USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 38
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W. L. WRIGHT.
The farm property of W. L. Wright on section 25, Ross township, includes a tract of one hundred and fifty acres and a glance at the place is sufficient to in- dicate that the owner is thoroughly conversant with and employs the most mod- ern methods in tilling the soil, in caring for the crops and in raising stock. He is meeting with success in all of his undertakings and his unfaltering industry has now made him one of the prosperous farmers of the county.
Mr. Wright's life record began in Bullitt county, Kentucky, on the 28th of December, 1854. His father. Benjamin Wright, was also a native of that state, born in Lexington. In early life he learned and followed the carpenter's trade. He was married in Kentucky to Miss Lucy A. Devall, a native of that state, and about 1860, they removed to Illinois, settling in Henderson county, where Mr. Wright followed carpentering for several years. In that county the death of the husband and father occurred. He left three children, W. L .. Joseph and America E., who is now Mrs. Olmstead, a widow. In 1879, the mother with her family went to Iowa and she kept house for her son for some years and spent
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her last days in the home of W. L. Wright, there passing away in 1904. His sister was married in Illinois and removed to York, Nebraska, and is now a widow. Joseph Wright also married in Illinois, later removed to Iowa and subsequently became a resident of Kansas, where his death occurred.
W. L. Wright was but a lad when he accompanied his parents on their re- moval from his native county to Henderson county, Illinois. There he was reared to manhood on the home farm and the task of tilling the fields and caring for the crops early became familiar to him. In 1869, he came to Iowa with his brother. Joseph Wright, who remained here for several years, but afterward removed to Kansas. W. L. Wright first rented land, as his financial resources were not sufficient to enable him to purchase property. He thus engaged in farming for several years, during which time he wisely saved his earnings until his industry and careful expenditure enabled him to purchase property. He first invested in forty acres in Ross township and cultivated that farm for sev- eral years, carefully improving the place so that it bore little resemblance to his original purchase when it passed out of his possession by sale. Having disposed of that property he bought eighty acres where he now resides and later he added to his landed holdings until he now has one hundred and fifty acres, constituting a valuable farm which borders the Iowa and Missouri state line. In connection with farming he raises and feeds stock and fattens from two to four carloads of cattle and hogs each year. This is an important feature of his business and annually brings to him a good financial return. His work is at all times carefully conducted and his success is the merited reward of earnest and persistent labor. Politically he has been a life long democrat but without desire for office, preferring always to give his undivided time and attention to his busines affairs.
WILLIAM RUTLEDGE.
The agricultural interests of Taylor county find a worthy representative in William Rutledge, who, although he has already passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, is still an active factor in the world's work. A son of Jacob and Frances Rutledge, he was born in Perry county, Ohio, on the 9th of November, 1835, and on his father's farm was reared to manhood. During the period of his boyhood and youth he attended the common schools and although he acquired a fair knowledge therein of the fundamental branches of English learning, he is nevertheless largely self-educated, having supplemented his early training by extensive reading and observation, and he has learned valuable lessons in the broader school of experience. He remained upon the home farm, assisting in the cultivation of the fields, until 1864, when, on the 2d of May he enlisted for one hundred days' service as a soldier in Company H, One Hundred and Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated in a num- ber of skirmishes in which his regiment was engaged and after faithfully and bravely serving his term of enlistment was mustered out and honorably dis- charged on the 8th of September. 1864.
WILLIAM RUTLEDGE
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When the country was no longer in need of his services Mr. Rutledge re- turned home and in the same year, accompanied by his father and the other members of the household, he started for Taylor county, Iowa, with a team and prairie schooner, arriving at their destination on the 18th of November, 1864, having been forty days and forty nights on the journey. The father located in Marshall township, where he opened up a farm and spent the remainder of his life, passing away on the 6th of May, 1872, when sixty-eight years of age. His wife survived until the Ist of August, 1891, lacking but twenty days of being ninety-five years of age at the time of her demise.
On his arrival in this county William Rutledge located upon a farm of eighty acres which he had purchased before coming to Iowa and which now comprises a part of his present property. When it came into his possession it was still in an undeveloped condition but he immediately set about breaking the sod and converting the land into productive fields. The soil was naturally rich and fer- tile and responded readily to the care and labor bestowed upon it, and so in the course of years he placed the land under a high state of cultivation. As he prospered he was able to add to his original purchase until at one time he was the owner of six hundred acres of fine farming land, constituting him one of the extensive landowners of the locality. He has since given portions of this property to his children and his home farm now consists of two hundred and forty acres located on sections 10 and II, Marshall township. It is one of the well improved and valuable properties of the township and in its midst stands an attractive and modern residence, while in the rear he has erected two large barns and substantial outbuildings. He has set out a good orchard and grove and the place is adorned with some large and beautiful trees of his own planting. He devotes his time and attention to the tilling of the soil, is progressive in his methods and has conducted his interests along strictly up-to-date and modern lines, so that his industry, energy and perseverance are now finding ample re- ward in the gratifying degree of prosperity which is today his.
On the 3Ist of December, 1857, in Perry county, Ohio, Mr. Rutledge was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Biggs, a native of that county, and unto them have been born seven children, one son, Charles S., having passed away in infancy. The others are: Mary F., the wife of N. J. Smith, of Trenton, Ne- braska; Ella Kate, who married C. S. Jones, a farmer of Marshall township; Alice, who is still under the parental roof; Abraham E., engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in Marshall township; T. T., who is married and now resides in Idaho; and J. E., a resident farmer of Marshall township.
The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Sharpsburg and occupy a high place in social circles of the community. Fraternally Mr. Rut- ledge is a Master Mason, holding membership in Conway blue lodge, while he maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his member- ship in Conway Post, G. A. R. A stalwart republican in politics, he cast his first ballot in 1856 for John C. Fremont, and since that time has voted for every presidential candidate on that ticket. He has been called to office, having served for several years as township clerk, township trustee and also justice of the peace, while he has been sent by his party as a delegate to various county conventions. Preeminently public-spirited in his citizenship, during the forty-
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five years of his residence in Taylor county and he has been thoroughly identi- fied with its growth and development. At the time of his arrival the county seat was a little village of about three hundred inhabitants and the railroads had not yet been laid. During the intervening years he has seen many changes along lines of general advancement and has at all times taken an active and helpful part in the work of improvement and development. Throughout his entire career he has been actuated by high ideals and manly principles and in his life record there has not been a single esoteric phase. A man of strict integrity and honesty of pur- pose, he has gained the esteem, confidence and good will of his fellowmen and the consensus of public opinion accords him a foremost place among the valued and respected citizens of Taylor county.
HON. JAMES PATTON FLICK.
Hon. James Patton Flick has been a resident of Taylor county from the age of sixteen years and is now well known as a member of the firm of Flick & Flick, attorneys at law of Bedford. He has also gained distinction in other lines, having long been a prominent figure in political circles and the public has attested its faith in his ability and patriotic devotion to the general good by electing him as representative from this district to the state legislature and to congress. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Alleghany county, August 28. 1845, and in the paternal line comes of Holland lineage, the original American ancestors of the family having arrived in this country prior to the Revolutionary war. Joseph Flick, the grandfather, was a native of Virginia, whence he removed to Pennsylvania. He made farming his life work, served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and died in Butler county, Pennsylvania, at an advanced age, as did also his wife. They reared a large family, including John Flick, the father of James P. Flick. His birth occurred in Pennsylvania and in early life he became a tanner. In 1852 he removed westward to Iowa, settling within four miles of Ottumwa, where he engaged in farming. In 1857 he arrived in Taylor county, where he purchased a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he added from time to time until his landed possessions aggregated between eight and nine hundred acres. He married Margaret Patton, also a native of Penn- sylvania, and a daughter of James Patton, who was born in the north of Ire- land and was of Scotch descent. Coming to America, he settled in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, where he followed the occupation of farming. He died . there in middle life, while his wife, Mrs. Mary (Murray) Patton, lived to the very advanced age of ninety-one years. They, too, had a large family, includ- ing Mrs. Margaret Flick. John Flick died in Bedford, Iowa, when about seventy- six years of age, and his wife passed away five years before. They were origin- ally Presbyterians but afterward united with the Methodist church and were earnest Christian people. At the time of the Civil war he served as a captain of Company B, Ninth Iowa Cavalry, and died as a result of wounds sustained in that struggle. Unto him and his wife were born four sons and three daughters,
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of whom two sons survive: James P .; and William H., a farmer of Blockton, Iowa.
Hon. James P. Flick was only seven years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, and from the age of eleven he has lived in Taylor county. Here he was reared on the farm and attended the district schools, and after his marriage he engaged in farming for a year. He then took up the study of law under R. B. Kinsell in Bedford, and was admitted to the bar in 1870. Since that time he has practiced continuously in this city with growing success and his ability and the nature of the legal interests entrusted to him places him in the front rank among the members of the bar in this part of the state.
On the 31st day of October, 1865, Mr. Flick was united in marriage to Miss Amanda King, a daughter of John and Sarah (Hankins) King. They became the parents of two sons and four daughters. Florence, the eldest, is now the wife of Albert L. Cochrane, and they reside in Denver, Colorado with their two children, Albert Bruce and Nellie. Cora is the wife of Charles B. Bell, a resident of Bedford, Iowa, and they have two children, Maud and Beatrice. Maud is the wife of R. V. Lucas of Bedford and they have three children, James, Cora and Lucile. Nellie is a stenographer. Donald Cameron, who was a sol- dier in the Philippine campaign, belonged to Company I, Fifty-first Iowa In- fantry, and lived in Denver. He died at the age of twenty-six years at Bedford, Iowa. Bruce J., the youngest of the family, after being graduated from the Bedford high school, attended the State University at Iowa City, also the law department of Drake University, and studied law under his father in his office in Bedford. He was admitted to the bar in 1903 and since that time has been successfully practicing with his father. He married Alice Josephine Dunning. The mother of these children, Mrs. Amanda Flick, died April 10. 1882. She was born at West Point, Lee county, Iowa, her parents having been early settlers of that locality. For his second wife Mr. Flick chose Mrs. Mary A. Griffin, the widow of Joshua Griffin and a daughter of Henry Sadlier.
Mr. Flick belongs to Taylor Lodge, No. 156, F. & A. M. and advancing in Masonry, became a member of Triangle Chapter, No. 68, R. A. M. and Creston Commandery. No. 29, K. T. He is also entitled to wear the Grand Army button and holds membership in Sedgwick Post. In 1862 when a young man of but seventeen years, he responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting in Company K, Fourth Iowa Infantry, with which he served until September, 1864. He was a non-commissioned officer and took part in all of the engagements in which his regiment participated except the battles of Pea Ridge and Bentonville. After the war he returned home and was elected county recorder. It was while filling that position for two years that he studied law and afterward entered upon the active practice of his profession, continuing in that field of labor up to the time of his demise. He has not only been active in the interpretation of the law before the courts but also in framing the legislation of the state and nation. He was elected to the seventeenth general assembly of Iowa, where he served for one term and then refused a renomination. Subsequently he was appointed by Governor Geer to succeed Smith McPherson as district attorney of the third judicial district and filled out that term one year. He was then elected for the
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succeeding term of four years, after which the office was abolished by the legis- lature. He was also elected in the eighth congressional district to the fifty- first and fifty-second congresses and proved an able working member of that body, being connected with not a little constructive legislation. Since that time he has given attention to the practice of law. Faultless in honor, fearless in con- duct and stainless in reputation, his record in public and private life is alike above reproach, commending him to the confidence, respect and honor of all with whom he is brought in contact.
ALONZO SANFORD.
Alonzo Sanford is numbered among those residents of Lenox whose labor in previous years now makes it possible for them to live retired from the active duties of business life and enjoy in well earned rest the fruits of their former toil. He is a native of New York state, his birth occurring in Herkimer county on the 3d of September, 1844, his parents being Silas and Eunice (Flansberry) Sanford, the former born in Connecticut and the latter in New York. The father went to the Empire state in early manhood and was there married. He purchased a farm there and continued in its operation until 1852, when he came west and located in McDonough county, Illinois, where he opened up a new farm and cast in his lot with the early pioneer settlers. He made his home within the borders of that county until the time of his death, which occurred about 1869, his wife surviving until 1899. In their family were four sons and five daughters, all of whom were born in New York and reared in Illinois. Three sons and a daughter still survive.
Amid the scenes and environments of pioneer life Alonzo Sanford spent the years of his boyhood and youth, and with the other members of the family assisted in opening up new land and cultivating and improving the home farm. He remained under the parental roof until nineteen years of age, and then, desiring to assist his country in her hour of need, he left home and became a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting in February, 1863, as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for a term of one year. He went south to Tennessee and Mississippi and saw much active service with his regiment, and during this time took part in the battle of Memphis. He was honorably discharged at the close of his term of enlistment, but later he reenlisted in February, 1864, joining Company A, Eleventh Illinois Cavalry. He again went south to Tennessee and Mississippi and participated in numerous skirmishes and small fights. He was detailed to serve as General A. J. Smith's bodyguard for a time, and then returned to company duty, continuing in active service until the close of the war. He was honorably discharged at Springfield in November, 1865, and with a most creditable military record returned home, where he remained on the farm for some time.
Mr. Sanford was united in marriage in McDonough county, September 30, 1869, to Miss Lydia Crandle, a native of Ohio where she was reared. They began their domestic life upon a farm in that county, which Mr. Sanford con- tinued to operate in the capacity of renter until 1870. In that year he came to
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Taylor county, Iowa, and rented a farm for two or three years, and then located in Platte township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. The farm was but partially developed when it came into his possession, but with characteristic energy he directed his efforts toward its further improvement and with the passing of the years brought his fields under a high state of cultivation. He erected a comfortable and attractive residence, substantial barns and out- buildings, set out a good grove and orchard and enclosed the entire place with well kept fences. Under his careful and wise management the place became one of the valuable and desirable farming properties of the township, in its neat and well improved appearance indicating the industry and thrift of its owner. Posess- ing good business ability, systematic, methodical and progressive in his methods, as the years passed he was able to attain a most substantial and gratifying success which placed him above the necessity for further labor and made it possible for him to withdraw from the active duties of business life. Consequently in 1880 he sold his homestead and removed to Lenox, where he has since continued to make his home. He built the beautiful dwelling which is now occupied by himself and wife, and also owns three other residences which he erected and which are returning to him a substantial annual rental.
Mr. and Mrs. Sanford are both prominent and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Lenox, in which he has been a class leader for years and has also been actively and helpfully interested in Sunday-school work. He is republican in politics and since age conferred upon him the right of fran- chise has given stalwart support to the party which was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. He holds pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army Post of Lenox, and in all matters of citizenship is as loyal to the old flag as when he carried it upon southern battlefields. A gentleman of strict integrity and true personal worth, he has gained the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen and the consensus of public opinion accords him a high place among the representative and valued residents of Taylor county, within whose borders he has resided for nearly forty years. He has passed the sixty-fifth milestone on life's journey, and now in the evening of life can look back upon the past without regret and forward to the future without fear.
B. F. KAUBLE.
It has been said that there is nothing so attractive as a nickname. It indicates good comradeship, friendly feeling and congeniality and all these are evidenced in the familiar address which has made the subject of this review known through- out his section of the country as Doc Kauble. He resides on section 28, Jefferson township, and is one of the active and prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of the locality, owning and cultivating four hundred and fifty-five acres of land, pleasantly and conveniently located within a half mile of Athelstan. For fifty- five years he has been a resident of Taylor county, arriving when a youth of thirteen. His birth had occurred at Hancock county, Indiana, on the 8th of
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January, 1840, and in 1842 the family had removed westward to Andrew county, Missouri, where his parents died during his early childhood.
Mr. Kauble was then reared by his grandparents, John and Elizabeth Kauble, who in 1853 removed to lowa, taking up their abode upon the place where their grandson now resides. Here the grandfather entered one hundred and sixty acres from the government and of this amount eighty acres was given to B. F. Kauble, in recognition of his care of his grandparents in their declining years. In his youthful days he assisted in the arduous task of breaking the sod and fencing the fields and as the years went by he continuously worked to improve and develop the property. The only interruption to his active life of farming came at the time of the Civil war when in August. 1863, he joined the Ninth Iowa Cavalry under command of Captain Flick of. Bedford, thus serving until after the close of the war when he received an honorable discharge at Davenport in April. 1866. He was engaged in fighting the bushwhackers and in doing guard duty on the frontier.
Soon after his return home Mr. Kauble was married on the 17th of June, 1866, to Miss Dorothy Brown, who was born in Indiana, but was reared in Taylor county, Iowa. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which has since been their home and, laboring diligently and persistently, Mr. Kauble has been enabled to add to his holdings from time to time until he now owns four hundred and forty-five acres in one tract. On this he has erected a good residence, set out an orchard and has made the place what it is today-one of the finest farms of the county. He broke most of the prairie himself for the greater part of it was railroad land when it came into his possession. The fields now make ready response in golden harvests to the care and labor which he bestows upon them and in connection with general farming Mr. Kauble raises and feeds cattle, hogs and horses, his specialty, however, being the fattening of hogs.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kauble have been born eleven children of whom six are yet living. two sons and four daughters: Frank and William A., who assist in carrying on the home farm; Hannah, the wife of J. W. Kobbe, of Montana ; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Frank Campbell, a farmer of Jefferson township ; O. A., at home; and Dorothy Margaret, the wife of Charles Williamson, now living in the panhandle of Texas.
Mr. and Mrs. Kauble are members of the Baptist church of Athelstan, in which he is serving as a trustee. His political endorsement is given to the democracy and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability have called him to a number of local offices. For two years he served as township trustee and for five years was justice of the peace. He has also been a member of the school board for about thirty years and gives earnest endorsement to the cause of public education. In all matters of citizenship he is as true and loyal as when he defended the old flag on southern battlefields. He is one of the best known citizens of his part of the county, having resided on one farm for more than a half century while through the period of his residence here he has been a witness of almost the entire growth and progress of this part of the state. He remembers Bedford when it was a crossroads village with one small store, has seen the building of the railroads and the transformation of wild land into highly improved
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farms, in the midst of which are good schools and churches while towns and villages have sprung up and afford to the county all the opportunities and advan- tages known to the civilization of the older east. Mr. Kauble has a very wide acquaintance in this part of the state and the sterling traits which he has displayed have given him firm hold on the regard of those with whom he has been associated.
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