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 78
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On the 14th of September, 1869, Mr. Warnock was married in Des Moines to Miss Martha Plummer, who was born in Knox county, Illinois, and continued to reside there until fourteen years of age. Her father, Jesse Plummer, was a native of Virginia and an early settler of Knox county, Illinois, where he made his home from 1838 to 1863, and then removed to Polk county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Warnock have four children, namely : Rose, now the wife of W. W. Preston, a farmer of Polk county, by whom she has four children, Charles, Lawrence, Clarence and Helen Preston; and Amanda, Nellie and Gertrude, who are at home with their parents.
Mr. Warnock has been a stanch supporter of the republican party since casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856. He has served as treasurer of the township schools, and has also filled the office of township trustee and assessor for two terms. Both he and his wife take an active interest in church and Sunday school work, being members of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and he is now serving as one of the trustees of the church at Carlisle. He is also a member of I. B. Sexton Post, No. 425, G. A. R., of which he is past commander, and he stands high not only in the esteem of his army comrades but in the regard of all who know him.
JAMES L. GARDNER.
James L. Gardner, who owns and operates a good farm of eighty acres on section 27, Lincoln township, is a native of Illinois, his birth occurring in Logan county, that state on Christmas day of 1875. He is a son of Giles C. Gardner, of Palmyra township, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. He was a lad of about eight years when brought by his parents to Iowa and in Warren county he was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farm boys. However, he received more than ordinary school privileges, not only attending the public schools of Palmyra and Indianola but also Simp- son College, and later completing a business course at a Burlington commercial college.
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In Indianola, on the 19th of December, 1901, Mr. Gardner was united in marriage to Miss Maggie I. Darnell, who was born and reared in this county, being a daughter of C. W. Darnell, who is also represented in this volume. She attended the Indianola high school and Simpson College. Mr. and Mrs. Gard- ner began their domestic life upon the farm in Lincoln township where they yet reside. In connection with general farming he is also engaged in fattening stoek for market and makes a business of buying and shipping horses, cattle and hogs. He annually fattens about three earloads which he ships to the city markets and he has found his stoek-raising interest quite profitable.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner lost their only child, Dorothy Mildred, who died in infancy in the fall of 1906. They have a wide circle of friends in the community where their married life has been passed and wherever known are held in high regard. In politics Mr. Gardner is an unswerving republican but has never cared for political honors.
ABRAHAM SMITH.
Abraham Smith, who is living retired on his farm on section 28, Liberty township, was born in Darke county, Ohio, December 8, 1834, his parents being James and Syvilla (Bixler) Smith. The father was a native of Pennsyl- vania, where his birth occurred in 1797, and on reaching man's estate he took up his abode in Darke county, Ohio, following agricultural pursuits as a life work. Subsequently he resided in Warren county, Indiana, for several years but in 1856 located in White Breast township, Warren county, Iowa, where he owned a home at Lacona. He lived largely retired, his last years being spent at the home of his son Abraham, in Liberty township, where his demise occurred March 5, 1880. In his political views he was a democrat. His wife, also a native of the Keystone state, was born in April, 1806, and passed away at the home of a daughter in White Breast township in 1883. She was a devoted member of the Lutheran church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. James Smith were born thirteen children, only three of whom survive, namely : Abraham, who was the third in order of birth; Jacob, living at Lacona, and Perry A., of Oskaloosa.
Abraham Smith was largely reared in Warren county, Indiana, and ac- quired his education in the common schools. The year 1857 witnessed his arrival in Warren county, Iowa, where he spent two years and then made the overland journey to California. After having engaged in mining in the Golden state with a fair measure of success for about two years, he returned to this county via the Isthmus of Panama and New York. He then pur- chased an ox-team and was employed in breaking prairie for various agricul- turists here. In the fall of 1861 he was married and located on his present farm of forty aeres on section 28, Liberty township, and with the exception of the year 1873, which he spent in Kansas, he has made his home on this place to the present time. For a number of years he was successfully engaged in
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general agricultural pursuits but is now living retired, though he still gives supervision to the work on the farm. He replaced the old buildings with new and substantial structures and his property is equipped with all the im- provements and accessories found upon the model farm of the twentieth century.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Crumrine, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, March 6, 1840, her parents being Samuel and Eliza (Potter) Crumrine, who in the year 1855 located in Liberty township, this county. The father, who was a native of Darke county, Ohio, passed away at Osceola in 1873, when almost sixty-nine years of age. His wife, who was also born in Darke county, Ohio, died in 1872 at the age of fifty-six years, passing away on the home farm in Liberty township. Unto this worthy couple were born ten children, of whom three still survive, as follows: Mrs. Smith, who was the fourth in order of birth ; Mrs. Susan Huff, who makes her home in Kansas, and Samuel, also a resident of the Sunflower state. From the age of fourteen years Mrs. Smith has resided on the farm in Liberty township which is still her home. By her marriage she has become the mother of thirteen children : Adeline, who passed away at the age of twelve years; Mary L., who died when eight years of age; Clara B., the wife of Nicholas Gooch, of Oklahoma; Gusta May, the wife of Jeremiah Sandy, of Liberty township; Eliza S., who became the wife of Elmer Keeney and also resides in Liberty township; Effie J., the wife of Alonzo Puderbaugh, who is mentioned on another page of this work; John, who died when but thirteen months old; Glenn, at home; Ada, the wife of Walter Dooley, living at Albia, Iowa; one who died in infancy; Tessie, the wife of Clark Nyswonger, of Liberty township; Seymour, who also passed away in infancy, and Hettie, the wife of James Snuggs, of Liberty township.
Mr. Smith gives stalwart support to the men and measures of the demo- tracy, and is a public-spirited citizen whose aid and influence are always given on the side of right, truth and progress. Having resided in this county for a half century, he is well and favorably known and now in his declining years enjoys the respect and esteem of an extensive circle of friends.
REV. JOHN L. HATFIELD, A. M.
Rev. John L. Hatfield, who is now holding superannuated relations in the Methodist Episcopal ministry and is associated with the agricultural interests of Warren county, where he has made his home since 1882, was born in Me- Arthur, Ohio, November 13. 1838. His father, Isaac Hatfield, was a native of Virginia, born in October, 1799, and was of English ancestry. He was a farmer who, removing to Ohio, became one of the early settlers of that state. He took up his abode there in his childhood days and later was closely asso- ciated with the pioneer development and lived the life of a hard-working, industrious man, whose labors proved an element in the agricultural progress
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of this portion of the state. He voted with the democracy up to the time of his death, which occurred in Ohio in February, 1842. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Clark and was born in Virginia, October 3, 1803. She was of Scotch lineage and went with her parents to Ohio in early childhood, her father being one of the early pioneers there. He was descended from Revolutionary stock and served as a sergeant under General Harrison in the war of 1812. Mrs. Hatfield attained a remarkable old age, passing away in 1898.
John L. Hatfield was the youngest in a family of seven children and was reared amid pioneer scenes and environments, working on the farm in his early boyhood and attending the district schools as he found opportunity At the age of eighteeen he became a student in the Ohio University and was graduated in 1862. On the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted as a private in Company B, Ninetieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on August 4, 1862, and served for two years, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. He participated in the various campaigns of the Army of the Cumberland under the command of Generals Rosecrans and Thomas. He was in Cruft's brigade of Palmer's division until after the battles of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge and afterward in D. S. Stanley's division.
After his military service Mr. Hatfield engaged in teaching for a time in McArthur, Ohio, and in Little Rock, Arkansas, and in preaching in Mis- souri. From there he moved to Athens, Ohio, where he served as professor of Latin language and literature in the Ohio University for twelve years. Failing in health, he removed to Warren county, Iowa, in 1882.
In 1867 occurred the marriage of the Rev. John L. Hatfield and Miss Helen M. Carpenter, who was born in Athens, Ohio, January 20, 1841, and died in 1906. There were five children in their family, of whom one passed away in infancy. The others are: George E., a physician, practicing in Lacona, Iowa; Edward T., an attorney and dealer in real estate in Chicago; Lena, a physician, who is doing missionary work in connection with her profession in Foo Chow, China; and Florence, the wife of Samuel W. Stanley, of Gardena, California. Mr. Hatfield also has three grandchildren.
He holds superannuated relations to the church in connection with the Ohio conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been zealous and carnest in the church work and is interested in all that pertains to the moral development of the community. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and his political faith is manifest in the stalwart support which he gives to the republican party at the poles.
DAVID N. SIMONS.
David N. Simons, a representative farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 33, Lincoln township, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, May 20. 1843, the son of Erastus and Amanda (Hun) Simons. The father was a native of Massachusetts and the mother a native of Connecticut. They were
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married in New York state and settled on a farm in Mercer county, Pennsyl- vania. Later they removed to Williams county, Ohio, and from there they went to Benton county, Iowa, in 1854. In 1858 they moved to Kansas, remaining there but one year, when they returned to Lucas county, Iowa. During the Civil war they removed from Lucas county to Warren county, settling near the village of Summerset.
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David Simons was but eleven years of age when his parents removed to Iowa, and here he was reared, his education and experiences being gained among the scenes and environments of pioneer life. When but a youth of nineteen he enlisted, on August 8. 1862. in Company K. Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was sent south. where it participated in the Vicksburg campaign and was in the midst of numerous skirmishes, among which may be mentioned that of Fort Hindman. Chickasaw Bluff and Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, both of which forts were captured. He was also in an engagement at Fort Blakeley and was ill in the hospital at Benton Barracks for about six weeks. He was honorably discharged at Davenport in October, 1865. having previously been mustered out of service at Houston. Texas, and given thirty days in which to reach Davenport. He then returned to his father's home. near Summerset, and aided in the conduct of the farm for a couple of years, after which he worked as a farm hand and in 1867 accepted a position in the brickyards at Indianola.
In 1868 occurred the marriage of David Simons and Miss Amy Deets, a native of Preston county, Virginia, who was, however, reared in Iowa. Unto this union were born three children, of whom the eldest, Julia Viola, died at the age of fifteen years. A son, W. A., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, is married and living on his father's farm. Daisy I., is the wife of John Marshall, a stock-dealer, also residing on the home farm.
Following this marriage David Simons settled on a twenty-acre farm of his own. which he improved and cultivated to the best possible advantage. As he prospered he gradually bought more land from time to time until he now owns and operates a neat and well improved farm of two hundred and sixty- five acres, with three sets of buildings upon it, which adds very materially to the wealth and prosperity of the community. He has resided on his present. place since 1882. In connection with his farming Mr. Simons has given much attention to stock raising, in which work he has been signally successful, his specialties being hogs and horses.
Having lost his first wife, Mr. Simons was married in May, 1886, to Miss Sarah M. Burnett, a daughter of Robert B. and Lydia A. (Stonebraker) Bur- nett. Her father was born in Pennsylvania in 1820, and her mother in Ohio in 1823. In early life Mr. Burnett followed the blacksmith trade but later turned his attention to farming. It was during the Civil war, in 1864, that he removed to Iowa. Mrs. Simons was born near Galesburg, Illinois, January 19. 1858, but was principally reared in this county, attending the country schools and the academy at Ackworth, Iowa. Prior to her marriage she en- gaged in teaching in the country school for ten years.
In politics Mr. Simons is a stanch republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. since which time he has never missed supporting
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the republican nominee for president. Though he takes an active interest in the questions and issues of the day, Mr. Simons has neither sought nor de- sired a public office for himself. He is one of the trustees and steward of the Methodist Episcopal church of Summerset, of which himself, wife and daugh- ter are all members, Mrs. Simons having formerly been an active worker in the Sunday school there. Mr. Simons is widely known throughout this section of the state, having resided here for something over fifty-four years. He is a man of recognized ability and the success that he has achieved in life is due to his own perseverance, industry and sound judgment.
RICHARD SMITH.
There is perhaps no better indication of the position which Richard Smith occupies in the community than is contained in the fact that he is universally known in Indianola, by his many friends, as Uncle Dick, a term expressive of the deepest regard and friendship. He has long lived in Iowa, coming to Poweshiek county in 1855. while since 1894 he has made his home in In- dianola. He was born in Highland county, Ohio, September 23, 1827, and has therefore reached the eighty-first milestone on life's journey. His father, Henry Smith, was a native of Maryland, but was reared in Lewis county, Ken- tucky, where he followed farming. There he was married to Miss Lydia Bane, and from Kentucky he went to Ohio where he spent his last years. His death occurred when he had reached the age of sixty-nine. His wife lived to the very advanced age of ninety-six years.
Richard Smith was one of a family of eight sons and two daughters. He was reared to farm life and early learned the saddler's trade, which he fol- lowed for several years at Marshall, Ohio. He was married there on the 15th of April, 1850, to Miss Christina Head, a daughter of William M. Head, a farmer and local preacher of the Methodist church. She is a sister of Captain Head of Jefferson, Iowa, a prominent landowner and capitalist. Richard Smith removed from Ohio to Poweshiek county, Iowa, in 1855, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, resuming the occupation to which he had been reared. Although the traet was destitute of improvements when it came into his possession, he resolutely and eagerly undertook the task of develop- ing it. With oxen he broke the sod and soon had his crop in. Year by year he added improvements while he carried on the work of the fields, making his home on that farm for thirty years, during which time he met with fair sue- ecss as an agriculturist. He next removed to Andubon county, Iowa, where he purchased an eighty acre farm, making his home there until 1894, when he removed to Warren county. settling in Indianola, for the purpose of edu- cating his children in the schools of this city. Here he has since made his home and is one of the most venerable, respected and worthy residents of the city.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born eleven children of whom two died in infancy. Eight of the family are yet living, while Cella, who became the wife of Jacob Miller of Audubon county, died at the age of thirty-eight years, leaving a husband and eight children. The surviving members of the family are: Mahlon W., who married Emma Morrison and lives in Colo- rado; Edgar.A. and O. J .. both mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Richard L., who married Miss Flemming and is a traveling salesman residing in Iowa City; Elva, the wife of Barton Morrison of Crawford county, Kansas; Billy Head, who married Cora Chapman and is a resident of Marshfield, Oregon; John W., who married Emma Zobbitts and is a banker of Coon Rapids, Iowa, and Charles C., who married Etta Dopp. He is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, now located at Peyton, lowa, and is a graduate of Simpson College and also of the Boston Theological Seminary. All of the children have been liberally educated and all have engaged in teaching school. The family is one of which the father has every reason to be proud and they in return entertain for him the greatest veneration and respeet as well as filial love, for his life has been a most straightforward one. Both lie and his wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church for over a half a een- tury and in politics he is a republican. He has never failed to vote at presi- dential election and he has the remarkable record of never being ill a day in his life. Nature is kind to those who do not abuse her laws, and this Mr. Smith has never done. His rules of conduet have ever been of the most com- mendable character and his entire life has been in harmony therewith. Both he and his wife enjoy the fullest regard of those who know them and they have a host of warm friends in this part of the state, so that no history of War- ren county would be complete without meution of this worthy couple.
REED BROTHERS.
The firm of Reed Brothers, consisting of E. H. and Chett Reed, is success- fully engaged in general farming in Virginia township, owning three hun- dred and forty-two acres of well improved and valuable land on seetions 19 and 20. A part of this property, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, is the old homestead, which belonged to their father, Jacob A. Reed, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume.
E. H. Reed was born in Mercer county, Illinois, October 20, 1862, and was only about five years of age when brought by his parents to this county, where he was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys. He never left the parental roof but is still living on the old homestead. his parents having re- moved to the village of New Virginia in 1891, at which time he took charge of the farm. On the 10th of April, 1890, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Irwin, who was born in Virginia township and is a daughter of Samuel Irwin, now deceased. Religiously, she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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Chett Reed, the younger member of the firm. was born on the home farm in Virginia township, February 25, 1872, and has spent his entire life here with the exception of a few years when with his parents in New Virginia, after their removal to that place. He then returned to the farm and since 1895 has engaged in its cultivation in partnership with his brother. E. II. Wide- awake and progressive men, they have met with marked snecess in their chosen calling and today have one of the best places in the township. They vote with the republican party and never withhold their support from any measure which they believe will prove of public benefit.
WILBUR N. BROWN.
The farming interests of Lincoln township find a worthy repreesntative in Wilbur N. Brown who owns and cultivates one hundred and eighty acres of land, having one hundred acres in the home place on section 17. He was born March 3, 1866, in Warren county. His father, Robinson Brown, was a native of Butler county, Ohio, born in 1821. There he was reared and on leaving Ohio went to Parke county. Indiana. where he married Miss Almira Silcott. who was born and reared in that state and was a daughter of Lewis E. Silcott. Mr. Brown, following his marriage, engaged in farming in Parke county, Indiana, for fifteen years or until after the birth of four of their children, when in the fall of 1865, he removed with his family to Iowa, settling in Warren county, where he purchased the farm upon which his son Wilbur now lives. This he began to cultivate and improve and at one time owned two hundred acres of rich and productive land. He erected a good residence upon the property, also put up a substantial barn, and still resides upon the farm at the venerable age of eighty-seven years. He lost his wife, however, in May, 1898. Of their children E. B. is now living in Kansas; Rachel grew to womanhood, married and afterward passed away; E. W. is living in Idianola; and Emma L. is the wife of J. S. Hardin, a resident farmer of Lincoln town- ship.
W. N. Brown, the only member of the family born in this county, was reared upon the old homestead farm. and after pursuing his early education in the common schools, attended Simpson College. When his education was completed he took charge of the home farm and the business connected there- with. and has since carried on general agricultural pursuits. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey, he chose Miss Eva G. Barlett, whom he wedded in Lincoln township March 14, 1889. She was born in Jasper county, and reared and educated in Milo, a daughter of Lewis Barlett.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown began their domestic life on the home farm and in the intervening years he has given his undivided attention to the work of further developing and improving the place. He has enclosed the entire farm with woven wire fence and has also used the same material in cross fencing the place to some extent. The work of improvement has been carried steadily forward until the farm is one of the best properties in Lincoln town-
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ROBINSON BROWN
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ship in the character of its resources and in the nature of its advantages. He uses the latest improved machinery to carry on the work of the fields and annually gathers golden harvests as a reward for his labors. He also raises and feeds high-grade cattle, hogs and horses, handling about a carload of hogs annually. He likewise conducts a dairy business and fattens some cattle and he likewise raises Silver Laced Wyandotte chickens.
Politieally he has been a lifelong republican, but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church in which he is serving as one of the stewards and trustees, while his wife is a teacher and active worker in the Sunday school. They have four children : Roy L., Paul R., Ruth G., and Helen, who attend church with them, for it is the desire of the parents to so rear their children that they shall become useful and respected citizens. Mr. Brown is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, while both he and his wife are connected with the Modern Brother- hood Association, which is a fraternal insurance society. Mr. Brown is widely known in the county by reason of the extent and success of his business affairs, as well as a genial manner and an upright character which have gained for him the friendship and regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact. He has always lived in this county, and as one of its native sons, his record reflects eredit upon the community which has ever been his home.
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