Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 56

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

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During the late war Mr. Curtis manifested his loyalty to the Government and the Union cause by entering the service as a member of the Forty-sixth Iowa Infantry, Company K. He had some time previously desired to enter the army but his years precluded him, and as soon as he had attained a sufficient age he joined the "boys in blue" and did service in the State of Tennessee until the close of hos- tilities. He is now a member of Iseminger Post, No. 18, G. A. R., and for the past five years has acceptably served in the position of adjutant, taking great pride in keeping the rec- ords with neatness and exactness. He is also a member of Chariton Lodge, No. 63, A. F. & A. M. He and his wife are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their earnest Christian lives are well worthy of emulation. Everything that tends to promote the education, material or moral welfare of the · community receives their approval and co-op- eration and the best interests of the county are promoted by them.

ON. WILL B. BARGER is the ef- ficient, popular and respected Mayor of Chariton and one of the most prominent attorneys of Lucas coun- ty. In the administration of the affairs of the office he has won high commendation, and the reins of the city government are now in good hands, for he is public-spirited and progressive and does all in his power to promote the gen- eral welfare. He is indeed a valued citizen, and one whom the community could ill afford to lose. The record of his life is as follows:

A native of old Virginia, he was born in Rockbridge county, April 14, 1862, and is a

son of Prof. David A. and Fiana H. (Darst) Barger, who were natives of the same State. The maternal ancestors were Scotch-Irish and the Barger family is of German lineage, and the genealogy in this country can be traced back to 1726. The great-grandfather served in the Revolutionary war, and the grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812. The family has furnished prominent representatives to va- rious professions, including R. W. Barger, Esq., of Chicago, a noted insurance lawyer; and Thomas H. Barger, a prominent politician of Columbus, Ohio. The father devoted the greater part of his life to educational work, and for some years was professor of Latin in Washington University, now the Washington and Lee University, of Lexington, Virginia. He was a member of the faculty of that in- stitution from 1859 until 1863, and again after the close of the war for three or four years. He then secured a position as teacher of lan- guages in Fancy Hill Academy of the same county, where he continued until his removal to Iowa. The university with which he was connected is one of historic interest, and was presided over by Gen. Robert E. Lee from the close of the war until the death of that emi- nent man in 1872, and during his presidency the name of the institution was changed. Pro- fessor Barger was a Southern man, and when the country became involved in civil war he was true to the State of his birth and to the principles with which he had been familiar from boyhood. During the struggle he served as Collector of Revenue for the Congressional dis- trict of which Rockbridge county formed a part. Four of his five brothers served in the Confederate army, and all were spared to re- turn to their homes. It is possible that had Mr. Barger been physically able he too would have entered the Southern service, but when a youth of sixteen he lost his left leg. The mother's people were also Virginians, but when the war-cloud burst upon the land, not believ- ing in the disruption of the Union, they gave their allegiance to the Federal Government and followed the stars and stripes. Three of the

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brothers " wore the blue " and one was killed in the service.

In 1877 Professor Barger, with his family, left the State of his nativity and removed to Lucas county, Iowa, locating upon a farm in Union township, where he and his wife spent their remaining days. His death occurred March 4, 1885, at the age of fifty-six years, and his wife passed away January 19, 1886, at the age of forty nine. In their family were three sons and two daughters, namely : Will B., whose name heads this record; Benjamin D., a farmer and stock-dealer of Leroy, Deca- tur county, Iowa; Charles S., now engaged in the hardware business at Albia, Iowa; Hattie A., wife of Sherman McKnight, a farmer of Union township, Lucas county; Luella S., wife of Zimmerman Sayers, an agriculturist of Union township, Lucas county. The children all enjoyed liberal educational advantages, for under their father's instruction they were drilled in the common and higher branches and became well informed.

Mr. Barger of this sketch engaged in teach- ing at the age of eighteen, following that pro- fession in the winter season for six terms in Lucas and Clarke counties. Had he continued to devote his energies to that work, he would probably have gained pre-eminence as an edu- cator, but his taste and inclinations led him to other fields and the legal branch gained the leader. He entered the law office of T. M. Stuart, of Chariton, where he pursued his stud- ies for two years, and out of a class of twen- ty-seven students applying for admission to the bar before the Supreme Court Mr. Barger passed as third on the severe and critical test examination. His admission to the bar oc- curred in June, 1887, and the same year he was admitted to the bar in Kansas.

Mr. Barger entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in Lucas, Iowa, and in 1888 returned to Chariton, where he practiced for one year, then spent a few months in the law and real-estate business in Oklahoma City; but again he came to Chariton and opened his present office. In the fall of 1894 he suc-

ceeded to the extensive probate business of Captain N. B. Gardner, and has at this time a greater part of the probate business of Lucas county. He makes a specialty of criminal and insurance law and is a power both before judge and jury. As a speaker he is fascinating and entertaining, and at the same time logical, convincing and forcible, his speech being adorned with the beauties of rhetoric, which, however, hide not the truths that lend their weight to every decision. He has already attained an enviable reputation as an able lawyer and jurist, and though yet a young man has a large clientage.

On the 31st of August, 1887, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Barger and Miss Amanda Lewis, daughter of Benjamin Lewis, of Union township, Lucas county, and their family now numbers two children, -Celene and Louis W.

For some years Mr. Barger was a sup- porter of the Democracy, but losing faith with that party he allied himself with the Repub- lican party, contrary to the practice of all the other members of his family, and is now recog- nized as a leader in Republican circles in this locality. In 1893 he was appointed to the position of Mayor of Chariton, to fill an unex- pired term until an election could take place, when it was found that his fellow-citizens indorsed him for that office. In 1893 he was again elected, and once more in 1895, so that when his present term expires he will have served for six consecutive years in that posi- tion; and the fact that he has been three times called to the office is a high testimonial of his ability, his fidelity to duty and the trust reposed in him. In 1890 he was appointed by the Governor to represent the Eighth Con- gressional district on the Russian Relief Com- mittee, who collected and sent to Russia 100, - 000 bushels of Iowa corn; and in 1893, in connection with Colonel Dungan, Lieutenant- Governor of Iowa, he was appointed to attend the Inter-State Railroad convention, to be held at Lincoln, Nebraska, the object of which was to devise ways and means of building a north

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and south railroad through to the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Barger is likewise prominent in civic societies, is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight of Pythias, and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. In religious belief he is a Unitarian. Prominent in his profession and in political life he is highly esteemed as a man, a citizen and a lawyer.

'ARCUS SIMPSON is the capable manager of the Burlington Linseed Oil Works. In America "labor is king," and the sovereignty that her liberty-loving people acknowledge is that of business. The men of influence in this enlight- ened age are the enterprising, progressive rep- resentatives of commercial interests, and to this class belongs Mr. Simpson. We accord- and rightfully so-praise to the man who raises a company to battle for his country's rights; but how much greater glory is due to the man who pays over his own counter each week, one hundred worknien, providing the means of sus- tenance for one hundred families. Each legit- imate enterprise ably conducted is of benefit to a community, for in this latter part of the nine- teenth century everything depends upon com- mercial activity. Mr. Simpson is accorded a place among the wide-awake business men of Burlington, and is well deserving of representa- tion in this volume.

Born in county Cavan, Ireland, January I, 1840, he is a son of Innes and Catherine (Thompson) Simpson, the former a native of Dumfries, Scotland, and the latter of London- derry, Ireland. The paternal grandfather, John Simpson, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He was a man of great firmness in adherence to truth and good principle, despised shams of all kinds, and always fearlessly spoke his honest convictions. He was at one time collector of excise taxes, during which period he was asso- ciated with Robert Burns, the celebrated Scotch poet, in the saine office, and they were fast friends. John Simpson spent the last ten years

of his life as a farmer of Canada, although he died and was buried in Ireland, passing away at the age of eighty-four. For many years he was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church. In manner he was kindly and genial, and won many friends. The father of our sub- ject was a civil engineer, and died in Carrig- bue, county Cork, Ireland, in 1854, at the age of sixty years. His wife passed away nine years previous, at the age of forty-six. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and had twelve children, eight sons and four daugh- ters. The living are Joseph, a steamboat man residing in St. Louis; David, who owns and operates a ranch in southern California; and Marcus, who is the youngest of the family.

On the Emerald Isle our subject spent the days of his boyhood and youth, living in the counties of Cork and Kildare until eighteen years of age, with the exception of three years passed in the city of Dublin. He attended various schools and entered the preparatory school of Nass, acquiring a good education that well fitted him for life's practical duties. Thinking to find a broader and better field of labor in the New World, he crossed the At- lantic in 1857, and after spending a few years in Canada went, in 1863, to Chicago. He was there engaged in the paint business until 1874, when, on account of failing health, he was obliged to sell out. The following year he spent in traveling, hoping to be benefited by the more genial climate of the Pacific slope, continuing his travels until the fall of 1875, when he located in Burlington and resumed his old line of business. This he continued until 1880, when, in connection with F. B. Jaggar, he established the Burlington Linseed Oil Works, which were conducted under the firmn name of Jaggar & Simpson. In 1887 the busi- ness was incorporated under the name of the Burlington Linseed Oil Company, of which Mr. Simpson became secretary, treasurer and manager. In 1888 this was consolidated with the business of the National Linseed Oil Com- pany, but the old name was retained. The concern has become an important one, its

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business steadily and constantly increasing, and employment is now furnished to a large force of men. It has also been a benefit to the surrounding community, for in the devel- opment of the industry flax-growing has be- come a paying crop to surrounding farmers. Mr. Simpson is a thorough-going business man of progressive ideas and untiring energy, and it is largely due to his indefatigable efforts that the Burlington Linseed Oil Company has at- tained its excellent success.

On the 12th of October, 1864, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Simpson and Miss Sarah J. Holbrook, a native of Franklin coun- ty, New York, and a daughter of Joseph and Fannie (Walker) Holbrook. The parents were both natives of the Green Mountain State. The wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Simpson took place at Trout River, New York, and they now have a very pleasant home at No. 420 High street, Burlington.

It is often the case that in the rush and hurry of commercial interests one neglects the holier duties of life, but though many are his business cares, Mr. Simpson has always found time to promote the cause of Christianity, and both he and his wife are prominent members of the Methodist Church. He is now serving as church Treasurer, and was one of the dele- gates to the General Conference in Omaha, in 1892. Largely through his efforts the mag- nificent church edifice was erected, one of the handsomest and best arranged church build- ings in the State. He is a very zealous worker in the Master's vineyard, and lends his hearty support to the various benevolent and chari- table organizations connected with the church. In politics, Mr. Simpson is a Republican, and, as every true American citizen should do, feels a deep interest in the success of the party to which he gives his support. In 1892 he served as one of the delegates from the First Con- gressional district to the national convention at Minneapolis. In manner Mr. Simpson is always affable and polite, possessing the dig- nity of the true gentleman and none of that haughty, domineering spirit which some inen

assume for dignity. He is genial and kindly, and values more highly the good qualities of head and heart in estimating character than the money one possesses. In personal appear- ance he is tall and commanding. His suc- cesses in the financial world have been won entirely through his own efforts, and his ever honorable dealing and upright career has won him a very large circle of friends.

AMILTON LA FAYETTE MAUK has resided in White Breast township, Lu- cas county, Iowa, since 1854, and has all these years been a prominent fac- tor in his community.

Mr. Mauk hails from the "Buckeye " State. He was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, June 25, 1825. Anthony Mauk, his father, was a native of Frederick county, Virginia, and a son of Matthias Mauk. Matthias Mauk was born in Germany, came to America before the Revolution and was a participant in that war, in which struggle he lost his health, his death occurring soon after. He was the owner of 600 acres of land in Virginia. His widow survived him some years and died at the age of eighty-nine. They were the parents of seven children: Frederick, Anthony, John, George, David, Polly and Matilda. Anthony was reared in his native county and in 1809 re- moved from there to Muskingum county, Ohio, where the rest of his life was passed. At the age of twenty-two he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Price, also a native of Freder- ick county, Virginia, and they became the parents of fourteen children, eleven of whom reached maturity, viz .: John, Eliza, George, Anthony, Sarah Ann, Joseph, Julia A., H. L., William, Mary, and Rebecca. Those who died in childhood were Wayne, Catherine and James. The father died of apoplexy at the age of sixty- eight years. He was a prominent Whig and was a delegate to the convention that nom- inated General William Henry Harrison for the presidency. His religious creed was that of the Lutheran Church. Of his good wife, w

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record that she died at the age of sixty-three years. She was a member of the Christian Church and was in every respect a most es- timable woman. They reared their children to habits of honesty, industry and sobriety and gave them such educational advantages as they could afford.

H. L. Mauk made the most of his early op- portunities, and acquired sufficient education to enable him to teach school. He taught in his home district for a while, and, after coming to Iowa, was engaged in the same occupation in Lucas county. November 25, 1848, he was married in Muskingum county, Ohio, to Miss Mary Jane Murray, the ceremony being per- formed by Rev. James Manning, a Lutheran divine. Mrs. Mauk was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, daughter of John and Jane (Lacock) Murray, natives of Virginia, her father a soldier of the war of 1812 and a de- scendant of Irish ancestors. The Murray fam- ily removed from Virginia to Ohio when Mrs. Mauk was ten years old, and some years later took up their abode on a farm near Indianap- olis, Indiana, where the mother died at the age of seventy-one years and the father at eighty- one. They had nine children, whose names were as follows: Lucinda, Samuel, Frances, Charles, Susanna, Mary Jane, Sarah Maria, Elizabeth and James.

In 1854, accompanied by his wife and four children, Mr. Mauk moved out to Iowa, travel- ing in a wagon drawn by horses, and in due time landed in Lucas county, their destination. The following year he bought 120 acres of land, where he now lives. To the improvement and cultivation of this farm his energies have since been directed, and in this he has attained a fair degree of success. Their original home here was a log house 36 feet long, and which still stands, now being used as a chicken house. His present residence is a story-and-a-half cot- tage, located somewhat back from the highway, and with pleasant and attractive surroundings. He has a good barn and other buildings for stock, an acre and a half in orchard, and has everything conveniently arranged for carrying

on general farming. He and his wife have had eleven children, eight of whom are living: John, York county, Nebraska; H. L. and Au- gustus, Lucas county, Iowa; Maria E., wife of John Clouse, White Breast township, Lucas county; Charles, on the home farm; Laura, wife of Luther Preston, this township; Jennie, at home; and U. Grant, Glenwood, Iowa. Of the deceased, we record that Franklin died in Colorado at the age of twenty-five years; Samantha, a twin of John, died at the age of twelve years; and Samuel died in infancy. .

Mr. Mauk is rated among the leading citi- zens of the county, and takes an active inter- est in all its affairs. He is a Republican. He has filled the office of Township Clerk for a period of twenty-five years, has also served as Assessor, Trustee and Secretary of the School Board, and on various occasions has been a delegate to county and Congressional conven- tions, and was appointed to take the census of White Breast township in 1890. Both he and his wife have long been identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for several years he has acted as Steward of the church. A friend of temperance, education and religion, and a man of the highest and noblest qualities, he is, indeed, a valued citizen.

ALENTINE CLINE, a well known and honored resident of Indianola, Iowa, who is now living retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil, was born in Adams county, Ohio, and is descended from German ancestry. His great- grandfather was a native of Germany, and when a young man emigrated to America, lo- cating in Virginia. The grandfather of our subject, John Cline, was born in the Old Dominion and lived to be seventy-five years of age. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and throughout his life followed farming. The father of our subject, Wilson Cline, was born in Virginia and died at the age of forty-five years. By trade he was a carpenter and be- came one of the pioneer settlers of Adams

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county, Ohio. He married Miss Elizabeth Silcott, a native of Virginia and a daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth Silcott. Her father was a native of Germany, and during his childhood came with his parents to America. His death occurred at the ad- vanced age of eighty-five and his wife died when only thirty-five years of age.

The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was left an orphan at the early age of nine and went to the West in company with his uncle, Jarrett Silcott, locating in Parke county, Indiana. There he remained for three years, when, in September, 1854, he came to Warren county, Iowa, which he made his home for two years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Parke county and was there united in marriage, on the 28th of September, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Ball.

On the 31st of October, 1862, he felt that he could no longer remain contentedly at home while his country was engaged in the Civil war, and enlisted in defense of the Union at Rose- dale, Parke county, Indiana. He was mustered in about ten days later as a private of Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana In- fantry and drilled there one month. In December the regiment started for Louisville, Kentucky, and thence went to Nashville, Tennessee, where it was assigned to duty with the First Division, Second Brigade, Twenty-third Army Corps. The troops then marched to Chattanooga, and with the command Mr. Cline participated in several skirmishes, including one at Tatter Hill and another one at Cumberland Gap. They met the rebels in battle at Resaca, Georgia, the engagement lasting all Saturday and Sun- day, and in the evening of the second day they started in pursuit of the Confederates. They took part in the battles of Burnt Hickory and Big Shanty, and struck the main column of the opposing army at Kenesaw mountain, where there was a general engagement, in which the One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana suffered heavily, losing forty killed and inany wounded. Mr. Cline was wounded by a spent ball and lay in the hospital for six weeks, but joined the

company again before the fall of Atlanta. He participated in that battle, and was then given a furlough, returning home to vote for Lincoln in 1864. He joined the army again at Colum- bia, Tennessee, participated in the battle there, and also at Franklin, where the regi- ment lost 200 killed and over 300 wounded. With his command Mr. Cline then went to Nashville, where Hood made a desperate effort to capture the city, but was routed and his. army scattered. The Union corps was then sent to Cliffton on the Tennessee river and took boats for Washington city, where they spent three weeks in February, 1865. They then .. sailed down the Potomac to Fort Fisher and after participating in the engagement there took part in the battle of Wilmington, going thence to Newbern. Landing, they marched across the country to Goldsboro, and meeting the army of General Bragg an engagement . was brought on, the enemy being routed. From Raleigh the troops proceeded to Char- lotte, where they camped until September, 1865, and were then mustered out. The regi- ment at once returned to Indianapolis, where they were discharged on the 6th of September, and Mr. Cline at once returned to his home in Parke county. He was a brave and faithful soldier, always found at his post of duty and won for himself an honorable war record wor- thy of perpetuation on the pages of the history of his adopted country.

Mr. Cline resided in Parke county until Octo- ber, 1869, when he brought his family to War- ren county, Iowa, and purchased a quarter section of land in Otter township, to the culti- vation and improvement of which he devoted his energies until November, 1889. Since that time he has lived retired in Indianola. He still owns eighty acres of his original farm, how- ever, and fifteen acres within the corporation limits of the city, where he raises many varieties of fruits.

In 1882 Mr. Cline was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 14th of January of that year. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal

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Church from early childhood. In their family were seven children, the oldest being George H. He was born in Hancock county, Illinois, April 23, 1858, and was married September 6, 1881, to Cornelia F. Middlesnart, who was born May 12, 1864. They had seven chil- dren, namely: Jessie May, born November 24, 1882; Nellie L., born August 9, 1884; Marian Elsie, born June 18, 1886; Laura Belle, who was born December 16, 1887, and died August 1, 1889; Harry W., who was born March 3, 1891, and died February 28, 1892; Ruth Ina, born June 16, 1892; and George Earle, born April 3, 1895. The second child of the family, Willis L., is a prominent and known liveryman of Indianola. He was born in Parke county, Indiana, September 28, 1860, and remained with his father until he had at- tained his majority, when he started out in life for himself. He is now doing a good business, and has a liberal patronage. He was married February 6, 1883, to Minerva Hines, who was born in Warren county Feb- ruary 11, 1866. They now have five children: Freddie Wilbur, born April 27, 1884; Cora Maud, born November 21, 1885; Charles Leonard, born October 15, 1887; Ida May, born October 29, 1890; and Bonnie Laura, born November 13, 1892. The third child, Marion, was born in Parke county, Indiana, but went West in 1882 and has not been heard from since. John F., also born in Parke county, married Lizzie Morris and has three children, -Effie, Hazel and Walter. The re- maining members of the family-Pearl, Charlie and Louanna-are all natives of Warren county. Mr. Cline of this review was again married April 13, 1883, his second union being with Mary E. Shepherd, by whom he had five children-Mabel, Lizzie, Maggie, Frank, and Hattie.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 56

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