USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 68
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On the 10th of March, 1891, in Conway, Mr. Carter was united in marriage to Miss Ettie Wilson, who was born and reared in Taylor county and is a sister of B. F. Wilson, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Unto them has been born one daughter, Opal, who is the light and life of the household. The parents are prominent and faithful members of the Blue Grove Christian church, Mr. Car- ter serving as one of the elders, while both are active and helpful in the church and Sunday-school work. Politically he gives his allegiance to the prohibition party at national elections, recognizing the fact that the liquor traffic is one of the greatest evils against which the country today has to contend. At local elections, however, he votes an independent ticket, supporting the best men and measures, uninfluenced by any spirit of partisanship. Public-spirited in citizenship, active and successful in business, and honest and honorable in character, he has won a high place among the representative citizens of Taylor county, within whose bor- ders he has continued to make his home since boyhood, and the fact that many of his warmest friends are those who know him best is an indication that his salient qualities are such as inspire the confidence, respect and good will of his fellowmen.
ELI ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT WILT.
Eli Wilt is classed among the most prosperous farmers and stock raisers of Taylor county, owning a well improved farm on section II, Platte township, com- prising eighty acres where he resides. He is a native of this township, born March II, 1865, and a son of James M. and Catherine Ann (Hamilton) Wilt, the former born in Darke county, Ohio, and the latter in Preble county, that state. It was in the year 1855 that the father removed to Iowa, establishing his home in Clarke county, where for six years he engaged in breaking prairie with ox teams. On the Ist of September, 1861, he made his way to Taylor county and here purchased two hundred acres of wild and unimproved land in Platte township. This he cultivated and improved and in due time added to it a tract of two hundred acres, making in all four hundred acres. He erected a large residence, three barns, built fences, set out a grove and orchard and made many other improvements on the place. In addition to carrying on farming he also engaged quite extensively in raising sheep, at one time having a flock of seven hundred head of Cotswold sheep. He spent a very active and useful life and was known as one of the prom- inent pioneer settlers of Taylor county. His death here occurred August 15, 1899, when he had reached the age of sixty-seven years. His wife still survives and is very active at the age of seventy years, making her home in Lenox.
Eli Wilt, the third in order of birth in a family of six sons, was reared on the homestead farm in Platte township and during the period of his boyhood and youth was busily engaged in the various tasks assigned him by his father. He remained under the parental roof until he had reached mature years, when he started out upon an independent business venture, operating a threshing machine and corn sheller. His time was thus occupied for twenty years and during this time he operated in three counties, while for six years he was in Minnesota. He shelled over nine hundred thousand bushels of corn and a large amount of wheat and oats
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and in this way became very widely known. Through this means he accumulated the money that enabled him to purchase his home farm of eighty acres on section II, Platte township. He added to and remodeled the house, built a barn, sheds and other outbuildings, and set out a grove. He has a fine apple orchard, which yields a crop of almost one thousand bushels annually. He is engaged in general farming and, like his father, also gives much of his time to raising sheep, keeping pure blooded Cotswold sheep, and he raises cattle and horses as well, his stock being of the finest grades. He also buys and ships wool on quite an extensive scale. In the fall of 1909 he shipped a carload of Cotswold bucks to the Roberts ranch in Marion, Ohio, which were the finest sheep of that breed ever shipped from Lenox. In addition to his home farm he owns eighty acres of land in Ring- gold county, Iowa, which was formerly a part of the farm belonging to his father, and he has a tract of walnut and oak timberland. He took an active part in the promotion of the Lenox and Kent telephone system and in many other ways has been interested in the progress and upbuilding of his home locality. Besides his property in this state he owns an interest in a gold mine at Kingman, Arizona, and has several shares in the German-American Coffee Company in Mexico.
Mr. Wilt has been married twice and by his first marriage has three daughters, Alma Ellen, Edna Marie and Lulu May. On the 8th of September, 1908, he mar- ried his present wife, who bore the maiden name of Etta Cox. She was born and reared in Pana, Illinois.
Politically Mr. Wilt has been a life-long republican. He served eight years in the office of township trustee but declined to fill the position longer. He has served as a delegate to county and state conventions and for many years has been identified with the school system. He is a member of the Calvary Methodist Epis- copal church and is active in both church and Sunday-school work. He is public spirited in a marked degree, his aid and cooperation ever being found on the side of progress and improvement. Having spent his entire life in Taylor county, he is thoroughly familiar with its history and takes a just pride in what has been ac- complished here in the last quarter of a century in the way of modern and sub- stantial improvements. He has a wide circle of friends who esteem him for his integrity and worth.
GEORGE R. McALPIN.
George R. McAlpin, one of the progressive and enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of Washington township, where he owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, was born in Taylor county on the 4th of March, 1871. He comes from a family which has been represented in America since early colonial days, while his father, Robert McAlpin, was one of the pioneer set- tlers of this county, coming to this state from Indiana. He was prominent among agricultural circles in Taylor county and was called to his final rest in 1873. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Harris, still survives and resides upon the old home farm upon which our subject was born. She has again mar-
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ried, her second husband being O. B. Werts. Her father, William Harris, was also one of the pioneers of this county.
George R. McAlpin spent the period of his boyhood and youth upon the home farm and attended the Hawleyville school until twenty years of age. In the meantime, when not busy with his text-books, he assisted his stepfather in the work of the farm, and was thus enployed until he attained his majority, when he started out in life on his own account, purchasing eighty acres of land in Mason township. Upon this he resided for one year, although the property was in his possession for about nine years. He later purchased forty acres which he after- ward sold and then, in 1900, bought the farm upon which he now resides. It consists of one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land, in the midst of which Mr. McAlpin has erected a comfortable and attractive residence, while in the rear are substantial and commodious barns and outbuildings which stand as monuments to his enterprise and industry. Upon the place may be found all of the latest conveniences and accessories for the purpose of facilitating farm labor, and it ranks among the valuable and desirable farming properties of Wash- ington township. He carries on general farming and also devotes much of his time to stock-raising, making a specialty of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle, and both branches of his business-raising grain and raising stock-are proving most gratifying sources of income. He has been successful in his enterprise and is classed among the prosperous and representative farmers of Washington town- ship.
Mr. McAlpin was united in marriage in Dallas township on the 23d of March, 1897, to Miss Effie Kelso, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary Ellen Kelso, the former a very prominent farmer of Mason township. Mr. and Mrs. McAlpin have become the parents of two children, Virgil and Charles. Mr. McAlpin holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows, having been a member thereof for seventeen years. In politics he is a republican and is public-spirited in his citizenship, be- ng deeply interested in all matters which have for their object the permanent and substantial upbuilding and growth of the community. Having passed his entire life in Taylor county, Mr. McAlpin has become widely known throughout the locality and his circle of friends is almost coextensive with his circle of ac- quaintances. His honorable and upright life has won for him the respect and regard of his fellowmen and he is recognized as a prominent and valued citizen of Washington township.
LAMBERT ANDREW MAHAFFEY.
Lambert Andrew Mahaffey is one of the younger representatives of farm- ing interests in Washington township and although he but recently purchased his farm of sixty-two acres, it already shows in its neat and attractive appearance his enterprising and progressive spirit. He is a native of this township, born October 25, 1883, a son of Frank and Minnie (Millhone) Mahaffey, who in 1877 removed from Ohio to eastern Iowa, where the father is engaged in farm-
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ing. The Mahaffeys came to this country from Ireland, the grandfather of our subject locating in the Buckeye state upon his arrival in the new world. The maternal grandfather, Lambert Millhone, is now living retired in Clarinda, Page county, Iowa, at the age of seventy-five years.
Lambert A. Mahaffey acquired his education in the schools of Washington township, pursuing his studies therein to the age of seventeen years. During this period he had become acquainted with the work of the home farm through the assistance which he rendered to his father. He remained under the parental roof until his twentieth year, and then started out to make his own way in the business world. He is now the owner of a farm of sixty-two acres in Washing- ton township, which is well improved land. In addition to general farming, Mr. Mahaffey also gives time and attention to breeding horses and in this connec- tion has become one of the best known stock breeders in the state.
Mr. Hahaffey was married on the 20th of October, 1903, to Miss Nellie Fleming, a daughter of Frank and Mary (Garrison) Fleming. Mrs. Fleming is a daughter of J. M. Garrison, who came to Iowa from Illinois. Mr. Fleming is engaged in farming in Washington township and is numbered among Taylor county's substantial and highly respected citizens. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hahaffey has been blessed with a son and daughter, Frank and Alice. Mr. Mahaffey is identified with the Methodist Episcopal church at Gravity, while his fraternal relations connect him with the Modern Woodmen of America. Hav- ing spent his entire life in Taylor county, he is well known and popular with a large circle of friends and acquaintances, while his business affairs have also brought him in contact with the county's best citizens. Mr. Mahaffey deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he started out in life empty- handed and it has been through his own efforts that he has attained his present success.
JOHN D. GOBLE.
John D. Goble, who is engaged in the dairy business in Clearfield, Iowa, is one of the valiant men, now so rapidly diminishing, who are a constant inspiration to the patriotic youth about them. He was born in Columbus, Indiana, July II, 1842. His father, Stephen Goble, was a native of Kentucky but went to In- diana, where he married and continued to reside until his death. His wife, who was also of Kentucky nativity and was Miss Elizabeth Nowen before her mar- riage, took her family to Washington county, Iowa, after the death of her hus- band, there reared them and lived until her life also was brought to its close. Of the ten children born to her and her husband three now survive: John D., of this review : and Mrs. E. A. Ferguson and Mrs. J. Maxwell, who reside at Craw- fordsville, Washington county, Iowa.
In Washington county John D. Goble spent his boyhood, and on the IIth of August, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company C. Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His first engagement was the battle of Shiloh, in which he was cap- tured, and for fifty-two days confined within prison walls. He then took part in the forty-two day siege of Vicksburg. in the siege of Jackson, Mississippi,
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which lasted three days, and in the siege of Spanish Fort, which held out for thirteen days. These have been accorded the rank of important engagements in the conflict, and it has ever been a source of gratification to Mr. Goble to think that he contributed even his little share to the final victory of the Union cause. But in the five years of his service he also participated in minor skir- mishes too numerous to mention and was in a hospital for three months after the battle at Jackson, Mississippi, in which he was wounded in his left forearm. In recognition of his bravery he was promoted to the rank of corporal, with which title he was mustered out of the army at Davenport, May 9, 1866. When his country no longer needed his services he returned to Washington county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. In 1869 he removed to Missouri, where he lived for seven years and then settled in Ringgold county, Iowa. There he owned one hundred and twenty acres of land, on which he made his home until 1894, when he sold his property and came to Clearfield, and embarked in the dairy business. He keeps a number of cows and has secured a large patronage from the citi- zens of the town.
In Washington county, Iowa, December 10, 1868, Mr. Goble married Miss Lucinda H. Johnson, who was born in Crawfordsville, Iowa. Their union has been blessed with two children: Wilbert I., who died at the age of twenty-seven ; and Maud, who is the wife of D. Beemer, a farmer of Ringgold county, Iowa.
The family are members of the United Brethren church, and by its teachings order their lives. Politically Mr. Goble is a republican, having cast his first presidential ballot for Lincoln when he was the party's candidate for the second time. The polls were held upon the battlefield and the issues at stake were brought home to the voters with a power not seen today, so no question as to his allegiance to the party upon whose support depended the salvation of the Union has never entered his mind since. Still of an impressionable age when he entered the army the memories of those days of conflict are among the most vivid which the years have left, and the experiences are eagerly rehearsed on the occasion of each meeting of the post of the Grand Army that exists in Clear- field, when the men recall how they shared one another's supplies or other inci- dents which touch the heart even today.
JACOB GARRETT.
Jacob Garrett is an enterprising and progressive farmer of Washington town- ship, owning and operating eighty acres of land. He was born in Muskingum, Ohio, on the 8th of December, 1835, his parents being Luke and Elizabeth (Collins) Garrett. In the family of Jacob Garrett, the paternal grandfather of our subject, there were six.children, namely : Luke, Mary, Mahala, Jacob, Wash- ington and LeRoy. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Collins, the maternal grandparents of Mr. Garrett, of this review, reared a family of eight children, as follows : Elizabeth, Samuel, George, Gibson, Catherine, Lydia, Miranda and Euphemia. Unto Luke and Elizabeth (Collins) Garrett were born five children: Jacob, Thomas, Margaret, Robert and George.
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The year 1866 witnessed the arrival of Jacob Garrett in this state and he has made his home in Taylor county for about thirty-eight years. The farm of eighty acres in Washington township on which he now lives has been his place of residence for about seventeen years, and in its cultivation and development he has won a gratifying measure of success. The many substantial improve- ments on the property indicate the progress that has been made in agricultural lines, and the well tilled fields annually yield golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which is bestowed upon them.
In November, 1866, Mr. Garrett was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Ann Coin, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Jackson) Coin and a granddaughter of Hugh Coin. She has five brothers, namely: Jack, Hugh, William, George and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett are the parents of ten children : John, William, Clyde, Frank, Samuel, Charles, George, Jane, Rachel and Carrie.
On attaining his majority Mr. Garrett joined the ranks of the democracy but later became a socialist and is still a stalwart adherent of that party, believing that its principles, if carried into practice, would best conserve the general welfare.
Coming to the state at an early period in its development, he has not only wit- nessed the changes which have transformed this district from a wild prairie re- gion into a prosperous and thriving agricultural center, but has borne his full share in bringing these conditions about. He has now passed the seventy- third milestone on life's journey and receives the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on this earthly pilgrim- age and whose career has at all times been upright and honorable.
COLONEL MARCELLUS MILLER.
Colonel Marcellus Miller is now conducting a profitable business in Bedford as the proprietor of the Bedford Granite & Marble Works. There are many interesting and some unusual chapters in his life record. He has known extended military service as a member of the regular army and also as a volunteer soldier of the Spanish-American war. He was born in Petersburg, Virginia, September . 30, 1849, his parents being Josiah C. and Adaline (Freeman) Miller, both of whom were natives of Dinwiddie county, Virginia. The former was a son of Benjamin Miller, a native of Norfolk county, Virginia, who followed farming as a life work and died at the age of forty-five years. He had married a Miss Millar, and Josiah C. Miller was their only child. Having lost his first wife, however, Benjamin Miller married again and had several children by the second union. The maternal grandfather of our subject was also a native of Virginia and was a potter by trade. He married Miss Perkins, who died in early woman- hood, while his death occurred when he was forty-five years of age. Their only daughter was Mrs. Adaline (Freeman) Miller.
Josiah C. Miller was born on the farm in Norfolk county and there remained until fourteen years of age, when he went to Petersburg and learned the cabinet maker's trade. He was employed in the pattern making shops of the South Side Railroad there and devoted his entire life to mechanical pursuits. He
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belonged to the Home Guards in Petersburg and died there in 1897, when seventy-two years of age. He had been reared in a Methodist family but later joined the Presbyterian church. For some years he survived his wife, who passed away in 1854. They had but two children, the daughter being Martha Elizabeth, called Patty by her family, now the wife of Irvin P. Hoag, of Peters- burg, Virginia.
Colonel Marcellus Miller lived in Petersburg until he attained his majority and acquired his education in the academy and institute there. He afterward went to Baltimore and joined the United States army, serving for five years in Battery H, Third United States Artillery, General Humphrey being at that time his lieutenant. Mr. Miller was a sergeant at the time of his discharge. On the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to his Virginia home, where he remained for a time, and in 1875 came to Iowa, living at Des Moines with an uncle, Alexander Miller, until he removed to Leon, Iowa. He there learned the marble cutter's trade, after which he came to Bedford in August, 1878, and opened marble works, which he has since conducted. He has built up an extensive and gratifying business in this line because of his ability, excellent workmanship, reasonable prices and earnest effort to please his patrons. His work is artistic, many evidences of his skill are seen in the cemteries in this and surrounding cities.
Mr. Miller, however, has not confined his attention entirely to his business affairs, for he has cooperated in many movements for the general good, and in 1889 was elected county auditor on the democratic ticket. He served for five years in that position in a most creditable and acceptable manner, and he has also served for three years as a member of the city council, exercising his offi- cial prerogatives in support of all movements for the general good. His in- terest in miltary affairs has never abated and on the 26th of December, 1886, he enlisted in Company I of the Fifth Iowa National Guard, was elected first lieu- tenant the following year, captain in 1889 and lieutenant colonel in March, 1898. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he was mustered into service at Des Moines, the Old Third becoming the Fifty-first Iowa Volunteer Regiment in May. He continued with that command until mustered out Nevember 2, 1889, during which time he saw service in the Orient. The regiment sailed from San Francisco to the Phillippines, being ninety-five days on shipboard, as passengers, on the old Pennsylvania. He was lieutenant-colonel of his regiment and was in command in the field much of the time, until June 16, 1899. On their return the regiment was mustered out at San Francisco, and when he again reached home Colonel Miller resumed business in the marble shops at Bedford and has since concentrated his energies upon his commercial interests.
On the 10th of June, 1879, was celebrated the marriage of Colonel Miller and Miss Emma Gillham, of Leon, Iowa, a daughter of Charles A. and Martha M. (Hall) Gillham. Mrs. Miller was born in Leon, Iowa, her parents having be- come pioneer settlers of this state. Her father was a native of Illinois and her mother of North Carolina, but they were married in Jefferson county, Iowa, after which they removed to Taylor county. Here her father died in 1883, from disease contracted in the Civil war, but her mother is still living in Leon. In their family were three sons and two daughters : Addie, deceased ; Mrs. Miller ;
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Mrs. Olive Hoover; Frank; and Lew. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Miller was a native of Georgia and a farmer by occupation, following that pur- suit until his death, which occurred when he was well advanced in years. His wife was Scotch lineage. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Miller was a native of North Carolina and was of Scotch descent. He married a Miss Hill and their daughter, Martha M., who became Mrs. Gillham, was an only child. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born two sons and five daughters. Worth, the eldest, is conducting a newspaper in Minatare, Nebraska. He wedded Anna May Erb, by whom he has a daughter, Susan I. Eva was married June 15, 1909, to J. G. Wehn, of Bridgeport, Nebraska. Grey is a resident of Goldfield, Iowa. Rebecca, Dorothy, Olive and Pattie are all at home.
Colonel and Mrs. Miller are members of the Presbyterian church and he is affiliated with Taylor Lodge, No. 156, F. & A. M .; Triangle Chapter, No. 68, R. A. M .; Bethany Commandery, K. T., of Creston, Iowa; and Islam Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at San Francisco. He also belongs to Bedford Lodge, No. 101, K. P., and to the Modern Woodmen of America. He is now pleasantly situated in life, having his home and other city property in Bedford. His has been a life of great activity and of wide usefulness in relation to his country and in business affairs in the community where he makes his home. His genial worth is widely acknowledged and has won him the unqualified esteem and respect of all with whom he has come in contact.
HARRY ALLEN.
The rich prairie land of Taylor county offers excellent inducements to the agriculturist, who finds that his labors are attended with substantial results, for his energy and industry are guided by discriminating judgment. Among those who are classed with the prosperous farmers and stock raisers of the community is Harry Allen, living on section 23, Polk township, where he is now cultivating his farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He took up his abode here in March, 1890, and in the intervening years his labors have wrought a commendable change in the appearance of the place and in the productiveness of the fields.
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