USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
=
DR. C. M. PASCHAL
537
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
expert blacksmith and lived in Columbus City, Iowa, where he conducted a smithy for a long period. He died there when more than eighty years of age, while his wife was about eighty-two years of age at the time of her demise. They had a large family, including four or five sons who were soldiers of the Civil war. Their daughter, Mary J., became the wife of Albert G. Paschal and, sur- viving her husband for three years, passed away when about seventy-one years of age. Both were members of the Methodist church. Their family included two sons and three daughters, as follows: Clayton M., of this review; Anna, the wife of James A. Payne, of Lacona, Iowa ; Getts A., a resident of Melrose; Lois M., who died in young womanhood; and Pink, who is the widow of J. E. Van- winkle and makes her home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Dr. Paschal spent his boyhood days in Monroe county and began teaching school at the age of sixteen, following that profession for five years. Not con- tent with the educational opportunities which he had hitherto received, he at- tended Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant. He never regarded teaching as his permanent life work but merely as an initial step to other professional labor and as soon as opportunity offered he matriculated in the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, from which he was graduated with the class of 1875. He afterward pursued a special course in the Chicago Medical School in 1882. He began practicing medicine in 1875 at old Hawleyville, Page county, Iowa, where he remained for about eight years and in 1890 he came to Taylor county, practicing at New Market until 1893. In that year he arrived in Bedford, where he has since successfully followed his profession, receiving recognition of his ability in the liberal patronage which is accorded him. He keeps abreast with the trend of modern thought regarding professional problems and is interested in everything which tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life. Aside from his profession he has a gratifying source of revenue in two fine farms in Taylor county, one of eighty acres and the other of one hun- dred and sixty acres. He also owns an interest in a ranch of fourteen hundred acres near Fort Morgan, Colorado.
In 1876 Dr. Paschal was married to Miss Mabel Bean, a daughter of Joel and Cecelia Bean. Mrs. Paschal was born in Montgomery county, Iowa, while her father was a native of New Hampshire and her mother of New York. Re- moving westward, they became early settlers of Montgomery county. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Paschal have been born two sons: Beryl E., a merchant of Ingersoll, Oklahoma, who married Edna Evans and has two sons, George Albert and Robert George ; and Karl B., who married Dorothy Bedell, and has a daughter, Marian, and who is a dentist of Bedford.
Dr. and Mrs. C. M. Paschal are members of the Baptist church and are prominent socially in the community. The Doctor belongs to Taylor Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Triangle Chapter, No. 68, R. A. M .; Bedford Lodge, No. 91, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the chairs; the Knights of Pythias lodge; and the Modern Woodmen camp. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he served as county coroner for a number of years, while in 1888 he was elected to the Iowa legislature and served for two terms. Professionally . he is connected with the Taylor County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is a man whose interests
538
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
constitute well-balanced forces in his life, making his a well-rounded character. He has sought his success not by any devious methods but by close adherence to the profession which he has chosen as a life work and his determination and energy have gained him a place among the substantial residents of the county.
JOHN HILL.
John Hill, who by his numerous friends is familiarly called Jack, is the owner of extensive farming interests in Taylor county, his possessions embracing four hundred and eighty acres, located in Grove township on section 4. He was born in Somersetshire, England, March 23, 1850, and when a little lad of five years was taken by his parents to South Swanza, a seaport town in South Wales. He was there reared to the age of eighteen, during which period he acquired his education in the common schools and through the periods of vacation worked on his father's . truck farm. His advantages, in his youth, however, were somewhat limited and he is largely a self-educated man. When eighteen years of age, believing that he might enjoy better opportunities on this side the Atlantic, he set sail for Amer- ica, landing in the new world in February, 1868. He spent a short time in Port- land, Maine, but soon sought a home farther west, journeying to Chicago. From that city he made his way to Warren county, Illinois, and worked for a time as a farm hand near Galesburg. He then returned to Chicago, being there in 1871, at the time of the memorable fire. For a time he was employed as a conductor on the street cars and later for about a year acted as solicitor and delivered for a meat market. He became so well versed in this particular branch of business that he was later made salesman and buyer, being accounted a man of good judgment in making purchases in the wholesale markets. After about three years spent in that business he returned once more to Warren county and again took up farm- ing. It was while making his home in Warren county that he was married, Janu- ary 23. 1873. to Miss Lucy E. Franklin, who was there born and reared, a daughter of John Franklin, a pioneer of that county.
Following his marriage Mr. Hill located on a farm of eighty acres in Warren county. After a year he removed to another farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he spent a similar period and then removed to a still larger place, this tract comprising two hundred acres. He spent five years on the latter farm and then, believing that the rich and undeveloped soil of Iowa might prove more remunera- tive. in 1880 he made a trip to Taylor county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 4, Grove township, this constituting a portion of his pres- ent acreage. A year later, in 1881, he removed his family to Iowa and taking up his abode on his newly acquired farm, has since made it his home. It, however, today bears little resemblance to the place when he first took possession. At that time there was a crude dwelling and but few other improvements on the farm. It seemed a hard task that was presented to Mr. Hill but with undaunted energy and a courageous spirit he took up his work and although many years passed be- fore he brought the place to its desired condition, he kept adding to his holdings and making further improvements, until it is now one of the most valuable farms
539
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
of this section of the state. He now owns four hundred and eighty acres, which is supplied with three sets of buildings, including houses, barns, machine sheds, granaries, etc. He farms on an extensive scale and also raises considerable stock, formerly feeding forty thousand bushels of corn annually. He now ships from two to four carloads of cattle and hogs each year and always keeps the best grades of stock. His life has been a success and yet it has come to him through his own well directed labors and his capable management of business affairs, so that all may rejoice with him in what he has accomplished.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill have three living sons and three daughters: Bert, who is married, is a prominent farmer of Taylor county and at the present writing, in 1909, is serving as assessor of Grove township; Otto, who is also married and follows farming ; and Eddie, Grace, Ethel May and Lucy Fay, who are at home. They also lost three sons and one daughter in infancy, the sons being Irwin, Arthur and Ray who passed away at the ages of eighteen, ten and eight months respectively.
Mr. Hill is independent in his political views, voting for men and measures rather than adhering strictly to party ties. He has participated to some extent in public affairs and served for some years as treasurer of the school board. He has also been a delegate to county, state and national conventions and was a delegate to the free silver convention in Kansas City, when William J. Bryan was nominated for the presidency. He has also been United States crop reporter at Washington for a number of years. He is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Lenox, the chapter at Corning, the commandery at Creston and the Mystic Shrine at Davenport. His stock buying interests have taken him into various sec- tions of Iowa so that his acquaintanceship is not confined to the bounds of Tay- lor county but extends over Adam, Monroe and Ringgold counties as well and likewise into Nodaway county, Missouri. For almost three decades he has lived in Taylor county and his interests are thoroughly allied with those of the county and while seeking to advance his own personal welfare he has also been a bene- ficial and helpful factor in the community at large.
H. H. LONGWELL.
H. H. Longwell has made his home in Blockton since 1895 and derives a good living from his invested interests. He was formerly identified with farming in Union county and the rest which he is now enjoying is well merited, for in early years he led a very busy and active life. Mr. Longwell was born in Crawford county, Ohio, February 10, 1837, a son of George Longwell, who was born in Connecticut, a son of Edwin Longwell. The latter removed to Licking county. in an early day, when much of the land was still in possession of the Indians and when his nearest neighbors were the red men. It was also at a time when much wild game was to be found in that district. It was in Licking county that George Longwell was reared and was there married to Miss Margaret Jury, who was born in the Buckeye State, of Welsh parentage. Mr. Longwell there engaged in farming and reared a family of three children. In 1853 he opened up a farm
540
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
in Iowa county, Iowa, which he developed and improved but later disposed of that property and removed to Keokuk county, this state, where he spent his remaining years and passed away. His wife survived him and departed this life in Wash- ington county, Iowa.
H. H. Longwell was reared in the county of his nativity to the age of fifteen years, during which time he acquired his education in the district schools. At the above stated age he removed with his parents to Iowa county, Iowa, and enrolled his name as a student in the Iowa City College, where he qualified for the teacher's profession, which he followed for one year prior to the outbreak of the Civil war. At that time, in 1861, he enlisted for service, joining the Second Iowa Cavalry in August of that year. Going south with his command he saw active service in Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee under Pope, participated in the battle of Corinth and later participated in the battle at Boonville, Missouri, under General Sheridan. He also took part in many skirmishes and after the battle of Corinth was on provost duty for a time under General Rosecrans. At Corinth, in 1863, he veteranized and went home on a furlough. Later he re- joined his regiment near Memphis, Tennessee, and remained at the front, until the close of hostilities. He was mustered out and received an honorable dis- charge at Selma, Alabama, in September, 1865.
Returning to the home farm, Mr. Longwell then remained with his father until the latter's death, after which he took charge of the home place. It was about that time, on the 15th of November, 1866, that he was married to Miss Adda Hallett, who was born in Ohio and removed with her parents when a little maiden of six years to Iowa county. Following their marriage Mr. Longwell continued farming operations in Iowa county but later took up his abode in Keokuk county and eventually made a location in Union county, where he pur- chased a farm and continued to operate the same throughout a long period. In 1895, however, he abandoned farming pursuits and purchasing a block of land in Blockton, took up his abode in this city, where he has made his home to the present time. He built to and remodeled the house and now has a modern and commodious structure, supplied with all conveniences and accessories for the in- mates of the household. He also invested in land near Woodward, Oklahoma, and owns property near Alva, both of which are finely improved farms, from which he derives a substantial income.
Mr. and Mrs. Longwell have reared a family of four children, namely: Laura May, who is a stenographer, occupying a responsible position in Des Moines ; Fred M., who is an osteopathic physician in Oregon; R. H., who was an elec- trical engineer in Des Moines and is now in the employ of Crane Manufacturing Company ; and Zua, the wife of Everett Williams, a farmer of Woodward, Okla- homa. They have one child living, Eston, and have lost one.
Mr. Longwell gives his political support to the republican party and has been called by his fellow townsmen to serve in public positions, having filled the offices of township clerk and assessor, while living in Union county. He has also served as mayor of Blockton. Both he and his wife are members of the Meth- odist church, and Mrs. Longwell is a teacher in the Sunday school. Mr. Long- well is a Master Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Blockton and both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star Chapter. Mr. Longwell is a member
541
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
of the G. A. R. post at Blockton, in which he is serving as commander. Mr. Longwell has led an upright, honest life. His entire political service has been in the interest of the people. His loyalty to his country, when, at the age of twenty- four years he abandoned the profession of teaching and went to the front during the Civil war, is a chapter in his history, and this loyalty has been manifest throughout his entire career-in public life, in social and fraternal relations, and in citizenship. He has now passed the seventy-second milestone on life's journey and he and his estimable wife are enjoying in retirement the accumulations of profitable, successful and honorable careers.
LOCK CAMPBELL.
1
For more than a half century Lock Campbell has been a resident of Taylor county and during this period has been closely identified with the marvelous growth and development which has been carried on within its borders. A native of Iowa, he has been a life-long resident of this state, and during the period covered by his active business career has been instrumental in the improvement of three different farming properties.
Born in Lee county on the 5th of November, 1847, he is a son of John and Esther (McClain) Campbell, both natives of Ohio, the former of Guernsey county and the latter of Licking county. The father was reared and married in Guernsey county and in 1842 arrived in Iowa, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Lee county. There he purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres, upon which he made his home until 1855, when he invested in four hundred acres in Benton township, Taylor county, to which he removed and upon which he resided for five years. In 1860 he withdrew from agricultural pursuits and removed to Bedford, where he was engaged in merchandising for five years. He passed away in 1886, in Ringgold county, Iowa, at the age of seventy-six years, while his wife's death occurred in 1857. They were the parents of five children.
ยท To the common schools of Lee county and of Bedford Lock Campbell is indebted for the educational advantages which he enjoyed during the period of his boyhood and youth. He lost his mother when a little lad of ten years and remained under his father's care until he attained his majority, when he started out in business on his own account, engaging in agricultural pursuits in partner- ship with his brother-in-law. He was thus connected until his marriage, after which he purchased eighty acres in Clayton township and later added eighty acres. Few improvements had been made upon the farm when it came into his possession, but with characteristic energy he set about breaking the soil and converting the land into productive fields. He erected a house and a small barn and continued in the work of cultivating and developing the place until 1884. In that year he purchased the farm upon which he now makes his home, consisting of eighty acres on section 20, Grant township, to the further improvement of which he has since directed his efforts. The only dwelling that stood upon the farm at the time of purchase was a little log house, which has since given place to a modern
542
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
frame structure, while Mr. Campbell has also erected substantial barns and out- buildings and has surrounded his fields with good fences. He has a large orchard of apple, peach and cherry trees, which yield rich fruits in their season. In fact everything about the place indicates that he is in touch with the modern spirit of progress which is manifest in agricultural lines, and his farming interests have been so wisely and carefully conducted that he has won substantial success. Aside from his farming interests he also devotes much time to raising and feeding stock, and he is enjoying a most gratifying income from the fact that both branches of his business-the raising of grain and the raising of stock-are proving most profitable.
On the 9th of April, 1877, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Wright, a native of Clayton township. Taylor county, where she was reared and married. Unto that union were born two children, namely: Hollis E., the wife of W. L. Ross, of Wayne county, Nebraska; and Harry B., of Hill City, South Dakota. In February, 1884, Mr. Campbell was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, and later in the same year, in Conway, Iowa, he was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Clara Robinson. This union has been blessed with one daughter, Clara, the wife of E. Harrigan, who resides with our subject and assists in the operation of the home farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally Mr. Campbell is a Master Mason, being identified with the blue lodge of Bedford, of which he has been a member for more than thirty years. He gives his political support to the republican party, having cast his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant in 1872, since which time he has supported every candidate on that ticket. For more than five decades he has been a resident of Taylor county and during that period has been thoroughly identified with its interests. When he first took up his abode within its borders not a frame house was to be seen in the city of Bedford, which was then a little village of log cabins. In the years covering his residence here he has wit- nessed the county's growth and progress, nor has he been alone an interested witness for he has aided in the work of development.
JAMES FOSSETT.
A well improved and valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by James Fossett, an enterprising and prosperous agriculturist of Grove township, who has been a resident of Taylor county for a period of about thirty years. A native of Illinois, he was born in Peoria county on the 22d of April, 1855, and is a son of James and Mary (Dean) Fossett, the former born and reared in Indiana, and the latter born in Massachusetts but reared in Illinois. The father went to Illinois when a young man, locating in Peoria county, where he was united in marriage. His entire life was devoted to farming, and he was engaged in that line of activity in Illinois to the time of his demise, which occurred about 1859, when he was thirty-three years of age. His wife survived until about 1883 and also passed
543
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
away in the Prairie state. Their family consisted of three children, the sisters of our subject being: Sarah E., the wife of George Blake of Dunlap, Illinois; . and Mary E., who wedded John Stephenson, of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
James Fossett was but a little lad of four years when his father passed away, and it was therefore necessary for him at an early day to assist his mother in the support of the family. Consequently his educational advantages were very limited. At the early age of eleven he began earning his own livelihood, being employed as a farm hand for several years. In the spring of 1879, he came to Taylor county, Iowa, and rented a farm, carrying on agricultural pursuits in that capacity for a number of years. He purchased a breaking team and for a season or two broke prairie land and later invested in a tract of forty acres in Ross township. For three years thereafter he resided in Bedford, the last year being devoted to the occupation of teaming, and then he located upon his little farm, upon which stood a small house. He remodeled the dwelling and later added another tract of eighty acres to his original purchase. He con- tinued to make that his home for about five years and in the meantime greatly improved and developed the property, so that at the expiration of that period he was able to sell the farm at a very gratifying advance over the original purchase.
- Coming to Grove township, Mr. Fossett bought one hundred and sixty acres located on sections 26 and 27, upon which he has continued to make his home to the present time. He has since directed his entire energies to its further culti- vation, and under his careful management it has become one of the well im- proved and valuable properties of the township. When it came into his pos- session it was equipped with a small house, in which he resided for two years, and then it was replaced by a neat and attractive modern residence. He has also erected a large barn and substantial outbuildings and has a good orchard of his own planting, while everything about the place indicates a spirit of progress, thrift and industry on the part of the owner. Not only to the tilling of the soil has he confined his attention, but he has also engaged to some extent in the stock business, raising and fattening a large number of hogs annually, for which he receives good prices on the market. Energy, diligence and perseverance have characterized his entire business career and have proven salient elements in the acquirement of the gratifying measure of success which he today enjoys.
It was on the 9th of October, 1881, that Mr. Fossett was united in marriage in Grove township to Miss Sarah Tando, whose birth occurred in Bureau county, Illinois. Her father Edward Tando, who was born and reared in Connecticut, was there married to Miss Mary Matthews, a native of Ireland, and later they moved to Bureau county, Illinois. In 1870, they came to Iowa, being numbered among the early settlers of Taylor county. Here Mr. Tando lost his wife and about 1873. was again married, after which he moved to Washington county, Arkansas, where his remaining years were spent. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Fossett has been blessed with one son, Charles L., a young man who is now assisting his father in the operation of the home farm.
Although Mr. Fossett casts a republican vote in all national issues, he exercises his right of franchise at local elections in behalf of men and measures which, in his opinion, are best adapted to conserve the public welfare, regardless of party ties. Although he has ever been most active and public spirited, having been
544
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
remiss in none of those matters which demand the interest and attention of every true and loyal citizen, he has never sought public preferment nor would he suffer himself to be elected by his fellowmen to any public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon the conduct of his own personal business. Hav- ing resided within the borders of Taylor county for about thirty years, he has in the meantime been thoroughly identified with the interests of the county and is numbered among its representative citizens. Having started out at the early age of eleven years to make his own way in the world, he has made continuous progress in the business world until he today ranks among the substantial and prosperous agriculturists of his township, well deserving the proud title of a self-made man, and his labors have contributed to the general upbuilding of the community as well as to his individual success.
RICHARD LIVINGSTON.
For many years Richard Livingston was actively identified with farming interests in Gay township, where he still owns a valuable farming property but since 1905, he has lived retired in a nice home in Blockton. He dates his residence in Iowa from 1859, coming west as a young man from New York, his birth having occurred in Tioga county, that state, on the 27th of October, 1837. His parents, William and Elizabeth (Young) Richards, were likewise natives of the Empire state, where they were reared and married. They eventually came to the west, settling in Indiana in 1849.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.