Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 114

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1360

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Born in Jefferson county, Ohio, October 25, 1830, the Doctor is a son of Henry and Eliza (Barnett) Miser, the former a native of North- umberland county, Pennsylvania, and the lat-

ter of the north of Ireland. The grandfather, Henry Miser, was descended from one of the old Knickerbocker families of New York, which was founded by Holland ancestors in the Mo- hawk valley long before the Revolutionary war. The Doctor's father removed from Pennsyl- vania to Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1802, and entered from the Government a section of land, upon which he spent his remaining days. He was twice married, his first union being with Drusilla Edgington, who died in 1827, leaving two children, -Alexander and Eliza, the latter the wife of William Woodward. In 1828 Mr. Miser wedded Miss Eliza Barnett, by whom he had five children: Thomas, Henry W., Margaret J., David F., and Samuel. . Thronghout his life he carried on agricultural pursuits, and his death occurred at his Ohio home in 1834, at the age of thirty years.

Our subject was only four years of age at the time of his father's death. He acquired his literary education in the public schools, and, determining to engage in the practice of medi- cine as a life work, he entered a medical school of Cincinnati, Ohio, and in the fall of 1863 came to the West. Here he entered the Keo- kuk Medical College to complete his studies, and was graduated in that institution with the class of 1864. It now devolved upon him to secure a location, and on the 8th of August he came to Lovilia, where he opened an office, and has since been engaged in practice. He soon secured a liberal patronage, and has al- ways done a good business, for his skill and ability command the public confidence.

On the 17th of June, 1869, the Doctor was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Dever- eaux, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Lewis and Rosanna (Blodgett) Devereaux. They have no children of their own, but have two adopted daughters, to whom they have given a home, surrounding them with tender care and attention. They are Anna Masters and Jennie Stuart.

The Doctor holds membership with the State Medical Society, also the Des Moi nes

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Valley Medical Association, and the Bussey District Medical Society. With one exception he is the oldest physician in years of continu- ous practice in the county, and stands high in his profession. When he left college he by no means abandoned study, but has continued his research and investigation through all these years, and has therefore won a reputation that is indeed enviable, and which he well deserves. He is entirely a self-made man, having started out in life as a farm hand, working for $8 per month in the county of his nativity. He, however, saved his earnings, and when he had acquired a sufficient sum pursued his college education. Although he has never amassed a large fortune, he is now in comfortable cir- cumstances and has a pleasant home, and a large practice which extends into northern Monroe and a part of Marion and Mahaska counties. Socially he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. In his religious belief he is a Presby- terian, but his wife holds membership with the Methodist Church. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and feels a deep in- terest in its success, but has never been a poli- tician in the sense of office-seeking.

EORGE W. BECKLEEN. - The Swedes-that God-fearing and loyal people-form a large element of our national life, our glorious American republic; and here, as in the old country, their predominant characteristic is kindli- ness, from which source spring their hos- pitality, their courtesy and their generosity. And this element has spread itself over various portions of the Union. Here in Iowa it is well represented. Among the respected citizens of Colfax township, Dallas county, who claim Sweden as their birth-place is found George W. Beckleen, with whose name we are pleased to introduce this sketch.

He was born on a farm near Stockholm, March 9, 1863, seventh in order of birth of the ten children of Peter and Annie (Neilson)

Beckleen, and when six years of age accom- panied his parents and other members of the family to America, their objective point being Henry county, Illinois. Peter Beckleen was a tailor by trade. He was well-educated and had mastered the English language, and as wages were low he was compelled to teach school by day and work at his trade by night in order to " make both ends meet." After a residence of about eight years in Henry county, he and his family moved to Fulton county, the same State, where he died in 1881, at the age of fifty-two years. His widow is still a resident of Fulton county, and is now fifty- eight years of age.

When they had been in this country two years, George W., then only eight, relieved his father of the responsibility of his support by securing a place to work for his board and clothes. That was on a Henry county farm owned by Miss Kate Hawson. He remained there three years. Subsequently he returned to his parents, but while he lived with them he worked out on neighboring farms for about ten years, removing with his parents to Fulton county. Then he took charge of a water sta- tion on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad, filling this place two years, and next we find him in what is now North Dakota, where he ran a steam thresher one year. From there he went to Minneapolis, Minne- sota, and the next year and a half worked on the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad. At the expiration of this time he came to Dallas county, Iowa, and turned his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, in which he has since been engaged, his present location being on section 28, Colfax township.

November 25, 1887, Mr. Beckleen mar- ried Mrs. Flick, widow of Edwin Flick, who died in 1885, leaving her with three children. Two of these childrenare still living: Lizzie and Abbie. Mrs. Beckleen's maiden name was Solada Stone, and she is a native of Greene county, New York. They have one child, Orlo, born January 9, 1889.

Politically Mr. Beckleen affiliated with the

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Democratic party until after President Cleve- land's first administration, when he became identified with the Republican party and has since given it his support. He has held the office of School Director. Fraternally he maintains a membership in Friendship Lodge, No. 96, I. O. O. F., at Adel. Adel is his post-office address. Both he and his most estimable wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

S AMUEL A. COREY, secretary and treasurer of the Hiteman Supply Com- pany, also treasurer of the Wapello Coal Company of Hiteman, is an energetic, wide-awake business man, and well deserves mention among the leading citizens of Monroe county. He was born in Jefferson county, Iowa, on the 12th of September, 1861, and is a son of Erick and Maria (Johnson) Corey, both of whom were natives of Sweden. In youth they came to America, were here married, and are now residents of Fairfield, Iowa, where the father operates a gristmill. They have four children: Oscar R., a drug- gist of Hiteman, who married Miss Jessie Williams, a native of Iowa; Laura C., wife of Rev. J. F. Ahlin, who is living in Centerville, Iowa; Minnie M., at home; and the subject of this review, who is the eldest of the family.

Under the parental roof Samuel A. Corey was reared to manhood, and his primary edu- cation, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by study in Parsons College, of Fairfield. He then entered upon his business career as clerk in a hardware store in Fairfield, where he spent one year. On the expiration of that period he entered the Burlington Busi- ness College, completing the course in 1881, and subsequently engaged in bookkeeping for a firm in Fairfield until December, 1883. At that time he went to Kirkville, and for four years was bookkeeper in the employ of the Kirkville Supply Company, after which he came to Hiteman to accept his present posi- tion. He is a sagacious and energetic young

business man and has contributed in no small measure to the success of the institutions with which he is connected.

On the 22d of September, 1887, was con- summated the marriage of Mr. Corey and Miss Deborah Slutts, daughter of Theophilus Slutts. Both Mr. and Mrs. Corey hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have many friends throughout the community. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, but has never aspired to public office. He is popular with all who know him, has the confidence and regard of his business associ- ates, and is a valued citizen of Hiteman.

ATHANIEL NISH, a prosperous and highly respected farmer of Boone township, Dallas county, Iowa, and a veteran of the late Civil war, is a representative citizen of his community, and as such is entitled to some personal considera- tion on these pages. Mr. Nish is of Scotch birth and parentage and possesses all of the sterling characteristics of his countrymen.

He was born January 10, 1845, in Wig- tonshire, Scotland, and on the same farm on which his father, grandfather and great-grand- father were reared. He now has in his pos- session an expense book which was kept by his grandfather and great-grandfather. In the spring of 1852 Mr. Nish's father left his native heath and emigrated with his family to Amer- ica, their first location here being on a farm near Auburn, New York, where they main- tained their residence four years, removing thence to Illinois. In McHenry county, Illi- nois, the father bought another farm, and on it made his home for a number of years. He is now living retired in Wauconda, Illinois. Nathaniel was on the verge of young manhood at the time the war cloud gathered and burst upon the country, and in the second year of the war-in April, 1862-he enlisted in Com- pany C, Sixty-ninth Illinois Regiment. Octo- ber [, that same year, he was honorably discharged, and in June of the following year

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he re-enlisted, this time in Company I, Ninety- fifth Illinois Infantry, and remained on duty until the war was practically over. His final discharge was received at Springfield, Illinois, August 17, 1865.

After the war Mr. Nish turned his attention to railroading. From 1865 until 1870 he was connected with the Northwestern Railroad, and in the latter year he bought the farm upon which he now lives. This farm comprises 190 acres and is located on section 4, Boone town- ship, Dallas county, Waukee being the nearest post-office. The years 1870 and 1871 he spent in traveling and prospecting in the Rocky moun- tains. Late in the latter year he returned to his land purchase, settled down to farming, and here he has since lived and prospered.

Mr. Nish was married in April, 1872, to Miss Agnes Milroy, whose untimely death oc- curred April 26, 1879. November 30, 1880, he wedded Miss Margaret Milroy, a cousin of his first wife. Mr. Nish has an only child, Mrs. May Moore, widow of Watson Moore, and she and her little child, named John, re- side with her father. Mrs. Moore was born April 25, 1874, and in February, 1892, was united in marriage to Watson Moore, whose death occurred in September, 1894.

ENRY DURKES is a well known and highly esteemed farmer of Adel town- ship, Dallas county, Iowa. He was born on the 27th of November, 1848, and is the third in order of birth in the family of four children, whose parents were Valentine and Catherine (Brown) Durkes. His parents were both born and reared in Hessen Darm- stadt, Germany, although at the time of the father's birth, in 1814, that country was under French rule. In the fall of 1865 they left the Fatherland and with their family crossed the broad Atlantic to the New World. They made their way direct to Dallas county, Iowa, and located in Adel township, where the father successfully carried on agricultural pursuits

until his death, on the 2 1st of May, 1878. He left seventy-eight acres of land to his widow, which his sons have since farmed in connec- tion with the operation of their own private lands. The eldest son, Adam, lives with his mother on the old homestead. He was born February 8, 1844, and now owns and operates 120 acres of rich and arable land. The daugh- ter, Katherine, was born August 18, 1846, and married Peter Durkes, a son of a half-brother of Valentine Durkes. They reside in Dallas county, Iowa, and have a family of five chil- dren. Henry Durkes is the next in order of birth, and the youngest is William, who was born August 27, 1851, and married Ida Wais- ner October 28, 1878, and now has four chil- dren, namely: Emma, born December 16, 1879; Fannie, December 24, 1881; Maud, March 29, 1887; and Otto, January 7, 1890.

Mr. Durkes of this review remained under the parental roof during his minority, and ac- companied the family on their emigration to America. Throughout his entire life he has followed agricultural pursuits. In 1884 he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Drescher, a native of Ohio, born October 25, 1856. Four children came to bless this union: Walter, who was born February 19, 1886; Alma, born March 29, 1887; Bertha, born July 14, 1889; and Emily, born May 26, 1892.

The Durkes brothers carry on their busi- ness interests together, and are now operating 520 acres of land. Our subject owns 120 acres, his brother Adam 120 acres, and Will- iam 180 acres. They are men of good busi- ness and executive ability, and to-day rank among the leading agriculturists of Dallas county.

J OHN H. MILLS is one of the most popular and highly esteemed residents of Dallas county, and has been promi- nent in political and journalistic affairs. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, Octo- ber 31, 1847.

His father, Milton L. Mills, was a native

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of Tennessee, born near Knoxville, in June, 1814. In that year his parents removed to Economy, Indiana, where the grandfather, Moses Mills, engaged in the dry-goods business with a fair measure of success until his death in 1828. Milton then at once took his father's place in the store, looking after the interests of his widowed mother until 1832, when he was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Locke, who was at that time visiting her brother in Indiana. Her father, John Locke, was a prominent horse dealer of Tennessee and owned a large number of slaves. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Dolen and was a daughter of John Dolen, who came from Ireland to Tennessee when a child of five years. At the advanced age of ninety-five Mr. Locke lost his mind, and was taken to the home of his grandson, Mr. Mills, in East Linn, Iowa, where he died May 10, 1870, at the age of ninety-seven years. The father of our sub- ject was a member of the Friends' Church, and died in Redfield, Iowa, in April, 1889. His wife passed away December 1, 1887, having been identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifty-five years.

The subject of this review attended the district schools of East Linn during his early childhood. His parents removed to Dallas county in May, 1856, locating on section 23, Linn township. There he remained until Christmas Day, 1864, when he ran away from home, walking to Des Moines, where he arrived in the evening. This unfilial act, however, was prompted by patriotism. His parents be- lieved him too young to enter the service, but on that memorable Christmas night he joined Company H, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, which was sent from Des Moines to New York city, and there boarded a steamer that sailed for Savannah, Georgia. He joined Sherman's army there January 10, 1865, and a week later the troops started in pursuit of General John- ston, whom they overtook in the Carolinas, forcing him to surrender at Raleigh. Mr. Mills then inarched with his company to Washington, District of Columbia, where he was transferred

to Company C, Seventh Iowa Infantry, for the term of his old regiment had expired. After participating in the grand review in Washing- ton he went with the Seventh Iowa to Louis- ville, Kentucky, where, on the 12th of July, 1865, he was honorably discharged.

On the Ist of August, following, Mr. Mills once more arrived at his home, after an absence of about eight months, and entered actively upon the duties of farm life. He carried on agricultural pursuits until May, 1889, when he removed to Redfield, where he has since made his home. His father died about two weeks later, naming John as executor of the estate. When the business connected therewith was settled up, at the urgent request of many friends, he purchased the Redfield Star, a small sheet of 225 subscribers, and changed its name to the Redfield Clipper. In less than eighteen months it was made the official paper of Dallas county, and had a very large patron- age. He continued to edit and publish this until March 1, 1894, when he sold to C. G. Brown. His journalistic career was a very successful one, and his ability for this line of work was very evident.

Mr. Mills has always taken quite an active part in political affairs from the time of attain- ing his majority. At the age of twenty-eight he ran for the nomination, on the Republican ticket, for the office of Sheriff of Dallas county, and lost the nomination by only seven votes. On the Ist of March, 1884, he was appointed to the railway mail service by Iowa's noted Senator, W. B. Allison, with headquarters at Weiser, Idaho. Subsequently he was trans- ferred to the Chicago & Northwestern road, and ran from Cedar Rapids to Council Bluffs. Later on he was on the run from Des Moines to Fonda, and while thus employed Grover Cleveland entered the executive chair, and he was in consequence obliged to give up his position. When in Linn township he served as School Director for a period of twelve years; was also Constable and Town Assessor, and is at present a member of the School Board at Redfield. In everything pertaining

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to the upbuilding and welfare of the commu- nity he takes a deep interest.

On the 15th of September, 1867, Mr. Mills was united in marriage with Miss S. A. Duck, of Linn township, Dallas county, and to them have been born six sons, as follows : Roscoe R., Claude C., Milton L., George M., Paul V. and Clipper R., the last mentioned being named for the paper which his father formerly pub- lished. Mr. Mills and his wife own 250 acres of valuable land in this county, ninety acres of which is underlaid with as fine coal and stone as can be found in this section of the State. It is now being operated for these commodities, a railroad has been built to the place, and there is a large stone crusher which was in active operation during the summer of 1894. Mr. Mills is now engaged with his son, R. R. Mills, in stock-raising.

His career is in many respects exemplary, and he is widely known as an upright, honora- ble man. In manner he is exceedingly pleas- ant and genial, with a kind and encouraging word for all, and is a whole-souled gentleman, whose circle of friends is limited only by the circle of his acquaintances.

ON. MATT PARROTT .- This gen- tleman has been identified with the history of Iowa both as a journalist and statesman. Coming to Iowa forty years ago a poor boy, with his own way to make in the world, he has so lived as to win the confidence and high regard of all, and to-day he occupies the second position within the gift of the people of the State, being the honored Lieutenant Governor.

Mr. Parrott was born in Schoharie, Scho- harie county, New York, on the IIth of May, 1837, and is a son of William and Maria (Beck) Parrott, who were natives of England and came to this country in 1833, locating in Albany, New York, where they remained two years, when they removed to Schoharie. The father was a baker by trade, and had a large family of ten children to care for. Being in

limited circumstances, he had no capital to give them, but provided each with fair educa- tional advantages, fitting them all for the practi- cal duties of life. Our subject was the third of the family. He attended the district school until ten years of age and then spent three years as a student in the Schoharie Academy, paying his way by building fires and sweeping the school-rooms: He thus acquired a fair English education, but had no marvelous lik- ing for hard study and exhibited no signs of superior genius by keeping uniformly at the head of his classes. The school of experience, however, had in store for him many valuable lessons, many of which were easily learned, while others were dearly gained.

In the autumn of 1850, when a lad of thir- teen, Mr. Parrott first became connected with newspaper work, securing a situation in the office of the Schoharie Patriot, then published by Peter Mix. The business proved one to his taste, and he thoroughly enjoyed reading the many newspapers around the office, the periodicals which he found in his parents' home being a country paper, a church monthly and an anti-slavery monthly. In the office of the Patriot our subject acted as com- positor, job printer, pressman, mailing clerk and almost everything else. At length his ap- prenticeship was completed and in 1854 he started out as a journeyman. He first ob- tained a situation in the job department of the Traveler, published at Troy, New York, where he remained for a few months. He then re- turned to his native town and worked in the Republican office until early in 1855, when he went to Utica and obtained a situation on the Morning Herald.

In July. 1856, he started westward, and for a few weeks was employed on the force of the Chicago Democrat, published by a noted character of the West, -John Wentworth. In August, however, he removed to Iowa, and worked in the office of the Evening News, of Davenport, until the Ist of February, 1857, when he connected himself with the office of Luse, Lane & Company, who were then print-

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ing the debates of the convention formulating a new constitution. The following summer he visited several Iowa counties with the hope of finding a favorable location for a newspaper, but in this failed, and in consequence accepted a situation on the force of the Burlington Hawkeye. He desired, however, to engage in business on his own account, and in December, 1857, went to Anamosa, Jones county, and en- tered into partnership with C. L. D. Crock- well in the publication of the Eureka, a paper then in its first year. A year or two after- ward Mr. Crockwell sold a half interest to Ed- mund Booth, with whom Mr. Parrott was · associated until December, 1862, when, hav- ing received flattering promises from the citi- zens of Morris, Grundy county, Illinois, he sold out and started the Morris Advocate, early in 1863. The help promised never came, and after a few months' hard struggle, occasioned by the lack of sufficient working capital, the paper ceased to exist and the unfortunate pub- lisher returned to Iowa, a poorer but a wiser man. He learned that promises are not the most reliable assets on which to found busi- ness.

In the autumn of 1863 we find Mr. Parrott once more in the office of Luse, Lane & Com- pany, and he was given the position of fore- man of what was then the largest job-printing and publishing house in the State. He re- mained in that situation until 1869, perfecting himself in book work and giving unqualified satisfaction. In February of that year, in company with J. J. Smart, he purchased the office of the Iowa State Reporter at Waterloo, Black Hawk county, a paper originated as a Democratic organ but which had existed as such only eight months. Two months later it was revived as a Republican paper. The new firm added to it a bindery in June and entered actively into the manufacture of blank books. From the beginning they did a good business. Their trade rapidly increased, and to-day there is hardly a county in the northern half of the State that does not use books with the imprint of the Parrott House upon them. The work is

first-class in every particular and Mr. Parrott has personally superintended much of it, seeing that all has been accomplished as the business of a high-class house should be done. The newspaper has also prospered and stands among the best in the State of Iowa, which is noted for its many first-class journals. The original partnership continued until 1872, when James L. Girton was admitted to an interest in the business and the firm name was changed to Smart, Parrott & Company. In January, 1876, the senior member retired, and on ad- mitting J. P. Sherman to the firm the name of Parrott, Girton & Sherman was assumed. On the Ist of March, 1880, Mr. Sherman retired and the firm became Parrott & Girton, thus continuing until the latter's death, on the Ist of March, 1883. Mr. Parrott was then alone in business until the 21st of February, 1884, when he admitted to the firm his sons, William F. and Louis G., under the present style of Matt Parrott & Sons.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 114

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1360

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1360