Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 176

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

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ILLIAM E. HYER now owns and manages a fine farnı of 440 acres on section 9, Union township, Marion county, Iowa. The place is under a system of high cultivation, and all the ac- cessories and conveniences of a model farm of the nineteenth century may be seen there. In addition to the comfortable residence there are good barns and outbuildings, the latest im- proved machinery, well tilled fields, and fine grades of stock, and the Hyer farm is recog- nized as one of the most valuable and desira- ble in this section of Iowa.

Mr. Hyer is numbered among Ohio's sons. He was born in Greenfield township, Highland county, that State, December 27, 1837, and is a son of Job and Angeline (Scott) Hyer, both natives of Westmoreland county, Virginia. The grandfather, Jacob Hyer, was a farmer of that State, and descended from English ances- tors who sought homes in America at an early day in this country's history. Job Hyer, father of our subject, was reared on a farm, but in his youth learned the wagon-maker's trade, which he followed throughout his entire life. He died at his home in Greenfield, Highland county, April 16, 1845. His widow after- ward married John Taylor and removed to Springfield, Ohio, where she died January 10, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Hyer were the parents of six children: Rufus, who died in the army while in the Mexican war; Nancy A .; Eliza, deceased; William E., Francis and Absalom.

William E. Hyer acquired a good education in the schools of South Salem, Ohio, and then

returned to the old homestead farm, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until his mar- riage. On the 2d of November, 1856, he led to the marriage altar Miss Elizabeth Benson, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, and is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Davis) Benson. In their family were eight children, and death has not once broken this band. In order of birth they are as follows: Margaret A., wife of W. O. Dowden, a farmer of Em- met county, Iowa; Mary A., wife of Charles Speed, a farmer of Calhoun county, Iowa; Nancy, wife of F. E. Whitmore, a school- teacher of Page county, Iowa; William A., who married Elizabeth McLean, and is an agri- culturist, of Marion county; John A., Julia M., Elijah A. and Gertrude, all yet at their pater- nal home.

During the Civil war Mr. Hyer manifested his loyalty to the Government by joining the boys in blue of Company A, Fortieth Iowa Infantry, enlisting on the 15th of August, 1862. The company was commanded by Captain M. V. B. Benson, and was attached to the command of General Rosecrans, participating in the bat- tles of Sartartia, Little Rock, the Red river campaign and the siege of Vicksburg. Mr. Hyer remained at the front until the close of the war, faithfully performing every duty as it came to him until hostilities had ceased, when on the 2d of August, 1865, he was honorably discharged. He then returned home and has since carried on agricultural pursuits. The success that he has achieved in life is due en- tirely to his own efforts, and he has not a dol- lar that he has not himself honestly earned. His political support is given the Democracy.

J OSEPH J. GALVIN, vice-president of the Citizens' Bank of Pleasantville, Iowa, and a leading farmer and stock dealer of Marion county, is numbered among the native sons of Kentucky. He was born on his father's farm in Montgomery coun- ty, that State, January 14, 1821, his parents being James and Elizabeth (Darnel) Galvin,

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the former a native of Bourbon county, Ken- tucky, and the latter of Maryland. All his life the father followed farming. From his native State he removed with his family to Benton county, Indiana, locating on a farm, where he resided until his death. His wife passed away two years later. Their family numbered three children. Allen, the eldest, was a farmer of Hendricks county, Indiana, and an extensive dealer in horses and mules, which he shipped in large numbers to the South. He died, leav- ing a wife and two sons, but all are now de- ceased. James, a farmer of Marion county, Iowa, was joined in wedlock with Miss Mahala Logan, and to them liave been born four chil- dren-Allen, Elizabeth, John and James.

The subject of this review in his early child- hood accompanied his parents to Benton coun- ty, Indiana, and he became familiar with all the duties of farm life, and also acquired his education in the district schools of the neigh- borhood. He is numbered among the pioneer settlers of Marion county, Iowa, has seen the greater part of its growth and upbuilding, and has always borne his part in the work of prog- ress and development.

The life of Mr. Galvin has been a busy and useful one. He has known few idle hours, and his splendid success has been achieved through his enterprising and well directed efforts. His judgment is seldom if ever at fault, and he is sagacious and far-sighted. This has enabled him to make judicious investments which have brought to him prosperity. His landed posses- sions now aggregate 1, 200 acres of as fine land as can be found in this section of Iowa, all lo- cated in Pleasant Grove township. A mile and a half east of Pleasantville stands his beau- tiful residence, which is supplied with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. In addition to general farming he is extensively engaged in feeding and shipping stock, and has found this a profitable source of income. In addition to his other business interests he is vice president of the Citizens' Bank of Pleas- antville.

In his political views Mr. Galvin is a stal-

wart Democrat, but has never sought or de- sired the honors or emoluments of public office. His wife is a member of the Christian Church, and though he is not a member he contributes liberally to its support and attends its services. He takes great delight in travel, and has vis- ited all parts of the country. A public-spirited and progressive citizen, he is deeply interested in everything pertaining to the country's wel- fare, and is very popular, his genial manner winning him many warm friends. His life il- lustrates what can be accomplished by capa- ble management, earnest effort and honorable dealing, and his success is certainly well de- served.

He was married on the 14th of May, 1857, to Miss Margaret McGinnis, a native of Put- nam county, Indiana, and a daughter of Levi and Lucretia (Logan) McGinnis, both of whom died during her early girlhood. She was then left an orphan, and with her grandparents came to Marion county, where she was reared. To Mr. and Mrs. Galvin have been born eleven children, namely: James A., who married Miss Margaret Haynes, and is a farmer of Cal- houn county, Iowa; Richard and Albert, both deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Theodore Stubbs, who carries on agricultural pursuits in Marion county; Riley, who wedded Miss Ellen Spencer, and is a farmer in Marion county; Granville, deceased; Emma, wife of C. F. Haynes, who is numbered among Calhoun county's farmers; Joseph, who was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Pitman, and is a farmer of Marion county; Clementine, wife of Albert Forst, who carries on agricultural pursuits in Calhoun county; Julia, wife of William Spalti, a farmer of Marion county; Miles, who completes the family and is still at the parental home.

3 OHN R. MORRISON, dealer in grain, Waukee, Iowa, is one of the well- known business men of this place, and it is appropriate that personal mention be made of him in connection with biogra-

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phies of other representative citizens of Dallas county.

Mr. Morrison was the fourth born in the family of ten children of Daniel and Isabella (Hunter) Morrison. Daniel Morrison was a son of Scotch parents and was born in the city of Edinburg, Scotland. When twelve years of age he emigrated with his parents to Amer- ica, their settlement being near Montreal, Canada, where he was reared and where he resided for many years. It was near Montreal that the subject of our sketch was born. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Daniel Morrison and his family came to Iowa and located on a farm in Wayne county, where they resided for two years and from there came to Dallas county. Here he bought a farm in Walnut township, was prospered in his operations, and at the time of his death left an estate of 1,000 acres, which was one of the finest farms in the town- ship and of which, however, John R. inherited none. In 1869 he purchased forty acres of land near Waukee, and with this small tract to start with he prospered and from time to time acquired other lands until at one time he owned no less than 482 acres,-all the result of his own industry and good management. But hard times came on and he was overtaken by reverses, and he finally had to sell his land to clear himself of debt. In 1889 he began deal- ing in grain, in this way obtained another start, and is now fast repairing his losses. At this writing he is building an elevator at Wau- kee, which will be of great benefit to the town and surrounding country and afford him better facilities for handling the large amount of grain which passes through his hands.

Mr. Morrison was married January 1, 1872, to Miss Mary E. Coffeen, of Des Moines, Iowa, and they have had eight children, namely: Marie E., Arthur R., Charles M., Chester C., Nettie B., Irene O., Josie R., and Leslie J. All are living except Irene O.

Mr. Morrison is a man of broad and liberal views and well posted on the topics of the day. In politics he has always taken a lively and commendable interest. He voted the

Democratic ticket until 1876, when he became a Republican, a few years later he affiliated with the Greenbackers, and now he is a Pop- ulist, enthusiastic in the interest of his party.

J ONATHAN W. HUSTON, whose post- office address is Booneville, Iowa, and who is classed with the representative farmers of Boone township, Dallas county, forms the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Huston is a son of James B. Huston, one of the earliest pioneers of Dallas county. James B. Huston was born in Kentucky, May 26, 1811, and when a young man removed to Indiana, where he worked on a farm and taught school until 1849. That year he moved out to Iowa, bought 160 acres of land in Dallas county, and until 1867 was engaged in farming on it. From 1867 until the time of his death, January 20, 1889, he lived retired. He was a man of many excellent traits of character, was a true Christian, and was honored and respect- ed by all who knew him. December 29, 1831, he married Miss Nancy Hill, a native of Vir- ginia, and they were the parents of twelve children, Jonathan W. being the fourth born.

Jonathan W. Huston was born in Indiana and was a boy when he came with his parents to Iowa. All his life he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He now has a fine farm of 280 acres located on section 15 of Boone township, Dallas county, and has his land well improved and under a high state of cultivation. An orchard of choice fruits is one of the at- tractive features of this farm.

Mr. Huston was married January 8, 1865, to Miss Rebecca Flynn, a native of Indiana, and they have seven children, namely: Luella J., born September 29, 1865, is the wife of George Harris, a farmer of Dallas county, and has two children; Squire Ira, born August 2, 1867, was married February 17, 1892, to Miss Alma Mortimer and they have one child living, their home being on his father's farm; and the other children are all members of the home circle: Charles W., born January 5, 1869;

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Frank E., July 23, 1872; George F., July 13, 1874; Ernest E., June 4, 1883; Ethel B., May 4, 1889.

Mr. Huston was reared a Methodist and is bringing his family up in the same faith. Polit- ically he is a Republican.

J OSEPH H. STEELE, whose post-office address is Waukee, Iowa, has his abid- ing place on a farm of ninety-eight acres on section 36, Walnut township, Dallas county, and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of the latter.

Mr. Steele was born in Boone county, Ken- tucky, December 7, 1859, his father at that time being a merchant in Boone county. The senior Mr. Steele was a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, and when a young man moved with his parents to Cincinnati, Ohio, whence a few years later he struck out for himself and Arkansas. For some time he ran a store boat on the Mississippi river. In 1835 he married Miss Catharine Parsons, a native of Arkansas, and soon after his marriage he moved to Boone county, Kentucky, where, as above stated, he was engaged in merchandising at the time our subject was born. His children are all mar- ried and settled in life, and are well-to-do. A daughter lives in Michigan, one son in Okla -· homa City, Arkansas, and another son in Des Moines. The mother of Mr. Joseph H. Steele was a born horse-woman, and had a reputa- tion as such wherever she lived. From her he inherits a love for horses. Early in life it was his ambition to be the owner of a fine horse, and this ambition has never left him. When he was nineteen he left home and secured em- ployment as a cotton picker, and with the money carned in this way he bought the first horse he ever owned. Now he is the owner of the finest thoroughbred stallion in the United States, - Earl Clifden II, an imported horse, and the sire of many fine horses. Mr. Steele takes a just pride in showing his get, and well he may, for in all the country round there are no better specimens of " horse-flesh " to be found. Also

he is interested in raising fine thoroughbred hogs. His pens are stocked with registered American, Durock and Jersey Reds.

Mr. Steele is a man of family. He was married October 10, 1882, to Miss Jane Morri- son, a native of Dallas county, Iowa, and they have three children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Jane, June 18, 1883; Pearl, September 14, 1885; and Samuel J., November 12, 1887.

In his political affiliations Mr. Steele was formerly a Republican, and cast his last presi- dential vote for Harrison, but has recently given his support to the Populist party, and is enthusiastic in behalf of its interests. He and his family attend the Christian Church.

RANCIS M. HOWARD, who owns and occupies a fine farm of 120 acres, located on section 23, Walnut town- ship, Dallas county, Iowa, and whose post-'office is Campbell, is another one of the leading citizens and successful farmers of this county. His land is well improved and in a high state of cultivation, and in connection with his general farming he is interested in stock-raising, and has an ambition to keep only the best breeds of stock.

Mr. Howard was born near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 24, 1848, son of R. and A. M. (Davis) Howard, the former a native of England and the latter of Marion county, Ohio. Mr. R. Howard was a saw-mill man and owned a mill near Milwaukee. He died the year fol- lowing the birth of our subject, and when Francis was three years old his mother gave him to a Mr. James Brundidge, a hotel man of Worthington, Ohio. When the boy was eight years old Mr. Brundidge came out West and located on a farm in Polk county, Iowa, and here the next seven years of his life were spent. When he was fifteen he went to Des Moines and entered upon an apprenticeship to the book-binder's trade, which business he fol- lowed for a period of fifteen years. In 1879 he bought the farm he has since occupied.

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October 28, 1872, Mr. Howard was united in marriage to Miss M. E. Swander, who was born and reared in Moline, Illinois, the date of her birth being January 12, 1853. Their union has been blessed in the birth of five children, as follows: Eva R., born March 28, 1874; Ed- win H., January 17, 1876; Charles L., De- cember 27, 1879; Lucy, July 12, 1885; and Anna M., November 5, 1888.

Mr. Howard is a Republican in his political relations. He cast his first presidential vote for General Grant, has maintained his allegi- ance to the party ever since, and, while he is not a politician, he takes a commendable in- terest in party affairs. In their religious be- lief he and his wife are Universalists.

RANK L. HEMPHILL, a prominent farmer of Dallas county, was born March 9, 1851. His father, Thomas Heinphill, was born on a farm in Adams county, Ohio, May 10, 1803, the fifth of nine children of Edward Hemphill, a native of Massachusetts. November 6, 1838, Thomas Hemphill was united in marriage with Eliza- beth Dixon, born in Ohio, January 8, 1819. In 1864 Thomas Hemphill and wife located in Des Moines, Iowa, where he bought and sold land, having also purchased considerable land in and around that city previous to coming West. During his five years' residence in this city he bought the farm where our subject now

resides, and also, in company with J. J. Van Meter, owned the site on which De Soto now stands. In 1869 the railroad was built through the town, and they gave the principal part of their town site to the company, having done everything within their power to encourage the growth of the town. In 1870 Mr. Hemphill built a large residence on the farm, which is still one of the largest and finest, both inside and out, in the city. He was a public-spirited man, always having the welfare of his fellow man at heart, and was an earnest worker in the Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Hemp- hill had seven children. The eldest, Susan 70

Carolyn, was born September 22, 1839. Sep- tember 14, 1865, she was united in marriage with Captain Andrew Jordan Lyons, who was shown many honors by General Noble and Governor Morton during the war. He served as Captain of Company E, Fifty-fourth Indi- ana Infantry, one year, and was mustered out October 25, 1863. From 1860 to 1862 and from 1863 to the close of the war he held a special recruiting commission. He is now a large land owner in Kansas, also a prominent politician both in Kansas and Dallas county, Iowa. Mr. Lyons served as County Treasurer two terms, and was County Surveyor one term. He and his wife are at present residing with our subject. The next child in order of birth is William Hemphill, born September 16, 1841. He was married October 26, 1870, to Sallie B. Morris, and they have two chil- dren, -Edward and Edith. Mr. and Mrs. Hemphill reside in California, where the for- mer is a real-estate dealer and merchant. The third child, Anna Rebecca, born October 19, 1843, married May 11, 1881, James Zimmer- man, and both are now deceased. Cyrus, born October 11, 1845. was married October 10, 1889, to Addie Brunson, and they have two children,-Hazel and Irvin. Mr. Hemphill is a stock dealer in Adair county, Iowa. Mar- garet Rachel, born September 10, 1848, was married February 4, 1885, to Joseph Abrams, of Winfield, Kansas. Mrs. Abrams died No- veinber 28, 1885. The subject of this sketch was the next in order of birth. The youngest child, Albert, was born October 11, 1854. May 11, 1876, he married Annie Morris, and they have four children, -Ethel, Blanche, Stella and Vivian. They reside on a farm near Dexter. Mrs. Thomas Hemphill departed this life October 31, 1875, and her husband survived until July 6, 1886, both dying in De Soto. Their remains were taken to Des Moines, and buried in the family lot in the Des Moines cemetery.

Frank L. Hemphill, the subject of this sketch, has spent his entire life in this State, and is a graduate of the Des Moines schools.

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He succeeded his father in business, and is now one of the most extensive stock-growers and shippers in the State. He inherited 426 acres of his father's estate, to which he has added until he now owns 506 acres, all in a fine state of cultivation, and contains all the modern farm improvements, which have beautified and increased the value of the place. In his polit- ical relations Mr. Hemphill is connected with the Republican party. He is a member and Trustee of the Methodist Church.

a LEBERG McNEAR, a merchant of Van Meter, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, December 3, 1847, the third of fifteen children of Frederick and Sarah (McDonald) McNear. The father moved with his parents to Ohio when a lad of fifteen years, and the mother was born and raised in that State. In 1864 Mr. and Mrs. McNear located in Des Moines, Iowa, where he opened a blacksmith shop, and they resided in that city five years. Mr. McNear then opened a shop in Van Meter, which he con- ducted until his death, passing away in Sep- tember, 1875, at the age of fifty-two years. His widow is still living, aged seventy-three years, and is very active for one of her age. She resides with a son in Missouri.

Cleberg McNear, the subject of this sketch, worked in his father's shop, and at the latter's death he succeeded to the business. He con- tinued the same until 1893, when he moved the shop to the rear of his property, and erected a fine store building, which he stocked with groceries, dry goods and notions. In 1893 he discontinued blacksmithing and added a large stock of hardware to his store.

In November, 1878, Mr. McNear was united in marriage with Jane Stump, a native of Iowa. They have had nine children, five now living, namely: Sarah E., born December 5, 1882; Stella, October 25, 1884; James, June 20, 1886; Cleberg, in May, 1892; and an in- fant born July 10, 1895. In political matters,

Mr. McNear was identified with the Demo- cratic party until Harrison's administration, since which time he has been a stanch Re- publican. In 1891-2-3 he served as Council- man of Van Meter. Socially he is a member of Van Meter Lodge, No. 18, Knights of Pythias, and religiously is a member of the Christian Church.

LBERT ROSS HEMPHILL, one of the prosperous farmers of Dallas county, Iowa, is located on section 22 of Union township, his post-office address being Dexter.

Mr. Hemphill is a native of the Hoosier State. He was born in Attica, Indiana, and lived with his parents until he attained his majority. Honorable mention of his father and other members of the family will be found in the biography of Mr. Frank Hemphill on another page of this work. At the age of twenty-one Albert R. and his brother William engaged in the mercantile business in De Soto, Dallas county, Iowa, where they were thus oc- cupied about one year. After this our subject returned to the farm and spent the next seven years at the old home place. Then he moved to Madison county, where he bought a farm of 240 acres, on which he made his home for eight years, improving and cultivating his land, and at the expiration of this time sold out and moved to his brother Frank's farm near De Soto, which he rented for three years. His next move was to his present location, on sec- tion 22 of Union township, where he owns 118 acres. This tract he purchased in June, 1894. At the time he purchased it the farm was run down and poorly improved. He has already put some valuable improvements on it, and as he intends to make it his future home will carry forward the work of improvement still more extensively.

May 1I, 1875, Mr. Hemphill was married, and he has four children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Carrie Ethel, born June 23, 1877; Katie Blanche, November

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1, 1885; Anna Stella, January 29, 1884; and Vivian Margary, June 1, 1893.

Mr. Hemphill is a Republican and takes a deep interest in the doings of his party, but has no desire for office or political honors. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The success he has attained in life, and what he is he attributes to the teachings and influence of his honored Christian father.

EORGE R. SMITH, engaged in the poultry and produce business in De Soto, is the youngest of three chil- dren born to W. H. and Margaret (Smith) Smith. The children are: Jennie, wife of J. W. Blackman; Cordelia, deceased in 1884; and George R. W. H. Smith was born and raised in Stark county, Ohio, where he engaged in the furniture business. In 1850 he removed to Indiana, where George R. was born, August 14, 1853. In 1863 he located in Bureau county, Illinois, and afterward came to De Soto, Iowa, where he was engaged in the furniture business until his death. He was a member of the Christian Church, and was con- sidered an honest, upright and influential cit- izen.

In 1888 Mr. Smith, the subject of this sketch, purchased the largest store building in De Soto, a two-story brick, 44 x 66 feet, where he was engaged in the dry-goods and clothing business for over fifteen years. In 1895 he sold the store to J. Shultz. In addition to his poultry and produce business, he has bought and sold land, and now owns two farms, one of 160 acres and the other of 90 acres, both under a fine system of cultivation, and rented. Mr. Smith has met with success in all his busi- ness ventures, and it is his ambition to own a fine stock farm, for which he is now negotiat- ing. In his political relations he is promi- nently identified with the Republican party.

Mr. Smith was married January 14, 1885, to Hattie Clammer, a daughter of a Methodist minister.

S AMUEL MANOR, well known as a successful farmer and agriculturist, has the largest farm in Dallas county, Iowa, his location being on section 19, Linden township. He was born in Berke- ley county, West Virginia, January 11, 1831, eldest of the eight children composing the fam- ily of Caleb and Betsey (Suver) Manor, -the, former a native of Virginia, the latter of Penn- sylvania. He remained with his parents until attaining his majority, when he started out to make his fortune. Prior to this time his father had moved to Indiana, and it was as a farm hand in that State that he earned the first money that he could call his own. After four years of farm work in the "Hoosier " State, he came, in the fall of 1856, to Iowa, and at that time purchased the farm on which he now lives. At that time this was all wild land without any improvements, whatever, and here he has since lived, labored and pros- pered, expending the greater part of what he has made toward improvements on his land. His residence was erected at a cost of over $2,000. He has two fine barns and numerous other farm buildings, all first-class and well- kept. Among other conveniences, he has on his farm one of the latest improved scales. His place originally consisted of 100 acres, but now comprises 140. His fine orchard, which, as above stated, is the largest in the county, covers twenty-six acres and includes 2,600 fruit-bearing trees. While he annually raises a considerable amount of grain, he feeds it all to his stock; and in addition to his own prod- uce often has to buy as much as 5,000 bushels of corn. He believes in the old adage, "Live and let live," and is always willing to pay the highest market price for grain he buys, expecting like prices when he sells.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 176

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