USA > Iowa > Wright County > History of Wright County, Iowa, its peoples, industries and institutions > Part 41
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
Upon the close of the Civil War, Mr. Jones returned to lowa and settled in Benton county, where he purchased another eighty-acre farm. He added to this farm until he had one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land and two hundred acres of timber land. He was a successful stock- man while a resident of Benton county, and upon selling his hollings in
448
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
that county moved to Wright county in 1893. Upon coming to Wright county, in partnership with his children, he purchased eleven hundred acres of land and moved to a two-hundred-acre farm in Lincoln township. He lived on this farm continuously until 1903, when he moved to Clarion and retired from active life. He died in Clarion on January 10, 1905.
After moving to Benton county, lowa, Mr. Jones was married to Mary Irving, and to them were born five children, three sons and two daughters, Florence, Harry, Clarence, Jennie and Elmer. Florence, Jennie and Elmer are deceased. Harry married Esther Barnell, and lives near Austin, Minne- sota. They have seven children. Clarence married Nettie MeBeth and lives in Cedar Rapids. They have two children.
Mr. Jones' first wife died, and after her death he was married, secondly, in 1888, to Emma B. Metzger, the daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Ger- mar) Metzgar, who were farmers in the state of Ohio. Mrs. Jones was born in Illinois and there received her education. She was one of a family of six children born to her parents. No children were born to James M. and Emma B. ( Metzger ) Jones.
The late James M. Jones was a devout member of the Presbyterian church at Clarion. He was a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is politically identified with the Democratic party. James M. Jones was a good man and a good citizen, who worthily per- formed all of the duties of life, both public and private. At the time of his death he left, besides the members of his immediate family, a host of friends to mourn his loss.
JOHN K. SHEPLEE.
One of the most substantial farmers of Wright county is John K. Shep- lee who, because of his years of labor, is able now to live a life of compara- tive ease. Combining the occupations of farming and selling real estate, his success in both speaks well for his good management and steady application to the task he set himself to accomplish. John K. Sheplee, who has lived in this county since he was eight years old, was born in Burlington, Iowa, in September, 1863.
John K. Sheplee is a son of O. C. and Cordelia ( Ware ) Sheplee, both natives of Vermont, where the former engaged in agriculture until 1856 when he moved west and settled for a short time in Ohio. He engaged in mercantile business for several years in Burlington, lowa, and later became
MR. AND MRS. JOHN K. SHEPLEE.
449
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
a traveling man, his merchandise being boots and shoes which he sold for twelve years. In 1871 he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Grant township, this county, and having broken the sod erected an unpre- tentious house and a barn of the old-fashioned type and there he farmed until 1895. He then retired from active work and moved to Clarion where he died at the age of eighty-seven, having been born on January 14, 1828. Of the four children of Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Sheplee, three are living, these being W. W., George B. and John K. Henry, the youngest son, is deceased.
The boyhood life. of John Sheplee was not unlike that of other farmers' boys at that time. He went to school near his home and worked with his father on the farm until he became of age. He and his elder brother then bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Norway township and for eight years farmed in partnership. They then sold out, divided the profits and each took up farming independently. John Sheplee bought a farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Norway township and has increased his holdings until he now owns seven hundred and fifty acres in this county. The entire tract is drained with tile. While engaged in farming and stock raising, he disposed of from six to eight carloads of hogs and cattle each year, until his removal to Clarion, which occurred in 1911. He then took up the real-estate business.
In 1886 John K. Sheplee was married to Viola Waite, a daughter of George B. and Lucinda ( Babcock ) Waite. A family of six children grew up, two of whom are married. Edith, the eldest daughter, is now Mrs. E. E. Evans and her sister Winifred, born next, married Morrill King. The remaining children, John, Ruth, Esther and Kenneth, are at home. Mrs. Sheplee was born in Wisconsin, although her parents were natives of Maine. G. B. Waite engaged in the lumber business in his native state until his thirtieth year when he moved to Wisconsin, bought a farm and there pursued agricultural work for forty years. Moving then to this county, he farmed here for a few years, and on retiring moved to Clarion where he died in 1898, his wife passing away six years later. Of their eight children, four are now living.
Mr. and Mrs. John K. Sheplee are active members in the Congregational church, in whose work and worship they have been interested for many years. Mr. Sheplee votes with the Republican party. He was for six years county supervisor, an office which he filled with credit both to himself and to the commonwealth which he served.
(29)
450
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOW.I.
JOHN SPAVIN.
A native of England who in America demonstrated his loyalty to the country of his adoption as a soldier fighting for the preservation of the Union in the Civil War, and a man who in various ways had lived a life of interest and event, John Spavin is entitled to mention of his life and activi- ties in a work of this kind.
John Spavin was born in Yorkshire, England, on April 29, 1838, the son of William and Anna ( Green ) Spavin, both of whom were born and lived in Yorkshire during their entire life. William Spavin was land over- seer for Lord Longsbury, a position that William Spavin inherited from his father and a position that he retained until his death in England. Will- iam and Anna Spavin were the parents of seven children, two of whom are now living, and of these two, John Spavin is the only one living in America.
John Spavin was educated in his native land of England and after leaving school he became a shepherd boy, and had the care of about five thousand sheep for some time. He then took up the trade of a machinist, as an apprentice, for six months and then came to America and located at Rochester, New York, during the year 1857. Shortly following John Spavin went to Canada, north of the city of Toronto, where he assisted in the surveying of government land for the English government, for about two years, and then returned to the United States and located at Utica, New York, where he worked in a machine shop and learned the trade of a machinist. Three years later the War of the Rebellion broke out and John Spavin enlisted with a New York volunteer regiment, serving in this com- mand for three years, during which time he was engaged in the battle of the Wilderness and the battle of Shiloh. When mustered out of the service, at the end of the war, John Spavin returned to New York, and located at Elmira, where he remained for a short time and then went to Rockford, Illinois, and worked at his trade for five years, at the end of which time he found himself in failing health and consequently he went to the Indian Territory, where, for three years, he lived among the Indians. Later he went to Ft. Scott, Kansas, and followed his trade in railroad shops at that place for four years and then, during the year 1881, he went to lowa and located at Clarion, where for some years he engaged in general work, and for some time followed the business of tree planting. Afterwards John Spavin served as caretaker and janitor of school buildings for four years and then for the term of fourteen years he was janitor and custodian of the Wright county court house.
451
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOW.I.
During the year 1861 John Spavin was married to Mary Haydock, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Haydock, and to this union were born four children, two of whom died in infancy. Of those living, A. W. now lives at Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Charles H. lives in Sioux county, Iowa.
After an active and industrious life, John Spavin has retired from activity and lives alone at Clarion, his wife, Mary, having died in the month of September, 1912. The life of John Spavin has been a life of use and value to his country and to the various localities to which his affairs and his business have taken him. He is today one of the respected and honored men among that colony of retired citizens who are the pride of Wright county and of the town of Clarion. The political affiliation of John Spavin is with the Republican party, which he has served long and well. Mr. Spavin is a communicant of the Church of England.
RICHARD FRANCE.
.A glance at the life history of those men in any given locality who have acquired competency will indicate that such has been gained in the majority of cases by hard, grinding toil and concentration upon their tasks. Their good fortune has not been handed down by wealthy ancestors nor has it been presented as a gift. It has been carned. When these men have been farmers, their accumulation of wealth has been the result of "mixing brains with soil." It has not been the result of accident. Richard France belongs to this type of men, and a war record for bravery and loyalty is evidence that, in time of stress, he can be depended upon to do his part, and this at whatever personal sacrifice. Richard France, a retired farmer of Woolstock township. Wright county, lowa, was born on November 19, 1841, near Huddersfield, England, of which country his parents, Charles and Elizabeth ( Day) France, also were natives.
Charles France left his looms, for he was a weaver, in 1842, to locate in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, bringing with him his young wife and son, then a year old. lle here resumed his trade for a short time, but believing a better opportunity awaited him in woolen-mills, entered a factory in Akron, Ohio, remaining there until 1848, when he continued this line of work in Menasha. Wisconsin. He became weary of the long hours and indoor work, how- ever, and finally went to the farm, which he purchased with money accumu- lated by his hard work, and there spent the remainder of his life, his death
452
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
occurring on February 22, 1865. His widow lived until 1890. Richard and a sister named Mary Jane, who afterwards became Mrs. Jones, were the only children.
About the time young Richard finished a meager schooling his coun- try's existence was threatened, and he hastened to stand under the flag of Company C, Tenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, enlisting under Capt. A. J. Richardson, September 15, 1861. It was three years and two months later when this lad was, mustered out, the date being November 2, 1864. These years were years of strenuous action, for he saw many battles under the leadership of four famous generals, these being Generals Mitchell, Buell, Rosecrans and Sherman. His first skirmish was at Flint Rock bridge. Later followed the battles of Stone's River and Chickamauga and Sherman's historic campaign to Atlanta. He was a member of the famous Army of the Cumberland. After the battle of Stone's River, he served as a member of the commissary department until his time expired, and returned home, where he found that his assistance was needed on the farm.
Mr. France helped his father until the latter's death, after which he operated the farm for his mother until he moved to this county, in the spring of 1876. Attracted to Woolstock township, he purchased eighty acres in the northeast quarter of section 23, for which he paid eleven dollars an acre. Forty acres had already been plowed. and the rest he cultivated and improved and added to until he had acquired two hundred and forty acres, on which three thousand dollars was spent for improvements. He fed all of his grain to hogs and cattle. In 1897 Mr. France retired from active agricultural pursuits and took up his residence in Eagle Grove, where he and his family soon became identified with the local religious and social life.
Richard France and Laura Brown were united in marriage in 1867, the bride being the daughter of Chester F. and Mary Brown. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born seven children, these being Alma, Hattie, Ele- nora, Franke, Richard, Edith and Jesse. Alma became the wife of George Klass, and to this couple were born eight children, Harry, Lana, Verna, Fred, Mildred, Grace, Marjorie and Roy. Hattie married Andrew Baldner, and to them one child, Roy, was born. Elenora is Mrs. Frank Pringle, and is the mother of three children, Inda, Carlisle and Boneta. Franke married Bert Fisher, and to this couple were born four children, Harold, Zola, Donald and Robert. Edith became Mrs. Henry Donnally, and to her and her husband were born two children, Irma and Ardith. Richard became the husband of Mildred Thomas, and to them one child, Russell. was born.
453
WRIGHIT COUNTY, JOWA.
After the death of Mrs. Mildred ( Thomas ) France, Richard France mar- ried Mary Stanton, and to them a daughter, Mildred, was born. Jesse and her husband, Roy Frasier, are the parents of two children, Nadine and Harold. Mrs. Laura ( Brown ) France was born on April 9, 1850, in the state of New York, of which state her parents were also natives. Her father was a farmer in that state until he moved to Wisconsin, in 1854, and located in Winnebago county, continuing his vocation until he retired, and moved to Meenah, Wisconsin, where he died in 1897. His widow lived until 1913. Of their seven children six are still living, these being Mary, Laura, Frank, Inez, Elenora and Mertie.
Mr. and Mrs. France are prominent in the activities of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which the former is now. a trustee. Mr. France is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. Besides his own vocation, Mr. France has has taken a deep interest in public affairs and has given liberally of his time and thought to matters concerning civic welfare. During the entire period of his residence in Woolstock township, he was a mem- ber of the school board, and for a number of years was its secretary. For fifteen years he was township assessor, and for many years justice of the peace. From the years 1897 until 1907 he was county supervisor. Mr. France has for many years been a stanch Republican, believing strongly in the principles of the Republican party. But of all the organizations to which he belongs, perhaps that which touches his heart most deeply is the organiza- tion which keeps fresh in his memory the strife and victory which preserved this country a united nation. Of the membership constituting the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic none is more enthusiastic nor more loyal than the gentleman here mentioned. Mr. France is a member of William B. Griffith Post No. 465, of Eagle Grove, and is now its com- mander, having filled the same position a number of times previously. He has also been its adjutant or quartermaster and chaplain, and has filled all of these positions not as a matter of duty, but as a matter of heartfelt interest and personal pleasure.
If it is true that the organizer of a great business which gives employ- ment to many men or women is a useful citizen, may it not be said with equal truth that he who creates wealth by making the soil fruitful is also a benefactor? And it is likewise gratifying that Mr. France, who has been an industrious worker, is reaping the results of his toil in years of com- parative freedom from care. His useful life is a striking example of what energy and perseverance will do, but like many of his comrades who fought
454
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
for their country's flag, he no doubt regards the years of his military services the most important and the most fruitful of his life, for the reason that they were devoted to the canse of freedom.
FREDERICK J. LUICK.
Character of the highest class has been developed in the life and career of Frederick J. Luick, a noted farmer and cattleman, now retired, and banker of Belmond, Wright county, Iowa, who, from the small beginning of forty acres of land, has acquired three thousand acres, all located in Wright county, Iowa, besides a charming town home in Belmond. Freder- ick J. Luick is the son of Henry and Catherine Luick, and his birth occurred on August 20, 1839, on his father's farm, in Washtenaw county, Michigan. Henry Luick was a native of Germany, where he was married and where three of his children were born. With his wife and three sons, he immigrated to America and settled in Washtenaw county, Michigan, where he operated his farm, and in the time not occupied by the cultivation of the crops worked at his trade of carpenter and joiner. Ilis wife died in 1845 and two years later he remarried. From the time of purchase he resided on his farm until his death, in 1860. He was a member of the German Lutheran church and a Democrat in his political faith.
Henry Luick, with his family, and David Luick, who was then single, removed to lowa in 1853 and settled on the north side of Franklin grove, being among the first settlers of Wright county. In August, 1856, their sister, Catherine, joined them in Iowa, coming from the old home in Wash- tenaw county. Michigan, and in the late fifties she was married to Adrin Elder, whom she survived for many years, her death occurring in March, 1915. at the age of seventy-eight years. In the year following Catherine's arrival in lowa, the brother, William Luick, joined them, his arrival being on January 1, 1857. Transportation facilities were very poor, there being no way of reaching his destination other than by walking. this brave young man traveled afoot, from Dubuque, lowa. to the home of his brother. Henry, and arrived with toes, ears and nose frozen. This experience, never to be forgotten, took place during the most severe winter lowa had ever known.
Wonderful tales of the fertility of the soil and of future opportunities must have been sent back to Michigan by the first members of the Lnick
455
WRIGHIT COUNTY, IOWA.
family who came to Iowa, for one by one the remaining members migrated to this state until they were all united once more and became neighbors in the state of their adoption. Frederick J. Luick was the last child to leave his home in Michigan and seek his fortunes in Iowa, having arrived in 1857, the year of the Spirit Lake massacre, and amid the scenes of consequential excitement began his residence among new people and customs. Ile was at the impressionable age of seventeen at the time of this experience and was accompanied on the journey by Simeon Overacker and his family. For several years Frederick J. Luick made his home with his brother, Henry Lnick, but after David Luick was married, resided at his home.
In 1858, at the age of nineteen years, Frederick J. Luick purchased his first land, consisting of forty acres, in section 30, which he later traded for eighty acres farther north and located on the Pleasant township main road. and this, in turn, he traded into the old homestead of his brother, Henry Luick, on which stood the original log cabin, one of the first homes erected in the county of Wright. Through all of his agricultural operations, Fred- erick J. Luick has been interested in general farming and stock raising, and in this line has met with success.
In 1865 Frederick J. Luick was united in marriage to Alice Packard,' daughter of Edwin C. and Caroline ( Bailey ) Packard, and to this union four children were born : Albert, who died when four years of age; Edith, Chester P. and Harold Frederick. Edith was married to Samuel Lin- baugh, and to them were born these children: Beatrice, Frederick II., Eliza- beth, Samuel, Rogers and Louise, also Alice, who died when about the age of two years. Chester P. is single and lives at home with his parents on their place, which is located at West Bend, Jowa. Harold F. was married to Ella Furuseth, daughter of Christian I. and Minnie ( Nelson ) Furuseth, and is residing on the original farm, just southeast of Belmond, Iowa. They have one child, Muriel .1.
The "father and son movement," though not a formal organization as it is today, had its inception among the fathers and sons of yesterday, and the ties were just as strong and true as in the present day. Frederick J. Luick formed the business partnership between himself and his son, Chester P., and their relations have remained firm through all these years. The active work and management of the farm and stock interests have been as- sumed by Chester P. and Harold, the father now resting from his long life of well-concerted effort and arduous toil. Chester P. specializes in Polled Angus, Hereford and Durham cattle, while Harold specializes in Holstein
073.
456
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA.
cattle. Together they feed out annually. about twelve carloads of cattle and five carloads of hogs.
Frederick J. Luick is president of the Belmond Savings Bank and was for twenty years a member of the board of directors of the State Bank of Belmond. In his political faith, he is an earnest supporter of the Demo- cratic party, but his zeal has never carried him beyond his convictions and he has always claimed the inalienable right to vote for the best candidate, regardless of party machinery. Frederick J. Luick, through diligent seek- ing, has found and gathered many of life's beautiful flowers, and in the sev- enty-fifth year of his career he can look back over a well-spent life.
HON. W. T. R. HUMPHREY.
Time in its flight is fast claiming those faithful sons who fought so well and bravely for the Union during the Civil War, and an honest tribute to one of the survivors of that great struggle is but fitting and just in the face of past service and present influence, wielded for the advancement of the coming generation. True patriotism lies not in the mere willingness to bear arms but in the sincere desire and active execution of everything for the furtherance of human advancement. These are the requirements neces- sary for a true soldier and such a man is Hon. W. T. R. Humphrey, of Clarion. Wright county, lowa, veteran of the Civil War, now county abstractor. His services to the locality in which he lived, to his county which he has represented and to the nation for which he has fought, have been of the highest order.
W. T. R. Humphrey is the youngest and only surviving child born to the union of Robert Humphrey and Jane Robison, and his birth occurred on February 5. 1845, in Scott county, lowa. Robert Humphrey was born in 1798 in Wheeling, Virginia, and removed, with his parents, when a small boy to Jefferson county, Ohio, where he received his education. His father was a farmer and Robert Humphrey followed this vocation until his retire- ment. With his wife he removed to Parke county, Indiana, where he became interested in agricultural pursuits and continued to cultivate his land for twelve years. He then removed to Scott county, Jowa, where he pur- chased two hundred and forty-nine acres, also buying land in Louisa county, and these two places were cultivated until his removal to Davenport, Iowa, in 1871, at which time he retired and disposed of the farm. Later the par-
W. T. R. HUMPHREY.
457
WRIGHT COUNTY, IOW.A.
ents joined their son, James, in Poweshiek county, where they remained until the death of Jane ( Robison ) Humphrey, the wife and mother. After the death of his wife, Robert Humphrey made his home with his children until his death which occurred in 1891. To their union were born seven children.
The paternal grandfather of W. T. R. Humphrey was John Humphrey a farmer and a soldier of the Revolutionary War, who served under General Wayne during his service, and after the war received a large grant of land in payment for service rendered. He was of English descent but a native of Pennsylvania and after the war he removed to Ohio county, Virginia. lle was in the battle of Stony Point. In 1799 he began his residence in Jefferson county, Ohio, near the town of Warrenton, where he lived until his death. His wife, Elizabeth McKee, died when forty years of age.
The maternal grandfather of W. T. R. Humphrey was James H. Robison, a native of Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He remained in Mecklenburg county until after his marriage and then removed to Warren county, Ohio, in 1707. where he purchased government land. He cultivated this farm until his death in 1814. He served his country in the War of 1812 and while in service con- tracted disease that eventually caused his demise. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, his daughter, Jane, being the fourth child, and the mother of W. T. R. Humphrey.
W. T. R. Humphrey is indebted to the schools of Scott county, Iowa, for his early education, finishing at Griswold College, Davenport, lowa. Following his college days he assisted his father on the farm, having entire charge of the place for two years. Upon reaching his majority, he removed to Poweshiek county, lowa, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land which he cultivated for three years, teaching school during the winter months. Ever ambitions to achieve, this experience became only a stepping stone to higher things, and in 1871 he began to read law in Davenport, Jowa, and was there admitted to the bar after studying for two years. He practiced law in Davenport, lowa, until 1874, and at that time changed his location to Clarion, Iowa.
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.