Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 69

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

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church, he having served as Class-leader, Trustee and Sabbath-school Superintendent. A Union man in times of civil strife and a sup- porter of the martyred Lincoln, he has since maintained his allegiance with the party which saved the Union-the Republican.

Mr. Bolyard was married December 9, 1858, to Miss Sirena Goff, daughter of George and Nancy (Bonnifield) Goff, natives of Vir- ginia. She was the fourth born in their family of seven children, her birthplace being in Bar- bour county, and when a child she accompanied her parents to Preston county. When she was only eight years old death deprived her of a mother's loving care; her father lived to be seventy, dying in Virginia. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bolyard, namely: Sarah Frances, who is the wife of Clarence Warren, a young farmer of Squaw township, this county; David L., at hoine; Mary Salome, wife of Thomas Keyser, a farmer of Virginia township, this county; and Clarissa Catherine, wife of David Keyser, a brother of Thomas, both sterling young men who are respected by all who know them.

L. THOMPSON is numbered among the honored pioneers of Warren county, Iowa, and has witnessed much of its growth and development, taking an active interest in all that pertains to its upbuilding. He was born in Preston county, West Virginia, December 1, 1841, and is a son of William and Mary (Wotring) Thompson. The father was a native of Vir- ginia, reared near Richmond. He spent much of his time in agricultural pursuits, but was a competent boot and shoe maker, and supplied his family with everything needed in that line. His political support was given the Jacksonian Democratic principles. He was reared in the Methodist Church South, and was a man de- voted to his family, being a kind and indulg- ent father. His wife was also born in the Old Dominion, in 1812. In their family were nine children, three sons and six daughters, of

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whom five are now living, namely: Cordelia, wife of Lee Roy, of New Virginia; A. L., of this review; Virginia, wife of James Stump, of Palmyra, Warren county, Iowa; Harriet, widow of Hugh Campbell, and a resident of Oregon; W. J., of Hot Sulphur Springs, Col- orado, where for many years he has engaged in ranching; and Louise, wife of David Fin- ley, of Corning, Iowa. In 1859 Mrs. Thomp- son brought her family to this State, making the journey with a covered spring wagon and a team of horses. She left the old home in the middle of September, and a few days be- fore Christmas reached New Virginia, where the winter was passed.

In the following spring our subject rented a farm of 120 acres near St. Charles, Madison county, Iowa, where he resided for one year. He then rented another tract of land in the same locality, which he made his home until the spring of 1862. He then started to the wild regions of the Northwest, accompanied by Mr. Adams. They drove two yoke of cattle, and followed the course of the North Platte and Sweetwater rivers. They also went up the Snake river, and crossed Bear and Green rivers. At Snake river their entire outfit was captured by the Indians, but the men managed to make their escape and a wagon train picked them up near Salmon Falls. They had only fifty cents between them and Mr. Thompson was in his shirt sleeves, his coat having been lost. The train with which they then traveled numbered III wagons and 600 people, journeying to the Humboldt mines. During a night while encamped at Goose creek they were attacked by the red men.

Mr. Thompson remained at the Humboldt mines for three months and then went to Cali- fornia, spending the winter near Clarksville. In the spring he returned to the Humboldt mines, where he worked until the suc- ceeding autumn, receiving $4 per day. The

product there was a quartz yield. In the fall he went to the Owyhee mines in Idaho, near Boise City, where he remained during the suc- ceeding winter and summer. In the fall of

1865 he made the journey to The Dalles and walked to Portland, a distance of eighty-four miles. He met with many hardships during his life on the Pacific slope, but at last he left that country and returned to Iowa. At San Francisco he boarded a steamer bound for New York, and during the voyage a terrific storm was encountered, but after thirty days they reached the harbor in safety, and our subject continued across the country to New Virginia, where he arrived in January, 1866.

The following summer Mr. Thompson rented a farm in New Virginia township, and subsequently purchased a farm in Clark county, near the Warren county line, com- prising 120 acres, of which twenty acres were broken. He then successfully carried on agri- cultural pursuits until his retirement to private life.

On the Ist of January, 1867, Mr. Thomp- son married Mary E., daughter of Allanson and Ruth E. (Millard) Bowers, a native of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. She was only four years of age when her parents removed to Missouri, and in the fall of 1860 the family came to Iowa. Her father died at the age of seventy-five years, but her mother is still liv- ing, on the old homestead, and is now in her seventy-ninth year. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomp- son were born the following children: Inez, who was born December 7, 1867, is the wife of Ross Trimble, a hardware merchant of New Virginia, and they have three children-Elmer, Adelbert and Ruby; Samuel M., who was born April 24, 1859, and died June 28, 1895, was a farmer by occupation, and married Linnie Lamb and left one child, Lena; Herman H., born September 21, 1870, and now following agricultural pursuits, married Lenora Wright and has two children, Lela and an infant; and Arnestus and Ernest, born October 7, 1873. The former married Nora Patterson, of Osce- ola, Iowa, and has one child, Fern; and the latter is at home.

The career of Mr. Thompson has been a busy and useful one, and his enterprise, perse- verance and good management has secured him

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a comfortable property. In September, 1894, he erected a pleasant home in New Virginia, where he is now spending his declining years in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. He has been a Democrat in politics since casting his first vote, for Stephen A. Douglas. His wife's mother is an own cousin of Millard Fill- more. Mr. Thompson has served as township Trustee, and both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while in social relations he is a Mason.

LEXANDER IRWIN, deceased, was one of the honored and esteemed cit- izens of Warren county, Iowa. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, September 9, 1843, and died at his pleasant home in Virginia township, August 22, 1895, respected by all who knew him. His child- hood days were passed in Harrison county, Ohio, and he was descended from a sterling family, noted for excellent traits of character. He came to the West at an early day, and tak- ing up his residence in Warren county here formed the acquaintance of Miss Susan Eliza- beth Steele, a native of Missouri, born in Adair county, September 20, 1859. Her parents were John and Mary (Gher) Steele, who in 1861 left their Missouri farm and came to Iowa, settling in Wapello county. Subsequently they re- moved to Madison county, later to Clarke coun- ty, and afterward to Warren county, but again went to Clarke county. The mother died when Mrs. Irwin was a maiden of twelve summers, passing away, in Clarke county, on the 8th of April, 1871, at the age of fifty-four years. She was a devout Christian woman, reared in the faith of the Dunkard Church. Maryland was the State of her nativity, and there she became the wife of Mr. Steele, a Pennsylvanian by birth, to whom she proved a faithful companion and helpmeet. He was a straightforward and honorable business man, and his death occurred in 1868.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Irwin was celebrated at the home of her sister, Mrs. Mary

Henthorn, of Clarke county, on the 5th of April, 1877, and was blessed with a family of six children, namely: Ida, who was born March 13, 1878, and is now attending the high school; Theophilus, born October 4, 1880; Ray, born July 6, 1884; Nellie, born July 15, 1886; Nora, born May 8, 1888; and Lois, born Oc- tober 15, 1891.

In his business dealings Mr. Irwin met with fair success, and by his energy and enterprise succeeded in accumulating 400 acres of valua- ble land, which leaves his family in comforta- ble circumstances. His life was one of honor and uprightness, and he won the high regard of all with whom business or social relations brought him in contact. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife is a member of the United Brethren Church. She is now devoting herself to her children and to the management of her business interests, in which she displays excellent ability. Over her home she presides with gracious hospitality and her friends are many.

R M. TRIMBLE .- The subject of this sketch is the popular young hardware dealer of New Virginia, Warren county, Iowa. Although his identity with the business interests of this place does not yet cover a long period, he is by no means a stranger here, having passed his whole life in Warren county and having been five years a resident of Virginia township.

Mr. Trimble was born on his father's farm in White Oak township, Warren county, Iowa, August 7, 1866, and was reared to farm life, receiving a common-school education, which was supplemented by two years at Simpson College. When he was seventeen he taught the Center school in Squaw township. After- ward he taught the Fairview and other schools in the county, altogether his experience as teacher covering no less than fifteen terms. When not engaged with his school duties he was at home on the farm, and for about five years he had charge of the farming operations,

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his father and brother during that period being occupied in conducting a store at Liberty Cen- ter. He came to New Virginia and purchased the hardware stock of C. S. Carson, and in the business center of the town erected the fine building he now occupies. The building is 22 x 50 feet in dimensions and has an addition 18 x 32 feet. That was in 1894, and in Janu- ary of the present year (1895) he opened his store and is now doing a fair business.

Mr. Trimble's parents are among the pio- neers of this portion of Iowa. Enoch Trimble, his father, is a native of Knox county, Ohio, and early in the '6os emigrated from that State to Iowa, locating on a farm in White Oak township, Warren county. Here he was mar- ried to Miss Hettie V. Condit, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Condit, and a native of Ohio. She accompanied her parents to Iowa at an early day, and for a period of about fifteen years was engaged in teaching. She attended the first teachers' institute ever held in War- ren county, and also she attended the Des Moines institutes. Her first term was in the subscription schools, and on one occasion she accepted as compensation for her service, or, rather, part compensation, an ox yoke. She and Mr. Trimble were married at the residence of Moses Hewitt. Their union has resulted in the birth of seven children, one daughter and six sons, the subject of our sketch being the eldest. The others in order of birth are as follows : G. S., who conducts a meat market and restaurant in New Virginia; J. H., a con- tractor and builder of New Virginia; Nannie, who died at the age of twenty-three years, was the wife of Elmer Workman, of Knox county, Ohio; Allen, who died in infancy; Scott, of Mills county, Iowa; and Blaine, at home. Enoch Trimble served throughout the war as a member of the First Iowa Cavalry, enlisting at Indianola and receiving his discharge at Daven- port, and, like most of the veterans of the civil war, he is identified with that popular organization known as the Grand Army of the Republic, being a member of Milo Post, No. 270. He is aggressive in his political views,

has long affiliated with the Republican party, and at one time rendered efficient service as Sheriff of Warren county. R. M. Trimble is also a Republican. He cast his first presi- dential vote for Benjamin Harrison.

The subject of our sketch was married March 18, 1888, to Miss Inez M. Thompson, a daughter of A. L: Thompson and a native of Clarke county, this State. They have three children : Elmer, born in 1890; Delbert, 1892, and Ruby, 1894.

J A. MORGAN, now deceased, was prominently connected with the busi- ness interests of Warren county, en- gaged in the lumber trade in New Virginia, was a loyal and devoted citizen of this region and during the Civil war he manifested his patriotism to his country by his enlistment and service in the Union army. A native of Ohio, he was born in Harrison county, No- vember 19, 1840, being a son of John and Jemima (Merrill) Morgan, whose family num- bered eight children, four sons and four daugh- ters, our subject being the fourth in order of birth. Four of the number are yet living, namely: Rachel, wife of W. W. Williams, de- ceased, afterward married Lou Davis, of Gallia county, Ohio; Elizabeth is the wife of Walker Williams, a resident of Coffey county, Kansas; Alcinda is the wife of George Hixson, a resident of Gallia county, Ohio; Jesse M. resides in the same place. The father of this family was a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having oc- curred near Morgantown, in 1801. Through- out his life he followed farming and died in Gallia county, Ohio, in 1856. In early life he supported the Whig party, became a stanch abolitionist, and when the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery, he joined its ranks, being the first to espouse its cause in his township. His wife was born in Marion county, West. Virginia, in 1801, and died at the very advanced age of eighty-nine years.

The subject of this review was reared and

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educated in Gallia county, and through travel, experience and observation became a well-in- formed man. He early began work on the farm, which he continued until his enlistment, on the 23d of August, 1861, in his country's service. He became a member of Company G, One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Ohio In- fautry, under Captain James Gatewood and Colonel C. G. Hawley. The regiment rendez- voused at Portsmouth, Ohio. The following June it was transferred to the First Heavy Ar- tillery Corps and took part in all the engage- ments and skirmishes with that command. Mr. Morgan continued at the front, faithfully de- fending the old flag and the cause it repre- sented until after the close of the war, when, on the 3d of July, 1865, he was mustered out, at Nashville, Tennessee.

Returning to his home our subject resumed farming. On the 19th of October, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary English, a native of Harris county, Ohio, and a daugh- ter of James English. Five children were born of this union: Ollie, who was born in Gallia county, Ohio, and is the wife of T. G. Arm- strong, who resides near Osceola, Iowa; Maude, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and is the wife of Carl Hamilton, of Fort Dodge, Webster county, Iowa; Elva, wife of A. S. Heaton, of Lamoni, Decatur county, Iowa; Harriet, wife of William M. Heaton, a farmer of Virginia township, War- ren county; and John Burr, who is living in ·Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Mr. Morgan removed with his family from Gallia county, Ohio, to Tuscarawas county, and in 1869 became a resident of Iowa, locat- ing in Wapello county. There he remained until the spring of 1872, engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, when he came to Warren county, settling on a farm on section 33, Virginia township. There he made his home until 1882, when he removed to the village of New Virginia. " To some extent he was en- gaged in railroading and in April, 1894, he opened a lumber yard. His business steadily and constantly increased, and assumed exten-

sive proportions, and he was enjoying a lucra- tive trade at the time of his death. He also engaged in purchasing grain for the firm of Harper & Harper, of Des Moines, and was a thoroughly reliable and enterprising business man whose well-directed efforts brought to him a full measure of success. In politics he was a stalwart Republican from the time when he cast his first presidential vote, for Abraham Lincoln, at Cleveland, Tennessee, while in the army. Socially he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and for nearly a quarter of a century was a member of the Masonic fraternity. The attractive family home, in the south part of the town, stands as a monument to his thrift and enterprise. Mr. Morgan passed into eternal life on the 28th day of October, 1895, and his interment was conducted under the impressive ceremonials of his brethren of the Masons and Odd Fellows' orders.

p LEASANT WAY DIGGS, a member of a much respected family and one · noted for longevity, maintains his res- idence on a farm on section 5, Madi- son township, Madison county, Iowa.

He was born in Randolph county, Indiana, September 9, 1822. Before proceeding to a sketch of his life, however, we wish to make brief reference to his ancestry.

William Diggs, his father, was born in South Carolina, December 17, 1793, and when a young man came North to Indiana and lo- cated in Randolph county, where he was sub- sequently married. He settled in the woods on the south side of the Big White river, built a cabin out of poles, and earnestly set about the work of improving a farm, which he suc- ceeded in doing long before his death. He was the first white man to settle in that local- ity. There for sixty-two years he made his home and in 1878 came to Iowa, where he died at the advanced age of ninety-three. He was a man of many excellent traits of char- acter, was a prominent member of the Friends'

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Church, and enjoyed the goodwill and high es- teem of all who knew him. His father, also named William, was born in South Carolina, in early life settled on a frontier farm in that State, and there passed the rest of his life, being 101 years old at the time of his death. He was noted for his integrity and piety and was all his life a stanch Quaker. His father, Marshall Diggs, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born on the isle of Nantucket and was of English descent.

The mother of P. W. Diggs was before her marriage Miss Charlotte Way. She was born in North Carolina, and died in Randolph coun- ty, Indiana, in her seventy-ninth year. She too was a devoted Christian and a member of the Friends' Church. Of her father, Nathan Way, we record that while sitting under a tree he was killed by lightning, in the forty- second year of his age.

William and Charlotte Diggs were the par- ents of nine children, all of whom reached ma- turity. Fannie, their eldest, was the first white child born in Randolph county, Indiana. She became the wife of Matthew Hill, with whom she lived for many years. Her age at the time of death was seventy-seven years, seven months, and seventeen days. The others in order of birth are as follows: Annie, deceased; Eunice, deceased; P. W., whose name graces this article; Agnes, deceased; Joseph, Henry, Anthony and Ruth.

We now come to the immediate subject of this sketch, Pleasant W. Diggs. He grew up on his native farm, as did all his brothers and sisters, and remained a member of the home circle until the time of his marriage, in 1844. Then he located in the woods in that same county, Randolph, about twelve miles west of Winchester, he and his wife going to house- keeping in a little cabin. There he improved a farm: he cleared the land, fenced it and erect- ed substantial buildings, and there he made his home until 1869, when he sold out and came to Madison county, Iowa, locating upon the farm where he has since resided. . This land was then all wild prairie. The first winter he and

his family lived in a barn, but soon he erected buildings, planted trees, made fences and other improvements, and to-day he owns an excel- lent eighty-acre farm. At one time he had 160 acres here, but disposed of all except eighty acres.

Mr. Diggs was married September 12, 1844, to Miss Anna-Peacock, a native of Wayne county, Indiana. Her father, Amos Peacock, was born on the isle of Nantucket, went to North Carolina with his parents, and from the latter State removed to Randolph county, In- diana, of which he was an early settler. He was a prominent member of the Society of Friends and was a man well known and great- ly respected. Mr. and Mrs. Diggs are the par- ents of two children, a daughter and son. The former, Abbie Jane, is the wife of Joseph Jack- son. The son, Amos, named in honor of his grandfather, lives in Madison township, Madi- son county, Iowa. All the family have a mem- bership in the Friends' Church.

Mr. Diggs has always taken a somewhat active part in local affairs. He has served both as Township Trustee and Supervisor. Politically, his affiliations are with the Repub- lican party.

e DWARD WILLIAM JONES, a re- tired merchant of Winterset, Iowa, has been identified with the interests of this city since 1868. Mr. Jones, like many of the good citizens of this country, is not a native of America. He first saw the light of day in a little town of Wales, Septem- ber 17, 1835, his parents being William and Catherine (Thomas) Jones, natives of that country, where they passed their lives and died. His father was in early life a carpenter but later turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he was engaged up to the time of his death. Edward W. attended the public schools of his native town, then took a course at Aberdaron, Wales, and afterward spent two years in school at Manchester, Eng- land, where he acquired a fair knowlege of

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the English language, and where his studies were completed. Up to the time he was fifteen he lived on a farm. After leaving the Man- chester school he secured a position in a whole- sale notion house there, where he was em- ployed as clerk for some time, and on severing his connection with that establishment went to Liverpool, took passage for America, and in due time landed at New York city.

From New York he directed his course westward to Columbus, Wisconsin, where he accepted a clerkship in a general store. He continued to reside in Columbus until 1868. In the meantime he formed a partnership there with a Mr. Loomis, under the firm name of Jones & Loomis, and they conducted a success- ful business until 1868, when Mr. Jones sold out and removed to Winterset, Iowa. Soon after taking up his abode here he opened a general store on the south side of the public square, and this business he conducted alone until 1871, when he took in as a partner Mr. M. R. Tidrick and the firm name became Jones · & Tidrick. In 1879 they sold out to the Ter- rill Brothers. After this Mr. Jones purchased a stock of implements from Ratclift & Nichol- son, three years later sold out to J. J. Gaston, and then, in company with R. B. Terrill, and under the firm name of Terrill & Jones en- gaged in the boot, shoe and clothing business, which they conducted successfully up to 1894, when they sold out to M. J. Graham & Sons. Since 1894, Mr. Jones has been retired from active business. He started out on his business career without any capital whatever and the success he has achieved is due solely to his own industry and good management. His pleasant home in Winterset is a substantial stone residence located on one of the principal streets of the town, and in addition to his property here he is the owner of a fine farm of 1 50 acres, well improved with good buildings, etc.

Mr. Jones has been thrice married. He first wedded Miss Emily J. Wood, of Colum- bus, Wisconsin, whose untimely death occurred February 26, 1868. She left two children,

Roy and William E., the former a resident of Bonesteel, South Dakota, and the latter of Los Angeles county, California. For his second wife Mr. Jones married Miss Sarah D. Wood, a sister of his first wife, their marriage occur- ring November 3, 1868. She died in October, 1886, leaving one son, Harvey B., of Florence, Alabama. His present wife, nee Margaret Cox, is a daughter of Theodore Cox, of Madi- son county, and their marriage was consum- mated February 14, 1888. This union has resulted in the birth of a little daughter, Eleanor.

In his political affiliations Mr. Jones is identified with the Republican party. He has served as a member of the City Council of Winterset three terms-six years in all-and during that time was a valued member of the board. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the First Presbyterian Church, of Winterset.

OMER THOMPSON, of the firm of Thompson & Strong, editors and pro- prietors of the semi-weekly Madi- sonian, of Winterset, Iowa, is a gen- tleman well known in this city and county, and it is eminently fitting that we here make biographical reference to him. A brief sketch of his life is as follows:

Homer Thompson was born in the vicinity of Delaware, in Delaware county, Ohio, Octo- ber 22, 1849. He is a son of John W. and Isabella (Warren) Thompson. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Westmore- land county, and when quite young removed with his parents to Wayne county, Ohio, and soon afterward to Delaware county, that State, where he continued to reside until 1856. That year the family came West and located upon a farm in Douglas township, Madison county, Iowa. Here the father died in 1873. The mother survived him until 1892, when her death occurred, in Kansas. The Thompsons trace their ancestral line back to Scotch-Irish

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 69

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