USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 31
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ELISHA McCORMICK.
Elisha McCormick who for years was one of the active and prosperous far- mers and stock raisers of Taylor county, and still owns a farm in Ross township although he is now living retired in Bedford, is numbered among the early set- tlers of this part of the state. He has been in Iowa since 1875 and the work that he has accomplished here not only rates him with the substantial men of the community but also as one whose efforts have been a valuable factor in pro- moting the material growth and progress of the community. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Greene county January 24, 1837, a son of Jacob McCormick, who was also born and reared in Greene county and was there
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married to Miss Eliza Wilson, likewise a native of that county. They removed to Ohio in 1846, settling in Ashland county where they spent two years and then removed to Richland county in the same state, taking up their abode in that part of the county which was later set off as Morrow county. There Jacob McCormick engaged in general farming for a number of years but subsequently removed to Warren county, Illinois, settling six miles west of Monmouth, where he spent his last years.
Elisha McCormick arrived in Illinois in 1850 when a lad of thirteen years and was there reared on the home farm. He is almost wholly self-educated but in the school of experience has learned many valuable lessons of life. While still living in Warren county, Illinois, he was married, on the 13th of March, 1861, to Miss Susan Cummings who was born in Fulton county, Illinois, and spent her girlhood days in Fulton and Warren counties. The young couple began their domestic life in Warren county where Mr. McCormick improved a farm and carried on general agricultural pursuits for thirteen years. He then disposed of his property there in 1875 and removed to Taylor county, Iowa, where he pur- chased land, becoming owner of one hundred and sixty acres in Ross township. It was wild and unimproved when it came into his possession but he soon turned the sod, planted the fields and in course of time gathered rich harvests. He has erected a two-story residence upon the place and being a natural mechanic he planned and built his own house, doing even all the brick work. He first came to the county in 1874 and prepared the home for the family, his permanent re- moval, however, being in March, 1875. With characteristic energy he began the development and improvement of the place. His indefatigable energy and per- severance soon brought the farm under a high state of cultivation and for many years he gathered rich crops while the fields are still yielding abundant harvests in reward for the care and labor bestowed upon them. From time to time he made substantial improvements, including the building of an addition to the house. He has also put up two barns and good outbuildings, furnishing ample shelter for grain and stock. He likewise planted a grove and orchard. Upon that farm he resided until 1894 when he sold the property and bought a farm in Jackson township constituting an improved property of five hundred and sixty- eight acres. He removed to that place-a neat and well improved stock farm, and in connection with the tilling of the soil he raised and fed stock and also bred and raised horses. He owned one Shire stallion which he purchased at a cost of two thousand, one hundred dollars. He continued his farming and stock-raising interests until 1907, when he went to Bedford where he purchased a good home, which he has since added to and remodeled. He also has erected a good barn upon his place and is now pleasantly situated, his business activities in former years enabling him to enjoy all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. McCormick have been born five sons and five daughters : Walter, who is married and follows farming in the Panhandle of Texas, where he owns three hundred and forty-nine acres; Edgar P. and Edwin C., twins, who are married and own and operate a part of the Jackson township farm : Fred, who is married and engaged in the cultivation of a farm in Ross township ; Addie, the wife of R. J. Montgomery, a farmer of Nodaway county, Missouri ; Mary E., the wife of F. P. Beard, a retired farmer residing in Bedford; Villa,
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the wife of C. E. Jones, a resident farmer of Ross township ; and Rubie, the wife of A. C. Trumbo, a farmer of Jackson township. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick have lost two children, their first-born, a daughter, Fannie, died in 1885, while Elmer died in 1888 in his sixteenth year.
Politically Mr. McCormick has been a life-long democrat since casting his first presidential ballot for Stephen A. Douglas, whom he heard speak on many occasions, also hearing him in the joint discussion and debate with Lincoln. While he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking he has served for twelve years as township trustee and has been a member of the school board in Ross township for some years. He is always interested in everything pertain- ing to the welfare of the community and cooperates in many movements for the general good. He has led an active life, has helped to improve two farms in Taylor county, and is widely and favorably known.
T. M. BEGGS.
T. M. Beggs, who owns and operates the Evergreen Stock Farm, a valuable property of two hundred acres located in Grant township, is meeting with credit- able success in his business and is numbered among the representative and substantial farmers of that part of the township in which he resides. One of Iowa's native sons, he was born in Davis county on the 10th of January, 1857, his parents being William and Margaret (Fry) Beggs, the former born in Virginia and the latter in Indiana. The father was reared in the Old Dominion and as a young man went to Indiana, where he was married. He carried on agricultural pursuits in that state for some years, and then came to Iowa in 1852, taking up his abode in Davis county. He purchased two hundred acres of land, which he operated for several years, and then sold out and removed to Appanoose county, where he invested in two hundred and forty acres, on which he made his home until his demise. He passed away on the 10th of April, 1889, while his wife survived until the 10th of May, 1909.
T. M. Beggs was but a little lad at the time of the removal of the family to Appanoose county, and there he was reared to manhood, acquiring his education in the common schools near his fathers' home. At an early date he began as- sisting in the work of the home farm and in the school of experience he gained a very broad and comprehensive knowledge of the best methods of carrying on agricultural pursuits. He remained under the parental roof until 1876, when, desiring to start out on an independent business venture, he came to Taylor county and for four years worked by the month as a farm hand. During the first two years he was employed upon the farm of J. J. Knox, with whom he boarded, while the last two years were devoted to operating the farm which is now in his possession. Later he resided upon a farm south of Clearfield, which he operated as a renter for about two years, and then he purchased the Holbrook farm from his father-in-law. This consisted of one hundred and sixty acres in Grant town- ship and formed the nucleus of his present possessions. In the fall of 1908 he purchased another tract of forty acres adjoining, so that his present farm, which
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is known as the Evergreen Stock Farm, consists of two hundred acres of valuable land. all of which has been brought under a high state of cultivation. He has erected a comfortable and attractive home, which stands in the midst of a neat lawn adorned with beautiful evergreen trees and well kept shrubbery. In the rear are found good barns and outbuildings, and he has set out a fine grove and orchard. He carries on general agricultural pursuits and also engages exten- sively in raising and feeding stock, fattening as high as seventy head of hogs annually. He is systematic, methodical and progressive in the conduct of his business affairs, and these characteristics have proved salient elements in the creditable degree of prosperity which he today enjoys.
It was on the 28th of January, 1886, that Mr. Begg's was united in marriage to Miss Cora B. Holbrook, a native of Bureau county, Illinois, and a daughter of W. A. Holbrook. Her father removed from the Prairie State to Vernon county, Missouri, and later, in 1877, came to Taylor county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm south of Lenox, in Platte township. After a time he sold that property and purchased the farm which is now the home of our subject. In 1893, after selling the farm to Mr. Beggs, he removed to Nebraska, and in that state spent the remainder of his life. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Beggs has been blessed with two sons, namely: Harry Lee, who, in partnership with his father, operates a steam thresher ; and Guy Allen, who is also residing with his parents, assisting in the operation of the home farm.
The family are members of the Christian church of Clearfield, in which Mr. Beggs is serving as deacon, and are people of high standing in the community in which they reside. Politically Mr. Beggs is a democrat, but the honors and emoluments of office have never had any attraction for him, as he prefers to concentrate his efforts upon his business affairs, which, carefully and wisely man- aged, are bringing to him a substantial success. His fellow-citizens respect him for what he has accomplished and admire him for the honorable methods he has followed in attaining his success.
DANIEL R. CREE.
Daniel R. Cree is numbered among the prosperous and progressive agricul- turists of Taylor county, owing and operating a valuable farm of two hundred and fifty-five acres on sections 5 and 8, Marshall township. A native of Illinois, his birth occurred in Henry county on the 29th of April, 1864, his parents being Robert and Mary E. (Piper) Cree, the former born in Ohio and the latter in Pennsylvania. The father was reared in the Buckeye State and in early life removed to Henry county, Illinois, where he was married, there carrying on agricultural pursuits for a number of years. In that county three of his children were born. The year 1869 witnessed his arrival in Iowa, the family home being established in Page county, where he purchased a farm of one hundred acres near Clarinda. He devoted his time and attention to the further improvement and cultivation of this farm and later purchased more land, becoming the owner
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of three hundred acres. Subsequently he sold his property in Page county and in 1902 came to Taylor county, where he invested in four hundred acres. His remaining days were here spent with his children, his death occurring on the 14th of February, 1909. His remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Gravity. He had become a very successful farmer and business man and was well known and highly respected throughout the communities in which he resided.
Daniel R. Cree was a little lad of five years when he was brought by his parents to Iowa, and on his father's farm in Page county he was reared to man- hood, attending the common schools in the acquirement of his education. He resided under the parental roof until he reached his majority, in the meantime assisting his father in the cultivation of the home farm and at the same time gaining a thorough and comprehensive knowledge concerning the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting. Upon attaining man's estate he started in business on his own account, wisely choosing as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared. He went to Chase county, Nebraska, and home- steaded a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, improving the same and making his home thereupon for three years. Later he returned to Page county and operated his father's farm, also purchasing an adjoining farm, where he con- tinued to reside until 1902. In that year he came to Taylor county and invested in eighty acres of his present farm, falling heir to the rest of the two hundred and fifty-five acres on sections 5 and 8, Marshall township, where he has since made his home. He has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and his farm, in its neat and attractive appearance, stands as a monument to his industry and thrift, being one of the valuable and desirable properties of the township. Mr. Cree has made a close study of agriculture and is methodical, systematic and progressive in his methods, so that he has gained rank among the enter- prising and substantial farmers of the locality. He carries on general farming and also devotes much time to the raising of horses, cattle and hogs, both branches of his business proving sources of gratifying remuneration.
It was during his residence in Chase county, Nebraska, that Mr. Cree was united in marriage to Miss Ada Clabaugh, a native of Taylor county, Iowa, and unto this union were born three sons and four daughters, but one daughter, Carrie M., passed away when four years of age. The others are: Rilda E., Ora L., Arthur W., Glenn I., Elva M. and Loretta A. On the 20th of November, 1899, the wife and mother was called to her final rest, and on the 14th of April, 1901, Mr. Cree was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mabel (Muckey) Hutchinson. She is a native of Page county, where she was reared and educated, and is a daughter of Jasper and Emma Muckey, early settlers of Jowa, coming originally from New York. Jasper Muckey, the father, was born in Schenectady county, New York, on the IIth of May, 1828, and in 1869 re- moved to Page county, Iowa. Later he sold his farm there and removed to Sharpsburg, where he passed away on the 25th of January, 1907. In 1850 he had married Miss Emma McQueen, also a native of the Empire state, who still survives and makes her home in Sharpsburg. They were the parents of eleven children, all of whom reached mature years, while two sons and eight daughters are still living. By her former marriage Mrs. Cree has one son, Doyle W. Hutchinson, who is now attending the public schools.
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Mr. Cree exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, doing all in his power to further the interests of that organization in the community, although he has never sought nor desired public office as the reward for party fealty. He has rather preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and is justly accounted one of the repre- sentative and substantial farmers of the community, while his many good traits of character make him honored and respected by all with whom he has come in contact.
FIELDING B. WEBB.
Fielding B. Webb, mastering the lessons of life day by day until his post- graduate work in the school of experience has placed him with the enterprising and successful business men of Bedford, is now engaged in dealing in grain and coal. His trade, already large, is constantly increasing, for his business methods are such as commend him to a liberal and continued patronage. A native of Knox county, Illinois, he was borne near Maquon, April 30, 1851, and is a representative in the paternal line of an old southern family. His grandfather was Valentine Webb, who removed from Virginia to Ohio and died in Franklin county in the latter state when in middle life. He married a Miss Weeks, who died when comparatively young. Their son, Luke Webb, father of F. B. Webb, was born in Ohio and became a practicing dentist. He married Melvina Allen, also a native of Ohio and a daughter of John B. and Belinda (Bull) Allen, natives of Ohio and Maryland respectively. The former was a cousin of Colonel Ethan Allen, who won undying fame in command of the Green Mountain boys at the battle of Ticonderoga in the Revolutionary war. John B. Allen was a farmer by occupation and lived to be nearly eighty years of age. His wife died just a few years before, when about seventy years of age. His last days were spent in Knox county, Illinois, upon land which he had entered from the govern- ment during pioneer times. In their family were six sons and three daughters : Dixon : Melvin V., a practicing physician of Chicago; Henry C .; Elias V .; Marion ; Ethan; Melvina ; Zemira; and Elizabeth.
Of this number Melvina Allen became the wife of Luke Webb, who about 1848 removed westward to Illinois and for some years engaged in the practice of dentistry in that state. In 1875, he arrived in Iowa and his last days were spent in Bedford, where his death occurred in 1900, when he had reached the age of sixty-seven. He was a devoted member of the Methodist church, to which his widow also belongs. She still survives him and now lives with her daughter Belle at Pleasanton, Kansas. In the family of this worthy couple were eight children, four sons and four daughters: Henry C., a resident of Bedford; Fielding B., of this review; John V. and William E., who likewise make their home in Bedford; Martha, the wife of Horace Smith. of Dillon, Colorado; Luella, the wife of Edwin Bundy, of Denver, Colorado; Belle C., the wife of J. W. Langdon, of Pleasanton, Kansas; and Lizzie, the wife of George W. Palmer, of Denver, Colorado.
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F. B. WEBB
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Fielding B. Webb was reared in Knox county, Illinois, upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He attended the district schools and lived at home until he had attained his majority. He then began farming on his own account and remained a resident of Illinois until 1875, when he came to Bedford. Here he learned the milling business but in 1879 embarked in the grain and coal trade, in which he has since continued, being one of the oldest merchants in this line in south- western Iowa. His reliable business methods, his promptness in executing ord- ers and his close conformity to a high standard of commercial ethics have brought to him a constantly growing patronage, making him one of the pros- perous citizens of the community.
On the 28th of November, 1877, Mr. Webb was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Child, a native of New York, as were her parents, Erastus and Rachel (Foster) Child. They removed to Illinois in 1855, settling in Knox county, and there their two children reached adult age. The younger daughter is Mrs. Julia Torrence, the wife of Thomas Torrence of Monmouth, Illinois. The father is living in Bedford at the very venerable age of ninety-two years, while the mother passed away September 6, 1906, when about eighty-seven years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Webb have become the parents of one child, Grace I., who is still under the parental roof. They hold membership in the Methodist church, in which Mr. Webb is a trustee. He is numbered among the exemplary members of Taylor Lodge, No. 156, F. & A. M., Triangle Chapter, No. 68, R. A. M., Creston Commandery, No. 29, K. T., and Moila Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of St. Joseph, Missouri. His political support is given to the republi- can party, for he deems its principles most conducive to good government. He does not seek nor desire office as the reward for party fealty, preferring to con- centrate his energies upon business affairs rather than to fill political positions. His life has been in a way quietly passed but the record is one which may well be followed by those who seek advancement in accordance with a high standard of business ethics, as his record proves that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously.
S. E. WAINWRIGHT.
The enterprising town of Lenox finds a well-known representative of its busi- ness interests in S. E. Wainwright, who for eight years has been connected with the lumber trade at this place. He has made his home in Iowa since 1869 and has lived within the borders of Taylor county since 1893. He is numbered among the native sons of Illinois, his birth having occurred near Rockford, in Winne- bago county, on the 9th of May, 1867. He was therefore only two years old when his parents crossed the Mississippi into this state, taking up their abode upon a farm near Keokuk, where the subject of this review was reared. He was trained to habits of industry, economy and integrity, and his intellectual discipline was received in the schools of Malvern, Iowa, and in the Gem City Business College
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of Quincy, Illinois, where he completed a course and was graduated. Being thus well qualified for the onerous and responsible duties of a business career he started out in life for himself at Sharpsburg, where for six years he was ac- tively associated with the lumber and grain trade, and also conducted a banking business. He afterward disposed of his interests there and removed to Lenox, where he bought out a lumber business and later a grain business. His operations in this line are scarcely equaled and hardly surpassed by any dealer in the county, the extent of his purchases and sales making him one of the foremost representatives of this line of trade in Taylor county. A man of resourceful business ability, he has also extended his labors into other fields and is now con- ducting a profitable enterprise in the manufacture of cement blocks. In the fall of 1908, he built a garage and put in a stock of automobiles, carrying some of the best-known makes of motor cars. He is a stockholder in the State Savings Bank and his father is a stockholder in the First National Bank at Lenox. Mr. Wainwright is justly accounted one of the most active and prosperous business men of this part of the state, and his enterprise is of direct value to the community because of the amount of money which is thereby kept in circulation and the fact that he gives employment to from six to eight men throughout the year.
In 1890, Mr. Wainwright was united in marriage to Miss Anna Wolf, who is a native of Kansas but was reared in Iowa. She enjoyed liberal educational privileges and for some years successfully engaged in teaching, after which she became assistant cashier in the Sharpsburg Bank. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wain- wright are members of the Lenox Presbyterian church and fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows, and also the Knights of Pythias lodge at Lenox. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for three years he served as a member of the city council, exerting his official prerogatives in sup- port of many measures for the public good. He has erected an attractive and modern residence in Lenox which is the abode of warm-hearted hospitality and the center of a cultured social circle. He also materially aided in advancing the interests of the town and the surrounding country, possessing the spirit of de- termination which enables him to accomplish whatever he undertakes, while his success at all times has been won by methods which neither seek nor require disguise.
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S. L. PAYTON.
S. I .. Payton, who owns an excellent farm of three hundred and sixty acres on section 21. Gay township, where he engages in general agricultural pursuits and also makes a specialty of raising pure blooded stock, is meeting with success in his enterprise and is ranked among the prosperous and substantial farmers of this township. A native of Illinois, he was born in Henry county on the 7th of October, 1862, and is a son of Melchior and Mary (Schaefer) Payton, the former a retired farmer of Bedford, Iowa.
S. L. Payton remained in his native county until thirteen years of age when, in 1875. he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, settlement being made in Taylor county. His education, which had been begun in Illinois, was com-
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pleted in the common schools of Iowa, and he remained upon his father's farm throughout the period of his boyhood and youth, devoting the time not given to his text-books to assisting his father in his agricultural pursuits. He early became familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the country lad and under the direc- tion of his father learned pratical lessons concerning the value of diligence, industry and perseverance.
Mr. Payton remained at home until the year 1883, when he was united in marriage in Clayton township to Miss Maggie Woods, a native of Knox county, Illinois, born in 1864. After his marriage he purchased a farm of eighty acres in Gay township, which constitutes a part of his present property. He at once directed his energies toward the improvement of this afrm and through his close application and good management soon brought the fields under a high state of cultivation. As the years passed and he prospered he added to his property from time to time until his place today consists of three hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, all highly improved. He has erected thereon a large, comfortable and attractive two-story residence, equipped with all modern conveniences, has built substantial barns and outbuildings, has set out a fine grove and planted a good orchard, consisting of twenty acres of apple trees and five acres of peach trees, which is in good bearing condition. The farm is equipped with all the ac- cessories and devices intended for facilitating farm labor, and in addition to his agricultural pursuits he also engages extensively in the raising and feeding of live stock. He fattens from two to four carloads of cattle and about three car- loads of hogs annually, and for some time has made a specialty of breeding and dealing in pure-blooded shorthorn cattle, having now on hand forty cattle with a fine Scotch top male at the head of the herd. For the past five years he has also specialized along the line of breeding Percheron horses, and in the intervening years has raised some very fine specimens. He enjoys a substantial annual in- come from the fact that both branches of his business-the raisinng of grain and the raising of live stock-are proving most remunerative.
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