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 81
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
At the end of that time Mr. Cale came to Cumming in 1890 and pur- chased the general store of C. O. Jenks, which he conducted alone for one year. His brother-in-law, C. W. Misner, then purchased an interest in the business, which they have since conducted with good success under the firm name of Cale & Misner. They carry a large and well selected stock of gro- ceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, tin and hardware. Owing to their fair dealing and reliable methods they have secured a liberal patronage.
JOHN F. KELLER.
John F. Keller is one of the active and successful farmers and stock- raisers of Lincoln township, living on section 15. He was born in Peoria county, Illinois, September 21, 1854. His father, Jacob G. Keller, was a native of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, born in 1830, and there he was reared to manhood. When a young man he went west to Peoria county, Illinois, where he cast his lot with the early settlers and while living there he mar- ried Miss Matilda Frank, also a native of Juniata county, Pennsylvania. For many years Mr. Keller followed farming near the city of Peoria and there reared his family numbering fourteen children, eleven of whom, two sons and nine daughters, have reached adult age and are now married and heads of families. The father has reached the very venerable age of seventy-eight years.
John F. Keller spent his boyhood and youth on the home farm and attended the district schools of the neighborhood. Having arrived at mature years, he farmed with his father for one year and in 1876 came to Iowa, estab- lishing his home in Warren county. Not having capital sufficient to enable him to purchase land, he cultivated a rented farm for several years, or until his diligence and economy enabled him to become owner of a farm. He made further arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage in this county on the 3d of September, 1883, to Miss Jennie Burnett, who was born in Ohio and became a teacher of Illinois and later of Iowa. She followed that profession for several years and is a well educated lady, possessing also much natural refinement and culture. The young couple began their domestic life in Warren county where they lived until 1895 when Mr. Keller removed to Minnesota, settling in Mattawan county, where he followed farming for five years. returning to Warren county in 1900. In 1903 he purchased the prop- erty upon which he now resides. He has eighty acres in the home place on section 15. Lincoln township and he is also cultivating a tract of seventy- five acres elsewhere. He has made substantial improvements on his farm, has
Dijeked by Google
881
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
repaired and altered the house, has built a good barn, fenced the fields and altogether has made of the property a fine place. In connection with the tilling of the soil he raises and fattens hogs for the market and derives a good income from this branch of his business. He has led a life of industry, intelligently applied and well directed, and his untiring diligence is bringing to him a gratifying measure of success.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Keller has been blessed with six children : Wilson F., Robert L., Maggie E., Bertha M., L. R., and Elmer H. The parents are members of the Christian church and are widely and favorably known in this community. In politics Mr Keller was formerly a democrat, but now votes independently, supporting men and measures regardless of party. He has been officially connected with the schools as director for a num- ber of years and is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and improve- ment of the county, while his own worth as a man and citizen contributes to its agricultural standing.
JEHIEL FRANCIS HYLTON.
In recording the history of the lives of the permanent residents of War- ren county it is interesting to note that the settlements, in the great majority of instances, date no farther back than to the parents of the present occupants of the land, and the life history of Jehiel Francis Hylton is no exception to this general rule. His father, Nathaniel Hylton, was born in Floyd county, Vir- ginia, on March 27, 1811. In early life he removed from Virginia to Indiana, and in 1857 drove a team and wagon, accompanied by his wife and four chil- dren, to this county, locating from the government one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 17. Virginia township. Here he spent the remainder of his days, passing away on July 25, 1882, a few months over seventy-one years of age. While a resident of Indiana he was married to Miss Seytha Tincher, who was a native of Clark county, Kentucky, where she was born on the 10th of January, 1826. She survived her husband by fourteen years and died on the old homestead on March 30, 1896. Like her husband she was a loyal member of the Methodist church, the faith of which she embraced when quite young. Of the father it has been said he was never known to turn a deaf ear to the needy, his own privations and hardships experienced during the pioneer days having taught him to be merciful and charitable. Three of their children are still living, namely : Benjamin A., who lives on the old homestead; J. S., who resides at Lorimor, Iowa ; and Jehiel Francis, of this review.
Jehiel Francis Hylton was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, August 11. 1848. He was. therefore, in his tenth year when his parents undertook the journey overland from Indiana to Iowa. He is indebted to the public schools of his native state for his education, to which he has added the practical knowledge and experience of an active and busy life. When twenty-five years of age he purchased forty acres of slightly improved land, upon which he
Piattizoo by Google
882
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
undertook to make a livelihood and a competence. That he has been success- ful in this undertaking is attested by the fact that he still continues to re- side thereon, although he has added to his holdings until he now owns two hun- dred acres of land with all the necessary improvements.
In 1873 Mr. Hylton was married to Miss Hettie Joseph, who died ten years later leaving three children : Carl, Eddis and Ida. Carl, who was a farmer of Virginia township, died in November, 1906, leaving a widow, for- merly Miss Riley. Eddis is a telegraph operator. Ida is the wife of James Boyles, a farmer in Clarke county, Iowa. In 1889 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hylton and Miss Carrie Fassauer, the daughter of Jolin and Margaret (Diehl) Fassauer, who came from Ohio in January, 1857, and to Warren county, lowa, in 1884. Mrs. Hylton was born in Ohio. Her father has passed away, but her mother is still living and resides with her mother in Indianola. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hylton have been born three children : Charles, Ralph and Wynne, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
In politics Mr. Hylton is a stanch republican and is now serving his party for the third term as township trustee.
CHARLES L. BAILEY.
Charles L. Bailey, a stock-raiser and general farmer of Virginia township, is a Virginian by birth, having been born in Page county, Virginia, July 29, 1849. Both of his parents are still living in the Old Dominion, his father now being eighty-one years of age and his mother seventy-nine. George Bailey, the father of our subject, is of Irish descent. He was a soldier in the Civil war, where he served four years in Company G, Tenth Virginia Volun- teer Infantry, in which company he enlisted as a private and was promoted to the rank of orderly sergeant. His wife was Ann Jasper, who is of Dutch descent. Both are natives of Virginia. The father is an auctioneer, in which vocation he has been engaged since the year 1850.
Charles L. Bailey passed his boyhood and early youth at home, receiving his education in the local schools. When eighteen years of age he left home, going to Cass county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. In 1892 he re- moved to Iowa and farmed in Otter township, Warren county, until 1898, when he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres, one hun- dred and sixty acres of which is located on section 8 and five acres, a wood lot, on section 17, all in Virginia township. The place was but slightly im- proved at the time of its coming into his possession, but it possessed the main requisite for converting it into a well improved, profitable place-that is a rich soil-and under Mr. Bailey's direction and management it has been developed into one of the best farms in the township. In addition to general farming Mr. Bailey raises pure-bred shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs.
While living in Cass county. Illinois. Mr. Bailey was married to Miss Mary Bailey, a distant relative, who, like himself, is a native of Virginia, her
Dignized by Google
883
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
birth having occurred October 6, 1851. She is the daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Smith) Bailey, both of whom are still living in Cass county, Illinois, her father having attained to the venerable age of eighty-three years and her mother seventy-eight years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were born twelve chil- dren, as follows: Archie Lee, a farmer near Atkinson, Nebraska, who married Clara Smith; Joseph Edgar, who lives at home with his parents; Cora Bell, the wife of Thomas Scott, a farmer of Otter township; Flora May, the wife of Walter Kimes, a farmer of Virginia township; Robert Franklin; Ruben Wesley, Ada Ellen and Grace Bryan, all of whom are at home, and four who died in infancy, or in early childhood.
Mr. Bailey's political allegiance is given to the democratic party. For three years he has been president of the school board in his district. Both he and his wife are prominent members of the Christian church. In them the community recognizes the class of citizens which a country most needs to establish and perpetuate the permanency of its growth and development.
BENJAMIN ERB.
For the past sixteen years Benjamin Erb has been identified with the farming and stock-raising interests of Lincoln township, his home being on section 31, where he owns a fine farm of two hundred and seventy acres. He is a native of Ohio, born in Wayne county, April 10, 1859, and is a son of John Erb, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1812 and when a young man went to the Buckeye state. There he married Lucy Haynes, also a native of Pennsyl- vania, and for several years they made their home in Wayne county, Ohio, where all of their children were born. In 1867 they came to Iowa and the father purchased a farm in Marion county and engaged in its operation for a number of years, having always followed agricultural pursuits. His last years were spent in Pleasantville, where he died in 1900, at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. His estimable wife still survives him and continues to make her home in Pleasantville, Iowa.
In the family of this worthy couple were the following children : Henry, a resident of Pleasantville; John, who died at the age of seventeen years; Benjamin, of this review ; Cyrus, a farmer of Marion county ; Mrs. Maria Hart, a widow living in Pleasantville; Mrs. Sarah Yoder, who was twice married and died in Nebraska; Susan, the wife of Frank Clark, of Pleasantville; Lydia, the wife of Harvey Hatfield, of Nampa, Idaho; Lucy, the wife of A. C. Raine, of Shelby county, Iowa; and Lizzie, the wife of Enoch Strohn, of Con- way, Kansas.
Benjamin Erb spent the first eight years of his life in the county of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Marion county, Iowa. As his school privileges were meager he is practically a self-educated man. He was married in Marion county. December 4, 1879, to Miss Mary J. Sutton, who was born in Kansas but was reared in that county. Her father,
Digweedby Google
884
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
A. J. Sutton, is a native of West Virginia and is now living retired in Indianola. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Erb, the oldest, Charles K., died in 1902, at the age of twenty years; and Letha E., died at the age of one year; Lola is now the wife of Charles C. Norris, a farmer of Lincoln township; Chester R., married Ada Hornady, and follows farming in Union township; and John O., William A., Harry G., Retha Myrtle and Flossie J., are all at home with their parents.
After his marriage, Mr. Erb was engaged in farming in Marion county until 1892, when he sold his property there and came to Warren county, having purchased two hundred and fifty-five acres of his present farm on section 31, Lincoln township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he has since devoted his energies. He gives considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock, fattening one or two carloads of cattle and a number of hogs each year, and in his farming and stock-raising interests he is meeting with excellent success.
By his ballot Mr. Erb supports the men and measures of the republican party and for a number of years he has been a member of the school board of his district. Both he and his wife are earnest and consistent members of the Church of the Brethren and they have the respect and confidence of all who know them.
WILLIAM HERRING.
William Herring, deceased, was for many years one of the leading farmers of Linn township and a man honored and respected wherever known. He was born in Pennsylvania, May 7, 1839, and was a representattive of an old family of French origin that was early established in the Keystone state. There his father, Ebenezer Herring, was born and reared and on reaching manhood married Miss Jane MeLaughlin. In 1854 he brought his family to Iowa traveling by wagon and boat to Warren county, and in Linn town- ship he purchased eighty acres of land, which he at once began to improve and cultivate, making his home thereon until his death.
William Herring was reared in much the usual manner of farm boys of his time and was educated in the country schools, one of his schoolmates being a girl who became his future wife. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, early becoming familiar with farming in all its details, and on starting out in life for himself engaged in operating rented land. He subsequently bought eighty aeres in Linn township and about 1893 purchased fifty-two acres near Norwalk, whereon his widow now resides. Throughout life he followed farming and met with good success in his chosen occupation.
It was in 1873 that the marriage of Mr. Herring and Miss Mary Beery was celebrated and their union was a happy one. They reared an adopted daughter, Pearl, now the wife of Frank Willett. Being a strong temperance man, Mr. Herring affiliated with the prohibition party and he was a faithful and
Dajredby Google
885
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
consistent member of the Christian church, to which his widow also belongs. After a useful and well spent life, he passed away on the 30th of January, 1904, leaving many friends as well as his family to mourn his loss.
D. E. HENRY.
D. E. Henry, although one of the most recent arrivals in Warren county, has won for himself a place among the representative citizens. He has made his home here since 1902 and is today the owner of an excellent farm of three hundred and twenty acres on section 5, Palmyra township. The tract is well improved, giving every evidence of the progressive ideas that now find favor with the successful agriculturist.
Mr. Henry was born in Bloomington, McLean county, Illinois, July 11, 1857. His father, W. E. Henry, was a native of Butler county, Ohio, and in early life learned the cabinetmaker's trade. He afterward became a farmer and lived a life of intense and well directed activity. With his parents he removed to Illinois, the family home being established at Twin Grove, McLean county, where they were pioneer settlers. W. E. Henry was married there to Miss Mary Snell, a native of Delaware, Ohio. He took up the occupation of farming, broke the sod and tilled a tract of land in McLean county which is still in possession of the family, as is also the government deed which was signed by President Fillmore. There Mr. Henry carried on general agricul- tural pursuits for many years or until his death which occurred August 20, 1895, when he was seventy-six years of age. His wife survived him for a brief period and passed away February 22, 1898, at the age of seventy-five years. They were the parents of twelve children, eight sons and four daugh- ters.
D. E. Henry was the second in order of birth and was reared upon the home farm. He had the benefit of instruction in the Weslyan University at Bloomington and his sister was the first girl graduate of that school. Mr. Henry had as a teacher L. H. Kerrick, who won the first prize for black cattle in Chicago. On the completion of his education he returned to the home farm where he remained until twenty-three years of age, when he took up the work of railroad bridge building. He followed that for two years and was then married and established a home of his own.
It was on the 22d of November, 1882, that Mr. Henry wedded Miss Eliza- beth Fantz, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Francis Fantz, who on leaving his native land of Germany became a resident of the Keystone state, but afterward removed to Illinois. At the time of his marriage Mr. Henry rented a farm which he cultivated for seven years. In the meantime his untir- ing industry and his careful expenditure brought to him capital that enabled him to purchase eighty acres of land in Colfax, Illinois. This he partially improved, residing thercon for five years, after which he removed to Polk county, Iowa, in 1896. He then rented land for a year, after which he joined
Di zed by Google
886
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
a brother at Monroe, Jasper county, Iowa. He then purchased eight hundred and thirty-four acres of land in one body, built a house thereon and made the place his home for three years. On the expiration of that period he sold the property after which he engaged in cultivating a rented farm for three years. He next came to Warren county and bought three hundred and twenty acres of valuable and improved land, since which time he has given his atten- tion and energies to its further development and improvement. It is now a fine farm property, supplied with all modern conveniences and accessories. Here he raises thoroughbred shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, raising and feeding from two to three carloads per year. While in Jasper county he was extensively engaged in feeding stock. He also raises Shire horses and keeps a stallion and is a breeder of good horses. His father had the reputation of raising the best horses in McLean county, Illinois, so that Mr. Henry has been more or less familiar with the business from early life. His stock-raising claims much of his attention at the present time and is to him a profitable source of income.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Henry have been born six children : William D., Otis W., Royal R., Arthur, Maud and Charles, all of whom are living upon the home farm.
Mr. Henry is a lifelong republican, giving stalwart support to the party where state and national issues are involved, although at local elections he votes independently. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church and is a supporter of every interest that he believes will promote the welfare of the community. Although he started out in life empty-handed, he is now in possession of a handsome property which has come to him as the reward of earnest and persistent effort. In his farm work he is known as a most pro- gressive farmer for he follows methods which are thoroughly up to date and which bring the best results. He displays sound judgment in all of his busi- ness affairs and is counted a valuable addition to the citizenship of Warren county.
L. S. SPENCER.
In the fall of 1849 L. S. Spencer came to Iowa and in 1854 he took up his residence in Warren county, where he has since made his home, being promi- ยท nently identified with the upbuilding and development of this section of the state during the years which have since come and gone. He taught the first district school in Jefferson township, but his time and attention have been devoted principally to agricultural pursuits, his home being on section 3 of that township.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Spencer was born in Trumbull county, October 17. 1826, and is a son of Gehial Spencer, who was born in Rutland county, Vermont, and was a young man on his removal to Trumbull county, Ohio. There he married Elizabeth Blackburn, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania,
Digizedby Google
L. S. SPENCER
Dlgszed by Google
889
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
and after following farming in the Buckeye state for some years, he removed to McHenry county, Illinois, where he entered land and improved a farm. Later he came to Iowa, where he and his sons engaged in farming until his death. His first wife died in Ohio, and he subsequently married again, having two children by the second union. L. S. Spencer is one of the four living children by the first marriage, the others being Nathan, now a resident of Minnesota; Mrs. Hannah St. John, of Lake county, Ohio; and Mrs. Mary Woodruff, of Marengo, Illinois.
L. S. Spencer was reared by foster parents from the age of eleven years, until he attained his majority. He grew to manhood in Lake county, Ohio, where he acquired the greater part of his education. He also attended school in Kingsville, Ashtabula county, and later engaged in teaching in Ohio for four winter terms. In 1849, as previously stated, he came to Iowa, and spent two winters in Washington county, teaching school a part of that time. He then returned to Ohio, but later made a trip through Illinois and Iowa and finally located in Warren county in 1854. He entered forty acres of land on section 3, Jefferson township, where he now resides, and he subsequently added to his property until he owned one hundred and sixty acres of land but has since disposed of a part of this, still retaining seventy-five acres near Prole, where he makes his home. He has fenced the land, set out an orchard, and erected good buildings, so that he now has a well improved farm, which he keeps under a high state of cultivation. In connection with farming he also carries on stock-raising.
Mr. Spencer was married in this county, March 18, 1855, to Miss Clarinda C. Wheeler, also a native of Ohio, who was born in Morgan county, February 9, 1838, and was a daughter of John Wheeler, one of the early settlers of this county. After a happy married life of thirty-seven years, Mrs. Spencer passed away on the 8th of April, 1892, leaving three children, namely : Charles R., a carpenter, and joiner of Highmore, South Dakota; Palona A., who is with her father; and Mrs. Anna May Stoner, a resident of Highmore, South Dakota.
Originally Mr. Speneer was an old line whig in politics, casting his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor, but in 1856 he supported John C. Fremont and has since affiliated with the republican party. In 1873 he was elected to the lower house of the state legislature to fill a vacancy. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Indianola, and although reared in the Presbyterian faith, 'he and his daughter now hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his estimable wife also belonged. For twenty years he served as secretary of the school board of his district, and has ever taken an active interest in educational affairs, doing all in his part to promote the moral, intel- lectual and material welfare of his community. As one of the pioneer teachers of the county, he taught six winter terms in Jefferson township, opening school here in a little log cabin. During those early days he knew almost every man in the country, and can remember Des Moines as a little crossroads village. when the surrounding country was mostly wild and unimproved, and the settle- ments wildly scattered. He served as the first postmaster at Linn, having the office at his own house, when the village was a stage station on the road between
Dia zedby Google
890
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
Des Moines and Council Bluffs, and he held that position for eighteen years. Widely known he is universally respected and esteemed and is justly entitled to representation in the history of Warren county's pioneers and leading citizens.
CLINT L. PRICE.
Clint L. Price, who has made his influence strongly felt in journalistic and political circles of the state, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1859. His father, Abraham Price, a native of Madison county, Ohio, where his birth occurred in 1836, was of English extraction. In the fall of 1859 he came to Iowa, locating in what is now Lincoln township, on a tract of land a mile and a half southeast of Indianola. There he remained until the spring of 1865, when he became connected with mercantile interests, subsequently giving his atten- tion to the insurance business. He was a democrat in his political views, and passed away December 22, 1900, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Hulda Cheshire, was born near Midway, Madison county, Ohio, in 1837. She is of English aneestry and of Revolution- ary stock. She is likewise a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and makes her home in Indianola. Her three children are as follows: Vint K., who is with the Cheshire Clothing Company of Indianola; Clint L., of this review; and Emma, the wife of Morgan M. Reeves, a fruit-grower of Weiser. Idaho.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.