Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 24

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

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a record of his service cannot be given, and the reader's attention is called to the life of Gen- eral Dodge by Dr. William Salter, published in 1887.

The first General Assembly of the State of Iowa was not able to agree upon the election of United States Senators, but tlie second Assembly, December 2, 1848, elected Gen- eral Dodge and George W. Jones. Mr. Dodge drew for the short terin, ending March 4, 1849, and was at once re-elected for the term ending March 4, 1855. As seven years before the son had welcomed the father to a seat by his side in the House of Representatives, so now the father, who had entered the Senate on the 23d of the previous June, as one of the Senators from the State of Wisconsin, greeted the arrival of his son in the Senate chamber. This was an un- precedented occurrence. It was also noteworthy that Augustus C. Dodge was the first person born west of the Mississippi river to become a Senator of the United States. He was con- gratulated by Mrs. Fremont, wife of. General Fremont, who said: "General, I am sure that you will be the best behaved man in the Sen- ate, on the ground that a dutiful son will be exceedingly decorous in the immediate pres- ence of his father."

The time in which General Dodge served in the United States Senate was an exciting one in the history of the country. He favored the Compromise bill of 1850, but voted against Jefferson Davis's proposition to make void the prohibition of slavery that had existed under the Mexican law, and extend the Missouri Com- promise line of 1820 so as to authorize slavery north of it, and he voted for the admissson of California under her constitution prohibiting slavery. Mr. Dodge served as chairman of the Committee on Public Lands, and favored the passage of the Homestead bill. In the Kansas- Nebraska struggle of 1854, he followed the lead of Stephen A. Douglas. One of the best speeches delivered in the Senate in favor of tlie organization of Kansas and Nebraska un- der the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and sneeringly spoken of as "squatter sovereignty," was by

him. In answer to Senator Brown, of Missis- sippi, who said, "There are certain menial employments which belong to the negro," he replied, "Sir, I tell the Senator from Missis- sipi, I speak upon the floor of the American Senate, in the presence of my father who will attest to its trùth, that I perform and do per- form when at home, all of these menial services to which the Senator referred in terms so grat- ing to my feelings. As a general thing I saw my own wood, do all my own marketing. I have driven teams, horses, mules, oxen, and considered myself as respectable then as I do now, or as any Senator on the floor."

On the 8th of February, 1855, Mr. Dodge resigned his seat in the Senate, and on the fol- lowing day President Pierce nominated him to be Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Spain. He was confirmed and served with great credit to himself and the general Govern- ment until the summer of 1859, when he re- turned home and made the race for Governor of Iowa on the Democratic ticket, but could not overcome the strong Republican majority. The following extract is from Salter's life of the General:

"Withdrawn the rest of his life for the most part from official station, Mr. Dodge re- tained to the end of his life his interest in pub- lic affairs, and his unswerving devotion to the Democratic party, of which he remained a rec- ognized leader. On several occasions his name was presented as a suitable candidate for the highest offices in the nation, but he himself never aided or abetted any movement to that end. In 1872 he advocated union with the liberal Republicans, and the election of Horace Greeley for President. In 1874 he was elected Mayor of Burlington by a spontaneous move- ment of citizens, irrespective of party. In 1875 he served, by appointment of Governor Carpenter, on a cominission to investigate al- leged abuses in a reform school at Eldora, and aided in introducing a more humane discipline into that institution. An ardent friend of youth, he was a frequent visitor at schools, and gave help and cheer to many in their

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struggle for an education. He sustained the cause of temperance in vigorous addresses, discountenanced the drinking habit by consist- ent example, and looked to the invigoration of man's moral sense for the suppression of in- temperance, -not to prohibitory legislation. At meetings of pioneers and old settlers he was an honored guest, and never wearied in com- memorating their exploits and labors.

"He presided over the semi-centennial, celebration of the settlement of Iowa, on the first of June, 1883, at Burlington, and gave surpassing dignity and zest to that occasion. It was a sight that can never be looked upon again, to see that illustrious pioneer of Iowa, at the age of more than three-score and ten. pour forth from his capacious, accurate and ready memory treasures of information con- cerning the beginning of the commonwealth. It seemed as if he were inspired with a relig- ious zeal to snatch from oblivion the memory of our founders for the, instruction of after times. A few months later caine the fatal sickness and the final hour. He died at Bur- lington, Iowa, on the 20th of November, 1883, in the bosom of his family, sharing the con- solation of religion, his last words being . Bless the Lord.'"

OHN RELPH, whose fine farm lies in section 13, Benton township, Lucas county, Iowa, is one of the popular and prosperous farmers of his vicinity and is also entitled to distinction as an old settler and a veteran of the Civil war, being now a mem- ber of the Frank Nolan Post, No. 208, G. A. R.

Mr. Relph was born in Morgan county, Ohio, August 15, 1835. His father, John Relph, Sr., was a native of the Old Dominion, born in Loudoun county, July 23, 1791, son of William Relph, a Virginian by birth and a de- scendant of German ancestry. William Relph married a Miss Rigle, she, too, being a native of Virginia, and as the years passed by sons and daughters to the number of seven were born to them, namely: William, Catherine,

Rosamond, John, Mary, Joseph and Sarah. The father spent his life and died in his native State; and the mother died in Ohio. Of their son John, we further record that he was a butcher by trade, at which he was occupied for a number of years. He was married in Mor- gan county, Ohio, to Salone Russell, a native of Pennsylvania and of Irish and German stock; and their family, like his father's, num- bered seven sons and daughters, as follows: Eve Gookin, deceased; Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Sarah Hellyer, who died in Lucas county, Iowa; Thomas, deceased in Ohio; Mary, who died in this county; John, the sub- ject of our sketch; and Wilmina, who died in Ohio. The mother died in Ohio when her son John was about twelve years of age. The father came to Lucas county, Iowa, in 1854, and died here two years later, at the age of sixty-six years. He was for many years a Democrat, but at the close of his life belonged to what was known as the Know-Nothing party. Both he and his wife were Calvinistic in their creed.

From a brief review of his ancestry, we now turn to the immediate subject of our sketch, John Relph. He grew up in his native State, received his education. there, and was nineteen years of age when he came with his father and family to Iowa. Here he was quietly at work on the farm when the war be- tween the North and the South broke out, and he was among the first to drop the plow handles and join the Union ranks. July 17, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Sixth Iowa Infantry, and went into camp at Burlington, Iowa. Afterward he was at Keokuk, this State, then at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, and subsequently at various other points in Missouri. At Shiloh he was taken sick and was sent to Benton Barracks, where he was honorably discharged from the service.

Since 1873 Mr. Relph has resided on his present farm, 120 acres of fine land, nicely im- proved and under excellent cultivation. His pleasant cottage home is beautifully situated and surrounded with grove and orchard. On

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the 25th of February in the same year in which he settled on this farm, Mr. Relph was united in marriage, in this township, to Miss Marie Franklin, a woman of intelligence and good family, born in Huron county, Ohio, January 1, 1838, daughter of Reuben and Rhoda (Noble) Franklin, the former a native of Rhode Island and the latter of Connecticut. Her mother, who was a Baptist, died in 1838. Her father died in 1841, in Huron county, where he had been a respected farmer for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin had nine children, viz .: Rebecca, George, Edmund, De- velia, Emily, Jerome, Catherine, Adelia and Maria. Mrs. Relph, thus early in life deprived of both a mother and father's love and care, was reared by her elder brothers and sisters and was educated in Ohio. She came to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1866, and in this State met and married Mr. Relph, as already stated. They have two children living: William R., born June 9, 1875; and Edmund, June 8, 1877. They also have two children deceased, Ruth having died in infancy, and John, a twin of Edmund, at the age of two years.

Mr. Relph is a Republican, has always taken an active interest in educational matters, and (at the present time ) is a member of the School Board.

URELIUS CULBERTSON .- In the subject of this sketch is found a representative farmer of Lucas coun- ty, Iowa. He owns 230 acres of land in section 17, Lincoln township, about 70 acres of which are timber land, the rest be- ing devoted to general farming and stock-rais- ing. Here he has lived and prospered since December, 1868, giving his whole attention to the improvement and cultivation of his farm.

Mr. Culbertson was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, August 12, 1819, son of Alex- ander and Alice (Mason) Culbertson. Alexan- der Culbertson was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and in 1810 removed to

Muskingum county, Ohio. In Ohio he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring May 7, 1851. By trade he was a millwright. For some years he ran a grist and saw mill, and was very successful in this, and later in life devoted his attention to agricultural pur- suits. March 27, 1895, he and his venerable wife celebrated their golden wedding. The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, and during the winter months attended school in one of the primi- tive log school-houses which have so often been described in connection with the early history of the West.

Aurelius Culbertson chose for his wife Mar- garet Gallagher, a native of county Donegal, Ireland, born October 11, 1821, daughter of Patrick M. and Martha (McFeeters) Gallagher, the Gallagher family having removed from Ire- land to this country in 1836. In this family were six children, four daughters and two sons. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Culbert- son, we make record as follows: John, born January 8, 1846, has been County Treasurer of Lucas county and is at present cashier of the Chariton Savings Bank; Alsia J., wife of James Alexander, lives at Orchard, Nebraska; Louis A., born October 8, 1850, is engaged in mercantile pursuits; Howard, born April 5, 1852, is in business at Wallace, Nebraska; Sarah F., wife of George. Champlin, was pre- vious to her marriage a teacher; Mary Ade- laide, died November 20, 1881, and is buried in Chariton cemetery; Martha Elizabeth, wife of Jesse Snedecker, Mount Ayr, Ringgold county, Iowa, where Mr. Snedecker is engaged in merchandising: James William, born De- cember 20, 1859; and Izetta D .. who resides on the old homestead. Of the eldest son, John, we further record that he married An- geline Irwin, and that she died, leaving him with four children, Lee, Irwin, Edward A. and Angelin, -the latter only residing with the parents. He was married again in 1887, to Clara Hollinger, and Charles C. was born to them August 28, 1893.

Politically, Mr. Culbertson is a Republican.

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B EV. FATHER F. J. LEONARD, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, of Chariton, Iowa, was born in Madi- son, Wisconsin, June 5, 1865, and is a son of John and Margaret (Cooney) Leonard, natives of county Connaught, Ireland. The father came to America in 1842, the mother in 1845, and their marriage was celebrated in Massachusetts in 1850. They had a family of eight children, six of whom are living. Two brothers of our subject, John and James, are residents of Colorado. Margaret is the wife of M. V. Kennedy, a contractor and builder of Des Moines, Iowa. Mary is the wife of George Crowder, who is engaged in mining at Aspen, Colorado. Catherine is still with her parents. The family removed from Madison, Wisconsin, to Des Moines, Iowa, where the parents still reside. Mr. Leonard was engaged in railroad- ing in various capacities for some time and is now living a retired life.

The early educational advantages of Rev. Father Leonard, who is the youngest of the family, were obtained in St. Ambrose's pa- rochial school in Des Moines. Later he en- tered St. Joseph's College, of Dubuque, Iowa, and was transferred from there to Niagara University, completing the prescribed course in 1888. He next entered Mount St. Mary's Seminary, of Cincinnati, where he studied theology and was ordained to the priesthood in 1891, by Archbishop Elder, of that city. His first pastoral duty was at the cathedral in Davenport, Iowa, where he remained until August, 1893, when he became pastor of the church in Chariton.

St. Mary's Catholic Church was organized in 1869, and is now in. a very prosperous con- dition, growing steadily under the able leader- ship of Father Leonard. He holds services there twice each month, and also once each month at Woodburn and at Osceola, Iowa. He is a young man of liberal education and genial manner, with a reserved vital force, well calculated to aid him in the upbuilding of his church. The societies connected with the church are the Rosary Society, an organiza-

tion for ladies, and the Holy Name Society, for gentlemen, both being of a religious char- acter.

Father Leonard is a gentleman universally honored and respected by the people of Chari- ton without regard to church boundaries. He is a zealous advocate of temperance, discoun- tenancing any infringement of the laws in this respect. He is himself a total abstainer, and therefore by example as well as precept he teaches his people. He is devoted to his work, counting no sacrifice too great that will advance the cause, and his consistent life coinmands the respect of all who know him.

RVID ARVIDSON, as Trustee of White Breast township, Lucas county, Iowa, occupies a position of local importance and is entitled to some special mention here. As his name suggests, Mr. Arvidson is a native of Sweden, but has spent the greater part of his life in America, and for a period of twenty-three years has been identified with Lucas county.

Arvid Arvidson was born near Gothenburg, Sweden, October 26, 1844, his father being Arvid Skogman, and the maiden name of his mother, Stina Nelson, both natives of Sweden. The paternal grandfather of our subject spent nearly the whole of his life in the king's army, much of that time being an officer, and for seven years was held as a prisoner of war by the Russians. Late in life he married a young lady and by her had three children, one of whom was the father of our subject. Arvid Shogman died in Sweden in 1850, leaving his widow with three children, Arvid being the eldest, and at that time six years of age. Of the other two, Mary and Caroline, we record that the former is in Iowa, and the latter in Norway. The aged mother, now eighty-five, resides with her son. They were farmers in Sweden, and their religion that of the Lu- theran Church.

The subject of our sketch spent his youth and early manhood on a farm in his native

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land, attending school there until he was fif- teen. When he was twenty-four he bade good- bye to friends and native land and sailed from Christiania, Norway, for the United States, where he landed after an ocean voyage of twenty-one days. On his arrival in this country he came direct to Iowa, and at Ot- tumwa secured employment in a brick-yard and was thus occupied for three months. He next engaged in railroad work, doing track and car repairing on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and later was made foreman cf a sec- tion of the road, being occupied in this way for several years. In 1882 he settled on the farm on which he has since lived, 140 acres in sec- tion 21, of White Breast township, located four and a half iniles west of Chariton.

Mr. Arvidson was married at the age of twenty-eight, in Ottumwa, Iowa, to Miss Car- rie Anderson, like himself of Swedish birth. She has been a resident of America since her twentieth year. Her parents died in the old country. Mr. and Mrs. Arvidson have nine children, their ages ranging from twenty-two to two years, and their names, in order of birth, being as follows: Arvid Godfrey, Ella, Esther, Agnes, Carl, Anna, Sallma, Joseph and Jenny.

Ever since he became a citizen of the Uni- ted States Mr. Avidson has been connected with the Republican party. He served two terms as a member of the School Board, and since 1892 has occupied his present position, that of Township Trustee, serving most accept- ably. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

LIJAH COFFELT, one of the re- spected farmers of White Breast township, Lucas county, Iowa, was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, February 12, 1837. His father, Daniel Coffelt, was a native of Tennessee and the son of a Revolutionary soldier. When a young man he removed from Tennessee to Indiana, where he was subsequently united in marriage to Miss Peggy Bivens, like himself a native of Tennes-

see. Her father, Elijah Bivens, a Tennesseean by birth, was a participant in the Indian wars in 1812-13, and was one of the earliest set- tlers of Hendricks county, Indiana. Daniel and Peggy Coffelt were the parents of five children, namely: Mary, deceased; Elijah, whose name initiates this sketch; Nancy, who died in early childhood; Mrs. Margaret Woods, of Lucas county, Iowa; and Sarah, also of this county. The parents died in Owen county, Indiana, the mother at the age of thirty-five years, and the father at sixty-three. He was a fariner by occupation, in politics was a Dem- ocrat, and as an honest and industrious man and worthy citizen had the respect of all who knew him.

Elijah Coffelt was reared on his father's farm in Indiana, his youthful days being given to farm work and his educational advantages limited. At the age of twenty-six he went to Vigo county, Indiana, and was there during the greater part of the war. Before the war closed, however, he entered the Union ranks and rendered valued service in helping to pro- tect the old flag. It was as a member of Com- pany H, One Hundred and Forty-ninth In- diana Infantry, and in February, 1865, that he enlisted, and he served until September of that year, when he was honorably discharged. He was with the forces that operated in the South and was a portion of the time stationed at De- catur, Alabama.

Returning to Vigo county after the war, he inade his home at that place until 1868, when he removed to Iowa, his first location in this State being in Taylor county, near Bedford. In 1873 he took up his abode in Lucas county and in 1876 he moved on to his present farm. Here he owns forty acres of land, twenty-two of which are rich bottom soil. He has a com- fortable cottage, 20 x 24 feet in dimensions, and located on a natural building site.

Mr. Coffelt was married in Putnam county, Indiana, to Miss Rachel · Carpenter, who was born and reared in that State, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Ruby) Carpenter, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of

Mis. Rachel A. Romback.

Jeison Romback.

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Ohio. Her parents both died in Indiana. They had two sons who were Union soldiers, David and Joseph, the former now deceased and the latter a resident of Harrison county, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Coffelt have had eight children, seven of whom are living, namely: William, Mrs. Amanda Bradford, Daniel, Robert, George, Mrs. May Goben, and Mrs. Ettie Stevenson, all of this county, ex- cepting that William lives in Alturas county, Idaho, and Robert in Elmore county, same Territory. The one deceased was named Lucinda.

Mr. Coffelt supports the principles of the Republican party and is a member of the G. A. R., having a membership in Isemyer Post, No. 18, of Chariton.

ERSON ROMBACK, an early pioneer of Lincoln township, Warren county, was born in Baden, Germany, Jan- uary 5, 1832, the only child of John and Christina Romback. The father left his native country in 1835 in search of a new and better home for his family in the United States, but he died quite suddenly, on the Ohio river, soon after his arrival here, -far from home and loved ones.

In 1849, when Gerson Romback, our sub- ject, was seventeen years of age, he came with his mother to the United States, and settled in Clinton county, Ohio, where he remained seven years, working by the month at hotel and farm labor. In 1854 Mr. Romback started on a western trip in search of a location, and becoming impressed with the appearance of Warren county, Iowa, he entered a tract of Government land in White Oak township, on the line of what is now Lincoln township. The tract consisted of 250 acres. Two years af- terward, in company with his mother, he lo- cated on that property, building a small shanty, which was afterward replaced by a more com- modious and comfortable home. Mr. Rom- back was one of the earliest settlers of the lo- cality, and his property consisted of only wild 10

prairie land. He started in with hope and courage to subdue it, but the hard times which soon came on and the lack of a market for their products told heavily on the early set- tlers. But with indomitable courage he kept at work, and soon came through those trying times successfully, and laid the foundation of the greater success which came to him later in life. Mr. Romback has added to his original purchase from time to time until he now owns a fine farm of 495 acres, where, in addition to general farming, he is engaged in stock-raising, owning from sixteen to twenty horses, from fifty to sixty head of cattle and about fifty hogs.

In 1856 our subject was united in marriage with Agatha Held, who died in 1890, leaving three children: Frank, of Jackson township, Iowa; Mary L., wife of William McClure, of Lincoln township; and Charles, at home. Mr. Romback was again married, March 17, 1892, to Rachel Ann Dillard, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Marks) Dillard, natives respectively of Indiana and Virginia. They came to this State as early as 1853, where Mr. Dillard is still living, aged seventy-seven years. His wife died in Feb- ruary, 1894, at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. Romback is independent in political mat- ters, always supporting the men who in his judgment will represent the best interests of the people, regardless of party affiliations. For the past twenty-five years he has been a strong adherent of the Masonic order, being a mem- ber of Warren Lodge, No. 53, of Indianola.

B RICE JACKSON dates his identity with Warren township, Lucas county, Iowa, from March 24, 1866, and for nearly thirty years he has been one of the leading farmers of his vicinity.

Mr. Jackson was born in Monroe county, Ohio, December 24, 1837, son of Silas Jack- son and grandson of Abram Jackson, the for- mer born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in

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1810, and the latter a native of Philadelphia, that State. Great-grandfather Jackson was a native of the Emerald Isle and was one of the early settlers of Pennsylvania. Abram Jack- son and his wife, previously Miss Leonard, who was born near Philadelphia, were the par- ents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, viz .: Silas, Margaret J., Hannah, Robert, Jesse, Leonard and Sarah A. When Silas Jackson was three years old his parents moved to Ohio and settled in Monroe county. He grew up on his father's frontier farm, and in Ohio was married to Sarah Ann Griffey, a native of that State and a daughter of Will- iamn D. and Mary Griffey, natives of Pennsyl- vania. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Silas and Sarah A. Jackson became the parents of ten children, as follows: Will- iam; Mary J., deceased; Brice, whose name heads this article; Elizabeth; Wilson S., who served one year, and died in service August 9, 1863, a member of Company D, One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry; Lewis; Sarah Ann; George W., who died at the age of seventeen years; James, who died in childhood; and Jeremiah. The mother died at the age of thirty-seven years and the father lived to be seventy-two. His whole life was spent in agricultural pursuits.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 24

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