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 56
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Alfred Clark was only three years old when he left the county of his nativity and removed to Vermilion county. Indiana. and in that state he con- tinued to reside until his removal to Warren county. Iowa. at the age of twenty years. He brought with him his mother, grandmother. two aunts and their children, but all of the number are now deceased with the exception of one cousin, now living near Des Moines. Locating on his present farm on section 11. Otter township. Mr. Clark purchased the land from the government. securing three forty acre tracts, which included eighty acres of timber land. It was not until the fall of 1847 that Otter township was surveyed and laid off in sections and his land came direct to him from the government. He has
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made all of the improvements on the place and today has a comfortable home where he expects to spend the remainder of his life.
In 1850 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Clark and Miss Hannah Hay- worth, theirs being the first marriage license granted in Indianola. Mrs. Clark was a daughter of Dillon Hayworth, an early settler of Lincoln town- ship, who came to this state from Vermilion county, Indiana, in 1845, and after spending one year in Keokuk county became a resident of Warren county. Mrs. Clark died on the 12th of November, 1905, when nearly seventy- six years of age. She was the mother of eight children, but only two of the number are now living. Mercy Bell is the wife of Lewis C. Hodgson and re- sides in Indianola, although he owns a large farm in Lincoln township. D. F. now operating the home farm for his father, married Miss Maggie Meyers and they have four children: Harry. Weata, William and Judd, all at home.
When Mr. Clark came to this county he found the region but sparsely settled and one of the horses belonging to his party was stolen by the In- dians. Wild game was still plentiful and he had ample opportunity to in- dulge his love for hunting. Knoxville and Des Moines were his nearest markets and one could ride for miles over the boundless prairies without coming upon habitation. Mr. Clark has borne his full share in the work of development and improvement and may well be numbered among the honored pioneers and worthy citizens of the county. He is a faithful member of the Friends' church and a republican in politics since the organization of that party, serving as a trustee of Otter township for many years.
BOLOVIA KELLER.
Bolovia Keller, a successful agriculturist residing on section 29, Squaw township, Warren county, was born in this township on the 27th of October, 1858, and was a son of Franklin Keller. He acquired his education in the dis- triet schools and when he had attained his majority was given eighty acres of land by his father, which he broke up and improved, erecting buildings and adding the many accessories which make a model farm property. He is still engaged in its operation and the fields annually yield golden harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.
On the 7th of July, 1881, Mr. Keller was united in marriage to Miss Mary Wollery, a native of Polk county, Iowa, and a daughter of J. M. and Elizabeth Wollery, both of whom are deceased. U'nto Mr. and Mrs. Keller have been born eleven ehildren, namely: E. L., who married Lilly Barber and is em- ployed by the street car company in Des Moines; Ada E., the wife of Tiry Gray, of Cass county, North Dakota ; and John F., O. R., Ruby P., Lora E., Flossie E., Maud, Edna, Otis and Perry, all of whom are at home.
Mr. Keller gives stalwart allegiance to the democracy and is now serving as road supervisor for Squaw township -- a very responsible position, the duties of which he is discharging in a creditable and commendable manner. He is
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a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is widely recognized throughout the community as one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of his native county.
C. K. ALLEN.
C. K. Allen, a progressive, public-spirited farmer residing on section 18, Greenfield township, has been prominently identified with the early growth and development of the county, dating his residence here since 1856. He was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, September 29, 1829. There he grew to manhood's estate, receiving his education in the common and select schools of the locality. In Massachusetts he was married to Sara Jane Judd, a daughter of Ardon Judd, who was a cousin of Orange Judd. Mrs. Allen was born, reared and educated in Berkshire county.
Two years after their marriage, in 1856, they removed to Iowa and bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Linn township, Warren county. The place had some slight improvement including a small house in fairly good con- dition. Mr. Allen set about the work of cultivating the soil and the raising of crops, in which he was ably aided by the character of the land under cultivation, which yielded him generous returns and enabled him to add further necessary improvements. During the winter months Mr. Allen followed the vocation of teaching, in which he first engaged in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, thus supplementing the income from his farm by his earnings as a teacher. In all he taught in lowa two terms before the war and one term since. Eventually he sold his one hundred and twenty acre traet and bought his present place of one hundred and sixty acres, where he has since made his home. The place was practically undeveloped at the time of his acquiring it, but through the practical experience he had gained in the develop- ment of his first place he was soon able to put this farm on a paying basis, and later built a large, substantial residence, together with a barn, granaries, cribs and sheds for the shelter of his produce and stock. On another portion of the farm he built a honse and barn for his son, together with the necessary outbuildings. In connection with general farming Mr. Allen has found a remunerative source of income in the fattening of hogs. He has also fattened out some beef stock.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born four children, three of whom are now living. Alfred G. owns and operates a farm adjoining that of his father. He is married and has three children. Edgar is in partnership with his brother. He is also married and has one child. A daughter, Bertha G., is the wife of C. P. Huff, a professor of music in Des Moines. Gordon B. died at the age of two and one-half years.
On September 10. 1904, was the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Allen, and their children and friends celebrated the occasion by giving
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MR. AND MRS. C. K. ALLEN
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them a surprise party and presenting each of them with a gold watch, as well as with other souvenirs befitting the occasion. Both are prominent members of the Methodist church. Politically, Mr. Allen was originally a whig. In 1860 and 1864 he supported Abraham Lincoln, and later Ulysses S. Grant. In national affairs his political allegiance is given to the republican party, but at local elections he votes independently. The cause of prohibition finds in him a warm advocate, and he may always be relied upon to aid any movement in the cause of temperance. He is deeply interested in educational work and has been identified with the schools here for years. He has also served one term as justice of the peace.
THOMAS PENNINGTON.
Thomas Pennington is widely known in Warren county. He is prob- ably the oldest auctioneer within its borders, having engaged in this line of business since coming to the county in 1874. Hle was for more than a quarter of a century, actively, energetically and successfully engaged in farming near Ackworth but at the present time is living retired in Indianola, save that he is giving some attention to the real-estate business. His life is proof of the fact that success is not a matter of genius as some contend but is the out- come of clear judgment, experience and persistent effort. He came to Iowa from Ohio, his native state, his birth having there occurred in Wilmington in 1843. He was the second in a family of four children, whose parents were John and Hannah (Lacey) Peninngton, both of whom were natives of Clinton county, Ohio, the former of Scotch descent and the latter of English ancestry. They were also consistent members of the Christian church and in his political views Mr. Pennington was a democrat. Through an active business life he devoted his energies to farming and stock-raising and thus provided a good living for his family and gained a desirable and substantial property. He died in 1872, at the age of sixty-six years, having long survived his wife, who passed away in 1854.
Through the medium of the district schools Thomas Pennington acquired his education while spending his boyhood days upon the home farm, where he was early trained to habits of industry and integrity. On leaving home he became a mechanical engineer but in the meantime he had had broad and var- ied military experiences, for through that momentous period in the history of the country when disaster threatened the Union, he stood loyally in its sup- port, joining the federal army on the 3d of March, 1862, at Wilmington, Ohio. He was assigned to duty with Company E. of the Sixty-first Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry and was mustered out after three years' active service on the 6th of April, 1865, at Goldsboro, North Carolina. He was wounded at the sec- ond battle of Bull Run, a box of ammunition having crushed the elbow joint. He took part in many of the long hard marches as well as in a number of the
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hotly contested engagements and in fact his experiences included all those which fall to the lot of the soldier.
When the war was over Mr. Pennington came to Iowa, where he remained for a year. He was afterward for two years in Kansas and for three years in Dakota. About 1874 he took up his abode in Warren county and has since been numbered among its auctioneers, being perhaps the oldest one in the county. When he removed to this county he settled on a farm near Ackworth, where he remained until 1900, being busily engaged in the tilling of the soil and the cultivation of the erops. In that year he removed to Des Moines but in 1905 returned to Indianola, where he is now living in honorable retire- ment from business cares, save that to some extent he is engaged in handling real estate.
Mr. Pennington was married in 1875 to Miss Louisa J. Haworth, who was born in Ackworth, this county, in 1854, representing one of the old pioneer families. Her parents were Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Ginder) Haworth, who came to Warren county in 1849 and entered land in Lincoln township. Mrs. Pennington was one of the first female children born in the county. She has lived to witness remarkable changes in its appearance as the work of progress and development has been carried forward, producing a marked transforma- tion from pioneer times to the present era of advanced improvement and civili- zation. Mr. and Mrs. Pennington are the parents of a son and two daugh- ters, as follows: Orville J., who is practicing medicine in Linden, Iowa; Della Elizabeth, who has passed away, and Blanche, who is a graduate of Simpson College and is now teaching music.
The parents belong to the Society of Friends and Mr. Pennington is en- rolled with the members of James Randolph Post, G. A. R., and also of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. His position on political questions is never an equivocal one, as he gives stalwart support to the republican party. Through- ont his entire life he has been loyal to whatever he has believed to be right and while he has never sought to figure prominently in public affairs his life record is that of a progressive citizen and trustworthy business man.
E. A. SMITH.
On a farm not far from Ackworth lives E. A. Smith, whose home stands on section 22, Lincoln township. There in the raising and feeding of stock and in the cultivation of the fields he has gained an excellent reputation as an enter- prising agriculturist and one whose success has come to him as the result of earnest, persistent and honorable effort. His farm comprises almost two hun- dred acres of land and looking abroad over the place one can easily sce that it is well equipped with all those features which differentiate the model farm from the one of second-class improvements.
Mr. Smith was born in Poweshiek county, Iowa, February 12, 1857. and is a son of Richard Smith, now living retired in Indianola, of whom mention
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is made elsewhere in this volume. The home farm of Poweshiek remained his playground in youth and his training school for life's practical duties. His primary education was obtained in the district schools and later he attended the Montezuma high school. For a number of years he engaged in teaching and later he devoted the winter months to that profession, while in summer seasons he carried on farm work. He was married in Poweshiek county, March 7, 1877, to Miss Lucy May Higgins, who was born in Johnson county, Iowa, a daughter of Jesse Higgins, one of the pioneers of Ohio. Mrs. Smith, however, was largely reared in Poweshiek county, Iowa, where the young couple began their domestic life and made their home for two years after their marriage. On the expiration of that period, Mr. Smith removed to Audubon county, where he purchased land and improved the farm, making it his home for twenty-two years. With the opening of spring he took his place in the fields and prepared the soil for the crops. Then followed the planting and cultivation and in due time the harvest and thus year after year he added something to his possessions.
In 1901, however, he sold that property and came to Warren county, where he bought two hundred and forty acres of land. This he began to farm and further improve, but later he sold out forty acres of this tract. While living upon this farm he rebuilt, repaired and remodeled the house and now has a most comfortable residence. He has also built a good barn and has divided the places into fields of convenient sizes by well kept fences, some of which are constructed of woven wire. The traveler passing by in the spring, summer and late autumn, cannot but be delighted with the appear- ance of the fields as the fresh green of spring is transformed into the darker tints of midsummer, followed by the golden colors that indicate the harvest and the reward of labor. In addition to his farming Mr. Smith raises and feeds stock and makes a specialty of hogs and horses, keeping on hand high grades of both. He also has some pure-blooded shorthorn cattle.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born eight children: Maggie D., the wife of V. A. Dunbar, a resident of Canada, by whom she has five sons; Ida C., the wife of O. Bickelhaupt, of Silver Lake, Kansas; Bertha May, the wife of Arthur Perry, a farmer of Lincoln township; Delno E., who assists in carry- ing on the home farm; Elva G., Conard O., Mona B., and Oda V., all yet at home.
Mr. Smith votes with the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. While in Andubon county he served for two years as assessor. He has also been justice of the peace for a number of years and has served on the school board both in Warren and Audubon counties. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Indianola and their many good qualities of heart and mind have endeared them to all with whom they have been brought in contact. Mr. Smith deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in the busi- ness world. He started out in life empty-handed and has worked diligently and persistently to attain the success which is now his. He has helped to improve three farms and from his labors he has himself received substantial
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benefits. The success which he now enjoys is a visible evidence of his life of industry and sound judgment, and it proves most elearly what others may accomplish if they possess the will to dare and to do.
B. F. YOUNG.
One of the most prominent farmers of Lincoln township is B. F. Young, whose home is on section 27, where he has been successfully engaged in agricul- tural pursuits for several years. Almost his entire life has been passed in Warren county for he was only two years old when he arrived here in 1851. He was born in Shelby county, Indiana, on the 12th of November, 1849, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families of that locality, his paternal grandfather having settled there at an early date in its development. There the father of our subject, David Young, was also born, his natal day being March 1, 1826. On arriving at manhood he married Margaret Ann Williams and they continued to make their home in Shelby county, Indiana, until coming to Warren county in 1851. Here the father entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land and opened up a farm, making his home thereon until his death, which occurred April 7, 1888. In his family were four sons and four daughters and with the exception of one son all reached years of maturity, but only our subject and his brother Wright are now living.
On the home farm in this county B. F. Young grew to manhood and he early became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agrieulturist, so that he was well qualified for his life work on leaving the parental roof at the time of his marriage. His literary education was obtained in the common schools. In 1876 he located upon his present farm on section 27, Lincoln township, and after renting the place for several years he bought the property, consisting of eighty acres, which is conveniently located a mile and a half from Indianola. In his farming operations he has met with good success and has been able to add to his property, now owning a tract of fifty- four acres also on section 27, and one hundred and sixty acres of pasture land in White Oak township. He has paid considerable attention to the raising, buying and feeding of stock, and in 1907 fattened fifteen carloads of cattle and hogs for market. Upon his home farm he has made many substantial improve- ments, which today stand as monuments to his thrift and industry and his place is well equipped for stock-raising being well supplied with water and all necessary conveniences.
On the 6th of March, 1874, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Young and Miss Ella J. Reynolds, who was born in this county on the 13th of October, 1853, and died February 2, 1902. They became the parents of eight children, namely : Louisa, now the wife of Simon Richards, who has been engaged in the newspaper business for years and is now proprietor of the Graphic-Herald, of Webster City, lowa; Andrew S., who is a merchant of Yarmouth, Iowa ; Myrtle, the wife of George Price, a farmer living near Wick, Iowa; Amanda, at home;
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B. F. YOUNG
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David R., a business man of Salt Lake City, Utah ; B. F., Jr., and John W., who assist their father in the work of the farm; and Gladys M., a student in the home schools
Mr. Young has made two trips to the west, visiting Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and other cities on the Pacific coast and also British Columbia. He has always affiliated with the republican party since casting his first presi- dential ballot for General U. S. Grant in 1872, and has taken quite an active and influential part in local politics, filling a number of township iffices, such as road supervisor and township trustee, while for six consecutive years he was a member of the county board of supervisors, being president of the board two years of that time and a member of all the important committees and chairmen of some at different times. He has also been a delegate to various county and state conventions and a member of the grand and petit juries. No trust reposed in him has never been betrayed in the slightest degree and his sterling worth and many excellent traits of character are widely recognized by his fellow citizens. Socially he is an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and a fraternal insurance society.
J. W. BOYLES.
J. W. Boyles, who well deserves the proud American title of a self-made man, is now living in Virginia township. His birth occurred in what after- ward became Barbour county, West Virginia, on the 27th of June, 1846. His father, Gilbert Boyles, who was of English descent, was a native of Preston county, Virginia, and followed merchandising in that state. In 1856, however, he came with his wife and six children to Warren county, Iowa, driving across the country with teams. There was but five dollars in the family exchequer when they reached this county and settled in Virginia township, where the father operated rented land until he had gained means sufficient to purchase forty acres of unimproved land. He built the first residence on the place, fenced and broke the prairie and here made his home until the time of his demise, at the age of eighty years. By unremitting industry, capable management and careful expenditure he acquired a good measure of pros- perity and left an estate of two hundred aeres. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a licensed exhorter. His political alle- giance was first given to the whig party but on its dissolution he became a re- publican. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Johanna Felton, was born in Virginia and was a sister of John Felton, the first settler of Virginia town- ship. She was also a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church and passed away in this township when seventy-five years of age. In the family of this worthy couple were six children, as follows: Sarah M., the wife of Edward Cline, of Des Moines; J. W., of this review; H. R., a carpenter of Des
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Moines; Jennie, the wife of Martin Stapleton, of New Virginia, Iowa; Benjamin a resident of Warren county, and C. E., who resides in Kansas.
J. W. Boyles was twelve years of age when brought to Warren county and he acquired his education in the district schools. When twenty years of age he started out in life for himself as a farmer, purchasing eighty acres of unimproved land in Clarke county, on which he made his home for twelve years. Subsequently he bought one hundred acres, where he now resides, on sections 19, 20 and 29, Virginia township, Warren county, though he has added to his holdings until he is now the owner of two hundred acres of finely im- proved and valuable land. His prosperity is entirely the result of his own well directed labor and enterprise and he is now numbered among the pro- gressive and substantial citizens of the county. For the past six years, how- ever, he has suffered from rheumatism and now rents his land and lives retired, although still active.
Mr. Boyles was married in Virginia township to Miss Sarah Strawn, a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jehu Strawn. who is now residing with a daughter in Osceola, Iowa. This union has been blessed with five children, namely: Charles M., a carpenter of Des Moines, Iowa; James, who married Ida Hylton and follows farming in Clarke county, Iowa; G. W., at home; Anna, the wife of Chauncey Bebe, of Des Moines ; and Arthur who married Ola Lance and follows merchandising at Liberty, Clarke county. Iowa,
In his political views Mr. Boyles is a stanch republican, and long served as school director, acting as president of the board for fifteen years. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are highly esteemed throughout the community by reason of their many ex- cellent traits of character. He was an early settler of Virginia township and has witnessed and participated in the work of development that has trans- formed the district from a barren tract into a rich agricultural region, inhab- ited by an industrious, prosperous, enlightened and progressive people.
FRANK H. STARR.
Frank H. Starr is one of the most energetie, progressive and enterprising citizens of Milo and Warren county. He is now filling the position of cashier of the Citizens Bank and is also extensively and successfully engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising, being the owner of three hundred and forty-two acres of valuable and productive land in Belmont township, the home place being sitnated three-fourths of a mile from the corporation limits of Milo. Mr. Starr was born in Greene county, Wisconsin, June 19, 1861, his parents being Isaac and Mary (Dixon) Starr. natives of North Carolina and Pennsylvania respectively. They came west to Illinois at an early day and afterward re- moved to Greene county, Wisconsin. In the year 1865 they removed to Iowa. first settling in Hardin county, but after a few months came to Belmont town-
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