Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 36

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

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awake and enterprising young business man who possesses superior ability and a determi- nation that carries forward to successful com- pletion whatever he undertakes.

On the 2d of March, 1881, Mr. Condit married Miss Emma Turner, a native of War- ren county and a daughter of J. M. Turner, of Belmont township. Three children grace this union: Geraldine, born January 12, 1882; John T., born October 7, 1883; and Gilbert H., born April 21, 1886. They have a pleas- ant home on South street, which is presided over by Mrs. Condit, an accomplished lady who extends warm hospitality to their many friends.

The political support of Mr. Condit is given to the Republican party, with which he has been connected since casting his first presiden- tial vote for James A. Garfield. He is deeply interested in educational affairs and all that pertains to the advancement of schools, and is the efficient president of the Milo school board, under whose direction there is now being erected, at a cost of $9,000, a school building designed as a high school. There are three rooms below, with a seating capacity of 285 pupils, and two recitation roomns above. He has also served as township Clerk of Belmont township, and 'was Justice of the Peace in Liberty township for one term. His entire life has been passed in Warren county, and he typifies the true Western spirit of progress. Socially Mr. Condit is a member of Milo Lodge, No. 413, I. O. O. F., and Lilly Lodge, No. 160, K. of P., of Milo.

J OHN FRANCIS GOODE is the vice- president of the Citizens' Bank of Milo. In each community there are energetic and enterprising men to whom the pros- perity and progress of the locality are due. They are men who promote the public welfare while advancing their individual interests, and to this class belongs the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. Educational, social, moral and business interests have been

promoted by him and Milo numbers him among its founders.

Mr. Goode is a native of Virginia, born in Prince Edward county, about twelve miles from Farmville, and in the neighborhood where General Lee surrendered his army to General Grant and thus brought to a close the Civil war. His birth occurred June 29, 1827, and when not yet ten years of age he accom- panied his parents to Highland county, Ohio. His father, Joseph Goode, was a Virginian, born in 1798, and lived to attain the remarka- ble age of ninety-four years. His death even then came by accident, he being trampled under foot by a drove of horses. Early in life he developed a splendid physique and the grace of athletic symmetry accompanied his every move. He seemed never more at ease than when in a saddle and sat on his horse as if a part of him, so simultaneously did he re- spond to the rhythmic movements of his steed. He was a hatter by trade, following that occu- pation for many years. He was of happy, cheerful temperament, a companionable gen- tleman, and wherever he went made many warm friends. He was devoted to the cause of Christianity and was often engaged in preaching the gospel, and did all in his power to promote the cause. In 1854 he came to Iowa, locating in White Breast township, Warren county. A grave marked in Goode's Chapel burying ground is the last resting place of this man of many virtues, whose life was well worthy of emulation. He was married to Mary A. Johnson, and they became the par- ents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth. All are living except Sarah, who became the wife of Burwell Britton, a resident of Highland county, Ohio. W. P. is the popular host of a hotel in Lebanon, Kansas. J. F. is the next younger. Rebecca C. is the wife of J. J. Smith, a popular hotel man of Milo. Henry H. is living a retired life in Milo. Mary B. is the widow of Thompson Walton, a farmer of White Breast township, Warren county. Lottie V., wife of Robert

Johnthfielmann

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W. Kingey, a farmer of Liberty township. The mother of this family was also a native of Virginia, and her deeds of kindness and charity will make her long remembered by all who knew her. She passed away in 1878.

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was reared to agricultural pursuits, and as soon as old enough to handle a plow began work in the fields. There were no public schools near his Virginia home and it was there- fore fortunate for him that his family came to Ohio. His first purchase of land made him the owner of a tract on section 32, Belmont township, Warren county, Iowa, and to its cultivation he gave his undivided attention un- til 1862, when he removed to Sandersville, Iowa, there spending three years as a dealer in general merchandising. On coming to Milo he continued in the same line of business and met with most excellent success, securing a large trade through his well directed efforts, straightforward dealing and earnest desire to please his patrons. In 1878 he removed to Council Grove, Morris county, Kansas, where he engaged in merchandising for one year, when he returned to Milo and erected the pretty home which he now occupies.

Mr. Goode was married January 18, 1854, in Highland county, Ohio, at the home of the bride's parents, to Miss Elizabeth Walton, a native of that county, whither her parents emigrated at an early day. Nine children have been born of this union: Mary E., who was born January 31, 1855, and is the wife of O. J. Higbee, a resident of Milo; Emma F., born September 6, 1856; Sarah C., born October 16, 1858, the wife of Louis Shafer, of the firm of Shafer & Wadle, dealers in boots, shoes and groceries, of Milo; Leroy W., who was born August 15, 1860, and died at the age of two and a half years; Josephine, who was born October 18, 1862, and died at the age of a year and a half; John W., who was born October 15, 1865, was graduated at Simpson College, of Indianola, Iowa, and now represents Harper Brothers, publishers, of New York; Elizabeth M,, who was born November 6,

1867, graduated in stenography in Oskaloosa, and is now the wife of Tony Wadle, of the firm of Shafer & Wadle; Joseph N., who was born July 23, 1870, and was graduated in the commercial department of Simpson College with the class of 1893; and Lucy A., who was born November 5, 1872, and completes the family.

Mr. Goode is a warm advocate of temper- ance principles and votes accordingly, sup- porting the Prohibition party. He has served as Mayor and Alderman of Milo, and his faith- ful performance of the duties of those offices has materially advanced the city's welfare. He and his family are members of the Christian Union, of Iowa. Upon the reorganization of the Citizens' Bank, of Milo, he was made its vice-president, and has since held that position. An honorable business man and a valued citi- zen, we take pleasure in presenting this record of his life to our readers.

J OHN A. SPIELMAN .- In taking note of the progress and development of any community the interested observer in- variably takes cognizance of the indi- vidual citizenship which has entered into the work of effecting such evolution, for time, in itself considered, is a disintegrating force alone, and through human agency is brought about progress and its concomitant benefices. Thus it is that there is an imperative necessity that in connection with the rise of the flourishing little city of Fairfield, Jefferson county, we must incidentally revert to the career of him whose name initiates this paragraph, for he has been inseparably identified with its commercial and material prosperity from the early pioneer days, is one who is well known and highly honored throughout the county, who has served his nation in the hour of her imperative need for brave and loyal defenders, and who is emni- nently worthy of biographic honors. After having been connected with mercantile inter- ests in Jefferson county for more than a quar- ter of a century, he is now living in practical

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retirement in Fairfield, enjoying the fruits of his labors and the good will and friendship of a large circle of acquaintances.

A native of the Buckeye State, Mr. Spiel- man was born in Columbus, the capital city, on the 10th of July, 1834, being the son of John and Saloma (Berge) Spielman, who were among the early settlers in Jefferson county, Iowa, and who were people of high intelligence and sterling worth of character. Our subject came with his parents to this county in the spring of 1840, and passed the succeeding dec- ade of his life on the parental farmstead in Walnut township, aiding in its cultivation and securing such educational advantages as were afforded in the district schools. In 1850, at the age of sixteen years, he returned to his na- tive city and entered the Capital University, where he pursued his studies for two years, after which he turned his attention to practical business life by serving an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade, returning to Iowa in the fall of 1855, at which time he had but just attained his majority. For a year and a half he worked at his trade in Burlington and then went to Mount Pleasant, where he became a clerk in the establishment of Presley Saunders, the pioneer merchant of the place, retaining this incumbency about a year, after which he began operations upon his own responsibility by opening a general store in the little village of Germanville, located in Walnut township, Jefferson county. On the 24th of April, 1860, he was there united in marriage to Miss Christena Hirschberger, a daughter of Godfrey Hirschberger and a native of Lancaster, Ohio.

In the presidential campaign of the same year, when Lincoln was the nominee for the chief executive office of the nation, Mr. Spiel- man organized a company of " Wide-awakes," which he drilled very effectively, and subse- quently, after the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, was enabled to induce many of his company to enter the ranks of the Union army. He raised a company for service in the war, the same becoming Company D, of the Seventeenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry,

and also raised a portion of Company K of that regiment. February. 1862, he received commission as Second Lieutenant of the former company, and leaving his devoted wife in charge of his business affairs, marched to the front. The captain of his company was dismissed from the service and Lieutenant Spielman should have succeeded to the cap- taincy, but owing to some oversight or mistake the order was never enforced. However, the practical command devolved upon him and he served as Captain until his former officer was reinstated, when he resigned, after eighteen months of active service. He was commis- sioned Captain on General John A. McPher- son's staff, but the commission did not reach him until after his resignation. Captain Spiel- man participated in the siege of Corinth and the battle of Iuka, and after the engagement at the former place, -on the 2d, 3d and 4th of October, -the regiment was highly compli- mented by General Rosecrans, who said that he had captured more prisoners and colors than any other regiment in the field. Our subject was in cominand of his company dur- ing Grant's march in the rear of Vicksburg, participated in the Yazoo expedition, the bat- tle of Grand Gulf, Mississippi, on the Ist of May, 1863; fought at Bayou Perie, the same State, Port Gibson, Black river and the battle of Raymond, May 12. He also took part in the capture of Jackson, Mississippi, May 14, and participated in the battle of Champion Hills, May 17th and 18th; the engagement at Black river on the succeeding day, and the celebrated charge on Vicksburg, on the 27th of the same month. The Seventeenth Iowa and Fifty-sixth Illinois regiments were the only two that guarded Fort Hill, which Logan blew up. Captain Spielman was also in the siege of Vicksburg until after its capitulation. A month later he proceeded up the Mississippi river, and on the 18th of August, 1863, resigned his position. Returning from the war he located in Fairfield and established himself in the hardware business, with which he has been consecutively concerned ever

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since, much of the active inanagement of the enterprise being now entrusted to his son, who is the junior member of the firm of J. A. Spiel- man & Son. Mr. Spielman is vice-president of the First National Bank of Fairfield.

Our subject and his estimable wife became the parents of six children, of whom we make brief record as follows: Henry A., who was born March 4, 1861,-the day of Lincoln's first inauguration, -graduated at Carthage College, Carthage, Illinois, married Miss Alice Geiger, and is now the junior member of the firm of J. A. Spielman & Son, maintaining his residence in Fairfield; John G., who graduated at the State University of Iowa, is a civil en- gineer by profession; Carrie E. is the wife of Rev. C. S. McElhinney, a clergyman of the Presbyterian Church, residing at Columbus Junction, this State; Fred A., who is a com- mercial traveler; and one daughter, May, still at home. The youngest daughter, Louisa Bella, is now the wife of Dillon Tourney, of the Charter Oak Wagon Factory.

Mr. and Mr. Spielman are devoted mem- bers of the English Lutheran Church, and our subject has been prominently identified with the church in an official capacity. He was treasurer of the State Synod for seventeen consecutive years, was a delegate to the Gen- eral Synod on six different occasions, and has done effective service as special agent for the Board of Church Extension of the General Synod, in securing locations for new missions in Iowa, and while thus retained aided in es- tablishing three churches. He personally pur- chased the church edifice of his denomina- tion in Burlington and deeded it to the society, and was largely instrumental in establishing the church at Davenport and one in Sioux City. He has held the offices of Deacon, Elder, Trustee and Secretary of the local or- ganization of his church, and has been an ear- nest worker in the Sunday-school, having served as president of the Jefferson County Sunday- school Association and having labored zeal- ously in the interests of the State Sunday- school Association. He was also a member of

the Board of Trustees of Carthage College, and served as president of the board for two years, when he resigned on account of im- paired health. The cause of Christianity has had and has an earnest advocate and supporter in Mr. Spielman, and his efforts in behalf of the noble cause and in the uplifting of his fel- low men will be recorded in imperishable let- ters long after his spirit has taken its flight into the realms of eternal life, for he has been faithful, charitable and imbued with that deep human sympathy which is the glory and exalta- tion of true religion.

In his fraternal relations our subject is prominently identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, retaining his membership in George Strong Post, No. 19, of which he is Past Commander. While serving as Com- mander of his post he had the honor of unveil- ing the only soldiers' monument in Jefferson county, presiding at the attendant exercises and offering the opening address, which was filled with earnest and patriotic thoughts. He was the prime mover in securing the organiza- tion of his regimental association, was its first president and held that position four years. He has attended all the reunions of the Grand Army and allied associations in this part of the State, and was the presiding officer on the second day of the reunion in Creston, in Oc- tober, 1886, when General Phil Sheridan was present-that having been the last time he . was west of the Mississippi antecedent to his demise. Mr. Spielman was a delegate to the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic at Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1893, and also to the encampment at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1894, on each of which occa- sions he represented the First District of Iowa.

In politics our subject is a stalwart Repub- lican, and has been an active worker in the party since the time of its organization, having wielded a distinctive influence through his effective public addresses and his individual efforts. He has been the incumbent in various local offices, among which it may be noted that he has served as Township Trustee and

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as Clerk and Alderman of the city. He is at the present time secretary of the Old Settlers' Association. Mr. Spielman is a man of marked individuality and strong convictions, is genial and affable in his personality, charitable and tolerant in his judgment of men, liberal and public-spirited, and a man who has gained and richly deserves the confidence and respect of all. He is well known throughout Jefferson county, and his friends are in number as his acquaintances.

B F. SCOTT .- Among the well known farmers and stock dealers of Milo is numbered this gentleman, a repre- sentative business man and valued citizen well deserving of representation in the history of his adopted State.

He was born in Athens county, Ohio, Feb- ruary 4, 1842, and is a son of Robert F. and Martha (Lambert) Scott, whose family of eight children numbered two sons and six daughters. The father was born in Noble county, Ohio, in 1810, and, departing this life in Guysville, Athens county, Ohio, in 1883, was laid to rest in the New England cemetery there, where a monument has been erected to his memory. He was a lifelong Republican and an honorable, upright man. In Morgan county, Ohio, he wedded Martha Lambert, daughter of Benja- · min Lambert, who was born in Hyde county, North Carolina, March 6, 1773, and died in Morgan county, March 26, 1866. Mrs. Scott's mother bore the maiden name of Catherine Brill. She was born in Loudoun county, Vir- ginia, September 10, 1790, and died on the old homestead in Morgan county, June 8, 1850. The paternal ancestry of our subject was of Scotch origin. The grandfather, Francis Scott, was born in county Donegal, Ireland, Decein- ber 22, 1781, and emigrating to America took up his residence in Pennsylvania, where his parents, who had accompanied him, died. His death occurred in Noble county, Ohio, Decem- ber 24, 1851. His wife, who in her maiden- hood was Mary Meek, was born in Brooke

county, Virginia, March 28, 1788, and died in Noble county, May 8, 1850. They were the parents of six children. The great-grand- father, Abner Lambert, was born January 15, 1749, in Essex county, New Jersey, and mar- ried Winnefred Cartwright, a native of North Carolina, born June 10, 1755. Benjamin Lambert was a member of the Society of Quakers, and at an early day in Ohio history located in Morgan county, where for several years he served as Circuit Judge.

The subject of this review is the eldest of a family of eight, of whom five are living. A. M. is now a traveling salesman residing in Cincin- nati, Ohio. Mary is teaching school near Al- buquerque, New Mexico, and is also an expert accountant. Lizzie is a teacher of recognized ability in Athens county, Ohio. Matilda is at home.

B. F. Scott was born in a little log cabin 12 × 14 feet, with a clapboard roof and im- mense fire-place, together with the other marks of frontier life. It was a new country, and with the family he shared in the hardships and trials that fall to the lot of the pioneer. His father had received from the grandfather a sec- tion of land from his large estate, which at the former's death was to be divided equally among the children, and the further stipulation was made that those of his grandchildren who were named for him, at the age of twenty-five years were to receive $100 additional. This will was fully carried out. £ Our subject con- tinued to work on the old home place until twenty-two years of age, when, roused by a spirit of patriotism, he responded to the coun- try's call for troops, enlisting in Company C, One Hundred and Forth-fourth Ohio Infantry, under Captain Gray. This was in April, 1864. The company was detailed to do guard duty in West Virginia, and in August, 1865, after the close of the war, Mr. Scott was honorably discharged, in Gallia county, Ohio.

On the conclusion of hostilities he returned to Athens and again resumed work on the farm. Early in life he turned his attention to stock- dealing and became a buyer and shipper, mak-

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ing extensive shipments to Baltimore. In the spring of 1881 he emigrated to Iowa, and in the fall of the same year came to Milo, where he has since been largely interested in stock dealing, his business proving a profitable one and yielding to him a handsome income. He now resides in a pretty home in Milo, on one of the most desirable building sites of the city.

On the 3d of April, 1861, Mr. Scott wed- ded Miss Mary L. Patterson, a native of Athens county, Ohio, and a daughter of Moses Pat- terson, a very successful business man. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and after his mar- riage emigrated to Ohio. On the 22d of De- cember, 1825, he wedded Marilla Lindly, who was born in Pennsylvania, April 30, 1810, and died February 19, 1850. Mr. Patterson, who was born November 17, 1805, died in Athens county, Ohio, May 11, 1850. Thus Mrs. Scott was left an orphan when only five years of age. She became the mother of three children: Charles F., who was born February 23, 1863, and is a farmer of Otter township, Warren county, Iowa; Mary F., who was born May 22, 1872, and is the wife of John M. Kinzie, a stock-buyer of Milo; and Pearlie G. L., who was born June 23, 1878, and died April 25, 1882.

Since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Scott has been a sup- porter of the Republican party and is a warm advocate of its principles. He has served as Justice of the Peace, but is by no means a politician in the sense of office-seeking. So- cially, he is connected with Milo Post, No. 275, G. A. R., and to-day he discharges his duties with the same fidelity that characterized his course when on Southern battle-fields he followed the old flag to victory.

a HARLES ERIC PETERSON, pro- prietor of a finely appointed livery es- tablishment and dealer in marble and granite, of Panora, Iowa, is one of the enterprising men and leading citizens of this place. The greater part of his life has

been spent in Guthrie county, and he is thor- oughly identified with its interests. It is there- fore appropriate that some personal mention be accorded him in this work, and the follow- ing brief sketch will be of interest in this con- nection.

Mr. Peterson, as his name suggests, is a native of Sweden. He was born on the 13th of March, 1848, and, being left an orphan at an early age with no heritage save an untar- nished name, the success he has attained in life is due entirely to his own efforts. His widowed mother came to America when he was but a child of about four years, and he was the youngest of the three boys. The mother was taken with that dread disease, consump- tion, soon after she arrived in this country, and died in Galesburg, Illinois, about three years later; the brothers afterward were sepa- rated. The second brother, John, died near Monmouth, Illinois, in 1858, at the age of about sixteen. The older brother, Peter, was a resident of Texas when the Civil war began, and was drafted into the Rebel service; but he soon made his escape to Mexico and enlisted in the Union army, as soon as he had an oppor- tunity, and served until the close of the war. He died in Texas a few years later (about 1 868), after having accumulated a considerable fortune; but what remained after his death was all smuggled away, so that Charles E., the only heir, never received one cent, -not even an article to keep as a memento! Charles E. found a home with John S. Hamilton and came with him to Panora, in September, 1856, and with him he lived until 1869.

He acquired his primary education in the public schools, and previous to the age of thir- teen took but little interest in his studies. At about this time he began to realize the im- portance and need of an education, and re- solved to devote himself to its acquisition. He attended school a few months in the winter season, and the knowledge there acquired, supplemented by private study, enabled him to secure a teacher's certificate when he was twenty years of age. By teaching in the coun-

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try schools of Iowa and Kansas he earned the money to pay his own way through the Iowa State Agricultural College, where he was grad- uated in 1875, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. After this he taught one year in the public schools of Panora, and three years in the Guthrie county high school. As a teacher he was popular and successful, and made hosts of friends, both among his pupils and patrons. In 1880 he engaged in his pres- ent business, to which he has given his close and earnest attention for fifteen years, meet- ing with well merited success.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 36

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