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 46
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In 1852 Mr. Browne was married to Miss Mary Stilling, of Union county. Ohio, who died in August, 1881. They had three children, of whom one is
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living, Walter, a farmer residing in Madison, county. In January, 1885, Mr. Browne was again married, his second union being with Jennie Watt, who was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. They have two children: Kenneth, who is farming, and Agnes J., who is attending college at Monmouth, Illinois.
The parents are members of the United Presbyterian church and Mr. Browne belongs to James Randolph Post, G. A. R. He is entitled to mem- bership in this organization from the fact that he loyally served his country in the civil war. He enlisted in August, 1862, at St. Charles, as a member of Company F, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry. He organized the company and went to the front as its captain. While he never needlessly sacrificed his men he inspired them with his own zeal and valor. At the battle of Parker's Crossroads in Tennessee on the 31st of December, 1862, he was seriously wounded. He then resigned his commission and returned home but after partially recovering from his injuries he again went to the front and resumed his command. He found, however, that he was unfit for duty and was obliged to give up his position. In politics he was originally a whig and was identified with that progressive movement which resulted in the organzation of the republean party. Long prominent as one of its leaders, he represented Madison county in the state legislature in 1866. His life has been an active and useful one, characterized by fidelity in every relation, whether in social circles, on the field of battle or in the pursuits of private life, whereby industry. and enterprise have won for him gratifying success. He now receives the veneration and respect which should always be accorded one of his years whose life has been long and whose days have been honorably spent. He has for fifty-three years been a resident of this part of the state and has witnessed much of its growth and development, while in the work of progress and im- provement in many ways he has borne his full share.
JOSEPH LYBRAND BOYER.
Joseph Lybrand Boyer is now living retired in Indianola, for his business activity and perseverance in former years secured him the measure of success which now enables him to enjoy the comforts of life without further recourse to labor. He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, January 8, 1842.
His father. Jesse Boyer, was a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and a son of Andrew Boyer, who was of German lineage. That the family was founded in America at an early period in the colonization of the new world is indicated by the fact that Andrew Boyer lived here prior to the Revolutionary war and at its outbreak espoused the American cause, joined the army and was in camp during the memorable winter at Valley Forge. Jesse Boyer learned and followed the carpenter's trade and also engaged in farming. He became one of the pioneers of Michigan, settling in that state in 1834, after which he devoted his attention to farming, his brother having entered land for him there. He was for eighteen years a resident of that
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state and in 1852 removed to Wisconsin, where his last years were passed. He married Elizabeth Richards, who was born in New Jersey, January 13. 1814, and was of English descent. They became the parents of six children : Andrew, who is now deceased; Susannah, Mary, Rebecca and Elizabeth, all of whom have departed this life; and Joseph L., whose name introduces this review. Mr. Boyer was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while his wife belonged to the Society of Friends. He originally supported the democracy but voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and afterward was identi- fied with the republican party. He died in 1870, in his sixty-fifth year, while his wife died in 1887, at the age of eighty-three.
Joseph Lybrand Boyer acquired a common-school education and was reared to the work of the farm, which he followed for many years. In 1869 he arrived in Iowa and settled in Belmont township. Warren county, upon a tract of land which he purchased. There he resided until 1874, when he removed to Des Moines, where he was engaged in the lumber business. Upon his return to this county he took up his abode upon a farm in White Oak township, which he enltivated and improved until 1892. He was energetic and capable in his farm work, bringing his fields under a high state of culti- vation and thus as the years passed he prospered in his labors. He afterward lived for four years in Indianola and then returned to the farm where the succeeding four years were passed. In 1901, however, he determined to put aside active business cares and again established his home in Indianola, where he has since resided, enjoying the rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
In 1866 Mr. Boyer was married to Miss Elizabeth Treadwell Goodhue. whose birth occurred in Boston, Massachusetts, November 24, 1844, her par- ents being William Perley and Sarah Elizabeth (Fletcher) Goodhue, who were of English ancestry, Mrs. Boyer, however, being of the ninth generation of the family in America. Among her ancestors were those who fought for inde- pendenee in the Revolutionary war. One of her uncles. Daniel Goodhue, was a member of the American army and being captured was taken to England as a prisoner of war. With others he sailed from Salem with an armed priva- teer named Faney, to attack British commerce and after some success in that undertaking their ship was captured and all on board were made prisoners and sent to Plymouth. England. where they were incarcerated until the close of hostilities. Several of the number died before the war was brought to an end but Daniel Goodhne surviving, returned to the United States. While in England he found and copied the coat of arms granted to Lord Viscount Goodhite in 1556. William P. Goodhue, father of Mrs. Boyer was a shoe mer- chant of Boston and in 1857 became the first freight agent at Janesville. Wisconsin. He was afterward connected with the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad in Missouri, as bookkeeper in the purchasing department until 1880. and his last years were spent in the home of his daughter. Mrs. Boyer, where he died in 1901. at the advanced age of eighty-three years. His wife passed away in 1877, at the age of fifty-eight years.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Boyer have been born three sons: Guy Taylor, who is engaged in the ice business in Glenwood, Minnesota; Clay F., an engineer of Nevada; and Jesse William, who is acting as maager of the Woody Supply Company, at La Crosse, Wisconsin.
There is in the life record of Mr. Boyer a chapter well worthy of mention as it regards his military history. He was among the first to respond to the country's call for aid, enlisting on the 14th of May, 1861, as a member of Company C, Third Wisconsin Infantry, with which he served until mustered out in 1865, at Baltimore, Maryland. He was wounded at the battle of Antietam in 1862 by a gunshot in the leg. His first term expired in 1864 and he afterward reenlisted as a member of Company E, of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry for a year. When the war was over he returned to his home at Broadhead, Wisconsin, was married the following year and in 1869 came to Indianola, since which time he has been a resident of Warren county. He is a republican, interested in the success of the party but without desire for office. He belongs to James Randolph Post, G. A. R., and his wife has long been a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, in which she has served two years as president and four years as treasurer. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are people of the highest respectability, enjoying the unqualified confidence and good will of their fellow townsmen and many who know them throughout the county.
S. S. BLACK.
S. S. Blaek is one of the leading citizens and progressive agrieulturists of Richland township, his home being on section 21, on which farm he was born April 13, 1868. His father, Sammel Black, was a native of Virginia, in which state he continued to make his home until coming to Iowa in 1846. He entered land in Warren county, which he at once began to improve and cul- tivate, and later purchased the farm now owned and occupied by our subject. In this county he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hartman, a native of Ohio, who came to Iowa in childhood and was reared in Warren county. Here the father died in July, 1879, at the age of fifty-six years, and the mother surviving him for several years, passed away on the 2d of April, 1892. In their family were four children.
During his boyhood and youth S. S. Black attended the public schools at Hartford and he never left the old homestead, succeeding to a part of the farm on the death of his father. On the 3d of December, 1892, he was united in marriage to Miss Alice A. Miller, who was born and reared in Pahnyra township, this county, a daughter of Hon. John G. Miller. Six children bless this union, namely : Roy, Lowell, Bannie, Merritt, Fay and Floe.
Mr. and Mrs. Black began their domestic life upon the old home farm, where he has since erected a nice two-story residence and a good barn. In this place he has one hundred and forty-eight acres of rich and arable land,
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which he keeps under a high state of cultivation, and he also owns another farm of two hundred acres, which he rents. In connection with the cultiva- tion of the soil, he gives considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock, and fattens about three carloads of cattle and two carloads of hogs yearly. He is a very energetic and progressive farmer and in business affairs is notably prompt and reliable. He is independent in politics and has never sought nor desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his farming interests. He is well and favorably known in the community where his entire life has been passed and his best friends are those who have known him from boyhood.
WILLIAM WATTS.
William Watts, deceased. was for many years an honored and highly esteemed citizen of Warren county and was prominently identified with its business interests. He was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of April, 1:22, and in that locality he grew to manhood, completing his education at Lewisburg College. After leaving school he successfully engaged in teaching for some years. He first came to lowa in 1848 but aft- erward returned to the Keystone state and did not locate permanently here med 1:53. He continued to engage in teaching in this state for a few years, and then opened a store in Middle River, which he conducted for several years, becoming one of the leading and influential business men of that region.
There Mr. Watts was married February 11. 1880, to Miss Perthena Cor- catt, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, of which state her parents, Samuel and Elizabeth Curzatt, were also natives. On leaving Ohio, they removed to Indiana, where they made their home for several years, and then returned to Ohio, but in 1:52 came tu lowa and settled in Warren county. where Mrs. Watts was reared and educated. She began her married life al Middle River.
In business affairs Mr. Watts steadily prospered, at one time being en- waged in the milling business, which he continued for a few years. He be- came the owner of a number of farms in Polk and Warren counties, and was also a stockholder in the Warren County Bank with Mr. Buxton for some years and likewise was largely interested in real estate. As a financier he possessed exceptional ability and he usually carried forward to successful com- pletion whatever he undertook Politically he affiliated with the republican party has never sought not desired office He took an active interest in church and Sunday school work serving as a teacher for some years and he gave bberally to charity, the poor and needy always finding in him a friend. In fact he never withheld his support from any enterprise which he believed calculated to provided public benefit After a useful and well spent life he passed away laundry 26, 1901. honored and respected by all who knew him.
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Mr. and Mrs. Watts had no children of their own but they reared and educated four, including two of Mrs. Watts' sister's children: Eunice, who is now the wife of Roland MeGlothen, residing with Mrs. Watts, and they have one child, Ruth Lucile, and Miss Clara Cook, who is now in Canada. Mrs. W. O. Hunt also lived with Mrs. Watts until her marriage and a nephew, Alva Corzatt, still makes his home near her, having charge of her business interests. After the death of her husband she took charge of the business and in the conduet of her affairs has displayed exceptional ability and sound judgment. She has been ably assisted by Mr. Corzatt, who is now her partner in their farming and stock-raising interests. He is married and has three children and resides on a farm near his aunt. She has made some paying investments, including the farm adjoining Carlisle and has built thereon one of the finest residences of the town and also a home for Mr. Corzatt, together with good barns and other outbuildings. The neat and well kept lawn is adorned with beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers and the whole place presents an attractive appearance and indicates the supervision of a progressive and painstaking owner. Sinee childhood Mrs. Watts has made her home in Warren county and she is both widely and favorably known.
SAMUEL CHESHIRE.
Samuel Cheshire, who for eighteen years has been identified with commer- cial interests in Indianola, is now conducting a well appointed clothing estab- lishment in the Harlan block. His life record began in Catlin, Vermilion county, Illinois, November 16, 1856. The family is of English origin but was founded in America in colonial days, for representatives of the family served with the American army in the Revolutionary war.
His father, Wesley Cheshire, was born in Ohio, and in early manhood he devoted his time and energies to farming and stock buying. He came to Iowa when his son Samuel was but six months old, settling in Indianola in 1857. Here he and his brother John conducted a general store and in con- nection with merchandising Wesley Cheshire also engaged in farming and pur- chased and shipped stock. He was quite successful in his varied business undertakings and placed his capital in the safest of all investments-real estate-becoming the owner of fourteen hundred acres of rich farming land of Iowa. He married Miss Susan Price, a native of Virginia, and they be- came the parents of five children, as follows: John, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Elizabeth, who has also departed this life; Hulda, the wife of A. D. Swan, a real-estate dealer, of Little Rock, Arkansas; William, who is with his brother, and Samuel, who is a twin brother of William and whose name introduces this review. Both parents held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Cheshire was also an exemplary representative of the Masonic lodge. During the last years of his life he was a prominent prohibitionist, giving stalwart support to the party which embodied his
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views upon the temperance question. He entertained clearly defined ideas of right and wrong and at all times stood loyally in defense of his principles, his neighbors entertaining for him the highest respect and confidence.
Samuel Cheshire attended the public schools of Indianola and afterward was a student in the Blue Bird Seminary, and for two years in Simpson Col- lege. In early manhood he worked at farm labor for a time but since 1890 has been identified with mereantile pursuits in Indianola. Here forming a partnership with F. S. Burberry he embarked in the clothing business on the south side of the square, under the firm style of Burberry & Cheshire. This was continued until 1898, when the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Cheshire has since been alone in business. In 1905 he removed his stock to the handsome new Harlan block, where he now has a modern store and carries a large line of up-to-date clothing and men's furnishing goods. His estab- lishment is well equipped and tastefully arranged and he now enjoys an ex- tensive patronage which is well merited. He also owns farm lands and has been quite successful in his business career.
In March, 1881, Mr. Cheshire was married to Miss Dora N. Hunt, who was born in 1858, a daughter of P. H. Hunt, who was a tinner by trade and for a time resided in Indianola. Mr. and Mrs. Cheshire had four children : Elmer, deceased; Leona, who married Thomas A. Neill, of Indianola, by whom she has one child, Lambert ; Neola and Murril, who are in school.
Mr. Cheshire exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy and is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and his wife are also connected with the United Presbyterian church and are much esteemed in this community, where they have an ex- tensive circle of friends. There has been nothing spectacular in his career. On the contrary it has been that of a business man who has quietly, faithfully and persistently performed his duties day after day in an effort to win success, realizing that labor is the basis of all honorable prosperity.
ALFRED D. SNYDER.
The advanced state of civilization of the United States owes much to its pioneer settlers who forced their way into the wilderness of its territorial possessions and out of the wild chaos there existing evolved order and sys- tem, and a community of happy homes. Partienlarly fortunate were those pioneers who chose, this section of Iowa as a field for their operations, for here was an abundance of pure water, a fertile soil and plenteous shade. Among these fortunate one was Andrew Snyder, the father of our subject. who was born in Ohio, of German descent. In 1839 he removed from Ohio with his family to Missouri, and in 1847 came to this county. There were no roads through the country at this time and for three weeks their party camped on the prairie above Des Moines. Mr. Snyder got a man to haul them to Cruise's grove and bought a claim of one hundred and sixty acres
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in Linn township. Glad were they to find thereon a little cabin eighteen feet square, and this afforded shelter not only for his own family during the winter of 1847-48, but also parts of two other families who were less for- tunate than himself in the matter of an abode. On this place he made his home for forty years, then moved to a farm two miles north of Winterset, Madison county, where his remaining days were passed. While not a pro- fessor of religion during his younger years, he was a firm believer in Chris- tianity, and united with an orthodox church prior to his death. His wife, Elizabeth (Mosier) Snyder, was a native of Pennsylvania. She died at Norwalk, aged eighty-four years. She was a member of the Dunkard's faith. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: Samuel, living in Winterset; Lucinda, wife of William Young, of Madison county; Jona- than, residing in Nebraska; Hardesty, who died at the age of seventy-two; Alfred D., of this review ; Andrew, living at Valley Junction, Iowa; Carlton, residing at Shannon City, Iowa; Sophronia, who lives with her brother, Alfred D .; Thornton, living in Nebraska, and Mary, who died in early womanhood.
Alfred D. Snyder was born in Richland county, Ohio, October 15, 1834. He was but five years old when his parents removed to Missouri, and thirteen years of age when they removed thence to Iowa. His father's home was a stopping place for emigrants from Ohio, where they found a cordial, hearty welcome. Whey they first came to the county an Indian burying ground was not far distant down the river, and one of the pastimes of Mr. Snyder's youth was to serape handfuls of beads from the ground above these graves. Other trophies which these graves yielded to the unsuperstitious settlers were rifles which had been buried with the braves, and bottles of whisky which had been put there to accompany them to the happy hunting ground. Likewise, the Indian blankets found upon these mounds were made to serve a more substantial ,purpose than as an adornment to the final resting place of a dead chief, and in Mr. Snyder's memory remains the vision of a coat worn in Warren county made from one of these blankets. Mr. Snyder is often called upon in pioneer meetings to relate some of the experiences of his early days, and he never lacks for a. keenly interested audience. He has often written articles for the local papers on pioneer times. a distinction to which he is entitled by virtue of his being the oldest living settler in Linn township.
Mr. Snyder has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and started farming operations in his own behalf when twenty-four years of age. Prior to this time he lived at home with his father. He first rented land, but afterward bought his present home of eighty aeres on section 14, where he has resided for over forty years. When he first took possession of this place it was a wild tract of unimproved land, but nothing daunted he under- took the building of fences and the erection of the necessary buildings, even- tually converting it into a comfortable, modern home. Before the railroads penetrated this section he carried the mail from Des Moines to Winterset when there were no roads but only a trail. He made the trip three days each
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week for a salary of one hundred and thirty dollars per year. In those pio- neer days all flour was hauled from Oskaloosa, and naturally the corn which grew abundantly in that locality was made to act as substitute for flour. Mr. Snyder recalls the time when he has worked for hours grating boiled corn on a tablecloth spread on the floor, with which to made bread when millers were few and far between.
Mr. Snyder's first wife was Susan Webster,a native of Virginia. She died many years ago. His second wife was Frances Ellen Brookens, who . died five years ago, leaving one child, a son, Frank, who is now a young man and lives at home with his father.
Mr. Snyder is a member of the Methodist church of Norwalk, in which he has served as trustee and it was while he was in that office that the new parsonage was built. For years he has been a prohibitionist. He carries his years well, is in good health and takes an active interest in the work of his farm.
HON. MARK ANTONY DASHIELL.
The life of Hon. Mark A. Dashiell was such as causes his memory to be cherished by all with whom he came in contact. Choosing Warren county as a place of residence during the pioneer epoch in its history, he was from that time until his death a factor in its material, intellectual, social and moral development. He was one of the most masterful because one of the best bal- anced of men. He always looked at life from a rational standpoint, recog- nized the true value of its opportunities and its purposes and not only lived so as to develop his own powers but also aided others to work along the lines of greatest good.
A native of Indiana, Mr. Dashiell was born in Dearborn county, October 7, 1826, his parents being Charles and Nancy (Masten) Dashiell. The former was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and after acquiring a collegiate educa- tion he gave his attention to surveying. He followed that profession in Dearborn county, Indiana, and also in Will county, Illinois, where his last days were passed. In Ohio he married Miss Nancy Masten, who was born in Pennsylvania and was of German lineage. Following her husband's demise she made her home with her son, Mark A., and passed away in Warren county.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dashiell were fifteen children : Masten, a retired merchant at Indianapolis; Mrs. Elizabeth Sherman, a resi- dent of Portland. Oregon; Mrs. Cynthia McCreary, whose demise recently occurred at Seymour. Indiana; John. who passed away in middle life at Kankakee, Illinois; Mark A., of this review; Mrs. Malina Harris, a widow living in St. Louis, Missouri; Mahala. who died in infancy; Charles Wesley. who served his country as a soldier and who passed away in Kansas City. Missouri; Mrs. Rebecca Davis, a widow who makes her home in Chicago;
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George, who was also a soldier and now resides in Portland, Oregon; Henry who for three years served as a captain in the army and now lives at Spokane Falls, Washington; Virgil William, who was also a captain in the army and resides in Chicago; twin brothers and the remaining children died in infancy. Of the nine brothers, five of them were soldiers of the Civil war, their service amounting in the aggregate to sixteen years.
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