Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 158

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

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The subject of this review was born in . Holmes county, Ohio, on the 24th of May, 1837, and is a son of Ma. son Bilderback, a na- tive of Washington county, Pennsylvania, who emigrated to the Buckeye State at an early day, probably in 1830, and there lived until the fall of 1850. In that year he sold out, prep- aratory to becoming one of the pioneers of Iowa. With his wife and children he drove across the country to the Hawkeye State and located in Adel, where he established the first

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blacksmith shop of that place. He was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for his death occurred the following year, at the age of forty-one. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rebecca Jackson, was also a native of Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio, in 1890, at the age of seventy-six years.

Mr. Bilderback, of this review, spent the days of his early youth in Ohio, and then ac- companied his father on the emigration to the West, where he arrived when thirteen years of age. He was the eldest of the family remain- ing at home, and upon his father's death the support of the other children largely devolved upon him. It was a heavy responsibility for his young shoulders, but he was true to the trust. He worked by the day and month as a farm hand and his early years formed a period of hardship and trial. He went through the experiences which usually fall to the lot of the frontier settlers and has borne his part in the development of the wild land. In 1862 he made two trips to Denver city with an ox team, loaded with flour; the next year he crossed the plains to California with a mule team; and in 1865 returned on horseback.

On the 26th of December, 1865, Mr. Bil- derback was united in marriage with Miss Susan Meads, who was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, and is a daughter of William and Sally (Johnson) Meads, both of whom were natives of Illinois. Her father died in that State, after which her mother went to Missouri and thence to Iowa, where she spent her remaining days. Three children have been born to our subject and his wife. Joseph E., the eldest, carries on business with his father. He was married, but his wife died in 1895, leaving three chil- dren. Eva J. was married and became the mother of five children, but only two are now living. Frank C. completes the family and is still at home with his parents.

After his marriage Mr. Bilderback located in Adams township, Dallas county, and worked for a cousin by the month until, through his industry and frugality, he was enabled to pur- chase a farm of his own. In July, 1861, he

bought eighty acres of the old home place and built thereon a little house 14 x 20 feet, which in 1882 was replaced by his present fine resi- dence. As his financial resources have in- creased he has made other purchases from time to time, until he now has a valuable property, which to-day yields him a handsome tribute in return for the care and labor he be- stows upon it.

In his political views Mr. Bilderback is a Democrat, having been identified with that party since casting his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. He and his wife at- tend the United Brethren Church. He has served as School Treasurer since 1878, and during all these years the school fund has never lost one cent. He has contributed to the sup- port of churches and schools, and gives his hearty aid and co-operation to every enterprise that is intended to benefit the town or county, Every dollar that he possesses he has honestly earned, and he may truly be called a self-made man, who is deserving of great credit for the success he has achieved in life.

3 OHN CALDWELL, one of the most enterprising and successful agricultur- ists of Adams township, Dallas county, was born in the historic Sequatchie valley, of Tennessee, on the 13th of Septem- ber, 1810, and is a son of Hugh and Nancy (Ferrier) Caldwell, both of whom were born on the banks of Craig's creek, in Virginia. After their marriage they removed to Tennes- see, and both died in Knox county, that State, the former at the age of sixty-six and the lat- ter when about sixty years of age.

On the old home farm John Caldwell was reared and early became familiar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, for his school privileges were extremely meager, being limited to a few months' attendance at the district schools of the neighborhood. At the age of nineteen he left home to make his own way in the world, starting for Indiana, in which State he followed the arduous pursuits

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of wood-chopping and log-rolling. His life has been a busy and useful one and his well- directed efforts have brought to him a merited success. His residence was in Hendricks county, Indiana, where he was recognized as a valued citizen.

In that county ou the 19th of July, 1838, Mr. Caldwell was united in marriage with Miss Winnie A. Churchman, a native of Granger county, Tennessee, and a most estimable lady, who was to her husband a faithful companion and helpmeet. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are now living, namely: Margaret J., at home; Nancy C., who is mar- ried and has three children; Melinda A., who is married and has three children; Elizabeth, who is also married; George C .; John, who has a family; and William L., at home. The mother of this family was called to the home beyond at the age of seventy-two years. She had carefully reared her family and had trained them to habits of industry and uprightness, which have made them respected men and women and valued citizens.

Mr. Caldwell continued his residence in the Hoosier State until the fall of 1854, when he arrived in Iowa. He drove overland, and on reaching Dallas county purchased a wild prairie tract of 157 acres, on which he built an old-style plank house, and then began the de - velopment of the farm. Acre after acre was placed under the plow until fields of waving grain replaced the wild prairie grass. In 1875 the home in which the pioneer days had been passed was replaced by a more commodious and modern residence, in the rear of which stand good barns and outbuildings, while the latest improved machinery and all the acces- sories of a model farm may there be found.

Mr. Caldwell cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson, and has lived through many successive administrations. He was born in the second year of the administration of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, and has lived to see this coun- try take rank with the old countries of Europe, has witnessed the introduction of the railroad,

the telegraph and telephone, the emancipation of the country from the shackles of slavery and its progress along the various lines of agricul- ture, commerce, of the professions, of science, art and literature. In 1856 he became identi- fied with the Republican party, voting for John C. Fremont, and has since been a stalwart advocate of Republican principles. He has not a dollar that he has not himself honestly earned, and to-day he stands an old man, ripe in years and in honor, having the respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

EVI P. WILCOX, a representative agriculturist of Dallas county, Iowa, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, January 15, 1835, and is a son of James and Martha (Bennett) Wilcox. The mother, who still makes her home with a daughter in Panora, Iowa, was born in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, is a daughter of William and Mary (Good) Bennett, natives of the Keystone State, the former of English and the latter of German ancestry. Her fa- ther died in Ohio at the age of sixty-five, and her mother in Indiana at the ripe age of eighty years. The father of our subject was born in Virginia, in 1810, and at the age of eighteen left the Old Dominion, going to Ohio by flatboat down the Ohio river, first settling where Levi was born. In 1844 he removed to Indiana, remaining there until 1850, when he went to Kankakee, Illinois; but in 1855 came to Dallas county, Iowa, locating upon 160 acres of Government land, near our sub- ject's present home. He there built a hewed- log cabin, and being a carpenter manufactured his own shingles. This he later sold and bought another farm, but afterward became a resident of Perry, where his death occured in 1889. His parents, William and Amelia Wil- cox, were born in Virginia, where they both died.

The early life of Levi P. Wilcox was spent in assisting in the labors of the farm and in

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attendance at the district schools. At the age of fifteen years he left the parental roof, work- ing by the month as a farm hand and also clerking. On the 27th of April, 1856, he was joined in wedlock with Matilda Counsel, a na- tive of Logan county, Illinois, and a daughter of Charles and Mary (Culberson) Counsel. The father was born in North Carolina and became one of the earliest settlers of Illinois. He later became a resident of Iowa, but again returned to his old home in Logan county, Illinois, where he died at the age of seventy- five years. . His wife spent her last days in Dallas county, Iowa. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are yet living. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox have been born ten children, and those who still survive are as follows: William W., who is married and has two children; George W., who is mar- ried and has two children; James L., Edgar G., Alfred W., Mattie M. and Roscoe C.

After his marriage Mr. Wilcox built a plank house, 16x18 feet, with a shed kitchen 8 x 20 feet; and in those days that home was one of the best in the locality. He hauled the logs to make the lumber, manufactured his own shingles and covered the interior of the cabin with newspapers. All the money which he had to build his house was $7, which he had real- ized from the sale of a calf. The bedstead was made of poles and the other furniture was of primitive construction. Three years after settling on this tract of wild land Mr. Wilcox sold his farm, and on the 20th of February, 1860, loaded his personal effects and family into a covered wagon and moved back to Lo- gan county, Illinois, where he followed agri- cultural pursuits until the 9th of August, 1862.

At that date Mr. Wilcox responded to the country's call for troops, joining the boys in blue of Company F, One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry, under Captain William Beas- ley. For about three years he served his country faithfully and well, and was with his regiment in all engagements and skirmishes ex- cept during the last year of the war, when he was on detached service. He was discharged

July 12, 1865, and as a loyal soldier returned to his home.

Mr. Wilcox remained in Illinois until the fall of 1868, when he removed to Iowa, and now owns one of the finest farms in Dallas county. His place is under a high state of cultivation and well improved, being complete in all the appointments of a model farm. Mr. Wilcox is a valued citizen of the cummunity, and has filled many local offices with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. He was the first township Clerk ever elected in Dallas township. In politics he has been a stalwart Republican since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. The family are prominent and active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Wil- cox has been a liberal contributor to churches and schools.

SBURY CRISMAN, who by his own efforts has won a place among the prosperous farmers of Union town- ship, Dallas county, Iowa, forms the subject of this review. His farm is located on section 6; Redfield his post-office address.

Asbury Crisman was born March 22, 1850, in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, the fifth son in the family of seven sons of Aaron and Celia (McMurry) Crisman, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former a member of a Penn- sylvania-Dutch family and the latter of Scotch descent. In 1853 the Crisman family left the Keystone State and moved out to Iowa, mak- ing settlement in Cedar county, where, in 1871, the father died, at the age of forty-nine years.

At the age of eighteen young Asbury left home for the purpose of making his own way in the world. He early developed an inde- pendent disposition, and would have started out for himself even earlier than this had it not been for the fact that he was needed at home. On leaving the paternal roof, he first went to Wilton Junction, a small town not far distant from his home, where he remained one year. At the end of this time he went to Gage

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county, Nebraska. There in May, 1870, he took a homestead claim, on which he lived seven years, improving it as his means would permit, and in time secured title to it. · This place he sold in the spring of 1878. Then he moved back to Iowa and in Cass county rented a farm, upon which he lived two years, after which he bought a small tract of land and the next two years lived on it; then sold out and bought eighty acres in the adjoining township in the same county. After two years spent on the last named place, having in that time im- proved it to a considerable extent, he again sold out, and then bought a forty-acre tract, on which he lived three years. His next move was to Audubon county, this State. He had sold his last Cass county property, and on his arrival in Audubon county rented 160 acres of land, which he cultivated the next three years. After this he bought twenty-eight acres in the same county, and during the three years he made his home on it, by additional purchase, he increased it to seventy acres, and on selling this place bought an adjoining 120 acres. In 1893 he again sold out and that year purchased his present farm,-eighty-five acres of choice land in section 6, of Union township, Dallas county. This farm is all well improved and highly cultivated. It has been said that "a rolling stone gathers no moss," but there are exceptions to the rule, as in the case of Mr. Crisman, he having bettered his condition at each one of his frequent moves.

Mr. Crisman is a Republican "to the back- bone," and is among the most public-spirited and enterprising men of his community. He favors good schools, good morals and religion, and is giving his children the best educational advantages he can afford. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Crisman was married March 8, 1870, to Miss Margaret E. Barnhouse, a native of Indiana, and to them have been born fourteen children. Two died at birth. The names of the others are Emma S., William F., Mary F., Alice V., Clarence, Edward W., Francis A., Mabel E., Edna May, Lizzie Belle, Charles

Le Roy and Gladys E. All of this number are living except three, -Emma S., Clarence and Charles Le Roy.

ATHEW MAXWELL, a man of sterling integrity, and one of the leading citizens of his community, has his abiding place on his farm on section 6, Union township, Dallas county, Iowa, Redfield being his post-office address.

Mr. Maxwell was the second born in the family of three children of Mathew, Sr., and Hannah (Pattison) Maxwell, the former of Scotch descent and the latter of English. His father, although of Scotch origin, was born near Belfast, county Antrim, Ireland, and when a young man emigrated to America and made settlement in northern New York. Mr. Max- well's mother was born at Saratoga Springs, New York. It was in Washtenaw county, Michigan, August 31, 1839, that our subject was born, his father at that time being en- gaged in farming there. There, a few years later, his father died, and thus at a very early age young Mathew was deprived of a father's care and support. He remained with his mother in Michigan until his twenty-sixth year, and at that time came out to Iowa and located near Panora, Guthrie county. His mother joined him here the following year, and has since made her home with him, and now, at the age of ninety years, she is as spry as most women are at sixty. After a residence of sixteen years in Guthrie county, Mr. Max- well sold his farm and moved to Adair county, where he lived one year. Then he purchased the farm upon which he has since lived, a fine tract of 187 acres in extent, all nicely im- proved and well cultivated, its general air of thrift at once stamping its owner as an ener- getic and " up-to-date" farmer.

Mr. Maxwell was married May 29, 1878, to Miss Jennie King, a native of Canada, and of Scotch parentage, and they have one child, Jennie, born May 24, 1879. Their daughter

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is now attending school, and is making a specialty of music.

Politically, Mr. Maxwell has always har- monized with the Republican party. In his community he stands high as one of its best and most patriotic citizens. He has held no office, for the reason that he has never sought one.

APTAIN PETER H. LENON, Guth- rie Center, is one of the best known citizens of Guthrie county, Iowa. His birth occurred in Carroll county, In- diana, on the 28th day of June, A. D. 1837. Early in life he was bereft of his parents' train- ing and counsel, his mother having died when he was five years old, and his father two years later. His recollection of his parents is there- fore very vague, and thus early orphanded he grew to manhood mostly among strangers. The father of our subject was James R. Lenon, who wedded Miss Elizabeth Dunkin, in Carroll county, Indiana, though they were both natives of Virginia. The father, a farmer by occu- pation, died at the age of thirty-two years, and the mother at the age of twenty-eight, both in Carroll county.

Since the death of his parents our subject has been wholly dependent upon his own ex- ertions, spending a few years under the friendly roof of his maternal grandparents, after which he engaged in the battle of life alone. His ed- ucational advantages were somewhat limited, yet he acquired a good common-school educa- tion; and when a lad in his 'teens he became an apprentice to the drug business, in Logans- port, Indiana, in which field he became very efficient, acquiring a good knowledge of the business, and thus he found ready employment at good wages.

In 1858 he left the store of his tutors and sought to improve his advantages in the then far West. He soon entered the employ of a drug firm at Nebraska City, Nebraska, and remained there two years, when he and his elder brother formed a partnership in the drug

business at Panora, Guthrie county, Iowa. This enterprise proved very profitable and was continued until burned out, in 1870.

In the dark days of the rebellion the brothers thought it their duty to join their comrades at the front, and after discussing the matter it was decided that our subject, being the younger and unmarried, should go to the war, while J. D. should manage their joint in- terests at Panora. Accordingly, on the 16th of August, 1862, our subject enrolled his name as a member of Company I, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, being chosen as Second Lieu- tenant of his company. He had to spend some little time as State Mustering Lieutenant, under appointment of Governor Kirkwood, during which time he mustered in the Twenty-ninth and other Iowa troops. December 1, 1862, he was mustered into the United States serv- ice as Second Lieutenant, and immediately joined his command at the front. From that day until the final capitulation at Appomattox, Captain Lenon led an active and aggressive military life. Much maneuvering, hard marches and active duty were required pre- liminary to the final centering of the forces around Vicksburg. Among these may be mentioned the march from St. Louis to Col- umbus, Kentucky, thence to Helena, Arkan- sas, -the first real baptism of blood being on an expedition up the White river.

After investing Vicksburg, Lieutenant Lenon was detailed to take command of 100 men on board the gunboat Prairie Bird, which did patrol duty up and down the Mississippi and the bayous adjacent. Being recalled to his regiment prior to the final assault, he took charge of his company and continued to com- mand some company in the Twenty-ninth un- til his final discharge, though he was thirteen months the commander of Company C. Dur- ing a period when the army was inactive, Governor Kirkwood recalled him to the State as a member of his staff, employing him in taking men to the front, in which capacity he visited most of the rendezvous cities. This pleasant duty continued for a period of three

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months, when he rejoined his regiment. In the spring of 1863 our subject was commis- sioned First Lieutenant, and a year later be- came Captain of his company. He was not absent from his command a single day when they were actively engaged, and participated in many of the hard-fought battles of the war, -- some eighteen in number, -among which may be mentioned the siege and battles of Vicksburg, Fort Peinberton, Helena, Little Rock, Mobile, Fort Blakely and Jenkins' Ferry. In the last named battle Captain Lenon led his company of seventy-six men into the action and came out with only forty-four able for duty. !

At a place locally known as Trenour creek, in Arkansas, during an engagement between the infantry and some rebel cavalry and ar- tillery, an event occurred which has scarcely a parallel in the annals of history. Captain Lenon's company was stationed on a hillside where the shells were flying. thick and fast from the enemy's battery. The force of one of these missiles had been broken by striking the tree-tops and it fell near the company with the exploding fuse still burning. Thinking only of the welfare of his men, and with ready presence of mind, Captain Lenon picked it up and tossed it down the hill, where it exploded harmlessly a few seconds later! Many acts of heroism in the late war have been recorded and extolled through the soldier press, and this event has been mentioned there, the au- thor begging for the name and address of the hero; but Captain Lenon considered it of too little importance to answer the anxious in- quirer; and he now consents to its being made a matter of record only because, as an obedient soldier, he thinks he must " tell it all." In the same engagement our subject received a shell wound in the left leg, which permanently dis- abled him. No man in Iowa has a brighter or more honorable military history than the sub- ject of this sketch. As an index to the casual- ties of his regiment we may add that, of a total enlistment, in Company I, of 146 men only 36 are now living!

Captain Lenon returned to Panora after the war and resumed his long neglected busi- ness, which he soon developed very success- fully; and in 1870 he suffered the loss of almost his entire possessions by fire; almost $14,000 went up in smoke; $8,000 of insurance expired only four days before the fire. Advancing years and impaired health prevented his re- engaging in active business, and the year fol- lowing this great disaster he removed his family to Guthrie Center, where he now owns a comfortable home, and lives a partially re- tired life, honored and respected by all who know him. Since coming to this city he has been engaged in general office work, part of the time for others, but more recently in an office of his own, as Justice of the Peace and Notary Public.

His sole interest and care is for the wel- fare of his late comrades in arms. This can most readily be accomplished through the agency of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in this order, and in the advocacy of its principles, Captain Lenon is a most zealous worker. He is usually a delegate from his post to the State encampments; but whether a delegate or not he never fails to attend. At the last State meeting at Clinton, he was put forward as a candidate for Junior Vice Com- mander, having most complimentary indorse- ments from Tracy Post, No. 52, of which he is a Past Commander and the present presiding officer. But the good-natured contest resulted in the election of another comrade, with a small plurality.

But even valiant soldiers must descend to the level of common humanity, "fall in love," get married and assume the responsibilities of civilian life. Captain Lenon chose for his companion Miss Emma Baxley, whom he mar- ried in December, 1865. She was born in Chicago, and is said to have been the second white child born on the present site of that great Western metropolis. Her father was Captain Baxley, of the United States Army. stationed at Fort Dearborn in the early part of the century. Captain and Mrs. Lenon are the

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parents of three children, the eldest of whom, May, is now the wife of Professor F. E. Pal- mer, superintendent of the city schools of Greenfield, Iowa; Earle is engaged in mercan- tile business on his own account at Walnut, this State; and Miss Nellie is a student at the State Normal School at Cedar Falls. All the children had excellent educational advantages.

Captain Lenon comes of patriotic stock, as both his grandfathers were soldiers from Vir- ginia in the war of 1812. His only living brother, John D., isa resident of Panora, Iowa, now temporarily sojourning at Little Rock, Arkansas. His brother Henry was a soldier in the late war and was killed at Vicksburg.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 158

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