Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 37

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

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Mr. Peterson was married on the 20th of May, 1891, to Mrs. Maggie Harper, nee Caskey, who was born and reared in Iowa. By her former marriage she had two children, -Joseph and Minnie.

Fraternally, Mr. Peterson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, be- longing to Panora Lodge, No. 145, in which he has passed all the chairs. He also holds a membership in Fraternity Lodge, No. 176, K. of P., of which he is a charter member, and in which he has filled all the chairs. As a popu- lar and progressive business man and as a worthy citizen he is entitled to the high esteem in which he is held.

J OHN G. REDLINGSHAFER. - This esteemed pioneer of Benton township, Lucas county, Iowa, is what may be called a German-American, being a native of Germany and for many years identi- fied with America and her interests.

Mr. Redlingshafer was born in Bavaria, in the province of Prussia, Germany, May 9, 1828, son of George and Dorothy (Redlingshafer) Red- lingshafer, he being the second in their family of three sons and five daughters, brief mention of whom is as follows: Anna M., who resides in a pretty home adjoining that of her brother John, has been twice married and is now a widow, her first husband having been John Rosa and her second companion Joachim Wulf; John G., whose name introduces this

article; Mary, who died in Delaware county, Iowa, was the wife of Ernest Dittmer, one of the honored residents of that county; George is one of Benton township's honored pioneers; Margaret Ann is the wife of A. Hupp, a respected farmer of Benton township; Anna is the widow of Martin Baenschbauch, Bureau county, Illinois; J. Lot, who is now living retired on the banks of the beautiful Monon- gahela river in Pennsylvania, was for many years successfully engaged in agriculture, and during the late war was a Union soldier, a portion of his service being as a member of the once famous Eighth Iowa Regiment Band; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of William Baenschbauch, Princeton, Illinois, Mr. Baensch- bauch now being retired, after having amassed a fortune through his mercantile and farming operations. George Redlingshafer, the father of our subject, was twice married and the chil- dren recorded above are of the second union. His first wife, who was a Miss Wise and who was a native of the same province in which he was born, bore him three children, -Barbara, James and John. All have long since passed away. The mother died soon after the birth of her last child. Of the father of this large family, we further record that he was born in Bavaria, December 7, 1787, and that he was a farmer and met with more than ordinary success in his vocation. When the war cloud gathered and hung over his native land he con- verted his acres into cash and came to America, making the Atlantic voyage in the Abegunde and being sixty-three days from Hamburg to Baltimore. The progress of the vessel was hindered by both calm and storm, and al- though the vessel was somewhat the worse for the voyage, she landed her precious freight in safety. Patiently awaiting the arrival of this good ship was James Redlingshafer, the brother of our subject, who had several years before emigrated to America. United, the family set out for Uniontown, Pennsylvania, making the journey by rail to Cumberland and thence by stage to their destination. This

was in 1848.

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After a residence of about a year at Union- town, Pennsylvania, the family removed to Washington county, same State, where they purchased a farm and settled upon the same. About six years later the father and mother, upon the continued solicitation of Mary, their daughter, came west to Bureau county, Illi- nois. Still later they located in Clayton county, Iowa. Here ended the useful career of George Redlingshafer. He lived long enough, however, to feel assured of the success of all his children. It was January 7, 1856, and at the home of his daughter Mary, in Gut- tenburg, Iowa, that he quietly passed away. The mother of our subject, nee Dorothea Red- lingshafer, was born in Bavaria, July 18, 1803. She was a devoted Christian woman and a member of the German Lutheran Church. After an active and useful life, the closing years of which were spent at the home of her son George, in Benton township, Lucas county, Iowa, she passed to her reward, the date of her death being August 13, 1881. In the Salem Church burying-ground a stone marks her last resting place.

Having thus briefly scanned the history of his parents and other members of the family, we return to the life of John G. Redlingshafer. Reared on his father's farm, he was given a good common-school education and received confirmation papers when not yet fifteen years of age. His studious nature led himn to seek his friends among people of education, and he embraced every opportunity to increase his fund of useful information. Early in life he determined to win a home for himself, and the manner in which he set about this work is worthy of emulation. His first work was for a neighboring farmer in Pennsylvania. He hired out for a term of years, receiving as compensation $100 for the first year and $200 for each of the succeeding four years. At the time his parents moved to Illinois, he went too, and six months later they came to Clayton county, Iowa. (John remained in Illinois.) After a year in Iowa our subject returned to Pennsyl- vania, the attraction there being the accom-

plished Miss Isabella Greer, with whom he was united in marriage at her home in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1856. She was born in Westmoreland county, that State, January 17, 1830, daughter of R. Greer, and she was not only an accomplished and at- tractive young lady but also she was a popular and successful teacher, having taught several terms of school in Fayette county. In March, 1857, she accompanied her husband to Iowa, making the tour by way of St. Louis, thence to Burlington and on to Mt. Pleasant. At the last named place he purchased a team of horses and came overland to Benton township, Lucas county. On section 20 of this town- ship he purchased forty acres of partly im- proved land, on which stood a small log house, and here they began housekeeping. At this time a teacher was needed for the Benton school. Mrs. Redlingshafer volunteered her services, and for two years she filled this posi- tion most acceptably. As the years passed by their united efforts were crowned with success. . Mr. Redlingshafer improved his land and added to his original purchase from time to time until he became the owner of 230 acres with modern and very comfortable buildings thereon.

Sons and daughters were born to this worthy pioneer couple until they had an inter- esting family of five children, brief mention of whom is as follows: Cora, the eldest, has been twice married, first to Albert Maxwell, by whom she had three children, two of whom are deceased; the one living is Mary, who has for some years been the congenial companion of her grandfather, and who is now nineteen years of age. Cora's present husband is John Jack- son. The second daughter of Mr. Redling- shafer, Mary, is the wife of Daniel Myers, a popular and successful farmer of Benton town- ship, Lucas county. John, their third born, completed his education in the College of Agriculture at Ames, Iowa; was for some time engaged in merchandising, but is now farming. During Governor Sherman's term of office John Redlingshafer was clerk under State Au- ditor J. L. Brown, and during that time made

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many friends. He married Miss Emma Bon- durant, of Polk county, a daughter of one the honored pioneers of that county. Minnie, the fourth in our subject's family, is the wife of A. J. Davis, a resident of Wayne county, Iowa, and a farmer and stock-raiser. Ernest Greer, the youngest, better known as Greer Redling- shafer, has charge of his father's farm and is conducting its operations successfully. He married Miss Gussie Arnold, daughter of Ed Arnold, one of the pioneers of this vicinity.

Mrs. Redlingshafer, the devoted companion of our subject and the loving mother of his children, departed this life August 10, 1894, and is interred in the pretty cemetery of Chariton. Much of the success he has at- tained in life Mr. Redlingshafer attributes to the assistance and advice of his good Christian wife. Politically, he is a Republican. He cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and has continued to affiliate with this party ever since. Although never a seeker for official position, he has been called upon to take an active part in the government of Ben- ton township. He has served as Trustee of the township for many years, has been Road Supervisor, and for fifteen years was Director and Treasurer of the School Board. Educa- tional matters of the township have ever re- ceived close attention from him. For the past two years he has been serving on the Grand Jury of Lucas county. Religiously, Mr. Red- lingshafer is a United Brethren. He has served as one of the Trustees of the church and parsonage, and has always given liberally to the support of the church. Always striving to maintain a good moral tone in his commu- nity, he has never withheld his influence or material aid from any enterprise calculated to advance the public good.

S AMUEL NEPTUNE, a famer of Ben- ton township, was born in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1846. His father, Davis Neptune, was a native of Virginia, and a member of an

old and prominent family of that State. Four of his brothers served in the Rebel army dur- ing the late war. Davis was reared in the Susquehanna valley, and was a salt-manufac- turer and oil-borer, having bored on the Little Kanawha river for many years. He was married in Pennsylvania to a German lady, and they had four sons and one daughter, viz. : Marion, still a resident of Pennsylvania ; Re- becca, of Kansas ; Absalom, of Coshocton county, Ohio ; Roscoe, Simon P. and Samuel. Marion and Absalom were soldiers in the late war, the former a member of a Pennsylvania regiment, and the latter of the Eightieth Ohio Infantry. The mother departed this life in Hancock county, Virginia, in 1856, and the father died in Roscoe, Ohio, at the age of sixty- five years, having been engaged in the oil business there for a number of years. In early life he was a Douglas Democrat, but was after- ward identified with the Republican party.

Samuel Neptune, the subject of this sketch, was reared in his native county, and was en- gaged with his father in the oil business for a number of years. August 15, 1862, at Lin- coln's call for 300,000 men, he entered the One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Infan- try, Company D, under Colonel Ball and Captain B. F. Sells. He participated in the battle of Kerr's creek and Shenandoah valley, and was with General Milroy's command at Winchester. At that engagement Mr. Nep- tune was captured and taken to Libby prison, and afterward to Belle Isle. When he was taken prisoner he weighed 150 pounds, but when released he was reduced to ninety-eight pounds ! After his release he was sent to Annapolis, and afterward returned home on a thirty-days furlough. Rejoining his regiment at Cold Harbor, he took part in the battles of Petersburg and Salisbury, returned to Rich- mond, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865.

After the close of the struggle Mr. Neptune returned to his home, where he worked at the blacksmith's trade. In 1869 he came to Lucas county, Iowa, where he conducted the Chari-

your Shower AWEBenderson

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RECORD OF IOWA.

ton Flour Mills for nine years, and then, for the benefit of his health, located on the farm he now owns, consisting of 200 acres.

October 9, 1867, in Coshocton county, Ohio, Mr. Neptune was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth, a daughter of Adam and Mary (Freymeyer) Bodine, both deceased in Coshocton county. To this union were born eight children, namely : Hattie B., Adam D., James S., Clarence H., Bertha M., Alfred M., Estella E. and Sarah E. March 13, 1885, Mr. Neptune suffered a great loss in the death of his beloved wife.

In his political relations he is connected with the Republican party, and socially is a member of the G. A. R., Post No. 18.

ON. PARIS P. HENDERSON. - This distinguished gentleman has been very closely identified with the history of his adopted State, and is the only person living in Indianola who became a resi- dent of the town as early as 1847. His has been an honorable career, and in military, po- litical, business and private life his record is alike above reproach. He was born in Union county, Indiana, January 3, 1825, was there reared to manhood and acquired his education. In his youth he learned the tanner's trade, which he followed until twenty-one years of age, when, in 1847, he came to Warren coun- ty, Iowa. His father's people were from the highlands of Scotland, and in early Colonial days located in Virginia, where the grandfather of our subject, John Henderson, was born. The family afterward removed to North Caro- lina, where his father, Thomas Henderson, was born, December 20, 1796. The maternal ancestors were English and settled on the island of Nantucket, whence they removed to North Carolina, where his mother, Polly (Starbuck) Henderson, was born May 22, 1797. Thomas Henderson and Polly Star- buck were married in their native State in 1820, and removed to Union county, Indiana. They had a family of seven children, of whom

the Colonel is the second in order of birth. The others are Mary, who died in 1893; Fernando C., a farmer residing in Humboldt, Kansas; Hubbard C., who served during the Civil war in the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry, and died in Council Bluffs in 1885; Lusette, who died at the age of fourteen years; Mrs. Deborah Payne, a resident of Greene county, Iowa; Thomas, who was also one of the boys in blue of the late war, and is a resident of Indianola.

For almost half a century Mr. Henderson has been identified with the history of this city, an important factor in its upbuilding and advancement. He has taken a leading part in public affairs, was organizing Sheriff of Warren county, served for two years in the capacity of Sheriff, and was then elected County Judge, in which position he was continued by re-election until January 1, 1860. On that date he en- tered upon the duties of the office of State Senator, serving during the regular session of the Legislature of that year, and at the special session in the spring of 1861, which was called to make provisions for raising and equipping troops for the Civil war. As soon as the ses- sion adjourned Mr. Henderson laid aside the honors of civil office, resigned the position of Senator, and at once began recruiting a com- pany, which subsequently became Company G of the Tenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was commissioned Captain, and was mustered into the United States Service on the 6th of September, 1861. From that date until the close of the war he remained at the front, par- ticipating in many of the sanguinary battles of the Rebellion. He was with the western army in the engagements at Charleston, Bloom- field, the siege of New Madrid and Island No. IO, Farmington, the battles of Iuka, the two- days battle of Corinth, Holly Springs, the Yazoo Pass expedition, the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Jackson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, and the second battle of Jack- son. The regiment then returned to Memphis, and went with Sherman on the forced march to relieve the army at Chattanooga. He was in the battle of Missionary Ridge and partici-

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pated in nearly all the battles and skirmishes of the Atlanta campaign. After the surrender of Atlanta he went with Sherman on the march to the sea and assisted in the capture of Sa- vannah, which terminated the active operations of the western army. In February, 1863, Mr. Henderson was promoted to the rank of Lieu- tenant-Colonel, and in August of the same year was commissioned Colonel of his regi- ment. No man has a more honorable military record than he. Possessing a strong and vigor- ous constitution and being especially fortunate in receiving no wounds in battle, he remained in the field and at the front from the beginning of the war until the final capitulation at Appo- mattox. In recognition of his valiant services as well as of his fitness for the position he was elected County Treasurer upon his return to Warren county, and in that position faithfully served the public for eight consecutive years.

The Colonel's private life is above reproach, and having passed the three-score and ten years alotted to humanity he is still in the en- joyment of good health-a perfectly preserved specimen of physical manhood. Everybody knows and loves Colonel Henderson, because he is everybody's friend; no man stands higher in the estimation of the people of Warren county, because no one has been more useful. He is now serving his fifth term as Mayor of the city of Indianola, and under his wise care and able administration the interests of the city have been largely promoted.

Colonel Henderson has been twice married, his first wife, whom he wedded December 16, 1847, being Miss Martha P. Haworth, a native of Ohio, born June 11, 1827. She bore him two sons, the eldest of whom is Hon. John H. Henderson, District Judge of the Fifth Judi- cial District of Iowa. He was born September 16, 1848, and his home is now in Indianola. The second son is Alfred M., born February 16, 1850. He is cashier of the Marengo (Iowa) Savings Bank, and resides in Marengo. Both sons were liberally educated, are now married and are honorable and well known citizens. On the ist of May, 1866, Colonel Henderson

was called upon to mourn the death of the companion of his young manhood. In Sep- tember, 1867, he was united in marriage with his present wife, who was formerly Mrs. Mary C. (Barnett) Proudfoot. She was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, December 22, 1848, and by her marriage to James Proudfoot had one son, Thomas J., who is a furniture dealer in Indianola. Colonel and Mrs. Hen- derson have a daughter, Susie M., who was born in Indianola, May 22, 1870, and is the wife of C. M. Beck, a banker of Gibbon, Nebraska.

Colonel Henderson assisted in the organiza- tion of the Republican party in Iowa, and has always been a faithful adherent of its doctrines. For many years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and twice served his local lodge as Worthy Master. He is also identi- fied with the Grand Army Post, of Indianola, and his church affiliations are with the Meth- odist Episcopal.

e RNEST EVANS, the proprietor of "Fairview " farm, section 6, Jackson township, Lucas county, Iowa, is well known as one of the successful farmers and stock men in this part of the country, where he has resided for the past twenty years. His post-office address is Lucas. It is eminently fitting that in this connection more than a passing notice be made of him, and the following facts in regard to his life and ancestry have been gleaned for publication:

Ernest Evans was born in Knox county, Illinois, near Galesburg, October 6, 1852. Jo- siah Evans, his father, was a native of the Empire State and descended from early set- tlers of New England. When a boy he came West with his father, Josiah Evans, Sr., their settlement being in Knox county, Illinois, where he grew up to farm life. He was mar- ried there to Georgiana Crawford, a native of Scotland and a daughter of David Crawford, the Crawford family having emigrated to this country and settled in Illinois when she was a

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RECORD OF IOWA.

child of two years. They became the parents of eleven children, namely: Albert, a resident of Jackson township, Lucas county, Iowa; George, also of Jackson township; Mary J., who has been successfully engaged in teaching for eleven years; Ernest, with whose name we introduce this sketch; Eliza Howard; William, Clarke county, Iowa; Mrs. Maggie Temple, Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania; Jay, a well-known Gov- ernment inspector; Mrs. Anna Potter; Nellie, a popular teacher; and Ruhanna, deceased. The father of this family died in Knox county, Illinois, in 1871, at about the age of forty-nine years. He carried on farming for a number of years and was also engaged in the manufac- ture of brick, himself being a brick mason and working some at that'trade. Politically, he was a Democrat. His widow is still living, now at the age of sixty-nine, and makes her home in Knoxville, Illinois. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is a most esti- mable Christian woman. Her children all re- ceived a good education and her daughters have all presided in the school-room as teachers.

The subject of this sketch, Ernest Evans, was reared on his father's farm and was fifteen years old at the time his father died. He, be- ing one of the older members of the family, was of much assistance to his mother, aiding her in various ways in the care of the younger children and especially in educating the girls. He remained a member of the home circle until 1876, when he started out in life to do for himself, he and his brother Albert leasing a tract of land, carefully managing and cultivating the same and in this way getting a little start. In 1880 he bought 80 acres of wild land where he now lives and which forms a part of his valuable farm. To his original purchase he has added from time to time until now he is the owner of 320 acres of the best farming land in the township of Jackson, this place being known as "Fairview." It is located on Otter creek, a portion of it being bottom land and the rest rich hillside, the whole being well sup- plied with both creek and spring water, and there being some timber land. The farm is

well fenced and in the different fields are found blue-grass, clover, timothy and grain, and on his broad pastures are the best of horses, cattle and hogs. His residence, 27 X 32 feet in dimen- sions, has a rock cellar and on the south and east is a broad veranda, its location being on an elevation that commands a magnificent view of the surrounding country and is sug- gestive of the name it bears,-"Fairview." A pretty lawn surrounds the house and in the orchard near by are no less than 240 trees, all bearing choice fruit. Mr. Evans also has a variety of small fruits. His barn is 36 x 54 feet, and is one of the best and most conven- iently arranged in all the country around.

Mr. Evans was married in January, 1881, to Ella Hazel, who was born and reared in Wisconsin. They have one child, Maud Mabel, born April 23, 1882.

Politically, he is a supporter of the Demo- cratic party and its principles, but has never sought official position, preferring to give his whole time and attention to the management of his extensive farming operations. He is ranked with the self-made and substantial men of the county. Mrs. Evans is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

D. KNOTTS, Lucas, Iowa .- The Knotts family have figured prominently in the business circles of Iowa for a period of forty years, and as one of the best representatives of this family the gentle- man whose name introduces this sketch should be accorded specific recognition.

J. D. Knotts was born in Warren county, Iowa, December 1, 1858. His father, J. F. Knotts, was born in 1834, in West Virginia, son of . Absalom Knotts and grandson of Ab- salom Knotts, Sr. The elder Absalom Knotts was a native of North Carolina and of German and Scotch descent. He served through the Revolutionary war, lived a long and useful life, and his mortal remains are buried at Knotts- ville, West Virginia, the town named in honor of him. He was twice married. By his first

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wife he had eight children, and by his second wife, nee Nancy Myers, he had the following children: James, Sarah, Joseph, Mary, Ab- salom, Jonathan, and one that died in infancy. The younger Absalom Knotts was born in Harrison county, now West Virginia, July 15, 18II, and was reared on his father's plantation at that place, receiving such education as the schools of that day afforded. At the age of twenty he was united in marriage to Matilda Sayre, who was born in the western part of Virginia, daughter of Jedediah Sayre, an En- glishman who was one of the early settlers of the Old Dominion. This Absalom Knotts was largely engaged in milling, operating a sawmill, flouring-mill and woolen factory, and he also dealt largely in lands. In 1855 he came west to Iowa and entered a large tract of Govern- ment land in Warren county and also land in other counties. In 1857 he and his family lo- cated at New Virginia in Warren county, and subsequently removed from there to Osceola, Clarke county, where he engaged in business. He continued his residence at Osceola until 1870, when he came to Lucas. Here he spent the rest of his life. He was in many ways prominently connected with this town, was public-spirited and generous, and did much to promote its material growth. He erected the Knotts block, a fine brick struc- ture, at a cost of $14,000. In all matters of a public nature he took an active part, casting his vote and influence with the Republican party. Religiously, he was a Methodist and a local preacher in that church, and by all who knew him was greatly esteemed for his high moral and Christian character. In his death the citizens of Lucas and this part of Iowa lost a valued citizen. His wife died January 9, 1867, her death occurring during their resi- dence at Osceola. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom grew up, namely: Rev. Joseph, one of Iowa's prominent men, was Presiding Elder of Council Bluffs district for a number of years, and Consul to Mexico under President Grant's administration, died in Texas; Joshua F., the father of our subject;

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 37

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