USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa; a record of organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 30
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M. L. Tesdall, the third in order of birth in a family of nine children. spent his youthful days in the usual manner of farm lads, working in the fields through the summer months and attending the district schools in the winter seasons. He also continued his education in Capital City Commer- cial College at Des Moines. He became connected with official interests in the court house as deputy county recorder in January. 1903. filling that position until elected county recorder in 1906. He is now serving the third term in that office. On the occasion of each election he received large ma- jorities, which indicate his popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. Ile is prompt, systematic and faithful in the dis- charge of his official duties, and his record has received the commendation and indorsement of the general public. He was elected on the republican
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ticket, having been a lifelong supporter of the party. He has also served in other offices, filling the position of township clerk in Palestine township for four years.
In June, 1907, Mr. Tesdall was married to Miss Mabel R. Sherk, and they are well known in Nevada and throughout this portion of the state. Mrs. Tesdall received a college education in South Dakota and taught school for a number of years. Afterward she became a clerk in a store in Ne- vada, being thus employed for about ten years.
The Tesdall home is a hospitable one, always open for the reception of their many friends. Mr. Tesdall belongs to the Modern Woodman camp and also to thie Lutheran church and is ever loyal to the principles and causes which he espouses.
J. W. LANNING.
J. W. Lanning needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for he has been engaged in the milling business in Ames for thirty years and is one of the best known among the representatives of industrial activity here. In citizenship as well as in business he has made for himself a cred- itable record and the circle of his friends includes almost all with whom he has been brought in contact.
He was born in Jackson county, Indiana, September 10, 1841, a son of Louis and Laney ( Wilson ) Lanning, natives of Kentucky and North Caro- lina, respectively. They were married, however, in Indiana, where they re- sided until 1843, when they came with their family to Iowa, settling in Iowa county. The father devoted his entire life to farming, following that pursuit until his death, which occurred in 1870, when he was sixty-four years of age. The mother long survived him and spent the last fourteen years of her life in Ames with her son J. W. Lanning, passing away in 1894, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. They were both people of the highest respectability and enjoyed the warm regard and good will of all who knew them. Their family numbered twelve children, six sons and six daughters, of whom J. W. Lanning was the sixth in order of birth.
He was not quite three years of age at the time of the removal to Iowa, so that within the borders of this state practically his entire life has been passed. He continued a resident of Iowa county until twenty years of age, after which he spent three years in Tama county and then returned to Iowa county, where he made his home until his removal to Ames, his time and energies being devoted to general mercantile pursuits. Thirty years ago, or in 1880, he came to Ames and throughout the ensuing period has been engaged in the milling business, conducting a flour and feed mill for twelve years, since which time he has confined his attention entirely to the conduct of a feed mill. He owns his mill and home property here
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and is one of the worthy and substantial citizens of Ames, reliable in busi- ness, trustworthy at all times and faithful to the ties, duties and obligations of citizenship.
On the 13th of February, 1862, Mr. Lanning was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Marcellus, who was born in New York, December 21, 1843, and there resided until twelve years of age, when she accompanied her parents, John and Hannah O. ( Richardson) Marcellus, to Iowa county, Iowa. Her father was a native of New York, and her mother of Maine. Following their removal to the middle west they continued residents of lowa county until their life's labors were ended in death, Mrs. Marcellus passing away at the age of thirty-eight years, while the death of Mr. Mar- cellus occurred in April, 1903, when he was more than eighty-seven years of age. In their family were ten children, of whom six reached years of maturity. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Lanning has been blessed with five children: Myrtle, who has been successfully engaged in teaching in the high school of Ames for the past twenty years; Mellie, the wife of Wil- liam Taylor, of Ames; Julia, the wife of Mont Gossard, of Onawa, lowa; John, living in Ames; and Sadie, the wife of C. C. Morrison, of Chicago.
In his political views Mr. Lanning has always been a stalwart repub- lican and for sixteen years has served on the city council. He was also a township trustee in lowa county for a number of years and in the dis- charge of his official duties has ever been found prompt, reliable and ener- getic. As a member of the city council he has exercised his official preroga- tives in support of many public measures contributing to the general wel- fare and upbuilding of this part of the state. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in their teachings and principles are found the rules which govern his life, making him a man whom to know is to esteem and respect.
JOHN QUINCY MOORE.
The passing years are rapidly thinning the ranks of the brave men who responded to their country's call for aid on the battlefields of the south and the few remaining are always conspicuous figures in the communities where they live. Among those in Story county none are better known than John Quincy Moore, who is a son of Lott and Mary E. ( Glenn ) Moore and was born in Clermont county, Ohio, on the 7th of April. 1844. His parents were both natives of the Buckeye state. his father being a descendant of an old Virginia family, while his maternal grandparents came from Ireland. About 1852 the parents moved to Hardin county, Ohio, where the mother died in 1860. Three years later the father and family came to Iowa, locating on section 9, Indian Creek township, this county. From that time until his death in 1885 he made this state his home.
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JOHN Q. MOORE
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John Quincy Moore's life until he had reached manhood was not unlike, save in detail, that of the majority of boys of that period. He attended the sessions of the district school held in the little log schoolhouse, which was in every respect similar to those which served as the educational centers of the various communities of that day. At the usual age hie laid aside his text-books, feeling he had acquired sufficient education to enable him to assume the responsibilities of life, and apprenticed himself to the black- smith's trade, but at the end of his first year he enlisted in Company B, Forty- fifth Ohio Volunteers Infantry. Twelve months' service at the front, together with the long wearisome marches and hardship and privation inci- dent to war undermined his constitution to such an extent that he was dis- charged on account of disability.
Returning home Mr. Moore found his father preparing to go west and the son joined him, feeling that better opportunities were afforded him for the pursuance of his trade in a younger community. After reaching Story county he worked at blacksmithing, and for some years followed that trade, running a shop in Iowa Center. He homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Sioux county, where he lived in 1870 and 1871, but in the latter year they were visited by the grasshopper scourge and Mr. Moore returned to Story county and after a few more years' work at the forge he again engaged in farming. In 1908 he left the farm and again became a resident of Iowa Center, engaging in the mercantile business.
In 1865 he was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Webb, of Iowa Center, and two sons were born of this union : George M., now a farmer of Indian Creek township; and Ward H., who lives in Iowa Center. Mrs. Moore passed away in 1894.
Mr. Moore keeps in touch with his army comrades through membership in the James Ewing Post, G. A. R. He is one of the well known men of his district, having made this his home the greater part of the time for the past forty-five years. He owns two farms of .eighty acres each and is accounted among the well-to-do citizens of the community.
DAVID K. BUNCE.
David K. Bunce, now living retired in Gilbert, was formerly closely identified with agricultural interests in western Iowa. Persistent effort and well directed energy, however, brought him increasing success year by year, and at length with a comfortable competence as the reward of his labors he retired and now has leisure for the enjoyment of those things which are of most interest to him.
He is a native son of the neighboring state of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Carroll county, on the 27th of April, 1845. His parents were James A. and Esther (Lewis) Bunce, natives of New York and Michigan, Vol. II-17
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respectively. They were married in the latter state and their last days were spent in Whiteside county, Illinois, where the father died March 28, 1860, at the age of sixty-four years, while the mother's death occurred October 31, 1876, when she had reached the age of seventy years and five months. James A. Bunce was a blacksmith and followed that trade until sixty years of age but owned a farm at the time of his death. The family numbered thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters, of whom eleven reached years of maturity, while two died in infancy. Only four of the number, however, are now living. One son, L. D. Bunce, served in the Mexican war, while C. D., D. W. and D. K. Bunce were soldiers of the Civil war. Another brother, Dr. D. J. Bunce, was a practitioner of veterinary surgery and a holiness preacher. The eldest brother, Deloss Bunce, was a prac- ticing physician ; and a second brother, Delaney Bunce, devoted his life to merchandising and died in Minnesota. C. D. Bunce was a blacksmith by trade and died at Ottumwa, Iowa. While in the Civil war he was captured at Crab Orchard, Tennessee, and taken to Andersonville, where he re- mained for fourteen months. D. W. Bunce is now a resident of St. An- thony, Idaho.
When a young lad, David K. Bunce accompanied his parents on their removal from Carroll county to Whiteside county, Illinois, and was there living when, at the age of seventeen years, he enlisted on the 18th of Sep- tember, 1862, as a member of Company HI. Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Hle served until wounded on the 8th of October of that year at the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, a bullet piercing his left forearm. Hle was then discharged and sent home on the 19th of January, 1863. After remaining at home for fourteen months he reenlisted for one hundred days' service with the One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois Infantry, remaining with that command until the close of the war. During his second term of enlistment he participated in the engagement with various troops at Mem- phis, Tennessee. He sustained his wound only eight days after the regi- ment had been given its arms. When the war was over he returned home and engaged in farming in Illinois until his removal to Boone county, lowa. on the 17th of November, 1867. He remained a resident of that county for five years and has since lived in Story county, where he continuously followed farming until 1902, when he retired from business life and took up his abode in Gilbert. He sold his property in this county but is still interested in South Dakota lands, on which he has put his four sons, each having charge of a quarter section.
It was on the 15th of November, 1867, in Morrison, Illinois, that Mr. Bunce was married to Miss Elizabeth Linerode, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1848, and with her parents, I. D. and N. J. Linerode, went to Illinois in her girlhood days. The children of this marriage are as fol- lows: W. A., who married Hattie Seaner and is living in South Dakota : Effie, the wife of Peter Marsden, of Boone county ; Frank H., who wedded Lydia Jones, of Boone county and resides in South Dakota; Bertha I., the
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wife of Oliver Bonneau, of South Dakota; Grace, the wife of Joseph Watts, of Osceola county, Iowa; C. M., who married Sadie Gondy, and is living in South Dakota; and Arthur, who married Gretta Iless and makes his home in South Dakota. All of the children were born in the same house in Lafayette township, Story county, and there has never been a death in the family although the youngest son is twenty-four years of age.
Mr. Bunce has been a lifelong republican, supporting the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has ever been loyal to the best interests of the community and is as faithful to the interests of his country today as when he followed the stars and stripes upon southern battlefields. Friends and neighbors have found him a reliable, trustworthy and progressive man and citizen, and all speak of him in terms of high regard and good will.
J. D. SIMS.
For almost three decades J. D. Sims has lived in Story county, arriving within its borders in March, 1882. He is today the owner of extensive and valuable landed interests and is numbered among the leading and progres- sive farmers of Franklin township, his home being on section 36. He was born in McArthur, Vinton county, Ohio, March 11, 1864, a son of Simon and Ann H. (Cramblit) Sims, who were also natives of the Buckeye state. The father was for one hundred days a soldier of the Civil war with Com- pany E, of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment, and died when his son J. D. Sims was but thirteen years of age. The mother long sur- vived him and passed away in Story county in 1902, at the age of seventy- eight years. Their family numbered seven children : A. B., living in Ralph, Iowa; Matilda A., the wife of H. Dunkle, of Franklin township; Sophia L., who became the wife of W. A. Miller and died in June, 1910; M. F., of Washington township; Lavina E., who died in Ohio at the age of eighteen years ; J. D .; and Mary E., the wife of Charles Cunningham, of Winterset, Iowa.
J. D. Sims spent the first eighteen years of his life in his native state, working on the farm and attending school. In March, 1882, he left Ohio and came direct to Story county, Iowa, with his mother, brothers and sis- ters. They took up their abode in Franklin township, where he has since resided with the exception of one year spent in Boone county. He has always followed farming and is now the owner of thirty-eight and a half acres of land on section 36, Franklin township, where he makes his home. He has also purchased two hundred acres in Warren township, a mile east of McCallsburg, and will take possession of this in the spring of 1911, after which he expects to sell the smaller farm. He has been engaged ex- tensively and successfully in stock-raising and is the owner of two Perch-
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eron stallions : Gaylord, an imported animal; and Keote, which was raised in Iowa. His live stock interests are an important branch of his business, adding much to his success.
On the 22d of February, 1891, Mr. Sims was married to Miss Ida M. Pohl, who was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1872, and came to lowa with her parents when about two years of age. She died September 20. 1906. There were seven children by that marriage: George W .: Elva .1 .; John H .; Raymond M., who died at the age of nine months; Ethel E .; Willis W .; and Edith M. On the 9th of April, 1907, Mr. Sims was again married. his second union being with Mrs. Lura Donahue, a widow who by her former marriage had one child, Hugh M. Donahue. Mrs. Sims is a native of Minnesota. By her second marriage she had two children, twins, but one died in infancy. The other is Ida M. Sims. Mr. Sims' four oldest children are in school in Ames, and the younger members of the household are attending the district schools.
A member of the Christian church, Mr. Sims endeavors to closely fol- low its teachings and in all of life's relations to display the characteristics of true and upright manhood and citizenship. He has worked earnestly and persistently in his effort to attain success and as the years have passed by has prospered in his undertakings so that he is now the owner of a good farm property in Story county.
ELI B. CRAMBLIT, D. V. S.
Dr. Eli B. Cramblit, who was formerly successfully engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery, and is now breeding fine chickens, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, December 18, 1840, a son of Daniel and Eliza- beth ( Lukins) Cramblit, natives of Baltimore, Maryland. They were mar- ried, however, in Deersville, Ohio, and resided in that state until 1882. when they came to Ames, where their remaining days were passed, the father departing this life at the age of eighty-seven years, and the mother when seventy-four years of age. Throughout the years of his connection with business, Daniel Cramblit followed farming and milling. He served as a captain in the Ohio Militia at an early day and participated in one or two skirmishes with the Indians. Later, at the time of the Civil war, he aided in the capture of General Morgan, being one of the "squirrel hunt- ers" of Ohio. The family numbered five sons and four daughters: Julia Ann, who is the widow of James Alban and is living in Hocking county, Ohio, at the age of eighty years ; Thomas, who died in Boone, Iowa; John. who went to California in 1861 and now resides in Oregon ; Mary Jane, the wife of Jacob Nicholson, a resident of Hartford, Ohio; Eli B. ; Naomi, the wife of W. F. Noggle, of Chillicothe, Ohio; Nancy Ann, the wife of
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W. A. Perkins, of Ames: Elizabeth, who is the widow of William Cam- eron and makes her home in Ames; and W. A., also of this city.
Dr. Cramblit remained on the home farm in Guernsey county, Ohio, with his parents until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when, on the 14th of November, 1861, he enlisted as a member of Company A, Seventy- eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Leggett. The regiment was assigned to duty with the Army of the Tennessee, and after serving for three years he enlisted for three years more, or for the remainder of the war. This was at Vicksburg. He took part in all of the engagements of his regiment, including thirty-three battles and many skirmishes and he was engaged in scouting for six months after the guerilla band. He was made captain of twenty select men, who, splendidly mounted, would cross the dead line at dark and hunt our guerillas and desperadoes who were causing such trouble among the northern troops by their disregard of all the rules of war. In this connection Dr. Cramblit served on independent detailed service. He was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, and hon- orably discharged July 18. 1865, at Columbus, Ohio.
When the war was over. Dr. Cramblit returned to his father's home in Ross county, to which place his parents had removed during the period of the war. There he resided for some time and engaged in buying stock, which he shipped to the east until 1867. He then came to Ames, bringing stock with him, purchasing four horses in Ohio at a cost of eleven hun- dred and fifty-four dollars. He also had two hundred and forty of as fine blooded sheep as could be found in the United States, these winning first prize at the National Stock Show at Circleville, Ohio. The last work Dr. Cramblit did in Ohio was to drive sheep from Ross county to New Jersey, riding a horse all the way, and later he shipped the horse and saddle to Ames, where he has resided continuously since 1867. Here he began farming and in the spring of 1868 took up the practice of veterinary sur- gery, which he followed until about four years ago, in the meantime pur- suing a three years' course in the veterinary department of the Iowa State College. Prior to that time he had pursued a correspondence course of lectures on veterinary surgery and had traveled with an old doctor for five years, treating chronic diseases of men and animals in various states. His practice covered a radius of fifty miles in early days, and few men are more widely or more favorably known in this part of the state than Dr. Cramblit. Largely retired from the practice of veterinary surgery, he is engaged in the breeding of chickens, making a specialty of fine Rhode Island Reds since 1906. He has also been engaged in the manufacture of medicines for thirty-five years and was the originator of King of Pain, which, together with his other medicinal products, have been sent all over the United States.
In March, 1868. Dr. Cramblit was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Nichols, who was born in New York in 1844, and with two brothers came to Ames, where she was married. Her parents had died during her
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early girlhood. Unto this marriage were born two daughters and a son : Rose Elizabeth, now the wife of W. G. Stockwell, of Davenport, lowa; Florence Belle, the wife of Dr. W. B. Lincoln, of Nashville, Tennessee ; and Albert D., who is a musician, giving his whole time to band and or- chestra work. The sisters are also possessed of superior musical talent.
Dr. Cramblit has resided at his present home at No. 915 Kellogg avenue for the past twenty-three years. Hle is a charter member of Ellsworth Post, No. 30, G. A. R., and he relates many interesting incidents of his army experience. He participated in the grand review at Washington. D. C., in 1865, when over broad Pennsylvania avenue there was suspended a banner bearing the words, "The only debt which the country owes that she cannot pay is the debt which she owes to hier soldiers." He was among the number who volunteered to run the blockade at Vicksburg and helped fortify the fleet which made the run. The last bullet that was fired at Sherman's army was aimed at Dr. Cramblit, who was on the skirmish line just before darkness set in and after the Confederate troops had surren- (lered. lle was at that time caring for a wounded comrade by an oak stump and the next day twelve bullets were found in that stump that had been fired at him. Dr. Cramblit, however, carried his comrade, Milton M. Turner, to Cambridge, Ohio, a distance of two miles, for the latter had Jost much blood from having an arm shot away. In his fighting against the guerillas the Doctor had many narrow escapes, for the service was found a most difficult and dangerous one. He never faltered, however, in the performance of his duty and the same spirit of loyalty in citizenship has characterized his entire life, making him an honored resident of Story county.
C. A. BATMAN.
On the roster of county officials in Story county appears the name of C. A. Batman, county auditor of Story county. With the exception of a period of four years spent upon a farin near Nevada, he has been a life- long resident of this city, his birth having here occurred on the 15th of August, 1875. His parents were J. E. and Avanda ( Purkheiser) Batman, The father was born in Kentucky. December 13. 1832, and the mother was a native of Indiana. They came to Iowa following their marriage and both died in Nevada, the mother passing away on the 10th of August. 1897. while the father survived until December 25, 1909. In their family were four children: A. A., of this city; Anna C., who is a school teacher in California; F. A., a farmer of Washington township: and C. A., of this review.
The youthful days of C. A. Batman were devoted to the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and such tasks as were as-
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signed to him by parental authority. He passed through consecutive grades in the public schools until graduated from the high school of Nevada in March, 1895. He also pursued a commercial course in Capital City Busi- ness College at Des Moines. During his school days he learned the painter's trade, which he followed at intervals until 1903. He also spent four years in farming on his own account near Nevada and then entered the county auditor's office as deputy. In the fall of 1910 he was elected by the re- publican party for the position of county auditor. He has proven capable and methodical in the discharge of his duties and is ever loyal to the trust reposed in him.
On the 21st of November, 1900, Mr. Batman was united in marriage to Miss Alta Morse, who was born in Wisconsin, August 28, 1877, and came to Story county with her parents, C. M. and Lena Morse, who are now living in Nevada. Mrs. Batman died March 5, 1909, leaving a little daughter, Deborah Mary.
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