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 85
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GEORGE M. VAN PATTEN.
George M. Van Patten, one of the progressive farmers of Squaw town- ship, whose fine farm of two hundred acres is on section 23. was born in Peoria county, Illinois, on the 14th of February. 1868. and is a son of Robert B. and Sarah A. (Nipper) Van Patten. The progenitor of the family in America was Claus Frederick C. Van Patten, who came to this country from Holland and located in Albany county. New York. From him our subject is of the sixth generation removed. In the third generation were several who participated in the Revolutionary war, there being about one hundred of the rame belonging to one regiment. while one company of this regiment was commanded by Captain John Van Patten. Robert B. Van Patten. the father
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of our subjeet, was born in Cayuga county, New York, March 17, 1825, his parents being Peter and Lydia (Bullock) Van Patten.
George M. Van Patten was fourteen years of age when the family came to Iowa and he grew to manhood upon the home farm in Clarke county, in the meantime acquiring his education in the public schools. On attaining his majority he started out in life for himself and has since devoted his time and attention to farming. In 1897 he came to Warren county and after rent- ing his present farm for a time he purcahsed it and has since engaged in its operation, having two hundred aeres of well improved land under a high state of cultivation. He carries on stock-raising. making a specialty of Per- cheron horses, shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs.
In 1891 Mr. Van Patten married Miss Annie Holden, of Clarke county, a daughter of C. C. and Deborah (Cramer) Holden, who came to this state from Illinois in 1878 and located in Clarke county. Her father, who was a farmer by occupation, is now deceased. Of the six children born to our subject and his wife three died in infaney. Those still living are. Nina L., Ethel L. and Loyd H., all at home.
The parents are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Van Patten is a republican in polities. He has filled various township offices in an able and acceptable manner and is now serving as township clerk. Socially he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
C. F. SNYDER.
C. F. Snyder. who has been for over thirty years a leading carpenter and contractor of Norwalk, was born in Ringgold county, Iowa. November 7, 1858. the son of James Madison Snyder. a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
C. F. Snyder is indebted to the public schools of Des Moines, Iowa. for his education. He inherited from his father an aptitude for the contracting and building business. entering upon this work when but twenty years of age. To his knowledge of the construction of buildings he has added the handling of all supplies necessary for this purpose, having eight years ago purchased the lumber business of J. M. Calhoun & Company. In addition to lumber he has for sale lime. eement. paints. oils. carpenter's tools, builders' hardware. and in fact everything used in the building line, also handling grain and coal. During the building season he employs about fifteen men regularly on contract work, and the reputation he has gained for a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the work makes his services very much in demand. It is said that he has built nearly all of the towns of Cumming and Norwalk. Mr. Snyder owns two hundred aeres of land in Linn town- ship, which he and his brother. Albert are farming together. his brother living on the farm while he maintains his residence in the village.
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Mr. Snyder has been twice married, his first wife being Julia Ann Way, a native of Warren county. To this union were born five children, of whom four are living and the two oldest daughters are now married. The mother died several years ago in Cumming. Mr. Snyder's second wife was Mrs. Nellie Coffman, nee Prine, a native of Iowa, born near Oskaloosa. This union was also blessed with five children, all of whom are at home with their parents.
Mr. Snyder is a member of the Methodist church. In politics he is a re- publican and has served six years as township trustee. He was also on the school board for six years, but his active business career affords him so much responsibility that he does not seek offices requiring the expenditure of time and energy.
FREDERICK CARL SIGLER.
Frederick Carl Sigler, who since 1898 has been identified with the lumber and grain business in Indianola, manifests that determination and force of character which stops not at ordinary obstacles but pushes forward and eventually reaches the goal of sueeess. lowa claims him as a native son, his wirth having occurred in Adams county, February 23, 1872. He is the eldest of the three children of David S. and Anna (Harper) Sigler.
His father was born in Ohio and after living for sometime in Ohio came to lowa in 1860, settling first in Oseeola. He was engaged in merchandising there until the period of the Civil war, after which he removed to Corning, where he engaged in the banking business. During the period of hostilities, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations and enlisted for active duty at the front as a member of the Sixth Iowa Infantry, returning as captain of his company. He joined the army at Osceola and served until the latter part of the war. In his business affairs he prospered and his entire ... e was in harmony with honorable, manly principles. He exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and was ever loyal to his professions as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died in 1892 at the age of fifty years, while his wife, a native of Iowa, died in 1894 at the age of forty-seven years. Their daughters are: Flora, now the wife of C. E. Carver, an insurance man of Los Angeles, California, and Huldah, the wife of Ralph McCue, a wholesale dealer in shoes in Des Moines. ยท
Frederick C. Sigler was a public school student prior to entering the academy at Corning, Iowa. Later he attended Simpson College at Indianola, where he completed his education. He was identified with the banking busi- ness at Wallace, Nebraska, for a time and afterward took up his abode in Indianola, where he became associated with the Warren County Bank as viee president and assistant cashier. He then turned his attention to the lumber and grain business in 1898 and is now engaged in this line. He controls a large trade in both departments and his business, having reached extensive proportions, is now returning to him a gratifying profit. Ile is a young man,
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alert and energetic, and the future seems to hold in store for him still larger successes.
Mr. Sigler was married in 1896 to Miss Sarah Eikenberry, of Chariton, and they have an interesting little daughter, Helen. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. are prominent socially and Mr. Sigler's posi- tion on political questions is never an equivocal one, for he gives unfaltering allegiance to the republican party.
WILLIAM C. STUMBO.
William C. Stumbo, residing on section 3, Allen township, dates his resi- dence in Iowa from 1843 and he has made his home in Warren county since 1845, being therefore numbered among its pioneers. He was born in Law- rence county, Ohio, August 2, 1822, and was there reared upon a farm, being a young man when he came to lowa with his father, John Stumbo, who en- tered four hundred aeres of timber land in Mahaska county, which he sub- sequently sold for twelve thousand dollars. From that county he removed to Richardson county, Nebraska, where he bought a mill site for six hundred dollars and later sold it and forty acres of land for three thousand dollars. He spent his last years in that locality, where he died at the age of seventy- seven years and seven months. His wife survived him and passed away at the age of eighty, both being laid to rest in the cemetery at Fall City.
As previously stated William C. Stumbo accompanied his father on his removal to Mahaska county, Iowa, where he spent two years, and during that time he split ten thousand rails to pay for a yoke of cattle and a plow. He then went to Polk county and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land with a warrant and nineteen acres besides in that county and thirty-six acres in Warren county, making in all two hundred and fifteen acres. on which he made his home for twenty-one years. On selling that place he bought another tract of two hundred and thirty-five aeres in Polk county, where he lived two years, and then removed to his present farm of two hundred and forty acres in Allen township, Warren county, to the further improvement and cultivation of which he has since devoted his energies. In Polk county, Mr. Stumbo was married in 1847 to Miss Zilla Langdon, who was also born and reared in Lawrence county. Ohio, and died the same year of their marriage. He subsequently wedded Miss Nancy Deaton, who passed away on the 16th of July, 1906, and was laid to rest in the Carlisle cemetery.
By the second union the following children were born : George, a farmer of Polk county, who married Hattie Cummings; Emeline, the wife of Perry Fry, a farmer of Allen township; Eliza, the wife of William Seid, of Idaho, who passed away July 28. 1908 .: Ellen. the wife of John HI. Randleman, of Car- lisle; Lillie, the wife of Joe Alkire, of Carlisle: Flota. the wife of Sherman Myers. of Allen township. and Carrie, wife of James Utterson, of Carlisle.
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Politically Mr. Stumbo was first a whig and later supported the republican party, voting for Fremont, Lincoln and Grant. He then cast his ballot for Peter Cooper and has since been independent in politics. Coming to this region when it was a frontier district. he has been actively and prominently identified with its development and upbuilding, and he well deserves mention among the honored pioneers of Iowa.
JOHN PARK.
Among the pioneer settlers of Warren county is numbered John Park, who now lives on section 28, Lincoln township. He has for more than a half century lived in this locality and in fact took up his abode here in 1852. Many changes have occurred since that time, until the county today bears little resemblance to the great stretches of wild, uncultivated prairie which was its chief feature at the time of Mr. Park's arrival. Considerable wild game was yet to be had and the homes of the settlers were very primitive as compared to the attractive and commodious farm and town residences of the present day.
Mr. Park was born in Ireland in 1835 and was there reared to the age of thirteen years, when he came with his parents to America, locating in Jackson county, Ohio, in 1848. There he resided for a number of years, dur- ing which time his father died. He afterward came with his mother to Iowa. arriving in Warren county when a young man of seventeen. He is largely a self-educated as well as self-made man. On reaching years of maturity he purchased land in Polk county, Iowa, where he improved a farm, which he cultivated for several years. He then sold out and came to Warren county, set- tling in Richland township, where he again purchased land. Going to Illinois, he married, in that state in 1857, Miss Margaret Greeg, a native of Ireland and of Scotch-Irish parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Park began their domestic life on a farm near Hartford and in the years which have since elapsed he has pur- chased and improved four different farms in Warren county, thus aiding materially in its development and progress. In 1889 he bought two hundred and thirty acres where he now resides and has transformed it into a valuable property, equipped with many modern conveniences and accessories. He has erected here a good residence, also barns and outbuildings, has plante !! an orchard and fenced the fields with woven wire and barbed wire fencing. In fact, his labors have been along lines of progressive agriculture and as the years have passed he gained a goodly measure of success.
In 1901 Mr. Park was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who was laid to rest in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Indianola. He has rine living children, while Maggie is deccased. The surviving members of the family are as follows: Jane. the wife of Curgus Carnes; Elizabeth. the wife. of Thomas Piles; Dora, the wife of Ed Young; Lula, who married Charles Peck ; Martha, who is occupying a business position in Indianola ; John Thomas, now a farmer and harnessmaker of the state of Oregon; William, a farmer
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of Warren county; Samuel J., who is carrying on the home farm, and Jessie, at home. The children have all been liberally educated and the older members of the family have been successful teachers.
In 1904 Mr. Park rented his farm and went west to California, spending three years on the Pacific coast. He visited many points of interest in that state, making his home, however, in Los Angeles. He was accompanied by one son and two daughters. The son was engaged in the creamery business there, while the elder daughter had charge of the trimmers in the wholesale millinery establishment in that city. In 1907, however, Mr. Park returned to the farm in Iowa, whereon he now resides. He has never cared for or de- sired office and when he was elected supervisor refused to qualify. He and his wife were active members of the Presbyterian church, taking a helpful in- terest in its work, and for years Mr. Park served as presiding elder, besides filling all the other church offices, while in the Sunday school he acted as superintendent and teacher. He has been a generous contributor to the church and has put forth effective effort in its behalf. On reaching Hartford he found no church and he and five others built a Presbyterian church. Of that number he is now the only survivor.
Widely known in Hartford, Palmyra and Indianola, and in fact through- out Warren county, Mr. Park has been a witness of its growth and progress through many years and can relate many interesting incidents of the early days. He has lived to see the wild prairie grasses supplanted .by large crops of the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, while instead of wild game the finest stock is today seen. The little hamlets have grown into thriv- ing towns and eities and many changes have occurred in the citizenship, but at all the times Warren county has been peopled by a class of enterprising and progressive men, of whom Mr. Park is a splendid type. Starting out in life on his own account at an early age, he has depended upon his own re- sources, and realizing the fact that untiring labor is the surest foundation for success, he has put forth strenuous effort to win prosperity. He is now in possession of a handsome competence that enables him largely to leave the arduous work of the farm to others and enjoy well merited rest.
SANFORD T. RUNYAN.
Sanford T. Runyan, living on section 8, Belmont township, where he owns a valuable farm property that returns to him an excellent income, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, on the 9th of June, 1837. and is of German descent. The grandparents, however, were natives of Pennsylvania, in which state the parents, Phineas and Rebecca Runyan, were also born and reared. They lived in the Keystone state until after their marriage and the birth of several of their children and in 1844 removed to Miami county. Ohio. They resided in different parts of that state and finally settled in Logan county, Ohio. where the wife and mother died in 1865. The family then removed to Warren county. Towa, in 1869. and took up their abode in Belmont township in 1874.
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MR. AND MRS. S. T. RUNYAN
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Here the death of Phineas Runyan occurred on the 27th of September, 1880. Unto him and his wife were born eleven children: Hannah, who died unmar- ried; Elizabeth A., the widow of E. T. Brown, of Oklahoma; Benjamin D., who died in Warren county; George W., who died at Vicksburg, Mississippi; New- ton J., and Peninnah, both deceased; Sanford T., of this review; Mary, a resident of Indiana; Judson W., deceased; Lavina, who is still living; and William B., who died in Warren county.
Sanford T. Runyan, whose name introduces this record, was reared on the home farm and started out in life for himself when about eighteen years of age. He was employed at farmi labor but after a short time began purchasing land, and in the course of years has become a prosperous agriculturist with valuable holdings, from which he derives a good income, supplying him with all of the necessities and many of the comforts of life. He put aside all business and personal considerations, however, when his country became in- volved in Civil war, and enlisted on the 19th of August, 1861, as a member of Company K, Forty-second Regiment of Ohio Infantry, which regiment was commanded by James A. Garfield. He was all through the service until 1864. The first engagement in which he participated was at Sandy River, and later he met the enemy at Big Sandy, Crab Apple Orchard and Cumberland Gap. He was afterward on scouting duty for about a year and he participated in the siege of Vicksburg, in which he was wounded during the first day's fight. He was then taken to a hospital at St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained for several months, when he rejoined his regiment at New Orelans. From that point the regiment was sent to do garrison duty at different places and Mr. Runyan was discharged at Columbus, Ohio, on the 14th of November, 1864, after three years of active service, incurring many hardships and dangers as well as fierce battles and long marches, entailing much privation and suffering. Three different times he attempted to enter the army before he succeeded, as he was each time rejceted owing to the fact that he had been wounded in the hand and had lost two of his fingers. It was only through the efforts of General Garfield that he was finally admitted to the service. Three of his brothers enlisted at the same time and one of them died at Vicksburg, while another was taken ill at the front and died at his home in the north.
When his military service ended. Mr. Runyan returned to Warren county and again engaged in farming. He was maried on the 7th of February, 1874. to Miss Louisa C. Bodkin, a daughter of Martin and Sarah Ann (Pendey) Bodkin, who were natives of Clinton county, Ohio. In 1851 they came to Iowa, settling in Warren county, where the mother died in 1891, while Mr. Bodkin passed away in 1900, when well advanced in years. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Runyan are as follows : Effie M., the wife of Charles Flynn, a resident of Belmont township; Phineas Emmett, who married Elsie Fausett, a resident of Otter township; and Benjamin D., who married Josie Litchfield and is living upon the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Runyan still occupy this farm. which has been their place of residence for thirty-four years.
That he has lived an upright. honorable life. at peace with his fellowmen. is indicated by the fact that he has never had a lawsuit. He has never brought
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legal action against anyone. nor has he ever been called into the courts because such action has been brought against him. He enjoys the confidence of his neighbors and of all with whom he has been associated. He votes with the republican party, to which he has given his support since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, and he is a loyal and devoted member of the Methodist church.
G. E. JOHNSON.
G. E. Johnson, identified with mercantile interests throughout the period of his business activity and now conducting a large general store in Indianola. stands for all that is progressive in commercial circles. His establishment would do credit to a city of much larger size and the line of goods which he carries is always tasteful and attractive. Mr. Johnson comes to Iowa from Ohio, his birth having occurred in Morrow county, that state, on the 23d of April, 1857. He is a son of Rev. Silas Johnson, also a native of Ohio and of Scotch-Irish descent.
The father was a minister of the Presbyterian church and in 1861 removed from the Buckeye state to Oskaloosa. lowa. where for six years he filled a pas- torate. He then accepted a eall from the church at Indianola and remained as the minister of the Presbyterian congregation at this place for thirteen years. After preaching for five years at heon, Iowa. he there passed away. During the period of the Civil war he served as a member of the Christian commission. He was popular both as a minister and teacher, was a clear. forceful and logical speaker and was regarded as one of the able representatives of the Presbyterian ministry in this part of the state. His political views were in harmony with the principles of the republican party. He died in 1887, at the age of sixty-four years, but his memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of many who knew him. He was long survived by his wife, who bore the maiden name of Harriet Doolittle. She was born in Ohio and died in Indianola in 1904 at the age of seventy-nine years. She belonged to a family of English lineage and by her marriage she became the mother of nine children : Sarah. deceased; Chloe, the widow of A. Swearington, of Texas; Mary, Eva Emma and Hattie, all of whom have passed away; George E., of this review; Wil- liam S., who is editor of the Newton Record, at Newton. Towa; Frank S .. who lives in Indianola and has charge of the shoe department in G. E. John- son's store.
G. E. Johnson was a student in the schools of Indianola in early life and made his initial step in the business world as a clerk in the employ of M. R. Barker when a youth of fifteen years. That he was faithful. efficient and at all times trustworthy is indicated by the fact that he remained there for four- teen years as an employe and in 1884 was admitted to a partnership under the firm style of Barker & Johnson. This relation was harmoniously con- tinned until 1898, when Mr. Barker retired and Mr. Johnson has sinee con-
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tinued the business alone under his own name. He occupies a building which was erected by the firm of Barker & Johnson on the east side of the square. It is a two-story brick structure, forty by one hundred and fifteen feet. with plate glass front and excellent equipments. He owns and occupies the whole building. carrying a full line of dry goods, carpets and shoes. In fact his is the largest concern of the kind in Warren county and the store is most modern in all of its appointments. It is steam heated, has a cash carrier system and its counters and showcases are attractive and up-to-date. His trade has con- stantly developed until it has now reached extensive proportions. The busi- ness methods of the house are at all times reliable and Mr. Johnson has justly won a place among the most prominent, prosperous and honored merchants of his adopted city.
In 1885 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Mary Ingalls, who was born in Indianola in 1862 and is a daughter of Merrill and Catherine (Kennedy) Ingalls. Her father was a blacksmith and served as a soldier of the Union army in the Civil war. Prior to her marriage Mrs. JJohnson was a teacher in the public schools. There are three children of this nnion: Murray E., who died in 1905 at the age of nineteen years; Carl W., and Mildred E. The parents are loyal to their professions as members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Johnson is serving as an officer of the church, being on the board of trustees. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in political views is a republican. He has served as a member of the school board and everything relating to publie welfare and improvement receives his endorse- ment and cooperation. He is of stern integrity and honesty of purpose. despising all unworthy or questionable means to secure success in any under- taking or for any purpose or to promote his advancement in any direction. He has worked his way upward through the legitimate channels of trade, win- ning for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business.
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W. H. FUNK.
A well developed and highly improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres. eighty acres of which is located in White Breast township and eighty in Liberty township, is the property of W. H. Funk. who has spent his entire life in Iowa. He was born in Wapello county, July 17, 1853. a son of Elisha and Harriet (Cole) Funk, the latter a native of Ohio, where she was reared. The father was born in Allegheny county. Pennsylvania. in 1825, and was there reared. He was a carpenter and millwright by 'trade and when a young man came to the west hoping to improve his financial condition. He located in lowa in 1845 before it had been admitted to the I'nion. He entered a claim in Des Moines and thereon built a log cabin. He later left the place which was taken up by other parties. Mr. Funk then settled in Wapello county. where he likewise entered land and opened up and improved a farm which he later sold and invested his capital in another farm seven miles north of Ottumwa.
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