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 48
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Foreman, now deceased. This union has been blessed with two children, Floran and Bayard F.
Politically, a republican, Mr. Sayre has served for three years as town- ship trustee, and is also an active worker in the cause of temperance. He has never tasted liquor nor tobacco and firmly believes that a man will be abundantly rewarded for leading a temperate life. He is a member and liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church and his influence is ever given on the side of right, truth and progress. He has traveled extensively, having been in over twenty states. Having spent his entire life in Virginia township, he is most widely and favorably known throughout the commu- nity and has won the admiration and respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
WILLIAM L. FARMER.
The spirit of enterprise and indomitable energy is manifest in the life record of William L. Farmer, who resides in section 34, West Lincoln town- ship. Here he has successfully engaged in breeding and dealing in fine stock, within two miles of Indianola, where he owns and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of highly improved land. Warren county numbers him among her native sons and respects him as a citizen whose value has been proven in his relations to the public welfare. He was born on the farm where he resides, his natal day being January 1, 1861.
His father, Leonard Farmer, was a native of North Carolina, born in 1817 near Raleigh, where he resided until about eleven years of age. He then accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana, the family home being established on a farm in Morgan county, where he was reared to manhood. He was married in that county to Miss Mary Ferguson, who was also born near Raleigh, North Carolina, and accompanied her parents to the Hoosier state in her girlhood days. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer established their home upon a rented farm in Indiana, where they lived for several years, when thinking that they might more rapidly gain success in Iowa, which was then less thickly settled, but was growing rapidly, they made their way to Indianola in 1850. The present prosperous and populous county seat then contained but five houses and the county was very sparsely settled, but the land was rich in its possibilities. Mr. Farmer entered one hundred and sixty acres from the government, located his claim in . Lincoln township, and with characteristic energy he began its improvement. There he lived for six years after which he bought one hundred and sixty acres, where his son, William, now makes his home. This he also improved, breaking the sod and trans- forming the raw prairie into fields that annually produce rich harvests. He lived and died upon this property, passing away November 1, 1897, at the ripe old age of eighty-one years. His widow still survives and has reached an advanced age, being now in her ninety-first year.
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William L. Farmer, of this review, was the youngest in a family of three children and is the only one living, the others passing away in childhood. He has always made his home upon the farm which is yet his place of resi- dence. He was sent to the public schools that he might acquire a good Eng- lish education, and when not busy with his text-books he worked in the fields, early gaining a practical knowledge of the best methods of planting his erops and caring for the harvests.
As a companion and helpmate for life's journey. Mr. Farmer chose Miss Carrie B. Hester, whom he wedded June 21, 1887. She was a native of Mis- souri and a daughter of Charles Hester, who for some years followed farm- ing in Warren county, but is now living retired in Indianola. At the time of his marriage William L. Farmer had charge of his father's land and began to further develop and improve the place. He has erected here a good two- story frame residence, a large and substantial barn and sheds that give ample shelter to grain and stoek. He is also raising Red Polled cattle, keeping only registered stock, having engaged in this business since 1898. He also raises registered Shropshire sheep. Duroc Jersey hogs and Percheron Norman horses. He keeps only registered stock and has had some very fine animals upon his place. He has taken his sheep to the state and county fairs where he has won mauy premiums, and he stands today as one of the prominent stock- raisers of this part of lowa. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer have but one child, Clar- ence Roy, who assists in the work on the farm, and is also attending school. Mr. Farmer votes with the republican party where national questions are involved. At local elections where there is no party issue before the people, he votes independent. He has served as road supervisor and has been secre- tary of the school board for nineteen years. He belongs to the Yeoman Society, the Knights of Maccabees and to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Farmer is also a devoted member.
Having spent his entire life here he is very well known, and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are numbered among those who have been acquainted with him from boyhood, is an indication that his has been an upright and honorable career. He is justly elassed with the representative agriculturists of the community and in all of his farm work is practical and progressive.
D. W. HUSTED.
D. W. Husted wide-awake, alert and enterprising. is successfully conduct- ing a drug business in Indianola. He came to this eity in 1888 and opened a drug store, which he has now conducted for twenty years. He not only enjoys a good local trade but covers the state with a line of proprietary goods of his own manufacture, conducting both a wholesale and retail business. He has also the largest prescription business in the county. He has been very successful in his undertakings, as is indicated by the large stock of
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goods which he carries in a well appointed store on the north side of the square. He is a liberal advertiser and an enterprising, up-to-date merchant, who well merits the trade which he enjoys and which he has won through honorable, progressive business methods.
Mr. Husted is married and has two children who are in school. He is well known in the business circles of Indianola, where for twenty years he has figured as a leading merchant.
ALFRED M. FORD.
Alfred M. Ford, who is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on his farm of one hundred and sixty aeres, comprising the northwest quarter of section 10, Belmont township, was born in what is now Lincoln township, Warren county, not far from Ackworth, in 1863. His father, W. H. Ford, was a native of West Virginia and there resided until he had attained the age of twenty years, when, in company with a cousin, John McGee, he came to Warren county, lowa. He first located in Indianola but in the spring of 1867 took up his abode in Belmont township, where he transformed a tract of prairie land into a finely improved farm, carrying on the work of the fields until the time of his retirement from active life. Removing to Milo, he there lived in well earned ease for some years, his death occurring in December, 1903, at the age of sixty-five years. In his political views he was a stanch republican and for a number of years was identified with the Friends church, being a man of unfaltering integrity and upright life. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Maxwell, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, and in the latter '40s accompanied her mother to Warren county, being reared and married in this county. She was a lifelong member of the Friends church and passed away on the old homestead farm May 2, 1888, when more than forty-five years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Ford were born four children: Ella, whose death occurred when she was about four years of age; James E., of Lincoln township; Frank H., residing in Des Moines, and Alfred M., of this review.
The last named, who is a cousin of Judge J. H. Henderson, of Indianola, has spent his entire life in Warren county, with the exception of two years spent in Clay county, Kansas. He purchased a farm but later disposed of it and bought his present home place of one hundred and sixty aeres in Bel- mont township Here he successively carries on farming and stock-raising, being widely recognized as one of the substantial and enterprising agricultur- ists of the locality.
Mr. Ford was here married, in December, 1886. to Miss Mary Hornady. who was born in Wapello county. Iowa, in 1868, a daughter of Michael and Minerva (Butterfield) Hornaday, who resided in Warren county for a num- ber of years. The father passed away at Savannah, Missouri, in June, 1888, while his widow makes her home at Sandyville, this county, being more than
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seventy years of age. Mrs. Ford was reared in Iowa and was one of a family of eight children, nearly all of whom reside in this county. She has become the mother of four children, namely : Jeremiah M., born in 1888; Alva, whose birth occurred in 1891; Lester, born in 1893: and Annie, who was born in 1895. in 1895.
Mr. Ford has always given stalwart allegiance to the men and measures of the republican party and is now a candidate for trustee in Belmont town- ship. He is a public-spirited citizen whose cooperation can be counted upon in every movement which tends to promote the moral, intellectual and ma- terial welfare of the community.
W. J. COCHRAN.
In every community there are certain names which are synonymous of the growth, development and improvement of the locality. The name of W. J. Cochran is closely associated with all that has contributed to the wel- fare and development of Warren county, his activity proving an effective element in the material, political, social and moral development of this part of the state. Wherever he was known he was honored and respected, but most of all where he was best known.
W. J. Cochran was born in Highland, Ohio, August 22, 1829, his parents being William and Elizabeth (McConnell) Cochran, who were natives of Ire- land and Ohio respectively. The son spent his boyhood days in the state of his nativity to the age of fourteen years and in 1855 accompanied his parents on their removal to Warren county, Iowa, settling on a farm in White Breast township. There he assisted in the arduous task of opening up a new farm, became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops and eventually he bought the interest of the other heirs in his father's estate. With renewed energy he gave his attention to general farming. The płace was partly improved when it came into his possession but he remodeled and added to the dwelling, making it a good home. He also put up substan- tial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and as the years went by he transformed his land into richly productive fields, from which he annually gathered good harvests.
As a companion and helpmeet for life's journey Mr. Cochran chose Miss Eliza E. Warnock, whom he wedded on the 7th of June, 1860. She was born in Ohio, March 6, 1839, and was a daughter of David and Mary Ann (Chaney) Warnock, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cochran were born nine children: Elizabeth, who is acting as housekeeper for her brother. Dr. A. L. Cochran, of Cumming. Iowa; Matilda Josephine, the wife of J. W. Thorne, of Lacona, Iowa; John Wil- liam, at home; David A., who was a physician of Milo, Iowa, but died in March, 1908; Charles Simeon, a resident farmer of White Breast township: Samuel Clarence and Thomas Harris, both of whom are now deceased; A. L.
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who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Cumming; and George Earl, who is yet upon the home farm.
As the years passed by W. J. Cochran prospered in his undertakings and his chief delight in his success was that it enabled him to supply his family with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. He left a large estate when on the 15th of August, 1901, he was called to his final rest. He not only figured as one of the leading agriculturists of his com- munity but was also a prominent factor in other lines of activity beneficial to the county. He was one of the organizers of the United Presbyterian church at Lacona in 1865, and on the 25th of November in that year was chosen a ruling elder and the following day was made elerk of the organiza- tion, serving in the latter position for thirty-five years. In the work of the church he was always deeply and helpfully interested and he contributed gen- erously to its support. He was twice elected by the Des Moines Presbytery as a lay delegate to the general assembly of the Presbyterian church, attending the session at Xenia, Ohio, and the other time at Albany, Oregon
Never neglectfnl of the duties of citizenship Mr. Cochran labored earnestly to promote public progress and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth, ability and loyalty, called him to serve in various township and county offices. He was county supervisor and was also assessor and township clerk, while in 1879 he was elected to represent his district in the lower house of the general assembly of Iowa. Over the record of his official career there fell no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil and in other relations in life he was actuated by high and manly principles. To his family he was most devoted, to his friends was faithful and throughout the community he was known as a noble citizen and sincere Christian. His memory is yet cherished by all with whom he came in contact and most of all by the members of his own household who knew him as a most loving and indulgent husband and father. Mrs. Cochran has been equally devoted to her family and in return receives the most filial devotion from her children. She yet resides on the old home farm, presiding over the household, and, with the assistance of her son George, manages the property.
GILES C. GARDNER.
Giles C. Gardner, one of the few remaining veterans of the civil war and one of the prosperons farmers of Warren county, is now practically living retired at his home on section 31, Palmyra township. He was born in Erie connty, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of October. 1840, his parents being Truman and Sallie (White) Gardner, the former of Scotch and the latter of German ancestry. His father was born in Scotland and was a young man on coming to the United States. By trade he was a ship carpenter and millright, and for a time followed those occupations in New York city. There he was mar- ried and afterward removed to Erie county, Pennsylvania, still later to Ohio
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and subsequently to Logan county, Illinois, where he opened up a new farm. As time passed he prospered in his farming operations and eventually became the owner of nearly one thousand acres in that county, where he spent his last days. The mother of our subject died in Troy, New York, and the father subsequently married again. By the first union there were seven children, four sons and three daughters, and a brother of our subject, W. H. Gardner, of Carlisle, is represented elsewhere in this work.
Giles C. Gardner accompanied the family on their removal to Ohio and later to Logan county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood on a farm. When the country became involved in civil war he enlisted in August, 1861, as a member of the Second Illinois Cavalry, which was an independent regiment and was first ordered to Missouri. The first engagement in which Mr. Gard- ner participated was at Belmont, that state, and he also took part in the battles of Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, Holly Springs, the Red River expedition, the battle of Nashville, and a number of other engagements of less importance. He was ill in the hospital at Paducah, Kentucky, for a time and was later on guard duty for thirty days, after which he rejoined his regiment and remained in the service until the close of the war, being mus- tered out at Paducah and honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, in September, 1865.
Mr. Gardner then returned home and resumed farming. He was married in Mason county, Illinois, July 4, 1867, to Miss Matilda A. Evans, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, and they have become the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, namely: George L. and Ewdard E., who are both married and live on farms near their father; James L., whose sketch will be found on another page of this volume; and Myrtle Dell, at home with her parents.
After his marriage Mr. Gardner located on a farm in Logan county, Illinois, where he continued to make his home until 1883, when he sold that place and came to Warren county, Iowa, buying a farm near his present home. His first purchase consisted of one hundred and forty-five acres, which he improved and cultivated for some time, and eventually bought his present farm, becoming the owner of over three hundred acres of land, on which he has erected good and substantial buildings. Today he has three sets of farm buildings upon his place, two of which are occupied by his sons. In connec- tion with general farming he has engaged in the raising and feeding of stock, but for several years he has now practically lived retired, leaving his sons to carry on the work of the farm. They now feed about five carloads of cattle annually and also raise a large number of hogs.
Since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. while in the army, he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party. but has never cared for office. though he has been officially connected with the schools both in Illinois and Iowa. He is a member of the Grand Army post at Hartford and both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, while their son, George, is also a member of the same church and is now superintendent of the Sunday school. As an honored
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veteran of the civil war and a public spirited citizen, true to the interests of his county and state as well as to the country at large, Mr. Gardner is deserving of honorable mention in the history of the representative men of this region.
FRANCIS MARION SADLER.
Francis Marion Sadler, residing in Indianola, was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, January 11, 1852, and is the second in order of birth in a family of seven children whose parents were George and Adeline (Nedrow) Sadler, the former a native of Harrison county, Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father lost his life while serving as a soldier of the civil war, enlisting in August, 1862, in the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry. He was assigned to Com- pany D, and died in the hospital January 20, 1865. He was of French an- cestry, the family being founded in America during the early colonization period in Pennsylvania. As a business man he followed farming and thus provided for his family. He was in hearty sympathy with the movements and principles which gave rise to the republican party and cast his ballot for its candidates. His widow still survives him and is now living in Van Buren county, Iowa, having celebrated the eightieth anniversary of her birth on the 21st of April, 1908. She is a member of the Lutheran church and her many good qualities of heart and mind have gained for her the esteem of all with whom she has come in contact.
Francis M. Sadler was reared upon the home farm and attended the coun- try schools in the acquirement of an education. At the age of eighteen years he learned the wagonmaker's trade, which he followed continuously for thirty- five years, leading a life of well directed industry and perseverance. In 1904 he held a position on the grounds of the Louisina Purchase Exposition at St. Louis and following his return to Iowa he followed carpentering until 1907, since which time he has resided in Indianola. He has been identified . with Indianola almost continuously since the spring of 1876, at which time he became an employe in Jacoby's wagon shop. He has lived a life of unabating industry and well directed perseverance and whatever success he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own labors.
In 1877 Mr. Sadler was joined in wedlock to Miss Cassie L. Hine, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1857 They have one child, George Francis, who is now a music professor of Hiawatha, Kansas. The parents belong to the Presbyterian church and Mr. Sadler holds membership with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors of America, and with the last named Mrs. Sadler is also connected. His poli- tical views are in harmony with the principles of the republican party and upon its ticket he was elected a member of the city council. He has a most notable record in that connection, having for twenty years been one of the aldermen, during which period he has been most closely associated with the
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material development, improvement and municipal progress of Indianola. His labors in behalf of the city have been effective and far-reaching. He is a charter member of the Indianola fire company and was the first assistant chief. While a member of the city council he was chairman of the fire com- mittee that organized the fire company and chairman of the water committee that built the water works. He has manifested a contageous enthusiasm in support of a fire department, realizing fully its value as a safeguard to the city, believing that every town should have a well organized fire system. A number of years ago Mr. Sadler assisted in organizing a company of soldiers, known as Company D, Third Regiment, lowa National Guard, and rose from the rank of corporal to captain of the company. He has always taken an active interest in polities, was chairman of the Warren county delegation to the state convention when Jackson was nominated for governor, and cast the thirteen votes of the county against the celebrated Struble amendment in op- position to the proposed mulet law. He keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and is recognized as a republican leader in Indianola and Warren county but has never sacrificed the public good to partisanship nor the general welfare to self-aggrandizement.
DAVID H. NUTTING.
The history of the life of David H. Nutting is replete with the spirit of pioneer days and in reading it one almost forgets that in these modern times cities are linked to each other by ties of steel, so that but a few hours need intervene in traveling from one to the other. He was born in Franklin county, Massachusetts, September 30, 1823, the son of Porter and Anna (Fitts) Nutting. . There were five children in the family, two sons and three daughters, of whom David H. was the fourth in the order of birth. He was named for his paternal grandfather, David Nutting, who was of an old Puritan family that settled in Massaehsuetts in the seventeenth century, and was prominent in the affairs of that state.
David H. Nutting received his education in the common schools of the locality where he was born. He served an apprenticeship as a molder at Palmer, Massachusetts, and worked as a journeyman for some time at Hartford, Connectient ; at Middletown, Connecticutt ; at Cincinnati, Ohio, and elsewhere. While at Worcester, Massachusetts, he was married to Miss Mary Fitts, daughter of Robert and Lucy (Bangs) Fitts, natives of Worcester county, Massachusetts, as was also the grandfather, who traced his ancestry back to an honored Puritan family. Mary M. Fitts was born in Worcester county. Massachsuetts, May 30, 1822. She was of a bright, studious nature and readily mastered the curriculum of the schools of the community. From the time of her marriage to David H. Nntting their lives are so closely interwoven as to make the history of the one appear as the history of both.
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Impatient of the monotonous and restricted life of a journeyman, and the impossibility of getting ahead in life on the earnings of his trade, Mr. Nutting left his family in Cincinnati in 1854 and started west for the purpose of securing a home and brighter future for his loved ones. His wanderings led him to Warren county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of wild land on sections 15 and 16, Otter township. On section 15 he found a long cabin, seventeen by nineteen feet in dimensions, with a clapboard roof and a puncheon floor. He then went to Lexington, Missouri, and sought work in a foundry which was building there, in the meantime sending for his family to come on from Cincinnati. His wife and children took the boat from that city to St. Louis, where they had to change boats in order to get to Lexington, the time spent enroute being fourteen days. They remained there for one year, saving their earnings and planning for their future home in the wilderness. While a resident of Lexington the issue arose as to whether Kansas should be admitted as a free or slave state, on which question Mr. Nutting cast his vote for the cause of freedom.
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