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 44
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Such is the account which the unele of Mr. Notestine gives of two of the most important events of the war of 1812. All this shows that Mr. Notestine comes from a military race and his own record has been in harmony with the history of the family. He was reared in Turbett township. Juniata county. Pennsylvania, and sat on a rude bench in the little log schoolhouse, where he
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studied the lessons which qualified him for life's practical duties. He attended only through the winter months, for his work was needed elsewhere in the summer and he was employed as a farm hand until after the outbreak of the Civil war. On the 13th of December, 1861, he enlisted at Tivoli, Illinois, as a member of Company C, Fifty-seventh Illinois Infantry, under Captain William S. Swan, and Colonel S. D. Baldwin, the regiment being attached to the Third Brigade, Second Division, of the left wing of the Sixteenth Army Corps of the Army of Tennessee. The principal engagements in which he participated were at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and the Adamsville campaign, the battle of Shiloh, the advance on Corinth, occupying twenty-one days, the second battle of Corinth, the Lexington campaign to the relief of Colonel Ingersoll and the raid into Mississippi, when they met Forest and Chalmers and in a forced march covered one hundred and thirty-two miles in four days. Mr. Notestine was also in the battles of Barton Station, Big Bear Creek and Town Creek. At the last named he was wounded in the right leg but did not go to the hospital. He was also in the Atlanta campaign and from Atlanta was sent to Nashville, while at Springfield, Illinois, on the 27th of January, 1865, he was mustered out.
At the age of twenty years, Mr. Notestine had left home to begin his business career and had arrived in Peoria county, Illinois, with a twenty dollar gold piece as his cash capital. For a short time he worked on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at one dollar per day, after which he began the cultivation of eighty acres of rented land. He followed farming in Peoria county until his enlistment for the war, and following his return from the army in 1865 he removed to Warren county, Iowa, establishing his home on section 23, Otter township. Here he purchased eighty-five acres of land. As the years passed, he gradually acquired more and more land, until he became the owner of extensive holdings and he has also bought and sold large farm property in different states. He was at one time the owner of the site at Milo and deeded the land to S. H. Mallory. He has recently divided among his children over thirteen hundred acres of land and he also retains a valuable farm property from which he derives an excellent income. He was one of the founders of the Citizens Bank of Milo, which was organized March 27, 1893, and of which he remained president for fourteen years. He proved as capable in financial circles as he had been in agricultural life but is now living retired and well merits the rest that has come to him, because he has been most energetic in all of his undertakings, managing his interests with excellent business ability and keen discrimination.
Mr. Notestine was married on the 1st of June, 1854, to Miss Catherine A. Barber, a daughter of John and Prudence (Kenyon) Barber, who were natives of New York. Her maternal grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and under command of Ethan Allen participated in the battle of Stony Point, and was also in the battle of Bennington. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Notestine have been born five children : John, who for some twenty-three years has been an engineer on the Texas Pacific Railroad ; William J., who died at the age of eighteen months; Prudence. the deceased wife of Leander Westerfield; Mary, the wife of Frank Runyan, a Inmber dealer of Milo; and Catherine A .. the
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wife of Charles F. Scott, who is a farmer and lives on the old homestead in Otter township.
Mr. Notestine was for years a member of Milo Post, No. 275, G. A. R., and thus maintained pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He also belongs to Milan Lodge, No. 409. A. F. & A. M .; Orient Chapter, No. 95, R. A. M .; and Lilly Lodge, No. 160, K. P., which he joined on its organization. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and in matters of citizen- ship he is always progressive, withholding his support from no movement or measure which he deems will prove of publie benefit. He is, indeed, a most prominent citizen of the county, and his success should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, showing what may be accomplished by one who is foreed to start in life without capital, but who is willing to work to gain the success which he desires.
REV. F. M. ROBERTS.
While Rev. F. M. Roberts is well known as a prosperous farmer with ex- tensive agricultural interests, he is equally well known by reason of the active part which he has taken in promoting those interests that tend to uplift man- kind, to raise the standard of living and to promote a progressive citizenship. He is living near Ackworth where he has two hundred and forty acres of rich land that yields to him a steady return in reward for his care and labor. His home place is situated on sections 24 and 25, Lincoln township and yields to him a valuable annual tribute. He was born in Lucas county, Iowa, May 27. 1860.
His father, Wiley Roberts, was a native of Tennessee and a son of John Roberts, who removed with his family to Illinois where he resided for a few years and then came west to Iowa. He settled in Warren county where he purchased land and began the development of a farm which constituted the site of the old town of Hammonds, an active trading point and business center for a number of years. John Roberts afterward sold that farm and removed to Lucas county, where he became the owner of a traet which he developed into a productive property and which remained his residence until he was called to his final rest. while Wiley Roberts removed with his parents, settling in Lueas county, where he met all of the experiences and hardships of pioneer life. He was afterward married in that county to Miss Mary Holtam, a native of Indiana. He followed farming in Lucas county for many years and there reared his family, but afterward returned to Warren county, where he continued to make his home until his life's labors were ended in death. At the time of the Civil war he espoused the Union cause and with an Iowa regiment did duty at the front, participating in many hotly contested engage- ments.
F. M. Roberts, whose name introduces this review, remained in Lucas county to the age of fifteen years and then went west to Nebraska, spending
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four years in Hamilton county, that state, where he was employed at farm labor. In 1879 he returned to Lucas county and worked on a farm for several years. It was thus that he gained his start in the business world. But while he did faithfully and well every duty that devolved upon him while he was employed as a farm hand, he was ambitious enough to wish to own land for himself and resolved that some future day would see him the owner of a good property.
On the 25th of February, 1885, Mr. Roberts was united in marriage to Mrs. Euniee Ballard, who was a widow and a daughter of William Myrick, who cast in his lot with the citizens of Warren county in its pioneer days, coming to this state from Indiana. Mrs. Roberts was born and reared in Warren county and first gave her hand in marriage to Frank Sandy, by whom she had two children, one of whom is living, Elmer Sandy. Following the death of her first husband she became the wife of Mr. Ballard. She is a sister of Mrs. Frank Miller, whose husband is a prosperous farmer of Rich- land township. After his marriage Mr. Roberts settled on the Sandy farm, which he continued to cultivate and improve for a few years, carefully saving his earnings in the meantime. He then removed to Indianola and purchased fifty-two acres of land, adjoining the corporation limits. Upon this he ereeted a substantial residence, fenced the place, set out an orchard and converted the property into a neat and valuable farm, which he cultivated for two years.
On the expiration of that period he sold out and purchased a store in Ackworth, where he carried on general mercantile pursuits for four years. He was also connected with Hugh Williams in the grain business for a year and at length traded his store for a farm which he rented out. After dis- posing of his store he took up church work. He had charge of the churches at Aekworth, Walker and Lockridge, serving the three congregations, and for three or four years his labors were devoted entirely to the work of the church. In 1900, however, he purchased the farm whereon he now resides and took up his abode and has since erected a good residence, also a large barn and outbuildings that furnish ample room for stock, grain and farm machinery. There is upon the place a good orchard of his own planting, containing a seleet variety of apples, peaches, pears and cherries. There is also much small fruit upon the place and in season he has everything that is to be produced in the way of small and larger fruits. With his farm Mr. Roberts makes a business of raising, feeding and fattening stock for the market. He thus handles from eight to ten carloads of cattle and hogs an- nually and his business in its various branches is meeting with the most gratifying success. His judgment is sound and he is seldom if ever at fault in valuing a situation or the possibilities for success that may arise there- from. He has improved two good farms and is justly counted one of the active and progressive men of the community.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have three children: Sadie, the wife of William Heswik, a farmer of Marion county; Alva, a student in Simpson College; and Ray. Mrs. Roberts lost a son by her first marriage-James Sandy. He reached adult age, was married and followed farming in Warren county, but
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died at the age of twenty-five years, leaving a wife and one child. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts also lost a son, Charles Roberts, who died in his third year. The parents are both active in church and Sabbath school work and Mr. Roberts has been serving as superintendent of the Sunday school for years, while his wife is a capable teacher therein. His polities are in harmony with the prin- ciples of the prohibition party. He was formerly a stanch republican and for a long period supported that party, but his opinions upon the temperance question led him to vote as he does at the present time. The cause of educa- tion has ever found in him a stalwart friend and for years he has been officially identified with the schools, acting as president of the school board at dif- ferent times. He was elected to serve for one term as township assessor, has served as a delegate to numerous county conventions and has been as a delegate to numerous conferences of the Free Methodist Episcopal church. His fellow townsmen have thus reposed confidence in him and at all times he has proven himself worthy of their trust. He is a man of strong individual- ity, whose opinion has ever been founded on right, justice and truth and whose labors have been for the benefit of his fellowmen as well as for himself and who in matters of citizenship has desired and worked for that which will produce a progressive and honorable commonwealth.
HENRY J. SWITZER.
Henry J. Switzer, a capitalist, banker, farmer and stock-raiser, living in Indianola, is a native son of Warren county, his birth having occurred in Palmyra township, July 12, 1856. He was reared upon the farm which he now owns and since 1904 he has been a resident of Indianola, having a beautiful and attractive residence on Ashland Avenue.
His father, Samuel Switzer, was a native of Ross county, Ohio, where he was reared and married, there following the occupation of farming. He wedded Mary Fetters, also a native of Ohio, and they established their home upon a farm in that state where they lived until 1852, when they cast in their lot with the early settlers of Warren county, Iowa. This was then on the border of civilization and presented all of the appearances of frontier life. They made the journey across the country with an ox-team and the ox yoke which was then used is still in possession of the family. On reaching their destination, Samuel Switzer purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Palmyra township, and there exists today the original bnekskin which was signed by President Pierce conveying the property to Mr. Perry, who entered the land in 1848. When this came into possession of Mr. Switzer he at once began to improve and develop the fields and in the course of years had trans- formed the tract into an excellent farm. To this he added until his holdings embraced two hundred and forty aeres. He was one of the representative agriculturists of the community, a man who in his business relations was fair and honorable, while in his citizenship he was never found neglectful of any
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Henry. J. Switzer
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duty that devolved upon him. Unto him and his wife were born seven children all of whom reached years of maturity, while Henry Switzer, the eldest, operated the home farm, while the father spent his last years there, passing away in 1876 at the age of fifty-one years. His wife long survived him and died in 1903 at the age of sixty-nine years.
Henry J. Switzer purchased the interest of the other heirs of the old home property, following his father's death. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Alice Spurgeon, whom he wedded at Sandyville on the 13th of April, 1876. She was a native of Union township, Warren county, and a daughter of J. M. Spurgeon, who in pioneer days settled at Sandyville and bore his part in the work of general improvement and develop- ment there.
Having come into possession of the old homestead, Henry J. Switzer erected good buildings thereon, including two substantial barns and various sheds and eribs. Oxen were used in hauling the timber for the building of the barns. In 1848 James Carpenter brought millstones from Clay county, Missouri, which were used in grinding the first corn in the county, at Carpen- ter's mill, which was operated by water power. One of these stones is now used as a carriage step on the farm.
Carrying on his farm work Mr. Switzer prospered and from time to time added to his possessions until he now owns five hundred and fifty aeres of very valuable and productive land, all of which has been well improved, tiled and fenced. He has handled shorthorn cattle, making a specialty of feeding cattle and placing on an average of five earloads on the market for several years. He continued to reside upon this farm and carry on the work until 1904 when he removed to Indianola where he now occupies a beautiful modern residence. In 1908 he organized the bank of Palmyra, is its president, one of its directors and one of its heaviest stockholders. Although this is a new organization their responsibilities cover a half million of dollars and the bank bids fair to become one of the most important financial coneerns of this part of the state. Mr. Switzer has also been a director of the Carlyle bank since its organization. He is well known in this county from the faet that for a quarter of a century he not only raised and fed stock, but also bought and shipped marketable stock, conducting an extensive business in that line.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Switzer were born four children, but two of the number died in infancy. The surviving members of the family are Mae and Clyde. The former is the wife of Claude Morris, who resides on the Switzer farm and they have four children: Bonnie, Ruth, Mary and Dwight. The son, Clyde, also living on the home farm married Miss Shetterly, a daughter of Samuel Shetterly and they have one child, Olma. The death of Mrs. Alice Switzer occurred in 1901 when she was forty-six years of age. On the 7th of September, 1903, Mr. Switzer was again married. his second union being with Miss Cornelia Mack, a writer of magazine articles and a lady of much more than local distinction in literary circles. They are now pleasantly located in Indianola and the hospitality of their attractive home is most warm-hearted and genuine.
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Mr. Switzer was reared in the faith of the democratic party, but during the past twenty years has given unfaltering support to the republican party. He served his township as trustee for one term, but has never sought nor desired office although he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and has been a delegate to several county and state conventions. He attends and supports the Methodist Episcopal church, while his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. The success which Mr. Switzer now enjoys is a visible evidence of the life of industry and well directed labor which he has led. Throughout all the ages it has been a recognized fact that no element contributes so much to success as does indefatigable energy, and this quality Mr. Switzer possesses in a large degree. He has ever made the best use of his opportunities and has thus prospered year after year, while in all of his business affairs he has so conducted his interests that his methods have never been called into question.
F. O. NUTTING.
F. O. Nutting, the well known proprictor of the Advance Stock farm, owns and operates seven hundred fifty-seven and a half acres of land mainly on sections 16, 21 and 22, Otter township, conveniently located seven miles southeast of Indianola. Here he is extensively engaged in business as a breeder of Percheron horses and shorthorn cattle and has met with remarkable success.
A native of Massachusetts, Mr. Nutting was born in Franklin county, Sep- tember 21, 1849, and is a son of D. H. Nutting, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. He was only five years of age when the family came to Warren county, Iowa, and here he was reared and educated, attending first the com- mon schools, while later he spent one year at Simpson College. His first term there was in the original building, known as the Blue Bird, and he at- tended the first term tought in the new building.
Throughout his active business life Mr. Nutting has followed farming and stock-raising, having gained an excellent knowledge of the business under the able direction of his father during his boyhood and youth. After reach- ing man's estate he was in partnership with his father for twenty-five years but since that time he has been alone in business. He has made practically all of the improvements upon his place, which is today one of the best equipped stock farms in the state of Iowa, the comfortable residence, barns and other outbuildings having all been erected since 1901. For the past twenty years he has made a specialty of breeding Percheron horses and now owns the largest herd in the county, having twenty-two blooded Percheron and French draft horses, either registered or eligible to registry. These include Vietori- eux, Gladiator I, Black Dandy, Dewey's Image, Rex 41887, and Gladiator's Pride 43873.
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On the 22d of December, 1874, Mr. Nutting was married in this count} ;o Miss Maggie J. Johnston, who was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, July 19, 1845, and remained a resident of that state until 1870, when she came to this county, where her brother, John II. Johnston, was living. Here she was engaged in teaching school for six terms prior to her marriage. Her parents, Thomas and Martha (Riddle) Johnston, were lifelong residents of Ohio and of Irish descent. Her mother died in Mahoning county, that state, in 1850, at the age of thirty-five years, and her father in Trumbull county in 1884, at the age of seventy-two. Mrs. Nutting had four brothers: Andrew, a resi- dent of Indiana; John, who died in Wichita, Kansas, in February, 1906; Eli, still a resident of Wichita; and Scott, a resident of Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Nutting have two children living, while David H., died at the age of four months. Mabel is the wife of W. H. Boyd, a farmer living near Summerset, Iowa. Fred is now in partnership with his father under the firm name of F. O. Nutting & Son and is serving as township clerk of Otter township. He wedded Miss Mary Boyd and has one daughter, Mary, born November 12, 1906.
Mr. Nutting is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Indianola, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church at Milo, of which he is now acting as trustee. In business affairs he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable and he has the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact either in his business or social relations.
JOHN MCCUDDIN.
For many years John MeCuddin was actively identified with the farming interests of this county and after a useful and well spent life is now living retired in New Virginia, enjoying the fruits of former toil. He was born in Connecticut, on the 19th of December, 1843, a son of John and Jennie (Row- ley) McCuddin, who were natives of Ireland and Scotland respectively. They were married before their emigration to America and both died when our subject was about three years old.
After the death of his parents John McCuddin made his home with an older sister in Chicago until thirteen years of age, when he ran away, liis only possessions at that time being an overcoat and a pair of overalls. Since then he has been dependent entirely upon his own exertions. He spent six years in Davenport, Iowa, taking care of race horses, and in 1860 went to Wheatland, Clinton county, where he worked on a farm until after the out- break of the civil war. Feeling that his country needed his services he en- listed in 1862 in Company I, Twenty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served for one year and ten months. when he was discharged on account of disa- bility caused from sickness. He participated in the following engagements: Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post. Champion Hills. Jackson, Mississippi. and the siege of Vicksburg. At the last named place the flag of the regiment
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was left on the field after the first fight and Mr. MeCuddin displayed his bravery in going after it and bringing it in. He then served as color bearer until the surrender of Vicksburg.
On leaving the army he returned to Clinton county, Iowa, but for a year was unable to work. He then resumed farming and continued to make that his occupation until he retired from active labor. In 1871 he came to Warren county and purchased forty acres of land in Virginia township, to the cultiva- tion of which he at once turned his attention. He improved several tracts of land in the same township and in his chosen field of labor met with excellent success. He still owns seventy-nine aeres in Clarke county. Five years ago he retired to a pleasant home west of the village, but when his wife died soon afterward he sold that place and bought his present home in New Virginia.
While still a resident of Clinton county, Mr. MeCuddin married Miss Franees E. Rundell, a native of Ohio, who passed away in Virginia township, in March, 1903, leaving the following children, namely: Charles, who is mar- ried and has a family living in Nebraska; Lola, the wife of Jesse Brewer, a farmer of Virginia township; Orville, a farmer of Madison county, Iowa; Wil- liam, who is single and resides in Sioux City, Iowa; Rhoda, the wife of Mar- shall Howlette, a farmer of Virginia township; Abe, a business man of Des Moines; and John, who is married and follows farming in Virginia township.
Mr. MeCuddin and all of his sons support the republican party and he is an earnest and faithful member of the Christian church, to which his wife also belonged. He is a man honored and respected wherever known and he is a true and loyal citizen of the Union for which he fought during the dark days of the rebellion.
HARVEY M. REED.
Harvey M. Reed, an honored veteran of the Civil war, now living retired in Milo, lowa, elaims Indiana as his native state, his birth occurring in Lake county on the 6th of November, 1839. His father, Thomas Reed, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania. December 31, 1812, and was a son of James and Mary (Stewart) Reed. The Reed family is of Irish origin, while the Stewarts were of Seoteh descent. In early manhood Thomas Reed married Miss Maria Myrick, who was born on the coast of Maine, September 20, 1814. and was of Scotch and Welsh descent. Her ancestors were shipbuilders by trade but after coming west became agriculturists. Our subject well remem- bers hearing his grandmother tell of the land being so poor in Maine that they had to fertilize with fish in order to raise a crop of corn and one can easily imagine how small their fields must have been.
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