Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 97

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

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Judge Noble was born in Huntingdon coun- ty, now Blair county, Pennsylvania, Novem- ber 30, 1819. His father, John Noble, was born in the Keystone State in 1796, and died in 1871, in Fairfield, Jefferson county, Iowa. He was a son of Samuel Noble, who was a na- tive of Ireland and the founder of the family in the New World. The Judge's mother bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Crane, and was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. Her father was Abram Crane, of German line- age. To the parents of our subject were born

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ten children, of whom nine were sons, and nine of the number yet survive.

Samuel Noble spent his boyhood days in the Keystone State and acquired his educa- tion in the subscription schools. He has been identified with Iowa's history since 1845, . -- the year previous to the admission of the State into the Union. He first located in Fairfield, where he remained until 1849, when he removed to Albia and embarked in general merchandising, which he continued with excel- lent success for sixteen years. On selling out his store, he turned his attention to loaning money and renting property. In 1890 he erected the Noble block on the northwest cor- ner of the square, 44x 132 feet, which is rented for store and office purposes. He also owns two good farms which are operated by

his sons. These are located near Albia, and comprise 250 acres of valuable land. Judge Noble has made judicious investments in real estate, and these have yielded to him a hand- some return. He was a stockholder and director in the Monroe County Bank for a number of years, and carries forward to suc- cessful completion whatever he undertakes.

In February, 1842, the Judge was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Matthews, of Penn- sylvania, who died in that State a few years later. In 1849 he was again married, his sec- ond union being with Miss Mary J. Shipler, of Jefferson county, Iowa, daughter of Samuel Shipler; formerly of Pennsylvania. Three children were born to them. Emmett E. and Ira, who are engaged in farming; and Mary, wife of Charles Thorpe, of Chicago. Mrs. Noble died on the 14th of October, 1892. She was a loving wife and faithful mother, pos- sessed of many excellencies of character, and her many noble qualities won her the love of all. She was a faithful member of the Pres- byterian Church, and the poor and needy found in her a friend.

In politics Judge Noble was an old-line Whig, but on the organization of the Repub- lican party joined its ranks. In 1860 he was elected County Judge of Monroe county, under

the old law, and served for two years. He also served for some five years as a member of the City Council and did much to promote its interests. On the organization of the Presby- terian Church in Albia, he became one of its members and has since been active and faith- ful in its work. In this materialistic age,-an age in which almost every one seems imbued with but one idea, that of the rapid accumula- tion of wealth, -it is refreshing occasionaly to meet with one who has other ambltions, other thoughts and immeasurably higher motives in life. Such a one is Judge Noble. For thirty- eight years he has served as Elder of his church and has been an active promoter of all inter- ests calculated to uplift humanity.

J OHN M. COFFMAN, who is now ac- ceptably discharging the duties of Coun- ty Treasurer of Monroe county, serving his second term, is one of the prominent and highly esteemed residents of Albia, who receives and merits the confidence of his fellow citizens and has the high regard of many friends. He was born in the vicinity of St. Joseph, in Andrew county, Missouri, on the 7th of Novem- ber, 1844, and is a son of Alfred and Sarah (Pemberton) Coffman, the former a native of Hamilton county, Illinois, born in 1823, and the latter a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky, born in the same year. Her father was Robert Pemberton, and she was an own cousin of General John L. Pemberton, of the Confederate army. Her death occurred in April, 1863, but her father is still living and now makes his home in Sacramento, California.

John M. Coffman is the eldest of a family of twenty-one children, nineteen born of his father's first marriage. Of this number five are still living. He passed his boyhood days in McDonough county, Illinois, and attended the district schools. He remained on the home farm and aided in its cultivation and improvement until reaching his majority, when he turned his attention to other pursuits. For thirty-one years he was a resident of McDon-

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ough county. In 1870 he embarked in mer- chandising in Blandinsville, Illinois, where he remained for ten years. He then went upon the road as a traveling salesman, being an employe of the house of S. Hamill, of Keokuk, Iowa. Later he represented the firm of J. H. Merrill & Company, of Ottumwa, Iowa, and subsequently was with the firm of Biklir, Winzer & Company, wholesale grocers, of Burlington, Iowa.

In the meantime Mr. Coffman took up his residence in Monroe county, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to public office in 1891. He was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of County Treasurer of Monroe county, enter- ing upon his duties the Ist of January follow- ing. He is now serving his second term of two years in this responsible position. He is a man of genuine worth and thorough reliability, and no more capable incumbent has been in the office than the one who is now serving.

In 1871 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Coffman and Miss Mary Keithley, of Blandinsville, Illinois, daughter of James Keithley. They have two children, -Angeline B. and Sarah L. The family occupies an enviable position in social circles and Mr. and Mrs. Coffman both have many friends in the community. He takes quite an active interest in civic societies, and holds membership with Astor Lodge, No. 505, F. & A. M .; Monroe Lodge, No. 81, I. O. O. F .; and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a gentle- inan of courteous and genial manner, very companionable, and is popular with all who know him.

e DWARD RUGGLES, who is now liv- ing retired in Montour, Iowa, was for more than forty years a prominent representative of the mercantile inter- ests of this State. He weathered the financial panics of 1857 and 1873, safely conducted his store through the troublous period attending the Civil war, and met every obligation, dollar

for dollar, winning the public confidence and establishing a reputation for honorable dealing which any man might envy. He did much to promote the material welware of his adopted State, has been an important factor in its up- building and advancement and has added new luster to the honored family name which he . bears.

The Ruggles family has been long and prominently connected with the history of New England, the original American ancestors hav- ing located in Hardwick, Massachusetts, in 1620. The grandfather of our subject, Ed- ward Ruggles, was born there on the 3d of August, 1750, and died January 17, 1805. He was one of the minute men who marched to the relief of Lexington in the memorable month of April, 1775, and performed a tour of service as Sergeant in 1779. In Shay's rebellion he was Captain of a company which made the memorable march from Hadley to Petersham. One of his brothers was General Ruggles, also of Hardwick, and a man of much prominence as a soldier and statesman. He died in Nova Scotia. His son, Abel Ruggles, was a Repre- sentative and a member of the Constitutional Convention that framed the constitution of Maine. The family since early Colonial days have been numbered among the leading and influential citizens of New England, and its representatives have extensively intermarried with the Spooner family, descendants of Will- iam Spooner, whose name is found on the pages of history.

The parents of our subject were Ira and Susan (Hathaway) Ruggles, both natives of Hardwick, Massachusetts, and of English de- scent. The Hathaway family also was founded in America in early Colonial days. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation and died in his native town at the age of forty- seven, when Edward was a child of four years. The mother died at the home of her son about thirty years ago. There were but two children in the family, the elder also being named Ed- ward; and his death occurred before the birth of our subject.

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The gentleman whose name heads this re- view was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts, September 18, 1828, and acquired his pre- liminary education in the district schools, after which he attended the academy at Warren, Massachusetts. At the age of nineteen he went to Bangor, Maine, where he engaged in clerk- ing in a general store for five years. From that time until his retirement from active busi- ness, he was connected with mercantile inter- ests. The winter of 1849-50 he spent on a visit in Illinois. Then returning to Bangor, he continued his residence there for two years, after which he went to Buffalo Grove, Ogle county, Illinois. In the spring of 1853, in com- pany with John Moore, he purchased a stock of general merchandise, which they handled until 1854, when Mr. Ruggles came to Indian- town, in Tama county, Iowa, and made ar- rangements for the erection of a store build- ing there. In September, 1854, he opened one of the first general stores in this county. When the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad was built through Tama county, the town of Montour sprang into existence, and Indian- town, which was a mile and a half distant, was partially abandoned as a trading-post, many of the residents removing to the new settlement. Mr. Ruggles was at that time one of the di- rectors of the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River Railroad, and was present at the organization of the company in Cedar Rapids. This road has since been purchased by the Chicago & Northwestern.

For about thirty years after his removal to Montour, Mr. Ruggles continued merchandis- ing, and was very successful in his undertaking. During the financial panic of 1857 he was often closely pressed for money by reason of the un- stableness of the currency, the wild-cat money which was then in circulation being probably worth its face one day and worthless the next. During the fluctuation of prices at the time of the war his losses were as great as his gains, and on one occasion he paid a dry-goods bill of $1, 100, in Chicago, with live hogs for which he received only two cents per pound. At one

time he also owned a store at Cloquette, Min- nesota, but that was discontinued after a year and a half. The word of Mr. Ruggles was as good as his bond, his integrity above question and over his business career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. As every successful and legitimate business enter- prise adds to the material prosperity of the community, Mr. Ruggles has therefore been an important factor in the advancement of his adopted county. In 1893, wishing to retire from the mercantile field, he presented his stock of goods to his two daughters on New Year's day. He is now a director and stock- holder of the First National Bank of Tama, but takes no active part in business affairs, aside from looking after his investments.

Mr. Ruggles was married in Grinnell, Iowa, July 5, 1860, to Miss Mary R. Grinnell, daugh- ter of Walter and Rebecca (Hastings) Grinnell, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Massachusetts. Both died in Ver- mont, leaving a family of five children, three of whom are still living. Levi died in Grin- nell, Iowa, in the prime of life. Martha, wife of Prescott Powers, died at Green Mountain, Iowa; Mrs. Jennie Bartlett and George P. are both residing in Grinnell, which city was named in honor of the family. The latter is a stock- dealer. Mrs. Ruggles, the third in order of birth, was born in New Haven, Vermont, Sep- tember 2, 1835, and acquired her education there. After the death of the parents the children removed to Iowa, locating in 1856 in Grinnell, where their relatives had previously located, founding the city. Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles had three daughters, one of whom be- came the wife of F. W. Ward, and died in Montour, at the age of twenty-one. Julia be- came the wife of James Roach, a carpenter of Montour, and they have one son and two daughters. Mattie is the wife of J. W. Cronk, of Montour, and they have one son. Mr. Cronk is now carrying on the mercantile estab- lishment which was formerly owned by Mr. Ruggles, his wife having purchased the inter- est of her sister, Mrs. Roach. The daughters

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are graduates of the Montour high school, and Mrs. Roach spent fourteen months as a stu- dent in the Conservatory of Music in Boston. The family is one of much prominence in the community, holding a very high position in social circles, and Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles are also members of the Congregational Church. He is a dimitted Mason, and in early life was a supporter of the Whig party, but since the organization of the Republican party has been one of its stanch advocates.

A SA WILKINS BERRYMAN, M. D., a successful practitioner and most use- ful member of society in Montour, Iowa, locates the place of his birth in the town of Madisonville, Ohio, the date of that event having been October 3, 1852. His parents, Enos J. and Deborah (Loaming) Ber- rynian, hailed from the Buckeye State, being likewise of German descent. The Berryman ancestors came to the United States about 1800, locating in New Jersey, and when the war of 1812 broke out they figured prominently in that conflict. Our subject's father was born in 1810 and his mother in 1812. Their family comprised four sons and four daughters, of whom six are now living: Eliza, the eldest, is now the wife of E. D. Sargent, and resides at Mount Vernon, Iowa; Mary is the widow of the late John Phillips, and makes her hoine in Omaha, Nebraska. Her first husband was James McDill, who died in the army of wounds received at Arkansas Post; he belonged to the Twenty-sixth Iowa Infantry; John, the eldest son, was also a member of this company and died at Milliken's Bend, before Vicksburg, after about six months' service; Sarah, who married W. S. Power, of Mount Vernon, and died at her home in her forty-seventh year; William, who died in Concord, Kentucky, when but five years of age; Susan R., whose life is de- voted to the welfare of the remainder of the family, and makes her home at Mount Ver- non; Samuel A., a resident of Chicago; the

next is Asa W .; and Joseph A., the youngest, is a druggist and banker of Bancroft, Iowa.

Dr. Berryman was educated in the public schools of Clinton county, Iowa, where his parents removed when he was but five years of age. Attending the high school at Clinton, Iowa, he finished the preparatory course, and in 1872 entered Cornell College. The year previous his parents removed to Mount Ver- non, Iowa, where the father died in 1873, and the mother sixteen years later. Our subject completed his course, which was interrupted by one year's teaching; in 1878 he graduated with the degree of B. S .; and three years later, in 1881, the degree of M. S. was con- ferred upon him by the same institution.

Following this collegiate course, Dr. Berry- man entered the office of Drs. James and John Carson, of Mount Vernon, where for two years he pursued the study of medicine. In this interval he attended a six-months lecture course at Iowa State University. Under ad- vice of his tutors he then engaged in practice for four years, two of which were spent at Montour and two at Bancroft, Iowa. Re- turning to the University at Iowa City, he completed his course March 5, 1884, and dur- ing the December following located perma- nently at Montour, where he now enjoys a flourishing practice.

Dr. Berryman was married at Montour May 4, 1881, to Miss Alice M. Harrison, daughter of J. O. Harrison, one of the early business men of Montour, who later engaged in the stock and grain business at Bayard, Guthrie county, this State. He died in Montour, Au- gust 23, 1883. Her mother is still living and resides in this city. Mrs. Berryman was born at North Prairie, Wisconsin, and was with her parents a pioneer of Montour. A little daugh- ter, Ada L., was born March 12, 1883, and completes the Berryman family circle.

Dr. Berryman has been prominently identi- fied with the Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday-school, and has been teacher and as- sistant superintendent of the latter for the greater part of his residence here. He is also

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president of the Tama County Sunday-school organization. The flourishing condition of this institution is owing largely to his excellent management and kindly influence, whereby he materially increases the membership and at- tendance. He is a valued member of the M. W. of A., and in politics votes the Republican ticket.

J ACOB WALTERS LAMB, A. M .- The professional interests of Toledo, Iowa, are well represented by this gentleman, a prominent and able mem- ber of the bar, whose pronounced skill and ability is the result of thorough investigation, earnest labor and close application. These qualities have enabled him to work his way steadily upward until he holds a high position in legal circles. His name is also inseparably connected with the real-estate interests of this place, and as one of Tama county's pioneers he is deserving of representation in this volume.

The grandfather of our subject, William Lamb, became one of the pioneers of Fairfield county, Ohio, where he was engaged in farm- ing, stock-raising and pork-packing. He mar- ried Catherine Cupp, and among their children was David C. Lamb, the father of our subject, whose birth occurred in Fairfield county, Ohio, March 4, 1820. He attended school near his home, and later entered the college at Granville, Ohio, where he took a special course in penmanship and drawing. During vacations he assisted his father in his business ventures. For five years after leaving school David C. Lamb engaged in teaching, and also conducted night schools, where he taught pen- manship and drawing, being very proficient in those lines.

In 1844 David Lamb was united in mar- riage with Miss Rebecca Walters, also a native of Fairfield county, Ohio. He then carried on farming and stock-raising in his native State until 1856, when he exchanged his Ohio prop- erty for 360 acres of land in Tama county, Iowa, removing to this place. From time to

time he purchased more land, until he became the owner of 1, 500 acres of very valuable prop- erty, which numbered him among the wealthy residents of the community. At the time of his death, which occurred November 11, 1891, he left an estate comprising more than 1,000 acres. He was a very prominent citizen, a leader in public affairs, and was a stanch sup- porter of the Union during the Civil war. In politics he was a Democrat, and held a num- ber of local offices, serving as Supervisor and Justice of the Peace; yet he never sought offi- cial preferment.

He was twice married, and became the father of sixteen children. His first wife died in 1863, and six of her seven children survive her, namely: Maggie, wife of P. W. Hudson, a merchant of Omaha, Nebraska; Jacob W .; William L., a graduate of both the classical and law departments of the State University at Iowa City, and now a leading attorney of Fairmount, Minnesota; Ella was the wife of William E. Garrettson, and died in Lincoln, Kansas, in 1891; Ada B. is the wife of Isaac N. Bruce, and resides in Harrison county, Iowa; and Rebecca M. is the wife of Elmer Dowd, who is located in Tama, Iowa. The father of this family was again married in 1866, his second union being with Mary Shin- holdt, who survives him and now makes her home in Toledo. By this union were born nine children, seven of whom are yet living, namely: Christena C., wife of John E. Kirner; Cassie A., Elizabeth, George, Charles, Fred and Floyd. All are at home in Toledo with the exception of the eldest.

The subject of this review was born in Co- lumbus, Ohio, June 8, 1849, and in the spring of 1856 he came with his parents to Tama county, Iowa, where in his youth he aided in the labors of the home farm and attended school. Desirous of procuring a more ad- vanced education than the common schools afforded, in 1869 he entered the State Uni- versity, of Iowa City, and after a six-years course was graduated, with the class of 1875, when was conferred upon him the degree of

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Bachelor of Philosophy. He had determined to make the practice of law his profession, and to this end became a student in the law de- partment of the State University, in which he was graduated with the class of 1876. He then received the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and in 1878 that of Master of Arts was con- ferred upon him by the same institution.

Immediately after his graduation Mr. Lamb opened a law office in Toledo, and being an indefatigable worker and close student he soon found that he was at the head of a lucrative practice. He is very painstaking in the prep- aration of cases, and in argument is logical and forceful, while his oratory seldom fails to con- vince. Success has crowned his efforts, and as his financial resources have increased he has made judicious investments in real estate and is now the owner of much valuable property in Tama county. Since the death of his father he has managed the business interests and looked after the welfare of the family. The old homestead is in his name, and in addition he owns 500 acres of valuable land in Tama county, besides large tracts in South Dakota. He has three of the finest residences in Toledo, besides business and unimproved property, and has real-estate interests in Tama and Glad- brook.

Mr. Lamb has been deeply and actively in- terested in all that pertains to the welfare of the community, and has done all in his power for its upbuilding. In 1881 he labored ear- nestly and gave liberal donations toward secur- ing the location of the Western College at To- ledo, fully appreciating the advantages of higher educational facilities. He has done much toward beautifying and improving the city in every way, and has largely promoted its social, educational and material welfare. In politics he is a stanch Republican, unwaver- ing in his support of the party, but has never sought office for himself.

On the 19th of June, 1895, Mr. Lamb wedded Miss Nellie Johnson, a native of Car- roll county, Illinois, and a daughter of William L. Johnson, a prominent farmer and stock-

raiser of that community. She was educated at an academy in Sterling, Illinois, and later took a special course at the Conservatory of Music at Western College, Toledo, Iowa, be- ing graduated with honor in 1894, the first of her class as a musician. Mr. and Mrs. Lamb now have a pleasant home, tastefully furnished, where they delight to entertain their many friends.

ATRICK H. HYNES is one of the younger yet prominent representatives of commercial interests in Monroe county. He is now secretary of the Smoky Hollow Coal Company, of Avery, and secretary and manager of the Avery Supply Company.

He was born April 14, 1865, in Boylesville, Champaign county, Ohio, and is of Irish line- age, his parents, Patrick and Mary (Short) Hynes, having been natives of the Emerald Isle. In that country they were married, and on crossing the briny deep to the New World took up their residence in Ohio, where they followed farming. In 1870 they became resi- dents of Iowa, and the father carried on agri- cultural pursuits near Keokuk until his death, which occurred in 1871. His wife survived him for many years, and passed away in Avery, in September, 1890.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Hynes num- bered four children: Patrick H., of this re- view; Faley, who is now superintendent of the Smoky Hollow Coal Company, and married Miss Emma Pettit, by whom he had two chil- dren, William and John; Maggie, wife of An- drew Butler, by whom she has one son, John; and John, deceased. The surviving members of this family are all residents of Avery.

Mr. Hynes of this review was reared to manhood in his parents' home, and attended school in Beacon. Subsequently he engaged in Elliott's Business College, of Burlington, that he might fit himself for life's practical du- ties. He began his business career as a car- penter and coal miner, and carried on work in

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those lines until his election as secretary of the Smoky Hollow Coal Company, of Avery. He thoroughly understands the business in all its details, and is therefore capable of direct- ing others. He embodies the spirit of the times in his enterprising, progressive business methods, is a popular young man, highly es- teemed both in business and social circles, and he has many friends in this locality.

EV. LEWIS BOOKWALTER, D. D., president of Western College, at Toledo, Iowa, was born near Hallsville, Ross county, Ohio, Sep- tember 18, 1846, and is a son of Rev. Isaac L. and Phoebe (Johnston) Bookwalter, the former a native of Ohio, born February 10, 1820, and the latter a native of London, Eng- land, born August 5, 1821. They were married in Circleville, Ohio, where the father began his ministerial labors. For many years he devoted his life to the work of the ministry of the United Brethren Church, but is now superan- nuated, residing in Lisbon, Iowa. He first came to the West in 1864, locating in Minne- sota, and in 1870 removed to the seat of West- ern College, at Western, Linn county, Iowa. The family numbered seven children, and yet remains unbroken by the hand of death.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 97

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