Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 38

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

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Polly Ann McGee, Indianola, Iowa; Lemuel, who was a member of Company B, Sixth Iowa Infantry, was wounded and taken prisoner at Shiloh, and it is supposed that he died in a Rebel prison; Jedediah, engaged in the stock and real-estate business at Beatrice, Nebraska; Elijah, in the real-estate business at Neosho, Missouri; Susanna, wife of R. Daily, a mer- chant of Lincoln, Nebraska; and James B., a farmer near Lucas, Iowa. Joshua F. Knotts, father of our subject, came to Warren county in 1857. He married Julia Ann Felton, who was born July 4, 1835, and, like himself, a native of Virginia. She died November 4, 1869, and he died near Osceola May 23, 1873, at the age of thirty-nine years, leaving his sec- ond wife, Clara Whetzell, whom he married in 1872, with two children: Franklin Scott, who died at the age of nine; and Jacob Fred- rick, who now resides in Clarke county and is farming. His four children by his first marriage are J. D., L. W., John A. and Julia. Julia died at the age of three years. John A. is a resident of Columbus, Kansas, and L. W. is engaged in mining in Mexico.

Having thus briefly glanced at the history of his family, we now turn to the life of our immediate subject, J. D. Knotts. He was reared and educated in Osceola, Iowa, com- pleting his education in the high school of that place. At the age of eighteen he went to Chi- huahua, Mexico, where he remained for a period of fifteen years and where he was suc- cessfully engaged in silver mining. At the end of that time he returned to Iowa and located at Lucas, with the various interests of which place he has since been connected. He owns large tracts of farming land in the vicinity of Lucas. He has not confined his business oper- ations to any one line but has divided his energies, and whatever he has undertaken has carried to success. In connection with his agricultural pursuits, he is largely interested in the stock business, raising, buying and selling large numbers of cattle, horses and hogs; does a large business in agricultural implements, and also runs a grocery, meat and provision

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business at Lucas. Besides this he still retains mining interests in Mexico. In short, he is one of the busiest of busy men in Lucas.

He was married August 23, 1891, at Lu- cas, Iowa, to Miss M. E. Chapman, of Des Moines, a refined and cultured lady and a skilled singer and elocutionist. She was born in Summit county, Ohio, June 21, 1869, but has spent the greater portion of her life in Iowa. They have two children: Ramona J., born in old Mexico; and Isis M., born in Lu- cas, Iowa.

Mr. Knotts is a leading Republican, a mem- ber of the City Council, and in every way takes a deep interest in the affairs of the town in which he lives, and is justly entitled to the es- teem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. Fraternally, he is a Knight of Pythias and a Mason.

J OHN F. EKFELT, the senior member of the well-known firm of Ekfelt & Son, furniture dealers of Chariton, Iowa, is a native of Sweden, born on the 21st of August, 1829. He has three sisters living in Chariton,-Mrs. A. G. Anderson, Mrs. An- drew Erickson and Caroline.

The gentleman whose name heads this rec- ord grew to manhood in the land of his nativ- ity and there learned the cabinet-maker's trade, being a good workman and following that bus- iness in Sweden until 1868, when he crossed the Atlantic to America and took up his res- idence in Chariton, Iowa. Here he worked as a journeyman for several years, and when he became able to go into business on his own ac- count he established a furniture store, which he has since carried on, with excellent success. He now has a well selected stock of furniture of all grades to suit the demands and tastes of his patrons and has a good business, which from the beginning has constantly increased until it has now assumed extensive porportions.

Mr. Ekfelt was married in Sweden about forty years ago to Miss Annie Maria Jern, also a native of Sweden. He came to the United

States three years in advance of his family, and after he had been here that length of time and had got well established in business and made preparations for their reception he was joined by his wife and three sons who were born in Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Ekfelt have had six children, four of whom are now living. The sons are Charles. J., Fred C. and Albin, and the only daughter is Anna C. The first named is serving as Deputy County Treasurer of Wa- pello county, Iowa, and resides in Ottumwa. Fred is employed as a traveling salesman for a furniture house of Chicago. He has traveled in Nebraska for many years, but in 1895 was transferred to Iowa territory. He married Mrs. Lizzie Persons, who formerly lived in Lincoln, Nebraska. Albin A. is associated with his father in business in Chariton. He was educated in the city schools and Augustana College, at Rock Island, Illi- nois, which he attended from the first of January, 1885, until the summer of 1886. In 1887 he attended the Davenport Business Col- lege, graduating in September of that year. He returned home then and remained until the fall of 1889, when he became a bookkeeper in a furniture store at Peoria, where he continued for two years. In 1892 he returned to his home and became a partner in his father's business, and Mr. Ekfelt now living practically retired, the management of the business falls upon the son, who is fully qualified for the undertaking, being a man of good business and executive ability. This is one of the leading furniture establishments in this part of the State, and the liberal patronage which they receive is well deserved. The daughter, Anna C., attended the public schools and Chariton Academy, and is now pursuing a course of music in Augustana College, of Rock Island.

The father and sons are all ardent sup- porters of the Republican party and its prin- ciples and most of their countrymen give their allegiance to the same political organization. The family are members of the Lutheran Church and are highly esteemed people whose friends in the community are many. Mr.

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Ekfelt may well be called a self-made man, for from an early age he has been dependent en- tirely upon his own resources, working his way upward from an humble position to one of affluence. As a citizen he is devoted to the best interests of the community and withholds his support from no interest that is calculated to promote the general welfare.

J AMES GOWEN MERRILL .- In the subject of this resumé we find a venera- ble gentleman whose identity with the State of Iowa covers a period of more than thirty years, and who, shortly after taking up his abode in this State, settled down on the land which he developed into one of the finest farms in Lucas county, -indeed an ideal farm and rural home. His long residence in the county and the prominent and influ- ential position he occupied here all these years make it eminently fitting that his biography be accorded a place in this work; and before touching upon the immediate his- tory of James G. Merrill, we turn for a glimpse of that of his ancestry.

The Merrills are of English origin. They have, however, long been residents of America and several generations of the family were born in the Pine Tree State. The grandfather of James G. was born in Maine. He was a sol- dier in the Revolutionary war and after that war was the recipient of a pension. His soul, Nathan Merrill, was born in Maine, August 1, 1777, and when a youth his parents and their family joined the Shakers, with whom he re- mained until he was twenty-two years of age, in the meantime having learned the carpenter's trade. Three years after leaving the Shakers he was united in marriage to Miss Betsey Knight, a native of Kittery, Maine, and a daughter of John Knight, whose parents were English. Nathan and Betsey Merrill coll- tinued to reside in Maine until 1847, when they moved to Peoria county, Illinois. Mr. Merrill died in Peoria county, Illinois, in his seventy-third year, but his wife survived him

several years, and died in Warren county, Illinois, in the ninety-third year of her age. She was a woman beloved by all who knew her and hers was a beautiful Christian char- acter. In his political views, Nathan Merrill was a Whig, while his religion was that of the Universalists. His family was composed of the following named members: Benjamin K., deceased, was a lumberman in New Bruns- wick; Gilman, who died at the age of eighty years, one of the oldest printers in the United States; Mary C. Blood; James G., whose name appears at the head of this article; Sewall, de- ceased, was a prominent merchant and auc- tioneer of Missouri; Betsey S. Townsend, a widow residing in the town of Marshall, Henry county, Illinois, a well-known writer and a prominent member of the Relief Corps; and Rachel C. Clark, of Bureau county, Illinois. All had good educational advantages, became excellent scholars, and lived to occupy honor- able and useful positions in society.

Coming now to the immediate subject of our sketch, James G. Merrill, we record that he was born at Charleston. Penobscot county, Maine, October 13, 1810; and that he was reared and educated there, and learned the cabinetmaker's and carpenter's trade, at which he worked for several years. In 1837 he came west as far as Fulton county, Illinois, and for four years worked at his trade there, after which for a time he continued the same occupa- tion in Peoria county, that State. His next move was to Trivoli, eighteen miles from Peoria, where he was in the hotel business, and from that he turned his attention to farm- ing, which he continued ten years in Peoria county, Illinois. It was in 1863 that he came to Iowa. His first settlement here was in Wayne county, where he maintained his home until 1867, the year he bought his present farm. This country was nearly all wild land then, and as a result of his years of industry and good management he has developed a fine farm of 720 acres, a farm which, as already stated, is regarded as one of the best in the county. His commodious and elegant frame residence

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is well furnished and beautifully situated, sur- rounded by a pretty lawn, orchard and grove. His other buildings are in keeping with the residence. His broad pastures and well culti- vated fields stretch beyond and around, all com- bining to make a landscape of unsurpassing beauty. This farm is located in Benton town- ship, and Mr. Merrill's post-office is Chariton.

At the age of twenty-five Mr. Merrill was married in Bangor, Maine, to Miss Sarah Thompson, a lady of intelligence, education and good family, and possessing many per- sonal charms. She was born and reared in Maine, daughter of Seth Thompson and his wife, whose maiden name was Holt. Seven children were born of this union, of whom only two are living, namely: Mary Ida and James Everett. Those deceased are Helen, Amanda, William H., Seth Gilman, Ella Z., and Sarah E., the last named, the wife of Joseph Adams, dying in Wayne county, Iowa, and leaving one child. Mary Ida is the wife of C. H. Clark, of Wayne county, this State, and is the mother of nine children, -Mary Bertha, James A., Carl Homer, Hattie, Sarah E., Kitty Kate, Harry, Helene, and Ida. The son, James Everett, resides on his father's farm. He married Alameda Scales, who was born in Indiana, and reared in Illinois and Iowa, daughter of Samuel and Ann E. (Jagger) Scales; and two children compose their family, -- Nellie and Jennie. They have had four other children that are de- ceased. Mrs. Sarah Merrill departed this life in February, 1873. She was not only a woman of education and culture, but also was one possessing higher and better qualities even than those-loving, kind and helpful. Her happy wedded life covered a period of thirty-seven years. In March, 1875, Mr. Merrill was mar- ried again, this time to Miss Polly Chatterton, a native of New York and a daughter of Cor- nelius Chatterton, who has since presided over the delightful home.

Although in the eighty-fifth year of his age at the time of his death, June 9, 1895, Mr. Merrill would easily pass for a man of seventy. He kept himself well posted on cur-

rent topics, was broad and progressive in his views, and a gentleman with whom it was in- deed a pleasure to converse. In his home he was the personification of genial hospitality, was ever true in his profession of friendship, in his business transactions was fair and square, and in short, his whole life was without tarnish. A Republican in politics, he was for many years one of the active workers in his party, and he served as Justice of the Peace in both Wayne and Lucas counties.

Such is an epitome of the life of this vener- able citizen and +pioneer of Lucas county, Iowa, -James G. Merrill.

ARK JACKSON MABRY, deceased. -The subject of this sketch was a man who figured prominently as one of the pioneers of Lucas county, Iowa, he having arrived in this State the year after Iowa was admitted to the Union.

He was born in Lumpkin county, Georgia, in 1815, son of Patrick Mabry, a native of Georgia and a veteran of the war of 1812. On a farm in his native State Mark J. spent the first twenty-one years of his life and after attaining his majority went to Arkansas and later to Texas, and finally came north to In- diana, settling in Fountain county, where, October 5, 1845, he married Miss Meriba Car- son, with whom he lived happily the rest of his life and who proved herself in every way a worthy helpmate. She was born near Green- ville, Darke county, Ohio, in 1825. Her father, David Carson, was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was a son of Henry Carson, a native of Ireland, and one of the early settlers of this country, first locating in Pennsylvania and later in Ohio. David Carson was married at Cincinnati, Ohio, to Margaret Ellis, who was born on the Atlantic coast in New Jersey, daughter of John Ellis, one of the early pio- neers of the Western Reserve. David and Margaret Carson had thirteen children, viz. : John, Hannah, Mary, Henry, Elizabeth, David, Nancy, Almira and Alvira (twins), Isabelle,

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Meriba, and the other two died when young. Mr. Carson died in Piatt county, Illinois, and Mrs. Carson in Fountain county, Indiana.

Mr. Mabry continued to reside in Indiana for two years after his marriage, and then in 1847 came West to Iowa, making the journey hither with a two-horse wagon and first settling in Monroe county. In 1852 he entered Gov- ernment land in Union township, Lucas county, and also secured some school land here. Sub- sequently, as prosperity attended his earnest efforts, he purchased additional land and finally became the owner of over 800 acres, on which he was largely engaged in farming and stock- raising, meeting with signal success in his operations. At first he and his family made their home in a log house, but in time this gave place to a modern and commodious resi- dence, and he also erected large barns and planted a grove and orchard, and made various other improvements on his land. Here he spent the rest of his life, and July 9, 1887, quietly passed to his reward. He was a man of many sterling characteristics and had the respect of all who knew him. In politics he harmonized with the Democratic party, and his religious belief was that of universal salvation. His widow is still living, now seventy years of age, and maintains her residence at the old home farm, honored and loved by her children and many friends.

The children of this worthy couple are Margaret and Ellis. Margaret is the wife of Smith Boggs, of Clarke county, Iowa, and they have eight children, namely: Oliver, Francis, Cora, Elmer, Fred, James, Donald and Lee. Ellis Mabry, the son, is one of the leading men of Union township. He was born in Monroe county, Iowa, in 1850, and was reared on his father's farm in Lucas county, receiving a good education. For a number of years he was one of the successful teachers of Lucas county. September 7, 1875, he mar- ried Miss America Skidmore, who was born in Brown county, Indiana, and reared in Lucas county, Iowa, daughter of M. and Naomi (Stuart) Skidmore, her parents being pioneers

of Jackson township, this county. Mr. Mabry and his wife have five sons'and one daughter, as follows: Roy, Mark, Alva, George, Clar- ence and Oma. He owns a well-improved farm of 320 acres, is a successful farmer and business man, and takes an active interest in political matters. He is a Republican. Fra- ternally he is identified with the K. of P., I. O. O. F., and A. F. & A. M.

a C. KELLS, one of the esteemed resi- dents of Washington township, Lucas . county, is a native of Defiance county, Ohio, born March 16, 1847, and was the youngest of six children, four sons and two daughters, whose parents were Robert and Lavina (Bay) Kells. When he was only ten months old his mother died, and his father after- ward married Miss Dorcas Horton, who ten- derly cared for the motherless family. When he was a child of only five years the father was carried to his last resting place in the ceme- tery near his home. The six children of the first marriage were Mary Jane, wife of Francis M. Trowbridge, a fruit-grower of Merrimac, Orange county, Florida; John, who died in southern Kansas, at the age of nineteen years; James, who died at the age of eighteen; Hilas, who enlisted for the late war in Company E, Sixth Iowa Infantry, and received wounds at the battle of Shiloh, which resulted in his death in May, 1863, in Cincinnati; Ann M., wife of Hon. D. J. McCoy, an honored soldier and patriot and now a popular resident of Russell, Iowa; and E. C., of this sketch. One child was born of the second union, -Robert, who is now engaged in fruit-raising at Yuba City, California.

After the death of his father and when not yet seven years of age, Mr. Kells went to live with an uncle near Eddyville, Iowa, where he was afforded good common-school privileges. After some years' residence with his uncle he decided to make his home with his sister in La Grange, Lucas county, Iowa, where he re- mained until after the breaking out of the Re-

Bh C. Schwanen

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bellion. He had not yet attained his majority when, on the 10th of July, 1863, he enlisted in Company F, Eighth Iowa Cavalry, at Albia, which went to -Davenport, and thence to Louisville, Nashville and other points in the South. At Noonan, Georgia, on the 29th of July, 1864, he was captured and sent to Ander- sonville prison, where he suffered many hard- ships and privations incident to prison life. After an incarceration of four months he was paroled, at Florence, for his health was so greatly impaired that he was thought to be helpless as an enemy. He was then sent to Annapolis, Maryland, and shortly afterward secured a sixty-days' furlough. When that period had expired he again joined his regi- ment at Macon, Georgia, and remained with it through the later engagements of the war until mustered out on the 7th of August, 1865. He was only sixteen years of age at the time of his enlistment, but no truer soldier ever followed the old flag.

Returning to La Grange, Mr. Kells was met by his uncle, H. L. Bay, and was told of a purchase in which he was to have an equal share comprising 100 acres of land located in Greenville, Lucas county, Iowa. Not long afterward he lost his uncle, who had ever been a true and tried friend, and sorrowfully fol- lowed his remains to their last resting place at Hardin Chapel, Monroe county, where a monu- ment has been erected to his memory.

On the 13th of September, 1866, Mr. Kells married Miss M. A. Allen, the ceremony being performed by Rev. R. Burrows, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The lady was born in Putnam county, Indiana, about three miles from Greencastle, on the 3d of Novem- ber, 1849. She is a daughter of C. E. and Anna (Davis) Allen, who at an early day in the history of Iowa took up their residence within the borders of this State. Her father is an honored citizen of Lincoln, California, where he is serving as Justice of the Peace; and his wife, who has passed the seventy-sec- ond milestone on life's journey, is also living. Mr. and Mrs. Kells have an interesting family

of six children: Charles A., who was born July 5, 1867, and follows farming on section 29, Washington township, Lucas county, not far from his father's home; Ernest O., who was born in Kansas, December 13, 1869; Ada A., wlio was born December 21, 1873; Ethel M., who was born August 19, 1878; Clydia, who was born December 3, 1885; and one child who died in infancy.

For seven years Mr. Kells resided in Wood- son county, Kansas, and for a short time lived in Kansas; but with these exceptions Mr. Kells has always been a resident of Iowa. He now has a fine farm, and his beautiful home stands as a monument to his industry. Upon the place is one of the finest barns in Lucas county, the dimensions being 36 x 40 feet, with sixteen- foot posts, and from its roof floats the star- spangled banner, indicating the loyalty of this tried and true citizen. The farm comprises 333 acres of rich land, and is in a high state of cultivation. He has been a stalwart Repub- lican since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and the family attend the Evangelical Church.

HRISTIAN C. SCHWANER, of Winterset, Iowa, was born in Prus- sia, Germany, September 24, 1848, the only son of John C. and Amelia Schwaner. In 1853 John C. Schwaner and his family left their native land and came to America. After their arrival in the United States they passed a few months in each of the cities of Baltimore, Cincinnati and St. Louis, and finally settled permanently in Keokuk, Iowa.

John C. Schwaner was a tanner by trade and was a skilled workman in the manufacture of some special lines of leather. He soon established himself in the tanning business, which he conducted successfully until about 1875, when he practically retired, content with the comfortable competence which he had ac- quired through his earnest and well directed efforts. He and his good wife were the par-

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ents of one son and four daughters who grew to maturity, and all of the number are still living, having families of their own. The mother died at Keokuk, January 8, 1892, but the venerable father is still living and resides with his daughter in Keokuk.

Christian C. Schwaner, the immediate sub- ject of this review, remained with his parents until he had attained the age of fifteen years, spending a portion of the time in attendance at the public schools and at a private German school, but his educational advantages were limited. The fact that he is now a well-in- formed man is largely due to his having been endowed with a keen power of observation and a retentive memory, and incidentally to the valuable lessons he has learned in the school of experience. At the age of fifteen he left home and went to St. Louis, Missouri, to learn the harness and saddle makers' trades with the firm of Sanford, Orendorf & Company, and on the completion of his apprenticeship he worked as a journeyman at St. Louis, Keokuk and other points.

The year 1870 stands as the date of Mr. Schwaner's advent in Winterset, where he forthwith began business upon his own respon- sibility as a manufacturer of and retail dealer in harness and saddlery, and soon a liberal and representative patronage was accorded him. To meet the demands of his large and con- stantly increasing trade he was obliged to augment the facilities of his establishment, and in 1876 he erected his substantial and com- modious brick store-house, 22x70 feet in di- mensions, two stories in height with basement, and supplied with every convenience and im- provement for the facile and successful manu- facturing of his goods. In 1883 Mr. Schwaner organized the Peerless Manufacturing Com- pany, wholesale manufacturers of saddlery, hardware specialties, and of this company he is manager. The specialties manufactured con- sist of many important and valuable improve- ments, which are the inventions of Mr. Schwaner, patented by him and controlled by the Peerless Manufacturing Company, who

make extensive shipments of their products to all parts of the United States and certain por- tions of Canada. This important and ever- advancing industry is the outgrowth of the business established in a small way by Mr. Schwaner, a quarter of a century ago, and it not only reflects lasting credit upon his enter- prise, consecutive application and business sagacity, but entitles him to rank among the foremost business men of the State. He has won prosperity through systematic, legitimate business methods, by patiently and persistently following a fixed purpose in the line of his undertakings, never entering the alluring field of speculation. Conservative in his ideas to the degree of safeness, he has yet kept pace with the progress of events, and wherever known has been recognized as a man of unusual energy, clear foresight and unvarying business fidelity and honor.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 38

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