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 79
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JOHN H. McDOLE.
The spirit of enterprise and progress which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of the middle west, finds exemplification in the life record of John H. MeDole, who is living on seetion 9, Lincoln township, busily employed in the conduct of a farm of one hundred and twenty aeres which he owns. He was born on this farm June 5, 1856, and is a son of William McDole, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. As boy and youth he worked in the fields as his years and strength increased and in the public schools he acquired his education. Here he became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops and he remained upon the old home place until some time after his marriage.
On the 28th of December, 1875, Mr. McDole was married in Indianola to Miss Wealthy Beaman. a native of Warren county, and a daughter of Jacob Beaman, who died during the early girlhood of Mrs. McDole. Fol- lowing his marriage Mr. McDole engaged in farming on his father's land. for ten years, and then bought where he now resides. He began here with forty ยท acres of land, but his laudable ambition has carried him forward in his busi- ness career and has made him in the course of years a prosperous and ener- getic farmer of the community. As his financial resources have permitted, he has extended the boundaries of his place, until it now comprises one hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land on seetion 9, Lineoln
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township. The fields respond readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon them and bring to him generous harvests. He has added to and remod- eled the house, has built a barn and sheds, has set out an orchard, planted ornamental trees and altogether has a very desirable farm property. Here he raises not only the grain best adapted to the soil and climate. but also raises and feeds cattle and hogs and likewise some horses. He is now known as one of the most successful farmers and stock-raisers of the community and has sold some of the best stock produced in the county.
In 1899 Mr. McDole was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife who died on the 30th of April of that year. They were the parents of five children who are yet living and they lost their first born, Myrtle, who died at the age of five years. The others are: Nellie, who acts as her father's housekeeper; Lulu, the wife of Earl Clark, a farmer of White Oak township; William, a young man who assists in carrying on the home farm; Archie J., and Axie H., both at home.
Mr. McDole and his daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Farmers' Chapel. He is one of the church trustees, is an earnest and helpful worker in the Sunday school and was formerly its superintend- ent. In politics he was formerly a republican, but has always been a stanch advocate of the temperance cause and votes with the prohibition party. He has been identified with the schools in an official capacity, serving as a member of the school board for nineteen years and as its.chairman for part of the time. He has also capably filled the office of road commissioner and has been a frequent delegate to county conventions. Having always resided in this county he is well known among its citizens and his salient traits of character have thus gained for him the unqualified respect of those with whom he has come in contact.
EMANUEL MARTIN BEERY.
Emanuel Martin Beery, the well known postmaster of Norwalk and an honored veteran of the Civil war, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 27th of Angust. 1843. and is a son of David Beery. a native of the same county. His paternal grandfather was Joseph Beery, who removed from Pennsylvania to the Buckeye state at a very early day and became one of the pioneers of Fairfield county. He followed farming but also engaged in preach- ing as a minister of the Brethren in Christ church.
David Beery had but limited educational advantages as he was only able to attend school for about three months and was therefore almost wholly self- educated. On attaining man's estate he married Miss Jemima Black, also a native of Ohio and a daughter of Benoni Black. The birth of her father also occurred in Ohio, but her grandfather. Peter Black, was born in France. Dur- ing his residence in Ohio, David Beery operated a grist and saw mill, but after coming to Iowa turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. It was in
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1854 that he and his family started for this state, traveling by wagon, and after a long and tedious trip of five weeks and three days they finally reached Warren county, which was to be their future home. Locating one mile south and a quarter of a mile west of Norwalk, the father purchased two hundred and twenty acres of land, for which he paid twelve dollars per acre, and to the improvement and cultivation of that place he devoted his energies until his retirement from active labor in 1885, when he removed to Norwalk, living here until his death in February, 1891, when seventy-two years of age. His wife survived him for four years, dying in February, 1895, also at the age of seventy-two years. Both were faithful members of the Brethren in Christ church and were most estimable people. In polities the father was first a whig and later a republican, but during his last years voted with the prohi- bition party. In the family of this worthy couple were the following chil- dren: Emanuel M., Mary, Barbara, Noah, Benoni, deceased; George, Sarah, Rebecca, Jane, Ellen, Henry and Rose.
Emanuel M. Beery was eleven years of age when the family came to Warren county and here he grew to manhood, receiving a good practical education in the common schools. He was one of the boys in blue during the dark days of the Civil war, enlisting on the 15th of August, 1862, for three years, as a member of Company H, Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, and he took part in all the engagements in which his regiment partici- pated. He was in the hospital for three months during his service. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged at Houston, Texas, and mus- tered out at Davenport, Iowa, August 19. 1865. Returning home he fol- lowed farming until 1882 and then removed to Norwalk, where he has since made his home. For the past five years he has served as postmaster and has proved a most accommodating and obliging official.
Mr. Beery was married in 1868 to Miss Nannie M. Hester, a native of Indiana. They hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and are people of prominence in the community where they reside. Mr. Beery is also a mmber of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Odd Fellows fraternity, and in politics is identified with the republican party, taking an active and commendable interest in public affairs.
WILLIAM NEWTON BARTHOLOMEW.
William Newton Bartholomew, deriving his income from valuable invest- ments in land. has in all of his business affairs displayed the keenest discern- ment and most progressive spirit. He has ever looked beyond the exigencies of the moment to the possibilities of the future and has labored along progres- sive lines, while time has justified the wisdom of his judgment.
He was born September 25. 1850. at Lexington, Illinois. His parents were George M. and Mary (Flesher) Bartholomew. He attended the schools
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of Palmyra, Iowa, and then entered his father's store as a partner, remaining there for sixteen years. On the expiration of that period he removed to a farm in Palmyra township and turned his attention to the raising of registered horses, dealing extensively in Percherons, English Shires, Clydesdales, standard bred French coach horses and Shetland ponies. He also became a large breeder of and dealer in red polled, Galloway and Hereford cattle and he was one of the first men in Warren county to breed the Duroc Jersey hogs. In all of his stock-raising interests he prospered, being an excellent judge of the good points and the value of farm animals. He had three hundred and twenty acres of land in his Palmyra township farm, which he purchased from Jacob Moon, who entered the land from the government in pioneer times. It is still known as Moon's Grove and is situated about two and a quarter miles southeast of Palmyra. For a long period Mr. Bartholomew figured as one of the most prominent and largest stock-raisers and dealers of the county, his business bringing to him a large measure of success. In 1900 he removed to Indianola and in that year purchased a ranch in Nebraska, on which he placed three hundred head of black polled cattle. The ranch was in Chase county and the active work of the place was carried on by the Bryant Brothers, of Indianola.
In 1902 Mr. Bartholomew extended the field of his activity by establishing a hardware and implement business and later he added the stock of Taylor Brothers to that which he originally secured. The following year, 1903, he sold his Nebraska ranch of fifty-two hundred acres and also disposed of the stock. He still owns a valuable farm of three hundred and thirty-five acres three and a half miles southeast of Indianola, which he is now operating. He also has one hundred and twenty-two acres five miles southeast of the city and a tract of two hundred acres eight miles south of the city, while his home place comprises fifteen acres within the corporation limits of Indianola. In addi- tion to his valuable holdings in this county his possessions include six hundred and forty acres in Sanborn county. South Dakota. In all of his business affairs he has displayed an aptitude for successful management and his investments have been most judiciously placed, bringing to him a gratifying return. As the years passed he has been very successful and is now numbered among the wealthy residents of Warren county.
Mr. Bartholomew was married in 1870 to Miss Mary B. Payne, who was born in Palmyra in 1855, her parents being Archibald and Nancy (Glimpse) Payne, of McLean county, Illinois. They came to Warren county in 1852, her father being one of the first blacksmiths in the county. He settled at Palmyra and is said to have made the first breaking plow constructed in the county. He was closely identified with pioneer development here and his labors were an element in its improvement and upbuilding. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew have been born ten children, of whom eight are living, as follows: Leonora, the widow of W. S. Igo, a son of Lewis Igo, of Indianola ; Viola, the wife of Harry Hiatt, an electrician of Grinnell; Nellie, who became the wife of Thomas Reynold, a locomotive engineer of Des Moines; and George A., Lulu, Camalie, Paul and Walter, who are yet at home.
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Mr. Bartholomew holds membership relations with the Odd Fellows, the Modern Brotherhood and the Woodmen, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is an unswerving republican. He served for some time as postmaster of Palmyra and he or his father or some other member of the family continuously filled that position from 1854 until 1905 with the exception of the periods of Grover Cleveland's administra- tions. He also filled some township offices and served for two terms as a member of the city council of Indianola. He belongs to the group of dis- tinctively representative business men who have been the pioneers in inaugur- ating and building up the chief business interests of this section of the country. He early had the sagacity and prescience to discern the eminence which the future had in store for this great and growing district and, acting in accordance with the dictates of his faith and judgment, he has garnered in the fulness of time that generous harvest which is the just recompense of indom- itable industry, judicious investment and well directed enterprise.
JACOB A. REED.
Jacob A. Reed, deceased was for many years one of the leading farmers and an honored citizen of Warren county. He was a native of Indiana, born in Rush county, January 9, 1831, and was of Welsh and Scotch descent. His paternal grandfather, who also bore the name of Jacob Reed, was a native of South Carolina, in which state he partially reared his family, but became a resident of Indiana in an early period in its development. There Hardin Reed, the father of our subject, made his home for many years.
In the Hoosier state Jacob A. Reed grew to manhood and on leaving there went to Mercer county, Illinois, where he made his home for some time. It was during this period that the country became involved in civil war, and, prompted by the spirit of patriotism he enlisted at Aledo as a private of Company K, One Hundred and Second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but his bravery soon won for him the rank of corporal. He was taken ill while in the service and for about a year was unfitted for active duty, being confined in a hospital at Jeffersonville, Indiana, the most of that time. Later he was with Sherman on the march to the sea and his regiment was the first to cross the Savannah river. The command had made several unsuccessful attempts to construct a substantial pontoon bridge across that stream until at length Mr. Reed pointed out the spot most suitable for such a structure having ob- tained reliable information as to which was the best place. The army was thus enabled to pass over in safety, though the credit only in part came to Mr. Reed. Several times his clothing was pierced by bullets but fortunately he remained uninjured though he never fully recovered from the effects of his army service. At the close of the war he received an honorable discharge at Illinois, June 6, 1865. His paternal grandfather had served in the war of
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1812 and it is an odd coincident that both fought on the same ground and camped on the same field.
Before the war Mr. Reed was married November 28, 1857, to Miss Char- lotte Turner, a native of Lancashire, England, and the only daughter of James and Sarah (Greenwood) Turner. With the hope of bettering his finan- cial condition her father came to America, being six long weeks upon the water, during which time the vessel encountered several severe storms but at length Mr. Turner landed in safety at South Amboy, Massachusetts. He worked in various towns of that state for three years before he was able to save money enough to send to England for his wife and daughter. Their voyage was also a dangerous one and they were six weeks upon the water, finally landing at Boston. Mrs. Reed was then but a child and in the schools of Lowell and other Massachusetts towns she obtained a good education.
It was in 1867 that Mr. Reed removed from Illinois to Iowa, making the journey with a two-horse wagon, while his little son, Frank, then only seven years old, rode horseback the entire distance. Choosing Warren county as his future home, he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on sec- tion 20, Virginia township, on which he resided for many years, meeting with success in his farming operations. Having obtained a comfortable competence he retired from active labor in 1890 and located in the village of New Vir- ginia, but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, however, for death claimed him on the 23d of January, 1891, his remains being interred in the New Virginia cemetery.
The republican party found in Mr. Reed a stalwart supporter of its prin- ciples and he took an active interest in public affairs but cared nothing for the honors or emoluments of office. He assisted in organizing his party in Mercer county, Illinois. While still an invalid in the hospital at Jefferson- ville, Indiana, during the Civil war, he went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was initiated into the mysteries of Free Masonry and remained a member of that order in good standing throughout the remainder of his life. In religious belief he was a Baptist, while his wife held membership with the Episcopal church. His useful and well spent life gained him the confidence and high regard of all with whom he came in contact and at his death the community mourned the loss of one of its best citizens.
O. H. PEASLEY.
While O. H. Peasley has been a resident of this county for only a few years, he is not only well known in Indianola and in this part of the state, but throughout Iowa, on account of his connection with the breeding and raising of fine Shropshire sheep. He is the proprietor of the Chapel Red stock farm and is one of the leading representatives of live-stock interests in Warren county. He came here in 1902, in which year he purchased eighty acres of land, partially improved. Since that time his attention has been
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given to the further development of the place, and while he raises some grain, he makes a specialy of stock-raising.
Iowa claims him among her native sons, for his birth occurred in Mus- catine county, December 13, 1865. His father, Enoch Pcasley, was a native of Ohio and when a young man came to lowa, casting in his lot with the early settlers of Muscatine county, where he followed farming. He was married there to Miss Elizabeth Carr, a native of Ohio. They lived there for many years, but both are now deceased. Their family numbered two sons, the younger being Arthur Peasley, who is a dairyman of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
O. H. Peasley was reared to manhood in Muscatine county, and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. He remained at home. until he had attained his majority, after which he started out in life on his own account, working by the month for some time. He then rented a farm and later purchased a place of forty acres. Subsequently he took up his abode in Marshall county, making his home at Marshalltown, where he en- gaged in the livery business for a year and a half. On the expiration of that period he removed to Des Moines, where he also conducted a livery barn, but subsequently traded his business for a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Henry county. He lived upon this place for five years, or until 1902, when he came to Warren county. Since that time he has been closely associated with the stock-raising interests in this part of the state and is prominent in the field of business into which he has directed his labors.
Mr. Peasley was married in Muscatine county, October 24, 1889, to Miss Ida M. Day, a native of that county. They have become the parents of four children : Harold, Hazel, Fred and Elmus. As stated, in 1902 the family took up their abode upon the Chapel Red stock farm. In that year Mr. Peasley purchased eighty acres and he has since erected a substantial barn and modern outbuildings and has further improved the place in other ways. He has been raising Shropshire sheep since 1897, has imported stock and has made various exhibits at the state fairs in Des Moines, beginning in 1903 and exhibiting there every year since. He has taken a number of premiums each year and in 1907 won twenty premiums, including the highest awarded in the state, winning the purple with the ram lamb, against all ages. He has built up an excellent business in the sale of sheep, there being constant demand for all of his stock. He has imported animals for several years, including six which he brought to America the past year. He now has a herd of eighty sheep and lambs and the Chapel Red stock farm is justly celebrated in its conection. He has made a close study of the best methods of sheep-raising for this climate. knows well the kind of fod that produces the best results, and his operations have been so extensive as to make him one of the most prominent sheep- raisers of the middle west. In addition to his home place of eighty acres, he also rents thirty-five acres.
Mr. Peasley belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of Center Chapel and has served on the official board. He is connected with the Modern Woodmen camp and gives his support to the republican party at state and national elections. At local elections, however, he considers only the capa-
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bility of the candidate, without regard to party affiliation. He is preeminently a business man, energetic and determined, who makes good use of his oppor- tunities and wins advancement by reason of his strong purpose and unfalter- ing diligence. He has also become an excellent judge of stock and his worth as a business man and citizen is widely acknowledged.
DAVID LOCKRIDGE.
David Lockridge, a well known citizen of Jefferson township, owning and operating a good farm of one hundred and thirty acres on section 11, has been a witness of the wonderful development of this region for over half a century, for he located here in 1853 and since attaining man's estate has been ac- tively identified with the improvement and upbuilding of Warren county.
Mr. Lockridge was born in Brown county, Indiana, October 24, 1840, and is a son of Samuel and Mary P. (Meek) Lockridge, who were natives of Virginia, where they continued to make their home until after their marriage. From that state they removed to Brown county, Indiana, where in the midst of the forest the father cleared and improved a farm. Disposing of his property there, he came to Iowa in 1853 and made a permanent location in Warren county, where he purchased a tract of raw land and at once turned his attention to its improvement and cultivation, making his home thereon until called to his final rest. His death resulted from an accident in a saw- mill in 1866. His wife survived him for a number of years and died on the old homestead in 1896. In their family are four sons and five daughters, all of whom are still living, and one son who died in childhood.
David Lockridge was only thirteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to this county and here he grew to manhood. He was one of the gallant defenders of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war, enlisting in August, 1862, in Company H, Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and with his command proceeded down the Missis- sippi river to Vicksburg, participating in the first fight at that place. He was also in the engagement at Arkansas Post but was finally discharged for disa- bility at St. Louis in 1863.
Mr. Lockridge returned home to recuperate and as soon as able began work with his father in the sawmill, where he was employed for about two years. After his marriage in 1864, he engaged in farming on the old home place in Jefferson township for a few years. He then purchased forty acres of his present farm on section 14, which he broke, fenced and improved by the erection of buildings, and has since added to his property until he now has one hundred and thirty acres, his present home being on section 11, where he has a good neat residence and substantial outbuildings, which stand as monuments to his thrift and industry.
On the 23d of October, 1864, in Jefferson township, Mr. Lockridge was united in marriage to Miss Missouri A. Hart, who was born in Mercer county,
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MR. AND MRS. DAVID LOCKRIDGE
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Missouri, and was a young lady when she came to Iowa. Her father was William Hart. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lockridge have been born five children who are still living, namely: B. L., who is married and now living in Idaho; Minnie J., the wife of Marion Harlan, living on the farm with Mr. Lockridge; Josephine, the wife of B. L. Leggett, of South Dakota; Villie, the wife of Emery Wheeler, railroad agent and telegraph operator at Prole; and Jennie, who is a teacher in the Warren county schools and resides at home.
In politics Mr. Lockridge is a stanch democrat and cast his first presi- dential vote for General George B. Mcclellan, in 1864. He is a Master Mason, belonging to Spring Hill Lodge, and is also connected with the Grand Army Post at Indianola. He is a member of the Prole Christian church and is a man highly respected and esteemed by all who know him.
DANIEL SHULMIRE.
Daniel Shulmire, who is one of the leading farmers of Richland township and an honored veteran of the Civil war, came to Iowa in 1852 and the follow- ing year located in Warren county, with whose development and upbuilding he has since been identified. His early home was on the other side of the At- lantic, for he was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, on the 7th of March, 1843, a son of David Shulmire. He was only an infant when his mother died and at the age of seven years he accompanied his father on his emigration to America in 1850, locating at Ligonier, Indiana, where the latter died soon afterward.
Thus Daniel Shulmire was left an orphan at an early age and he was reared by strangers. He came to Iowa with his brother-in-law in 1852, and ' after spending a year in Muscatine county removed to Warren county, where he grew to manhood, in the meantime earning his own livelihood by working on a farm by the month.
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