USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 25
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II. F. Morton, who was the third in order of birth, resided upon the home farm until at the age of nineteen years he offered his services to the govern- ment in defense of the Union, enlisting at Fairview, Guernsey county, Ohio, as a member of Company C. One Hundred and Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served under Captain James A. Coleman for one hundred days and was then honorably discharged on the 3d of September, 1864. He after- ward devoted the summer months to farming and in the winter seasons engaged in teaching in the country schools. He also spent one year as a teacher in the graded schools of Quaker City. Ohio. He further promoted his own edu-
H. F. MORTON
E NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ABTOR, LENCX AND T LOEN FO NATIJ 2.
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cation immediately after the war by attending college at New Sharon, Noble county, Ohio, of which his brother, the Rev. W. H. Morton, was then prin- cipal. During one term of teaching H. F. Morton conducted his school in one of the old time log schoolhouses. He taught altogether for about ten winter terms and in the summer months worked at farm labor. His leisure hours during the last three years of that decade were devoted to the study of law with the intention of devoting the remainder of his life to its practice and in Sep- tember, 1877, he was admitted to the bar at Cambridge, Ohio.
In September, 1878, Mr. Morton came to Montezuma, where he has since practiced his profession. His time has not been given solely, however, to pri- vate practice, for he has been again and again called to public office and has done excellent service for his fellow townsmen in this connection. He served as mayor of the city for one term and was clerk of the district court for six years. Previously he had filled the office of justice of the peace and on his retirement from the position of district court clerk he again became judge of the justice court, over which he has presided continuously since 1880 with the exception of six years. He has been secretary of the school board for ten or twelve years and is still the incumbent in that office. He is a director and the vice presi- dent of the Montezuma Savings Bank and is the owner of valuable property holdings. The town of Guernsey was located on a quarter section of land that he owned but he has sold off all of this with the exception of thirty acres for town lots. He also has a number of properties in Montezuma and his life on the whole has been a most successful one.
In 1882 occurred the marriage of Mr. Morton and Miss Laura J. Mullikin, who was born in Indiana and came to Poweshiek county with her parents, James and Mary Mullikin. Mr. and Mrs. Morton have two children: Gertrude, who is pursuing the library course in the Illinois : State University at Champaign ; and Winifred, who is a student in the State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls, Iowa. The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Morton is now serving as a trustee. He also belongs to the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic and has ever given his political support to the republican party, thus following in the footsteps of his father, who was one of the early advocates of the party. Mr. Morton is regarded as a dependable man in any relation and in any emergency, and strong character and honorable purpose have placed him in a most creditable position in the regard of his fellow citizens.
S. A. CRAVATH, M. D.
Dr. S. A. Cravath, one of the prominent and respected residents of Grin- nell, is serving as the president of the Merchants National Bank. His birth occurred in Conneaut, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of September, 1836, his par- ents being James and Emily (Davis) Cravath, both of whom were natives of New York. He lost his father when but a few months old and when eight years of age was left an orphan by the death of his mother. Entering the Vol. II-13
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home of an uncle and aunt, he lived with them until 1851 and in that year entered Oberlin College at Oberlin, Ohio, which institution conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1858. During his collegiate years he also followed the profession of teaching, acting a part of the time as an in- structor at college in order to defray the expenses of his course. Following his graduation he continued educational work for five years, teaching in Mad- ison Seminary at Madison, Ohio, for three years, while for two years he acted as superintendent of the Marion (Ohio) city schools.
At the time of the outbreak of the Civil war Dr. Cravath could not enlist because of a broken shoulder. Being told that he could be used if he had a medical degree, he immediately took up the study of medicine and was gradu- ated from the Cincinnati Medical College with the class of 1865. When hos- tilities had ceased he located for practice in Springfield, Ohio, where he re- mained for three years.
In the fall of 1867 he came to Iowa, locating in Mitchell, Mitchell county, where he successfully followed his profession until 1872. During his residence there he became identified with journalistic interests and, after insistent urging on the part of the town's leading men, took charge of and edited the local paper for two years. He found the work congenial and in 1872 came to Grinnell and purchased the Grinnell Herald, publishing that sheet until he disposed of it in 1894. While still a factor in journalism he became one of the organizers of the Grinnell Savings Bank, of which institution he was later made president and director. On the organization of the Merchants National Bank he became a stockholder thereof. In 1897 or 1898 he resigned the presidency of the Grinnell Savings Bank and soon thereafter was chosen the chief executive offi- cer of the Merchants National Bank. However, he still retains an interest in the savings bank and is yet a director of the institution. A wide-awake, ener- getic business man, he has done much to promote the interests of the institu- tions with which he is connected and has become thoroughly conversant with every department of banking. He keeps well posted on the financial interests of the country and in his management of affairs has followed a safe, conservative policy which has won the commendation and gained the confidence of the general public.
On the 11th of July, 1860, in the church of the Rev. Albert Barnes at Phil- adelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Cravath was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Raley, of Hanoverton, Ohio, by whom he had three children. The only sur- viving child is James R. Cravath, now an electrical engineer of Chicago, Illi- nois, who for several years has been an editorial writer for the Electrical World. Mrs. Cravath also reared one of her nieces, Ella B., who is still in the Doctor's home. All three were devoted members of the Congregational church. After a happy married life of over fifty years the wife died on the 25th of February, 1911.
Dr. Cravath has made his home in Grinnell for almost four decades and is widely recognized as one of the city's most esteemed and leading residents. He has now passed the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey and can look back upon an active, useful and honorable career. He was a trustee of the col- lege for several years and a member of the public school board about half the
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time of his residence in Grinnell. He also served as postmaster under Presi- dent Harrison and has been president of the Building, Loan & Savings Association.
ROBERT A. SAUNDERS.
Robert A. Saunders, who is one of the successful agriculturists of Union township, was born near the farm where he now resides on the 17th of April, 1857, and is a son of Aaron A. and Harriet E. (Dudley) Saunders. The parents were natives of Greene county, Ohio, the father's natal day being the 13th of May. 1820, and that of the mother the 16th of April, 1830. After the com- pletion of his education the father engaged in farming, and he also learned the carpenter's trade. In 1851 he migrated west, locating in Union township, Poweshiek county, where he acquired eighty acres of land, which he imme- diately began to cultivate. As time passed he was able to extend the boundaries of his farm, which embraced two hundred and thirty-one acres at the time of his demise. He passed away on the 19th of November, 1880, but the mother survived him until the 4th of February, 1899. Their family numbered nine children : Mary S., the wife of P. A. Hayes, of Montezuma, Iowa ; Irvin S., of Searsboro: Nancy S., who became the wife of Jasper N. Marsh, of Montezuma ; James M., who is a resident of Searsboro; Robert A., our subject ; Isaac H., also of Poweshiek county ; Richard A., who is living in Lorimor, Iowa ; Harry S., of Searsboro; and Ernest F., of Union township. The parents affiliated with the Christian church. The father was a republican and served his town- ship in both the capacity of trustee and assessor for several years.
At the usual age Robert A. Saunders began his education in the district schools, which he continued to attend until he had mastered the common branches. Being reared on a farin his early energies were iargely directed along the discharge of the easier and lighter chores of the homestead, until he had laid aside his studies, following which his entire time was devoted to agricul- tural pursuits, with the exception of one year, when he taught one term of school in his township. He remained at home muitil his father's death and then he and his brother Isaac H., bought the interest of the other heirs in the farm, which they have ever since operated. The land is very fertile and pro- ductive, but nevertheless is always given the supervision which yields abundant harvests. In connection with the tilling of their fields Mr. Saunders and his brother devote considerable attention to the breeding and raising of stock.
On the 5th of October, 1881, Mr. Saunders was married to Miss Ida E. Draper, a daughter of William T., and Mary A. (Thrailkill) Draper, who was born in Elmwood, Illinois, on the Ioth of December, 1860. Mr. Draper, who was a saddle and harness-maker, came to Montezuma, where he followed his trade until 1880, when he went to Denver, Colorado. After remaining there for a short time he removed to Sherman county, Nebraska, going from there to Loup City, where he passed away. He was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he also affiliated
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with the G. A. R. He was a veteran of both the Mexican and Civil wars. His political support he always gave to the democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Saunders have one daughter, Mrs. Amy A. Cox, who was born August 21, 1882, and with her two children is now living with her parents. Her children are Bertha G., born January 13. 1904; and Alice C., born January 26, 1906.
Mr. Saunders' political views coincide with those of the progressive faction of the republican party, and he served for a long period as township com- mitteeman. For ten years he was assessor. Both he and his wife attend the Christian church, of which Mrs. Saunders is a member. He is one of the well known and highly regarded representatives of the pioneer families, being rec- nized as an able business man and estimable citizen.
MISS ETHEL M. MALCOLM.
Popular prejudice is fast breaking down and popular opinion is daily be- coming stronger in regard to the capability of women for public office. That Poweshiek county has taken a progressive stand on this question is indicated in the fact that Miss Ethel M. Malcolm is now filling the position of county recorder to which she was elected in 1908 and reelected in 1910. That she is well equipped for the duties of the position none question, and at the same time she has the attractive womanly qualities which make her socially a favor- ite. She was born in Deep River township, this county, November 10. 1876, her parents being Albertis and Lydia A. (Rose) Malcolm, who are now res- idents of Montezuma.
Her father was born near Cambridge, Henry county, Illinois, February 8. 1845, a son of Norman and Cynthia (Cady) Malcolm, the former of whom was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1818, and the latter in Allegany county, New York, July 19th of the same year. They were married in Michigan, and in 1840 became residents of Henry county, Illinois, where they lived for many years. The death of Mrs. Cynthia Malcolm there occurred on the 13th of May, 1862, while Norman Malcolm passed away at Ames, Iowa, when about eighty years of age. He had devoted his entire life to farming. After losing his first wife he was married twice, and by his second union had two children. By his third mar- riage there was one child.
Albertis Malcolm was fourth of the nine children born of his father's first marriage, the others being: Mrs. Elma Waterman, now deceased: Stephen, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, who served in the Forty-second Illinois Infantry in the Civil war : Charles, of Cambridge, Illinois, who was horn February 26. 1843, and was a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Illinois Regiment in the Civil war ; Harriet, the widow of Allen Stackhouse, of Plains, Montana ; Brainard, deceased: Italy, who is the widow of Nathan Moore, of Tacoma, Washington : Gene, living on the old homestead at Cambridge, Illinois; and Frank, of Montezuma.
Albertis Malcolm resided on the farm with his parents until he enlisted from Henry county on the 18th of February. 1864, as a member of Company D,
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One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, being mustered out July 13, 1865. He took part in the engagements at Town Creek and Fort Anderson, North Carolina, and Franklin, Duck River and Nashville, Tennessee, and many others. After the war he returned to Henry county, Illinois, and resumed farming with his par- ents. In 1866 he was married and in 1868 removed to Missouri. After two years he came to Poweshiek county, settling on a farm in Deep River township which he continued to cultivate until 1887, when he went to Colorado and there spent several months, after which he returned to this county, but later was for two years a resident of Des Moines. For twenty-one years, however, he has resided continuously in Montezuma. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. His fraternal relations are with the Grand Army of the Re- public and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his religious faith is evidenced in his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1866 Albertis Malcolm was married to Lydia Ann Rose, who was born in Sullivan county, New York, September 11, 1842. When thirteen years of age she accompanied her parents to Jasper county, Iowa, later to Henry county, Illinois, and just before her marriage spent two years in New York. She is a daugher of John and Elizabeth P. (Mott) Rose, both natives of Sullivan county, New York. Mrs. Rose, who was born July 1, 1818, died January 28, 1883. Mr. Rose, who was born March 31, 1811, is now living in Montezuma at the remarkable old age of one hundred years, making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm since the death of his wife. So far as is known he is the oldest man residing in Poweshiek county. His physical and mental condition are good. Occasionally he walks down town alone. His eyesight is good and he has remarkable hearing for one of his years. In the fall of 1870 he came to this county from Illinois and was actively engaged in farming until seventy years of age, after which he devoted a number of years to gardening. In his young manhood he was an expert raftsman in the lumber regions of New York and throughout his life has been a hard working man. His family numbered seven children: Henry M., of Montana; Melissa M., the wife of G. C. Banning, of Carbondale, Colorado; Mrs. Lydia A. Malcolm; Mrs. Martha Augusta Wallace, of Bancroft, Idaho; William Blake, who died at the age of three years: Herbert Edgar, living at Malcolm, this county; and Mrs. Elvira Theresa O'Brian, of Cedar Rapids.
Mrs. Albertis Malcolm is the first cousin of John R. Mott, the distinguished lecturer, who has been heard from the lecture platform all over the world. He is a Christian worker, particularly prominent in the Young Men's Christian Association, and was chairman of the World Missionary Conference "In Com- mittee" and chairman of the continuation committee appointed at Edinburgh.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Albertis Malcolm have been born four children: James Edgar, who was born August 5, 1870, and died March 21, 1900: Albertis Roy, who was born July 8, 1874, and died November 3, 1877: Ethel May, of whom mention is made below ; and Elsie Lillian, who was born March 7, 1879, and is now the wife of T. C. Davis, of Montezuma. She is acting as deputy county recorder under her sister.
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Miss Malcolm whose name introduces this review resided at the place of her birth until about ten years of age when her parents removed to Colorado, there spending about a year. She afterward lived with the family at Des Moines for a few years and then came to Montezuma. During this period she had attended school in the different places and was graduated from the high school in the different places and was graduated from the high school of Montezuma with the class of 1896. She afterward devoted two years to teach- ing in the country schools and later pursued a course of study in a business college. For a time she was employed in the law office of Judge Lewis, and later worked for E. J. Lewis in the abstract office and also for the Poweshiek County Abstract Company. By H. R. Bernard, then county recorder, she was appointed to the position of deputy recorder on the Ist of January, 1907, and filled that position for two years. In the latter part of 1908 she was elected county recorder and was reelected in 1910, entering upon her second term on the Ist of January, 1911. She has proven most capable and efficient in the office as is indicated in the fact that she was again chosen for the position by popular suffrage. Her work is promptly, faithfully and systematically done and her course has won her the high commendation and warm regard of the business men and the general public. She is also well known in the social circles of the city and is a valued member of the Rebekah Lodge, the Woman's Auxiliary of the Odd Fellows Society, and is an active member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and a representative of its choir.
ERNEST F. SAUNDERS.
Ernest F. Saunders, who is meeting with success in stock-raising and gen- eral farming in Union township, was born in this township on the 14th of May, 1873, being a son of Aaron A. and Harriet E. ( Dudley ) Saunders.
Born and reared on a farm Ernest F. Saunders acquired his preliminary education in the district schools of Poweshiek county, this later being supple- mented by a year's attendance at Palmer College at Le Grand, Iowa. After completing his education he taught for a year. He then decided that he pre- ferred to adopt agriculture for his life vocation. He subsequently purchased fifty acres of land. later adding to this another tract of sixty-one acres, making the aggregate of his landed possessions one hundred and eleven acres. Mr. Saunders devotes the cultivation of his fields to those cereals he deems best adapted for the feeding of his stock, as he is making a specialty of the breed- ing and raising of thoroughbred Poland China hogs and cattle.
Mr. Saunders was united in marriage to Miss Lillie M. Allen, a daughter of William L. Allen, and unto them have been born three daughters: Erma N., who was born on the 3d of January, 1898; Letha E., whose birth occurred on the 17th of July, 1899; and Effie T., who was born on the 18th of May, 1908.
Mr. and Mrs. Saunders are earnest and helpful members of the Christian church, of which he is one of the trustees, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias lodge of Montezuma. His political views coincide
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with those of the progressive faction of the republican party, and he always finds time to assist in the government of his township. He is now serving as clerk and he is also president of the school board. Mr. Saunders takes a great interest in all educational matters and, in addition to his other duties, is a member of the board of trustees of Palmer College. He is well known in Union township, where he has spent practically his entire life, and meets to the best of his ability the requirements of good citizenship by espousing the adoption of every movement which he feels will in any way tend to advance the moral or intellectual welfare of the community.
THOMAS A. HARRIS.
An excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located in Chester town- ship, pays a splendid tribute to the well directed efforts of Thomas A. Harris, one of the progressive and prosperous agriculturists of this part of Poweshiek county. He is one of Jowa's foreign born citizens, his birth occurring in Stan- ton, St. Gabriels, Dorsetshire, England, on the 18th of February, 1868, his parents being James and Elizabeth ( Slade) Harris. The former, also a native of the "Merrie Isle," was born on the 28th of November, 1838, and like his father, James Harris, devoted his life to the occupation of farming. On the maternal side, however, the family was largely connected with the army and navy of England, and the ancestry can be traced back through seven genera- tions. The old homestead of the Slades, located in Stanton, St. Gabriels, has been handed down from one generation to another for more than one hundred years. A brother of Mrs. Harris was a veteran of the Crimean war, and her cousin, Sir John Slade, was a general in the English army. Another repre- sentative of the name, Sir Fred Slade, a barrister, would have been appointed judge if he had lived another month. Sir Adolphus Slade was sent by the Eng- lish government as ambassador to Turkey, and while serving in that country was given the title of Muchia Pasha. James Harris passed away in 1872, and his wife continued to reside in England until 1890, when she came to this country with her son, with whom she has continued to make her home.
Thomas A. Harris is indebted to the public school system of his native country for the educational advantages which he enjoyed. He spent the period of his boyhood and youth on his father's farm, early becoming familiar with the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting. For eight years he was employed as a farm hand and then, determining to seek the opportunities of the new world, he crossed the Atlantic to America in 1890, and came to Pow- eshiek county, Iowa. During the first four years of his residence in this country he was employed at farm work by the month, and then, desiring that his efforts should more directly benefit himself, he rented a farm in connection with his brother, Edgar J. Harris, which they operated jointly for eleven years.
In 1905 he invested in his present farm, a fine tract of one hundred and sixty acres, all in one body, located on section 11, Chester township. He is also the owner of another tract of eighty acres south of the home place, and
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is extensively engaged in general farming, cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate. He also gives considerable attention to his livestock in- terests, making a specialty of feeding cattle and hogs. Prosperity has come to him in his undertaking for he has so managed his affairs as to bring forth the best results possible. He has watched every detail of his business, has employed progressive and modern methods in the conduct of his enterprises, and has manifested those qualities which are resultant forces in the attainment of success along any line of activity-industry, energy, perseverance and in- tegrity. He also has other interests aside from his agricultural business, hav- ing been one of the organizers of the Senora Telephone Company, of which in- stitution he is now serving as secretary and treasurer.
In January, 1896, Mr. Harris was united in marriage to Miss Katharine M. Schmidt, a daughter of William Schmidt, a native of Germany. Mr. Schmidt, who followed the occupation of farming during his active career, is now living retired, making his home in Tama. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Harris are five children : Frank A., Esther R., Raymond William, Lilly M. and Harvey Thomas.
Mr. Harris is a member of the Episcopal church of England, of which he is a loyal supporter and of which he has served as trustee for many years. He gives stalwart allegiance to the republican party but has never sought public office, the only public capacity in which he has served being that of school director. He is numbered among Chester township's valued and honored cit- izens, for he has not only been progressive and successful in business, but has also been a factor in the public life of the community, supporting many public movements and taking a commendable interest in all those things which have to do with the betterment of the district along material, political, intellectual and moral lines.
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