USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa history, biographical > Part 5
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RESIDENCE OF ROBERT B. SMITH
campaign. Throughout the war it engaged in over one hun- dred battles and skirmishes. During the hostilities at Nash- ville the boys were out in all kinds of weather, and not a tent was pitched. The regiment captured two redoubts in that struggle, and marched after night with one thousand prison- ers to the Tennessee capital.
Robert Bankison Smith was twenty-two when he joined his fellow troopers at Davenport. He was twenty-six when he re- turned with the rank of third corporal and an honorable dis- charge in his pocket. It is fitting that his military record be here included as a part of this statement: Enlisted September 21, 1861; mustered in October 11, 1861; re-enlisted and re-
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mustered March 28, 1864; promoted seventh corporal Novem- ber 1, 1864; promoted fifth corporal February 12, 1865; pro- moted third corporal August 1, 1865; mustered out September 19, 1865, at Selma, Alabama. In his whole military career Corporal Smith was always found at his post at the sound of the bugle as well as at taps. He never lost a day in his four years' service. He is now, at seventy-two, the senior vice com- mander of Kirkwood Post, G. A. R., Iowa City, honored by his fellow citizens and beloved by his comrades.
The paternal ancestors of our subject were Scotch; the maternal, English. His parents were Daniel Smith and Ann Musgrave. The former was born in Columbia county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1763, and was a Quaker. In 1853, with a company of Friends, he and his family, consisting of wife and nine chil- dren, started overland for the west with a herd of standard- bred horses. They had two covered wagons and the family carriage. The trip lasted over six weeks, the company camping out at night. With the rest of the Society of Friends, they settled in Springdale township, Cedar county, Iowa. Daniel Smith lived to the advanced age of ninety-three, retaining his faculties to the last. Ile left the Friends Society when they began to have church troubles.
Our subject received a good comnon school education in Pennsylvania, which he supplemented after arrival in Iowa by attendance at the Friends' Seminary. At the age of twenty- one he rented his father's and brother's farms and began op- erations for himself. Just then, however, the Civil War broke out and the father was compelled to look after the growing crops so his son could respond to his country's call. On his return from the front in 1865, he again took up the business of agriculture, renting for one year. In 1866 he bought his present fine farm, then raw prairie, at $10.00 per acre. The place is now known as "Maple Hill Farm," and contains 320 acres of as fine land as can be found in the state, under a high state of cultivation, with the finest improvements, consisting of splendid residence and barns, well-water piped to all parts of the farm, woven wire fence enclosing the entire tract, a grove of maple trees four rods wide by forty rods long, planted in 1868, and other improvements. A conservative estimate places the value of the place at $200.00 per acre. In addition
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to this magnificent estate, Mr. Smith is the owner of rice land in the south, timber land in Oregon, and a splendid city resi- dence at 634 Summit avenue, Iowa City. The latter is modern throughout, contains electric lights, polished floors, outside screened sleeping rooms, and the latest patterns in furniture. Surely the determination which carried him through four years of war and one hundred engagements has served him well in the battle for home and material substance.
On February 25, 1868, he was married to Miss Ann B. Smith in Cedar county, Iowa. She was a daughter of John S. and Rachel (Beason) Smith, the latter a daughter of Richard Bea- son. John Smith was born in Pennsylvania and emigrated to Cedar county, Iowa, in the fall of 1863. There were six chil- dren in his family, including Ann, the wife of our subject. Mrs. Smith is a woman of culture and refinement, and has been a faithful helpmate throughout life's journey. Seven children were born to Robert Bankison and Ann B. Smith. The names of the living are: Ralph J., an attorney at Montezuma, Iowa, alumnus of S. U. I., married to Miss Addie Gray, of West Liberty, an artist of recognized ability, who has secured sev- eral premiums for crayon work and china painting - they have one daughter, Mary Frances; Horton, civil engineer, alumnus S. U. I., married Miss Alice Hepburn, of Des Moines, Iowa, May 27, 1911 ; Dr. Oakley, alumnus S. U. I., and gradu- ate of Naprapathy, head of American School of Naprapathy, Chicago, with offices at 126 State street.
Both Mr. Smith and his wife are direct descendants of Quaker ancestry, and both are Quakers in religion. Our sub- ject takes pride in the fact that neither he nor his sons have ever used liquor or tobacco. An old Quaker, on Corporal Smith's return from the war, asked him whether he drank or used tobacco during service, and expressed great surprise on receiving a negative answer.
One brother, Isaac, was also a soldier in the Civil War, but died in the army from sickness contracted during service. Our subject had to secure a permit to visit his brother in a hospital, forty miles distant. Thanks to a good horse he made the trip in time to see his brother before death. He attended to his burial, and afterwards secured the re-interment of his remains with the rest of his comrades in the National Cemetery at
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Corinth, Mississippi. The mother of our subject died in 1862, the same year as her son Isaac, above mentioned.
LEMUEL HUNTER
The crowning glory of Iowa is its vast acreage of cultivated, productive farms - at once the foundation of the state's wealth and the distinctive charm of its matchless landscapes. The stranger entering the portals of the commonwealth is im- mediately impressed, and his mind unconsciously reviews the procession of persistent, orderly industry which has brought into being this agricultural fabric so delightfully interwoven with the warp and woof of production and idealism. In this procession the plain, purposeful farmer takes the lead and carries the flag of progress. His is the heart that has throbbed continually with the love of Mother Earth and his is the spirit that has passionately wooed and won his goddess amid the passing seasons of blossom and harvest. Write high on the pages of the state's annals the names of its agriculturists who have so nobly wrought.
Lemuel Hunter's name should occupy an honorable place in these annals. From the time when he first entered the state in 1850 (then a lad of five years) until the date of his retirement in 1905 he lived and labored on the homestead originally lo- cated by his father and mother in the northwestern part of Scott township. There he secured a practical education at the rural school; there he learned those priceless lessons of thrift and industry essential to the highest success; there he wedded the companion of his life and labors and rejoiced with her amid the happy shouts of their children. There also he witnessed the departure of Father and Mother Hunter, full of years and good works, and gave them the benediction of a strong man's tears.
But all these years Lemuel Hunter and his wife were mind- ful of the obligations of life, and while they gave to their chil- dren the precious ministry of parenthood and to their relatives the homage of their love and respect, they remembered their duties to their neighborhood and to their state. Therefore they were found active in the work of their church (the Pres-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
byterian) and faithful in the discharge of the social obliga- tions of their community. Being a stanch democrat, Mr. Hunter religiously exercised his franchise in the interest of good government as he understood it.
The Lemuel Hunter family is marked by strong ancestral characteristics in both its principal branches. Adam Hunter, father of Lemuel, was an Irishman, born in 1796 in County Antrim, Balatratic Balamony, Ireland. At the age of eighteen he removed to America, and ten years later was married to Elizabeth Morrison at Little York, Pennsylvania. Following his marriage he located in Baltimore, Md., and was engaged
RESIDENCE OF LEMUEL HUNTER
for about three years in merchandising. In 1827 he removed to Trumbull county, Ohio, and soon after to Mahoning county, Ohio, where the subject of this sketch was born July 19, 1845. In 1850 the elder Hunter settled with his young family on the homestead in Scott township, Johnson county, Iowa, where he lived until December 18, 1876, when he was gathered to his fathers. His wife survived until February 6, 1890. Seven sons and four daughters crowned this faithful couple - all of whom grew to maturity: J. C., who died in May, 1908, formerly lived in Graham township; Andrew J .; William, a member of the 1st Iowa Cavalry, enlisting under Captain Carr, he was
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wounded at Chalk Bluff and died in the hospital at Cape Gi- rard; James, living in Boone, Iowa; Joseph, who died in Ida- ho in the winter of 1911; George; Lemuel; Nancy, married to Julius Hill; Rachel; Margaret, married to Wm. Ten Eick; Mary, married to W. W. Smith. One son, Andrew, gave his life on the wild western plains in defense of his pack train and was buried on a bleak mountain side in Idaho.
In his marriage, June 6, 1872, to Elizabeth A. MeCrory, Lemuel Hunter was doubly blessed - he gained a loving, faithful helpmate and companion and united with his own blood the strong characteristics of a remarkably virile family. Hon. Samuel H. MeCrory, father of Mrs. Hunter, was a Vir- ginian (born August 6, 1807) and combined the native graces of his famous state with the advantages of a splendid educa- tion. Prior to his settlement in the territory of Iowa in the spring of 1837, Mr. MeCrory achieved prominence at Peoria, Illinois, by establishing the first newspaper of that city, the Register. On arrival in Johnson county he located on govern- ment land in Section 13, East Lucas township. Here he erect- ed a log cabin, which in time was displaced by substantial buildings. This homestead, which he named Virginia Grove in honor of his native state, he transformed into a veritable garden, famous far and near for its beauty and productive- ness. In the activities and management of this ideal home, Mr. McCrory had an able companion in Elizabeth P. McCloud, to whom he was married at Iowa City, in 1841. (Miss MeCloud was born near Worthington, Ohio, and reared there, removing to Iowa City when a young lady.) Mr. McCrory occupied some positions of great trust. He was the first postmaster of Iowa City, and sometimes referred laughingly to the time when he carried the mail from Muscatine to Iowa City in his hat. He was a member of the convention which framed the first constitution of Iowa, and in 1855 was a member of the state legislature. He was register of the Claim Association, and drafted the first code of laws. He was appointed by Judge Erwin as clerk of Wisconsin territory, but never served. One of the exploits of his early manhood to which he proudly re- ferred was that of assisting to lay out the road from Musea- tine to Iowa City. He was a stanch Presbyterian, and a good supporter of the church. In politics he was formerly a whig
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
and later a democrat. Mr. MeCrory was the father of thirteen children, eleven of whom survived to mature years. Their names are: Elizabeth, wife of Lemuel Hunter; John, of Law- rence, Kansas; Virginia, wife of L. H. Jackson, Denver; Es- ther, wife of George Hunter (brother of Lemuel) ; Georgia, wife of C. H. Lee, Boise, Idaho; Charles R., of Ireton, Iowa; Carrie P., residing at the old home, Virginia Grove; Lucy S., now Mrs. Thos. Hitchcock, of Tacoma, Wash .: Hortense G., now Mrs. J. H. Grover, of St. Paul, Minn .; Geo. W., of Atlan- tic, Iowa; Glenn W., living also at the old homestead. Mr. McCrory died March 11, 1878. His wife survived him twenty- three years.
The six children of Lemuel and Elizabeth (McCrory) Hun- ter are living, with the exception of Lemuel A., an alumnus of the University of Iowa, who died at the age of twenty-two. The surviving sons are Charles R., William H., Samuel A., and Bion P., the three youngest of whom are married and reside in Johnson county. Elizabeth A., the only daughter, resides at home.
On a beautiful site on North Linn street, in Iowa's Uni- versity City, stands the residence of this honored retired farm- er. The past, redolent with the records of home, love, and duty, is an open book sacred and cherished; the future bears no cloud before the vision of this honored man and wife as, amid the charms of the home of their golden years, they look forward to catch a glimpse of the faces long gone, framed in the purple memories of the yesterdays.
FREDERICK HILLMAN POWELL EDWARDS
Dr. F. H. P. Edwards came to America from his native city of Liverpool, England, when twenty-two years of age. His father was Alex. Cahoun Edwards, of Liverpool. The date of his birth was October 28, 1865, and he left Liverpool in De- cember, 1887, arriving in Iowa City in 1888. So far as he knows he is the only representative of his family in the United States. Dr. Edwards was educated at Farndon Hall Academy, Chester. On arrival in America, he supplemented his classical attainments by a course in the Ontario Veterinary College, of
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Toronto, Ontario, graduating in the class of 1889. Since that time he has been actively engaged as a veterinary physician and surgeon in Iowa City. He is recognized as one of the leading veterinarians in the state, and his judgment of horses and diagnoses of disease are considered invaluable. His ser- vices are frequently in demand for consultation.
Dr. Edwards owns one of the best equipped barns and hos- pitals for veterinary purposes in the state. His plant is lo- cated on the rear of the lot, corner East Burlington and South Dubuque streets, on which his family residence stands. The equipment is complete in every respect for the proper care and
RESIDENCE OF F. H. P. EDWARDS
treatment of sick or injured animals. The doctor is a member of the Veterinary Medical Association of Iowa, and served as its president one term. He is assistant state veterinarian also.
Dr. Edwards's wife was formerly Miss Katie Emma Jones, daughter of George E. Jones, of Iowa City. The latter was born July 5, 1843, at Herefordshire, England, and was one of fifteen children of James and Sarah Jones. Mr. Jones was educated at Herefordshire and taught in the public schools of his native place. In January, 1869, he started for the United States with his young wife, Ann Jones, a native of Shropshire,
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
to whom he was married October 24, 1868. The young couple came direct to Iowa City, where Mr. Jones immediately secured employment with the Rock Island railroad as a car repairer. He continued in this business for twenty years. Thereafter, in 1889, he took up gardening, a favorite occupation. He bought one acre and made a specialty of raising vegetables, especially cauliflower and tomato. In a single season he has transplanted as many as 20,000 plants. On this one acre he has cherry, plum, and apple trees and 300 grape vines representing eight varieties. It is a common thing for Mr. Jones to aver- age $1,500 a year profit from his acre of garden. He has been engaged continuously on the same place for twenty-two years, and is proud of the fact that he has been a resident of the fifth ward of Iowa City for forty-two years, in which also he is a voter, having taken out his naturalization papers two years after his arrival in Iowa City. Dr. Edwards's wife is the only daughter of Ann Jones, the first wife of George E. Jones. Her mother died October 22, 1900, from diphtheria, contracted while on a visit in Chicago. Mr. Jones married again, choosing as his second wife Miss Minnie E. Saunders, daughter of Theodore and Mary E. Saunders, of Chicago. One son is the first fruit of this marriage, George Jones, Jr., born December 11, 1908.
The children of Dr. Edwards and Kate Emma Jones are two in number: Adalaide, and May. The family reside very happily in the doctor's beautiful home, southeast corner of South Dubuque and East Burlington. They are attendants at the Protestant Episcopal church.
Dr. Edwards is past exalted ruler of the B. P. O. E., 1905- 06, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is also a member of the Masonic order. Blessed with a beautiful family, honored by the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens, and in possession of a splendid practice in his profession, he is entitled to rank as one of the successful men of Iowa City.
MAJOR GEORGE W. BALL, JR.
George W. Ball, Jr., was born in Iowa City, Iowa, February 16, 1881. He has always been a resident of this place. He
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BIOGRAPHICAL
attended the public schools, graduated from the high school in the class of 1897, and entered the Liberal Arts Department of the State University of Iowa, graduating in 1901. He con- tinued his study in the Department of Law, graduating with the class of 1903. In 1905 he associated with his father in the firm of Baker, Ball and Ball. Since the death of Mr. Baker, in 1910, the firm has been constituted as Ball and Ball, father and son.
Mr. Ball's father, George W. Ball, Sr., was born near Fair- field, Jefferson county, Iowa, June 7, 1847. His mother, Es- tella E. (Walter) Ball, was born in Henry county, Iowa. Both parents reside in Iowa City, Iowa. He has two brothers and
RESIDENCE OF GEORGE W. BALL, JR.
one sister, he being the eldest of the family. One brother, Henry Moffett, was born in Iowa City, February 23, 1883. He attended the high school in Iowa City, and the Academy for two years, and for two years studied civil engineering in the State University.
He is at present conducting a ranch in Montana. The other brother, Walter MeDowell, is a twin of the former. He gradu- ated from the Academy, spent two years in the Liberal Arts Department of the State University, and completed the course in law in the Law School of the same institution. He is now located at Fort Benton, Montana, where he practices his pro-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
fession and in addition conducts a title and abstract office. His sister, Edith B. Macbride, was born November 29, 1887. She graduated from the high school and from the State University, and was instructor in public speaking in the State University. She is residing in Seattle, Washington. Her husband is the son of Professor T. II. Macbride, of Iowa City.
George W. Ball, Jr., was married June 29, 1905, to Maude H. Young, who was born in Johnson county, Iowa, December 6, 1881. She attended the State University of Iowa and was also a student in Oberlin college. Her father, Dr. Miller Young, is now residing at Young's Crossing, Iowa. He is a graduate of three medical colleges. Her mother, Iowa M. Ray, was born in Johnson county, Iowa, and was one of the pioneer residents of the county. She died October 27, 1909. Her brothers and sisters are: William W., born on the old home- stead, in Johnson county; Henry M., born at the same place, both residing in Madison township, on parts of the home place ; Blanche Myers, born on the same place, residing at Blessing, Texas ; Iowa Madge Macy, born on the old homestead, residing at Adel, Iowa, married Clarence S. Macy. All at- tended the State University of Iowa.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ball have been born one daughter, Virginia H. Ester, January 27, 1907, and one son, George W. III, born January 4, 1910.
In politics Mr. Ball is a democrat.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Ball are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Iowa City. He owns a home in Iowa City at 325 Summit street.
Mr. Ball is major in the 54th Inf. I. N. G. His past record, a captain of the State University of Iowa Cadets in 1900, sec- ond lieutenant of Company I of the 50th, in 1900-1903, first lieutenant of Company I of 54th, in 1903-1904, captain from May 9, 1904, until March 18, 1909, major, March 18, 1909, until the present date. He was a private in Company I, 50th I. N. G., previous to this time.
He is a member of Iowa City lodge No. 4, A. F. & A. M., of Corinth No. 24, K. P., of Iowa City, and of the M. W. A., Camp No. 189, of Iowa City, and also of the Phi Delta Theta Fra- ternity, of Iowa City, and of the B. P. O. E. No. 590, of Iowa
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City. He is also a member of the F. O. E., No. 695, of Iowa City.
Mr. Ball is a young man of sterling qualities. He has been successful, first as a student, second as a practitioner, and last as a citizen, one who is ever ready to aid in any beneficent pub- lic enterprise.
PAUL A. KORAB
The subject of this sketch, Paul A. Korab, is a native of Linn county, Iowa, where he was born July 30, 1857. His parents, Paul and Katherine (Makovsky) Korab, were both natives of Bohemia and left their native land for the new world in 1854. Their first stopping place was in Chicago, then a small frontier town. After a short stay there, they journeyed on to Racine, Wisconsin, where the father was taken sick and they were delayed until his recovery when they bought an ox team and drove through to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The journey was slow and tedious and in great con- trast to present means of travel. They settled first in the northern part of Linn county half a mile east of Western college where they remained until 1866 when they removed into Jefferson township, in Johnson county. The father died February 2, 1877, aged 58 years. The mother remained on the farm until 1905. She is now living at Western, Iowa, at the age of eighty-one years.
Paul A. Korab grew to manhood on the old homestead farm, attended the common schools and was a student at the United Brethren college at Western, Iowa, where he fitted himself for teaching school and for some time he was engaged in teaching schools in the northern part of the county. He was elected township clerk and trustee for Jefferson township and served in these offices for several years. In 1883 he came to Iowa City and was appointed deputy clerk of the district and circuit courts of Johnson county, remaining in that position for seven years. In November, 1892, he was elected clerk of the courts, which office he held for four years. Previous to this, or in 1891, he had entered the law department of the State University of Iowa, from which he graduated and was admitted to the bar of Iowa in 1893. In 1893, while pursuing
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
his studies in the law department, he assumed the duties of his office as clerk of courts, holding the office through his term in college. To do this required long hours, working much of the time over twenty hours per day. This, of course, was a severe strain and sometimes it seemed to him that he would be com- pelled to give up his studies, but with a determination that knew no turning he fought his way through. He served two terms as clerk of courts, and remained one year in the office assisting his successor after his last term had expired. In September, 1897, he started into the practice of law, and in
RESIDENCE OF PAUL A. KORAB
1898 became cashier of the Iowa City State bank which posi- tion he has held ever since.
He served three years as member of the Board of Education in Iowa City, holding the important post as chairman of build- ing and grounds committee, during which time the present high school building was erected. He also served for two terms as member and secretary of the first Board of Park Commission- ers of Iowa City, during which time funds were raised and the present city park was selected and purchased. He is now the treasurer of The State Historical Society of Iowa and also
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BIOGRAPHICAL
treasurer of the Alumni Bureau of Information of the State University.
Mr. Korab was married April 26, 1886, to Mary A. Dobrov- sky, whose parents came to America from Bohemia at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Korab are the parents of one son, Edward P. Korab, born June 24, 1888, now a student in the liberal arts department of the State University.
In his social connections Mr. Korab is a member of the C. S. P. S. Society, a Bohemian fraternal order. He votes the demo- cratic ticket. His residence at 729 North Linn street is a cozy, comfortable home.
Mr. Korab is an example of what can be accomplished by persistent energy and determination, and demonstrates the fact that any young man of fixed purposes, honesty, and self-reli- ance can make his way in the world and attain success and respectability.
ALBERT M. GREER
Among the old and respected families of Iowa City is that of Albert M. Greer, son of Patrick and Emily E. (Guffin) Greer, the latter being pioneers of Johnson county. Patrick Greer emigrated to the United States when a boy of twelve, making the voyage in an old sailing vessel, and landing at New York City, where he learned the tailor's trade. He worked as a journeyman about seven years, and then em- barked in business for himself in New York City. Later he was associated with parties in Albany, New York. During his residence in the latter city he took a course in the public schools. He there met Miss Emily E. Guffin, who became his wife, the ceremony being performed in Albany. In 1855 Mr. Greer and his young wife came west to Iowa City, and as that was prior to the railroad, the journey was made in part by the primitive methods of transportation. Mr. Greer opened his first store two doors north of the present location of Albert M. Greer's jewelry store. He erected a building on the site and began business as a merchant tailor. He continued in this business until his death in 1894. He occupied an honorable place in the estimation of his friends, being accounted one of
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