USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 43
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Politically Mr. Willits is a republican, supporting the party since casting his first presidential ballot for 'Abraham Lincoln while in the service of his country. He has never sought nor desired office, however. The family attend and support the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Willits and the children are members. Mr. Willits belongs to the Grand Army post at Lenox, of which he served as commander for one term and has also acted as adjutant and in other official positions. At the time of his arrival in Iowa Lenox was a cross-road village with but few houses, and this entire portion of the state was largely an unimproved district. He has always stood for progress and development in every line tending to better conditions here, and in all matters of citizenship has been as true and loyal to his country in days of peace as when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields.
ELMER DERRICKSON.
Elmer Derrickson is one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of Ross township, who gives his time and attention in a most practical manner to the further development and improvement of a farm of forty acres, which he owns, and also operates a rented farm of one hundred and fifty acres on section 9. His record has been such that Taylor county is proud to number him among her native sons. His birth occurred within her borders January 29, 1870, his par- ents being Mr. and Mrs. K. E. Derrickson. The father, a native of Indiana, was born in Shelby county, was there reared and after arriving at man's estate wedded Miss Mary C. John, who was also born in Indiana. Mr. Derrickson fol- lowed farming in Shelby county for a number of years but, thinking that he would have still better opportunities west of the Mississippi he came to Iowa soon after the Civil war. He had served his country for four years as a soldier of the Union army, being numbered among the boys in blue of the Fifty-second Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. He made a creditable record as a soldier, never faltering in the performance of duty whether on the firing line or the lonely picket line. It was after the war that he was married and subsequently
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he removed to Iowa where he opened up a new farm in Ross township. As he found opportunity and his financial condition permitted he bought more land and continued successfully to till the soil for a number of years until 1906 when he rented his farm and removed to Bedford where he is now living retired in the enjoyment of well-earned rest.
Elmer Derrickson, whose name introduces this record was reared upon the old homestead in Ross township and at the usual age was sent to the common schools, wherein he mastered the common branches of English learning and thus equipped himself for the practical duties of life. He was married in Maryville, Nodaway county, Missouri, in June, 1894, to Miss Maud E. Campbell, who was born in that county and is a daughter of G. M. Campbell, who was a veteran of the Civil war and is now living retired in Maryville. Mrs. Derrickson was reared in her native county and was carefully trained in the duties of the household so that she was well qualfied to take charge of a home of her own at the time of her marriage. Four children graced this union : Pearl, Rema, Harry and Marvin.
Following his marriage Mr. Derrickson located on a farm in Ross township and began to cultivate his fields and further improve the property. He lived there for some time and then sold it, after which he bought another farm. He has owned and cultivated four different farms in Ross township and in connection with tilling the soil he raises and feeds stock, handling both hogs and cattle of high grades. He always keeps his buildings in a state of good repair and he erected the present large barn on his place. A spirit of neatness and thrift per- vades the farm and everything about it is indicative of the careful supervision of an owner who is practical in his methods and progressive in his spirit.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Derrickson are members of the Christian church, be- longing to Berea chapel. His political endorsement is given to the republican party at the polls but he would never consent to hold office save in connection with the schools, the cause of education finding in him a warm and stalwart champion. He has seen the county develop from pioneer conditions for he be- came a resident of this part of the state when it was a frontier district and has ridden all over the open prairie with no fences or habitations to impede his progress. As the years have gone by wonderful changes have occurred and he has at all times been greatly interested in the work of general development and improvement and in many ways has cooperated in the various measures for the general good.
W. H. PAYTON.
Familiarly called Howard by a large number of friends throughout the community, W. H. Payton is a prosperous and progressive farmer of Clayton township who is also well known throughout Taylor county as an extensive breeder and dealer in shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses. A native of Illi- nois, he was born in Champaign county, February 27. 1865. He came to Taylor county, Iowa, when a lad of nine years and has since continued to make his home in Clayton township. He was educated in the common schools of the district
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and during the periods of vacation assisted in the work of his father's farm, early becoming familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the country lad. He remained at home until he had attained his majority and then, on the 12th of October. 1887, he was united in marriage in Gay township, Taylor county, to Miss Jennie Hunter, a sister of Paul Hunter, whose sketch is given on another page of this volume. She was born and reared in Illinois and before her marriage was a school teacher.
Mr. and Mrs. Payton began their domestic life on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Clayton township, which Mr. Payton continued to improve and develop for some time. Later he sold this place and purchased more land on section 23. this township, upon which farm he now resides. Through the in- dustry, perseverance and well directed efforts of Mr. Payton this property is one of the well improved and valuable properties of the township. Upon it stands a large two-story house which was built by him and which is attractively furnished, while he has also erected a good barn and substantial outbuildings. He has set out a fine orchard of five acres, containing well selected fruit trees, and has a good grove of his own planting. In connection with his general farm- ing pursuits he is extensively engaged in breeding, feeding and dealing in live stock, annually fattening a large number of hogs. For the past three years he has made a specialty of breeding and dealing in shorthorn cattle and now has on hand about thirty head of registered stock with a fine pure Scotch male at the head of the herd, which also contains several Scotch cows. He has also, for some years, been a breeder of fine horses, making a specialty of Percheron horses, and has become very well known along this line.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Payton has been blessed with two daughters, namely : Edith, who was graduated from the Bedford high school with the class of 1909; and Edna, now attending that school. The parents are members of the Baptist church, while Mrs. Payton is an active Sunday-school worker and a teacher therein. They are people of excellent traits of character, who stand high socially in the community, while their home is popular because of its spirit of genial hospitality and good cheer. Politically Mr. Payton is a republican but he has never sought nor desired public office, preferring to devote his time, thought and attention to his private affairs, which are capably managed. He is a good business man, alert and enterprising, and the gratifying degree of success which he now enjoys came to him as the result of well directed energy and unceasing labor.
MRS. EMILY J. SWAIM.
Farm work makes strenuous demands upon the time and energies of those who successfully follow it but there is no more productive district in all the United States than the rich fields of Iowa. Taylor county has her full quota of progressive and representative agriculturists, in which class Mrs. Emily J. Swaim is numbered. She is living on section 20, Ross township, and has long made her home in Taylor county, dating her residence here from 1859. A native of Indiana, she was born in Park county in 1852 and is a daughter of Enoch
J. R. SWAIM
MRS. J. R. SWAIM
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Beauchamp, who was also a native of Indiana, where he was reared and mar- ried, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Remington, who was born in Ohio, but was reared in Indiana. Mr. Beauchamp followed farming in that state for a number of years or until after the birth of three of his children when in 1859 he removed to Iowa, becoming one of the first settlers of Taylor county. He then bought a farm in Ross township, whereon he lived until 1875, when he removed to another farm on section 20 and 29, the same township, continuing his residence there throughout the remainder of his life. He died in 1894, having long survived his first wife, who passed away on the 9th of August, 1871. Three of their seven children-Emily J., James and Sarah E .- were born in Indiana, while Samantha Ann, John C., Mary Alice and Laura A., now deceased, were born in Iowa. Mr. Beauchamp was again married July 4, 1874, his second union being with Mrs. S. E. Bradley, a widow, by whom he had three children : Elmer, Edelbert and Grace.
Mrs. Swaim was reared in Taylor county and was educated in the home schools. In her girlhood days she assisted in the work of the household so that she was well qualified to take charge of a home of her own at the time of her marriage. On the 30th of June, 1870, she became the wife of J. R. Swaim, a native of Park county, Indiana, where he was reared. As a young man he came to Iowa with his father, Levi Swaim, and they took up their abode in Ross township, Taylor county.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Swaim also settled on a tract of land in Ross township and he engaged in farming that place for five years, on the expiration of which period, he removed to the farm where his family now re- sides. He was a man of good business energy and determination and of keen foresight, who carefully conducted his farming interests and from time to time, as his financial resources increased, made further investment in land until he be- came the owner of nearly a thousand acres. He was one of the most active, progressive business men and prosperous farmers of the township and allowed no obstacle to brook his path which could be overcome by persistent and honor- able effort. On his place, he erected a large residence and also substantial and commodious outbuildings. From time to time, he extended the boundaries of home farm until it included three hundred and forty acres. Mrs. Swaim now owns this place, while the remainder of the property of Mr. Swaim was inherited by his children.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Swaim were born eight children who yet survive: Hous- ton, a resident of Iowa; Howard, in Idaho; Glenn and Floyd, who are carry- ing on the home farm for their mother; Ella, now the wife of James Bishop, living near Burlington, lowa; Mary, a young lady at home; Cora, the wife of Roy Duncan, a resident farmer of Benton township; and Ethel, who com- pletes the family. They also lost three sons: Daniel, Irvin and Albert, all of whom died in early childhood.
The death of the husband and father occurred in 1896 and was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, not only to his immediate family, but to the entire community for his worth as a man and citizen were widely acknowledged. He was a Master Mason of Siam Lodge and was buried with Masonic honors. He had a wide acquaintance throughout this part of the state and was much
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esteemed in the community for he was reliable in business, progressive in citi- zenship, faithful in friendship and devoted to the welfare of his wife and chil- dren. Mrs. Swaim is a member of the Christian church of Bedford and is a most estimable lady. She successfully manages her business affairs and is well known for her executive ability and her commendable spirit of enterprise.
WILLIAM C. BURNHAM.
Industry, energy, thrift and economy are the characteristic elements in the life of William C. Burnham, who is numbered among the successful agricultur- ists of Mason township, where he owns and operates a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He was born in the state of New York on the 8th of Feb- ruary, 1851, and is a son of Lyman and Eliza (Near) Burnham. The paternal grandfather, Ezra Burnham, was born across the waters and was the father of the following children : Lyman, Ezra, William, Andrew, Jane and Maria. Lyman Burnham, the father of our subject, was born in New Hampshire and came west at an early day, settling first in Illinois and later in Taylor county, Iowa. He married Miss Eliza Near, who was one of a family of four children born unto her parents, the others being: Jane, John and Margaret.
Leaving his native state at an early age, William C. Burnham acquired his education in the schools of Illinois and Iowa, and continued a student therein until the year 1871. In the meantime, when not engaged with his text-books, he assisted his father in the work of the home farm, early becoming familiar with the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. After leaving school he remained under the parental roof until 1875, continuing to give his father the benefit of his assistance, and during this period the experience which he gained concerning the best methods of tilling the soil was both thorough and com- prehensive, proving of value to him in later years. In the year mentioned, being desirous of entering business life on his own account, he purchased a tract of eighty acres which now forms a part of his present farm, and later added an adjoining forty-acre tract, his farm today consisting of one hundred and twenty acres on section 17. When the place came into his possession it was little more than raw prairie land, where not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. With characteristic energy, however, he set about breaking the sod and converting the land into productive fields, and as the years have come and gone his labors have received their just reward in the rich crops which have annually been harvested. In the midst of his farm he has erected a beautiful residence, modern in all of its appointments, while substantial barns and out- buildings also stand as monuments to his industry and thrift. He has made a close study of agriculture, is methodical, systematic and progressive in his busi- ness, so that he is today numbered among the successful farmers of his section of the county.
In February, 1875, in Taylor county, Mr. Burnham was united in marriage to Miss Malinda Hutchinson, a native of Licking county, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Malinda (Brown) Hutchinson. The Brown family came to Iowa
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from Pennsylvania, while the Hutchinsons were of English lineage, representa- tives of the name having come to the United States in 1862. John Hutchinson, the father of Mrs. Burnham, was one of the earliest setttlers of Taylor county and was a well-known and prominent figure in the affairs of the community in which he resided. With the passing of the years three children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Burnham, namely: Grace, the wife of Elmer Daugherty of Page county; Nora, who has graduated from the public schools; and Goldie, still attending school. Mr. Burnham and his wife are members of the Methodist church at New Market, and are people of excellent traits of character, who occupy an enviable place in the community. Mr. Burnham gives his political allegiance to the republican party, and has been treasurer of the school board. Otherwise, however, he has never sought nor desired office, pre- ferring to direct his energies to the conduct of his personal affairs. His enter- prising and progressive spirit has been a potent element in the success which he now enjoys, while by constant exertion, associated with good judgment, he has gained a place among the substantial citizens of Taylor county, and com- mands the respect and confidence of all with whom he is brought in contact.
HENRY K. RUSSELL.
Henry K. Russell lives upon a farm on section 22, Jackson township. He carries on farming on an extensive scale, owning five hundred and twenty acres in the home place, which in its neat and thrifty appearance is indicative of the careful supervision of Mr. Russell, whose labors and ideas are at once practical and progressive. It was upon the farm where he now makes him home that the birth of Mr. Russell occurred, his natal day being January 20, 1878. His father, William H. Russell, was a native of Ireland, born in the northern part of the Emerald Isle. There he continued until he reached the age of fifteen years, when the opportunities of the new world attracted him and he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, spending several years in New York city. Subsequently he went to Wisconsin, where he secured employment as a farm hand and later he came to Taylor county, Iowa. Here he again worked at farm labor until his earn- ings were sufficient to enable him to purchase one hundred and twenty acres, which he secured before his marriage. He completed his arrangements for hav- ing a home of his own by wooing and winning Miss Elizabeth Kemery, a native of Lee county, Iowa. The young couple took up their domestic life upon the farm which he had previously purchased and which he had occupied alone up to the time of his marriage. With characteristic energy he began developing the place, transforming the wild prairie into rich fields. Year by year he planted his seed and in course of time harvested his crops and his labors constituted a forceful element in the general development of his part of the county. As he prospered in his undertakings he bought more land from time to time until he owned five hundred and sixty acres. He built good buildings upon his place that ample shelter might be afforded for grain and stock. He put altogether five sets of farm buildings on his land and always kept these in a state of good
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repair. He used the latest improved farm machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and everything about the farm indicated the supervision of an owner whose progressive spirit placed him in the foremost ranks among the representa- tives of agricultural life in this part of the county. Upon his farm Mr. Russell spent his last years, passing away in 1904. His widow still survives him. There were four children in the family, the daughters, Anna, Iowa and Bertha, all remaining at home with their mother.
Henry K. Russell, whose name introduces this record, was reared on the old homestead farm and pursued his education in the district schools. Being an only son, he assisted his father more and more largely in the work of the fields and for some time prior to his father's death took charge of the home farm and carried it on. He has now rented much of the land but still cultivates a portion of it and he also raises and feeds stock. His business affairs are capably man- aged and intelligently directed and he is regarded as one of the enterprising busi- ness men in the community, who readily masters the intricate problems which continually arise in connection with the control and improvement of important farming interests.
In his political views Mr. Russell is a republican, well informed on the questions and issues of the day but without desire for office. He has been a member of the school board and school treasurer but otherwise has never con- sented to serve in positions of public trust. His father was also school treasurer for several years and was a delegate to several county conventions. Mr. Russell is a member of Sheridan Lodge, I. O. O. F. and in his life is loyal to the teachings of the order. A young man of good business ability and of strict integrity and worth, he has been a resident of the county throughout his entire life and is well known in Bedford and this section of the state.
PAUL HUNTER.
No history of Taylor county would be complete without mention of Paul Hunter who for many years has been a well-known figure in public circles and has, moreover, been identified with the agricultural interests of Taylor county for several years. He is also numbered among the early settlers of this district, dating his residence here since 1872. Born in Christian county, Illinois, January 14, 1867, he is a son of John and Mary (Weir) Hunter, natives of England and Sangamon county, Illinois, respectively. The former was reared in his native country and later came to the new world, locating in Sangamon county, Illinois, where he was married. He farmed in Clinton county for some years and in 1872 removed to Iowa, settling in Taylor county, where he purchased land in Gay township, his farm consisting of three hundred and twenty acres. Here he reared his family and spent the rest of his life, both he and his wife passing away upon this farm.
Paul Hunter, with two brothers and three sisters, still survive out of a family of four sons and four daughters born unto Mr. and Mrs. John Hunter. He grew to manhood on his father's farm in Gay township and acquired his early
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education in the common schools. He later supplemented this training by a course of study in the Shenandoah Normal College, and during the latter part of his course there taught during the fall and winter terms. After his graduation from the normal college he was engaged in teaching in Taylor county for seven years. On the 13th of September, 1891, at Bedford, he was united in marriage to Miss Perthena Ann Payton, a native of Illinois who was reared and educated in Taylor county.
Mr. and Mrs. Hunter commenced their domestic life on the Payton farm in Ross township, where they resided for one year, and then removed to another farm in that township, making their home thereupon until 1896, in which year Mr. Hunter was elected clerk of Taylor county. He removed to Bedford and took up the duties of that office in January, 1897. He served for one term and was then reelected for a second term, remaining in office for four years. At the expiration of that period he returned to Ross township and purchased the farm upon which he had previously resided. He devoted his energies toward the further improvement of this place, which consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, and continued to make it his place of residence until the fall of 1906, when he sold the property and came to Bedford. Here he was elected a member of the county board of supervisors and served for one term. In 1908 he was reelected and is serving in that capacity at the present time. In the latter year he purchased his present farm on section 20, Clayton township, and has since confined his attention to general agricultural pursuits. He also engages to some extent in stock raising and has been most successful in his undertaking. He possesses good business ability, is progressive and up-to-date in his methods and is recognized as one of the prosperous and representative farmers of this township.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hunter has been blessed with two daughters: Eula May, a student in the high school at Bedford; and Opal Marie, also at- tending that institution, in the same class with her sister.
Mr. Hunter is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and politically is a stanch republican. He is well known and active in the local ranks of that party which he has represented several times as delegate at various state and county conventions. He is a man of strict integrity and of genuine personal worth, and the consensus of public opinion accords him a high place among the representative citizens of Taylor county.
GEORGE W. PAGE.
Thirty-six years have come and gone since George W. Page arrived in Taylor county after a residence of eight years in Warren county, this state. He has been closely associated with agricultural interests and the promoter of various other enterprises, which have been direct forces in the development and improve- ment of this section of the state. He has always been diligent and persevering in his business career, utilizing advantages which others have passed by heed- lessly, and the course which he has pursued in his business career is one which at all times will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. One of Ohio's native
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sons, Mr. Page was born in Brown county, December 31, 1835, and there the days of his boyhood and youth were passed upon a farm in the midst of the green forests. He remained with his father until seventeen years of age and then started out in business life for himself, working as a farm hand by the day and month. In the year 1857 he removed to Livingston county, Illinois, where he worked on farms for a time, after which he rented land and so carried on gen- eral agricultural pursuits for nine years.
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