USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. II > Part 40
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born unto Hiram C. and Caroline Potter still survive, of whom Clark M. is the eldest. Maria is the wife of John Book, of Waveland township; and William is also living in the same township.
Clark M. Potter spent the first seven years of his life in the state of his nativity and in 1852 was brought by his parents to Iowa and afterward went with them to Minnesota. In his youth he attended the public schools and also assisted largely in the work of the home farm, receiving practical train- ing in the best methods of tilling the soil. the time of planting, the manner of cultivating and the care of the harvests. In 1867 he started out upon an independent business career and for one year was employed as a farm hand in Lucas county, Iowa. He was afterward engaged on the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad in Nevada was present at the driving of the golden spike, which indicated the completion of the line as the two sections were joined, making a continuous trans-continental road. For fifteen months Mr. Potter devoted his time to railroad construction and then returned to Iowa, where in company with his brother Ray, now deceased, he purchased a half section of land in Waveland township. Pottawattamie county, where they settled, our subject taking as his share the northeast quarter of section 16, whereon he has resided since about 1872. He also purchased eighty acres on section 9 and likewise owns a timber tract of fifteen acres in the eastern part of the township. His landed possessions therefore aggregate two hundred and fifty-five acres and his property is the visible evidence of a life of well directed labor and thrift.
On the 4th of January, 1885, Mr. Potter was married to Miss Tamar Yearns, a daughter of James B. and Nancy (Porter) Yearns, who came to Iowa in 1854 from Deeatur county. Indiana, where Mrs. Potter was born. Later the parents removed to Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Potter became the parents of four children but lost their second daughter, Nellie. The others are Olive, Leroy and Ernest, all yet at home.
In politics Mr. Potter is a republican and for several years has filled different township offices, being regarded throughout the county as a faithful official, no trust reposed in him ever being betrayed in the slightest degree. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, an association which is indicative of the good qualities which characterize them in every relation-to the indivdual and to the puble at large.
C. W. MARSHALL.
C. W. Marshall of Lincoln township. recognized in his community as a representative citizen and enterprising business man, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, May 6, 1856. His parents. Josiah and Upma Marshall, came to Iowa in 1856. settling in Lewis county, where the father entered a traet of government land. He was a shoemaker by trade but in this state turned his attention to farming. The family numbered nine children of whom the
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following are still living: Virginia, the wife of R. M. Allen, of Atlantic, Iowa; Anna, the wife of W. S. Coe. of Wyota, Iowa; Alma, the wife of G. H. Thorly, of Nebraska; W. O., of Lincoln township, this county; C. W .; and J. H., of Atlantic, Iowa.
C. W. Marshall was in his first year when brought by his parents to Iowa and was only seven years of age at the time of his father's death. Dur- ing his boyhood days his time was divided between the duties of the school- room, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the farm. After attaining his majority he resolved to continue in the occupation to which he had been reared and rented a farm in Henry county, Iowa, upon which he resided for three years. Later he rented and cultivated the old homestead property, upon which he lived until 1886. In that year he came to Pot- tawattamie county and bought his present farm of two hundred aeres in Lincoln township. The soil is naturally rich, and the labor he has bestowed upon it has made it very productive, so that he annually harvests good erops. He has always made a specialty of raising and feeding stock and keeps high grade cattle and hogs upon his place.
Mr. Marshall has been married twice. In 1877 he wedded Miss Emma F. Jennings, a native of Lewis county, Iowa, whose parents are now deceased. Unto this union were born six children: O. S., whose home is in South Dakota; Guy, Henry, Nellie, Chet and Zoa, all at home. The wife and mother died in 1890, and her loss was deeply mourned by many friends as well as her immediate family. In 1902 Mr. Marshall was again married, his second union being with Miss Minnie E. Wilson, who was born in Iowa. They have two children, Charles and Frank.
The parents are members of the Christian church, interested and active in its work and generous contributors to its support. Mr. Marshall owns a fine residence in Lewis, Iowa, in addition to his valuable farm property. He still operates all his land and is leading an active and useful life. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for several years he has served as school director but is without aspiration for political office. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Lewis and is in hearty sympathy with its benefi- cent purposes and teachings.
LEWIS STARTS.
Lewis Starts has put aside the more active duties of business life, yet still resides on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 3, Grove township, where for many years he was actively engaged in general agricul- tural pursuits. Here he has resided continuously since 1866 save for short intervals when he lived at Griswold and in the vicinity of Avoca. He thus has intimate knowledge of the history of the county and its development, his residence here antedating that of the great majority of its citizens. He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, near New Comerstown, January 24, 1829, and has therefore passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's jour-
1
MR. AND MRS. LEWIS STARTS.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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ney. His parents were Elisha and Hester Ann Starts and through much of his life the father was a sailor. He afterward left Delaware, which had been his home for years, and settled in Tusearawas county, Ohio, where he purchased forty acres of land and there died about 1838 or 1840. His wife had passed away some years prior to that time.
Lewis Starts, who was one of a large family of children, is now the only one living and he is also the only one that ever resided in Pottawat- tamie county. One sister, Eliza, lived in Illinois. John died on the old homestead farm in Ohio. Lamiga also passed away there. The others of the family were George, William, Hugh, Samuel and Mary.
Lewis Starts was left an orphan at an early age but for some years thereafter the eldest sister kept up the household and cared for the younger members of the family. He started out to earn his own living by working at twenty-five cents per day. He also engaged in grubbing for fifty cents per day, in binding wheat and in other labor that would yield him an honest living. Saving his money, he went to Illinois, settling in Peoria county, where he rented land and carried on farming for twelve years. At the close of the war in 1865 he bought eighty acres of land in Grove township and upon that place carried on general agricultural pursuits. Later he resided near Avoca for a time and subsequently established his home at Griswold, but returning to the farm he resumed general agricultural pursuits, having one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 3, Grove township. For many years he carefully, systematically and successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits and as the years passed by he accumulated a com- fortable competence that now enables him to live retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.
Mr. Starts was married in 1854, in Cambridge. Ohio, to Miss Ruia Marlatt, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, February 23, 1833, a daughter of Jacob and Eliza Marlatt, who were of Dutch and Irish parent- age respectively. They were reared and married in Guernsey county, where both passed away about twenty years ago, the father dying at the age of eighty-four years. while his wife died when seventy-four years of age. They had thirteen children, of whom eight reached years of maturity, namely : Mrs. Luauza Brown, now residing in Grove township; Mrs. Ellen Pyle, living in Nebraska; Mrs. Starts; Mrs. Sarah Miller, of Miami county, Kansas: Josephus, who is living on the old home place in Ohio and who was a soldier of the Civil war; William, who also defended the Union cause and is now liv- ing in Guernsey county, Ohio; Seth, who is yet a resident of the Buckeye state ; Mrs. Wealthy Ann Howell, residing in Guernsey county, Ohio; and five who died in childhood.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Starts has also been blessed with thirteen children : Dora, who became the wife of Perry Buckner and after his death married Charles H. Horn, their home being now in Lincoln, Nebraska; Mrs. Eliza Palmer, who is operating the home farm in Grove township; Mrs. Ellen Buckingham, of Grove township; Amanda, the wife of William A. Bolton, of the same township; Esther, the wife of Charles E. Bolton, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Wheeler, who married Miss
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Lena Wood and resides in Center township; Marilda, the wife of Ed Flower, now of Canon City, Colorado; and Alzetta, the wife of Logan Osler, of Grove township. Those deceased are Henrietta, Matilda, Hester Ann and two who died in infancy.
Politically Mr. Starts is an independent republican. usually support- ing the men and measures of the republican party yet not considering him- self bound by party ties and often casting an independent local ballot. He has been a member of the Protective Association and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church. His has been an active and useful career and his carefully directed labors and his unfaltering diligence in the years of his business life have made it possible for him now to enjoy in retirement from further labor many of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. He is, moreover, numbered among the early settlers of the county, having for more than four decades resided within its borders, so that the history of its development and progress is a story not unknown to him. Many events which are to others matters of record are to him mat- ters of personal experience or knowledge. His memory goes back to the time when much of the land was uncultivated, when Council Bluffs was a small town and when many of the now thriving villages had not yet sprung into existence. He saw, too, the unbroken prairie with few houses upon its surface and as the years have gone by he has witnessed the changes wrought by time and man, making this one of the leading counties of the common- wealth. He located here long before railroads were built through this region and in those early days hauled all of his produce to Council Bluffs, which was the nearest market. Indians often visited this locality on their way to their hunting grounds and Mr. Starts has counted as high as twenty deer in one herd, so numerous was wild game at that time.
JAMES M. KELLEY.
James M. Kelley, cashier of the Macedonia State Bank, is pre-eminently a man of affairs and one who has wielded a wide influence. He has been prominent in molding the public policy of the town and his labors have promoted its educational, political and moral interests. Although the Kelley family traces its ancestry back to the Isle of Man, representatives of the name have been found in America for several generations.
The parents of our subject were Richard Y. and Sarah E. F. (Ballowe) Kelley, the former a native of Tennessee, while the latter was born in Vir- ginia but was reared in Nashville, Tennessee. They were married in that state and on their removal northward settled in Johnson county, Illinois. Event- ually they became residents of Iowa and their remaining days were passed on what became the old homestead farm in Mills county. The father died in 1860 at the age of forty-seven years, while the mother passed away in 1873 at the age of fifty-seven years. They reared a family of eight children, of whom James M. was the youngest, namely: Benjamin E. F., who was a
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
farmer of Mills county, now deceased; John S., who after four years roughing it in the west also followed farming in that county and has now passed away ; William HI., who is a minister in the Church of the Latter Day Saints living at Lamoni. Iowa; Mary J .. the widow of John L. Ryerson, also living at Lamoni; Edmon L., who is a bishop of the Church of the Latter Day Saints at Independence. Missouri: George T., the present county judge of Pierce county. Nebraska ; Parley P., deceased, who was an attorney at Glenwood, lowa: and James M., of this review. Of this family William H. has been engaged in preaching since he was eighteen years of age. Edmon L. studied law but after some years of successful practice gave up that profession for church work and is now presiding bishop of the church. Of the family William II. and Edmon L. were among the first in the re-organization of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and have been prominent in its work.
James M. Kelley was born in Johnson county, Illinois, March 18, 1850, and was five years of age when brought to Mills county, Iowa, by his parents. who settled in Anderson township. Here he was reared and educated and when not busy with his text-books was trained to the work of the home farm. He continued in Mills county until 1880, when he came to Macedonia. In his youth his experiences were those of the farm until his eighteenth year, when he entered the State University. He was for five years a student in that institution. although his course was not consecutive, having spent three years as clerk in a store in Glenwood, Iowa. He was graduated in 1876. He also clerked for one year after his graduation and for one year was deputy county treasurer and county recorder. He studied law in the office of Kelley Brothers, attorneys, and spent a few months in a law office in Michigan. In 1880 he came to Macedonia at the organizing of the Macedonia Bank, of which he has since been the cashier. Two years later this institution was incorpo- rated under the name of the Macedonia State Bank and in its control Mr. Kelley has since been active. its success being largely attributable to his efforts, sound judgment and business sagacity. He has acquired some real estate, and is the owner of the old homestead farm in Mills county of two hundred and forty-five acres.
Mr. Kelley was married in 1884 to Miss Martha Linville, who was born in Mills county. Iowa, in 1862. a daughter of George H. and Sarah Linville and a sister of the present sheriff of Mills county. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley have two sons, James M., Jr., born December 1, 1885, and Forest L .. born Novem- ber 29, 1892. The elder completed a course in liberal arts at the State University in 1906 and is now a student in the law department of the same institution.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Kelley has been an advocate of the principles of the democratic party. He takes great interest in educational affairs and has been treasurer or a member of the school board since coming to Macedonia. He served for four or five years as mayor of Macedonia and has been continuously a member of the council save for one year. Whether in office or out of it he is a loyal citizen, deeply concerned in the interests of the town and giving stalwart support to the measures and movements which affect the general welfare. He is a charter member of Ruby
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
lodge, No. 415, A. F. & A. M .; also belongs to Macedonia lodge, No. 421, I. O. O. F .; is a demitted member of the Elks lodge of Council Bluffs; and is a member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. He was the first secretary and one of the organizers of the Old Settlers' Association of Pottawattamie county, now of Pottawattamie, Mills and Fremont counties, and subsequently he served as its president for two terms. He is one of the best known residents of the county and southwestern Iowa, the extent of his activities, his business integrity and his official service all combining to make him well known, while his salient characteristics are such as have secured to him not only an enviable position in business circles but also the high regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
GEORGE W. KAUKE.
George W. Kauke, who owns and cultivates a farm on section 14, Silver Creek township, was born in Bruce township, LaSalle county, Illinois, August 14, 1857, and is a son of Christian and Ann (Weeks) Kauke, the former born near Hamburg, Germany, and the latter in England. The father came alone to America and enlisted for service in the Mexican war. With other troops he was sent by ship to Mexico and never left the vessel's side, for the war was over when they arrived. Again making his way northward to Chicago, Mr. Kauke afterward located at Ottawa, Illinois, where he took up a soldier's claim, the title thereto being cheerfully accorded him by reason of his service in the war. He then engaged in farming in Illinois until his removal to Iowa, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits until about two years prior to his death, when he removed to Macedonia and lived retired. He passed away at the age of sixty-six years, while his wife, who was born in England, July 28, 1823, died at Macedonia when more than eighty-two years of age, having long survived her husband. Their family numbered five chil- dren: Mary Jane, the wife of J. R. Martin of Mills county; George W .; Anna, the wife of John Clark of Silver Creek township; Celia, the wife of N. Brennaman, of Macedonia township; and Frank, who is living in Cali- fornia.
George W. Kauke was about ten years of age when the family came to the farm upon which he is now living on section 14, Silver Creek township. This property has never since passed out of the name. He continued with his parents until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he started out in business life on his own account and has since been dependent upon his own resources. He worked by the month until 1880 and then embarked in the butchering business at Macedonia, where he continued in the trade for three years as a partner of William Tompkins under the firm name of Tomp- kins & Kauke. On the expiration of that period he removed to Cherry county, Nebraska, where he engaged in ranching and. in the cattle business with his brother-in-law, R. H. Woodmaney. He then returned to the old homestead farm and has since made it his place of residence, purchasing
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the interest of the other heirs in the property after his father's death. The original farm comprised only eighty acres but the father also had another tract of eighty acres a mile to the north. Mr. Kauke of this review owns two hundred acres in one body on section 14. It is all improved and its present . state of development and cultivation is due to the energies and labors of Mr. Kauke and his father. Stock-raising is perhaps the leading feature of his farm, as he gives considerable attention to the raising of cattle, hogs and sheep. He is an excellent judge of farm animals and is thus enabled to make judicious purchases and profitable sales.
On the 17th of May, 1883, Mr. Kauke was married to Miss Ella Robin- son, who was born in Sidney. Ohio, July 18, 1852, a daughter of Henry and Ann (Neal) Robinson, who were natives of Shelby county, Ohio, and spent their entire married life upon a farm near Sidney, that state. Both died when past eighty years of age and there was only four days difference in the time of their demise. They had long traveled life's journey together, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows. its adversity and prosperity, their mutual love and confidence increasing as the years passed. Mr. and Mrs. Kauke have no children of their own but have adopted a daughter, Alma.
His political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party and his fraternal relations are with Ruby lodge, No. 415, A. F. & A. M. Starting out in life on his own account when in his teens, his strong purpose and laudable ambition have been his salient characteristics and the basis of the success which makes him one of the substantial agriculturists of the com- munity.
HENRY F. WILSON.
Thirty-five years have come and gone since Henry F. Wilson arrived in Pottawattamie county. where his business interests have been conducted so successfully that he has won a foremost place among the substantial residents of Macedonia township. He now makes his home in the village of Macedonia, where he is conducting a meat market. He has extensive real-estate holdings in the west and in former years was closely associated with farming interests in this county, owning and operating land and raising stock.
Mr. Wilson was born in Fulton county, Illinois, September 12, 1852, his parents being K. H. and Julia A. (Bartels) Wilson, who in 1854 removed to Cass county, Iowa. There the father engaged in farming and raising stock. He bought land in Macedonia township, Pottawattamie county, in 1871 and the following year brought his family to his new home. Here he resided up to the time of his death, which occurred October 7. 1898, when he was seventy- three years of age. He served as captain of militia while in Mills county and was a prominent and influential resident of that community. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belonged, and they were earnest, Christian people. Mrs. Wilson died October 7, 1900, aged just seventy years. In their family were fourteen children, six
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
daughters and eight sons, of whom thirteen still survive, one brother, J. Albert Wilson, having died July 20, 1888. The others still survive, one brother and one sister in Boulder, Colorado, and the others in this state.
When only two years old H. F. Wilson was brought by his parents to Iows and in the public schools he acquired his education. His early advantages were rather limited but he has been very successful in business. He has made his home in this county since 1872 and here turned his attention to farming, prospering in that work year after year. He has also bought and shipped cattle and hogs for twenty years, but has now largely retired from agricultural and live-stock interests. He is, however, the owner of a meat market in Macedonia, which he is conducting successfully and he has made judicious and extensive investments in land in Dawson, Perkins and Red Willow counties, in Nebraska. During the past few years he has devoted his attention to the real-estate business in the west, having valuable property from which he derives a good income.
Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Saloma Carter, a daughter of the Rev. J. W. Carter, who came to this county in 1871 and was for twenty-five years pastor of the Presbyterian church at Macedonia, his labors proving an influ- ential factor in the moral development of the community. He was greatly beloved and by those of other denominations as well. His daughter, Mrs. Wilson, taught school for several years in this county and was at one time tendered the nomination for the office of county superintendent of schools- such was the public regard for her ability as a teacher .. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have become the parents of three sons, all born in Macedonia: True, aged seventeen ; Hugh, fourteen; and Lewis, ten years of age. All are in school.
Politically Mr. Wilson is a republican and socially is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife are faithful members of the Presbyterian church in Macedonia and they now occupy an attractive home in the village, which was erected by Mr. Wilson, whose energy, enter- prise and determination have long ranked him with the leading residents of this part of the county.
CHARLES E. BOLTON.
The name of Bolton has long figured prominently in connection with the history of Pottawattamie county's agricultural development. Thirty years have come and gone since the family came to this part of the state and throughout the period of his manhood Charles E. Bolton has carefully con- ducted farming and stock-raising interests, owning today one hundred and eighty-eight acres of rich and productive land on section 5, Grove township.
'His birth occurred in Cedar county, Iowa, on the 24th of August, 1861, his parents being George and Anna M. (Pearce) Bolton. The father, who departed this life October 29, 1903, was born in Cedar county, Iowa, on the 9th of September, 1840, and was a son of William and Sarah (Southern) Bolton, who were early pioneers of the state, establishing their home in Cedar
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