Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 150

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

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As a further preparation for the calling that he has made his life work the Doctor entered the medical department of the State Univer- sity of Michigan at Ann Arbor, in the year 1851, and in the intervals of study he engaged in practice. Immediately after leaving the university he was united in marriage with Miss Julia Bundy, who had been his assistant teacher in the Lima schools. He then accepted for one year the position of high-school teacher in Huntington, Indiana, giving his attention to the work for about three hours each day, while during the remainder of the time he engaged in practice in connection with Dr. Lewis, a noted physician of that place. The subsequent two years were spent in the practice of medicine, in company with Dr. Sargent, at Ontario, In- diana, after which he finished his medical course at Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In 1855 he arrived in Waterloo and opened an office on the east side of the Cedar river. He then actively and successfully engaged in practice without interruption until 1879, when he went to Chicago and took a special course of study under Drs. Davis & Andrews in the Chi- cago Medical College. He then returned and was again engaged in the prosecution of his chosen profession until the fall of 1895, when he retired to private life. He was a progress- ive physician, and his skill and ability was

demonstrated by the liberal patronage he al- ways received. No citizen in Waterloo has done more for its upbuilding and advancement than Dr. Richards, who has been connected with almost every important enterprise of the town. In 1873 he aided in organizing the Union Milling Company, and for many years was one of its heaviest stockholders, and is still interested in the enterprise. The Con- solidated Union Milling Company is one of the largest in the State. In the fall of 1895 the largest mill was supplied with new machinery throughout, and now has a capacity of 400 barrels of flour per day, while the mill on the west side of the river has a capacity of 300 barrels per day. They are run under the same management, and the enterprise has proved a very profitable one. The Doctor has also for some time been prominently connected with the banking interests of Waterloo and is a stockholder and director of the Commercial Bank of the city. He is also part owner of the Logan House, the pioneer hotel of the place.

The Doctor still retains a membership in the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association; he attended the Na- tional Medical Association which met in Wash- ington, District of Columbia, in 1883, and nearly every session since that time; and he is a member of the Black Hawk County Medical Society. In politics is a pronounced Re- publican. Since the age of eleven years he has been a faithful and consistent member of the Congregational Church, to which his wife also belongs, and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart advocate. There is no more valued citizen in Waterloo than Dr. Richards, who has largely aided in the upbuilding and development of this section of the State, has been a leader in professional circles, and has led a life of uprightness that has won him the respect of all.

In Waterloo two children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Richards, -a son, Julian Walter, a graduate of the State University at Iowa City, now editor of the Waterloo Courier and staff

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correspondent of Chicago Tribune; and a daughter, Effie, wife of E. M. Johnson, a prominent attorney of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

e LDER ROBERT FRANKLIN Mc- CUNE, whose upright life and devo- tion to the cause of all that is true and noble has made him one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Dallas Center and vicinity, is a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, born November 30, 1850. His

father was a native of Scotland and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to America, lo- cating in Maryland. There he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Emmert, who was born in that State and was of German lineage. In the spring of 1847 they removed to Frank- lin county, Pennsylvania, where he owned considerable property and also carried on mer- chandising at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains in Mercersburg. He was an unwav- ering supporter of the Presbyterian Church.

In the family were eight children, of whom Elder McCune was the sixth in order of birth. His father died in the spring of 1861, when he was only eleven years of age, and his mother passed away on the 15th of November, 1891, at the age of seventy-five years. The follow- ing year after his father's death he left home, starting out in life for himself, working with a farmer at $2.50 per month. His employer, Daniel Zook, afterward became his stepfather. When Mr. McCune was fifteen years of age he left the farm and returned to his mother. He then entered school, where he remained until the family, then consisting of the mother and three children, removed to Galesburg, Illinois. In that locality our subject again worked as a farm hand for a year, receiving $8 per month, after which he went to Lanark, Illinois, where he secured employinent on a farm at $20 per month. Subsequently he returned to Gales- burg, and there worked on a farm for $20 per month. In 1868 he emigrated to Missouri, fol- lowing agricultural pursuits in Johnson county for eleven months, returning then to Illinois.

In 1871 he came to Dallas county, Iowa, to break ground, but the same year he again went to the Prairie State and was married.

On the 16th of November, 1871, Elder McCune was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Rowland, a native of Illinois, where her father, who is of German ancestry, is still living, at the advanced age of seventy-nine years. He gave our subject and his wife 160 acres of land, which Mr. McCune began to cultivate, continuing its improvement for thir- teen years and making it a valuable property. He then sold the place for $71 per acre and purchased his present fine home, the original tract costing $17,000. He has improved it until it is now one of the finest farins in Dal- las county, and to it he has added a tract of 160 acres, until his landed possessions aggre- gate 480 acres, all under a high state of culti- vation and well stocked. He is a man of good business and executive ability, and his careful management has made him the possessor of a handsome competence.

To Elder McCune and his wife have been born five children: Orin R., who was born October 23, 1872, is engaged in well drilling and operating a threshing-machine; Susa Alma, born June 24, 1875; Howard E., born March 15, 1877; Lula Viola, born February 23, 1879; and Frank E., born August 15, 1882. The parents are providing their children with good educational privileges, which will well fit them for the practical and responsible duties of life, while their home training will make themn use- ful and respected members of society.

In the spring of 1873 Mr. McCune became a member of the German Baptist or Brethren Church, and in 1875 was elected to the office of Deacon. The following year he was made a minister, and helped to organize the church at Shannon, Illinois. The church in Grant township was organized in 1872. Mr. McCune is one of its Elders, and is the Elder in charge of two other churches. He is an ardent worker in the church, giving three months of each year to the advancement of its interests, without receiving or wishing for compensation for his

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services. The denomination was organized in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1708. They believe in arbitration, are not permitted to go to war, and cannot go to law without the con- sent of the church. Elder McCune was or- dained as a regular minister in 1890, and un- tiringly labors for the interests of his fellow men, giving his support to all measures that are calculated to advance morality and honor.

MOS ROYER, one of the representa- tive farmers and respected citizens of Washington township, Dallas county, Iowa, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1847, second in a family of ten children. Their parents, Charles and Ann (Miller) Royer, were natives re- spectively of Chester and Lancaster counties, Pennsylvania. They lived in Union county fifty years, most of that time on the farm which they owned, and on which they both died, he at the age of eighty-four years, and she at sixty-two. Their large family are all, with one exception, still living. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Royer were Daniel and Magdaline Royer, and they, too, lived in Union county for many years, and both died there, aged respectively seventy and seventy-five years. Grandfather and Grandmother Miller were natives of Lancaster county, where they lived until their decease. The Miller family were largely represented in the manufacturing ranks, while the Royer people were almost without exception given to agricultural pur- suits.

Amos Royer spent the first nineteen years of his life on his father's farm, then learned the trade of blacksmith, at which. altogether he worked some twelve or thirteen years. In the spring of 1870 he went to Lena, Stephen- son county, Illinois, where he worked at his trade fifteen months, at the end of which time, with $250 in his pocket, he came out to Iowa. The fall of 1871 found him estab- lished in work at the forge in Adel, where he remained five years. In the meantime, in

1873, he purchased eighty acres of his present farm, to which in 1874 he added another eighty; and in the spring of 1875 he moved to this place and has since made it his home. At the time of purchase this was all raw prairie land without any improvements whatever. His first house was a small structure, 16 x 24 feet in dimensions; but with the passing years the little house- has been enlarged and im- proved, and the wild prairie has been brought under a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Royer was married August 31, 1873, to Miss Susie M. Hay, a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jacob and Mary A. Hay, both natives of the Keystone State. Her mother died in Carroll county, Illinois, and her father is still living, now being eighty-five years of age and making his home with her. Mrs. Royer is one of a family of eight children, five of whom survive. She had but limited advantages in her youth, left home at an early age, and worked and educated her- self, completing a course and graduating at Mount Carroll Seminary. Then for some time previous to her marriage she was engaged in teaching. Her paternal grandparents were Valentine and Catherine (Barkley) Hay. They were born and lived and died in Pennsylvania, both dying in middle life, he at the age of fifty and she at forty. On her mother's side Mrs. Royer descends from German ancestors, her grandparents having emigrated to this country from Germany and made settlement in Penn- sylvania, and finally died in Somerset county, when well advanced in years. Mr. and Mrs. Royer have had six children, one dying in in- fancy, the others being as follows: Guy, Ruby, Goldie M., Earl and Lynn, -- all at home.

On entering the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roy- er the visitor is at once impressed with the general air of culture and refinement which pervades. Indeed, it is a typical American home. Books, magazines and papers are ap- preciated here; and rare pieces of China with their more than hundred years of history, -all lend a refining influence. Personally, Mr. Royer is a man of prepossessing appearance,

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and his looks do not belie his character. In his own home and throughout the community in which he lives he is regarded as the soul of integrity. He has always given his support to the Republican party, his first presidential vote having been cast for General Grant, and at various times has himself filled local office. He and his family are members of the Baptist Church.

ILLIAM BUCK, a citizen of high standing in his community and one of its representative farmers, dates his identity with Boone township, Dallas county, Iowa, from the year 1875 and · has all this time occupied his present farm; Ashawa his post-office address.

Mr. Buck was born August 6, 1831, eldest of the six children of Warren and Lavina (Smith) Buck, the former a native of Massa- chusetts and the latter of New York, both born and reared on farms. Mrs. Buck's par- ents, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, moved to New York before Herkimer county had many set- tlers. They had to cut their way through the timber and heavy undergrowth from Little Falls to the place where they located, a dis- tance of fourteen miles. The city of Norway now stands on the land he entered and cleared. It was at Norway that the parents of our sub- ject were married, and there in the spring of 1870 the mother died. In 1876 the father sold his farm and came West to make his home with his son William, but lived only two years after coming to Iowa. His last request, which was to have his remains taken East and placed beside those of his wife, was complied with by his son, and side by side the parents are interred at Norway, New York.

William Buck remained a member of the home circle and worked on his father's farm until 1853, when he went to Wisconsin, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1862. In the meantime he had married, and in 1862, on account of his wife's failing health, he sought a change of climate, moving to La

Porte, Indiana. There he turned his attention to railroading. At first he was employed as a common laborer on the road, but by prompt and faithful service soon earned promotion and finally worked his way up until he occu- pied the position of conductor. He was in the employ of one company twelve years. In 1874, while on his regular route, running his train as usual, it was met and run into by a train that was in the hands of a drunken crew, a serious wreck being the result. The drunken crew was discharged, and Mr. Buck and his engineer were suspended for thirty days; but as he was in no way responsible for the accident he objected to the suspension and told the company to make it thirty years or nothing, and they did so. However, the company were very anxious to again secure his service, as a telegram and long letter from them, now in possession of Mr. Buck, will testify.

In the spring of the following year, 1875, Mr. Buck came out to Iowa, landing at his present location on the 26th of March and purchasing 160 acres of unimproved land on section 2, of Boone township, the purchase price being $20 per acre. Here he settled down at once to the work of improving and cultivating, and from year to year has carried out his well made plans until now his place is regarded as one of the prettiest farms in the township. Among its attractive features is a fine grove of soft maples, of his own planting; and a portion of his land is hedged with pine trees.

Mr. Buck was one of the first farmers in this part of the country to talk up the subject of deep wells and to drill for deep water. He has an excellent well on his land, and his in- fluence in this direction has extended for many miles, as most of the farmers in this part of the county are now either boring or drilling wells; and Mr. Buck has not only improved his own property, but he has also been a prominent factor in making public improve- ments. For four years he filled the office of Road Supervisor, during which time he made

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it his business to see that every traveled road in the township was well taken care of. Al- though he appears much younger than he is, Mr. Buck has passed his three-score years, feels that he has earned a rest, and is now liv- ing retired.

He was married January 18, 1853, to Miss Lucy Brown, a native of New York and of English ancestry. She died in Indiana, in 1872, leaving three children, namely: Melzar W., born January 4, 1855, is now a resident of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and is married and has three children; Warren T., born March 12, 1858, lives in Adel, Iowa, and has a wife and two children; and Elizabeth J., born January 13, 1861, is the wife of Dr. S. W. Aldrich, of Des Moines, Iowa, and has one child. December 25, 1873, Mr. Buck mar- ried Mrs. Elizabeth H. (Closser) Radkey, his present companion, who is a native of Indiana, and by whom he has one child, Frank M. Buck, born November 14, 1874.

Mr. Buck has always cast his franchise and influence with the Republican party, his first presidential vote being given to Fremont. For himself he has never had any political as- pirations, preferring to devote his whole time and attention to his own affairs. During the time of the civil strife he was a stanch Union man. In February, 1865, he enlisted in Com- pany K, One Hundred and Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until September of that year, when he was mustered out with his regiment at Nashville, Tennessee.

G. IRVIN, a farmer of section 4, Union township (post-office Derby), is a highly esteemed citizen of Lu- cas county, well known for his good qualities both as a farmer and as a citizen. He has been a resident of this county ever since the year 1851, the year of his arrival here, at the age of eight years.

His father, Matthew Irvin, was a good rep- resentative of that enterprising and high-prin- cipled race, the Scotch-Irish, being a native of

north Ireland. He was a lad of twelve years when his father, Guy Irvin, emigrated to the United States and settled in Coshocton county, Ohio; and thus, being early "Americanized " as a specimen of humanity in regard to mental qualifications, one might compare' hiin with a scion grafted upon the best of stock. After at- taining the full growth of manhood he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Heller, a native of Ohio and of a good and thrifty family, who were of German ancestry; she was a daughter of Anthony Heller. After marriage they settled in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where they resided until the year 1850, when they re- moved to Iowa, coming with a wagon and three horses, which brought all their household goods and a set of carpenter's tools. For the first year in this State they resided in Monroe county, and then came to Lucas county, settling permanently in Union township on land now owned by the subject of this sketch. They were among the first settlers on that prairie, which at that time was a broad ex- panse, unoccupied and unbroken by the hand of white man. Mr. Irvin built a log cabin of two rooms, furnishing it with a puncheon floor, an old-fashioned large fire-place, a clap- board roof, etc. There was but one house between his place and Chariton, fourteen miles distant. This family was well known for their hospitality and intelligence, the latchstring of their humble door always hanging out. Friend or stranger was always welcome, and the needy always received assistance at the hands of this kindly disposed family; and they knew how to treat all comers in a royal manner.

In 1861, on the old Mormon "trail," Mr. (Matthew) Irvin erected a large, commodious dwelling, near where his son, our subject, now resides, -indeed, in the same yard. This resi- dence, still standing, is 18x 40 feet in dimen- sions and two stories high, with an L 16 x 24 feet. At the time it was built it was one of the largest houses in the township. In the family of Mr. Irvin were six children, three of whom are now deceased. The living are: An- drew J., a resident, of Union township; M. G.,

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whose name forms the introduction to this bio- graphical sketch; and Sarah E., who became the wife of Mr. Brough and died in 1891, in Oklahoma. Mr. Irvin died in 1877, at the golden age of seventy-three years. By trade he was a carpenter and wagon-maker, and he was a good mechanic, especially in wood. In his political sympathies he was a Jackson Democrat, and his high intellectual and moral character was attested by his election to the office of Justice of the Peace. He was also Postmaster of Argo, in Union township, for a number of years. In religion he was reared a Presbyterian, but in mature life he became a Methodist and finally a member of the Chris- tian Church. He was a man of good physique, of perpendicular carriage and weighing about 175 pounds and being six feet tall.

Mr. M. G. Irvin, our subject, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 24, 1842, and was a lad of seven or eight years when his father and the family located in this county. As might be expected, he grew up inured to farm pursuits during the monotonous period of frontier life. His literary education he re- ceived at the Goshen school. The first struc- ture for this school was of logs, with a sod chimney. Mr. Irvin has continued to be a farmer until the present time, now occupying the old homestead, consisting of 260 acres; it is a finely improved place. It is pleasant to contemplate the old residence still standing on the premises, under whose hospitable roof so many people in pioneer times found shelter. Mr. Irvin has a good modern residence, 26x28 feet and one and a half stories high, on a beautiful situation, which is ornamented with an orchard and three-acre grove of walnut and maple bordering the lawn, with fine pastures and meadows and fields surrounding. The two barns are respectively 24x35 feet and 30x40 feet in dimensions; and these and all other outbuildings are in good condition.

New Year's day, 1865, was both a happy and an exciting day in the life of Mr. Irvin, as on that occasion he was united in matrimony with Miss Harriet Beagle, a lady of excellent

qualities and a member of a good family. She was born in Ohio, a daughter of Abner and Agnes (Sponseller) Beagle, natives of Mary- land. Mr. and Mrs. Irvin have had eleven children, namely: Rev. Andrew J., a Presby- terian minister at Omaha, Nebraska; John Thomas, Postmaster at Derby; Matthew Florin, of Union township; Lizzie, the wife of John Davis, of Warren township, this county; Charles, at home; George, Samuel, Marion, Angie, Clemmie, and one deceased. The chil- dren have all received a good education, the two eldest sons at Fairfield, Iowa, and Stan- berry, Missouri.

Concerning national questions Mr. Irvin entertains the views of the Democratic party. He has been prominent in the educational in- terests of his community, and both himself and wife are members of the Baptist Church, where they are efficient in church and Sunday-school work, he serving as Superintendent of the school.

3 OHN B. BEVER dates his identity with Iowa from the year 1856, and for nearly forty years has occupied his present farm in Washington township, Dallas county.

He was born in Seneca county, Ohio, March 18, 1832, son of Solomon and Maria (Cross) Bever, both natives of Virginia. Solo- mon Bever emigrated to Ohio when he was twenty years of age and there spent the rest of his life and died, having attained the advanced age of eighty-three. Mrs. Bever was born near Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and died in Ohio at the age of fifty-five years. They were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are living and with one exception married and reared families. Our subject's grandparents were Peter and Melissa Bever. They were born in Germany, emigrated to Virginia in early life, and years later to Ohio, where they died, each at a good old age. Mr. Bever's maternal grandparents also died in Ohio, in

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old age. They were John and Deborah (Comegers) Cross and were natives of Vir- ginia.

Mr. Bever remained under the parental roof until the time of his marriage. His dis- trict-school education was supplemented by one term at Tiffin College, but the greater part of his education has been attained in the broad school of experience. In the fall of 1856, the year following his marriage, he came West by rail to Iowa City and from that point drove across the country to his present location. Here he entered 120 acres of land, built a frame house, 16 x 22 feet, a story and a half, and here on what was then the frontier he set earnestly to work to improve his land and make a more comfortable home. With the passing years he added to his original tract, made valuable improvements upon the same, and is now nicely situated. At present he has 1 56 acres in his farm, having given sixty acres to his sons. The little frame house he first built served as his home until about eighteen years ago, when he built his present residence.

Mr. Beever was married February 8, 1855, to Elizabeth Richards, a native of Ohio. Her parents came to this country from Germany, their native place, first made settlement in Pennsylvania, and at an early day moved to Ohio, where they died, each at about the age of three-score years and ten. Mr. and Mrs. Bever have had six children, one of whom died at about the age of five years. The others are as follows: Milton, Emma, Oscar A., Minnie and Cora. The daughters are all at home and both the sons are married, Milton having three children and Oscar A. two. All have had the benefit of a good education, and Miss Minnie was for a time a student at Simpson College, Indianola.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 150

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