell is postmaster at Yorktown, Iowa, which position he has filled since 1896. His wife, who is also a native of Meigs county, Ohio, is now sixty-two years of age. They were the par- ents of eight children : Walter, who is engaged in farming near Clarinda, lowa; Effie, who is the widow of Carroll Loy and resides at Yorktown ; Bert, a resident farmer of this county: Jennie, the wife of Hermann Har- dorf, also a farmer of this county ; Mabel, the deceased wife of Luther Mor- ley : Maggie, the wife of Martin McNutt, of Newmarket ; one who died in infancy ; and G. F., of this review.
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