USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. II > Part 39
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In April, 1864, General Thomas, through respect for Colonel E. A. King, who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, while colonel of the regiment and commanding the brigade, ordered the Sixty-eighth Indiana to report at Chattanooga, Tennessee, for duty. where they were assigned to General Stead- man's first brigade, separate division of the Etowah. and continued with that command until the end of the war, with many short campaigns to protect the communications with the army at the front.
Mr. Carson was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, July 1. 1864, and during that summer commanded Company G of his regiment and in
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battle with General Wheeler's Calvary, August 15, near Dalton, Georgia, lost one man who was mortally wounded. In March, 1865, he was appointed acting regimental quartermaster by Major Finn, in which capacity he served until he was mustered out June 20 of that year, at Nashville, Tennessee.
Returning home. Mr. Carson entered Hartsville University, at Hartsville, Indiana, where he remained until the 1st of January, 1866, when he began reading law in the office of John S. Scoby. at one time colonel of the regi- ment to which Mr. Carson belonged. In September, 1866, he matriculated in the law department of the University of Michigan and was graduated with his class in March, 1868. He then returned home and as a republican took part in the campaign work of that year and was nominated for representative in the Indiana legislature. While Bartholomew county had always been a democratic stronghold he assisted in winning a victory for the state and national tickets.
In 1869 he followed Horace Greeley's advice and came west, settling at Council Bluffs on the 24th of February of that year. On the 4th of March following he was admitted to the bar and at once engaged in regular practice. In October. 1870. he formed a partnership with the Hon. Spencer Smith, and in 1883 Charles M. Harl was admitted to the firm. For almost four decades Judge Carson has been a prominent representative of the legal fraternity and of the judiciary of western lowa. He never fails to give a thorough and careful preparation, and in argument is logical and convincing. His state -. ments are clear and concise and his application of the law acenrate. The public offices that he has filled have always been in the line of law-making or in the interpretation of the law. In 1877 he was elected by the republicans to the house of representatives in the Iowa state legislature, and two years later was re-elected by an increased majority. He then declined to become a nominee for a third term and retired from the office as he had entered it- with the confidence and support of his constituents. In 1883 he was chosen to represent his district in the Iowa senate, and in 1886 was nominated and elected to the bench of the fifteenth judicial district. whereon he served for four years. His decisions were fair and impartial. His decrees were either affirmed or modified and then affirmed. Impaired health caused him to decline to serve for a longer period than the four years' term. Hle then resumed the practice of law and was not again in office until 1895, when he was elected mayor of Council Bluffs. He gave to the city a businesslike and public- spirited administration, characterized by needed reform and improvement in municipal lines.
On the 5th of October, 1871, Judge Carson was married in Ypsilanti, Michigan, to Miss Rachel Leslie Boyce, a daughter of John and Priscilla (Vining) Boyce. Her father is of Irish and her mother of English descent, the ancestors of both possessing strong character, in which their religious sentiment predominated, coming from the Scotch-Irish Protestants and the Pilgrims of New England. Her grandfather, Scott Vining, was a descendant of John Alden, who came over in the Mayflower, while her great-grandfather, Benjamin Burton, on the maternal side, did service in the war of the Revolu- tion. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Carson was blessed with seven children :
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Hannah L .; Mary P., deceased; Rachel B., the deceased wife of Louis Blum of St. Joseph, Missouri ; George D .; Grace S., the wife of Samuel L. Irvine, of Omaha, Nebraska; Jeannette R .; and Hiram J ..
Such in brief is the life history of Judge George Carson. In whatever relation we find him-in government service, in political circles, in business or in social relations-he is always the same honorable and honored gentleman, whose worth well merits the high regard which is uniformly given him.
JOSEPH D. JOHNSON.
Among the men of sterling worth who have been called from this life and yet have left the impress of their individuality upon the community in which they have lived is numbered Joseph D. Johnson, who for a considerable period was connected with the agricultural interests of Waveland township. He was born in Kentucky, March 30, 1834, a son of Evander Johnson, who removed to Warren county, Illinois, when Joseph was three years of age. There he was reared to farm work and in the public schools he mastered the common branches of English learning.
Having arrived at adult age he made preparations for having a home of his own by his marriage March 17, 1867, to Miss Eunice Bushnell, who was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, December 22. 1844, a daughter of Eli- jah and Ruth (Axtell) Bushnell. In the paternal line she is descended from an old New England family and one which numbers many prominent public and professional men. Her father was born in Connecticut and removed to Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in early manhood. There he learned carpenter- ing and later engaged in the sawmill business, with which he was identified for many years. In later life he removed to Warren county, Illinois, where he carried on farming, making his home there up to the time of his death, which occurred when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-six years. His wife was a native of New Jersey and when a child removed with her parents to Pennsylvania, where she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Bushnell. She passed away in 1870 at the age of fifty-one years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born six children but only two are living: Willis, the eldest, who oper- ates the home farm; and Ernest, who is the youngest and is attending com- mercial college in Omaha, Nebraska. The other children, Ida, James, Cora and Albert, are all now deceased.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Johnson located on an eighty-acre farm in Warren county, which he had purchased the year previons. There he de- voted his time to the tilling of the soil until 1878, when he came to Iowa and invested in eighty acres on section 30, Waveland township, Pottawattamie county, which remained his place of residence until his death, June 13, 1897. Just prior to his demise he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 7, Waveland township, to which his widow has since removed and there she still lives.
J. D. JOHNSON.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND -ID N FOUNDATIONS.
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In politics Mr. Johnson was a democrat but not radical or aggressive. He was a successful man and wielded considerable influence in the community in which he lived. being respected by all who knew him because of his fidelity to his honest belief and his justice and integrity in all the affairs of life. He passed away June 13, 1897, and his loss was deeply regretted by many friends. Mrs. Johnson is a lady of pleasing manner, cordial and hospitable to her many friends and loved by those who come within the closer circle of her acquaint- ance.
REUBEN H. WOODMANCY.
Reuben H. Woodmaney is now practically living retired, yet resides on his farm near the village of Macedonia. which indeed was built upon part of his farm. His residence in Pottawattamie county dates from the 24th of March, 1866, at which time he settled in the township of Macedonia and in the following spring he purchased his land. Since that time he has been closely associated with the substantial development of this part of the county and was widely known and recognized as an enterprising and successful busi- ness man. A native of New Jersey, he was born at Long Branch, in what is now Ocean county, January 24, 1839, his parents being John and Harriet (Platt) Woodmancy. who in 1844 removed to Ohio. In the paternal line Reuben H. Woodmancy is a representative of an old Jersey family, his grand- father there locating when he crossed the Atlantic from Scotland. The father was a sailor for thirty-six years, becoming captain of a coast vessel. Removing to the Buckeye state he bought a farm in Shelby county, Ohio, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1887, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-three years. His wife died in 1897, when more than eighty years of age. In their family were six children : Louisa E., who died in Ohio; Martha E., a resident of Piqua, Ohio; Nelson, also of Piqua; Lydia, whose home is in Sidney, Ohio; L. D., of this county; and Reuben H.
The last named was reared in the Buckeye state. His educational advan- tages were somewhat limited for he has provided for his own support since attaining the age of fourteen years, and whatever success he has achieved or enjoyed is attributable to his own labors and capable management. The only interruption to his continuous business career came when he served his country as a soldier in the Civil war. Soon after the outbreak of hostilities he enlisted in Ohio as a member of Company F, Fifteenth Ohio Regiment, in response to a call for troops for three months. On the expiration of that period he re-enlisted in September, 1861, becoming a member of Company F, Twentieth Ohio Infantry. He was promoted at Shiloh and was commissioned as an officer in that company. Later he served as a lieutenant and subse- quently became captain of Company E. of the Twentieth Ohio Infantry. At Atlanta, July 22, 1864, he was wounded by a gunshot in the right foot and was in the hospital for a time. Later he succeeded in making his way to Louisville, Kentucky, but was again in the hospital there and again in Cin-
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cinnati. Being unfitted for further service he was honorably discharged November 5, 1864, with the rank of captain, and for two years was obliged to use crutches and a cane. When convalescing he went to Vicksburg, where he was engaged in government and other work for a year. Returning to the north, he soon afterward came to Pottawattamie county.
Mr. Woodmancy had saved some money while in the army and on reach- ing this county he established his home in Macedonia township, where in the spring of 1867 he purchased his present farm. Since that time he has been closely associated with the business development and substantial im- provement of his locality. For many years he was engaged in merchandising in the village of Macedonia and during the past ten years he has devoted his attention to western lands, making judicious and extensive investments in Colorado and Nebraska. He now owns five farms in Phelps county, Colorado. He is, moreover, vice president of the Macedonia Implement Company. His former stone or "grant" house was for many years a landmark of this part of the country but at a recent date it was torn down. Mr. Woodmancy erecting a fine home on his farm which he now occupies. In all of his business opportunities he has been watchful of indications pointing to success and has so utilized the means at hand that he has become one of the represent- ative residents of Macedonia township, contributing in large measure to its growth and development as well as to individual prosperity.
While in Ohio Mr. Woodmaney was married to Miss Jennie E. Robinson, of that state. and they now have four sons and two daughters, all born in Pottawattamie county with but one exception. There children are: Frank E., who is engaged in mining in Montana: Harry L, who follows merchandis- ing in Vermilion, South Dakota; Minnie E., a teacher in the schools at Council Bluffs; John H., who is now operating the home farm and who served for three years in the Philippines in the Thirtieth United States Regulars; Stella M., the wife of Ernest Jones; and Henry, of Montana, who is engaged in mining there. He served in the navy as a youth and won more than local reputation as an athelete. He was a gunner on the Pensacola and the Wyom- ing. having charge of one of the guns, and he took the prize of the fleet at target practice.
In his political views Reuben H. Woodmaney is a republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has filled various township offices and at an early date was county commis- sioner. Socially he is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic and with the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. He has led an active and useful life and is now deriving his income from good investments, including an excellent farm of one hundred and eighty-one acres in Macedonia town- ship, upon which he resides.
John HI. Woodmancy, who is operating the homestead farm for his father, was born upon this place. December 24, 1876, and was here reared and educated. He has always engaged in general agricultural pursuits, save like his father he displayed a spirit of patriotism when his country became engaged in warfare. On the 1st of February. 1901. he enlisted at Pueblo, Colorado, as a member of Company G, Thirtieth Infantry Regiment of the
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United States Army, and served for three years, being honorably discharged February 1, 1904. With his eommand he went to the Philippines, where he spent two years and nine months, and was there promoted. being discharged with the rank of corporal. He served under Colonel O'Connell and participated in several engagements, including the Mindora expedition against the insur- gents in 1901 and 1902. He was also at Paete Laguna, April 21, 1901. After being mustered out of the army he returned to Macedonia and resumed farm- ing, operating the old homestead place. In his political views he is like his father, a stalwart republican. He married Miss Ruth Grantham, of Holdrege, Nebraska, who was a native of Missouri, and they now have one son, Virgil. about a year old.
D. W. McKEE.
In a history of the agricultural development of the county mention should be made of D. W. MeKee, a farmer and stock-raiser on seetion 6, Grove township, where he is now operating a part of the Bolton estate. His resi- denee in this county covers a period of almost a quarter of a century. Prior to his removal to Iowa he had lived in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, his native city, where he was born on the 16th of February. 1861. His father. David S. MeKee, was a native of the north of Ireland and came to America in the carly '40s. He spent the greater part of his life in Pennsylvania but passed away in this county in March, 1899, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Sarah Ann Savage, was also born in the north of Ireland and on the Emerald isle gave her hand in marriage to Mr. McKee. Her death occurred in Carson in 1905, when she had reached the age of sixty-five years. The members of the faimly, in addition to D. W. MeKee of this review, are: James S., living in Eskridge, Kansas; Aleck, whose home is in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, Robert W., located in Carson ; William S., of Banner county, Nebraska; and Mrs. Jennie Van Pelt. also living in Nebraska.
D. W. MeKee, whose name introduces this record, was reared in Pitts- burg. Pennsylvania, where he learned and followed the carpenter's trade. Upon his removal to the west he established his home in Banner county, Nebraska, and became prominent and influential in that locality. He was well known as a leader in republican circles and for one term served as sheriff of the county, to which office he was elected on the republican ticket. Coming to Pottawattamie county in 1883. he has here since made his home and is now engaged in farming and stoek-raising on section 6, Grove town- ship, operating a part of the Bolton estate. In his work heis practical, methodical and systematie and also keeps in touch with the trend of pro- gressive agriculture.
Mr. McKee was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Bolton, a daughter of George and Anna M. (Pearce) Bolton. Six children graced this union but Bessie died in June, 1906, when about thirteen years of age. The others
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are George, James, Hattie, Alexander Donald and Frank, all yet under the parental roof. Mr. McKee is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen camp at Carson. He remains equally loyal to the republican party and its principles but has always refused to hold office in this county, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. He is not remiss in the duties of citizenship, however, and on the contrary gives loyal support to many movements and plans for the public good.
GUSTAVUS J. HAAS.
Gustavus J. Haas, a worthy representative of the farming interests of Pleasant township, his holdings now embracing three hundred and sixty aeres, was born in Howard county, Iowa, December 17, 1860. He was one of nine children whose parents were Franz and Margaret (Zanuck) Haas. The father was born in Switzerland and was there reared and married, two chil- dren having been added to the family circle ere their emigration to America. In 1847 he came to the United States, settling on a farm in Sauk county, Wisconsin. Late in the '50s he came to Iowa and purchased a farm in Howard county, where he lived, however, for only six years, after which he returned to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1873. He then came again to Iowa and bought the farm on which his sons Gustavus and George now reside, becoming owner of three hundred and one acres. Upon that place he made his home until his death, his wife surviving him for about two years. The children of their family were Frank, now living in Richards, Missouri : Leonard, of Preston, Minnesota; Jacob, whose home is in Pleasant township: August and Catherine, both deceased; Celia, the wife of Eugene Parker, of Minden township; George, of Pleasant township; and Florian, also of Minden township.
The other member of the family is Gustavus J. Haas of this review. He was reared as a farm boy in Iowa and is indebted to the public-school sys- tem for the educational privileges he enjoyed. In his youth he worked in the field, becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and carrying on the work of planting, plowing and harvesting. On the 20th of February, 1889, he was married and began farming for himself on his present place, his father having previously deeded him a hundred and forty-one acres of land. Later he purchased two hundred and forty acres in Minden township, but a small strip of land laying south of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad he afterward sold to Jorgen Bladt, making his present holdings three hundred and sixty aeres. His land is valuable and productive and he is successfully carrying on the work of the farm, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation. The place is well supplied with all modern equipments, and the crops which he annually harvests bring to him a good financial return.
Mr. Haas was married February 20, 1889, to Anna Gertz, of Pleasant township, the daughter of Henry P. Gertz, a native of Germany, who came
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to Pottawattamie county from Scott county, Iowa, and now resides in Min- nesota, to which state he removed about 1900. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Haas have been born four children: Ella M., Emma, Howard B. and Elsie, all vet at home.
Mr. Haas votes with the republican party and is now serving as one of the school directors but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, as he prefers to give his undivided time and energies to his business affairs. He has carefully conducted his farming interests and his labors are bringing to him gratifying competence.
IRA R. STITT.
Ira R. Stitt, engaged in the practice of law at Carson with a good clientage, which indicates the public recognition of his ability and legal learning, was born in Frankfort, Montgomery county, Jowa, March 18, 1869. His parents were David H. and Charity F. (Horton) Stitt, the former a native of Hamil- ton county, Indiana, and the latter of Highland county, Ohio. They are now residents of Carson and on the 1st of May, 1907, they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. In their family were six sons: William Walter, now living in Farragut, Iowa; Frank E., a resident of Sidney, this state; George O., also of Farragut; Tra R .; A. Luther and Fred, both of Carson. All of the brothers of our subject are barbers.
Ira R. Stitt was but three years old when his parents removed from Montgomery county to a farm north of Sidney in Fremont county. where they lived for three years. They afterward spent two years at Knox, Iowa, and then went to Sidney, where the father took charge of a mill. Ira R. Stitt remained in Sidney until 1884 with the exception of six years spent in Essex, this state, and the greater part of his education was acquired in Sid- ney, where he passed through successive grades until he had become a high- school student.
Mr. Stitt afterward spent six years in Colorado and Kansas, pre-empting land in the latter state where he did much toward the development of his locality by selling land and locating immigants. For one year he engaged in the bakery business at Greenwood, Nebraska, after which he removed his business to Carson but sold out a year later. He was later on a farm for a year and while engaged in agricultural pursuits took up the study of law under the direction of the Sprague Correspondence school. On the 24th of January, 1894, he entered the law office of Frank Shinn as a student and after two years, at the May term of the supreme court in 1893, he was ad- mitted to the bar. He later became a law partner of Mr. Shinn, this connec- tion continuing for three or four years, when Mr. Shinn retired, and Mr. Stitt has since practiced alone. His devotion to his clients' interest is proverb- ial, and he has been connected with many of the important litigated interests of Carson and the county.
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On the 6th of December, 1897, Mr. Stitt was married to Miss Linna A. Shinn, who was born near Red Oak, Iowa, April 16, 1871, and is the eldest daughter of Frank Shinn, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Stitt are prominent socially and the hospitality of the best homes is cordially extended them. Mr. Stitt belongs to Coral lodge, No. 444, A. F. & A. M., and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, which he supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. For one year he was mayor of the village and for three years was president of the school and is still serving as a member of the board. He is deeply and actively interested in those things which are a matter of civil virtue and civic pride. In his business life he has made steady advancement, directing his energies along those lines demanding intellectuality, close application and native talent, and at the bar has gained a creditable position.
CLARK M. POTTER.
For about thirty-five years Clark M. Potter has resided on the farm which he now owns on section 16, Waveland township. He first opened his eyes to the light of day in Erie county, New York, April 14, 1845, being one of the seven children of Hiram C. and Caroline (Parmelee) Potter. The father's birth occurred in Erie county, New York, July 12, 1816. He was a son of William Potter, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and a veteran of the war of 1812. Hiram C. Potter was reared and married at the place of his nativity, where he engaged in farming until 1852, when thinking that Iowa offered a better field of labor he came to the middle west, spending three or four years in Jackson county, this state. He next removed to Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he resided for eleven years, when in the fall of 1866 he returned to Jackson county. In the spring of 1870 he came to Pottawattamie county and in connection with his two sons purchased one-half of section 16, Waveland township. The tract was at that time wild prairie but he soon broke the sod, turning the first furrows in the fields, which in due course of time brought forth rich harvests as the reward of his care and labor. He continued upon that place until his death, which occurred in 1897. He was not only an alert and enterprising business man but also a citizen of broad nature and wide interests, who ever discharged with promptness and fidelity the various offices to which he was called. He was recognized as an influential factor in local political circles and was ever a stalwart advocate of the republican party. An earnest and conscientious Christian man, he held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, was active in its work and lived in entire harmony with his professions. He was recognized in his community as a good neighbor, a faithful friend and an esteemed citizen. His wife, who was born January 23, 1823, survived him until 1903, passing away at the age of eighty years. She was a daughter of Lemuel Parmelee, who was born in Maine, while her mother's birth occurred in Vermont, both being representatives of old New England families. Two sons and a daughter
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