USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens > Part 40
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
William Daggett, he secured the Janney Man- ufacturing Company's plant for Ottumwa, and also other important plants. lle is a self-made man, public-spirited, and a credit to the com- munity in which he lives. In 1900 he erected a handsome home at No. 334 East Fifth street, and has a very attractive property.
Mr. Simmons was united in the bonds of matrimony with Elizabeth Bonnifield, who was born at Ottumwa, and they have two sons: Kenneth G., aged nine years ; and John Bonni- field. aged five. Fraternally, Mr. Simmons is a Mason and a Knight Templar. Of late years he has taken an active interest in politics, and is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. Ile represented the Sixth Congressional Dis- trict of Jowa, in 1802, at the national conven- tion, held in Minneapolis, and is regarded as a leader of unusual force and influence in Iowa. His energies are now devoted mainly to busi- ness enterprises, some of which extend beyond the limits of the United States, but he has an inclination toward public affairs, and it is not only possible but probable that his fellow citi- zens will yet call upon him to yield at least a part of his time to the general interests of the country.
R EV. JOHN T. SIMMONS, who has lived a life of stirring activity, is an honored resident of Ottumwa. Wape !- la county, lowa. He has been a mem- ber of the ministry since 1856, and by word and deed has wrought great good wherever he has been located. He was born in Delaware, Jan-
uary II, 1829, and is a son of John and Mar- garet (Talley) Simmons.
John Simmons was born and lived in Dela- ware throughout his entire life. After his death his widow moved to Ohio, in 1836, and settled in Vinton county, where she died. John T. was the only child born of their union.
John T. Simmons was reared in Ohio, and obtained his intellectual training principally in Morgan county. He was a strong Aboli- tionist, made stirring Abolition speeches, and became an exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal church. He moved to Jefferson county, Iowa, in 1855. and bought an improved farm, upon which he settled. In 1856 he became identi- fied with the Iowa conference, of which he has since been a member. He was pastor of a church at Glasgow until 1858, and then went to Iowa county, where he had charge of a large circuit, consisting of 16 appointments, and was located in Richmond. In 1862 he was ap- pointed chaplain of the 28th Reg .. Iowa Vol. Inf .. and was mustered into service at Iowa City under Captain Henderson. They went to Davenport in October, then on a transport to Helena. Arkansas, where they were. on No- vember 20. 1862. assigned to the ist Brigade. 2d Division, Military District of East Arkan- sas. They remained at Helena, and on De- cember 1. Rev. Mr. Simmons was trans- ferred to the 2d Brigade. ist Division, and on December 17. to the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, Military District of East Arkansas, remain- ing at Helena, where he had measles and mumps. April 11. 1843. he was assigned to the 12th Division. 13th Army Corps. com-
ALBERT COTTOM.
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manded by Gen. J. A. McClernand, and par- ticipated in the Vicksburg campaign and the battles of Fort Gibson and Champion Hills. In May the regiment was sent to the rear of Vicksburg, and remained there up to July 4, when it went to Jackson. They returned to Vicksburg, then went to Natchez, and next to Carrollton, where they camped. Rev. Mr. Simmons was there changed from the 12th to the 3d Division. On February 26, they were ordered to report at New Orleans and await orders. They passed through Red River cam- paign, took part in other engagements and then went to Algiers and New Orleans, where they shipped with sealed orders,-being told later that the Potomac was their destination. They went to Fortress Monroe, and then to Alexan- dria and Washington, D. C., where they went into the trenches and remained. three days,- being the first Jowa regiment seen in the capi- tal. They then marched to Lewisburg, Virginia. and into the Shenandoah Valley, where they were assigned to the 4th Brigade, 3rd Division. 19th Army Corps. They marched through Charleston, West Virginia, September 8, and were in the battles of Berryville and Winches- ter. In March. 1865. Mr. Simmons went to Savannah and resigned, returning to his home in lowa county, Jowa. In 1873 he came to Ot- tumwa as pastor of the Methodist church, of which he was in charge for three years. He was presiding elder of the Keokuk district from 1882 until 1886, when he located on his pres- ent farm in Center township, where he has a well improved tract of 80 acres of land. Hle was pastor of the Mount Pleasant Methodist
church in 1878 and 1879. and agent for the lowa Wesleyan University during 1880 and 1881. He also served as presiding elder of the Newton district, four or five years. In 1866 he devoted a year to the interest of es- tablishing and buikling the Soldiers' Orphans' Home of lowa, and his efforts were attended , with success. He is well known throughout lowa, and enjoys the confidence and respect of all.
Rev. Simmons was joined in wedlock in 1852, in Ohio, with Martha Arganbright, who (lied in Center township in 1892. To them six children were born, namely: Lydia (Chap- man), of Duluth: Francis W .. a record of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume; George B., who married and resides in Ottum- wa: J. W .. of Florida; Kittie L. (Springer), of Philadelphia; and Edmund, of Colorado. Mr. Simmons' second marriage occurred in 1894, with Jennie Bryant, of Birmingham, lowa. He subscribes himself. ".A sinner saved by grace."
A LBERT COTTOM, a resident of Cen- ter township. Wapello county, lowa, raises fruit, melons, and sweet po- tatoes, extensively. Ile was born in Fayette county. Pennsylvania, February 25. 1846, and is a son of William and Phoebe ( Sembower ) Cotton, and a grandson of Will- iam and Mary Catherine ( Goodge) Cottom.
The great-grandfather of Albert Cotton was also named William. He was born in Ireland, and came to America with the Hes-
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
sians, during the War of the Revolution. He was captured and confined in the Pemberton fought on that side for a while, but soon de- building at Richmond, from November 28, 1864. until February 14. 1865. lle was then paroled, joined his regiment, and sent to the Claraville Hospital at Cumberland, Maryland. Hle was honorably discharged at Wheeling. serted and joined the ranks of the Colonists. At the close of the war, he located near Dun- bar, Pennsylvania. His wife was of Scotch ancestry. The next in line was also William, Albert Cotton's grandfather, born in Pennsyl- June 13. 1805.
vania.
William Cottom, the father of our subject. was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. March 12, 1820. He learned the trade of a coach maker early in life, and followed that trade during his active business carcer. He married Phoebe Sembower, in Fayette county. near Dawson station. She was born in Bed- ford county, Pennsylvania, and was a daugh- ter of Adam and Eve Sembower, natives of the Keystone State, who died at Uniontown. Mrs. Cottom died in 1870. Her union with Will- iam Cottom resulted in the birth of the fo !- lowing children, namely : Mbert, the subject of this sketch: William, who lives in Stark county, Illinois: James, Franklin, Emily, Lewis, and Mary Catherine, all of whom dicd in Pennsylvania; and Adam C., who has charge of a store in Fayette county.
Albert Cotton, whose name heads this sketch, attended the district schools of his na, tive county, and the public schools at Union- town, Pennsylvania. Hle enlisted, at Dresden, Ohio, in the Union army. From the Ohio regiment he was transferred to a Wheeling battery, under Capt. John 11. Holmes. Hle was sworn in at Wheeling, West Virginia. and served in the Army of the Potomac. He took part in the battle of New Creek, Virginia,
After the close of the war, Mr. Cottom re- turned to Fayette county. Pennsylvania, where he taught school for five years. He then re- moved to Illinois, where he taught school in Montgomery, Fayette and Stark counties. His first trip to Illinois was made in 1839. after which he returned to Pennsylvania. and in 1879 once more went to Illinois. In 1885 Mr. Cottom went to Omaha, Nebraska. where he was engaged in truck gardening until he lo- cated in Wapello county. In 1894 he bought to acres of land in Center township, Wapello county, and since that time has put out 10 acres of this land in all kinds of small fruit. He has 1,500 trees, which cover ten acres of the land, and on two aeres he has ex- tensive beds of strawberries. The rest of the farm is devoted to the growth of watermelons and sweet potatoes. Ile has a fine fruit farm. and it has been entirely of his own making. He had but .little on coming to Wapello coun- ty. but managed. by hard work and careful management to reach his present goal of success.
In 1870, Mr. Cottom married, in Bond county, Ilinois, Theresa Maria Allen. She died in that state one year later. This union resulted in one child. Bertha, who died in in- fancy. Mr. Cottom married. secondly. Hattie
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Lozier, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1874. She died several years later. To them were born the following children : Bertie, who lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Mary Catherine, of Ottumwa, lowa; Flora B., who married Willard Van Fossan, of Center town- ship. Wapello county ; Jennie, of Kansas City. Missouri; and William Franklin, and Nettie, who live at home. Mr. Cottom married Mrs. Margaret Strange, at Chillicothe, lowa, in 1899. She was born in Ohio, and came to Wapello county, lowa, in 1853. ller grand- father on the mother's side was Henry Becker. a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Mr. Cottom is a Republican, in politics, and takes an active interest in the affairs of that party. lle is a man who is deserving of the honor and esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens, and his friends in Wapello county are many. A portrait of Mr. Cottom accompanies this sketch.
EMAN SNOW. deceased, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Wapello county. lowa. and for many years one of the leading citizens of Eddy- ville, was born in West Haven, Connecticut, in 1813. and his death occurred in 1897. at the age of eighty-four years.
Heman Snow left his native state and went to Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, where he engaged in mercantile business. Later he removed to Ohio, where he engaged in farming between Poland and Youngstown. There he remained for seven years, after which he removed to
Wapello county, lowa, and settled in Eddy- ville. There were but it families in Eddyville at that time, and among these were the Cald- wells, Dunlaps. Wylies, old Dr. Ross and Dr. Buck, the Clements, Scribners, Roberts, and Butchers.
Mr. Snow engaged as a clerk for Fish & Dunlap, and later with Manning & Corwin. This was about the last work he did. He par- chased a farm in Mahaska county, which he operated a few years, but on account of failing health, he abandoned this and retired to private life in Eddyville. There he had purchased land on which he built the house in which Mrs. Snow now lives. It was erected in 1855. and the brick used was made by Jim Long. and hauled from Burlington, lowa. Mr. Snow was a man of fine character, and his influence was strongly felt in the community. He had many warm friends who loved him for his many lovable traits of character and charitable (leeds.
Mr. Snow married Mary Button, a daught- er of John and Cyrena ( Penfield) Button both of whom were natives of Chatham. Con- necticut, now known as Portland. Mrs. Snow had always lived in Portland up to the time of her marriage. She was married in Pitts- burg, where she was visiting, and where Mr. Snow was in business at that time. Nine children resulted from this union, as follows: Gertrude: and Albert, Frank, Mice. Amanda and Elsie. deceased : William P .: Milton : and Jennie. Gertrude married Joseph Elliott, a hardware dealer of Eddyville, they have seven children, namely .- Charles. Frank. Willie. George, Fred. Arthur and Adda. Mr. Snow was a member of the Congregational church.
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in which his wife is still actively interested. Mr. Snow's death was much mourned in the community, as he was a man who commanded the respect of all who came in contact with him.
REDERICK ELMER VANCE, AL. D., a prominent physician and sur- goon of Eddyville, Wapello county. lowa, was born in Harrison township. Mahaska county, lowa, where the town of Pe- kay is now located. July 6, 1862, and is a son of Samuel and Rebecca ( Morgan) Vance.
Samuel Vance was born in Fayette county, Indiana, in 1819, and lived there until 1838. moving in that year to Burlington, lowa. He moved to Mahaska county and located on un- improved government land on which the now prosperous mining town of Pekay is located. He sold this property in 1891, and moved to Eddyville where the last days of his life were spent in retirement. He was a man of many admirable traits of character, honest and up- right in all dealings with his fellow men. He lived to an advanced age and his death was mourned by a large circle of acquaintances and friends. Ile married, in 1842, Rebecca Mor- gan, a daughter of Alexander Morgan, of Ma- son county, Kentucky. She moved to lowa when thirteen years of age and here married Mr. Vance, by whom she had the following children : Oliver 11., of Mahaska county, Iowa : Ignen E ... ci Monroe county, lowa : Samuel L ... and Sue A., of Eddyville : Frederick Elmer: Lizzie, wife of George Gilchrist, of Oskaloosa :
Mary, wife of William Walker, of Fort Scott, Kansas; and James .A., and Henry, who are deceased. In religious belief, Mr. Vance was a member of the Christian church up to the time of his death on June 12. 1894. Mrs. Vance is still living at the advanced age of seventy-nine years in the full possession of all her faculties. She, too, has been a member of the Christian church for many years.
Frederick Elmer Vance received his prelim- inary education in the common schools of Ma- haska county, and upon completing his course there entered Oskaloosa College, taking a three years course. He then entered Rush Medical College, in Chicago, in 1884, and graduated from that institution in 1887. in medicine and surgery, receiving his degree of M. D. Ile re- turned to Eddyville, Iowa, and engaged in the practice of his profession, and has remained here to the present time, establishing a large and well-paying general practice. Ile is a careful practitioner, attentive to business and deserving of the success he has attained. He took a post- graduate course in the New York Polyclinic Hospital of New York City in 1899. and thereby added to his skill as a practicing physician. Dr. Vance is a member of the Des Moines Valley Medical Association, Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical So- ciety. Hle has been local physician and sur- geon for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway for the last nine years, and is exam- ining physician for many insurance companies, among them being the New York Life. the Mutual Life of New York and the Equitable
HARTWELL NORRIS MACOY.
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Life of New York. In 1894 he became a mem- ber of Eddyville Lodge, No. 74, A. F. & .A. M., and is also a member of Pleiades Castle. No. 15. K. of P .; Oskaloosa Division, Uniform Rank. K. of P. ; and Eddyville Camp. No. 1837, M. W. of A., of which he is examining physi- cian.
In 1806 Dr. Vance was united in marriage with Della M. Caklwell, a daughter of the Ion. S. T. Caldwell, who represented Wapelo coun- ty in the lowa State legislature and was also a prominent banker and merchant of Eddyville. He was also engaged in the pork packing in- dustry. He was born January 29. 1832. near Wheeling. West Virginia, and came to Iowa in the early history of the county.
ARTWELL NORRIS MACOY. a pioneer planing-mill operator and contractor, whose portrait is here- with shown, has been located in Ot- tumwa, lowa, since 1863. and is one of the best known residents of the city. He was born at Cambridge, Vermont. November 7, 1824. and is a son of Daniel and Laura ( Downer) Macoy.
Daniel Macoy was a cooper by trade, and followed that occupation throughout his entire life. He and his wife were both of English de- scent. and are now dead.
Hartwell Norris Macoy was reared at Cambridge. Vermont, and there received his schooling. At an early age he learned the trade of cabinet making, and still has in his house some fine specimens of his handicraft.
Hle engaged in contracting, owned a steam mill there. prior to his marriage, and was in business in Cambridge for sixteen years. lui 1863 he came west, making a trip to Omaha. where he sold buggies at a time when ground was being broken for the Union Pacific Rail- road. He came to Ottumwa the same year. and. after erecting a home, built his first mill, on Union street, near the river. In it was placed the first wood-working machinery of importance used in the city. This mill was destroyed by fire about 1865. and Mr. Macoy then built another, which he sold later on. He next erected a planing mill on the corner of Second and Washington streets, where Ed Daggett's livery barn now stands, and subse- quently built two others. He has disposed of all but two of these, and at the present time op- erates neither of those retained. From the time he first located in the city he has been engaged in contracting. and has erected many of the fine residences of Ottumwa. He has built an average of 30 houses per year, and given em- ployment to from 20 to 25 men. He erected many of the early residences, some of which he replaced in later years with more elegant and expensive structures. In the early "seven- ties" he built as a home what is now the Wash- ington Hotel. in which he resided for about twelve years. His present fine 12-room brick residence, just in the rear of the hotel, was completed nearly twenty years ago, and he has since lived in it. He still owns the hotel build- ing. and has lived, practically, a retired life for the past ten years. Despite the misfor- tune of two fires, one costing him $6,000 and
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the other $2,000. he has been quite successful in a business way, and is at the present in very easy circumstances.
Mr. Macoy was joined in marriage with Sarah Jane Chase, who was born at Cambridge. Vermont, May 4. 1830, and is a daughter of Ambrose and Lydia (Woodbury) Chase. Her parents, who were of English descent, came from Sutton, Worcester county, Massa- chusetts, and traced their family tree beyond the year 1600. Mr. and Mrs. Macoy at- tended sche ol together, and were married .Aug- ust 16. 1848. They celebrated their goklen wedding anniversary at Ottumwa in 1898, and it was a notable social event. At Cambridge. Vermont, they attended a church which was erected in 1798, and had a seating capacity of 1,200 people. It was a frame building and was constructed without nails. Their pastor filled the pulpit of this church for a period of forty-five years. In 1890 Mr. Macoy sent plans, by request, for the new church, which now occupies the place of the original struc- ture. Ilis plans being approved, he was asked to accept the contract of building the church. which he did. Mr. Macoy and his wife have one son. Eugene 11., who was born on May 4. 1857, at Cambridge, Vermont.
Eugene 11. Macoy was reared and educated at Ottumwa, and completed a course in a busi- ness college. He is a fine artist and draughts- man. During his early career he traveled with various show troupes, and now has several on the road. His residence is in Chicago, where he has leased the Bijou and Alhambra theaters and also the Academy of Music. He has been
engaged in lithographing and printing for eight years, and is vice-president of the Na- tional Printing and Engraving Company, at Nos. 346-348 Wabash avenue. Chicago. He has a $1.400 cottage at Paw Paw, Michigan, and makes his summer home there. He mar- ried Theresa Chambers, and has three chil- dren : Earl Hartwell, who was born May 20. 1881, and is studying drafting in the Armour Institute, at Chicago: Ethel Chase, aged eighteen years, who is attending high school in Chicago; and Harold Chambers, aged four- teen years. Eugene H. Macoy is a man of excellent business qualifications and a credit to Ottumwa, where he was reared.
In politics Hartwell Norris Macoy is a Lin- coln Republican. He was an Abolitionist dur- ing slavery days, and of late years has been a strong temperance advocate.
ILLIAM R. NELSON. a gentleman who has attained a wide reputation as a member of the legal profession, has been particularly successful in criminal cases and has been identified with some of the most prominent trials in this vicinity. He is an able lawyer and has built up a lucra- tive practice in the vicinity of Eddyville. IIe was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, May 7. 1858, and is a son of Samuel and Margaret ( Grimm) Nelson, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania.
Samuel Nelson moved from Pennsylvania to Mahaska county, lowa, October 7, 186, and
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purchased a farm which he cultivated until 1876, since which time he has resided at Leigh- ton. He has been an extensive shipper of grain and live stock and is one of the most progress- ive citizens of that town. His union with Mar- garet Grimm resulted in the following children : William R. : Lenora V., wife of W. P. Shumak- or, of Leighton, Iowa; Clara B., who married W. H. Morse, now deceased, who was a prom- inent jeweler of Guthrie, Oklahoma : Mary E .. wife of Charles Whitmore, of Mahaska county. I wa ; and Barbara E., of Oregon. Mr. Nelson is a stanch Republican, and has served in town- ship and school offices.
William R. Nelson attended the common schools of Mahaska county, and then attended Oskaloosa College for part of one year. He read law about one year with the firm of Bol- ton & McCoy, of Oskaloosa, and was admitted to the bar by Judge Cook in August, 1882. He was then located in Oskaloosa until 1890 when he went to Montana and engaged in silver min- ing and in the practice of law. He was also employed as attorney by the Great Northern Railroad Company, and was retained by the i famous Themas Powers & Brother. Ile re- turned to Towa in 1892 and located in Eddy- ville, where he has established a large and well paying practice. He holds the confidence of the people to a remarkable degree and has es- tablished a wide reputation as a trial lawyer. His connection with many widely discussed criminal cases brought him prominently to the fore, especially the celebrated Walton case.
Mr. Nelson was united in marriage in 1885 with .Anna Hicks, of Pennsylvania, by whom
he had two children: Earl and Grace. He formed a second union in October, 1894, with Matilda Griffin, a native of Indiana, and they have one son, Samuel R. In political belief, he is a strong Republican, and has frequently at- tended and been delegate to county and state conventions. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, American Yeomen, and Woodmen of the Workl. Religiously, he is an attendant of the Christian church.
RANK SKINNER, a prominent young agriculturist of Keokuk township. Wapelle county. lowa. is living on a farm eight miles south of Ottumwa. He was born in the southwest part of this town- ship. April 11. 180g, and is a son of Jesse B. and Sarah .A. ( Ketchum ) Skinner.
Jesse B. Skinner was born in Henry county. lowa. in 1844, and when a young man enlisted in the Union army, and served three years in Company E. 26th Reg., Iowa Vol. Inf. After his return home from the army he engaged in farming in the southwestern part of Keokuk township. Wapello county, where he purchased a farm. Later he sold this farm and bought another in the same neighborhood. This he improved and cultivated until the spring of 1901. when he sold it and removed to South Ottumwa, where he is spending his declining years in retirement. Ile married Sarah .1. Ketchum, a daughter of John Ketchum. who was born in Ohio. Six children blessed this unien. namely: Charles ; Frank ; Millie : Jesse
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N; and Edward and Harry, who are twins. In religious views Mr. Skinner is liberal. Po- litically he is a member of the Democratic party, and belongs to the Grand Army of the Repub- lic.
Frank Skinner, the subject of this sketch. attended the common schools of his native county and taught school for ten years. He re- mained at home until 1899. when he moved on the farm which he now conducts, and which he had bought several years before. It con- tains 93 acres of tillable land, which is devoted to general farming and stock-raising. There is an excellent supply of water on the place. Mr. Skinner is an energetic and conscientiott .. young man, and promises to become one of the best known farmers in the county.
May 23. 1900, Mr. Skinner married Helen Horen, a daughter of Philip Horen, a resident of Keokuk township, and one of its early set- tlers. Mr. and Mrs. Skinner have one child- Margaret A. Mr. Skinner is a Democrat in politics, and is at present filling the office of township clerk in a most able manner.
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