USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 63
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When age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Hogg proudly cast his first presidential vote for the candidate of the republican party and has since been most loyal to the organization. He has been officially identified with the schools for some years but has never been an office seeker. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Blockton and he belongs also to the Masonic lodge at that place. His recollection of pioneer events in this part of the state is keen and he relates many interesting incidents of the early days. Great changes have occurred during the period of his residence here, for the district has become thickly settled and the wild prairie grasses and flowers have been replaced by waving fields of grain and the wild game by the do- mestic fowls of the farmyard. Long since the evidences of frontier life have been replaced by the evidences of civilization. Throughout the intervening pe- riod Mr. Hogg has been recognized as a man of good business capacity and of strict integrity, his worth winning him the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
ELISHA SMITH LEONARD.
Elisha Smith Leonard, a farmer of Holt township, was born on his father's place in this township, July 14, 1873, the son of Daniel and Jane (Heath) Leonard, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Until he was nineteen years of age he remained at home and then attended the high school at Corning. Later he spent two years at the Western Normal College in Shenandoah, Iowa, from which he was graduated, and then taught for two years in the schools of his home district. He next entered Gem City Business College in Quincy, Illinois, from which he was graduated, and subsequently taught for two years in a business col-
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lege in Kansas City, Missouri. The next two years were spent in the employ of Swift & Company at different places after which he returned home and identified himself with his father and brothers, who were pioneer importers and breeders of Shropshire sheep. On the northeast quarter of section 15, given him by his father, he follows general farming and has so far met with gratifying success.
On the 26th of September, 1906, Mr. Leonard was united in marriage to Miss Myrta Powers, who was born in Taylor county and received her education at the Des Moines high school and at that of Lennox, South Dakota, graduating from the latter. She also received excellent training in music, having studied in Chicago, and afterward taught the art in Villisca and Corning, Iowa. She is a devout member of the Presbyterian church and is active in its work.
Mr. Leonard has wide fraternal relations, for he belongs to the Masonic lodge at Gravity, Iowa ; was initiated into the Knights of Pythias while he was a resi- dent of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. With his wife he belongs to the order of the Eastern Star at Corning, Iowa, finding much enjoyment and relaxa- tion from his cares in the social gatherings of that body. Industrious and a good manager, he is rapidly rising to a position of importance in the agricultural community of Holt township.
EDGAR HARRIS.
Edgar Harris is the owner of one hundred and sixty-four acres of land, located in section 19, Washington township, and with its development and cultivation he has been identified for the past nine years. He was born December 28, 1858, in Nodaway county, Missouri, the oldest in a family of ten children born unto Silas D. and Sarah (Fleming) Harris. The former is a son of James and Elizabeth (Thomas) Harris, while the latter is a daughter of Peter and Temperance (Petti- john) Fleming. The brothers and sisters of our subject are James, Fleming, Nide, John T., Walter S., May, Estella, Nannie and Mary.
Edgar Harris was reared in the place of his nativity and acquired his educa- tion in the common schools. The period of his boyhood and youth was spent in much the usual manner of farm lads and when starting out in life on his own account he engaged in farming and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty- four acres of well improved land, located in Washington township, this place having been his home for the past nine years. During that time many changes have been made in the way of improvements, for Mr. Harris carries on his busi- ness according to the most modern methods and now owns a comfortable country residence and substantial outbuildings, while everything about the farm is kept in excellent condition. He is busily engaged during the seasons of plowing, plant- ing and harvesting, and each year he gathers good crops as the result of his well directed labor. He also raises stock to some extent and in this work he is also meeting with success.
Mr. Harris was married August 15, 1900, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Rose C. Scofield. She was born in the state of New York, October 7, 1870, a
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daughter of Bernhardt and Mary Fifer, in whose family are three children, Rose, Kate and George. By her former marriage Mrs. Harris has one son, Glenn D. Scofield, and by her last marriage she has one child, Nide Harris.
Mr. Harris is a republican in his political views and affiliations but he has never been active in public life, preferring to give his full time to his private business interests. He is a member of the Christian church and is identified with the Masonic lodge at Gravity. Early in life his aim and purpose was to some day become the owner of land and to this end he worked diligently and ener- getically and his hopes have been realized as is evidenced by the valuable farming property of which he is today the owner.
WILLIAM G. SHARP.
Although William G. Sharp has been a resident of Blockton only since the spring of 1909, he is not unknown among her citizens, for he has lived in Taylor county since 1877, and in the thirty-five years which have passed he has become well known as a reliable and highly respected citizen. Mr. Sharp was born in Shelby county, Indiana, April 25, 1849, a son of John and Catherine (Golding) Sharp, natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. They were married in Indiana. John Sharp eventually became a resident of Clay county, Indiana, where he served as surveyor and in other official positions but later he removed to Mercer county, Illinois, the year 1860 witnessing his arrival in that state.
William G. Sharp of this review, was a lad of eleven years when he accom- panied his parents on their removal to Mercer county, Illinois, so that he was largely reared in that section. He acquired his education in the district schools, which, however, was somewhat limited, owing to the unsettled condition of the country at that time. It was in Mercer county that he was united in marriage to Miss Maria Nelson, who was born in that county, the marriage ceremony being performed on the 10th of November, 1872.
Following his marriage Mr. Sharp located on a farm in Mercer county, cultivating the same for five years, or until 1877, when, believing that the oppor- tunities and advantages farther west would more quickly enhance his financial condition, he took up his abode in Taylor county, Iowa, purchasing a tract of eighty acres in Gay township. The place at that time had some improvements on it but Mr. Sharp added other buildings and further improved the place and eventually purchased more land until his possessions now aggregate three hundred and twenty acres all in one body, on which stood a comfortable farm residence, good barn and other outbuildings, and he also set out fruit and shade trees and made the place a valuable property. For many years he followed general farm- ing and stock raising and met with excellent success in his business transactions. In the spring of 1909, he abandoned his farming interests and took up his abode in the city of Blockton, where he owns two good residence properties, one of which he occupies. The rest which he now enjoys has truly been earned, for when Mr. Sharp first located in Taylor county he had to face many difficulties and obstacles in order to establish his home here, for the country at that time
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was not in its present state of development and it has been through the labors of such men as Mr. Sharp that this county has been made the rich agricultural center it now is.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Sharp has been blessed with five sons and four daughters, namely: Warren F., who owns a good farm in Jefferson township; John Clint and Arthur, who cultivate the old homestead farm and also raise stock : Claud, a druggist of Blockton; Nellie, the wife of P. P. Ledgerwood, who is an implement dealer of this city; Cora, the wife of W. A. Livingston, a farmer of Gay township; and Addie and Zelda, who are young ladies and still reside with their parents. The other son, Walter, died when a little lad of five years.
A republican in his political belief, Mr. Sharp cast his first presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant in 1872 and has voted for each presidential candidate of the party since that time. While living on the farm in Gay township he served as township trustee for nine consecutive years and in 1906 he was elected to the office of supervisor, and at the present time is serving on the county board and the bridge committee, looking after all the bridges in the southeastern part of Taylor county. He has likewise served as a delegate to county conventions, has served on the grand jury in the federal court at Creston and on the petit jury in Taylor county. Both he and his wife are devoted and consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at Blockton and both are active workers and teachers in the Sunday-school and Mr. Sharp at one time served as super- intendent of that organization. Fraternally Mr. Sharp is identified with the Knights of Pythias lodge at Blockton. In reviewing the lives of the older resi- dents of Taylor county we find a large number who are now living retired but we find none who are more worthy of such rest than Mr. Sharp, for a glance at his fine farming property of three hundred and twenty acres in Gay township leads us to believe that it required much hard labor to bring it to its present state of cultivation and improvement and he is now able to spend the evening of life in ease, surrounded by many comforts and by a host of warm friends who have for him none but the highest praise and commendation.
JOHN F. CHRISTIANSON.
John F. Christianson, a progressive and prosperous farmer of Marshall township. Taylor county, belongs to that class of representative American citi- zens who claim Sweden as the land of their nativity and who in the new world have found opportunity for advancement and progress. Born in Sweden on the Ist of September, 1869, he was there reared and educated, acquiring excellent training in the Swedish language in the common and select schools of his native country. He was twenty years of age when, in 1889, he came to America, at- tracted by the broader business opportunities and advantages offered in the new world. Crossing the Atlantic he located first in Pennsylvania, where for about a year he was employed in the factory of the Elk Company.
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The spring of 1890, however, witnessed his arrival in Taylor county, Iowa, where for about six years he was engaged as a farm hand during the summer seasons, the winter months being devoted to learning the English language in a school at Silver Lake. On the expiration of that period he returned to Sweden to visit his parents and spent about five months in his old home, after which he again came to Taylor county and here on March 18, 1895, was united in mar- riage, the lady of his choice being Miss Ida Amanda Blade, who was also born reared in Sweden.
After his marriage Mr. Christianson located in Conway, where he resided for several years, and then, in the spring of 1901, purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land in Marshall township, to which he removed and which forms a part of his present property. He at once set about its further development and later added another tract of thirty-five acres, so that his farm now consists of two hundred and fifteen acres located on section 5, Marshall township. He erected large and substantial barns and outbuildings, enclosed the place with good fences and extended the orchard and grove, while in the midst of a beautiful and well- kept lawn he built a comfortable and attractive residence. He carries on general farming and also engages in raising cattle, hogs and horses, and through inde- fatigable energy and careful management of his affairs has gained rank among the substantial agriculturists of the township. Enterprising and progressive to a large degree, these qualities have been salient elements in the success which is today his.
As the years have come and gone the union of Mr. and Mrs. Christianson was blessed with four children, the eldest of whom, Carl, passed away at the age of seven months. Three daughters survive, Edith A., Adina M. and Ruth E., and are all yet under the parental roof. Mr. Christianson was reared in the Lutheran faith, the teachings of which form the guiding influence of his life. In politics he has given his allegiance to the socialist party for the past five years, believing that the principles of that organization are best adapted to con- serve the general welfare. Coming to America with no capital and without even a knowledge of the English language, he has worked his way upward in the business world until today he is ranked among the successful self-made men of his township, richly deserving the credit implied in that proud American title. Never has he had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for here he has found the business opportuities which he sought and through their utilization has advanced from an humble place to a position of prominence and affluence in the community.
A. L. GORDON.
A. L. Gordon, an enterprising and progressive farmer and successful business man of Grove township, where he has resided for more than thirty years, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, on the Ioth of December, 1865. He is a son of William Gordon, a native of North Carolina, who with his father, Samuel Gordon, re- moved to Indiana in early life and later settled in Peoria county, Illinois, in 1840.
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There William Gordon was reared and for a number of years was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He became a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting from Peoria county as a member of the Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of hostilities. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Shiloh, while he also took part in many minor skirmishes and engage- ments. After receiving an honorable discharge he returned home and later re- moved to Iowa in 1876, purchasing raw land and opening up a farm in Grove township, Taylor county, where he reared his family and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits for many years. The last ten years of his life, however, were spent in Lenox, where he passed away in December, 1896, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, a native of Kentucky, was reared and married in Indiana and survived her husband until June, 1908, both being laid to rest in Lenox cemetery.
A. L. Gordon was a lad of eleven years when he came with his parents to Grove township, Taylor county, and was here reared to manhood, spending the period of his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm. He acquired his edu- cation in the district schools near his home and took a commercial course at Burlington, Iowa, and when not occupied with his text-books was busily engaged in the work of the home farm, assisting his father in the development and im- provement of a new place. He early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and learned many practical lessons concerning the value of in- dustry, diligence and perseverance. He remained at home until twenty-four years of age, when, on the 2d of October, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Libbie Carter, a native of Henderson county, Illinois, and a daughter of James Carter, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
After his marriage Mr. Gordon removed to a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he had previously purchased and which formed the nucleus of his present large farm. When it came into his possession it was but partially devel- oped and contained no buildings whatever. Before his marriage, however, he erected a small house and barn, and here the young couple began their domestic life. Mrs. Gordon had received from her father a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and with the passing of the years Mr. Gordon prospered in his business so that he was able to add from time to time to his original purchase until his holdings now consist of four hundred and twenty acres, all under an excellent state of cultivation. He has remodeled his home, which is now an up- to-date and modern residence, and has two large and substantial barns and commodious outbuildings, while he has set out an orchard and grove. The house is surrounded by a neat and well-kept lawn, ornamented by beautiful treees and shrubbery, and his place is today one of the neatest and most beautiful properties in the township. In connection with tilling the soil he has given considerable at- tention to stock raising and feeding, fattening a large number of cattle and hogs annually. His business interests, under his wise and careful management, are proving most profitable, and he is ranked among the substantial and representa- tive agriculturists of Taylor county.
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have two sons, namely: Earl L., who is assisting his father in the operation of the home farm; and Vernon, attending school near his home. The parents are members of Blue Grove Christian church, in which
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Mr. Gordon is serving as an elder, while his wife is actively and helpfully inter- ested in the church and Sunday-school work. Politically he gives his allegiance to the republican party on all national issues, but where local affairs are concerned he is independent, reserving the right to vote for the men and measures which in his estimation are best adapted to conserve the public welfare. For about twelve years he was secretary of the school board and has been identified with the schools more or less for many years, the cause of education finding in him a stanch champion.
Having resided in Taylor county since eleven years of age, Mr. Gordon has therefore been a witness of the work of progress and improvement which has been going on within its borders during the last quarter of a century, and he has seen the raw prairie land converted into productive fields that are known through- out the country for the richness of their soil and the excellence of their harvests. In the work of growth and development he has been closely associated and is today recognized as one of the representative and highly esteemed citizens of the community, his excellent business ability, integrity of purpose and honorable manhood having gained him the respect and admiration of all with whom he has come in contact.
WILLIAM H. LANDEN.
William H. Landen, a property owner of New Market, where he has resided since 1904, was engaged in the harness business until September 1, 1909, and met with most creditable success in that enterprise. Born in Parke county, Indi- ana, on the 13th of April, 1851, he is a son of Orey and Maria (Barnes) Landen, the former one of a family of eight children, the others being Sarah, Rebecca, Amy, Jane, John, Adeline, and Maria Landen, while the latter had the following brothers and sisters, William, Granville, Henry, Joseph, Elizabeth and Sarah Barnes. The ancestors, as far back as can be traced, have resided in America, and it is not known where the family originated or when founded in this country.
Reared under the parental roof, William H. Landen is indebted to the public schools for the educational advantages which he enjoyed in his boyhood and youth. He remained a pupil until twenty-one years of age, and in the meantime, from his eighteenth to his twenty-first year, he worked upon a farm when not engaged with his text-books, and thus received good practical training along the line of general agriculture. After leaving school he continued to engage in farm- ing in the employ of others until he was twenty-eight years old and then, in 1877, he went to Rooks county, Kansas, where he took up a homestead claim. He de- voted his energies to the cultivation and improvement of that property until 1890, when he sold the land and came to Taylor county, where he purchased eighty acres of land. This property was in a raw condition when it came into his pos- session, but with characteristic energy and perseverance he set about its improve- ment, and before long he had his fields under a high state of cultivation, from which he reaped golden harvests in the autumn. He continued to operate the place until 1904, in which year he removed to New Market, although he did not
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sell the farm until two years later. His life had been one of continuous activity and his intelligently directed efforts had brought him a gratifying degree of pros- perity. He lived retired for two years, but not being content to remain idle, he became identified with the harness business in the spring of 1909 and de- voted his time and attention to the conduct of an enterprise for some months.
On the 6th of September, 1882, in Madison township, Rooks county, Kansas, Mr. Landen was united in marriage to Mrs. Julia Hill, and thereby laid the foun- dation for a happy home life. They are members of the Christian church, of which Mr. Landen is a trustee and president of the church board. Fraternally he holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is right sup- porter of the vice grand. He was a liberal contributor to the building of the I. O. O. F. hall, which is an imposing building and ranks among the finest structures in the city. He is a democrat in politics and although he does everything in his power to further the influence of the party in the community, yet he has never sought nor desired office for himself, preferring to confine his energies to his private business affairs. He is not remiss, however, in his duties of citizenship, his interests being thoroughly identified with those of Taylor county, and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit his section of the country or promote its development.
S. B. HICKENLOOPER.
More than sixty years have passed since S. B. Hickenlooper came to Iowa. This state was then a wild district, its land unclaimed, its resources undeveloped. In the years which have since passed he has not only witnessed a most won- derful transformation but has largely aided in the labors which have transferred the wild tract into a splendid commonwealth. Now in his declining years he is living retired, enjoying the well-earned rest which is the merited reward of a long and honorable business career.
Born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, east of Pittsburg, on the 2d of October, 1835, he is a son of Thomas Hickenlooper, also a native of Pennsylvania, his birth there occurring in May, 1793. In that state the father was reared to manhood and he there married Miss Julia Hawkins, who was also born and reared in the Keystone state. He was a farmer by occupation and engaged in the salt business. In 1844 he removed westward, settling in Monroe county, Iowa, where he entered a large tract of land, upon which he resided and which he continued to operate up to the time of his death. He was numbered among the early set- tlers in that portion of the state and became a well-known and prominent man in the community in which he lived. His wife survived him for some years, passing away in Taylor county while on a visit.
S. B. Hickenlooper is one of a family of eight sons and two daughters born unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hickenlooper. He was a lad of nine years when he came west, living in Illinois for two years, and was thirteen years old when he came to Iowa to join his parents in Monroe county, where he grew to manhood. The educational advantages which he enjoyed in his youth were largely due to
MRS. S. B. HICKENLOOPER
S. B. HICKENLOOPER
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his own efforts, for his opportunity to attend school was very limited. He re- mained at home until nineteen years of age, when he started out to earn his own livelihood. He worked in a sawmill in Monroe county for some time, and later was engaged in a flour, grist and sawmill in Taylor county, arriving here in 1857. He was desirous that his efforts should more directly benefit himself, and so he carefully saved his earnings until he had accumulated sufficient means to purchase a grist and portable sawmill, in the operation of which he continued for several years. He had previously entered land in Monroe county and later entered another tract in the western part of Taylor county, which he subsequently traded for property in Gay township, which he cultivated and improved and which is still in his possession. He resided upon this farm for some time, engaged in general agricultural pursuits, and as the years passed he became very successful in this enterprise. From time to time he purchased more land until he now owns four hundred and forty acres, divided into two well-improved and valuable farms. Later he removed to Blockton and was associated with Thomas King in the building of the old town of Colfax, near that city. During his residence there he conducted a general store but later withdrew from commercial activities and returned to the farm, where he continued to reside for several years. He en- gaged in general farming and also devoted much time to the raising and feed- ing of stock, and in both branches of his business he met with a gratifying measure of success, his unremitting industry and capable management being salient elements in his prosperity. He became well known as a business man and stock feeder all over the county and was ranked among the well-to-do and en- terprising farmers of Gay township. Something of the prosperity which came to him as the result of his many years of earnest labor is indicated in the fact that eventually he was able to retire altogether from active business, his com- petence being such as to make it possible for him to enjoy in well-earned rest all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He removed to Blockton, and purchased the place which is now his place of residence. He remodeled the house, which is now one of the comfortable and attractive homes of the town, and also set out a small orchard on the place.
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