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 91
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
Their son, Cyrus Conrad, the father of our subjeet, was a native of Indiana, his natal day being June 29, 1839. Ile was married November 27, 1860, and in September, 1862, enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of the Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He returned home ill but again joined the army in 1864. being mustered out September 7, 1865. His health had been broken down, however, for he had contracted consumption, from which he died March 17, 1870. He was a farmer by occupation and followed that pursuit as a life work. His wife, who hore the maiden name of Rosina Fore- man, was a native of Virginia and came to Iowa with her stepmother and the other members of the family. She was a half-sister of Henry C. Foreman, and her demise occurred December 22, 1892. Her family numbered four children, namely: W. C., of this review; Charles Elliott, who was born June 23, 1866, and died November 14, 1897, wedded Minnie Parker and lived in New Virginia; James E., whose birth occurred November 21, 1868, married Emma Parker and passed away February 11, 1904; Elizabeth, born October 6. 1870, was called to her final rest December 14, 1890. All of the children died of consumption.
In the fall of 1878 Mrs. Conrad and her children purchased forty acres of slightly improved land, which comprises a part of W. C. Conrad's present holdings. The latter bought out the other heirs and kept adding to his pos- sessions from time to time until he now owns two hundred acres of highly cul- tivated and valuable land, its well improved condition being due entirely to his own labors. In addition to the work of the fields he is also engaged in dairy farming, milking as many as twenty cows at a time. He has been con- neeted with this line of activity for many years and was the second to own a hand cream separator in Warren county. He is widely recognized as a pro- gressive and enterprising citizen and business man, one whose suceess has come as the direct reward of his untiring perseverance and capable manage- ment.
£
Dlgszed by Google
986
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
On the 24th of May, 1887. Mr. Conrad was united in marriage to Miss Luella Labertew, a native of this county and a daughter of Freeman Laber- tew, an early and prominent citizen here. This union has been blessed with six children, namely: Metta, born May 25, 1888; Clarence C., whose birth occurred October 2, 1890; Lottie May, born November 10, 1892; James Merrill. born February 24, 1895; Wilbur E., whose natal day was June 24, 1898; and Mary, born March 13, 1901.
In his political views Mr. Conrad is a republican and at the present time is serving as justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impar- tial. He has likewise been school director for eighteen years, has served as township trustee and in other positions of public trust has demonstrated his loyalty to the general welfare. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are well and favorably known throughout the county in which they have spent their entire lives.
R. B. WADSWORTH.
The agricultural interests of this county find a worthy representative in R. B. Wadsworth, who is one of the prominent and extensive farmers, stock- raisers and feeders of this part of the state. His home is on section 25, Green- field township, where he has two hundred and twenty acres of rich land, constituting a well improved and valuable farm. In addition he also controls and operates other properties, having charge of about one thousand acres in all. Throughout his entire life he has been connected with agricultural pursuits. His birth occurred upon a farm in Warren county, July 12, 1857. His father, B. F. Wadsworth, was a native of Maryland and after residing for a time in Ohio removed to Kentucky, whence he afterward came to Iowa as a young man. Choosing Warren county as a place of location he became a factor in the pioneer development of this portion of the state. Much of the land was still in the possession of the government and he entered a claim in Linn township of three hundred and twenty acres. This was entirely destitute of improvements but with characteristic energy he began to break the sod and till the fields. Later, however, he purchased the farm whereon his son R. B. Wadsworth now resides.
It was after his arrival in Warren county that B. F. Wadsworth was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Thompson, a native of Kentucky. He lost his first wife and on the 10th of January, 1869, was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Beck, nee Elliott, who still sur- vives her husband and is now a resident of California. Mr. Wadsworth con- tinued his farming operations in Warren county up to the time of his death and was very successful in his undertakings. As his financial resources in- creased he added to his property until he had eight hundred acres and was regarded as one of the leading and prosperous farmers of his community. He never sought to figure in public life but did well whatever he undertook
_Digitiedby Google
987
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
and secured a measure of success which was enviable. He died June 22, 1902, at the age of seventy-one years, the county thereby losing one of its pioneer settlers and respected citizens. His family numbered two sons and three daughters, but R. B. Wadsworth is the only surviving son. His brother, Thomas Wadsworth, was reared in this county and afterward went to Texas. He died in Fort Worth in 1892. The elder sister, Margaret, was educated in Indianola and is residing in that city. Elizabeth, who acquired a good educa tion in Des Moines and Indianola, was for four years principal of the high school at Chariton, and is now principal of the Irving building, Indianola. Another sister, Nannie, died at the age of fifteen years.
R. B. Wadsworth spent his boyhood days on the farm and in early life began assisting in the work of the home place. He attended school through the winter months until fifteer years of age and afterward gave his undivided attention to the duties of the fields. As the years have passed he has done an extensive business in general farming and in feeding and fattening cattle and other stock, turning off annually from four hundred to five hundred head of cattle and about six hundred head of hogs. He is the most extensive feeder in the county.
Politically, Mr. Wadsworth has been & lifelong democrat but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to give his attention to his business af- fairs. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Indianola, is also a chapter Mason and has taken the degrees in the consistory at Des Moines, belonging also to the Mystic Shrine. He holds membership in the Methodist church at Indianola and is well known in that city, Des Moines, and in fact throughout this part of the state as a man of strict integrity and business ability and worth, who is public spirited in his support of progressive measures for the general good, and at the same time is a most enterprising and progressive business man.
JOHN S. McINTOSH.
John S. McIntosh, who carries on farming on section 23, Squaw township, was born in Taylor county, West Virginia, March 23, 1862, a son of A. B. McIntosh, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. When two years of age he was brought by his parents to Iowa and spent the days of his boyhood in Squaw township, acquiring his education in the district school. When twenty-two years of age he began farming on his own account on a tract of eighty acres which was given him by his father and to which he has since added until he now owns one hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land on section 23, Squaw township, the fields annually re- turning golden harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them. He has placed all of the improvements on the property, includ- ing a comfortable and commodious residence, barns and eribs.
On the 15th of March. 1888. Mr. MeIntosh was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Virginia Carson, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Payton
Digitizedhy Google
988
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
and Elizabeth E. (Ervin) Carson. She accompanied her parents to Iowa when thirteen years of age, the family home being established in Squaw town- ship. The father is deceased and the mother is now the wife of Edward Jones, of New Virginia. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh have been born six children, one of whom died in infancy. The others are Elias Absalom, George Franklin, Lottie Dell, Lena Bell and Lela Grace, all at home.
In his political views Mr. Melntosh is a stalwart republican but has never sought or desired office as a reward for party fealty. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Medora, and are well known and highly respected throughout the community as people of genuine personal worth and sterling traits of character.
WILLIAM H. GARDNER.
William H. Gardner, who is one of the prosperous farmers and highly esteemed citizens of Allen township, was born in Troy, New York, on the 17th of September, 1833, a son of Truman Gardner. Learning the carpenter's and joiner's trade, the father was engaged in contracting and building for many years in various states and was also employed as an architect. Remov- ing to Ohio, he bought a farm in that state, which his sons operated while he continued to work at his trade, and later removed to Logan county, Illinois. settling on a farm of five hundred aeres, whereon he spent his remaining days. He died in 1862, at the age of sixty-four years, and his wife passed away at Palmyra, Iowa, in 1900.
During the boyhood of William H. Gardner the family resided in Albany and Buffalo, New York, for a time, but he was principally reared in Girard. Erie county, Pennsylvania, and later removed to Parkman, Geauga county. Ohio. For a time he was employed as a clerk in a store in Cleveland. He had good educational advantages and pursued an academic course. He re- moved with his parents to Logan county, Illinois, and in the fall of 1861 came to Warren county, Iowa.
In the meantime the country had become involved in civil war and iu December, 1863, Mr. Gardner joined Company A. First Iowa Cavalry as a private, and went south with his command to Missouri, being first under fire in the battle of Little Rock, Arkansas. He was later in the engagements at Fort Smith and Benton, was in the Camden expedition, and the battles at Helena, Arkansas, and Holly Springs, Mississippi. He went from Memphis. Tennessee to Texas, being stationed for a time at Austin, San Antonio, Hemp- stead and other towns, and did considerable scouting and skirmishing. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged at Austin and returned north, first locating in Davenport, Iowa, where he engaged in clerking for a short time.
Before coming to this state, Mr. Gardner was married in Peoria county. Illinois. in January. 1856. to Miss Mary Walch, who was born. reared and
Olayzed by Google
989
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
educated in Ohio, and they have four sons and two daughters, namely : Alfred H., a resident of Carlisle; Austin, a farmer of Palmyra township; John, a farmer of Clay county; Frank, who is operating the home farm; Aliee, the wife of William Pearson, who is a farmer and business man living near Mitchell, Iowa; and Sallie, wife of William Lindawood, a farmer of Marion county.
For some time after his marriage Mr. Gardner was engaged in farming in Peoria county, Illinois, and as previously stated came to Warren county, Iowa, in the fall of 1861, purchasing a farm in Squaw township. After the war he sold that place and removed to Palmyra township, where he commenced with twenty acres of land, but from time to time as his financial resources increased he kept adding ten and twenty acre tracts to his original purchase until he owned about three hundred acres. He erected thereon a good residence, barn, granary and other buildings for the shelter of grain and stock until he had one of the best improved farms of the locality. He raised considerable stock of all kinds and to some extent engaged in the dairy business, and also gave considerable attention to fruit eulture, having an orehard of one thou- sand selected apple trees in good bearing, besides a large number of peach, plum and cherry trees, and also small fruit. He lived upon his farm until 1900, when he purchased a house in Carlisle, which he has since remodeled and improved and which is now his home. Mr. Gardner began life for him- self empty-handed but through his own industry, enterprise and good manage- ment he has acquired a handsome competence which now enables him to live retired, enjoying the fruits of former toil.
Sinee casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, he has voted for every presidential nominee of the republican party, and has served as a delegate to state and county conventions. He has served on the grand and petit juries and for nine years was president of the school board in his district. In early life he was a member of the New Light church, for which he preached for some years. but is now connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, of Carlisle, of which he is a trustee. He is an earnest Christian gentleman and does all in his power to advance the moral. ednea- tional and material welfare of the community in which he resides.
ELIAS MILLS.
Elias Mills, who has large landed holdings in this state and is also ex- tensively engaged in the stock business, makes his home on section 33, Liberty township. He was born at or near Lafayette. Warren county, Indiana, March 26, 1839, his parents being Peter and Mary (Stanley) Mills. The latter was called to her final rest in 1847, while Peter Mills, who was a hatter by trade, survived his wife for about twenty years. The last three years of his life were spent at the home of his son Elias, in Lueas county, Iowa. where he passed away in 1868 at the age of seventy-two and a half years.
Dlg&zed by Google
990
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
When ten years of age Elias Mills was "bound out" to a Quaker named Joel Paxton, in Jefferson county, lowa, to which place the family had removed in 1847. He remained with Mr. Paxton until he had attained his majority and then received two suits of jean clothing, a mare worth eighty dollars and fourteen dollars in money. Subsequently, in 1860, he operated a farm on shares in Jefferson county, receiving a third share. In December, 1860, he removed to Lucas county, Iowa, locating on the farm of his brother, Isaac Mills, which lay partly in Warren county. There he remained throughout the following spring and summer, raising a crop on a neighboring farm.
In the fall of 1861. at Chariton, Iowa, Mr. Mills enlisted as a member of Company C, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Seventeenth Army Corps. He participated in many important engagements of the war, including the first battle of Shiloh and the engagement at Atlanta. He was also with Sherman on his famous march to the sea and took part in the grand review at Washing- ton at the close of hostilities. He was three times wounded and at one time his injuries were so serious that he was compelled to spend four months in a hospital at Rome, Georgia. In 1864 he returned to Lucas county, Iowa, on a furlough and was married. but subsequently again joined his comrades on the battlefields of the south, serving in the army until July 31, 1865. Thus for four years he loyally defended the interests of the Union, having re- enlisted at the end of his three years' term.
On once more taking up the pursuits of civil life Mr. Mills settled on a farm of eighty acres which he had purchased in Lucas county, Iowa, being engaged in its operation until 1872, when he came to Liberty township. War- ren county, and has here been successfully and extensively engaged as a farmer and stoekman to the present time. He owns and operates his home farm of about seven hundred aeres in Warren and Lucas counties, while his holdings also comprise two hundred and eighty acres in Virginia township, a tract of land in Missouri and an entire section of solid timber in Dallas county, In addition to his agricultural interests he has also largely engaged in buying. raising. feeding and shipping cattle, hogs and horses, meeting with a most gratifying and enviable measure of success in his undertakings. Since the reorganization of the Bank of Lacona he has served as president of that insti- tution, and is widely recognized as one of Warren county's most influential. prominent and prosperous citizens.
Mr. Mills was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Edwards, who was born in Indiana in 1844. a daughter of Abel and Clarissa (Bennett) Edwards. who resided on the farm on sections 33 and 34. Liberty township, Warren county, which is now the home of our subject. The Edwards family were comparatively early residents of this county, but the father and mother of Mrs. Mills are both deceased. the former passing away in Lucas county in 1895 and the latter in Warren county about 1875. Mrs. Mills was about fifteen years of age when she accompanied her parents on their removal to this county and she acquired her education in the old district school. By her marriage she became the mother of eleven children, namely: William, of Lincoln town- ship. a teacher and coal miner. who is married and has six children ; Lucy, who
. Dlg zedby Google
991
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
died about 1898, leaving her husband. Ira Sones, and two children to mourn her loss; Eli, who passed away at the age of ten months; Charles L., who was a farmer of Liberty township and died about 1900, leaving a wife and two children ; Laura, who resides at New Virginia, this county, and is the wife of Alva Gripp, by whom she has four children ; two who died in infaney ; Abel E., of Liberty township, who is married and has three children; N. R., an agri- culturalist of White Breast township, who is likewise married and has three children; Herman, who follows farming near New Virginia and is married and has one child; and Jesse I., of Liberty Center, who is cashier of the Farmers Savings Bank. Mrs. Elizabeth Mills passed away November 8, 1889, when forty-four years of age, her demise being deeply regretted by inany who had come to know and esteem her. After losing his first wife Mr. Mills was again married, his second union being with Mary J. Breece, of Lucas county. They had seven children, of whom three died in infancy, while those who still survive are Lowell, Zella, Orle and Raymond, aged respectively twelve. ten, eight and six years. Mr. Mills has given each of his older children eighteen hundred dollars, thus enabling them to make a good start in life.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Mills has given stalwart allegiance to the men and measures of the republican party, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has served as township trustee and in other positions of public trust and responsibility, ever discharging his duties in a manner entirely satisfactory to his constituents. He is a charter member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Liberty Center, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church of Liberty township. Brooking no obstacles that honest effort can overcome, he has steadily worked his way upward until, having long since left the ranks of the many, he today stands among the successful few.
REV. EDMUND M. HOLMES.
Rev. Edmund M. Hohnes, well known as an educator and minister, is now filling the pastorate of the Methodist Episcopal church at Indianola. His entire life has been devoted to efforts for the moral and intellectual upbuild- ing of the race and his influence has been of no restricted order. He was born in Hardin county, Ohio, December 15, 1859. His father, Jacob M. Holmes, was a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, and represented a family of English origin. Becoming a believer in the Christian religion and a follower of the Methodist church, he was for five years one of its local preachers and then entered the ministry in southern Ohio in 1841. In 1846 he was admitted to the Ohio conference and in 1851 was transferred to the Central Ohio conference, filling pastoral appointments at Kenton, Lima and Sidney. He was then appointed presiding elder of the Kenton district in 1859 and afterward served in pastoral relations with the churches at Adrian, Marion Station and Patterson. In the fall of 1869 he came to Iowa and was stationed at Altoona, being transferred
Dig zedby Google
992
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
to the Des Moines conference. The Indianola district was afterward trans- ferred to the Chariton district and he was presiding elder thereof until his demise. In the meantime, however, on leaving Altoona he went to Red Oak and later to Clarinda as pastor of the Methodist church, and in the fall of 1875 he was appointed presiding elder of the Indianola district and was thus laboring in the field of church activity until he was called to the reward pre- pared for the righteous. He was a most earnest speaker and a man of con- secrated life and his labors bore rich harvests in the work of the Methodist ministry in this part of the state. His political endorsement was given to the republican party.
In early manhood Rev. Jacob M. Holmes wedded Miss Margaret Bradford, who was born in Adams county, Ohio, September 20, 1823, and died in 1883 when about sixty years of age. She was of Irish descent, her grandparents, who were of the Presbyterian faith, having come from the north of Ireland to the new world. She was reared in the Presbyterian church but before her marriage was converted to a belief in the Methodist doctrines under the preaching of her future husband. Their marriage was blessed with six chil- dren, of whom the Rev. Edmund M. Holmes is the fifth in order of birth.
According to the customs of an itinerant ministry, the abode of the Holmes family was frequently changed during the boyhood and youth of Rev. E. M. Holmes of this review and he accordingly pursued his education in the schools of Kenton, Ohio, and other places. In 1875 he entered the senior preparatory class at Simpson College and in 1880 was graduated from that institution, winning the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Immediately following his gradua- tion, having been licensed to preach, he entered upon the active work of pro- elaiming the gospel in connection with the south Indianola circuit as a junior preacher. In the following fall he joined the Des Moines conference and was assigned to the charge at Casey. In order to be still better qualified for the important and responsible duties which he had taken upon himself, in the fall of 1881 he entered the Garrett Biblical Institute, the theological depart- ment of the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, and was graduated therefrom in 1883. He then returned to the Des Moines conference and was assigned to the pastorate of the Methodist church at Carroll. Two years later he was elected to the chair of Greek in Simpson College and thus served as a member of the faculty for four years, after which he was elected, in 1889. to the presidency of that institution. For three years he presided over its interests as its chief executive officer and in 1892 he resigned the position to again take up the active work of a minister of the gospel and was assigned to the Prospect Park church at Des Moines. There he remained for two years, after which he was appointed presiding elder of the Boone district. He served for a term of six years and was then appointed as pastor of the church at Denison, Iowa. In 1902 he was assigned to Red Oak, where his father had labored many years before, and in 1904 he was made presiding elder of the Des Moines district. so continuing until 1907. when he became pastor of the Methodist church of Indianola. Here he is now laboring untiringly for the Christianizing of the inhabitants of this attractive city, is fearless in his
DIOR GOT Google
993
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
enunciation of the truth, is eloquent in his utterances and most earnest in his efforts to uplift his fellowmen.
In September, 1884, the Rev. Edmund M. Holmes was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Carrie M. Page, of Boone, Iowa, and unto them have been born four sons and a daughter: Merrill J., who was graduated from Simpson College with the class of 1908; Stephen Roy, who is a freshman in that institution; Alice, a member of the senior academic class of Simpson College; Elmer M., who is attending the high school; and Kenneth B., who completes the family.
The Rev. Holmes is a supporter of the republican party but aside from a citizen's interest in the welfare of his country, takes no active part in politics. Strong in his opinions. yet charitable in his views of others, he commands the respect of all people, while those of his own denomination recognize his worth and fidelity and have high appreciation for his services in the church.
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.