Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 8

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

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He was honorably discharged, and on his return took a business course in the old Com- mercial College of Des Moines, at which he was graduated in 1866. On his return from col- lege he engaged in teaching at Fontanelle for some time, but resigned that position to accept the office of Deputy Treasurer of Adair county, -a position to which he was chosen on the election of J. C. Gibbs to the County Treas- urer's office. He later became a partner with Mr. Gibbs in the real-estate business. Subse- quently he studied law and was admitted to the bar, but never entered upon the active practice of that profession. Mr. Rodgers con- tinued in the real-estate and loan business un- til about 1884, when his increasing infirmities and the fact that he had accumulated a suffi- cient competency for his support, induced him to abandon it and devote himself solely to the management of his estates.

March 20, 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Ella M. Heatherington, at Fontan- elle, Iowa. Mr. Rodgers was always some- what infirm in health, and during these twenty- four years (almost) of married life, he always found her a devoted and self-sacrificing wife, a genial companion, and one who was specially fitted by temperament and attainments in all the accomplishments of a good housewife and nurse, to make his home and his life as com- fortable as possible.

Whatever Mr. Rodgers undertook to do, he did well. He was accurate, painstaking and thorough. These traits he carried into

his life work, whether of a public or private nature. He was eminently free from mistakes.

Mr. Rodgers was prominently associated with the Masonic fraternity. He was initiated as an Entered Apprentice in Fontanelle Lodge, No. 138, June 28, 1866; passed to the degree of Fellow Craft July 21, 1866, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason November 29, 1866. He was demitted from Fontanelle Lodge, November 24, 1877, and became a charter member of Crusade Lodge, No. 386, and was the first of the charter members to pass to the other shore. In 1886 he was made a Knight Templar, at Des Moines, and was subsequently demitted to the Commandery at Creston.

The death of this honored citizen occurred at his home in Greenfield, Iowa, January 4, 1894, and he was buried with the imposing ceremonies of the Masonic ritual. Crusade Lodge and a large number of visiting Masonic brethren and the Commandery of Creston, as a guard of honor, took part in these last rites to their deceased brother. The burial cere- monies were conducted by Mr. George, of Cor- ning, and their beauty and impressiveness were enhanced by the charm of a pleasant voice and a dignified manner. His comrades of Myers Post, G. A. R., had decorated his grave and turned out to evidence their respect for their deceased comrade. Thus was consigned to mother earth a loving husband and a faithful friend and companion, whose untimely death was mourned by all who knew him.

The parents of our subject were John and Elizabeth (Palmer) Rodgers, the former a native of Pennsylvania, born June 19, 1804, and the latter born in Ohio, April 26, 1810. The estimable companion, who survives Mr. Rodgers is the eldest daughter of James D. and Sarah J. (Armstrong) Heatherington. She was born in Pottsville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and educated principally in her native State. At fifteen years of age she came to Iowa, preceding her parents, who came a few years later. Here Miss Heatherington engaged in teaching, being employed in that

Philip M.lerafa

RECORD OF IOWA.

capacity in the Fontanelle public schools at the time of her marriage to the subject of this sketch.

Mrs. Rodgers is a lady of education and refined culture. Her virtues are praised by rich and poor alike, for to the latter she is as a ministering angel of mercy. Her charity knows no bounds, and there is no hovel in the city of Greenfield where distress and sorrow prevail, that she has not visited on a mission of humanity. Fortunately she is not hampered by limited means in this noble work, for her possessions are ample to gratify her liberal dis- position and sympathetic heart.

On the death of her husband Mrs. Rodgers was appointed executrix of his will without bond, and at once assumed the management of the extensive estates. This comprises 1, 100 acres of fertile farming lands, together with valuable city property in Greenfield and the palatial home where she now resides. By the provisions of Mr. Rodgers' will Miss Della M ., the foster daughter, is well provided for on at- taining her twenty-first birthday or at her mar- riage if earlier. Miss Ella has been a member of the family since her second year, and re- ceives all the love and attention to education and accomplishments which wealth and intelli- gence can bestow. She is a daughter of Loman and Mary Wolgamott, residents of Orient, Iowa. Her mother was a sister of Mr. Rodgers.

Mrs. Rodgers' family history is as follows : Her parents were James D. and Sarah J. (Armstrong) Heatherington. Her father, a mechanic, was a native of Milton, Pennsyl- vania, born March 19, 1813; enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment and served through the Civil war, coming to Iowa after the cessation of hostilities, here joining his family who became residents of the Hawkeye State in 1863. He died at Fontanelle, Iowa, in November, 1866. His widow still resides at Fontanelle. She was a native of Derry, Ireland, where she was born September 1, 1822. At the age of fifteen she came alone to the United States and was married in Pennsylvania. She was reared in

the Episcopal Church, but after marriage united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which her husband was a life-long member. Mrs. Heatherington now resides at Fontanelle.

Of their family of eleven children, five have passed over the river of death and the where- abouts of one, if living, is unknown. John Jackson was born in Danville, Pennsylvania, October I, 1841, was a soldier from his native State in the late war, and is now a banker at Greenfield, Iowa; James Alexander was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1843, also served through the war in a Penn- sylvania regiment, and is now a resident of Greenfield, Iowa; George Thomas was born January 10, 1845, and died at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, his birthplace, when a child of three years; Samuel Wilson was born at Lewis- burg, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1846, and died in infancy; William Ross was born June 5, 1847, at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and at last accounts was a soldier in the regular army, sta- tioned in the far West; Ella M., widow of the subject of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Albert was born April 17, 1851, and died at eight years of age; Harriet O., born March 25, 1853, died in childhood; Annie E., the wife of Dr. McDermid, of Fontanelle, Iowa, was born September 27, 1855; Sarah J., born September 19, 1858, died of smallpox in early life; and Emma L., wife of Clyde McMan- igal, resides at Horton, Kansas, where her hus- band is editor of a weekly newspaper called the Commercial.

Mrs. Rodgers is a zealous Christian lady, finding her church home with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Greenfield. She holds membership in the O. E. S. and W. R. C.

HILIP MADISON CRAPO .- There is probably no line of business reach- ing farther in its beneficial results and influences than that of insurance. With this line of endeavor Mr. Crapo has long been connected, and is to-day financial cor- respondent of the Connecticut Mutual Life In-

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

surance Company, -a prominent and respons- ible position, which he is capably filling. Yet it is not alone as a business man that he is widely known. For twenty-eight years he has been a resident of Burlington, and has been actively connected with the promotion of many of the best interests of the city and of the State.

A native of Massachusetts, Mr. Crapo was born in Freetown, June 30, 1844. His pa- ternal grandfather, Benjamin Crapo, was also born in the Bay State, and was a descendant of Pierre Crapo, whose brother was captain of a French war vessel that was wrecked about 1770 on the Massachusetts coast near the Plymouth Colony, and Pierre and his brother were the only ones saved. The older brother returned to France to report to the govern- ment concerning the fate of the vessel, but promised to return to his brother, whom he left with a Mr. Coombs, near Rochester. However, no news was ever received from him afterward. Pierre married Penelope White, a granddaughter of Peregrine White, who was the first white child born in the Plymouth Col- ony. Benjamin Crapo, grandfather of our subject, was a farmer, and spent his entire life in the East, where he reared a number of chil- dren. His death occurred when past the age of seventy years.

Philip Crapo, Sr., father of our subject, was a so born in Massachusetts, and was a sea captain. He married Hannah Crapo, also a native of the same State, her father being Richard Crapo, a Massachusetts farmer. The fathers of both Richard and Benjamin Crapo, named respectively Peter and Joshua, were soldiers of the Revolutionary war. To the parents of our subject were born six children, but only two are now living: Hannah, wife of William A. Ashley, of Long Plain, Massa- chusetts; and Philip M. The father died in 1848 at New Bedford, Massachusetts, when fifty-four years of age. His wife survived un- til 1886, and died when about eighty years of age. In religious belief she was a Quaker.

The gentleman whose name introduces this

sketch was reared in New Bedford, Massachu- setts, where he acquired a common-school ed- ucation. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, at the age of eighteen he offered his services to the country to aid in the preservation of the Union, and served in the Department of the East as a member of Company E, Third Massachusetts Infantry. After the war he re- moved to Flint, Michigan, where he was en- gaged in business as a civil engineer. After constructing a portion of the Flint & Pere Mar- quette Railroad, he was employed in the adju- tant general's office to assist in writing up the military record of the State, his time being thus passed for two years, or until 1868, when he came to Burlington as special and general agent for the Connecticut Mutual Life Insur- ance Company, having charge of all the south- ern portion of the State. His district was sub- sequently increased, so that it comprised all the States of Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. Since 1882 he has made investments for the company, and is a very capable financier. His connection with the company has continued for twenty-eight years, a period not often equaled for length of service and never excelled for faithfulness and devotion to the company's interests.

Not long after coming to Burlington, Mr. Crapo wedded Miss Ruth A. Ray. Their mar- riage, which was celebrated in 1870, has been blessed with seven children, four sons and three daughters, namely: Edith R., Philip A., Chester F., Clifford M., Ruth K., Lucy H. and William M. They have a pleasant home at No. 513 North Sixth street, and in social circles occupy an enviable position.

Mr. and Mrs. Crapo attend the Congrega- tional Church, and the former is serving as trustee. In politics he is a stalwart Repub- lican. Socially, he is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and is a member of General C. L. Mathias Post, No. 5, G. A. R. He acted as chairman of the committee of the Grand Army of the Republic, which secured the passage of the bill for establishing the Iowa Soldiers' Home and securing the ap-

RECORD OF IOWA.

propriation for that purpose. He also labored earnestly to secure the appropriation which has made possible the erection of the Iowa State Soldiers' Monument, now being constructed in Des Moines. He has always been an active worker in the interests of the Grand Army, a loyal friend to the soldiers who fought for their country in its hour of dire peril, and his por- trait with others is to be placed on the State soldiers' monument. In politics he has also taken an active part, and is recognized as one of the wise leaders and able counselors in Re- publican ranks in Iowa. He was chairman of the county central committee, for two terms was chairman of the Congressional committee, was nominated for the position of State Sena- tor, and in 1887 was the candidate for the office of Governor. Of the political issues and questions of the day he is a close student, and his political record is one above reproach.

Mr. Crapo is pre-eminently a public-spir- ited citizen, devoted to the welfare of the na- tion and the advancement of his resident com- munity. With many of the leading interests of Burlington he has been connected and the city owes to him a debt of gratitude for what he has done in her behalf. He was the prime mover and chief contributor in securing for Burlington a public park, and raised a fund of $10,000, to which he individually contributed $5,500. In recognition of his valuable services the city has named it Crapo Park. The park is to be situated on the river bluff south of the city, and the topographical survey has already been made. It was largely through the instru- mentality of Mr. Crapo that the city became the possessor of its public library. Mainly through his personal efforts a debt of $1,000 upon it was cleared off and through his per- suasion the city then accepted it. He is a trustee, and has purchased nearly all the books for the library since it was established. He has been active in nearly all works of public improvement which tend toward the advance- ment of the social, educational, moral or material welfare of the community. He has been a prominent factor in commercial circles,

was president of the Board of Trade for sev- eral years, and of the Ferry Company, and in- augurated the movement to secure the paving of the streets with brick. He was also presi- dent of the Commercial Club for three and one-half years.

He has made his own way in life, and what he is to-day he owes to his habits of steady ap- plication, hard work and the strictest integrity. He is a man of courteous manner, generous almost to a fault, kindhearted and genial, and has attracted to himself many warm friends by his splendid qualities of mind and heart.

ILLIAM EDWIN LEWIS has for some years been identified with the business interests of Chariton, and belongs to that class of American citizens whose progress and enterprise have been the means of developing this country in a * way that has excited the admiration and com- manded the respect of the world. He is a true Western man, imbued with its spirit of energy and advancement, and is a native of the State which is still his home.

Mr. Lewis was born September 18, 1846, in Burlington, Iowa, and is a son of William and Amanda M. (Anderson) Lewis, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Louis- ville, Kentucky. His father was of Welsh and Irish descent, and his mother of English line- age, though both families have long been represented in America. William Lewis was the youngest of seventeen children, and when quite young left his home, to which he never returned. In 1836 he became a resident of Burlington, Iowa, then a small settlement on the Western frontier, almost beyond the bounds of civilization, and there he followed the carpenter's trade for a number of years. On the 31st of December, 1840, he married Miss Anderson, and fifteen years later they re- moved from Burlington to Chariton. At the time of the gold excitement in California, Mr. Lewis went to the Pacific slope, where for three years he engaged in mining, with a fair

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

degree of success. In 1860 he embarked in the grocery business in Chariton, in connec- tion with our subject, and carried on opera- tions in that line until his death. In the fam- ily were three sons and a daughter, the eldest of whom is William Edwin; George died in Colorado; Frank is a clerk in his brother's store; and Cora became the wife of Willard P. Beam, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Chariton.

A worthy son of the Hawkeye State, Will- iam Edwin Lewis acquired his education in the schools of his native city and of Chariton, whither he came with his parents when a child of nine summers. He has since here made his home, and those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his most stal- wart friends, a fact which indicates a well spent life. When his father became interested in the grocery business he entered the store and subsequently was admitted to partnership, and upon his father's death became sole proprietor of what is now one of the leading establish- ments in his line in the city. He carries a full stock of groceries, both staple and fancy; and his fair dealing, courteous treatment and ear- nest desire to please his patronage has won him the confidence of the public, and the volume of his business has increased to extensive pro- portions.

In 1869 Mr. Lewis was joined in wedlock with Miss Maggie M. Reed, a native of Ohio, and to them were born three children, two of whom are yet living, namely : William Robert, who is now in Texas; and Edwin Erle, who is an employee in the post-office. Myrtle died at the age of two and a half years. Mrs. Lewis shares with her husband in the esteem in which he is held and has a large circle of ad- miring friends.

In 1885 Mr. Lewis was appointed Postmas- ter of Chariton, and filled that position for four years, when on the change of administra- tion he was succeeded by a Republican. On the 31st of March, 1894, he was again ap- pointed to the position, which he is now ac- ceptably and creditably filling, administering

the affairs of the office with discrimination and with satisfaction to all concerned. It seems superfluous to say that he is a Democrat and a recognized leader in the councils of his party, unswerving in his allegiance to its principles. He has filled the offices of Alderman and City Treasurer, and has been the nominee of his party for County Auditor and Representative, but the Democracy being in the minority in this locality he failed of election. He is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows society, in both the subordinate lodge and encamp- ment, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman, very highly esteemed by his many friends, has been prominent in the social and political development of the county, and is widely and favorably known as a successful business man and public official.

5 ON. ANDREW DONALDSON CROOKS is now serving his sec- ond term as Treasurer of Adair county, and is numbered among the broad- minded, progressive and public-spirited citi- zens.

He has lived in this county since 1880, but dates his residence in Iowa .since 1868. His record well deserves a place in the history of his adopted State, and with pleasure we pre- sent it to our readers. A native of Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania, Mr. Crooks was born May 5, 1826, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Donaldson) Crooks, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Wales. The paternal grandfather, Henry Crooks, also lived in Maryland, whence he removed with his family, in an early day, to Pennsylvania, locating in Washington county, where he fol- lowed farming. He died at the very advanced age of ninety-four years.

The father of our subject was twice married. He first wedded Miss Jane Burns, who died leaving five sons and four daughters. By his second marriage he had four children, namély: Richard, who resides at McDonald Station, Pennsylvania, a wealthy owner of oil lands;

RECORD OF IOWA

Andrew D., of this sketch; Elizabeth, wife of Robert Farrar, a resident of Washington county, Pennsylvania; and Thomas, who died in early life.

On the old home farm Andrew D. Crooks was reared, early becoming familiar with its various duties, and in the common schools his education was acquired. He remained in the State of his nativity until twenty-six years of age, when he went to California, which was his home from the spring of 1852 until 1868. During the first three years he was engaged in mining. Subsequently he was a gold broker and afterward was engaged in business as a mail contractor.

Having returned to Pennsylvania, Mr. Crooks was united in marriage, in June, 1859, to the lady of his choice, Miss Ella T. Wal- lace, a native of the Keystone State. They soon after returned to California, and Mr. Crooks was elected to the position of Sheriff of Siskiyou county, serving two terms. Re- turning then to Pennsylvania on a visit, he spent a short time at his old home and then came again to the West, locating first in Dav- enport, Iowa, where for three years he was en- gaged in merchandising. Removing then to Durant, Cedar county, he dealt in grain and live-stock, building up a good business, which he conducted until coming to Greenfield in 1880. Here he purchased a farm in Prussia township, continuing its cultivation for eight years and stocking it with a fine grade of horses, cattle and hogs. He made it one of the most valuable of farm properties, and it is still in his possession,-a palpable evidence of his enter- prise and thrift.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Crooks has been blessed with a family of four children: William H., who is now serving as cashier of the bank at Adair; Robert D., who follows farming in Adair county; Elizabeth Agnes; and Andrew D., who is a dry-goods merchant of Greenfield.

Mr. Crooks has become a prominent and representative citizen of his adopted county, and his fellow citizens, appreciating his worth

and ability, have frequently called him to pub- lic office. He is a stalwart supporter of the men and measures of the Republican party, and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of Republican- ism. In 1888 he was elected to represent Adair county in the Twenty-second General Assembly of Iowa, and faithfully labored for the interests of his constituents. In 1892 he was elected County Treasurer of Adair county, and so acceptably did he fill the office that in 1894 he was re-elected and is therefore the present incumbent. His life has been well spent, and by his own efforts he has risen to a position of prominence and gained a comforta- ble competence.

APTAIN CENTENARY B. BRAD- SHAW was born at Richmond, Jeff- erson county, Ohio, December 26, 1839, the eldest of two sons born to Rev. Harvey and Susan (Sullivan) Bradshaw. Both his parents were born in 1810, his father in Connecticut and his mother in Pennsylvania. Rev. Harvey Bradshaw spent his life in the service of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He joined the Pittsburg Conference of that church in 1833, serving as an itinerant minis- ter until 1858, when he took a transfer to the Upper Iowa Conference and located at Mt. Vernon. The succeeding three years were spent in ministerial labors and as agent for Cornell College, but his services were of short duration, his death occurring in November, 1861. He was a man of great usefulness to the. church and his early demise was greatly de- plored. His wife survived him twelve years and died at the home of Captain Bradshaw in Toledo, Iowa, in June, 1873.

The subject of this sketch received his ele- mentary education in the commnon schools of his native State. In April, 1860, he entered Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, where he pursued a classical course for two years, but the call of his country seemed paramount to personal affairs, and he left the college and its

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

environments for the more hazardous work of a soldier in the great American conflict. The younger generation of Americans, though in the main sympathizing with the soldier in his hardships and dangers, have but meager knowl- edge of the cost of the great war to the young men of our land. In many instances it had the effect to change completely the plan of fu- ture life work of those fortunate enough to re- turn. The lapse of three or four years of iso- lation from the civilizing influences of home had the effect to render the work of the school- room confining and irksome, while the indo- lent habits of camp life destroyed the taste for study. Hence a very small minority of re- turned soldiers ever entered school after the war. This, however, was not the case with Captain Bradshaw.

Immediately following his discharge he en- rolled himself a student at Ann Arbor, Mich- igan, where he completed a two years' course in law in 1867. However, he never again resumed his classical studies so summarily brought to a close at his enlistment. August 7. 1862, he became a member of Company F, Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry, and was chosen Second Lieutenant of his company. He at once entered upon an active career as a soldier and participated in many of the sanguin- ary battles of the war. While en route to the Confederate stronghold at Vicksburg, the reg- iment received its first baptism of fire at Port Gibson. Following this was the hard fought battle at Champion Hill, where the Twenty- fourth suffered severely in killed and wounded. Next came the long and tedious siege of Vicks- burg, with the various assaults and almost con- stant fatigue duty in digging trenches and approaches to the enemy's fort. Owing to the intense heat of that southern clime to which the Northern soldier was not acclimated, the Union losses from sunstroke, camp diseases, and exhaustion were appalling. Still the brave boys held their posts until Pemberton was pleased to see virtue in General Grant's policy of "unconditional surrender." Following the surrender of Vicksburg, our subject was trans-

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 8

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