Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 94

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

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

the rank of Captain he was detached to take part in the dedicatory service at the World's Columbian Exposition, in October, 1892, his company being the first chosen in the State. He was the first secretary of the Iowa National Guard Association, and is at present chairman of the legislative committee. He is also a inember of the United States Military Service Institute, of New York, and is secretary of the Toledo Enterprise Association.

In politics Mr. Baker is a stanch Repub- lican, is president of the Young Men's Repub- lican Club, a charter member of the Lincoln Republican Club of Cedar Rapids, and official correspondent of the American Protective Tariff League Association. He is a most active worker in the interests of his party, where his wise counsel and able leadership is much valued. He is frequently a delegate to conventions, and in early life served as Town- ship Clerk for eight years, and was a member of the City Council; but prefers that his friends, rather than himself, should hold office. So- cially Mr. Baker is an enthusiastic Mason, and has attained the thirty-second degree in that order. He is also Past Grand Vice-Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias fraternity in Iowa, and in 1895 declined the nomination for Grand Chancellor of the State. He is now chief of the staff of the Uniformed Rank of Knights of Pythias in Iowa, and is the original stock- holder and leading spirit in the Twin City Athletic Association.

From his boyhood Mr. Baker has always been a student, and the improvement of his mind has been one of the chief works of his life. He possesses an excellent memory, and roaming widely over the fields of literature, has culled some of its brightest and best flow- ers. He now has a well-selected general library of over 1,400 volumes. Mr. Baker is yet a young man, having only reached the thirty-first milestone on life's journey, and, arguing from his past successes, a brilliant future undoubtedly awaits him. His is a well- rounded character, not dwarfed by undue at- tention to one line of endeavor, but made

symmetrical through his interest in various lines, including his business, military, social, literary and athletic affairs. His record seems almost phenomenal viewed from a monetary standpoint and with the knowledge of what he has had to overcome.

ILLIAM ALLEN NELSON .- There is nothing so demonstrative of the progressive and enterprising spirit of the West as the work of such a man as our subject, who, thrown upon his own resources at an early age, has worked his way steadily upward to a position of wealth and affluence, pushing aside the barriers that ob- struct his path, surmounting all obstacles, and utilizing the difficulties that checker the lives of all merely as stepping-stones to something higher. He may well be termed the leading farmer of Dallas county, Iowa, and the work that he has accomplished should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others. He was born September 27, 1845, in Indiana, and is the youngest of a family of seven children. His father, Allen Nelson, was twice married, and by the first union had a family of two children. The mother having died, he later wedded Elizabeth Davis, and to them were born five children.

When William was but six months old.they removed to Illinois, where the father's death occurred a year later. At the early age of twelve years he began to work for neighboring farmers, but boarded at home. A few years later he and his brother began farming for themselves on thirteen acres of land. The proverbial " unlucky number" did not seem to have a disastrous effect upon them. On the contrary prosperity attended their enterprising efforts, and they steadily increased their pos- sessions until they were operating 200 acres of land. When our subject was twenty-one years of age he came to Dallas county, Iowa, and has since been identified with this region. He had previously saved enough to enable him to purchase ten head of oxen, for which he

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paid $125 per yoke. He then had remaining a cash capital of $200. He had purchased his oxen and wagon in Cambridge, Illinois, and drove across the country to his new home.

Mr. Nelson at once began breaking prairie upon a quarter-section of land, which he pur- chased with his capital of $200 immediately after his arrival. The work of improvement and development he has carried continuously forward, until to-day he has the finest farm in Dallas county. His residence is unequaled in the county, being a large structure built in modern style of architecture, heated by steam and supplied with water throughout. It stands on a natural building site, and is one of the chief attractions in the landscape. It is sur- rounded by a beautiful and well kept lawn, and the interior is in keeping with the exterior, being tastefully and richly furnished, and indi- cating the refined and cultured sentiments of its inmates. In the rear stand large barns and other outbuildings and it indeed may be termed a model farm. The first season after Mr. Nelson located in Iowa the grasshoppers ate up all the crops. He spent the winter in travel- ing over Missouri, but could find no more de- sirable location, so undaunted returned to his new home, planted his crops and at length gathered an abundant harvest. Success is not the result of a combination of fortuitous cir- cumstances, but is the legitimate outgrowth of earnest labor, perseverance and capable man- agement, and it is these qualities that have won Mr. Nelson prosperity. He now owns 610 acres of valuable land, all improved and under cultivation. He himself broke the sod on three quarter-sections. The remainder of his land he now rents. In addition to its cul- tivation he is also extensively and successfully engaged in stock-raising.

On the 30th of May, 1869, Mr. Nelson wedded Miss Emily Frisby, who was born and reared in McLean county, Illinois, being of Scotch-Irish lineage. Her father was a stock- man of that locality. They now have four living children and have lost one. George Bandy, born March 16, 1870, is a graduate of

the Dexter Normal School; Jennie Frances, born July 14, 1871, died January 27, 1872; Dora Anner, born December 5, 1872; Pearl Cerretta, born January 7, 1877; and Mark Hoyt, born August 14, 1882, complete the family.

Since casting his first presidential vote for Tilden, Mr. Nelson has been a supporter of the Democracy. He has held a number of township offices, and his fellow townsmen would gladly place him in almost any political position within their power, but he prefers to devote his time and energies to his business. Both he and his wife are adherents of the Christian Church, and he holds membership with West Cotta Lodge, No. 158, A. F. & A. M. of Redfield, and Tyrian Chapter, No. 37, R. A. M, of Adel, Iowa, with which his son George is also connected. He is a warm friend of education, believing it one of the best preparations for life's responsible duties, and as there was no school near his home during the early life of his children, he erected one near by at his own expense. He is known by all as a straightforward, thoroughly reliable business man, whose integrity is unimpeachable and the history of Dallas county would be in- complete without the record of his life.

LEXANDER BURRELL HANNER, an able and zealous member of the clergy of the Christian Church, and one of the local Elders of the church at Stuart, was born in Jackson county, Indiana, November 23, 1831, a son of John and Rebecca (Burrell) Hanner, natives of Gallia county, Ohio. They resided in Jackson county, In- diana, until 1838, when they started for what was then known as the Black Hawk Purchase, in Iowa, but when they had reached a point near Bloomington, Indiana, the father was stricken with a fever which resulted in his death. The family then returned to Jackson county, Indiana, remaining there until 1848, when they came to Iowa, locating first in Lee county, where a brother-in-law of our subject

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had purchased land. In the fall of the follow- ing year they removed to Decatur county, where the death of the cherished mother occurred in the year 1853.

John and Rebecca Hanner became the par- ents of five sons and one daughter, of whom we offer brief record, as follows: Rachel, who died in Decatur county, Iowa, in 1890, was the wife of James W. Woodmansee; Bartholo- mew, a shoemaker by trade, died in Lawrence county, Indiana; Frank, who served three years as a soldier in the Seventh Iowa Cavalry, is now engaged in farming in Jackson county, Indiana; John, who died in that county; Reuben, a retired farmer of Harlan, Shelby county, Iowa; and Alexander B., the imme- diate subject of this review.

Alexander B. Hanner, the youngest child, passed his early life on a farm, attending the common schools of Indiana and Iowa. In the year 1864 he removed from Decatur county to Muscatine county, Iowa, where he followed agricultural pursuits, and while there he also initiated his ministerial labors. He had been a member of the Christian Church for some years, and in 1866 was granted a license to preach. His first pastoral charge was over the church at Moscow, Muscatine county; he next preached to several small congregations in Cedar county, this incumbency extending over a period of two years; he later had charge in turn of churches at Glenwood, Iowa county, and Luzerne, Benton county; for two years presided over two churches in Poweshiek county, and later was installed over two churches in Tama county, during which pas- torate he maintained his residence on a farm. Mr. Hanner also preached for four years at Clemons Grove, Marshall county, and after residing on his farm seven years he removed to Dallas county, where he had charge of two churches and resided near Redfield. From that place he came to Stuart, where he has since maintained his abode and where he has had charge of the church for three years. In the year 1890 he organized a church in Harri- son county, preaching for the same one year;

his next pastorate was with two congregations in Marion county, -at Pleasant Ridge and Dallas.

On the 15th of August, 1852, was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Hanner to Juda Young, who was born in Jackson county, In- diana, on the 20th of March, 1835. They be- came the parents of eleven children, concern- ing whom we enter brief record as follows: Juda is the wife of Thomas Craft, of Belle Plaine, Iowa; Rebecca died in childhood; John W. is a farmer of Decatur county, this State; . Rachel, deceased, was the wife of Lorenzo D. Skyles; Alexander B. is a farmer of Dexter, Iowa; Sarah Elizabeth is the wife of Henry Wonderly, of Des Moines; Mary E. is the wife of James L. Armstrong, who resides near Red- field, Iowa; Bartholomew is an employe of the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad; Francis Luke is in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad; William, who retained a clerical position in a general store for the period of five years, is now a commercial traveler; and Rosa Bertha died in early life.

In his younger years Mr. Hanner was an adherent of the Democratic party, but at the time of the Civil war he became an independ- ent voter. In the Centennial year, 1876, he identified himself with the Prohibition party, having been one of the first to espouse its cause and interests, and having ever since been a stalwart advocate of its principles and poli- cies. He has been called upon to serve in offices of public trust and responsibility, having served as Township Clerk, Assessor and Jus- tice of the Peace. He has delivered many able and earnest speeches in support of the prohibition cause, and for four years has been, and is at the present writing (1895), chairman for the Ninth Congressional District, of the Prohibition State Central Committee. In his fraternal relations our honored subject is a Royal Arch Mason, being Chaplain of the blue lodge and chapter, and is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He is a forceful and entertaining speaker and able writer, and is a frequent contributor to prohibition and church papers.

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RECORD OF IOWA.

ENRY McCAHAN, who is now serv- ing his second consecutive term as Clerk of the District Court of Mon- roe county, is widely and favorably known in Albia, where he makes his home. His capability in office is demonstrated by his re-election, and he is recognized as a man of genuine worth, true to the duties of both pub- lic and private life.

Mr. McCahan was born in Plumville, In- diana county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of April, 1844, being a son of James and Rebecca (Gibson) McCahan. The grandfather was James McCahan, who died in his eighty-fifth year. The father of our subject was born in county Derry, Ireland, and his wife, a daugh- ter of James Gibson, was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania.

On leaving his native land, Mr. McCahan crossed the Atlantic to Canada, where he fol- lowed the trade of weaving. On removing to Pennsylvania, he engaged in business as a tan- ner and currier, and later turned his attention to farming. In the fall of 1852 he brought his family to Van Buren county, Iowa, making the journey by water to Keokuk, and thence by team to his destination. He located near Bir- mingham, but two years afterward removed to Washington county, Iowa, and in the fall of 1856 removed to Monroe county, locating on a farm near where Maxson Station now stands. He became the owner of 160 acres, which with characteristic energy he began to improve, placing the tract under a high state of culti- vation and adding good buildings and all the accessories of a model farm. There he car- ried on agricultural pursuits until his death.

Henry McCahan is.the seventh in order of birth in a family of eleven children, who reached mature years, while five are still liv- ing. The days of his childhood and youth were spent in his parents' home, and since the age of eight years he has been a resident of Iowa. He is indebted to the district-school system and to the Albia high school for a good English education. On the completion of his course he taught school for several terms, but

abandoned that profession to take up the study of law under the direction of Judge William P. Hammond. He was thorough in his prep- aration, earnest in his efforts to become pro- ficient in his chosen calling, and was admitted to the bar in 1871. He at once began prac- tice, which he continued until 1892, when he was elected Clerk of the District Court and has since filled that office, having been re-elected. He will have occupied the office four years on the expiration of his present term.

On the 6th of June, 1886, Mr. McCahan was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Thompson, of Chariton, Iowa, a daughter of Erastus Thompson. They have many warm friends in the community. Socially Mr. Mc- Cahan is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

J AMES P. LAMBERTSON, Sheriff of Monroe county, Iowa, now residing in Albia, is a native of the Hawkeye State, his birth having occurred in Des Moines county, on the 19th of July, 1849. His father was the Rev. George W. Lambert- son, a Methodist minister, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, in 1822. His father, John Lambertson, was a native of Wales. After arriving at man's estate, George Lam- bertson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Kell, also a native of Greene county, born in 1823, and a daughter of Thomas Kell, of Scotch descent. After living for a time in the Buckeye State he removed with his family to Dearborn county, Indiana, and subsequently to Iowa, locating on a farm and making his home there until 1845, in which year he took up his residence in Des Moines county, which continued the place of his abode until 1850, when he removed to Monroe county, locating on a farm in Bluff Creek township. He there carried on general farming and stock-raising until in 1872, when he sold his property there and removed to Monroe township. Again he purchased a farm making it his home until his

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death, which occurred August 24, 1893. His wife passed away in the same house, August 24, 1894. In his political views George Lam- bertson was an old-line Whig until the organi- zation of the Republican party, when he joined its ranks and marched under its banner until his life's labors were ended. For a number of years he served as Justice of the Peace of Bluff Creek township. He was a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his up- right, honorable life was one worthy of emu- lation.

Mr. Lambertson of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth of the ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom three sons and four daughters are now living, namely: B. U. G., a well known resident of Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. M. J. Hilliard, of Monroe county; James P., of this review; Rebecca, wife of S. C. May, of the State of Washington; Emma F., wife of J. M. Hanna, a resident of Marshalltown; Lucinda M., wife of John Love, of Monroe county; and Robert E., who is liv- ing on the old family homestead. Those de- ceased are Hannah A., John H. and William.

Our subject was reared on the old family homestead in Monroe county, and attended the district schools near by until reaching his eighteenth year. He continued to give his father the benefit of his services until he had attained his majority, when he began farming on his own account in Bluff Creek township, remaining there for six years, when he entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Albia. He continued his connection with that company for eleven years and one month, serving in the capacity of freight clerk. There are no companies or cor- porations which demand more faithful service on the part of employees than do the railroad companies and the fact of his long continued service plainly indicates his fidelity to duty and to the trust reposed in him.

In 1891 Mr. Lambertson was elected to the office of Sheriff of Monroe county for a term of two years, and entered upon the duties of that position on the Ist of January, 1892. On the

expiration of his first term he was re-elected, and is now the incumbent. He is fearless and prompt in the discharge of his duties, and is proving a most competent officer. Socially he is connected with Monroe Lodge, No. 81, I. O. O. F., and also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

In August, 1871, Mr. Lambertson was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Hilliard, daughter of Lewis and Maria Hilliard, of Mon- roe county. They have six children: William L., who is serving as Deputy Sheriff; Elnora J., wife of Samuel Pill, of Albia, Iowa; Viola, twin sister of Elnora, and the wife of John Pencil, of Iowa; Emmett L .; George L. and Walter E.

ILLIAM M. GLENNY, M. D., a skilled physician and surgeon of Al- bia, Iowa, was born in Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, on the 25th of April, 1838. The family is of Scotch-Irish extraction. The grandfather of our subject, William Glenny, was a native of the Emerald Isle, and emigrating to America located in New York. The Doctor's father, John Glenny, was a native of New Jersey, and at an early day emigrated Westward, casting his lot with the pioneer settlers of Warren county, Ohio. There he carried on agricultural pursuits for some years, after which he resided in Illinois, making his home near Quincy until his death, which occurred in 1841. His wife long sur- vived him, and passed away in Albia, Iowa, in 1885. She bore the maiden name of Jane Murphy, and was born in New Jersey, in 1812, her father being Thomas Murphy, who held a Major's commission in the Revolutionary war.

The Doctor is the eldest and the only sur- viving member of the family. He passed his boyhood under the parental roof, and attended the district schools of Ohio, for after the father's death the mother returned to that State with her family, locating at Xenia, Greene county. There the Doctor continued to reside until fifteen years of age, when he en-

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tered the Ohio Wesleyan University, of Dela- ware, where he pursued his studies for two years. On the expiration of that. period he went to Cincinnati, where he secured a clerk- ship in a drug store, being there employed un- til the summer of 1856. He then resolved to seek a home in the West, thinking that he might have better opportunities in a country less thickly settled, where competition was not so great. He therefore located in Keokuk, Iowa, where he remained until the summer of 1857, when he removed to Fairfield and took up the study of medicine with. Dr. N. C. Steel, a prominent physician of that place. Subse- quently he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Keokuk, pursuing a course of lectures there.

Immediately afterward Dr. Glenny entered upon the practice of his chosen profession, in Lowell, Henry county, Iowa, where he con- tinued for six years, although in the meantime he spent three years in the army. Having en- listed as a private in the Tenth Iowa Infantry, he was afterward promoted to the rank of Sur- geon of the Forty-ninth United States Colored Infantry, with headquarters at Vicksburg, Mississippi. For two years he remained in charge of the general hospital, and his service was no less arduous or important than that of the soldier on the field. He faithfully re- mained at his post of duty until the spring of 1866, when, the war having ended, he was honorably discharged.

Returning to the North Dr. Glenny first lo- cated in New London, Henry county, Iowa, where he made his home for six years, and within that time took a course of lectures at the State University at Iowa City, graduating in the spring of 1873. In that year he came to Albia, Monroe county, where he opened an office and has since engaged in general prac- tice. He has always been a close student of his profession, keeping thoroughly abreast of the times. . He has built up a successful busi- ness, and has won an enviable position in the ranks of the medical fraternity in this section of the State. The Doctor is a member of the

State Medical Society and also of the Des Moines Valley Medical Society.

In the fall of 1860 the Doctor was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary E. Mount, of Fairfield, Iowa, a native of West Virginia and a daughter of John Mount. They have three children: William M., who is now a train dispatcher of the Northern Pacific Railroad; Nellie -May, wife of James Todd, a resident of Kansas City; and Elmer F., station agent at Spooner, Wisconsin, in the employ of the Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Omaha Railroad.

J OHN HELM STEVENS, M. D., now living in Montour, is one of the pioneer settlers of Tama county, having located in Indiantown in 1859. He has since been identified with the upbuilding and pro- gress of the community, lending his support to every enterprise calculated to advance the general welfare, educational and moral inter- ests and material prosperity.

The Doctor was born in Stamford, New York, October 1, 1835, being a son of Selah M. and Eliza (Helm) Stevens, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of the Empire State. Both died in New York. Their three daughters were the eldest mem- bers of the family, and were followed by four sons, of whom John H. was the third. Five of the family are still living: Maria Hendry, a widow residing in New York; Chauncey J., an attorney and capitalist of Montour; Anna E., now Mrs. Follett, of New York; William, who is living in Hudson, New York. Edwin died in early manhood, and Mrs. Mary Gay- lord is also deceased.

The father of our subject conducted a hotel and the Doctor assisted him in that work dur- ing his youth. He acquired his education in the common schools, and at the age of twenty took up the study of medicine in the office of a practicing physician of Stamford, New York. He afterward entered the Albany Medical Col- lege, at which he was graduated in 1857.

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Thinking that the West would furnish a better field for a young man who had his own way to make in the world and who must gain fame and fortune, if at all, entirely through his own efforts, he removed to Byron, Ogle county, Illinois, where he practiced his profession until coming to Iowa in 1859. He was one of the pioneer physicians in this part of the State and is now the oldest practitioner in Tama county.

In 1862 Dr. Stevens entered the United States service as Assistant Surgeon of the Four- teenth Iowa Infantry, in which he served for two years and eight months, being in the Mis- sissippi department with the Sixteenth Army Corps. He was at the battle of Corinth, and with General Banks on the Red river expedi- tion, also in other important engagements. On his return home he located in Montour, which place had sprung into existence during his absence, while the old settlement of In- diantown had been abandoned.

In June, 1863, while home on a furlough, the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Ad- die Parsons, the wedding being celebrated at her home in Byron, Illinois, which town was the place of her birth. To them have been born six children, of whom four are now liv- ing, namely: Carrollton, a ranchman of Ne- braska; Chauncey, who is engaged in farming in Utah; John, who is now a student in the Chicago Theological Seminary, preparing for the ministry of the Congregational Church; and Lois, at home. The mother of this fain- ily passed away in 1880, and many friends mourned her death. Since that time the daughter has looked after the affairs of the household.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 94

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