Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 172

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

USA > Iowa > Memorial and biographical record of Iowa > Part 172

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

For the past fourteen years, Mr. and Mrs. Mckinney have resided in Des Moines. They are members of the Friends' Church, and their consistent lives and kindliness have won them the warm regard of all. Their family num- bered five children, of whom three are living: Mary E., wife of J. L. Macy; James A., of this review; and Lizzie, wife of S. A. McKinney.

1084

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

J. A. Mckinney spent the greater part of his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm, and aided in the cultivation of the fields, the harvesting of crops and the other work that falls to the lot of the agriculturist. His men- tal training was obtained at Earlham, Iowa, and when his school life was over, in 1880, he came to Des Moines. Here he secured work with Mr. Garten, in whose service he remained for a year. He then entered the employ of the firm of Perkins & Gatch, wholesale deal- ers in queensware and crockery. His connec- tion with the Capital City State Bank began in the capacity of messenger boy, from which position he rose by steady advancement until he was made assistant cashier, and in January, 1891, became cashier. His devotion to duty is indicated by his continued promotion. He is an enterprising young business man, possessing superior executive ability, and his foresight and enterprise have proved of great benefit to those with whom he has been associated.

Mr. Mckinney is unmarried and resides with his parents at No. 613 Maple street. He casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and holds the religious belief of his parents. His pres- ent position is due alone to his industrious habits and strict business integrity and his pub- lic and private life are alike above reproach. His exemplary career has won him hosts of warm friends.

ILLIAM F. LOWRY, who stands as one of the successful and influential farmers of Van Meter township, Dallas county, Iowa, is a native of the neighboring State of Illinois, his birth hav- ing occurred October 9, 1839.

James K. Lowry, his father, was a son of Joseph Lowry, and both were natives of Ken- tucky. The latter died in Illinois at an ad- vanced age. James K. made his home there for many years, until 1852, when he sold out and in the fall of that year moved to Iowa, settling in Van Meter township, Dallas county.

Later he moved to Atlantic, where he resided until 1892, and died at the age of seventy-five years. In Atlantic he ran a store. Of our subject's mother, we record that her maiden name was Priscilla Stanfield. She was born in Tennessee, daughter of Samuel and Jane Stan- field, and her father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Her parents came to Iowa at an early day and both died here, each at about the age of seventy years.

William F. Lowry is one of a family of seven children and one of the two of this num- ber who are still living. He was reared to farm life, was educated in the district schools, and remained a member of the home circle until the time of his marriage, which event occurred February 11, 1860. Rachel Foley, the lady whom he wedded, was born in Lake county, Indiana, daughter of John and Sarah (Hay- worth) Foley, her father a native of Kentucky and her mother of Ohio. The first Foleys in America came from Ireland, her grandfather, Daniel Foley, having been born on the Emer- ald Isle, and emigrated from there to this country when he was twenty years old. Daniel Foley died in Ohio, and his wife, nee Kather- ine Rock, the grandmother of Mrs. Lowry, passed away in Vermilion county, Illinois. The Foley family came to Iowa in 1852, and de- veloped a fine farm in Dallas county, where the father, John Foley, spent the remainder of his life and died, being ninety-four years old at the time of death. He was a farmer. The mother is still living, is a remarkably well pre- served woman, in the full possession of her mental faculties, and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Lowry. She has twenty grand- children and seventeen great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry have had seven children, of whom five are living and named as follows : Theodore A., Susanna, John W., Sarah A., and James M.

After his marriage, Mr. Lowry settled near his present home, erecting a little cottage, 16 x 18 feet in dimensions, where he lived un- til he built his present attractive and commo- dious residence. Here he owns over 200 acres

1085

RECORD OF IOWA.

of choice, fertile land, and is engaged in general farming. He is a man whose honorable and upright life has gained for him the respect and esteem of all with whoin he has come in con- tact. He has served as director of the Dallas County Fair Association, has filled various local offices, and has always voted the Republican ticket, his first presidential vote having been cast for the lamented Lincoln. Both he and his family are active and honored members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

a ILLIAM H. SCHOOLEY, editor and proprietor of the Advocate- Tribune, at Indianola, was born near Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio, December 18, 1840. Mr. Schooley's first American ancestors came from Scotland early in the seventeenth century, settling at a place ever since known as Schooley mountain, in New Jersey, whence later some of the fam- ily moved into Virginia. About the middle of the last century John Schooley and his wife Mary, residents of Virginia, were the parents of Elisha, Reuben, William and Sarah. The first mentioned of these was born April 23, 1756, married Rachel Holmes, who was born April 17, 1759, the daughter of William and Mary Holmes, and had the following children: John, born October 10, 1780; Mary, April 5, 1782; Sarah, October 8, 1784; Deborah, Au- gust 29, 1787; Israel, January 16, 1790; Will- iam, September 5, 1792; Rachel, July 7, 1794; and Elizabeth, September 7, 1796. Reuben Schooley lived, married and died in Virginia. His children were Henry, Richard and James. Richard's children were William, Amos and Ann; and James' children were Clinton, Rachel and Hannah.

John Schooley, mentioned above as having been born October 10, 1780, married Phæbe Beeson, lived at Salem, Ohio, and their chil- dren were Anna, Reuben, Henry and Elisha. Of these, Reuben, who was born in 1807, mar- ried Hannah McClun, daughter of Nathan and Martha McClun, and born April 9, 1815, and

had the following children: Ellen, born June 2, 1837, and died February 11, 1857; Rachel, born April 26, 1839; William H. (our subject), December 8, 1840; Frank, October 22, 1854, died August 17, 1855; and Laura A., born Oc- tober 23, 1856.

Mr. Reuben Schooley was a physician, and the son (our subject) was his constant assistant when not at school. The ancestors in the paternal line were Quakers. A grandfather was at one time a peace commissioner to the Indians. The grandparents on the mother's side were Irish.

Mr. Schooley, whose name introduces this sketch, married Lydia A. Gochnaur Decem- ber 18, 1861. She was born October 5, 1839, at Columbiana, Ohio, a daughter of Elkanah and Elizabeth Gochnaur, both of whom were of German parents. Mr. Schooley's children are: Leila May, born June 16, 1863; Mignionette, August 21, 1864; Frank H., January 20, 1866; Magnolia, November 28, 1867; Charles M., May 27, 1869, and died August 25, 1879; and Emma V., born September 8, 1886. Rachel, sister of our subject, married R. P. Harris, in February, 1866. Their children are: Mary Edna, born November 25, 1866; and Albertus, born February 11, 1868, and died November 23, 1868; Laura A., his only other living sis- ter, married Will J. Ranger, December 25, 1884, and their children: Edith, was born Au- gust 15, 1886; and Edwin, born January 16, 1890. Leila May, daughter of Mr. Schooley, on September 28, 1882, was married to John T. McNaught, and their children are: Walter, born August 28, 1883; Bernice, February 22, 1885; Evangeline, June 18, 1887, and died March 23, 1895; and Minnie, born April 5, . 1891.

His son, Frank H., on January 16, 1890, married Clara J. Brewster. Their children are: Charles H., born October 23, 1890; Lill- ian Bell, August 10, 1892; and Mildred May, April 30, 1894. His daughter, Magnolia, on December 24, 1891, was married to Ora S. Hodge. Mrs. Hodge inherits her father's love of travel, and has had some unusual expe-

1086

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

rience. She accompanied Lieutenant Peary on his recent Arctic expedition, penetrating the frozen zone farther than was ever done by any other white woman excepting Mrs. Peary and the cook, who were with this same expedition.

The subject of this sketch received all his education at the public schools of Salem, Ohio, his native town, missing but one term after he was four years old until he was nineteen; and during the last seven or eight years of this time these schools were giving a very full and thor- ough course of higher education under such in- structors as Mr. Holbrook (later head of the State Normal School), T. E. Suliot, Reuben McMillan, etc. Mr. Schooley's studies em- braced, besides the common branches, the higher mathematics, chemistry, philosophy, physiology, ancient history, Latin, German, French, etc. For the last three years he stood at the head of the school in scholarship.

Just before he was nineteen years of age his father died and many urged our subject to take up his father's profession, but, although he was considerably well versed in it, the prac- tice of medicine seemed distasteful to him; and, as his mother had been reared upon a farm and had always entertained a desire to return to farm life, he willingly yielded to her wishes and moved with her to a small farm which she had purchased near Salem, in the spring of 1860, where they lived till the autumn of 1864, when they moved to Belmont town- ship, in Warren county, Iowa, locating upon a quarter section of land for which he had ex- changed other property some time previously. This wild land he proceeded to improve.

Farm life, however, did not fill the highest ambitions of Mr. Schooley, and he began studying law. In the fall of 1869 he moved to Indianola, and was this same fall admitted to the bar, at Des Moines District Court. In starting out in the practice of his profession he had a fair degree of success in securing cli- ents and in practicing law. But in 1871 he became involved in a "red-hot " political fight within the Republican party, alleging that the

county treasurer was a heavy defaulter, and by a fortuitous course of incidents he was driven into journalism. Accordingly, late in 1871, he purchased an interest in the Indianola Journal (now Herald), in partnership with Parson Brady. Soon the latter retired and later Rev. A. J. Graham became a joint owner with him. The fight within the party, meanwhile, contin- ued and grew more bitter. The Journal de- clared in 1873 it would not support the "ring" candidates if they were nominated. They were nominated, and Mr. Schooley proposed to bolt, but Mr. Graham refused; and this resulted in Mr. Schooley's withdrawal from the paper. He canvassed the county for some weeks prior to the election, and, whereas the county had ever been before overwhelmingly Republican, the ticket at this election was defeated by majori- ties ranging from about fifty to about nine hundred. Mr. Schooley was evidently the leader in this reform.

He gradually drifted into the Democratic party as the Republican party gradually drifted from the tariff principles of Garfield, Allison, etc., as proclaimed by them prior to 1872. Through his efforts an examination of the treasurer's books was forced, and he indeed was proved a defaulter to the extent of over $34,000. The fight growing out of the attack upon the office extended through county politics for years afterward.

When he retired from the Journal Mr. Schooley resumed the practice of law, but con- tinued a frequent contributor to the press. Not long after this, at the close of a hotly contested suit, he had a fistic encounter with one who was for many years the bully of the Warren county bar; and the result was quite disastrous to the " bully," and gave Mr. Schooley some reputa- tion as a fighter,-a reputation that has been kept "green " by a few subsequent bouts till it has become fixed.

In 1883 Mr. Schooley purchased a half in- terest, with Frank Taylor, in the Advocate- Tribune (Democratic), of Indianola, and im- mediately assumed editorial control. Two years later his son Frank took Mr. Taylor's

1087

RECORD OF IOWA.

place as the partner, and this is the present status. Mr. Schooley is a fearless writer, witty, thorough and versatile. He can write either in classical style or in the patois of his and other localities with equal facility, and seems to be just the man for the place he has occupied, as his influence doubtless holds many easy-going and reckless persons to the path of rectitude. In journalism he has always been rather a "free lance," as we might say he has also been in politics and religion; that is, he is an independent thinker and fearless in the exposure of iniquity.

At the beginning of the last war he volun- teered his services for the Union, but he was rejected on account of a crippled knee; he served, however, with the ' Squirrel Hunters" in the Morgan raid through Ohio, and was with the cavalry under General Shackelford at the capture of Morgan. .

In the early 'Sos he served two terms as Mayor of Indianola, his second election being almost unanimous. His executive ability, bravery, etc., as already illustrated in this sketch, were just the elements required in a good mayor, and he acquitted himself extra- ordinarily well in the performance of the duties of that office.

He has traveled extensively throughout the West and South, whence his editorial cor- respondence was spicy and instructive.

Although brought up under Quaker in- fluence he connected himself with the United Presbyterian Church in 1868, since which time he has continued a member. He first sug- gested and became the principal promoter of the splendid United Presbyterian church edifice in Indianola, was the committee (of one) on the plans at the start and furnished the present plan, in the rough, for the architects, and the seating was the result of his determined efforts. He also did the first work toward starting the Indianola public library, solicited subscriptions for the first $100 to purchase the first lot of books, furnished the library a room free of charge and took care of it free for a few years, -until it was placed on a more independent

footing He is now chairman of the board of trustees of this library, and has had that posi- tion ever since the first organization under the present law.

He is an admirer of good horses, and usually has some good steppers. Sometimes he has driven his own horse in races at county fairs. He takes much pleasure in driving on the road mornings and evenings, on which trips his wife usually accompanies him. In her girlhood she was an expert rider. In horse- back riding Mr. Schooley is also an expert, and it is a pretty bad horse that he can't mount with a single spring from the level ground and ride securely. He is a man of average height and weight, and is "withy" in his constitu- tion, physically as well as mentally. He used to run foot-races, box a little and was an all- round athlete. Socially he is an excellent companion and a good story-teller. He has been a life-long abstainer from all kinds of in- toxicants and tobacco, and seldom drinks either tea or coffee.

R. WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS, one of the most prominent medical practi- tioners of Iowa, having a very exten- sive practice in Adel and throughout the surrounding country, was born in Dallas county on the 9th of August, 1856, a repre- sentative of a family that has been connected with the history of this locality since early pioneer days.

The Williams family, in the paternal line, is of Welsh origin, and in America can be traced back to Revolutionary times. Jeremiah Williams, the great-grandfather of the Doctor, came from Wales to America during our Rev- olutionary period. He enlisted in the Revolu- tionary war and served over three years, and was wounded at the battle of Stony Point, when that fort was taken from the British. After the close of that war he married Mary Ann - and settled in South Carolina in 1807. He removed to Franklin county, In- diana, on what was afterward known as Will-

1088

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

iams creek, where his remaining days were passed. He had one daughter and seven sons, to wit: Mary Ann, Samuel, William E., John, Milburn, George, James and Thomas.

John was born June 3, 1796, in South Carolina, moved with his parents in 1807 to Franklin county, Indiana, and in the fall of 1819, after his marriage, settled near Conners- ville, in Fayette county, that State. In 1824 he removed to Vermilion county, same State, where he continued to reside for ten years, when he changed his residence to Warren county, also in that State, and in 1853 he came to Dallas county, Iowa. For his wife he married, October 14, 1819, Miss Elizabeth McCormick, who was born March 29, 1800, in Preble county, Ohio. Her father was born and reared in Ireland, emigrated to this coun- try at the close of the Revolutionary war, was married in Maryland to Miss Catharine Dren- nen, moved to Ohio and finally to Fayette county, Indiana. He had eight sons and six' daughters-Sarah, Ann, Samuel, John, Will- iam, Joseph, Elizabeth, James, Jane, Robert, Lewis, Katharine, David and Mary. Mrs. Williams died May 7, 1865, and in October, 1866, Mr. Williams married Nancy A: Gross. He died July 28, 1878, a highly respected cit- izen, at the age of eighty-two years, one month and twenty-five days. He was a successful farmer, and although he had never had any schooling-not being able even to write his own name-he managed to accumulate a con- siderable fortune.

Ephraim Williams, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born in Fayette coun- ty, Indiana, two miles north of Connersville, August 25, 1822, and in 1824 his parents re- moved to Vermilion county, that State, and in 1835 to Warren county, as already mentioned, where, September 18, 1845, he married Eliza- beth Parker. In September, 1850, he moved to Iowa, stopping first in Wapello county, to pass the winter there and look up a location for a permanent residence somewhere in this State; and during the following April he moved to Dallas county, where in time five of his

children were born. Altogether, during life, he had five sons and three daughters, to-wit: James Warren, Riley Thompson, Sarah Cath- arine, Martha Jane, Rachel Ann, William Johnston, Thomas Marion and Ora Clark. Six of these are yet living.

In 1854, in connection with his brother Enos and brother-in-law, James Parker, he erected the first steam saw and grist mill in Dallas county, four and a half miles southeast of Adel, under the firm name of Williams & Parker. For fourteen years he made his home near the mill, which he operated, and then settled a mile south of Adel, where he continued to make his residence for ten years. In 1880 he came to the city, which is now his place of abode. . He has been a prominent factor in the development and progress of this region, and is one of the influential citizens.

Dr. Williams, whose name introduces this sketch, passed his boyhood days at his parental home, continuing there until his marriage, during which time he obtained a good English education, which he continued in the high school of Adel. October 26, 1882, he was married to Miss Emma Greene, daughter of Hon. Benjamin Greene, and they have one son, Benjamin P., who is now twelve years old.

For three years after his marriage the Doctor engaged in the dairy business and then took up the study of medicine, entering Rush Medical College at Chicago, where he graduated in 1887. Subsequently he pursued a post-graduate course in New York. In 1894 he went abroad, spending three months in Europe, taking a post-graduate course in Ber- lin and making a special study of surgery. Re- turning to Iowa he has since engaged in the practice of his favorite calling. He has been a deep and close student of all the branches of his profession, sparing neither labor nor expense in perfecting himself, and to-day his superior ability is recognized both by the profession and the public. He has recently purchased the entire outfit, interest and practice of Dr. T. J. Caldwell, the pioneer physician of this section

1089

RECORD OF IOWA.

of Iowa, and few practitioners in the State have a more extensive practice than he enjoys. He has recently been appointed consulting physician of the Iowa Christian Sanitarium at Des Moines.

In his political views he is a stalwart Re- publican. His first presidential vote was cast for R. B. Hayes. He is a prominent member of the order of Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife are active workers in the Christian Church, doing all in their power to promote the cause and insure the upbuilding of the church in this locality. Honored and esteemed by those who know him, the Doctor well merits the high regard in which he is held.

ARVEY WILLIS, an esteemed resi- dent of Perry, Iowa, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, on the 15th of April, 1831, and is a son of Isaac and Anna (Macey) Willis. The father was a native of Tennessee, and removing to the Hoosier State, about 1820, built the first cabin in Richmond, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in the seventy-third year of his age. His wife was born in Nan- tucket, Massachusetts, and also died in Wayne county, at the age of fifty years. The father was a weaver by trade, but after locating in Indiana carried on agricultural pursuits. In their family were eleven children, ten of whom reached years of maturity, while four sons are yet living, all residing in Dallas county, Iowa, either at Perry or within a mile and a half of the town. Our subject descends from Quaker ancestry and Quaker parentage. His mater- nal grandfather, Barakiah Macey, came of an old New England family. He followed fishing and ran a whaleboat, his trips sometimes cov- ering four years.

The subject of this review was reared on his father's farm and when he began to earn his own living was employed as a hand at a carding-machine, devoting his energies to that labor for six years. When nineteen years of age he determined to seek his fortune in Cali-

fornia, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope, and made an overland trip. By boat he went from Cincinnati to Cairo, then up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to St. Joseph, where with a train of twenty ox teams and seven men he started across the plains, five and a half months being consumed in making the trip to California. Mr. Willis walked the entire distance. He engaged in mining 100 miles northeast of Sacramento for a year, and then returned by way of the isth- mus of Panama to his old Indiana home. After two months he went to La Porte county, that State, and worked as a farm hand by the month for a year.

On the 2d of June, 1852, Mr. Willis was united in marriage with Miss Eliza J. Webster, a native of Chautauqua county, New York, and a daughter of Calvin F. and Betsey B. (Borrough) Webster, also natives of the Em- pire State. The former died while visiting at the home of his daughter Mrs. Willis, when about seventy years of age; but his widow is still living and makes her home with her chil- dren. Four of their five children are yet liv- ing,-two sons and two daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Willis are the parents of twelve children, of whom seven survive. Orlando is deceased. Lucinda married Dr. W. N. Heaton, of Des Moines, and has two sons; Arthur E., the third, is married and has one son; William E. is at home; Frank is married and is engaged in the drug business with his elder brother; Ella is employed in the State Auditor's office in Des Moines; Kittie G. was graduated, with honor, at the Des Moines College and is now employed in the State census department of Des Moines; Lena is at home. The children have been provided with good educational facilities and are now well fitted for life's prac- tical and responsible duties.

For some years after his marriage Mr. Willis continued his residence in Indiana, and in the fall of 1859 located within a mile and a half of Perry, where he purchased 160 acres of land. He afterward bought 240 acres of land, where the village of Perry is now located. His

1090

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

first home was a log cabin 16x20 feet, and in it he lived for thirteen years, when it was re- placed by a more modern residence. He car- ried forward the work of development and im- provement upon his land until the once wild tract was transformed into richly cultivated fields and modern improvements adorned the place and gave evidence of the thrift and enter- prise of the owner.

Mr. Willis has been prominently identified with the work of progress since casting in his lot with the early settlers of this locality. He is deeply interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the community and in all possible ways has aided in its advancement. His po- litical support has been given the Republican party ever since voting for John C. Fremont in 1856.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 172

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