USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 30
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of the attractive features in the landscape. He has also a half interest in eighty acres in Dahlonega township, and in his busi- ness he makes a specialty of stock-raising, handling good grades of horses, cattle and hogs. Everything about his place bespeaks the thrift and enterprise of the owner, whose work is carefully managed and whose energy has been the secret of his growing success.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Davis have been born nine children : Wilbur C., now living in this county; Edward C., a teacher of agriculture at St. Paul, Minnesota; Harry, deceased ; Clarence J., now a student in the State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa; Mary C .; O. E .; Herbert P .; Roy M., and Raymond L., the younger children all attending school and living at home. The parents are members of the Baptist church, in the work of which they take an active interest, Mr. Davis serving now as school treasurer. His political support is given the democratic party and, while he has never sought nor desired political office, he has served as school treasurer for ten years, being the present incumbent in that position. He represents one of the well known old families of the county and, having lived here for fifty-eight years, he is familiar with much of the history of the development and progress in this part of the state. He can remember a time when much of the land was still uncultivated, when country homes were small and when now thriving cities were tiny towns. In the years which have since come and gone he has 'displayed a keen interest in the changes which have been wrought and has ever borne his part in the work of general improvement.
BENJAMIN L. DENNY.
Benjamin L: Denny, who conducts a general mercantile establishment in Highland Center, is to be numbered among Wapello county's successful business men. He was born in this county May 27, 1883, and is a son of William and Mary Denny, whose life record is treated at greater length in another part of this work. He received his education in the county schools and remained under the parental roof until twenty-three years of age. He then decided upon a mercantile career and established him- self in Highland Center, where he now conducts a general store. carrying a complete and well assorted stock. His business policy
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has ever been above reproach and as he is personally courteous and obliging, he enjoys a large patronage, his customers coming to him from a wide territory. He is up-to-date in his methods and carefully caters to local tastes and wants. His displays are always attractive and his goods reliable, and it is therefore but natural that his business is steadily growing. On November 10, 1910, Mr. Denny was also appointed postmaster of Highland Center, and has since discharged the duties of that office.
On Christmas day of 1905 Mr. Denny married Miss Maud E. Willard, who was born in Marion, Kansas, and is a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Thurman) Willard, the father born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Kansas. The former died September 16, 1908, and his widow is now residing near Ottumwa. In their family were four children, all of whom are living. Mrs. Denny attended the Ottumwa high school, making good use of her educational opportunities. She and her husband have one son, Cullen Bane, who was born June 20, 1907. Polit- ically Mr. Denny is a democrat, being influential in the local councils of the party. He and his wife attend the Christian church, to which they generously contribute, and fraternally he is a member of Lodge No. 269, A. F. & A. M. He is respected by his fellow citizens because of his manly qualities of character, because of his business integrity and because he is a useful and public-spirited citizen.
F. L. WARDER.
F. L. Warder, cashier of the Farson Savings Bank at Farson, has been a lifelong resident of Wapello county, his birth having occurred in Pleasant township, July 24, 1879, his parents being John C. and Nancy A. (Goudy) Warder, the former a native of Ohio. The mother was born in this county and is a repre- sentative of one of its old pioneer families. Both are still living and their family circle, including twelve children, has never been broken by the hand of death-a remarkable record.
F. L. Warder, whose name introduces this review, spent his youthful days in the usual manner of farm lads. He became a pupil in the district school near his father's home and through the summer months assisted in farm work, being thus engaged until he reached the age of twenty-one. Thinking to find other
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pursuits more congenial, and also hoping to find them more profitable than agriculture, he left home and secured a clerkship in the Ottumwa National Bank, where he remained for a year. On the expiration of that period he purchased an interest in the Doty Clothing Company, with which he was connected for three years. He then established the Farson Savings Bank in 1905, became its cashier, and is still active in that capacity. He is a graduate of the Gem City Business College of Quincy, Illinois. He has closely applied himself to his work, and the thorough- ness and energy with which he has executed the tasks devolving upon him have developed his powers and made him a resource- ful and forceful business man.
In 1903 Mr. Warder was united in marriage to Miss Lorene Lemberger of Burlington, Iowa, a daughter of John L. and Mary (Semshorn) Lemberger, who are now residents of Los Angeles, California. In their family were four children, all of whom yet survive. Mr. and Mrs. Warder hold membership in the Congregational church and are greatly esteemed in the com- munity where they reside because of various attractive social qualities and genuine character worth. They own and occupy a fine residence in Farson, and Mr. Warder is also the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred and seven acres on section 5, Pleasant township, from which he derives a substantial annual income. It is now a recognized fact that whatever he under- takes he accomplishes if the result can be attained through straightforward, honorable effort, and thus he has made for him- self a creditable position in the business circles of the county.
CHARLES W. MCCARTY.
Charles W. McCarty, postmaster of Ottumwa, is a popular citizen, widely and favorably known in this county. In the dis- charge of the duties of his present position he is always prompt and capable, and businesslike methods are manifest in the con- trol of all the interests of the office. Wapello county numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred within her borders on the 14th of April, 1864. He is a son of John W. and Margaret J. (Warren) McCarty, natives of Ohio, whence they came to Iowa with their respective parents, and all four of the
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grandparents continued residents of Wapello county until called to their final rest, their graves being in this county. John W. McCarty devoted the greater part of his life to the profession of school teaching, but passed away when a comparatively young man of thirty-six years, his death occurring February 22, 1874. His widow still survives and makes her home with her children. In their family were five children : Charles W .; A. C., who was killed in a railroad accident; Maggie, deceased ; W. F., living in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and John H., of Stockport, lowa.
Charles W. McCarty has spent the greater part of his life in Wapello county, where he was reared upon a farm, early becom- ing familiar with the duties and labors incident to the develop- ment of the fields. When seventeen years of age he entered the railroad service as a telegraph operator and for nearly a quarter of a century was connected with the Rock Island Railroad Com- pany. He was acting as cashier in the local freight office at the time he was nominated and elected county auditor in November, 1906. He has since been continuously in public office and the record which he has made as a public servant is most commend- able. After serving as auditor for two years he was re-elected and at the close of his second term he was made deputy auditor, in which position he continued for a year and a half, when he resigned to become postmaster of Ottumwa, his commission being dated July 23, 1913. He has been a lifelong democrat, never changing his party affiliation, and he has labored earnestly to promote the growth and insure the success of his party.
In 1890 Mr. McCarty was married to Miss Sophia Houk, a native of Wapello county, and a daughter of Jacob and Cloe J. (Comstock) Houk, who were early settlers here and continued to make their home in Wapello county throughout their remain- ing days. The father was a farmer by occupation and devoted his entire life to that pursuit save for three years, in which he served his country as a soldier in the Civil war. His wife was a daughter of Dr. A. B. Comstock, one of the pioneer physicians of this county, who rode horseback over a large section of the country, undeterred by the hardships and difficulties that attend the physician who practices in a frontier region. ' He became a large landowner, was well known and was highly respected by all. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McCarty have been born four chil- dren : Gladys M., at home; Merrill and Vera, who are now attending the Ottumwa high school; and Pauline, who is also in school.
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The family are Presbyterians in religious faith, and Mr. McCarty gives generously in support of the church and takes an active part in its work. Fraternally he is connected with Ottumwa Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M., and with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and he is loyal to their teachings con- cerning the brotherhood of man and the obligations of mutual helpfulness. His long residence in the county has brought him a wider acquaintance, and his many sterling traits of character have gained for him the enduring regard of those with whom he has been associated.
GEORGE W. DAVIS, SR.
George W. Davis is the owner of an excellent farm property in Competine township and his possessions are the visible evi- dence of a life of well directed energy and thrift. He was born October 9, 1853, and is a son of William and Priscilla (Mowery) Davis, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. In 1852 the father came to Iowa. His marriage occurred in Jefferson county, this state, and he established his home upon a farm in Wapello county. Mr. Davis at once began to till the soil and in due time gathered good crops. Year by year he carried on the work of the farm until he was called to his final rest in 1903. He is still survived by his wife, who has reached the advanced age of eighty years. In their family were eight children, of whom George W., E. D., C. F., O. C., and B. F. are all residents of Competine township. I. O. makes his home in Pleasant township. Ida is the wife of L. B. Ulery of Cali- fornia, and Mary is the wife of S. J. Ulery, whose home is in Ontario, California.
George W. Davis, Sr., spent his youthful days under the parental roof and during that period acquired a public-school education, while later he concentrated his energies upon farm work. He had liberal training in the best methods of tilling the soil, and his practical experience well qualified him to take charge of a farm of his own when he started out in life on his own account. He purchased two hundred and ninety-seven and a half acres of land on section 2, Competine township, and at once began to improve the property by the development of the fields and the erection of good buildings. He now has an attrac-
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tive and commodious residence and substantial barns and sheds. He utilizes the latest and improved machinery in the work of the fields and he keeps on hand good grades of stock. Everything about his place is attractive by reason of the spirit of thrift and enterprise which there prevails.
On April 5, 1879, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Anna Cof- fey, who was born in Missouri, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Dalten) Coffey, natives of Ireland, whence they came to Amer- ica in 1848. At first they located in Ohio and afterward removed to Missouri, where both Mr. and Mrs. Coffey passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born four children, C. O., C. A. L. A. and G. C., but the last named is now deceased.
Mr. Davis belongs to Abingdon Lodge, No. 104, A. F. & A. M., and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. His political support is given the democratic party, and for fifteen years he served as town assessor and clerk, proving most capable in the discharge of his duties. For thirty years he has been a member of the school board, and the cause of educa- tion finds in him a warm friend. His energies and activities have placed him in a prominent position as a successful agricul- turist and as a representative and reliable business man.
J. T. FORSYTH.
J. T. Forsyth may well be termed a self-made man, for the success which he now enjoys is the result of his own well directed efforts. Since the spring of 1901 he has resided upon his present farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres on section 4, Center township. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1848, a son of James and Sarah (Perry) Forsyth, who were natives of County Down, Ireland, the father born December 2, 1815, and the mother on the 30th of October, 1821. In 1840 James Forsyth sailed for America, landing in New York where he worked in the market. He later went to western Penn- sylvania and worked on a steamboat, then rented a farm and sent for his parents. In 1844 he returned to Ireland for his marriage and soon afterward brought his bride to the new world. They came in a sailing vessel, taking six weeks for the trip. They established their home in Pennsylvania, where they resided until 1851.
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J. T. FORSYTH AND FAMILY
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In that year they came to Wapello county, settling in Rich- land township. This was then a frontier region in which the work of civilization and improvement seemed scarcely begun. Mr. Forsyth entered land from the government near Kirkville and began the arduous task of developing a new farm. As the years went on he brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and won the merited reward of persistent, earnest effort along agricultural lines. Both he and his wife passed away near Kirk- ville, the former March 8, 1885, and the latter on the 8th of July, of the same year. They were Presbyterians in religious faith, and their forefathers were driven from Scotland at the time of ยท persecution because of their belief. In his political views Mr. Forsyth was a stanch democrat, never faltering in his allegiance to, the party. Unto him and his wife were born ten children : Elizabeth Parker, now deceased ; James, who died in Ottumwa; J. T., of this review; R. George W., of Richland township; Sarah, who has passed away; Fannie, the deceased wife of Silas Warren; Mary, the deceased wife of James Olney; Charles, who has departed this life; Melila, of Seattle, Washington, who has engaged in teaching for more than twenty-five years ; and Jennie, the wife of Eli Warren, of Indianola, Iowa. Jennie, Fannie and James were also successful teachers.
J. T. Forsyth spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and assisted his father until twenty-two years of age. In 1870 he was married and began farming on his own account, northeast of Kirkville, where he resided for nine years. He then went to Union county, where he lived for twenty-two years. After rent- ing land for three years he purchased property, his industry and economy making this step possible. After more than two decades spent in that county he disposed of his property and returned to Wapello county in the spring of 1901. Here he invested in one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, which is now a well im- proved and valuable farm, constituting one of the attractive features in the landscape.
It was on the 22d of December, 1870, that Mr. Forsyth mar- ried Miss Mary C. Chisman, who was born in Indiana, May 14, 1851, and in the fall of 1854 was brought to this county by her parents, John and Catharine M. (Goodwin) Chisman, who were also natives of the Hoosier state, but spent their last days in Ottumwa. Mrs. Chisman, who was born August 27, 1831, died June 30, 1913, at the advanced age of almost eighty-two years. Mr. Chisman, who was born in 1821, departed this life June 4th,
Vol. II-21
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1896. He always followed farming, thus providing for the sup- port of his family, which numbered five children: George N., living in Ottumwa; Mrs. Forsyth; Simon K., a resident of Blakesburg; Douglas E., of Oneida county, New York; and William P., whose home is in Albia, Iowa. A number of the Chisman family have been school teachers. The father of Mrs. Forsyth taught school in this county in the early days and her brothers, Douglas and William, were also successful teachers, while the latter later became a lawyer.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth were born nine children: Wil- liam, who died at the age of two and a half years; Della, the wife of John Seth of Adams township, by whom she has three children ; Robert, of Ottumwa, who is married and has one child ; Bertha, the wife of John Power of Dillon, Montana, by whom she has three children; Edmond Q., of Great Falls, Montana; Anthony C., of Monroe county, Iowa, who has one child; Mary Matilda, the wife of Fred Ross of Ottumwa, and the mother of two children; Dora, the wife of Spencer Miller, of Center town- ship, and the mother of two children; and Arthur Raymond, who died at the age of two and a half years. Of this family, Ed enlisted from Nebraska on the 13th of May, 1898, for service in the Spanish-American war and was mustered out in the follow- ing October. He then enlisted for service in the regular army, with which he was on duty for six years. He was twice in the Philippines, was also on duty in China, Australia and Alaska. He is a man of splendid physique, being six feet in height and weighing two hundred and forty pounds. Robert Forsyth en- gaged in teaching in carly manhood and is now foreman in the Hutchison Wholesale Grocery house. The Forsyth family is a large one, the members of whom meet annually in a family re- union.
Mr. Forsyth is a democrat in his political views and while living in Union county served as justice of the peace. He has also filled the office of road supervisor, but has preferred to confine his attention to his business affairs rather than to seek office. In addition to farming he is a director of the High Point Telephone Company, occupying this position since the line was established. He is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of this section of Iowa and can relate many interesting incidents of the early days. His father went to mill many times with ox teams, driving to Burlington, which was the nearest point at which he could have his grist ground. He had nothing to
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take but corn and J. T. Forsyth never saw wheat bread until he was ten years of age. When the mill was established at Bona- parte, forty miles from Ottumwa, it was thought to be very near. There were few advantages to be enjoyed in those early days. The settlers had to depend entirely upon what they could raise, and they depended upon each other for assistance in many lines of work. The spirit of helpfulness was prevalent, and each neighbor seemed willing to aid those near him. Mr. Forsyth has lived to witness remarkable changes in the methods of farm- ing, as the crude machinery of pioneer days has been done away with through modern invention and been supplanted by the splendid agricultural implements and machinery of the present. He has also lived to see the pioneer homes replaced by commo- dious modern residences, while the farmers, who had to go forty or sixty miles or even greater distances to mill, now have almost all the conveniences of city life. The telephone has brought them into instant communication with the city and the rural free deliv- ery keeps them in constant contact with the world's activities and progress.
HOMER B. PATTERSON.
Homer B. Patterson is one of the county supervisors of Wapello county, to which position he was elected in 1910. He makes his home in Ottumwa, but for many years has been identi- fied with farming and stock-raising interests in this part of the state. His birth occurred in Davis county, Iowa, August 4, 1872, has parents being Thomas and Mary Jane ( Pollard) Patterson, natives of Indiana, the former born July 10, 1832, the latter April 5, 1835. In their childhood days they came to Iowa with their respective parents, the Patterson and Pollard families being established in Davis county where they were reared and married, their marriage occurring February 12, 1857. Thomas Patterson made farming his life work and thus provided for his family of eight children, three of whom are now deceased, while five still survive. The father passed away October 25, 1895, the mother May 2, 1889.
Homer B. Patterson was reared in the county of his nativity and in his youthful days divided his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement of an education in the public
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schools. He continued his residence in Davis county until 1902, when he came to Ottumwa and entered the grocery business, on the south side of the city, there conducting his trade for eight years. He then sold out and for a year engaged in farming, and he still owns his land north of the city. He buys and sells many horses and has engaged in this business for a number of years. He is considered an excellent judge of horses, and thus his pur- chases have been judiciously made and his sales have brought to him a good profit. As previously stated, he was elected to the board of county supervisors in 1910 and is proving a most capa- ble official in that connection.
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Mr. Patterson was married January 19, 1902, to Miss Angie L. Trisler, a native of Davis county, born May 15, 1873. Her parents were John and Nancy Jane (Garretson) Trisler, the former born March 1, 1843, and the latter November 11, 1843. Their marriage was solemnized May 22, 1870. Mrs. Patterson departed this life, having passed away May 14, 1908. She was the mother of two children, Pauline Alice, whose birth occurred on the 29th of October, 1902; and Evelyn, born May 4, 1906, who died on June 21, 1907. In his political views Mr. Patterson is a democrat, and his opinions carry weight in the local councils of his party. He belongs to Ottumwa Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M .; Clinton Chapter, No. 9, R. A. M .; Malta Commandery, No. 31, K. T., and Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Davenport. He is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a member of the Commercial Associa- tion of Ottumwa. A wide-awake, progressive and enterprising citizen, he is one of those who always recognize and utilize opportunities both for the advancement of their business interests and the attainment of desirable results for the community.
H. T. HAWTHORNE.
A farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Competine town- ship is the property of H. T. Hawthorne and returns to him a good annual income through the sale of the crops which he pro- duces as the result of his unfaltering industry and careful man- agement. He was born in West Virginia April 17, 1846, and is a son of R. T. and Mary J. (Recd) Hawthorne, who were natives of Virginia. After living for a number of years in the
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south they came to Iowa in 1852, settling in Wapello county upon a farm upon which they remained until their life's labors were ended in death. In their family were ten children, of whom six survive : H. T., of this review; J. P., whose home is in Farson; S. R., living in Nebraska; Martha, the wife of L. H. White; J. C., who is a resident of Hedrick, Iowa; and T. C., whose home is in Martinsburg, Iowa.
H. T. Hawthorne spent the first six years of his life in his native state and then accompanied his parents to Iowa, where he has since continued. His youthful days were spent under the parental roof, and during that period he acquired a fair com- mon-school education, to which he has added through the lessons learned in the school of experience. After attaining his majority he began farming on his own account, renting a tract of land, upon which he lived for a year. He then completed arrange- ments for having a place of his own, purchasing eighty acres of land in Competine township, upon which he lived for two years. On the expiration of that period he traded his tract for another farm in Competine township, upon which he lived for four years. He then sold out and bought still another farm, which he occupied for a year. He next went to Page county, where he lived for two years, after which he returned to Wapello county and located upon the farm which he had left on removing from the county. There he continued for about fourteen years, after which he went to Hedrick, where he lived for sixteen years. He then returned to the old farm, upon which he con- tinued for a year. At the end of that time he sold the property and removed to the farm which he now owns and occupies, com- prising one hundred and sixty acres of good land on section 13, Competine township. His has been an active and useful life, crowned with a substantial measure of success, which has come as a result of his energy, determination and close application.
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