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 58
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State Medical and the Des Moines Valley Medical Societies. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. He has served as health officer of Lacona for the past fifteen years.
The Doctor is well known throughout Warren county and stands high in the estimation of his professional brethren. while in the social circles of La- cona both he and his wife are prominent.
W. C. HASTIE.
W. C. Hastie, who has resided on his present farm on section 19, Allen township, since 1887, and dates his residence in this county and township since 1856, was born at Bath, New York, December 18, 1854. He is of Scotch ancestry in both the paternal and maternal line, his parents having been born in Scotland, whence they came to America shortly after their marriage and settled in Albany, New York. He remained here about one year, and in .1856 he came to Warren county and was among the early settlers of Scotch Ridge. He rented for a number of years, but eventually bought an eighty aere tract on which he spent the remainder of his days. He passed away in 1904, aged eighty years. His wife is still living, being now past eighty years of age. They were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, all of whom are yet living.
In this township our subject passed the days of his boyhood and youth, receiving his education in the district schools. He remained at home with his parents and aided his father in the responsibilities of the place until he was thirty-three years of age, when he married on March 24, 1887, Miss Lizzie Utterson, daughter of John Utterson and a native of Wellsville, Ohio, who was reared in this county. A sketch of Mr. Utterson's life appears elsewhere in this issue. Following his marriage, Mr. Hastie rented the place on which he now lives and engaged in farming in his own behalf. That he prospered is evi- denced by the fact that after seven years' occupancy of the farm he was able to purchase it and it has since remained in his possession. Since secur- ing the title to the place he has built an addition to the house, has constructed the necessary barns and outbuildings, and planted an orchard and put up fencing, and altogether transformed it into a modern, comfortable home. In addition to general farming he is also engaged in stock-raising.
In affairs of national import Mr. Hastie gives his political support to the republican party. Locally, he supports the men and measures that he deems most worthy of support. He has ever taken an active interest in edu- cational matters and has served as secretary of the school board for several years. He has been the local correspondent of various county papers for the past thirty years, being a contributor to Wallace's Farmer, a publication de- voted to farming interests. He and his estimable wife are members of the United Presbyterian church. of which organization Mr. Hastie is an elder and for two years was the efficient superintendent of the Sunday school, a
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position which Mrs. Hastie is filling at the present time and which she has filled most creditably in previous years. Mr. Hastie deserves great credit for the success he has achieved in life, for it is entirely due to his industry, perseverance and good management.
JOHN WESLEY BARNS.
John Wesley Barns, who since the spring of 1904 has lived retired in Indianola, was formerly closely associated with general agricultural pursuits in Jackson township, where he still owns four hundred acres of land. He now handles stock and his business in this direction is proving profitable. His birth occurred in Madison county, Indiana, December 12, 1841.
His father, Thomas G. Barns, was born in Brown county, Indiana, and the blood of Irish ancestry flowed in his veins. In early life he learned the trades of carpentering and cabinetmaking, which he followed for a time but later gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits. In 1851 he became a resident of lowa, settling in Clayton county, where he purchased a farm. There he remained until 1856, when he started for Kansas but stopped on the way at Summerset to visit his brother, William Barns, who was the owner of a mill there. While paying the visit he examined the country and purchased a farm three miles northeast of Indianola. Abandoning his plan of becoming a resident of Kansas, he settled upon his property and there made his home until the Civil war. At that time he removed to Indianola and purchased a farm in Jefferson township. While residing in town he bought stock and was quite successful in all his undertakings. After the war he engaged in the grocery business with his son John W. and continued a resident of Indianola until his death, which occurred in 1874, when he had reached the age of sixty-two years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in his fraternal rela- tions was a Mason. When age conferred upon him the right of franchise he proudly cast his first ballot for the candidate of the whig party and later upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the republican party. He held several township offices and in community affairs was deeply interested to the extent of giving his aid and support to many measures for the public good. He wedded Miss Ruth Blue, who was born in Marion county, Ohio, and died in 1873, at the age of sixty-one years. She was of German lineage and was a member of the Baptist church. Their family numbered three sons and three daughters, as follows: Mary Jane, the deceased wife of Henry Scott, a resident of Otter township, Warren county; Caroline T., who first wedded John M. Loring, a merchant, who died in Wichita, Kansas, and after his death became the wife of a Mr. Gregory; Katherine, who became the wife of a Mr. Woods and following his death married George Tibs, who is also deceased; John W., whose name introduces this review ; James M., who served in the Civil war as a member of Company C, Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry, which was later consolidated with Company D, having enlisted in August 1862, was mustered out in August, 1865,
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JOHN W. BARNS
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but who is now deceased; and Sylvester, who served in the same military company with his brother and is now a resident of Texas.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for John Wesley Barns in his boyhood and youth. He worked in the fields through the summer months and in the winter seasons attended the public schools, acquiring thereby a fair English education. His life has been devoted to general farming interests with the exception of the time when he was in the grocery business with his father in Indianola. As the years passed he brought his farm under a high state of cultivation and improvement and in his undertakings won that success which always comes as a reward for intelligently directed and unfaltering labor. In the spring of 1904, he retired from the farm and removed to Indianola, where he now makes his home. Here he handles stock, for he cannot entirely disassociate himself from business affairs, as indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature. He also gives general supervision to his farm which is a valuable property of four hundred acres in Jackson township.
Pleasantly situated in his home life Mr. Barns was married in August, 1867, to Miss Cynthia A. Bundy, who was born in Farmington, lowa, July 13, 1844. Her father, John W. Bundy, was born in North Carolina, February 29, 1816, and was a representative of an old English family, his grandfather having come to this country from England in 1765 and settled in South Carolina, where his father was born the following year. The latter was a member of the colonial troops during the last two years of the Revolutionary war. When John W. Bundy was thirteen years of age the family removed to Wayne county, Indiana, and he continued to reside there and in Henry county, that state, until 1833, when they went to Quiney, Illinois. In 1844 he came to Iowa and first located in Van Buren county, where he made his home until 1852, and from that time until coming to Warren county in 1855 he was a resident of Oskaloosa. Set- tling in Indianola, he bought a mill and in connection with John W. Jones engaged in its operation throughout the greater part of his life. On the 6th of May, 1838, he married Miss Sarah Delamater, of Rensselaer county, New York, who died June 19, 1873. His death occurred on the 19th of August, 1890. Both were members of the Baptist church and were people of the highest respectability. Unto them were born eight children, namely: Cynthia, the wife of John W. Barns, of this review; Emma, the wife of Ed R. McKee, of Indianola; Jane, the deceased wife of Joseph Thomas, of Missouri; Effa, the wife of W. P. Lucas, of Indianola; George A. and Martha L., both of Holt county, Nebraska ; Mrs. Mary. Peck, deceased; and W. E., also deceased. The father was again married, his second union being with Sally Maloy, who died June 3, 1884, leaving two daughters, Ida and Lydia.
Mrs. Barns is an artist of considerable ability and is a charming hostess, presiding with gracious hospitality over their pleasant home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Barns were born six children: Lora M., the wife of Frank Willsey, a farmer of White Oak township; Walter E .. who also follows farming in that township; Clyde, who is engaged in the real-estate business and is at home;
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Charles, who also deals in real estate in Indianola; Nellie, who is a cashier and bookkeeper, being employed in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Iva, who has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Barns also have eight grandchildren.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Barns joined the Union army and as a follower of the stars and stripes marched to the front in 1862 with Company C of the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry. He afterward served with Company D and was in the army for three years, participating in fourteen battles. He is now a member of James Randolph Post, G. A. R., of which he is a past com- mander. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. He is likewise connected with the Masons and is loyal to the teachings of these different organizations, with which he holds membership. He votes with the republican party, has held several township offices and in 1878 was elected sheriff, in which position he served for two terms. Fidelity to duty has always been one of his strongly marked characteristics. It was manifest in his official service and when he followed the flag on southern battlefields. It is equally noticeable in his business dealings and in his social relations and he therefore has many friends in the county, as does his wife.
WILLIAM FORMAN.
William Forman, son of William Forman, Sr. and Susan (Martin) Forman was born in Preston county, Virginia, July 8, 1849. His father was of German descent and in 1854, in company with his family, undertook the journey from Virginia to Warren county, Iowa, covering the greater part of the distance by boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi rivers as far as Keokuk, Iowa, and thence by team to Warren county, where he entered two hundred acres of government land. On this he erected a frame building with hewed tim- bers, which is still standing and is covered with shingles split by hand and shaved with a hand drawing knife. Laths, sound as the day they were made, are now to be found in this old landmark, these having been used in another building which was built first and has since been torn down. Mr. and Mrs. Forman are devoted members of the Methodist church and it was in their home that the Mount Tabor Methodist Episcopal Society was organized. The father died in 1869, while the mother lived to be eighty-four years of age. They were the parents of eight children of whom three brothers and one sister are still living.
William Forman, the subject of this review, spent his boyhood days on his father's farm and is indebted to the district schools of this community for his education. After his father's death he bought eighty-two acres of the old home place on the settlement of his estate when but twenty-one years of age and began farming for himself. As a further step toward the establishment of a home he married Miss Mary Keller, likewise a native of Virginia, and a daughter of Allen and Ellen C. (Harsh) Keller, whose family were among the first settlers of this township. Unto this union five children have been born,
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as follows : L. D., a farmer of Squaw township, who married Miss Ellen Hol- land; Minnie W., the wife of Charles Stark, a farmer of Virginia township; Everett, a farmer of Virginia township. who married Miss Nora Weaver; Ella and Blanche, both of whom live at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Forman are prominent members of the Methodist church. In politics he is a democrat and has taken an active interest in township affairs. He now owns one hundred and five acres of well improved land, including a portion of his father's old homestead and is counted as one of the reliable, substantial citizens of the community.
THOMAS JAMES PROUDFOOT.
Thomas James Proudfoot is senior member of the firm of Proudfoot, Dyke & Smith, furniture dealers and undertakers of Indianola, and an investi- gation into his career shows that the methods he has followed in the business world have at all times been honorable and reliable, so that he is well entitled to the liberal patronage that is now accorded him. He claims West Virginia as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Barbour county on the 18th of March, 1855.
His father, James Proudfoot, was born in that county and learned the car- penter's trade. In 1855 he removed westward to Iowa, settling in Warren county, His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church and his political belief that of the democracy. He was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, however, for in 1857 he passed away at the comparatively carly age of thirty years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary C. Barnett, was born in the Shenandoah valley of Virginia and died in December, 1903, at the age of seventy-seven years. After losing her first husband she became the wife of P. P. Henderson, by whom she had one daughter, Susie, now the wife of C. M. Beck, a real-estate dealer at Gibbon, Nebraska. She was a de- voted member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a lady of many excellent traits of character.
Thomas J. Proudfoot was twelve years of age at the time of his mother's second marriage. He was the younger of two children born of her first union and in the public schools of Indianola he pursued his education, while later he spent two years as a student in Simpson College He afterward took up the trade of carpentering, which he followed for a time and later he engaged in farming for four years upon a tract of land that he had purchased near the fair grounds. For eighteen years, however, he has devoted his time and energies to merchandising. In 1892 he formed a partnership with J. H. Der- rough under the firm style of Derrough & Proudfoot, dealers in furniture and undertaking goods. This partnership continued for six years, when Mr. Der- rough retired and was succeeded by J. H. Dyke and G. A. Smith. The business was then increased and the firm name of Proudfoot. Dyke & Smith was assumed.
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This company is now doing a good business, having many patrons, while its annual sales have reached a large figure.
On the 8th of September, 1880, Mr. Proudfoot was married to Miss Hannie L. F. Chapman, who was born in New York, her parents being natives of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Proudfoot have one child, a daughter, Ada A. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Proudfoot affiliates with the blue lodge and chapter of Masons and is financier in the local lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. In his business career he has always held to high ideals and has been a man of action rather than theory. He justly values his own self- respect and esteem of his fellowmen as infinitely more preferable than wealth. fame or position and in his landable efforts to attain prosperity he has never sacrificed those principles which he believes to be right as factors in man's relations with his fellowmen.
W. C. STROCK.
W. C. Strock, who is living retired in New Virginia, was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1837. His father, Tobias Strock, also a native of the Keystone state, was a millwright by trade and came to Warren county in 1855, settling on a farm in New Virginia township. His death occurred two years later at the age of fifty-seven years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Breckbill, was likewise a native of Pennsylvania, and her death occurred in New Virginia in the eighty-eighth year of her age. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and people of the highest respectability. Their family numbered three children, namely: John H., who is living at Logansport, Indiana; Mary, the wife of J. W. Harsh, of New Virginia; and W. C., of this review.
The last named spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Indiana, to which state his parents had removed when he was but two and a half years old. He accompanied them on their removal to Iowa in 1855 and after his father's death purchased the estate from the other heirs, and made a home for his mother as long as she lived. He owned several different farms and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1892, when he located in New Virginia and followed the carpenter's trade successfully for five years or until 1906, when he retired from active business pursuits and is enjoying his remaining years in well earned ease. About two years ago he sold a farm of eighty-one aeres. He still owns twenty-seven and a half acres. He was one of the earliest pioneers of Virginia township, for when he came here Indians were still numerous and deer, turkeys and other wild game abounded. In fact it was quite a common occurrence for thirteen deer to be killed in a single day.
On the 28th of September. 1859. occurred the marriage of Mr. Stroek and Miss Matilda Felton, who was born in West Virginia, November 4, 1837, and passed away August 1, 1907. She was a daughter of John Felton, the first
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MR. AND MRS. W. C. STROCK
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settler in Virginia township, and was a charter member of the Methodist Episcopal church at New Virginia. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Strock were born five children, as follows; Irene, the wife of Frank Trobough, a retired farmer of New Virginia; J. T., living at home, who is serving as postmaster of New Virginia; Estella, the wife of B. F. Reed, an agrieulturist of Virginia; Mary, the wife of W. G. Davidson, who follows farming in Squaw township; and Ollie, at home. The latter is much interested in church work and furnished Editor Martin with a history of the Methodist Episcopal church at New Virginia from a paper read by her at the semi-centennial anniversary celebra- tion in 1905.
Mr. Stroek is a stanch republiean in his political belief and has served his fellow townsmen as constable and school director. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the kindly regard in which he is held through- out the entire community is indicated by the fact that he is familiarly known as Uncle Billy. For more than a half century he has been identified with the upbuilding and improvement of this county and has given his support to every movement and measure instituted for the general welfare along many lines.
M. GRASSMAN.
M. Grassman, who is now living retired in Churchville, Iowa, claims Ger- many as the land of his birth, being born in Baden on the 31st of August, 1837. He lost his father, John Grassman, when quite young and his mother subsequently married again. With her and his stepfather he eame to the new world in 1839 and settled in Ross county, Ohio, where he was reared upon a farm. During his youth he learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he continued to work for many years.
On first eoming to Iowa in 1859, Mr. Grassman located in Des Moines, where he engaged in blacksmithing for two years and a half, and at the end of that time eame to Churchville, establishing the first blacksmith shop in the village. After carrying on that business for about seven years, he em- barked in general merchandising on a small scale but as he prospered in his new undertaking he kept adding to his stoek until he had a well equipped store and had built up an excellent trade, which he continued to enjoy for twenty-seven years. He also served as postmaster of the village, being ap- pointed to that office under President Harrison's administration. While en- gaged in merchandising he bought land near Churchville and in connection with his other business he engaged in agricultural pursuits for a time but finally sold his farm and is now living retired. enjoying the fruits of former toil in well earned ease.
Mr. Grassman was married in Des Moines, February 16, 1861, to Miss Caroline Churchman, who was born in that city and was a daughter of Michael Churchman, one of the early settlers of Iowa. She died in 1871, leaving three
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children, namely : Frank, who died when a young man; Henry, now a resident of Des Moines, and Edward, of Texas. For his second wife he wedded Mary MeCarty, who passed away in 1877, and there are two children living by that union : Mary, the wife of Frank Hansman, of Polk county, Iowa, and George, of Des Moines, who was adopted by a step-brother of our subject, John Klemm, and has taken the name of Klemm. Mr. Grassman's last wife was Johanna Mueller, who died December 24, 1900, leaving two children: Elsie, wife of Thomas Gilespie, of Madison county, and Rose, at home with her father.
In polities Mr. Grassman is a Jeffersonian democrat and in religions faith is a Catholic, having been reared in that church. Commencing life for him- self with no capital, he deserves much credit for the success that he has achieved and he is justly entitled to be ranked with the self-made men as well as the leading citizens of his adopted county.
WILLIAM MELVIN WILSON.
William Melvin Wilson, who is now filling the position of county attorney at Warren county and is a well known member of the Indianola bar, was born near Hartford in Richland township on the 6th of October, 1876. His father, John Wilson, was a native of Ohio and represented one of the old families that was founded in America by a Scotch ancestor. He was a farmer by occupation and came to Iowa in 1854, settling first in Marion county. He made the journey with his parents and was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On remov- ing to Warren county he took up his abode at Hartford, where he worked for a time in a pottery but finally, when his savings justified his purchase of land, he became the owner of a farm not far from the village. At a later date he removed to Lincoln township, settling a half mile north of Summerset. where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in January, 1902, when he was in his fifty-seventh year. His religious preference was for the Presbyterian church and he usually attended its services. In polities he was independent, voting for men and measures rather than for party. In the eom- munity where he lived he filled a number of local offices and was always loyal and progressive in its citizenship, standing high in the esteem of his neighbors and associates. In early manhood he wedded Miss Alice Ellen Slack, who was born in Hartford and still survives, making her home with a son in Palmyra township at the age of fifty-six years. She is a member of the Baptist church.
William M. Wilson was one of a family of thirteen children, of whom eleven are yet living, as follows: John R., who follows farming in Palmyra; William M., of this review; Margaret E., the wife of Grigsby Clark, an agri- culturist of Richland; Leatha Ellen. the wife of Wilbur Cox. who also follows general farming in Richland; Charles H, an agriculturist of Palmyra town- ship; Flora; Lula, the wife of Clyde James, a resident of Norwalk; Samuel
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M., who is a telegraph operator at Knoxville; Flossie; and Hallie and Hazel, twins.
In taking up the personal history of William M. Wilson we present to our readers the life of one who is widely and favorably known in this, his native county. He was reared to farm labor and as a boy trudged away each morning to the district school. Later, however, he enjoyed the ad- vantage of a course in Ackworth Academy and also attended the commercial school in Des Moines. For two years he engaged in teaching in the fall and winter months and later entered Drake University at Des Moines, where he completed his academical course and was then graduated from the law de- partment of that college in 1903. He began the practice of his profession in Des Moines but in the fall of the same year came to Indianola and opened an office in partnership with S. H. Tidball, with whom he is now engaged in the practice of law. Although one of the younger members of the bar, he is meeting with good success and in 1906 was elected to the office of county at- torney, which position he is now filling. He was a candidate of the republican party, which he has supported since attaining his majority.
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