Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 48

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

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S AMUEL RINGOLD STANLEY is a representative of the business interests of Stuart, Iowa, where he is success- fully engaged in grain dealing. He is a wide awake, enterprising man, sagacious and far-sighted, and Guthrie county numbers him among its valued citizens. The record of his life is as follows. He was born at Marion, Marion county, Ohio, August 6, 1836, and when a child of six years his parents removed to Rock Island, Illinois. They had previously lived in Indiana and Michigan, but eventually settled in Rock Island in 1842, at which time the city was but a hamlet containing not more than a dozen business houses and scarcely a greater number of residences. The country round was wild and uncultivated, and in this frontier settlement Mr. Stanley spent his boy- hood days. On the paternal side he is of En- glish ancestry, while his mother's people were of German lineage. His father, James G. Stanley, was born at sea. The grandfather was captain of an English merchantman, and the wife accompanied her husband on a num- ber of his voyages. He and his crew, together with the ship and cargo, were lost at sea. James Stanley was reared in Maryland, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Feig- ley, was there born in 1802. Their marriage was celebrated in the same State, whence they started on their Westward journey, living in several different localities in the Mississippi valley. The father died in Illinois, in October, 1853, at the age of sixty-seven years, but the mother is now living in Lawrence, Kansas, at the age of ninety-four years.

This worthy couple were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, and all the sons served in the Union army at the same time. William was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, and died from his injuries. Greer M. died in 1887 from disease contracted in the service. Mary Ann is the widow of Henry Stevens, and resides at Lawrence, Kan- sas. Susan is the widow of George A. Baker, and lives at Lisbon, South Dakota. Samuel R. is the next younger. Sarah is the wife of

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John Hohn, a resident of Illinois. John died of measles while in the army. Martha Jane is the wife of John A. Gray, of Wykoff, Min- nesota. James P. is engaged in the lumber business in that State.

Mr. Stanley of this review continued his residence in Rock Island county, Illinois, dur- ing the greater part of the time until August 1, 1861, when at Geneseo, Illinois, he enrolled his name among the boys in blue. He had enlisted on the first call for three-months troops, but the quota was full ere the com- pany was called forth to action, and it dis- banded until the latter part of the summer. It was then sent to hold a post at Lexington, Missouri, and while there its members were taken prisoners by the rebel General Price. On being paroled they were sent to St. Louis, and were mustered out October 18, 1861. This company was independent of any State organization, though assigned to the Fourteenth Missouri Cavalry. After the discharge another company was immediately reorganized and went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where it was assigned to the Eighth Kansas Infantry, under command of Colonel John A. Martin, who afterward served for two years as Governor of that State. With the Twelfth and Thirteenth Wisconsin Regiments, the Fifty-first Illinois, and the Seventh Kansas, it formed a brigade under command of General R. B. Mitchell, and went from Leavenworth to Columbus, Kentucky, in June, 1862.

The next move of this command took the troops to Corinth, Mississippi, after which they went with General Buell on his famous Kentucky campaign and participated in the battle of Perryville, returning to Nash- ville, November 1, 1862, when General Rose- crans took command of the Army of the Cumberland. The regiment to which our subject belonged was with the forces of Gen- eral McCook as a part of the Twenty-first Army Corps, and went on the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaigns, participating in all the engagements of these famous expeditions. They met the enemy at Chattanooga and Mis-

sion Ridge, and in the late fall of 1863 joined General Burnside at Knoxville, whence they were ordered to Dandridge, East Tennessee, but again returned to Knoxville. Mr. Stanley there re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer, and the old organization was retained. In the spring of 1864 he started on the Atlanta campaign under Sherman, and after the evacuation of the city of Atlanta the Eighth Kansas Infantry became a part of the Fourth Army Corps, and returned to Nashville under General Thomas, participating in the battles of Spring Hill and Nashville, the rebel forces being under com- mand of General Bragg, who was threatening Sherman's rear. They followed Bragg into Alabama, and fought the battle of Franklin, November 30, and December 15 and 16 the battle of Nashville. They returned back into Alabama, and went into winter quarters at Huntsville, where they remained until March, 1865. They then returned to East Tennes- see, and in May were ordered back to Nash- ville, where, on the 20th of June, an order came for the Fourth Corps to proceed by rail to Johnsonville, thence by steamer to New Orleans, and on the morning of July 5 they went aboard a ship bound for Matagorda bay. Thence they proceeded to Green Lake, where the remained a month, and at San Antonio, Texas, on the 28th of November, 1865, Mr. Stanley, with his regiment, was mustered out of the service. The troops had been sent to the South in order to watch Maximilian, who was then operating in Mexico. After being mustered out, Mr .. Stanley tlien returned to Leavenworth, Kansas, where the troops were finally paid off and discharged, January 11, 1866. His service covered a period of four years, five months and eleven days. He can boast of holding at the present time four honorable discharges, the first by reason of being a paroled prisoner of war, the second to enable him to re-enlist as a veteran, the third to receive promotion as First Lieu- tenant of his company, and lastly because the war was over and his services were no longer needed. He filled all of the various official

R. Smith.

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grades from private to Captain, was promoted to the First Lieutenancy in 1863, and was made Captain in 1864, commanding his com- pany from that time forward until the close of the war. Meritorious conduct on the field of battle won him this honor and his military rec- ord is one of which he may justly be proud.

Mr. Stanley at once returned to his home in Illinois and engaged in farming for one year. In the fall of 1866 he came to Iowa, locating in Boone county, where he made his home for two years, and in March, 1869, arrived in Stuart. His arduous army service had made such inroads upon his health that he was un- able to longer engage in agricultural pursuits or other manual labor, and for about six years after coming to Stuart he lived a retired life in consequence of his impaired health. At length he embarked in grain dealing, which he has followed almost continuously since, and has built up an excellent trade in this line, making large shipments.

On the 14th of February, 1866, was con- summated the marriage of Mr. Stanley and Miss Ellen Smith, a daughter of George and Mary Smith, prosperous farming people of Henry county, Illinois. The lady was born April 4, 1844, in Ashland, Ohio, and there ac- quired her education. The wedding was cele- brated in- Geneseo, Illinois, and their union has been blessed with one child, Nellie M., now the wife of Alexander Turk, a resident of Tama, Iowa, by whom she has two children -- Minnie R. and Mahlon S.

Mr. Stanley is a stanch and uncompromis- ing Republican, who does all in his power to promote the interests of his party, but has never sought or held office. He is a member of Maxwell Post, No. 14, G. A. R., of which he has served for two terms as Commander. He joined this post on its organization. He also belongs to Stuart Lodge. No. 214, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the offices. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Woman's Relief Corps. Mr. Stanley is a representative of a family noted for loyalty to the country, and in all the re-

lations of life he displays the same fidelity to duty that he manifested when on Southern battle fields he followed the old flag.

UGENE RILEY SMITH, B. S., M. D., is one of the most eminent phy- sicians and surgeons of Iowa, and is now Medical and Surgical Superin- tendent of the Home Medical and Surgical Infirmary of Toledo.

There is no profession that offers greater opportunity for success and none where suc- cess more depends upon merit. Health is almost an absolute necessity in any walk of life, and by far the greatest essential to happi- ness. It is true that the world has furnished a few exceptions, men who have attained emi- nence while physical sufferers, but the number is very small. So much depending on health, therefore, the physician who receives patron- age must be skilled in his chosen calling, dem- onstrating his ability by the results which fol- low his practice. This Dr. Smith has done, and has been accorded a place among the able members of his profession in the Hawkeye State.

The Doctor is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Venango county, October 4, 1851. His parents were William and Cynthia (Smith) Smith, and his paternal ancestors were early New England settlers, living in the Green Mountain State. The grandfather of our subject, Salmeron Smith, was a native of New England and a Wesleyan Methodist minister, who engaged in preaching for a time in New York, and subsequently re- moved to Ashtabula county, Ohio. The last years of his life were spent in Trempealeau valley, Wisconsin, where he passed away in 1872, at the age of seventy-two years. He entered the ministry at the age of nineteen, and his entire life was devoted to the cause of Christianity and to the uplifting of his fellow men.

William Smith was the second child in his father's family and was born in the Empire

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State, January 18, 1826. He accompanied the family on their removal to Ohio, and was educated in the country schools of the frontier, for the Buckeye State was then just opening up to civilization. About 1847 he took up his residence in Pennsylvania, and in December, 1848, was united in marriage with Cynthia Smith, a native of Canada, and a daughter of Francis Smith, a lumberman, who removed with his family to the Keystone State, whence he later went to Michigan, and afterward to Wisconsin, where he died, in 1862.

The Doctor's father engaged in the lumber trade in Pennsylvania for some years, and in 1856 moved to Jackson county, Wisconsin, where he continued in the lumber business until 1860. In that year he removed to Iowa, and for some months resided in Buffalo, Scott county. In 1861 he embarked in the lumber business in Andalusia, Rock Island county, Illinois, carrying on operations in that line until in 1862, when he formed a partnership with Mr. H. S. Thompson, of the same place. In 1881 Mr. Thompson came to Toledo, the firm having established a branch office of their business in this place, and in 1883, they hav- ing sold their business in Illinois, Mr. Smith and family moved to Toledo. They continued in business together until Mr. Smith's death on the 30th of May, 1894. This partnership covered a period of almost a third of a century. Mr. Smith was a successful business man and accumulated a fair competency. He joined the United Brethren Church in 1869, and be- came one of its most active and prominent members and liberal supporters. His political support was given the Republican party, and while a resident of Illinois he served as Super- visor of Rock Island county and Justice of the Peace. His career was one worthy of emu- lation, and his integrity was above question. His widow, who was born May 20, 1830, still resides in Toledo.

Dr. Smith, after attending the common schools, spent one year in Knox College, of Galesburg, Illinois, two years in Westfield College, of the same State, and was graduated

from Western College of Iowa with the degree of Bachelor of Science. In 1872 he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. James Cozad, of Andalusia. During the next two years he taught two terms of school, one being as principal of the Andalusia schools. In 1874 he entered the medical department of the State University of Iowa, and completed his inedical course, graduating from Rush Medical College of Chicago in the class of 1876. He at once entered upon practice in the village of Edging- ton, Illinois, and five years later, May, 1881, came to Toledo, having since 188i been num- bered among the physicians of Tama county.

His office, consisting of a suite of five ele- gant rooms built for his own use, is luxuriously fitted and furnished with every modern con- venience and comfort, including a fine large library filled with rare medical books and jour- nals. His armamentarium of medical and sur- gical appliances and instruments is all that could be wished.

Dr. Smith was married on the 23d of June, 1876, to Miss Hannah C., daughter of H. S. and Mary M. (Buffum) Thompson, of Toledo, Iowa, the former having for many years, as before noted, been associated in business as a partner of the Doctor's father. Mrs. Smith was born January 15, 1856, in Mercer county, Illinois, and educated in Westfield College, Illinois, and Western College, Iowa. She also followed school-teaching for one year. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children, namely: Lucy, Mabel, Ruth and Etta.

The greater part of his time and attention have been taken by his professional duties. He has not only kept abreast with the times but has been a leader in his special lines of practice. He pursued post-graduate courses at the Chicago Post - Graduate Medical School and Hospital, having completed two full courses there, having for his as- sociates and instructors some of the most eminent specialists in America, and is a gradu- ate of the Chicago Ophthalmic College. He is especially proficient in his treatment of the

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eye, ear and throat, and is a surgeon of high repute. He is now a lecturer on physiology and hygiene in Western College, and is County Physician of Tama county, and has been for a number of years City Physician of Toledo. Under President Harrison's administration he served as Examining Surgeon for Pensions. He belongs to the Iowa Union Medical Society, the Iowa Central State Medical Association, the Iowa State Medical Society and the Ameri- can Medical Association, the American Acade- my of Political and Social Science at Phila- delphia, the American Public Health Asso- ciation, and for over fourteen years has been Medical Director of the Mutual Benefit Asso- ciation of Toledo, Iowa, a position he has held since 1881, when he aided in its organi- zation. He is now physician and surgeon in charge of the Home Medical and Sur- gical Infirmary of Toledo, an institution of im- portance, treating all kinds of organic and chronic diseases, both medical and surgical. This institution has the highest endorsement of many prominent men and is meeting with good success.

Dr. Smith is also surgeon of the Tama and Toledo Electric Railway, Medical Examiner for the Northwestern Mutual Insurance Com- pany of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the Penn Mut- ual Insurance Company, of Philadelphia; the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Hartford, Connecticut; the Washington Life Insurance Company, New York city; the National Benevolent Association, of Minneapo- lis, Minnesota; the United States Mutual Ac- cident Association, Broadway, New York; the Union Mutual Accident Association; the Bank- ers' Life, Des Moines, Iowa, and many other insurance companies. He was for several years a director of the Toledo Savings Bank, and has been a director of the Toledo State Bank. He was for many years a stockholder and director of the Howe Manufacturing Com- pany, the Toledo Track Scale Company and the Toledo Mining & Milling Company.

Dr. Smith's life and work have been crowned with success, both from a professional

and a financial standpoint. He has been prominently identified with all the financial, religious and moral enterprises of Toledo since his residence here.

In politics he is a Republican, unwavering in his support of the party, and was chairman of the Tama county central committee for two years. He is frequently a delegate to county and State conventions, and his advice and as- sistance are frequently sought by his party as- sociates; but he has never sought or held any elective office with the exception of that of Township Clerk, of his town, in 1872, one month after attaining his majority. In his re- ligious relations he is a member of the United Brethren Church in Christ, his connection therewith dating from 1869. For some twelve years he has been president of the board of trustees of the church in Toledo, and was the first lay delegate to represent the Iowa Con- ference at the General Conference held in Day- ton, Ohio, in 1892. He is a member and sec- retary of the publishing board of the church, and very active in all that pertains to its up- building.

For fourteen years he was a member of the executive committee of Western College, an institution of learning under the control of the United Brethren Church. In 1895, when the plan of the college was reorganized, he was elected as one of the five directors. He and his three brothers, -Dr. F. S. Smith, a prac- ticing physician and surgeon of Nevada, Iowa, and Walter C. and William A., the former president and the latter secretary and treasurer of the Tama and Toledo Electric Railway and Lighting Company, -together with his only sister, Mrs. O. O. Runkle, -wife of Prof. O. O. Runkle, of Heidelberg University, Tiffin, Ohio, -are all graduates of this institution.

Dr. Smith is apparently yet in the forenoon of his life and usefulness. Blessed with health and a strong frame, being over six feet in height and weighing over 200 pounds, there seems no limit to his endurance, and he seems to not know what it is to be tired. He is always cheerful and joyous with his patients, and

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draws them all to him as personal, trusting friends. His presence in the sick room is a benediction carrying sunshine and hope to the sufferer.

Surrounded by family and friends, a wife who is a helpmeet indeed, to whom he is as devoted as a lover, four lovely daughters all in their young womanhood, his home life is an ideal one and seems blessed in fullest measure. With no ambition other than to be a master in his profession and do his full duty as a man and a citizen, we predict for him many years of useful and honored life.

B R. McNAIR, one of the honored cit- izens of Warren county, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in a rude log cabin two miles from Somer- field, on the 14th of March, 1828. When not yet ten years of age his father was called away by death, leaving a family of six children and the afflicted widow, her youngest child being scarcely two years old. Our subject found a home with his grandfather, Robert McNair. The kind parent who departed this life so young was a native of Pennsylvania, his fa- ther having been an early pioneer of Fayette county, that State. The mother of our sub- ject was a native of Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania. She struggled along with that kindly Christian fortitude, sad in the remembrance of her divided family circle, until 1888, when she joined her husband. One is laid at rest in Virginia and the other in Pennsylvania. Our subject was the third of their six children, viz. : Charlotte, wife of William Michaels, of West Virginia; Isaiah, a cabinet-maker of Frederick- town, Ohio; R. R., the subject of this sketch; Catherine, now Mrs. Glass, of Ohio; Jane, widow of Abe Hophein, and a resident of Pennsylvania; and Andrew, engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in West Virginia.

After attaining his fourteenth year Mr. Mc- Nair, the subject of this sketch, began work on his grandfather's farm. As soon as he was able to handle a team of horses he began to

earn his own living among the neighbors. Be- ing of a cheerful disposition, he always main- tained an abundance of good courage, and by honest toil won his way into the hearts of his neighbors and employers. In 1861 Mr. Mc- Nair began his Westward journey, eventually lo- cating four miles from Columbus, Bartholomew county, Indiana, where he secured work. Two years afterward he journeyed on to LaSalle county, Illinois, where he rented land, and again gave his attention to agricultural pur- suits, remaining there about six years. In Feb- ruary, 1870, Mr. McNair started with a wagon- team for Iowa, crossing the father of waters at Burlington, and located on sections 26 and 35, Belmont township, Warren county. He has added to his original purchase of 160 acres. until he now owns 240 acres. He be- gan the battle of life here in true pioneer style, possessing that courage characteristic of his race, being descended from Scotch ances- try. September 1, 1892, Mr. McNair moved to Milo, the pretty and growing city of his adopted county, purchasing the home of Lon Davis. In this pleasant home, in company with his good Christian wife, who has always been a great helpmeet and comfort to him, and in the companionship of his wife's mother, he chooses to pass his declining years, at rest from the more active toil of every-day life.

October 10, 1852, Mr. McNair married Miss Nancy McNeer, a native of Fayette county, and a daughter of Andrew and Cather- ine (Clester) McNeer. The mother has re- sided with Mrs. McNair since 1885, and she is now eighty-five years of age, in possession of comparatively good health and all her mental faculties. Always childless, Mr. and Mrs. McNair took to their home William McNair when five years of age. They educated and started him on the high road of life, and he now resides in Belmont township, where he owns a fine farm of 120 acres. William knows no other filial love than that for his kind Chris- tian parents by adoption, and is happy in their love. Alice, who also came into Mr. and Mrs. McNair's care at the age of two years, has never

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known other parents, and she enjoyed the kindly guardianship of this worthy couple until her marriage to E. J. Monfore, of Otter town- ship, Warren county.

Politically Mr. McNair affiliates with the Democratic party, and cast his first presiden- tial vote for James Buchanan. Mrs. McNair worships in Rosemont Catholic church. Our worthy subject has always borne his part in the maintenance of this church, as he has also done in any honest enterprise for public good. The life of this good man has been an eventful one in many ways. Not born in the lap of luxury, he was early inured to toil, and with- out the aid or possession of a single dollar has won a place of affluence among the honored men of this county.

APTAIN MACONAH LEMON .- Among the soldier population of Iowa none is more worthy of rep- resentation in a work of this char- acter than Captain Lemon. He enlisted as a musician, September 23, 1861, becoming a member of Company F, Eleventh Iowa Infan- try. Every soldier knows that the oppor- tunities for promotion among musicians are very meager, though our subject received recog- nition of his musical talents and qualifications as a commander in his promotion to the lead- ership of the regimental band. But he was not by nature adapted to the position of a noncombatant and preferred to share the dan- gers of the battlefields along with his com- rades. In recognition of his warlike spirit and special qualifications for the position, he was made Orderly Sergeant of his company in Feb- ruary, 1863. This position is a very arduous one, requiring all the elements of a company commander for the incumbent often has full charge of the company. But this is not all: the Orderly Sergeant keeps the company's books, makes out the pay rolls and muster rolls, sees that all details for guard, picket and police duties are furnished, and calls the com- pany roll and reports absentees and infringe-

ments upon military discipline. In fact he is the executive officer of the company. So well did our subject discharge the duties of this im- portant office that he was promoted to the Captaincy January 1, 1864, and came home the highest officer in the company, though he en- tered the service, in the estimation of his com- rades, if not in actual rank, at least a step be- low that of private.

Captain Lemon's was a very active mili- tary life. During his term of nearly four years of service, he was absent but one week, and had his place and share in all the honors of the Eleventh Iowa Infantry as a part of Crock- er's Iowa Brigade. The regiment was as- signed to duty in the western army, and main- tained the dignity and honor of the Hawkeye State on many a bloody battlefield. Their first baptism of fire was at the battle of Pitts- burg Landing. Following this came the siege of Corinth and in the autumn of 1862 the regi- ment suffered severely at the battle of Corinth. About this time General Grant's forces were closing in around Vicksburg, and the Elev- enth Iowa was sent with others by way of Holly Springs to intercept the enemy before he reached the stronghold behind the fortifica- tions at Vicksburg. But this enterprise proved ineffectual and the regiment returned to Mem- phis. Going down the river by steamer it joined in the siege which culminated in the cap- ture of the "Key of the Southern Confedera- cy " at the same hour that the rebel hordes were defeated at the great battle of Gettysburg by the eastern army. During the siege of Vicks- burg occurred the hotly contested engagements at Champion Hills and Black River Bridge, in which Captain Lemon participated. He was also indentified with the final assault on Vicks- burg, and after its fall accompanied the regi- ment on a raid to Meridian, Mississippi, the purpose of which has never been fully ex- plained. This raid comprised forced marches into the enemy's country to a distance of about 150 miles, though it brought forth no general engagements or tangible results. Returning to Vicksburg, the regiment re-enlisted with the

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 48

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