Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 64

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

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Mrs. Badger, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and received the benefit of the common schools. January 11, 1836, she was united in marriage with Ebenezer Badger, born in Indiana, November 30, IS12. His father, Daniel Badger, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Ebenezer Badger were married in the little puncheon- floor cabin, and the ceremony was performed by 'Squire Humble. This took place many

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years ago, but to look into the face of this Christian woman, who has weathered the storm of seventy-seven years, one could hardly real- ize the hardships and privations she endured. Mr. and Mrs. Badger came to Lincoln town- ship, Lucas county, and in the fall of 1850 purchased a half section of what was the estate of a Mr. Howard. On the place was located a two-room, one-story house, with a mud-brick chimney, two windows and clapboard doors. The family were obliged to go to Eddyville for their flour. Mr. Badger departed this life in February, 1880, and was laid at rest in Chariton.

To Mr. and Mrs. Badger were born eleven children, namely: Ephraim, a soldier in the late war, now residing in Chariton township; John, who enlisted in Company I, Eighth Iowa Infantry, and lost his life at the battle of Shiloh; Mary, wife of George Bowers, of Chariton; Samuel W., who served in the Thirty-fourth Iowa Regiment during the late war, resides in Cedar township; Edward T., of Warren town- ship; F. M., in Oregon; Martha J., wife of John Moore, of Cedar township; Isaac N., born November 23, 1853, manages his moth- er's farm, and is one of the well-known men in Lincoln township; William A., of Ottumwa, Iowa; Margaret Ann, deceased, was the wife of Lindsay Wilson; and Phœbe, wife of Noah Moore, engaged in farming on the old Moore homestead. Mrs. Wilson had five children, --- William N., Edward, Warren, Dexter and Tillie (deceased in infancy).

J OSEPH WILLIAMS BLACKMAN is one of the most prosperous citizens of De Soto, and has been connected with almost all the leading enterprises that have promoted the material welfare of this place, while to the advancement of educational, moral or social interests he has given his hearty co-operation.

Our subject is descended from one of the early families of New England. His father, Edward Prindell Blackman, was born and reared in Vermont, and when a young man left

his native State, emigrating Westward. Lo- cating in Miami county, Indiana, he there en- gaged in the mercantile business and also car- ried on a hotel for four years. He was married while there to Miss Eliza Ann Williams, a na- tive of Ohio, and they became parents of a son and daughter while living in the Hoosier State. In the year 1854 Mr. Blackman disposed of his business interests in Indiana and came with his family to Iowa, locating on a farm in Boone township, Dallas county, which he transformed from a raw tract into rich and fertile fields, and continued its cultivation until his death, which occurred in 1861.

The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was born in Indiana, on the rith of May, 1848, and was the eldest of the family of four children. His father died when he was thirteen years of age, and he remained at home, carrying on the farm for his mother until her death, in 1875. He then went to Waukee, Iowa, with his younger brother, whom he in- tended to place in school there, while he should devote his energies to mercantile pursuits. For four weeks he continued in that place, but found no favorable opening for business, and in consequence came to De Soto. He traded a farm which he owned, in Adel township, for a stock of goods, opened a store in this place, put his brother in school, and then devoted his energies untiringly to his business pursuits. In connection with his store he carried on a hotel and livery stable for a number of years. Dur- ing the years 1887, 1888 and 1889 he owned a half interest in the large tile and brick factory of this place, and then sold out to his brother. In August, 1895, he also sold his extensive general mercantile establishment, and is now devoting his entire time to his cold-storage and butchering business. He runs a slaughter- house in connection with his butcher shop. His cold-storage building has a capacity of over 2,000 cases of eggs, and his business place alto- gether covers an area of twenty-five acres. He has been very prosperous in his undertakings, and in addition to his other property he owns 200 acres of land in Boone township, Dallas

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county, and 162 acres in Guthrie county, Iowa, -all rented and under a high state of cultivation.

On the 11th of September, 1876, Mr. Blackman was united in marriage to Miss Jen- nie Smith, who was born in Ohio and reared in Illinois. Their wedding was celebrated in De Soto, and their union has been blessed with two children : Mabel, born October 15, 1879; and Dora Bere, born September 16, 1884. They also lost one daughter, Letha May, born in October, 1877. She lived only one month. The home of the family is one of the finest residences in De Soto and is taste- fully and beautifully furnished, while its hos- pitable doors are ever open for the reception of their many friends.

Mr. Blackman is a stalwart Republican in politics and has held the offices of School Director and Town Councilman at different times, but seeks no political honors. He is a member of De Soto Lodge, No. 400, I. O. O. F., and both he and his wife hold member- ship with the Christian Church, and take an active part in its work and upbuilding. His reputation as a straightforward, honorable bus- iness man is one that might well be envied. He has ever pursued a business policy that commends him to the confidence and regard of all, while his capable management, energy and perseverance have brought to him a well de- served competence.

3 AMES S. BOYD, a successful farmer of Belmont township, Warren county, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, June 10, 1837, a son of Robert and Rachel (Frame) Boyd. Of their children who . were born at the old homestead in Guernsey county, we make record as follows : Martha, wife of James Bell, of North Salem, Ohio; Thomas, a clergyman, of Portland, Oregon; Joseph, a minister in the Presbyterian Church at Des Moines; William, a traveling salesman at Pana, Illinois; Robert, who served in the

Fifteenth Ohio Regiment during the late war, resides in White county, Illinois; James S., the subject of this sketch; John, who was a member of Company F, Seventy-eighth Ohio Regiment, resides on the old homestead; Eliza, wife of Mr. - Baird, a farmer of Perry county, Illinois; David, a carpenter by trade, also owns a good farm, and resides in Kenton, Ohio.

All of the children are still living, two engaged in preaching the gospel, and four were soldiers in the late war. Their father, Robert Boyd, was born near Belfast, Ireland, and after coming to this country he made his home in Philadelphia for a time, removing thence to Guernsey county, Ohio. Two years afterward he was joined by his parents, Joseph and Martha Boyd, and their children, - William, Mary, Eliza and James. The grand- parents of our subject, as well as the good father and mother, have long since passed away. £ Uncle James Boyd is the only sur- vivor of the family, and he resides in Oska- loosa.

James S. Boyd, the subject of this sketch, attended the common schools, and afterward took a three years' course at Muskingum Col- lege. While in his junior year his patriotism became manifest, and he enlisted in Company A, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in at Mansfield, Ohio, September 6, 1861. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, and was discharged in March, 1863. He then became a member of Company K, One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Ohio Infantry, took part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and was discharged when the regiment was mustered out of service. Mr. Boyd next entered the One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Ohio, Company F, and was mustered out at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, October 6, 1865. Three years afterward he came to Iowa, loca- ting in Clayton county. In 1871 he removed to Corning, Adams county, this State; in July, 1871, became a resident of Henry county; in the fall of 1873 removed to Liberty township; and since 1885 has resided in Belmont town- ship, Warren county. Mr. Boyd is promi-

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nently identified with the Republican party, and his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

After returning home from the war Mr. Boyd was united in marriage to Miss Anna J., a daughter of David Noble, a native of Penn- sylvania. When fifteen years of age she accompanied her parents to Ohio, and in 1852 her father died of cholera in St. Louis, Mis- souri. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have had seven children, namely : Emma, wife of William Hall, a farmer of Liberty township, Warren county; William, at home; Sadie, deceased at the age of two years and five months; Robert, who died at the age of one and a half years; Walter and Mary, twins, and both at home; and James Garfield, also at home.

J B. GUY, a pioneer of Otter township, Warren county, finds a warm spot in the heart of every soldier, and this is especially true of the soldiers of Iowa and those of his regiment, the Thirty-fourth Iowa. He was born in a log cabin on his father's farm in Iredell county, North Carolina, March 10, 1830, a son of William and Kesiah (Wellman) Guy. Our subject was the fifth born of their nine children, five of whom are now living, -Elsie Ann, Rebecca Ellis, Ollie Adeline, A. J. and J. B. In 1832 the parents located in the dense woods of Indiana, where they hewed their way to sunlight and civiliza- tion. There they spent the remainder of their lives, and our subject also received the rudi- ments of his education there, while travel and his own studious efforts have effectually supple- mented this discipline. He came to Polk county, Iowa, in 1851, and five years after- ward located his present fine farm, which at that early day was indeed a wild and unculti- vated tract of land. This he has transformed into a beautiful and productive section, and his kindly eye has yearly witnessed the yellow corn and grain spring out of the once wild

prairie land, as the result of his own efforts. His little log cabin has been replaced by a very fine home, and his eighty acres have widened into a farm of 220 acres. Forty acres of the place lie in Belmont township, twenty acres of which are in timber. Ever industrious, this sterling citizen and soldier has won a com- petence for his declining years.

August 12, 1862, Mr. Guy enlisted at In- dianola, as a private in the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry. He accompanied his regiment to Chickasaw Bayou, where they had a severe battle with the enemy; at Arkansas Post they again faced the enemy, and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, and in the engagement at Fort Blakely. This is indeed but a cursory record of the hardships this sterling patriot en- dured in the defense of his country's flag dur- ing his long. period of service, but his many comrades and friends attest to the laurels he gained as a good soldier, who deemed duty a priv- ilege. Mr. Guy was mustered out at Daven- port, Iowa, September 20, 1865, and returned to his home.

He was married in Polk county, Iowa, February 12, 1852, to Miss Mathilda Emmons, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and a daughter of John Emmons. They have had eight children, four now living: Clarence, a well-known farmer of Belmont township, War- ren county; A. R., of Milo; Sherman, a farmer, of this township; and John, at home. The de- ceased children were: Florence, Blanche, Susan Jane and Laura. In his home life Mr. Guy has ever unconsciously shown the many domestic traits which have won for him the everlasting esteem of his kindred, and which are but the natural results of a disposition abounding in love and good will to all mankind. Much credit is also due the remarkable Christian lady who graces his fine home. Mr. Guy affiliates with the Grand Army of the Republic, Post No. 275, of Milo, and is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. Ever since the incep- tion of the Republican party he has been a stanch advocate of its doctrines, and his loyalty to-day is even in excess of that of previous .

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years. Yet he has never sought political pref- erence from its hands. He cast his first presi- dential vote for General Scott.

J OHN SCHNEBLY .- In the gentleman with whose name we introduce this sketch is found another one of Iowa's pioneers, the date of his arrival here being 1857; and like many of the other lead- ing citizens of the Hawkeye State, Mr. Schnebly hails from Pennsylvania. We take pleasure in here presenting a review of his life:

John Schnebly was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, December 16, 1832. His father, Daniel Schnebly, also a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, was born November, 1809, son of John Henry and Susan Schnebly, natives of Switzerland, and early residents of America, they having located here previous to the Revolution. John Henry Schnebly was a soldier in that war. His seal was two snow- balls. Both he and his wife died and are buried in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. Daniel Schnebly was reared on a Pennsylvania farm and was educated in the public schools of that State. He married Rosanna Eversoll, she, too, being a native of Bedford county, where she was born in 1808. Her father, Abraham Eversoll, was of German origin. In the year 1835 Daniel Schnebly and his wife removed to Medina county, Ohio, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits for a num- ber of years and where his death occurred in 1863. In 1838, not long after their settle- ment in Ohio, Mrs. Schnebly died, leaving three children, John, Henry and Elizabeth. Henry is now a resident of Seymour, Iowa, and Elizabeth is deceased. For his second wife Mr. Schnebly married Miss Amelia Will- iams, who bore him the following children: Allie; Bower Williams, a soldier in the late war, was killed in the battle of Winchester, June 13, 1863; Hortense; Daniel, who died in Texas; Hiram Harvey; Lewis Cass; William Riley. The mother of these children died at the advanced age of eighty-two years.

Having thus briefly referred to his parent- age, we now pass on to the life of our im- mediate subject, John Schnebly. At the time his mother died he was only six years old. On his father's frontier farm in Medina county he was early inured to all kinds of farm work, and by precept and example was taught those lessons of honesty, industry and frugality which have been the means of securing his success. The training he received in the public schools was supplemented later by home study and reading, and by a knowledge gained by close observation and actual contact in business life. Eager to see the world, and ambitious to make his fortune in the far West, young Schnebly started in 1852 for the gold mines of the Pacific coast, he at that time being about twenty years of age. The journey to Cali- fornia, which is now made by rail in a few days, was then accomplished only after long and tedious travel with teams across the plains, or by vessel via the isthmus or around the Horn. Mr. Schnebly chose the isthmus route. He sailed from New York on the Sierra Ne- vada to the isthmus, went up the Chagres river in a boat and thence on across the isth- mus on mule-back. The Pacific voyage he made in the New Orleans, and in due time landed in San Francisco. For five years he was engaged in mining in California, most of the time working for himself in the placer mines, but a portion of the time being in the employ of a river mining company. At the end of five years he returned to his home in Medina county, Ohio, making the return trip over the same route, and shortly afterward he came to Iowa. His journey to Iowa was made by rail as far as Mt. Pleasant and thence by stage to Chariton. Soon after his arrival here he purchased 120 acres of land, with a log cabin on it, and here he has since lived and prospered. By subsequent purchase he has since added to his original holdings until he is now the owner of 330 acres of valuable land, all well improved, and adapted for general farming and stock-raising. In 1881 he built his present commodious and modern res-

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idence, it being 20 x 30 feet, two stories, with an ell, 16 x 20 feet, a story and a half, its whole cost being about $2,000. Its lo- cation being on a gentle elevation and about forty rods back from the road, it has some- what the appearance of a Southern home. In connection with his farming operations, Mr. Schnebly is largely interested in the stock business, keeping a high grade of horses, cat- tle and hogs.

October 12, 1858, in Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, was consummated Mr. Schneb- ly's marriage to Mary E. Dunlap, a native of that county and a daughter of William and Nancy (Finley) Dunlap, who were born in Bel- fast, Ireland, and who died in Ohio. This union resulted in the birth of three children, viz .: Clara, wife of George Cochran, White Breast township, Lucas county; Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Reed, Cripple Creek, Colorado; and Cyntha, who died in infancy. The wife and mother departed this life October 7, 1868. March 1, 1870, Mr. Schnebly was married, at Chariton, Iowa, to Miss Mary A. Pim, a pop- ular teacher of Lucas county. She was born in Morrow county, Ohio, daughter of Samuel Pim and granddaughter of William Pim, both natives of Pennsylvania. Samuel Pim was married in Morrow county, Ohio, to Miss Mary Jumper, also a native of the Keystone State, and in 1854 they moved with a two- horse wagon to Iowa and settled in Jackson township, Lucas county. Here the father died in 1881. He was an earnest Christian man and a member of the United Brethren Church, while in politics he harmonized with the Re- publican party. Following are the names of his children: William H., Jackson township; Mary A .; Esther J. Carpenter, Washington, Nebraska; P. P., of this township; Rebecca, wife of W. Reed, of the State of Washington; Ellen, wife of James Walker, died in 1893; and Ola, at home and engaged in teaching music. All were well educated and three of the daughters were teachers. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Schnebly are three in number and as follows: Anna, wife of G. L. Heston,

Jackson township, this county; Birdie, wife of William Spencer, also of Jackson township; and Mary, at home.

Mr. Schnebly is Democratic in his political affiliations, and for ten years he has rendered most able service as Justice of the Peace. He has also served as Township Trustee. Fra- ternally he is identified with Good Shepherd Lodge, No. 414, F. & A. M.

E WITT CLINTON BRAND, one of the early pioneers of Washington (now Lincoln) township, Warren county, was born in Erie county, New York, June 27, 1824, one of seven chil- dren of David and Sophia (Elliott) Brand. The father was born in Schoharie county, New York, in 1778, remaining there until 1798, when he moved into the wilderness of Erie county, having been one of the first three set- tlers on Cattaraugus creek. There were no white people within a distance of fifty miles east, and many Indians were there at that time. Mr. Brand resided in Clinton and Cat- taraugus counties until 1854, when he came West, locating in Warren county, Iowa, in March of that year, and his death occurred in the following October, at the age of seventy- six years. The grandfather of our subject, David Brand, was born and lived and died in the State of New York. The remote ancestors of the family were among the early settlers of the old Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Sophia (Elliott) Brand, the mother of our subject, was also a native of New York. Her father was a sea captain during his active life, and also owned sailing ships on the high seas. He died at the age of eighty years. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Brand was Captain of the Mayflower in Colonial days, and he was also an Admiral of the British navy. He died in England at an extreme old age.

De Witt Clinton Brand, our subject, spent his early life in Erie and Cattaraugus counties. In 1848 he started out in life for himself, com- ing to Warren county, Iowa, where he assisted

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his brother in mill building for two years. He next spent two years at his former home in Dayton, New York. In 1854 Mr. Brand re- turned with his family to Iowa, locating in Washington (now Lincoln) township, and en- tered 360 acres of Government land. He was one of the first settlers of this part of the town- ship, the country at that time being wild prairie and timber, abounding in wild animalsand game. Here his life up to the present time has been spent. Mr. Brand has always been recognized as one of the representative, broad-minded and successful farmers of this region. He has been a member of the Republican party since its foundation, fully identified with the organiza- tion, and believing in the principles which un- derlie it.

Mr. Brand was married at Dayton, New York, in the winter of 1851, to Louisa Ranney, a native of that State and a daughter of Eli Ranney. The Ranneys were one of the earli- est families of western New York, having been established there for generations. The par- ents came to Iowa in old age, where they spent the remainder of their days. Our sub- ject and wife have had eight children, as fol- lows : George Clinton, of Lincoln township; Alice, wife of Henry Brown, of Cass county, Iowa; Sarah, wife of Joseph Lehman, also of that county; Catherine, now Mrs. Cliff Hall, of Lincoln township; Minnie, wife of William Peverley, of Greenfield township, Warren county; Mary, wife of William Comer, of Cass county, this State; and Nellie and Warren, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Brand are members of the Methodist Church.

e LLIS VAN PELT, of Lincoln town- ship, Warren county, Iowa, was born in Highland county, near Cincinnati, Ohio, December 17, 1839, one of the ten children (nine of whom are now living) of Jonah and Mary (Van Pelt) Van Pelt. His father, Jonah Van Pelt, was a native of west- ern Virginia, was born in the year 1795, and when ten years old removed with the rest of

the family to Belmont county, Ohio, where he remained for several years. Of a mechanical turn, he early in life learned the trades of car- penter, bridge-builder and millwright. He was married in 1821 to Miss Mary Van Pelt, a daughter of John and Mary (Dever) Van Pelt, her people having removed from Penn- sylvania to Ohio at an early day. After his marriage he settled down on a farm which he cleared and improved, and in connection with his farming operations spent considerable time in work at his trade. He erected a number of churches and other buildings and built numer- ous bridges in the pioneer settlements of Ohio, and in that State he spent nearly the whole of his life. When well advanced in years he came to Iowa and settled at Mt. Pleasant. That was in 1854, and here he spent the resi- due of his life, his death occurring. in 1863. He was a man of remarkable strength and energy, and continued to work at his trade up to the end of his life. A Whig of the old school and strong in his convictions, he was a power in his party for many years-one of the rugged, influential men of his day. His wife, Mary, was born in the year 1807 and died in 1883.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Van Pelt was named Jacob. He was born in the year 1742, in the Keystone State, the son of early settlers there. Late in life he emigrated to Ohio, where his closing years were spent, and where he died at the age of eighty-seven. Grandmother Van Pelt, whose maiden name was Sarah Ryan, was likewise a native of Pennsylvania. She was of Holland origin, her forefathers having located in America in the early Colonial period.

Ellis Van Pelt, with whose name we in- troduce this sketch, spent the first fourteen years of his life in Ohio, coming to Iowa in June, 1854, and locating in Henry county. In 1863 he came to Warren county and settled in what is now Lincoln township. The farm he now occupies he purchased in 1868. At that time it was all wild land and had no im- provements whatever, and from its primitive

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condition he has developed it into one of the fine farms for which Warren county is justly noted. He has for years given considerable attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of hogs, and in this has been uniformly suc- cessful.

In 1868 Mr. Van Pelt was united in mar- riage to Mary L. Wilson, daughter of Lewis and Malinda Wilson. She is a native of In- diana and one of the eight children composing her father's family. Mr. Wilson is a Virginian by birth, and is still living, at the age of eighty- four years; his wife, a native of Tennessee, died at an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Van Pelt have five children: Minnie A., Mary E., William E., Ethel M. and Emma Grace- all at home.

In his political views Mr. Van Pelt is a pronounced Republican, being one of the radi- cal men of his party.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 64

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