USA > Iowa > Washington County > History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II > Part 40
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
416
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
trust reposed in him and today bears an irreproachable record as a business man. He makes his home in Riverside, where he owns a brick store build- ing and a fine residence. He also possesses two hundred and sixty acres of fine farm land, a part of which lies in Washington county and the remainder in Johnson county, this property returning to him a gratifying annual in- come.
Mr. Cress chose as a companion for life's journey Miss Lovila H. Posten, who was born in Virginia in 1843, and is one of ten children born to Leonard and Margaret (Miller) Posten. Her parents were both natives of Virginia and came to Iowa in 1866, where the father died, while the mother later returned to the Old Dominion, where she passed away. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cress was celebrated in 1865 and was blessed with nine children, namely: Mary L., deceased; Chester C., residing in Riverside ; Isaac C., operating his father's farm; Ida E. and Margaret C., both de- ceased ; George, a dentist of Wheatland, Iowa ; Ralph, residing in Columbus Junction, Iowa ; Melville, who has also passed away ; and Earl E., attending the medical department of the Northwestern University at Chicago, Illinois.
On the 10th of April, 1907, Mrs. Cress was called to her final rest, her remains being interred in the Riverside cemetery. She left, besides her hus- band and five children, many warm friends to mourn her loss. She was a lady of many excellent traits of character and a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mr. Cress also belongs, having served for twenty-seven years as superintendent of the Sunday school. He holds mem- bership with the United Workmen of America and in politics is a stalwart supporter of the republican party. He has taken quite an active and in- fluential part in public affairs, filling several town offices and now serving his second term as supervisor, to which position he was elected in 1906. Starting out in life with but limited educational advantages, depending up- on his own resources at a very early age for his livelihood, he is, in the broadest sense of the term a self-made man, who may well feel proud of the success which he has attained.
CHARLES A. OVERFELT.
Charles A. Overfelt, a prominent and prosperous resident of Riverside, is now living retired, having won a handsome competence through his well directed labors as an agriculturist in former years. He was born in Fulton, Callaway county, Missouri, on the 27th of February, 1835, his parents being Eli M. and Sarah S. (Parker) Overfelt. The father's birth occurred near Richmond, Virginia, on the 8th of August, 1808, while the mother was born in Tennessee, April 22, 1814. Their marriage was celebrated in Missouri on the 7th of November, 1833. Eli M. Overfelt passed away August 17, 1844, and his wife, surviving him for more than a half century, was called to her final rest on the 6th of July, 1899. Unto this worthy couple were born six
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOK TILDEN FOUNDATION
!
CHARLES A. OVERFELT
MRS. CHARLES A. OVERFELT
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
421
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
children : Charles A., of this review ; Mary J., the wife of John Axtel, of Wichita, Kansas; and four who are deceased.
Charles A. Overfelt received only limited educational opportunities in youth, for his father died when he was but a little lad of nine years and, being the oldest child in the family, he at once laid aside his text-books in order that he might assist in the support of his mother and the younger children. Subsequent to the father's death the family home was established in St. Louis, Missouri, where Charles A. Overfelt secured employment as an errand boy and thus worked until he had attained the age of fifteen years. He then learned the blacksmith's trade and worked at that occupation for four years but at the end of that time was compelled to give it up on account of failing health. Subsequently he removed to Iowa City, where he was employed as a teamster for three years, on the expiration of which period he came to Washington county, Iowa, and here worked as a farm hand for one year, receiving a remuneration of twelve and a half dollars per month. In July, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Com- pany G, Sixth Iowa Infantry, but at the end of six months was discharged at Sedalia, Missouri, on account of physical disability. Returning to Wash- ington county, he worked for B. W. Coe for one year as foreman on the latter's farm and was then engaged in the operation of a rented tract of land for a year. Subsequently he bought a farm of eighty acres in Iowa town- ship, devoting his time and energies to its cultivation and improvement, while later he extended the boundaries of the place by an additional purchase of one hundred acres and was actively and successfully connected with agri- cultural interests until the time of his retirement from business life in 1898. Purchasing a handsome residence in Riverside, he has here since continued to reside and is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community as a self-made man whose prosperity is the just reward of a life of untiring, persistent and intelligently directed labor.
On the 27th of August, 1862, Mr. Overfelt was united în marriage to Miss Nora Williams, who was born at Lockport, Will county, Illinois, No- vember 13, 1844. a daughter of Loring A. and Eliza A. ( Palmer) Williams. The father, whose birth occurred in Connecticut in 1806, passed away on the 2d of March, 1890, while the mother, who was born in the state of New York in 1822, was called to her final rest on the 13th of April, 1895. Their family numbered but two children, one who died in infancy and Mrs. Overfelt. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Overfelt participated in the Revolutionary war and spent the winter as a guard at Valley Forge. He lived to attain the remarkable age of ninety-nine years. Her maternal grandfather, Thomas Force Palmer, served in the war of 1812 and died at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Overfelt is a graduate of the Iowa City high school and prior to her marriage was a successful school teacher. She is a member of the Eastern Star, in which she has filled all of the chairs except that of the chapel and has acted as recorder for the Royal Neighbors for six years. She is likewise identified with the Robert Allen Relief Corps and for six years has been president thereof. For twenty-two years she has capably served in the position of school treasurer and is a lady whose many estimable
422
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
traits of character and excellent executive ability are widely recognized and highly appreciated. By her marriage she has become the mother of five children, namely : Olie Olga, who died in infancy : twins, who also passed away in infancy : Katie L., born March 21. 1869, who is now the wife of Eugene Annas, of Haskins, Iowa : and Charlie Lester, who was born May 10. 1876. and is a resident of Washington county.
In his political views Mr. Overfelt is an unfaltering and inflexible repub- lican and has served as school director and also as supervisor. He is a mem- ber of G. A. R. Post, No. 455, and also belongs to the Masonic lodge. No. 516, at Riverside and Eastern Star Lodge, No. 197. His life record exem- plifies the fact that faithfulness to duty and strict adherence to a fixed pur- pose will do more to advance a man's interests than wealth or advantageous circumstances. The successful men of the day are they who have planned their own advancement and have accomplished it in spite of many obstacles and with a certainty that could have been attained only through their own efforts. This class of men has a worthy representative in Mr. Overfelt, who is honored and respected in every class of society and most of all in the community where he is best known.
T. J. BROWN.
The progress of a community does not depend upon its machinery of government or even upon the men who control its offices as much as upon those who are active in business life and who therefore promote the pros- perity of the community. In this connection Mr. Brown deserves mention, as he contributes to the business activity of Crawfordsville in the conduct of a tile factory. He is also a representative of the coal trade here and his perseverance and diligence constitute the basis of his success. He was born in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. January 21, 1854, and is a son of William and Catherine Brown. The father, now deceased, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, a son of Thomas and Maria ( Askem) Brown, who were married in the Keystone state and there resided until after the birth of their five children-William, David Susannah. Benjamin and Martha, all of whom became residents of Iowa with the exception of the last named, who was the wife of Eleazer Schumacher, then a resident of Seneca county, Ohio. The grandfather of our subject, Thomas Brown, was born and reared in England, coming from Warwickshire to the United States. By trade he was a ribbon weaver but after crossing the Atlantic he pur- chased a tract of land in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and there carried on farming. He also opened up and operated a coal mine on his land. His wife was born in this country but her parents, William and Alice Askem, were natives of England. They reared a family of four sons and four daughters: William. John, Thomas, Burton, Maria, Caroline, Catharine and Susannah. The parents remained residents of Pennsylvania until called
423
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
to their final rest but several of their children removed westward to Ohio. Mrs. Thomas Brown became a resident of Iowa in 1846.
William Brown, father of our subject, wedded Miss Catherine Shaffer, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Shaffer, who were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married, remaining in that country for several years after their marriage, their home being on a small farm near Strasburg Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Shaffer had three children: Adam, who is deceased Jacob; and Catherine. Of Jacob, all trace is lost. Catherine became the wife of William Brown, and in 1856 they removed from Pennsylvania to Iowa, where they engaged in farming, establishing their home in Henry county. There were two children born to them in Pennsylvania, Mary Etta, who became the wife of Allen B. Lennon and is now deceased : and Thomas J., of this review. The journey from Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, to Scranton, that state, was made by stage and from that point they pro- ceeded by rail to Burlington, and then by stage to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where they arrived in 1856. After spending a few months in Henry county William Brown purchased nearly a quarter section of land adjoining the family homestead and subsequently other purchases were made. A small house had been erected by a former owner and into this the Brown family moved in the autumn of 1856. In this home two children were added to the family : John W .. who has departed this life ; and Scott M., an electrical engineer living in Seattle, Washington. He married Miss Mary Strume, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Strume.
In the autumn of 1856 the grandparents of T. J. Brown came to Iowa and during the remainder of their lives they found a happy home and cordial welcome beneath the hospitable roof of their son William. Thomas Brown died in 1857 at the age of eighty-one years, while his wife passed away twenty years later in her eightieth year. Both were interred in the cemetery at Asbury chapel.
As the years passed by William Brown carried on farming and became quite a wealthy man, owning extensive tracts of land at the time of his demise, most of which was acquired through his own industry, supplemented by the capable management and economy of his wife. After coming to Iowa they owned two farms in Henry country and three eighty-acre tracts of land northwest of Washington, in Washington county, in addition to the home farm of more than a quarter of a section. They made to each of their child- ren a present of a valuable farm. The father died in 1879 and his remains were interred in a cemetery in Henry county. His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania, spent her last days in Washington county. Iowa, her death oc- curring in 1897.
T. J. Brown is indebted to the common-school system of Crawford township for the early educational privileges he enjoyed. He pursued his studies through the winter months and in the summer seasons worked in the fields, assisting his father until the latter's death. In 1883 he turned his attention to commercial interests, taking up the manufacture of tile about three miles south of Crawfordsville. There he conducted the business until about five years ago, when he built a plant in the village with a capacity of
424
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
ten thousand tile per day. He owns this plant, together with three and three-quarters acres of land and an office building. He makes quite large shipments of his product, which is of excellent quality and therefore finds a ready sale on the market. In addition to this he conducts a good business as a dealer in coal and he also owns three hundred and fifty-six and a half acres of valuable land in Crawford township and real estate in the village. In all of his business affairs he is enterprising and progressive, watching out for opportunities that point to success and using his advantages in the best possible manner. His political allegiance is given to the democracy but he has never been an aspirant for office. His life has been characterized by an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities and thus Crawfordsville counts him as one of its valued and representative sons.
J. R. TAYLOR.
J. R. Taylor, numbered among the practical, energetic and progressive farmers of Brighton township, is the owner of four hundred and ten acres of rich and productive land and in addition to tilling the soil he raises and feeds stock. He was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, November 30, 1842, and comes of Virginian ancestry, the family having been established in the Old Dominion at an early period in the colonization of the new world
His parents were James and Priscilla (Edwards) Taylor. The father was born near Lexington, Kentucky, November 30, 1803, and from that place accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana during his boy- hood days. He lived for nine years in Decatur county and for some time was a resident of Bartholomew county. In 1854 he removed westward to Washington county, lowa, making the journey by wagon. His son, J. R. Taylor, was then a lad of eleven years and, with a boy's interest in every- thing that he sees, greatly enjoyed the trip. On reaching their destination the father secured a tract of land in Brighton township and began farming, making that place his home until his death, which occurred March 27, 1888, his remains being interred in New Haven, lowa. Throughout his entire life he followed farming and was very successful in the work, transforming the wild prairie into fertile fields from which he annually gathered large harvests. In politics he was a democrat of decided views, believing firmly in the principles of the party. He also held membership in the Baptist church and his life in all of its relations was actuated by his Christian faith.
While residing in Indiana James Taylor was married, on the 2d of May, 1831, to Miss Priscilla Edwards, who was born in Hardin county, Ken- tucky, on a farm adjoining that which was the birthplace of Abraham Lin- coln. Her death occurred in Washington county, May 25, 1884, and her grave was made in the New Haven cemetery. In the family of this worthy couple were cight children: David William, who was born September 19, 1832, and died in infancy : Sarah Jane, who was born September 29, 1835,
425
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
and is deceased ; Nancy, who was born August 27, 1837, and is the widow of John McCullough; James Blackburn, born June 16, 1840, who has de- parted this life ; J. R., of this review ; Jesse, who was born August 26, 1845, and is a resident farmer of Franklin township; Mary Elizabeth, who was born November 18, 1846, and died in infancy ; and Joseph, who was born May 19, 1849, and also died in infancy.
J. R. Taylor was a lad of eleven years when he left his native state in company with his parents and came to Iowa. He had begun his education in the schools of Indiana and here he further continued his studies as a pupil in the common schools of Brighton township and in the village of Brighton. He remained at home with his father until twenty years of age and is still on land formerly in possession of his father. His home place now comprises four hundred and ten acres and the soil is rich and productive, responding readily to the care and labor which he places upon it. Most of the improve- ments have been put upon the farm by Mr. Taylor and the buildings and fences are always kept in good repair and indicate his careful supervision. He both raises and feeds stock and that branch of his business is proving a profitable source of income. He is likewise interested in an irrigation ditch in Wyoming.
On the 29th of January, 1863, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Nannie Cockland, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Eberly) Cockland. Her father was born in Penn- sylvania, whence he removed to Ohio and in 1854 he came to Iowa, set- tling first in Marion township, Washington county. He resided in this county continuously until his death, which occurred June 28, 1891. He had long survived his wife, who passed away September 4, 1857. They were the parents of ten children: Jacob, who was born December 24, 1833, and is now a retired farmer living in Harrison county, Missouri; David, who was born December 25, 1835, and is living retired in Washington ; Levi, who was born December 23, 1837, and died in August, 1907, at the age of almost seventy years; Catherine, who was born January 21, 1839, and is the wife of Robert M. McCalman, proprietor of a canning factory in Dexter, Iowa; Maria, who was born June 13, 1841, and is deceased; Abra- ham, who was born in March, 1843, and is living in Buffalo county, Ne- braska ; Samuel, who was born April 29, 1844, and is deceased; Nannie L., born October 20, 1846; John S., born November 20, 1848; and William H., who was born September 4, 1852, and is now deceased.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor was blessed with five children : Jesse, who was born February 5, 1864, and is now connected with an ir- rigation ditch enterprise at Lander, Wyoming; Etta, who was born De- cember 3, 1865, and is the wife of George Brinton, a retired farmer ; Nellie, who was born April 18, 1870, and is the wife of E. S. Thomas, a farmer of Fairfield, Iowa; Vista, who was born August 25, 1873, and is the wife of Fred Mauthe, a farmer near Grace Hill, Iowa; and Fred, who was born August 21, 1882, and assists in the operation of the home farm.
In his political views Mr. Taylor is an earnest democrat and has served as township trustee but office holding has little attraction for him, as he
426
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
prefers to concentrate lis energies upon his business affairs. His wife is a member of the Baptist church and they are both worthy people who en- joy and merit the esteem and good will of their many friends.
E. BRADFORD.
E. Bradford, a veteran of the Civil war, is now occupying the position of postmaster of Wellman, and although he has passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, he nevertheless is still active in all those public affairs which are matters of interest and moment to all true citizens. Born in Maine on the 16th of April, 1830, he is a son of Luther and Mary (Wentworth) Bradford, who were also natives of that state. There the mother passed away and after her death the father removed to Iowa in the fall of 1854, where he resided until his demise. In their family were four children : Vergil, residing in Wellman; Melvina, deceased ; E. Bradford, of this review ; and Emaline, deceased.
The youthful days of E. Bradford were spent in the acquirement of an education in the common schools of Maine, which he attended until fifteen years of age, when, depending upon his own resources for a livelihood, he took his initial step in the business world as a clerk in a store in Boston. He was thus employed for three years, at the expiration of which time he hired out as a sailor boy on board a ship and followed the sea for some time. He then came to Iowa, where he resided for a year, after which he removed to Sangamon county, Illinois, where he remained until 1861. In that year he joined the boys in blue as a member of Company D, Twenty-sixth Illi- nois Infantry, and served through the Civil war, loyally defending the Union on southern battlefields. Throughout his period of enlistment he saw much active service, participating in many important engagements, among them being the battles of Vicksburg and Chattanooga. He was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea and in 1865, with a creditable military record, he was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois.
After the close of the war Mr. Bradford came to Washington county, lowa, where he has since continued to reside. He purchased a farm in this county, which he operated for several years, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and annually gathering therefrom good harvests. Later he disposed of his agricultural interests and moved to Wellman, where, shortly after the inauguration of President Mckinley, he was ap- pointed postmaster of the town. He is an excellent man for the place, and the fact that he is now serving his thirteenth year in this position is an in- dication that his service has received the indorsement and approval of his fellow citizens.
The year 1865 witnessed the marriage of Mr. Bradford to Miss Amanda Carr, a native of Washington county, lowa, her birth occurring in 1846. She was a daughter of Isaac Carr, now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brad- ford were born three children: Luther D., now a resident of Minnesota ;
427
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Lyman S., the present city marshal of Wellman; and Isaac, the assistant postmaster of Wellman.
The parents are consistent members of the Baptist church, of which Mr. Bradford is serving as trustec and deacon. In politics he is a republican and his fellow citizens, recognizing his ability and worth, have called him to office, electing him township trustee and also justice of the peace, his term of service in the latter office having covered thirteen years. He maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades in his membership in the Grand Army Post, No. 112, at Wellman. Having served continuously be- fore the public eye in an official capacity ever since his residence in Wellman, Mr. Bradford has, by his faithfulness in the discharge of his duties, his un- bending integrity and his appreciation of the responsibilities that rest upon him, commanded the confidence and trust of his fellowmen and won for him- self a high place among the representative citizens of the community.
N. BRUCE GARDNER.
lowa, with its splendid agricultural possibilities, offers excellent oppor- tunity to him who wishes to earn his living in the tilling of the soil. De- voting his time and energies in successful manner to the cultivation and im- provement of a farm, N. Bruce Gardner has become well known as a prom- inent and progressive citizen of Seventy-Six township, where he owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land. He is widely known as an extensive dealer in stock and has, moreover, been closely identified with the financial and educational interests of the community.
One of Iowa's native sons, he was born in Washington township, Wash- ington county, January 30, 1854, and is a son of James D. and Phoebe (Fer- guson) Gardner, both natives of Madison county, Ohio, where they were reared and married. In the fall of 1853 they came to Iowa and the winter of that year was spent in Washington, where the father engaged in teach- ing school. During that period, however, he entered two quarter sections of land adjoining each other in Seventy-Six township, where he took up his abode in the spring of 1854. Upon this farm he resided, with the exception of some five years spent in the city of Washington, until his death, which occurred July 4, 1881, his wife surviving him for about six or seven years. He had always been a stanch republican in politics, while he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and passed away in the faith of that denomination.
Upon this homestead farm Bruce Gardner was reared, acquiring his early education in the district schools. He later supplemented this train- ing by a three years' course in the Washington high school and subsequently spent a similar period in the lowa State Agricultural College. Thus well equipped, at the age of seventeen years, he took his initial step in the busi- ness world as a teacher, following that profession during the winter months and devoting the summer seasons to farming. He continued as a teacher
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.