USA > Iowa > Warren County > History of Warren County, Iowa : from its earliest settlement to 1908; with biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 39
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Judge Henderson belongs to the Masonie fraternity, having taken the degrees of the chapter. the commandery and the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and is a prominent Odd Fellow. He entered the grand lodge of lowa in 1896 and was grand master
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of the Odd Fellows in 1907. He has at different times been representative to a number of the grand lodges. His interest in community affairs has been manifest in many tangible ways, resulting beneficially to his city and county, In 1869, before he was twenty-one years of age, he was appointed secretary of the board of trustees of Simpson College and has so continued to the present time, while since 1870 he has been a member of the executive committee of the board. He is a lifelong republican and has frequently been a delegate to party conventions and in 1904 was a delegate to the national convention. He belongs to the Old Settlers' Association of the county and to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee. In professional lines he is con- nected with the Iowa State Bar Associaion and that he is recognized throughout the state as one of its most prominent members, is indicated by the fact that he was chosen its vice president in 1896, its president in 1897 and its delegate to the American Bar Association in 1898. In 1902 he was appointed by the supreme court of Iowa a member of the board of state law examiners and served for four years. He is now the oldest iuhabitant of Indianola and was the first male child born in the county as originally organized. His life has been one of untiring activity and of worth. Devotedly attached to his profession, systematic and methodical in habit. sober and discrete in judgment, diligent in research, conscientions in the discharge of every duty, courteous and kind in demeanor and inflexibility, just on all occasions, these qualities enabled him to take his rank among the representatives of judicial office in the state and made him the conservator of that justice wherein is the safeguard of individual liberty and happiness and the defense of our national institutions. His reported opinions are evidence of the profound legal learn- ing and superior ability, while in the practice of law he has maintained equally high rank as counselor and advocate.
GEORGE W. PARSONS.
George W. Parsons, a practical and progressive farmer who stands prom- inent among those who have won snecess along honorable lines, now lives on seetion 29, Richland township, and derives his ineome from three large and well improved farms in this county. The home place contains one hundred and sixty acres which has been well tilled and carefully improved. so that it constitutes one of the attractive features in the countryside. He also has a well improved farm of three hundred and twenty-three acres nearby, and the Parsons homestead is also his property. He needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for he is one of the native sons of Warren county, his birth having here occurred June 14. 1857. His father, George C. Parsons, is a native of Virginia and was here reared. When a young man he went west, settling first in Tippecanoe county. Indiana, where he was married to Miss Catherine Shults, a native of Virginia. Mr. Parsons followed farming in
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Indiana for some time, beginning his domestic life there, but in the fall of 1855 he came to lowa and established his home in Warren county, which, as yet, was a largely undeveloped region. He performed the strenuous task of turning the first furrows on a new farm near Palmyra, but though the labor was difficult, he was persistent and energetic and in the course of years was enabled to add to his original holdings until he owned six hundred aeres of valuable land. He reared his family upon this place, spent his life here and died in 1865, his wife surviving him for a number of years. Their family numbered two sons and two daughters, of whom George W., is the eldest. His surviving sister is Mrs. Lucy Jane Canady, the wife of George Canady. of Warren county. One sister and one brother have passed away.
There was nothing nnusual to differentiate the youth of George W. Par- sons from that of other farm boys of the period. He worked in the fields from an early age, attended the district schools and remained with his father until the latter's death and with his mother until he attained his majority. when he carried on the home place and at length succeeded to the ownership of the property. He has never engaged in any other occupation than that to which he was reared, for he has found that it returns a good income to the man who is diligent and persevering. In 1884 he was married in Richland township, this county, to Miss Janet V. Rawson, who was born in Indiana but was reared in this county .. They traveled life's journey together for about nineteen years and were then separated by the death of Mrs. Parsons. in September, 1902. Their marriage was blessed with four children. In November, 1904, Mr. Parsons was again married, his second union being with Miss Lon B. Art, who was born and reared in this county, a daughter of A. Y. Art, one of the early settlers and a farmer of Richland township. By this marriage there is one child. The sons and daughters of the first union are : P. M., who is married and is cultivating the home farm; Flossie L., at home; Eula Fay, who is also under the parental roof, and George F., who died at the age of nine months. The daughter of the second marriage is Margaret Catherine Parsons.
As the years passed, Mr. Parsons purchased more land from time to time but resided on the old home place until 1907, when he removed to his present home on section 29, Richland township. He has just completed a neat, modern residence, equipped with furnace heat, acetylene gas, hot and cold water, bath. and in fact every modern convenience. Few farm homes are so thorough !:. supplied with all things which add to the comfort of life. Mr. Parsons now owns three farms near Palmyra, his possessions aggregating nearly eight hun- dred acres. These farms are all well improved, have good buildings, orchards, ete., and are largely fenced with woven wire fence on Osage hedge posts. There is six miles, or more, of woven wire hog-tight fence on his land. In addition to the tilling of the soil. Mr. Parsons is extensively engaged in feed- ing stock. In all of his business affairs he displays sound judgment and through the careful utilization of his opportunities he has worked his way steadily upward. He is a man of honorable purpose and his diligence and integrity constitute the keynote of his character.
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Politically, Mr. Parsons was formerly a democrat, but a change in his political views has led him to become a Roosevelt republican. He has never sought. nor would he hold office save that he served as a member of the school board for eight or ten years and has been a delegate to county conventions. His wife is a member of the Christian church and a teacher and worker in the Sunday school. They are both well known in this part of the state and aside from his extensive and important farming interests Mr. Parsons is a stockholder and director in the . Worth Bank, at Indianola. Opportunities that others have passed by heedlessly he has noted and improved. Success has never meant to him the mere accumulation of wealth but the right nse of it and as he has progressed in life his labors have not only proved a sonree of individual benefit but have been an element in public progress and improve. ment. He is well known in Warren and adjoining counties as a successful farmer and business man and his life might well serve as a sonree of encourage- ment and inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished in a country where diligence and determination are not hampered by easte or class. enstom or prejudice.
GEORGE ROBERT MORRIS.
George Robert Morris, successfully engaged in general farming and stock- raising in Otter township, has been a lifelong resident of Warren county, his birth occurring in Indianola. February 15. 1863, and he has never been outside the county limits longer than three months at a time. He has never missed a primary and has always voted the republican ticket.
Robert Morris, the father of our subject. was born in Vermilion county, Indiana. in 1837, and on leaving that state came to Warren county, lowa, trading Indiana property for a farm in Otter township, near the present ho:ne of our subject. He was married in Indianola to Mrs. Phoebe (Gee) Brinker- hoff, who was born in Ohio about 1838 or 1839 and being left an orphan at an early age was brought to Indianola as a child by the father of Moses Barker, by whom she was reared. By her first marriage she had one daughter, Annie Brinkerhoff, who married William Morris and died in Indianola about fifteen years ago. She and her husband had resided in Smith county. Kansas, and in that state he died in 1906, leaving two daughters and one son, while two others are deceased.
After his marriage Robert Morris crossed the plains with a party to Den- ver. traveling with ox-teams, and for two years he remained in Colorado search- ing for gold. It was in that state that his son Edward was born. He then returned to Indianola and resumed farming in this county. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in Company C. Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, and remained in the service for four years. or until hostilities ceased. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and other important engagements but was never injured though he suffered from disease in the south. At the
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close of the war he returned home and followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1882. He was a very prominent and successful farmer and stock- raiser, owning over four hundred acres of well improved land, which he kept under a high state of cultivation. He was reared in the Friends church and was a man highly respected by all who knew him. His estimable wife survived him for several years, passing away in 1895.
Unto them were born the following children: Flora B., is the wife of W. O. Starbuck, who was a farmer of Warren county but on account of ill health removed to Engene, Oregon, in 1906, where he is now engaged in the real-estate business. Edward died at the age of fourteen years. George R., of this review, is the next of the family. Charles O. and F. O., were twins. The former attended Simpson College and became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died at Imperial. Nebraska, at the age of forty-one years, leaving a widow and two children who reside in Indiana. F. O., a farmer and stock-raiser of Madison county, lowa, married Mahala Arnold. of Truro, and they have a large family, one son named Theodore, called Teddy; Vietor J., owns and operates the old Starbuck homestead in Otter township. which farm was purchased by the father just before his death and adjoins the Morris homestead. He married Minnie Walker, who lived near Wick, Warren county. Elizabeth is the wife of John Cline and now resides in Eugene, Oregon. Wilda W., married a lady from Idaho and now owns a farm near Springfield, Oregon, though he was formerly a railroad man. Myrtle is the wife of L. Elmer Hiatt, a farmer residing west of Indianola. Carrie is the wife of Stacy Scott, who was born and reared in Polk county, Iowa. but is now engaged in the machine, windmill and pump business at Flathead Valley. Montana.
George R. Morris attended the country schools near his boyhood home and remained with his parents until his marriage. At one time he spent three months in Nebraska but with that exception he has always remained on the old homestead in Otter township. He is now the owner of two hundred and fifty-three acres of very productive and valuable land and in addition to its operation he also cultivates one hundred acres more. He is a breeder of fine horses, cattle and hogs, making a specialty of Percheron horses. shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, and this branch of his business he has found quite profitable.
In 1885 Mr. Morris was married to Miss Flora Wachtor, who was born in Madison county, lowa, in September, 1866, and was there reared and educated. Her parents were J. J. and Catherine (De Witt) Wachtor. early settlers of this state. Her father was a native of Switzerland and a cabinetmaker by trade. Crossing the ocean at the age of sixteen years, he first located in Batavia. Iowa. where he remained until after his marriage and then removed to Peru. Madison county. During the civil war he entered the army but after nine months' service was discharged on account of disability. In his business affairs he met with success. He died in Madison county in 1898 and his wife passed away in 1875. They were the parents of seven children. namely: Albert, who married Sophronia Tracy and now lives near Tecumseh. Nebraska,
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where he is extensively engaged in raising Poland China hogs; Henry, who is married and is employed as foreman in a large sawmill in the state of Wash- ington ; James, who died in Peru, Iowa, about fifteen years ago; Ulrich Z., who is married and is a merchant of Peru; Flora. the wife of our subject ; Ira, who married Josie Bailey and is a mechanic of Indianola ; and Mary, the wife of Lincoln Silliman, who served as sheriff of Madison county for one term and later engaged in the machinery business but is now engaged in farming near Winterset. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Morris have been born four children: Hugh W., who was born in 1886 and is still at home; one who died in infancy ; Archie Roy, who was born in August. 1890, and married Stella Smith, a daughter of Arthur and Lizzie Smith, of Otter township; and Lester Edward, who was born in May. 1892, and is now attending school.
As school director, Mr. Morris has done much to promote educational interests in his community, and he never withholds his support from any enter- prise which he believes will promote the moral and social welfare of his town- ship and county. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Metho- .dist Episcopal church.
BENJAMIN BARNETT PYLE.
With the farming and stock-raising interests of Palmyra township Benjamin B. Pyle is identified. his home being on section 19, where he has a good farm of eighty acres. He was born in Morgan county, Indiana, June 16. 1845. and is descended from a family of English origin that was founded in Virginia at an early day in the development of this country. His father. G. T. Pyle, was born in the city of Richmond, Virginia. in 1800, and in early man- hood married Naney Gordon, also a native of the Old Dominion. Learning the wagonmaker's trade. he followed that occupation during his active business life. He remained a resident of Virginia until after the birth of two of his children, and then removed to Morgan county. Indiana, where four sons were added to the family. In 1855 he came to Iowa and took up his residence in Hartford, where he carried on business as a wagonmaker for many years. He died there January 16. 1881, and his wife passed away in 1887. After her husband's death she lived with a daughter. Mrs. Harriet Pendry.
Benjamin B. Pyle was a lad of ten years when the family came to Iowa, and he attended the common schools of Hartford. Later he learned the painter's trade, which he followed for twenty years. Since then he has devoted his attention to agricultural pursnits, first in Richland township, this county, and later in Polk county, Iowa. where he spent five years. but for the past fifteen years he has made his home on his present farm in Palmyra town- ship. He has made many good and substantial improvements upon the place and he keeps a high grade of horses, cattle and hogs, fattening about eighty hogs yearly.
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Ou the 5th of January. 1892. Mr. Pyle was married in Des Moines, to Miss Clara Shutterly, who was born, reared and educated in this county, her parents being J. HI. aud Phebe (Carzott) Shutterly. natives of Indiana and Ohio re- spertively. Her father is a pioneer of Warren county, having located here in 1849, and he spent his last years on his farm in Richland township. Mrs. Pyle has one brother living. Abraham Shutterly, a farmer of Pratt county, Kansas. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Pyle was Martha, who died in infancy.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Pyle has been a supporter of the republican party, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen- eral U. S. Grant. He has served as a delegate to the county conventions of his party and has also served on the petit jury, but has never cared for political office. He gives to the support of the churches of Hartford, and his wife holds membership in the Baptist church. Wherever known they are held in high regard, and they have a host of friends throughout Warren county.
OSWELL CHASE BROWN.
Oswell Chase Brown, by the consensus of public opinion and by the proof of the legal records of the state. is accorded a place among the distinguished lawyers of his district and has made a particularly enviable record in his practice before the supreme court. He was born in Coshocton county, Ohio. September 17. 1855. of the marriage of George J. and Lorinda (Parrott) Brown, the former a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, born October 7. 1825. while the latter was born in New Brunswick. Angust 13, 1833. The Brown family is of English origin, while the Parrott family is of Irish descent. George J. Brown traced his ancestry back to Richard Brown, of the Seventh Maryland Continental troops in the Revolutionary war. In his early days George J. Brown engaged in teaching bookkeeping and commercial law in Washington and Jefferson College and later in life followed merchandising, in which business he met with gratifying prosperity. He was a man of ability and wielded a wide influence in his community. He possessed clear insight into questions of general importance, was sound in his views, correet in his conclusions and loyal and progressive in his citizenship. He became one of the organizers of the republican party in Ohio and always remained one of its stalwart champions. Both he and his wife were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Brown acquired an academic education and was a lady of culture and refinement. The death of the father occurred in 1902 at West Bedford. Ohio, when he had reached the advanced age of seventy-nine years, and his wife has also passed away.
Oswell C. Brown, the oldest in their family of nine children, attended the West Bedford (Ohio) Academy and was also a student in Simpson College. On the 15th of April. 1876, he arrived at Indianola. Iowa, and became a law student in the office and under the direction of the firm of Williamson &
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Parrott, well known attorneys here. On the 22d of August, 1878, he was ad- mitted to the bar before Judge Leonard, who then sat upon the district bench, and after teaching school for a year or two he entered upon the practice of his profession in Indianola. About three years later he was appointed deputy auditor under W. F. Warthen and filled that position for three years, on the expiration of which period, in 1885, he was elected to the office of auditor of Warren county on the republican ticket, and received public endorsement of his capable service in a recleetion in 1885. Upon his retirement from that position he resumed the private practice of law, in which he has continued to the present time. He has, however, been called to different offices. In 1890 he was elected county attorney of Warren county and was reelected for a second term, thus holding this position for four years. He was also elected to the office of city solieitor of Indianola, in 1888, and as in the other instances, he was reelected to a second term to this position. He has been and is a very snecessful lawyer, his clientage connecting him with the most important interests in the court. He has practiced extensively before the supreme court of the state and enjoys the fullest respect of the judges of that court. He has mneh natural ability and is a man of wide reading and scholarly attainments. He is a hard student and is never contented until he has mastered every detail of his cases. He is a believer in the maxim, "there is no excellence without great labor." and he follows it closely. He is never surprised by any unfore- seen discovery by an opposing lawyer, for in his mind he weighs every point in his preparation of cases and fortifies himself as well for defense as for attack. There are few lawyers who win a larger percentage of their cases before either judge or jury than he does. He convinces by his concise statements of law and facts rather than by attempts at word painting and so high is the respect for his legal ability and integrity that his assertions in court are accepted and are seldom questioned seriously. He has achieved this position at the bar by his individual effort, united with habits of untiring industry and the devotion of his best service to his clients' interests. As a counselor he deservedly takes high rank and his accurate knowledge of the law is conceded by the members of his profession whom he meets in the practice.
On the 24th of April, 1879, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Jennie Hamilton, who was born at Long Point, Illinois, October 25, 1859, and came with her parents, James and Minerva (Hallam) Hamilton, to Warren county, Iowa, in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have become the parents of three children. Robert C., the eldest, died October 10. 1901. in his twenty-first year. He was a member of the class of 1902 in Simpson College, where he was pur- sning the classical course. He possessed nich natural intellectual forec and well developed talents, and was considered especially proficient as a Greek scholar. Gertrude, born August 25. 1883, is now the wife of James C. Smith, a druggist of Lohrville, Iowa, and is a graduate of Simpson College. Margaret H., born April 18, 1885, is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one child, Margaret D., three years of age.
In his political views a stalwart republican. Mr. Brown was for many years active in the interests of his party and has delivered many strong and
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able campaign addresses. He belongs to the Masonie fraternity, in which he has attained the degrees of capitular Masonry and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
EBENEZER WILLIAMS HARTMAN.
Ebenezer Williams Hartman has devoted many years of his life to public service and since April, 1908, has served as mayor of Indianola. Opposed to anything like misrule in public affairs, his official record will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, and while his administration may not be without mistakes-for who is free from them-it has on the whole been char- acterized by progress, reform and improvement, his official acts being at all times prompted by a desire to promote the public welfare.
Mr. Hartman is a native of Mansfield. Ohio, born January 24, 1834. His father. John D. Hartman, was born in Pennsylvania and comes of German an- cestry. Through his active career he followed farming and merchandising. After living for some time in Ohio, he came to Warren county, Iowa, in 1846. and settled in Richland township, where he entered a tract of land from the government and laid out the town of Hartford. His attention was divided between agricultural pursuits, milling and merchandising, his mill and store being located in Richland. He prospered in his undertakings by reason of his capable management and keen discernment and had accumulated a comfortable competence when in October. 1878. he was called to his final rest, at the age of sixty-seven years. Of the Baptist church he was an active. influential and loyal member and he was equally faithful as a follower of the Odd Fellows society. His political views were in harmony with the principles of the demo- eratie party and he held several local offices. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Margaret Parker, was born in Pennsylvania in 1816, was also of German descent and died in 1898. They were the parents of six children, five of whom are living and one who died in infancy. The others are: Ebenezer W .; William H., who was a member of Company G. of the Thirtieth Towa Infantry. in the civil war and is now a merchant and farmer of Clarkson, Iowa; Sarah Jane, the deceased wife of T. J. Deacon, a farmer of Jasper county, Iowa ; David H .. who was a member of the Twelfth Missouri cavalry and is now a retired merchant living in Missouri; and Viana M., the wife of J. E. Deacon. of Napa, California.
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