USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 58
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
FILLMORE O. LEE.
Fillmore O. Lee gives his time and attention to the operation of a well-im- proved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located on section 2, Grove town- ship. He is a native of the state of Iowa, born in Jackson county, June 24, 1851, a son of Thomas Lee. The latter was born in Illinois, in which state he was reared. Later he went to Wisconsin and during his residence in that state was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Preston. Following his marriage he removed to Missouri, where he spent two years, and subsequently in 1856, took up his abode in Jackson county, Iowa, remaining there one year. He then made a permanent location in Dubuque county when the city of Dubuque was only a cross roads village, containing three shanties. There Mr. Lee engaged in farm- ing for many years and reared his family. He later disposed of his farm in Dubuque county and removed to Morris, Kansas, where he opened up a new farm and spent his remaining years, his death occurring in 1885. His wife survived him for many years, passing away in May, 1908, when she had reached an advanced age.
Fillmore O. Lee is one of a family of nine sons and four daughters, of whom the daughters and five of the sons survive. Mr. Lee was quite young when taken from his native county to Dubuque county, Iowa. He grew to manhood in the latter section and helped his father to carry on the work of the home place until he was twenty-two years of age. He then accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Kansas but he spent only one year in the Sunflower state and then re-
567
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
turned to Iowa. This time, however, he took up his abode in Taylor county, where for a time he was employed as a farm hand. Later he purchased a team and engaged in breaking prairie, breaking in all about four hundred acres. He carefully saved the money he acquired in this manner and eventually purchased eighty acres of raw land, which he improved and there made his home for seven years. He then sold the place to good advantage and invested his money in one hundred and twenty acres, on which he made improvements. The buildings were all swept away in a tornado but in due time they were all replaced and Mr. Lee made his home on that farm until 1900. He then disposed of that tract and purchased his present farm on section 2, Grove township, comprising one hundred and sixty acres. This place was partially improved but Mr. Lee erected a good country residence and barn, set out a grove and orchard, fenced the fields with hog tight woven wire fencing, dividing the farm into forty-acre tracts. He now has good improvements on his farm, which has greatly enhanced its value so that it is worth much more today than when Mr. Lee took possession nine years ago. In addition to raising the various cereals best adapted to soil and climate, he also feeds a large amount of hogs each year. He has made good use of his opportunties and has advanced from year to year but the methods which he follows are always most honorable and straightforward.
Mr. Lee was married in Taylor county, April 4, 1877, to Miss Cynthia E. Wilcox, a native of Jones county, Iowa, and a daughter of R. B. Wilcox, a prominent farmer of that section of the state. Their union has been blessed with one son and three daughters. Herbert assists his father in the work of the home farm. Roxie is the wife of Chris J. Trost, a farmer of Grove township. They have three daughters. Ettie is the wife of Homer Ramsey, operator and station agent for the Rock Island Railroad Company at Hartley, Iowa. Their family numbers three sons and one daughter. Mary is a young lady, still with her parents.
Mr. Lee has been a life long republican but the honors of office have no attraction for him, as he prefers to give his undivided time to his business affairs and leave the office holding to others. With the exception of the brief period passed in Kansas, Mr. Lee has always lived in Iowa and he has been an active factor in developing three good farms and in other ways has been an influential man in promoting the agricultural interests of the state. He possesses the reso- lution, perseverance and reliability so characteristic of his nation, and his name is now enrolled among the best citizens of Taylor county.
A. P. EVANS.
A. P. Evans, who for many years has been numbered among the prominent business men and agriculturists of Taylor county, was one of the early pioneers who settled in Iowa while this state was still under territorial rule. Born in Illinois, near Chicago, in 1840, he is a son of the Rev. Jesse Evans, a native of Virginia. The latter was reared and educated in his native state and there wedded Priscilla Cade, who was born in Ohio. On leaving the Old Dominion, he removed
568
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
to Illinois and in 1840 came to Iowa, locating in Davis county, where he followed farming for a time. Later he engaged in business in Bloomfield and in 1854 came to Taylor county, establishing the second store in the village of Bedford. He became a prominent figure in community affairs and was a pioneer preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church in Taylor county. He served two or more terms as probate judge and also as postmaster of Bedford, taking an active interest in all matters of public moment. He continued a resident of that village for twenty- five years and then removed to Oregon, where his remaining years were passed.
Coming to Iowa in infancy, A. P. Evans was here reared and acquired his education in the common schools of Bedford. He remained at home'until twenty- one years of age, when, hearing and heeding his country's call for aid, he joined the Fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry as a member of the regimental band in the fall of 1861 and served until discharged on account of disability, the whole band being mustered out in 1862. Returning to his home he clerked in the postoffice until 1864, and in that year, deciding to try his fortune in the west, he went to California, where he engaged in the manufacture of lumber and also in mining for about four years. At the expiration of that period he returned east by way of Nicaragua and New York. After arriving home he clerked in a store in Bed- ford for some time and then established a hardware store in that village, being engaged in this line of business for about sixteen years. He was very success- ful in this undertaking, being accorded a large and lucrative patronage, and he was recognized as one of the leading business men of the town. In 1886, how- ever, he sold his hardware interests in Bedford and purchased a farm on section 35, Bedford township, where he now makes his home. He later added to his hold- ings until at present his home farm consists of four hundred and twenty acres, the property adjoining the Taylor county fair grounds. He has greatly improved the place, erecting upon it a large and attractive residence and two substantial barns, while he has also set out a fine orchard of fruit trees. Aside from general farming he devotes much time to the raising and feeding of stock, the high grade of which insures a ready sale upon the market.
On the 3d of June, 1869, in Bedford, Mr. Evans was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Fordyce, a daughter of Alfred Fordyce, her birth occurring in Penn- sylvania, where she was reared and educated. In their family are two children, namely : Edna V., the wife of B. E. Paschal, a business man of Ingersoll, Okla- homa; and George R., who married Mabel Archer, a daughter of Dr. Archer of Bedford.
Mr. Evans still has a large number of friends in Bedford and is well known in financial circles of that town as the vice-president and also a stockholder and director of the Citizens Bank of Bedford. He is a member of the Baptist church and formerly belonged to the Masonic lodge but was recently demitted. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, upon which ticket hi vas elected township trustee and also a member of the city council, and h. closely identified with school interests for several years. Coming to lowa when he had scarcely completed his first year, almost his entire life has bee spent in Taylor county, where he has witnessed the work of transformation the ... een steadily and rapidly carried on, converting Bedford, which at the time- of .- rival consisted of only a few log cabins into a city with all the sem ~ of a
569
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
growing and flourishing town. During his early residence here the people used to take up a collection and hire some one to go to Hawleyville for mail, as a postoffice had not been established in Bedford. Mr. Evans brought the first mail directed to the town. He has at all times borne his full share in the work of im -. provement and development and is recognized as one of the public-spirited citi- zens of this community. Upright and honorable in all of his dealings with his fellowmen, he has gained the confidence, respect and good will of all with whom he has been associated. .
T. C. BUCHANAN.
T. C. Buchanan, now a resident of Clearfield, is one of the prominent and successful agriculturists and stockmen of Taylor county, owning four hun- dred and eighty acres of well improved and valuable farming property on sec- tions 20, 21, 28 and 29, Grant township. The period of his residence in this county now covers almost four decades, for he took up his abode within its borders in the year 1870.
Mr. Buchanan was born on the 13th of March, 1848, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated. After attaining his majority he left the old home farm and in 1870 came to Taylor county, Iowa, purchasing a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in Grant township. A small portion of the land had been broken and a partially constructed dwelling stood on the place. Mr. Buchanan set resolutely to work and in due time had developed a good farming property and also erected the necessary buildings, hauling his lumber from Cromwell. As the years passed by and his financial resources in- creased, owing to his well directed labor and capable management, he gradually extended the boundaries of his place by additional purchase until it now com- prises four hundred and eighty acres of rich and arable land. In 1903, he bought a farm of thirty-four acres adjoining the corporation limits of Clear- field, on which he made his home until the fall of 1909, when he sold the place and secured a home in Clearfield, which he remodeled and improved, it being his present residence. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he makes a specialty of raising and feeding hogs and cattle, shipping from ten to twelve carloads of stock annually. The prosperity which, he now enjoys is all the more creditable by reason of the fact that it has come as the direct result of his unremitting industry and perseverance, for he started out in life on his own account empty-handed. At the present time he owns more than five " indred acres of land in three well improved farms and is widely recog- nº c ar ge of the most substantial and esteemed citizens of his community.
; On wie IIth of January, 1877, in Taylor county, Mr. Buchanan was united in marriage to Miss Dora Darlington, a native of Cedar county, Iowa, by whom he hranic children. Hugh resides on the old home place and carries on farm- it. i stock-raising in partnership with his father. He was joined in wed- lock, at.( vity, this county, to Miss Maud Brooker, who was born and reared in Ta ounty. Their union has been blessed with two children, Roy and
570
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
Helen. Lois, Edna, Edith and Anna, the other children of Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Buchanan, are all yet under the parental roof.
Where national questions and issues are involved Mr. Buchanan gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but at local elections casts an inde- pendent ballot, supporting the candidate whom he believes best qualified for the office in question. He has voted for every presidential nominee of the democracy since casting his first ballot for S. J. Tilden in 1872. He has capably served his fellow townsmen in the position of road overseer and likewise acted as school di- rector for a number of years, the cause of education ever finding in him a stalwart champion. He joined the Masonic fraternity at Conway and is now a Master Mason, belonging to Clearfield Lodge, in which he has served in an official capa- city for a number of years. His wife and daughters are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he contributed liberally toward the erec- tion of the Greenwood church. He is numbered among the valued citizens of Taylor county, having for almost forty years contributed to its agricultural development, while at all times his influence and aid are given on the side of general progress and improvement.
WALTER R. FARNHAM.
A well improved farm of one hundred and twenty-two acres on section 7, Marshall township, is the home property of Walter R. Farnham, and he also owns another tract of seventy-seven acres situated on section 8 of the same township. He was born near Green Bay, Brown county, Wisconsin, August 18, 1861, one of six children born of the marriage of Horatio and Anna (Harmer) Farnham. The former was born in Genesee county, New York, and was there reared to farm life. He then went to Wisconsin and for a time worked in the lumber woods of that state, while for ten years he was a pilot on the Wisconsin river. In the mean- time his parents had removed to Durant, Illinois, and the son spent several sum- mers with them at that place. He was married near Green Lake, Wisconsin, to Miss Anna Harmer, who was a native of England and was a maiden of thirteen years when she accompanied her parents to this country, the family home being established in the Badger State. Following his marriage Mr. Farnham lived at Wrightstown, on the Fox river, for several years, during which time he carried on farming and lumbering. He later sold out and for some time traveled with his wife for the benefit of the latter's health. In 1877 he came to Taylor county, Iowa, and for several years operated rented land in Marshall township. After a time he took up his abode in Sharpsburg and still later removed to South Dakota and there spent his last years, passing away July 8, 1893, when he had reached the age of seventy-six years. His wife preceded him to the home beyond, her death occurring in Taylor county, July 8, 1885. Their family numbered four sons and two daughters: E. D., now a resident of Holyoke, Colorado; Ethan, who was reared in Taylor county and later went to Routt county, Colorado, where he served as sheriff and also won a reputation as a detective but died June 8, 1908; Horatio, who after reaching mature years had an arm shot off and on the
571
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
28th of December, 1904, passed away while undergoing a surgical operation ; Lilly, the wife of Dr. Fred Farnsworth, at one time a practicing physician of Sharpsburg; and one daughter, who died in infancy.
Walter R. Farnham, the other member of the family, was reared in Wiscon- sin to the age of sixteen years, when he accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Taylor county in 1877. He remained with his father until he reached mature years when he started out to make his own way in the world, first work- ing at farm labor for fifty cents per day. He also worked on the railroad for a time, and when he attained his twenty-first year he went to Nebraska and home- steaded a claim in Holt county. He broke the wild prairie and in due time placed his fields under cultivation. He also operated a threshing machine for a num- ber of seasons in that state as well as in Taylor county. After two years spent in Nebraska he returned to Taylor county and purchased eighty acres of land which constitutes a portion of his present farm. The buildings were in a de- lapidated condition and the soil was also run down. Mr. Farnham at once set to work to put his land in a state of cultivation and put up good buildings, thus making the place more attractive as well as valuable. From time to time he added to his holdings until he now has two hundred acres, in the midst of which stands a fine country residence and ample barns and sheds for stock and grain. He does a general farming and dairying business and also fattens about one hundred head of hogs annually, and in each direction in which he is bending his energies he is meeting with substantial success.
Mr. Farnham was married in Taylor county in May, 1886, the lady of his choice being Miss Nettie Johnson, who was born and reared in Henry county, Iowa. Their union has been blessed with a son and two daughters: Earl L., who farms a portion of the home place ; Nellie, a young lady at home ; and Fern.
Politically a republican, Mr. Farnham has never been active as an office seeker but is identified with the school board. He is a Master Mason, belonging to blue lodge at Gravity. He has never been slow in lending his aid and in- fluence in the cause of any good movement and with the improvement and prog- ress of Sharpsburg he has been especially interested and helpful, so that no man of the county deserves more prominent mention in its history than does he.
FRANK CONNOR.
Frank Connor, who for the past eight years has capably served his fellow townsmen in the position of assessor of Platte township, owns and operates a neat and well improved farm of eighty acres on section 17, adjoining the corpora- tion limits of Lenox, and also has forty acres in another tract. His birth occurred in Knox county, Illinois, on the 25th of January, 1865, and he is one of a family of four sons and three daughters, all of whom still survive with the exception of one of the sons. He was a lad of eleven years when he came to this county with his father and here grew to manhood, obtaining his education in the public schools. He remained on the home farm until he had attained his majority and on the 10th of February, 1890, was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Hayes.
572
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
During the next sixteen years he devoted his time and energies to the cultivation of a rented farm in Platte township and in 1907 purchased the place of eighty acres on section 17 where he now resides. He has brought the fields under a high state of cultivation and has placed many substantial improvements on the property, which in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates the supervision of a practical and progressive owner. His landed holdings also include another farm of forty acres in Platte township and he is widely recognized as one of the sub- stantial agriculturists and representative citizens of the community. In addition to the production of the various cereals best adapted to climatic conditions, he is also engaged in the raising and feeding of stock, which branch of his business adds materially to his income.
At the polls Mr. Connor casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the democracy. In 1901 he was elected to the position of assessor and by re- election has since remained in that office, the period of his incumbency now cover- ing eight years. Both he and his wife are devoted communicants of the Catholic church, in the faith of which they were reared. He has lived in this county for a third of a century and has witnessed many changes here, for the conditions of frontier life have been replaced with the evidence of a modern and progressive civilization. With the growth and development he has been closely connected and he is a man of tried integrity and worth, who has the confidence and esteem of all.
J. C. McMASTER.
On the honor roll of the citizens of Taylor county appears the name of J. C. McMaster, whose death occurred at the old home on section 25, Polk township, March 3, 1902. He was numbered among the early settlers of this part of the state, having located in the county in 1857. He was at that time a young man of about twenty-nine years, his birth having occurred in Ireland in 1828. He spent the first twenty-four years of his life in the land of his nativity and then heard and heeded the call of the new world, believing its advantages and oppor- tunities to be superior to those offered in Great Britain. Accordingly he crossed the Atlantic in 1852, settling first in Illinois, where he remained for about five years, while in 1857, he came to Iowa and made permanent location in Taylor county. This section of the state was then largely wild and unimproved and its residents were few. Much of the land was still in possession of the government and Mr. McMaster entered a tract of eighty acres, which he afterward sold. He then bought eighty acres, whereon the family now reside and moved to this farm.
It was on the 24th of November, 1859, that Mr. McMaster was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Thompson, a daughter of Daniel Thompson, who re- moved to Iowa about 1855 and was one of the first settlers of this county. He was a native of Owen county, Indiana, and removed thence to Texas, where he lived for seven years, on the expiration of which period he came to Iowa.
Following the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McMaster they located on the farm where the family still reside and with determined purpose and indefatigable energy he took up the task of tilling the soil and improving the place, purchas-
J. C. McMASTER
SARAH A. McMASTER
577
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
ing more land from time to time until he became one of the large landowners and prosperous farmers of this locality, being well known in Taylor and Nodaway counties. He made substantial improvement on his place, including the erection of an attractive residence and good barns. As the years went by and he pros- pered in his undertakings, he gave to each of his sons a hundred acres of land and to one son, one hundred and seventy-five acres, and to his daughters he gave eighty acres each and also bestowed some valuable property on his wife. Since his death, Mrs. McMaster has purchased more land and now has over one hun- dred acres. She and her son have charge of the farm and the business inter- ests of the property, and the farm is now carefully and successfully managed.
Mr. and Mrs. McMaster became the parents of ten sons and six daughters: Louisa Jane, who died when only about a year old; William D., a prominent and representative farmer of Polk township; Abram, who follows farming in Ala- bama; John Noble, who died May 4, 1908, at the age of forty-five years, leav- ing a family of eight children ; Charles A., who is now engaged in the real-estate business in Idaho; Archie, who follows farming in Nodaway county, Missouri ; Jerome, who is living on the home place; George, who is a resident farmer of Ross township; Amos, living in Hopkins, Missouri; Arthur, a farmer and prom- inent citizen of Nodaway county, Missouri; Harmon, who is connected with the Conservatory of Music at Maryville, Missouri, and also owning a half interest in the old home place; Mary, the wife of J. C. Beauchamp, now of Idaho; Martha, the wife of Reece George, living in Montana; Dora, who is residing with her brother William; Sarah and Alta, both at home. While their son, John Noble was returning from a trip to Chicago, a woman requested him to look after her baby while she got off the train at a certain station, but when the train started up again the woman did not appear and he found a note pinned to the child requesting him to see that it was well cared for. Taking it home, his parents at once announced their intention of keeping the helpless little one, who has since lived with the family and to whom they gave the name of Francis Train McMaster.
Mrs. McMaster and her daughters who are yet at home are members of the Baptist church. The family are numbered among the most prominent of Taylor county, occupying an enviable position in social circles, while their business connections are those of prominence.
MARION R. GLASSGOW.
Marion R. Glassgow, a farmer of New Market, Taylor county, Iowa, who owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Dallas township, was born in this county, February 8, 1868, and is a son of William and Julia A. (Roberts) Glass- gow. The paternal grandfather, who like his son bore the name of William, was of Scotch descent and had a family of eight children: William, Samuel, Charles; David, Newton, James, Mattie and Bell. The eldest, who is the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ohio. During the four years of the Civil war he served with distinction to himself and to the honor of his country, as a member
57
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
of Company F, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and upon his return from service continued his work as a farmer. Mrs. William Glassgow was born in Illinois. and is a daughter of Ambrose Roberts and the sister of Warren, Daniel, James and Lorenzo Roberts. She became the mother of five sons and two daughters, namely : Marion, Frank, George, John, Lola, Maria and William.
Marion R. Glassgow was reared at home on the farm under the guidance of his parents and received in the district school of his locality such formal prepara- tion for life as could be gleaned through the short winter months it was in session. During the summer months he assisted with the farm work, so that by the time he had attained manhood he was fully competent to manage a farm of his own and intelligently and skillfully cultivate a large tract of land. Eight years ago he moved to his present farm, where with renewed energy he has carried on general farming and has engaged in stock raising and feeding. He has been more than ordinarily successful in his work, his fields produce abundantly, and the stock is subject to perhaps fewer of the misfortunes that overtake the aver- age cattle man.
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.