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 44
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L. J. BIDWELL
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Mr. Bidwell was born in Clark county, Ohio, August 2, 1831, and was a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Goodnaugle) Bidwell. The grandfathers, both on the maternal and paternal sides, were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. His father was a native of Montpelier, Vermont, where he followed farming, and during the war of 1812 he was numbered among the soldiers of the Green Mountain Volunteers, serving throughout the years 1812-1814. On his removal to Ohio, he settled in Clark county, and when his son, L. J. Bid- well, was two years of age, removed to Champaign county, that state, locating near Urbana, from which after a twelve years' sojourn he removed to Allen county. When that county was divided his property lay in Auglaize county, where he lived from the year 1843 to 1854. During the latter year he re-
moved to Brighton, Iowa, where he engaged in general farming until death called him from his activities in 1879. The mother of the subject of this review was a native of New Hampshire, but was married in Vermont, where two children were born to her, both of whom are deceased, and she died April 26, 1870, on her son's place near Brighton. The entire family numbered five children, namely: Rhoda Ann, Josiah, Benjamin, W. G., and L. J .. all deceased with exception of our subject.
L. J. Bidwell received his preliminary education in the common schools and later attended the academy at Urbana, Ohio, for one term. After com- pleting his studies he taught school for awhile, in 1855 giving up the pro- fession and coming to Brighton, Iowa, where he remained throughout one summer. He then went to Stacyville, Monroe county, Iowa, where he en- gaged in the live-stock business, later associating with this enterprise that of handling general merchandise, and while in that city he served for four years as postmaster. His entire stay in that place covered eight years, at the termination of which period he removed to Jefferson county, where he bought a farm located three miles and one-half from Brighton and remained on the property from 1864 until 1892, when he settled in the village that is now his home. Throughout his entire career he has been a heavy shipper of all kinds of live-stock, his connections with this business covering over half a century, and he is the oldest live-stock dealer in this county and prob- ably in the state of Iowa. After removing to Brighton he still continued in this business and also shipped large quantities of grain, but recently he has given up the latter undertaking and now confines his attention to the farm. His business career has been one of eminent success and he now possesses valuable real estate in this village where he owns, among other properties, four fine dwelling houses.
The war period did not pass by without engaging the attention and re- ceiving the services of Mr. Bidwell, for in 1862 he lived near the Missouri border where frequent raids occurred and he was instrumental in organizing a company called the Stacyville Union Rangers, of which he was com- missioned the captain by Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood, of Iowa. In the fall of 1862 Mr. Bidwell with the members of his company, being anxious to participate in the war, went to Clinton when the Eighteenth Regiment was mobilizing, there expecting to join that regiment, but they arrived too late as the entire regiment had been made up so that the government sent Mr.
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Bidwell and his comapny back, defraying the expenses of the journey. Still persisting in his endeavor to give vent to his patriotism, Mr. Bidwell at- tempted to enlist in the military ranks on the Union side, but, being re- peatedly refused owing to disability, he was finally compelled to acquiesce.
In 1853 occurred the marriage of Mr. Bidwell and Miss Louisa Smith, to which union was born one child, Lorenzo E., who in his twenty-second year met death in an accident with a horse on his father's farm in Jefferson county. The mother having departed this life in 1855, Mr. Bidwell the following year wedded Miss Sarah Smith, by whom he had the following chil- dren, namely: Sarah Louisa, deceased: Loren, deceased; James E., an undertaker and furniture dealer of Wellman, Iowa; Lucetta B., wife of James H. Gilmore, an agriculturist of Republic county. Kansas ; Clement, who resides here ; and Elnora, the wife of Levi Smith, an agriculturist of Republic county, Kansas. Death claiming his second wife in 1891, Mr. Bidwell the year following married Mrs. Mary A. Campbell, who entered into rest April 9. 1904.
Mr. Bidwell has always given his allegiance to the democratic party and. taking profound interest in local affairs, has served in a number of offices and is now performing the duties of chief executive of Brighton for the sixth term. For fifty years also he has been a justice of the peace, in which ca- pacity his administrative ability is widely recognized. His long life of en- deavor in this locality has been of great advantage to the community and he has already stamped a lasting impression on its business, social and commer- cial life.
SAMUEL TURKINGTON.
Samuel Turkington, well known as a representative farmer of this county, was at one time the owner of four hundred and sixty acres of land and still has a valuable and productive property although he has given some of his land to his children. He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. Jan- uary 2, 1840, a son of James and Margaret (Courtney) Turkington. His father was born in Ireland where he spent his entire life, giving his attention to general agricultural pursuits. In the year 1859 his widow sailed for the United States, making her way into the interior of the country, settling in Louisa county. Iowa, near Letts, where she made her home until her death on the 15th of August, 1889. In the family of this worthy couple were six children : Eliza, the wife of Joseph Rainey, residing in Louisa county, Iowa ; Sarah, deceased; Samuel, of this review ; Christopher, who is living in New London, Iowa; James, who makes his home near Letts; and one who died in infancy.
Samuel Turkington acquired his education in the common schools of Ireland, where he remained until 1854, when he came to the United States. For two years he resided in Kentucky and then removed to Louisa county, Iowa, where he remained until 1869, when he came to his present place of
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residence in Washington county. Here he has resided continuously since and has been closely associated with the agricultural interests of the com- munity. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington county and eighty acres in Louisa county. At one time he had four hundred and sixty acres of fine land from which he derived a very substantial income but he has since given some of this to his children, retaining the ownership of two hundred and forty acres. He has improved his fields until they an- nually bring forth rich harvests, and though he started out in life empty- handed, he is now in possession of a handsome competence that wins him classification with the substantial residents of this part of the state.
The only interruption that has come to Mr. Turkington's active business career was when he joined the army, enlisting in 1862 as a member of Com- pany G, Nineteenth Iowa Infantry. He was in Tyler, Texas, for eleven months as a prisoner of war, having been captured by the Confederate army. When he entered the prison he weighed two hundred pounds but was of much lighter weight when he left there and has never weighed that much since. He served for almost three years in defense of the Union and was in the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and in various skirmishes. He was taken prisoner near the mouth of the Red river. When the war was over he received an honorable discharge and returned to his home, having made a most creditable military record by the prompt manner in which he executed every order of command that was given him and by the fearlessness which he displayed in defense of the old flag. He now maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army Post at Crawfordsville, taking much delight in its camp fires. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, of which he was steward.
Mr. Turkington has been pleasantly situated in his home life. In 1865 he was united in marriage to Miss Lucretia See, who was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, and was a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth ( Miller) See. Her maternal grandmother was a Hanks and an own cousin of Abraham Lincoln who had many a meal at her table. The mother of Mrs. Turkington bought her first "store dress" of Lincoln while he was peddling goods across the state of Indiana. Michael See, the father of Mrs. Turkington, was born in Virginia and became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, devot- ing fifty years of his life to the work of preaching the gospel in connection with the Iowa conference. He died in 1900 and at that time was among the oldest preachers of the state. His influence was a most potent force for good and the seeds of truth which he planted have borne rich fruit in the lives of many who came under his ministration. Unto him and his wife were born one son and five daughters, the eldest being Mrs. Turkington, while the others were: Lois, the wife of Richard Williams ; Rebecca, the wife of John Latta ; Mary, the wife of J. W. Thompson ; Anna, the wife of Taylor Wilkins; and John W., who is living in Winfield, Iowa. There were also two half sisters, Mrs. Allie Thomas and Mrs. Ada Simons. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Turkington has been blessed with seven children: Robert James, a farmer residing in Crawford county, Iowa: Michael C., deceased ; Christopher,
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living near Letts, Iowa; Anna, the wife of Clyde Mathews, of Wyman ; Samuel, at home : Nora, the wife of Charles Zickefoose, of Crawford town- ship ; and Margaret May, at home. The family is well known in this part of the state and have many friends here. Mr. Turkington is a representative agriculturist who has won his success through persistent and earnest labor and sound judgment. His work has ever been done in an orderly and system- atic manner and his achievements are the result of close application and unremitting energy.
HARRY G. MOORE.
Harry G. Moore, founder and promoter of the Wellman Savings Bank, and a prominent representative of financial interests in Washington county, has, in an active and useful life fraught with success, manifested much of the spirit of the initiative. He has quickly recognized opportunities and more- over, has displayed ability in coordinating forces whereby practical results have been achieved and business enterprise has been advanced.
Mr. Moore is a native of Leavenworth, Kansas, born October 28, 1860. His father, Ephraim Moore, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, and was of German descent. He learned and followed the carpenter's trade, being thus identified with building interests in Iowa in early manhood. He had come to this state in his childhood days with a brother, settling in Burlington, and it was there that he acquainted himself with carpentering. He afterward spent ten years in the mines of California and was quite successful in his search for gold on the Pacific coast. Returning by way of New York he again made his way westward to Burlington, where he remained until 1858, when he went to Kansas, where he met and married Miss Margaret Gwin. For a number of years he continued a resident of the Sunflower state, but in 1875 returned to Burlington, where he spent his remaining days. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and an active worker for its growth and upbuilding. In his fraternal relations he was a Mason and in his political views was an earnest republican. He held minor civil offices and was a mem- ber of the border militia at Leavenworth at the time of the Civil war. His life was one of activity, and his enterprise and determination were the salient fea- tures in the success which he enjoyed. He died in Burlington in 1878, at the age of fifty years. His wife was born in Washington county, Iowa, in April, 1845, and is a daughter of Richard Gwin, a native of England, who came to the United States when a young man and first settled in Virginia. Subse- quently he became a resident of Tennessee. He married Miss Nancy Watkins, of English descent, who lived in Kentucky at the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Gwin, removing to Iowa in 1840, settled in Washington county their home being in English River township. He entered a tract of land there from the government and although not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made thereon at the time, he transferred the wild land into productive fields and resided there for eighteen years. He then went to Kansas, where he
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spent his remainding days. He and his wife were among the earliest settlers of Washington county and of the state and were closely connected with the substantial development of southeastern Iowa. Their daughter Margaret became the wife of Ephraim Moore, and they traveled life's journey together until separated by his death in 1878. There were two children of that mar- riage : Harry G. ; and Isabel, now the wife of R. W. Barger, one of Chicago's prominent attorneys. Since the death of her first husband, Mrs. Moore has become the wife of Dr. B. F. Parker, to whom she gave her hand in 1892. They now reside in Independence, Missouri.
In the public schools of Olathe, Kansas, Harry G. Moore acquired his early education and continued his studies in the public schools and in the business college in Burlington. He afterward spent two years in the State University and for one year engaged in teaching school. During the periods of vacation he learned and followed the upholsterer's trade in Burlington, working in that line for some time in Burlington and in Des Moines. In 1885, however, he entered into active relations with the banking business, be- coming connected with the Merchants National Bank of Des Moines in the capacity of clerk. His close application and the ability with which he dis- charged his duties won him promotion from time to time until he became assistant cashier of that institution. On the Ist of April, 1888, he arrived in Wellman, where he established a private bank, which was designated as the Wellman Bank, and which had a continuous existence until September, 1889. He has organized a savings bank, with a capital of ten thousand dollars and is still engaged in the banking business as cashier of the Wellman Savings Bank. He has had almost a quarter of a century's experience in this field of labor and ranks with the leading financiers of the county, having intimate and comprehensive knowledge of the best methods of carrying on the busi- ness and supervising the interests of the depositors, while at the same time he wins success for the stockholders. In addition to his other business in- terests he is connected with the Wellman Telephone Exchange, of which he is the president and he also owns three hundred acres of valuable land in Lime Creek township.
On November 20, 1888, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Minnie B. Kerr, who was born in English River township, Washington county, in 1864. She is a daughter of W. E. and Violet (Bush) Kerr. Her father, well known as Squire Kerr, is one of Washington's most prominent citizens. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moore has been born one child, Myrtle, whose birth occurred in September, 1890. She is a graduate of the Wellman high school of the class of 1907, and afterward pursued a year's course in St. Katherine's School for Young Ladies, at Davenport, while for the past year she has been a student in Oberlin College of Ohio. She has decided talent for music, which she is cultivating.
In his fraternal relations, Mr. Moore is a Knight of Pythias, while poli- tically he is connected with the republican party and religiously with the Baptist church, being one of the trustees of the last named organization. His interest in community affairs has been far-reaching and beneficial. For about twenty years he has been president of the school board and the cause of
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education has found in him a stalwart champion. He was mayor of Well- man for several terms, during which period his championship of various measures proved of decided benefit to the city. He is a strong advocate of reform and progress, at all times exerting his official prerogatives for the public good, and he is now a member of the town council. He has always taken a deep interest in political affairs and in everything relative to the city's upbuilding and is now chairman of the finance and water commissions. He was chairman of the county republican committee for some years and in that connection displayed excellent powers as a manager. He is president of the Wellman Commercial Club and in social relations his position is an enviable one. Energetic, prompt and notably reliable, he has placed his dependence upon the substantial qualities of unfaltering industry and de- termination in the acquirement of success and in control of public affairs. Faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation, his record is one which reflects credit upon the history of his adopted county.
ELLIS WALTON.
Ellis Walton, a well known representative of the farming interests of Washington county, was born in Clay township, December 20, 1857, and is a son of Ellis and Elizabeth J. (Edwards) Walton. The father was a native of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, born September 8, 1813, and his parents were Isaac and Ellen (Davis) Walton. The Waltons are of English lineage, three brothers of the name having come to America with William Penn and were with him under the famous elm tree where the treaty with the Indians was signed, whereby the territory now known as the state of Pennsylvania was conveyed to Penn and the white race. The great-grandfather of our subject and two of his brothers purchased the reserve tract on the Susque- hanna river from William Penn. Since that date representatives of the family have resided in the Keystone state.
Ellis Walton, Sr., was reared on his father's farm in Lycoming county and acquired his education in the subscription schools of Pennsylvania. In April, 1835, he removed westward to Sangamon county, Illinois, where he lived for a short time and in February, 1836, went to Tazewell county, Illi- nois. In company with Jacob and Walter Dillon, with knapsacks on their shoulders, he started for Iowa on foot and on reaching Washington county Mr. Walton secured one hundred and sixty acres of land in Clay township, entering the tract from the government. This state was still under terri- torial rule and much of the rich prairie land was then wild and uncultivated. In fact comparatively little of it had been taken up as claims and the unset- tled condition of the state is indicated by the fact that the Indians were still here, including the chief Wapello. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Elizabeth J. Edwards, a native of Clinton county, Ohio, and a daughter of Gideon and Mary (Dillon) Edwards, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Walton, Sr.,
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became the parents of twelve children: Isaac, who was born April 22, 1841, and died September 23, 1885; Ann M., who was born March 21, 1842, and is now deceased; Mary, who was born April 16, 1843, and died December 11, 1851 ; Ellen, who was born August 7, 1845, and is the wife of H. S. Bradley, who is engaged in the nursery business at Oak City, North Dakota, making a specialty of handling fruit trees; George, who was born August 27, 1847, and is a railroad contractor in Mexico; Charles, who was born August 30, 1850, and follows farming in Clay township; Jane, who was born April 29, 1853, and is now deceased; Sarah, who was born August 9, 1855, and is conducting a hotel at Hobart, Oklahoma ; Ellis, of this review, born December 20, 1857; William, who was born February 8, 1860, and is engaged in the livery business in San Diego, California; John, who was died January 20, 1862 ; and Thomas who was born February 14, 1865, and is also engaged in the hotel business at Hobart, Oklahoma. The mother of these children died March 23, 1878, and was buried at Pleasant Plains, while the father passed away in August, 1891, and was laid to rest by her side in that cemetery. He had for a long period been closely and actively associated with general farming interests and also had engaged in raising fine blooded horses. He was known as a leading and energetic business man of the county and took an active and helpful part in promoting its early up- building and progress.
Ellis Walton pursued his education in the common schools of Clay town -- ship and also at Pleasant Plains. He was early trained to the work of the farm and remained at home as his father's assistant until the death of the latter, when he entered into partnership with his brother Charles. Their business relations were continued until about four years ago, when Ellis Walton purchased the farm upon which he now resides, comprising two hun- dred acres of rich and productive land on sections 26, 34 and 35, Clay town- ship. He has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and has added many modern improvements to the farm. He also devoted much time to the raising of fine horses, giving his attention to blooded Norman stock for thirty years, during which time he has handled some of the finest horses found in this part of the state. He has likewise raised high-grade shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, and he is one of the stockholders in the tele- phone company. While he was living on the home place the residence was destroyed by fire in 1897, but he and his brother immediately put up the necessary improvements occasioned by their loss. Ellis Walton is now con- centrating his energies upon the further development and improvement of his present farm and is widely known as a leading agriculturist and one of the most able and successful stock raisers of this part of the state.
On the 10th of October, 1883, Mr. Walton was united in marriage to Miss Kate Kendell, a resident of Jefferson, Iowa. Her father, Joseph Ken- dell, who was a native of Ohio, and a cooper by trade, came to Iowa about sixty years ago and located at Pleasant Plains, Jefferson county, where he followed farming for some years, but eventually retired from active labor and removed to Fairfield. His wife died on the 17th of March, 1903, and was buried at Brighton, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Walton became the parents of
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four children : Lawrence J., born December 18. 1886; Grace O., born March 16, 1890; Fred W., September 18, 1894 ; and Ray E., born September 27, 1899.
In his political views Mr. Walton has always been a stalwart republican. voting with the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is now serving as a trustee in Clay township and also as school director. He represents one of the oldest and most prominent families of this part of the state and has himself been a resident of the county for more than a half century, during which time he has witnessed its substantial growth and im- provement and borne his full share in the work of progress in agricultural lines. He displays sound business judgment in the control of his interests and his success is well merited.
ALEXANDER HENDERSON.
Among the residents of Washington county, Iowa, who by their former toil have acquired sufficient competence to enable them, in the evening of life. to live retired in the enjoyment of well earned rest, is numbered Alexander Henderson. A native of Blount county, Tennessee, he was born July 14. 1837, a son of J. J. and Margaret (Walter) Henderson, the former pre- sumably a native of Tennessee, who came direct to Iowa in the spring of 1856 and located in Oregon township, Washington county. The mother was born in Tennessee and was there married. She spent her entire life in that state and there passed away in the year 1844, being laid to rest in the Big Spring cemetery. This couple were the parents of four children: Walker deceased ; Alexander, of this review ; Mary Jane and William E., both de- ceased. After the death of his first wife J. J. Henderson was again married, his second union being with Miss Tillie Allen. Unto them were born three children : Margaret O., deceased ; Elizabeth M., the wife of Samuel Sands, residing in Washington, Iowa: and Esther Caroline, the wife of James Sands, also of Washington, Iowa. The father of the family passed away in 1872 and was buried in the Ainsworth cemetery. His entire life had been devoted to farming interests.
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