Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 98

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

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The Rev. Lewis Bookwalter obtained his early education in the common schools of Ohio and was reared on a farm, removing with his parents to Minnesota in 1864. He entered the classical department of Western College January 1, 1868, and was graduated with the degree of A. B., in 1872. His alma mater con- ferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts in 1875, and that of Doctor of Divinity in 1890. In 1887 he was graduated at the Bib- lical Seminary of Dayton, Ohio.

In 1871 was consummated the marriage of Mr. Bookwalter and Miss Emma M. Guitner, of Westerville, Ohio. She was born in Penn- sylvania, and is a graduate of Otterbein Uni- versity at Westerville. At the time of her

marriage she was lady principal of the faculty of Western College.

Our subject became a member of the United Brethren Church during his residence in Minnesota, and was licensed to preach by the Iowa Conference in 1872. Five years later he was ordained as an Elder. In 1880 he transferred his membership to the Lower Wa- bash Conference in Illinois; in 1887 joined the Miami Conference, of Ohio; in 1895 he was transferred to the Iowa Conference, and has since that time been connected with the work of his church in this State. Mr. Bookwalter's work has been mostly in connection with edu- cational institutions. He served as treasurer of Western College from 1871 until 1873, and also had charge of a mission near the college in 1872-3. He was professor of ancient lan- guages in the college from 1873 until 1879, when he accepted a similar position in West- field College, of Westfield, Illinois, where he continued until 1881. At the close of that year he was forced to resign his chair on ac- count of ill health and went to east Tennes- see, where he became principal of Edwards Academy at Greenville. After a short time he be- gan work as a missionary in Knoxville, Tennes- see, and vicinity, where he continued until 1883.

In that year he was called to the presi- dency of Westfield College, which position he acceptably filled for two years, and in 1885, in order to further fit himself for his life work, he entered Union Biblical Seminary at Dayton as a student. In 1886 he was placed in charge of a mission called the Oak Street Church, in the southeast part of the city. In fact he was the organizer of this mission, and served as its pastor until 1888, when he was appointed pas- tor of the First United Brethren Church of Dayton, continuing to fill its pulpit until 1894, when he was called to the presidency of West- ern College at Toledo, Iowa, which position he is now filling. He possesses superior abil- ity as an educator, is thoroughly imbued with the spirit of his work, and all that pertains to the moral and intellectual upbuilding of society and the furtherance of the work of his church.

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Mr. Bookwalter was a member of the Gen- eral Conference of the United Brethren Church of 1885, which convened in Fostoria, Ohio, and of the church commission appointed by that body to formulate a revised confession of faith and amended constitution. He was made secretary of the commission, and its work was ratified by a general vote of the church and confirmed by the General Conference at York, Pennsylvania, in 1889. This was a very im- portant change, and Mr. Bookwalter took a prominent part in bringing about the needed revision. He has been a member of the Board of Education since 1885, was its corresponding secretary from that time until 1894, and from 1889 until 1893 was a member of the execu- tive committee of the United Brethren Pub- lishing House, of Dayton, Ohio. He was also made a director of the Church Erection So- ciety by the General Conference in 1893. He is an able speaker and a fluent and versatile writer. He is the author of a chapter on con- secration in a work on systematic and practical theology, entitled "Christian Doctrine," ed- ited by Bishop J. Weaver, D. D. A valued tract entitled "Do We Need a Revival?" is from his pen; and he is also the author of a book called " The Family; or, The Home and the Training of Children."

Mr. and Mrs. Bookwalter are the parents of six living children, the eldest having died in infancy in 1872.

Mr. Bookwalter has been a lifelong Repub- lican, and is a believer in the constitutional prohibition of the liquor traffic. He is zealous in the work of Christianizing the world and is especially strong in his own church, his power and influence being felt throughout all its wide borders. His pastoral charge at Dayton, Ohio, covering six years, was a just recognition of his superior ability as a minister and public speaker. He was called to the presidency of the Western College at an important epoch in its history. He was authorized to reorganize the faculty, and he has done this by placing spe- cialists at the head of the various departments. From this time the school has made excellent

progress and undoubtedly it has a brilliant future before it. Improved methods have been constantly introduced and it is in excellent working condition, ranking high among educa- tional institutions in the West.

It will be interesting in this connection to note something more of the college which owes much of its success to its efficient presi- dent. The first steps toward founding this institution of learning were taken by the Iowa Annual Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, held in Muscatine, Iowa, in August, 1855. The school was established in Western, Linn county, February 11, 1856, and was incorporated under the laws of the State in the following month. It 1881 it was removed to Toledo, and the new building was ready for occupancy in September, 1883. On Christinas night of 1889 the main building with all its contents, except the library, burned to the ground. The present magnificent struc- ture was immediately begun, and to-day stands as a monument to the liberality of the people of Toledo, of the church under whose auspices it is conducted and to the energy of those in charge of the school. The main building is I 50 x 80 feet, three stories in height with base- ment, and is one of the most complete and best appointed college buildings in the State.

Its large and cheerful recitation rooms, four tasteful and beautiful society halls, its fine lecture room, and its admirable arrange- ments throughout, together with its hot-water- heating system, make it a place of convenience and comfort to both the teachers and pupils. The railway facilities for reaching the city are excellent. The curriculum includes four stand- ard courses, leading to the usual degrees, - the classical, philosophical, scientific and lit- erary; also a preparatory and normal or didactic courses. This offers a wide range of studies. There is also a course in elocution, a depart- ment of art, and a thoroughly equipped college of commerce. The conservatory of music is in charge of a skillful director, the building is tastefully furnished throughout, and the musi- cal department takes rank among the first in-

O. J. Bienton.

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stitutions of the kind in the State. It was established in memory of Rev. John C. Bright, whose name it bears. Mary Beatty Hall is the fine boarding hall for young ladies, and Drury Hall across the street is occupied by young men. There are six literary societies connected with the college under the control of the faculty, occupying their own halls. The library comprises several thousand volumes of miscellaneous works, as well as daily and weekly newspapers, magazines and reviews, to which the students have free access at all sea- sonable hours. On the college campus there is a fine field for athletic sports; and the gymna- sium, well supplied with modern apparatus, is under a competent instructor, and has proven very beneficial to the students of the college. Western College has long been recognized as one of the solid educational institutions of the State. Ainong its presidents are numbered those who have attained State-wide reputation as successful educators and ministers of the gospel. These include Rev. E. B. Kephart, D. D., LL. D., now a bishop of the church; Rev. W. M. Beardshear, D. D., LL. D., now president of the Iowa Agricultural College; Rev. J. S. Mills, D. D., now a bishop of the church.

a ILLIAM HENRY BRENTON, de- ceased. - The life history of him whose name heads this sketch is worthy of record among those of Iowa's representative citizens to whose efforts was due their prosperity. While there are few phases in the lives of self-made men of an emo- tional or sensational character, there is yet a motive power of energy, enterprise, continuity and determination worthy of study; and often, if we shall look for the secret of men's suc- cess, we find it only in their perseverance in following out a well-defined purpose. This was eminently true of Mr. Brenton.

He was a native of Indiana, born near In- dianapolis, in Johnson county, January 12, 1840, and was a son of Dr. James B. and Eliza 39

(St. John) Brenton. The family was founded in this country by Major James Brenton, the great-grandfather of William H., who came from England, and for seven years aided the Colonies during the Revolutionary war. He was killed by the Indians two years after the close of hostilities. His wife bore the maiden name of Woodfield. Their son, Henry, who was born. in Pennsylvania, about 1780, was the grandfather of our subject. Dr. Brenton, his father, was born in Kentucky in 1815, and died in Adel, Dallas county, Iowa, in 1891. The paternal grandfather of our subject at one time owned the site of the city of Indianapolis. Mr. Brenton's mother was born near Indian- apolis, and died when he was only four weeks old.

Reared on a farm, William H. Brenton re- ceived only a common-school education, his services being largely required in the cultiva- tion of the land. In October, 1853, he came to Iowa with his father, making an overland trip. In 1861, prompted by a spirit of pa- triotism, he enlisted in Company D, Second Iowa Infantry, and was wounded at the battle of Fort Donelson, after which he returned home on furlough, and here received his dis- charge. On the 25th of May, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Rich- mond, a native of Columbia county, New York, daughter of Rufus R. and Ann (Ross- man) Richmond, and a sister of J. A. Rich- mond, of Dallas county. She is a most es- timable lady, and proved to her husband a ca- pable and faithful helpmeet. It is said that Mr. Brenton always consulted his wife on mat- ters of business. Their domestic life was a most happy one. The home was brightened by the presence of three children, who have at- tained to years of maturity. They were pro- vided with good educational advantages, fitting them for the practical and responsible duties of life, and in social circles the family holds an enviable position. Charles R., the eldest, was married September 11, 1893, to Miss Carrie Woodward, a native of Dallas county, Iowa, and a daughter of John L. and Henrietta

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(White) Woodward, who removed from In- diana to the Hawkeye State. One child, Eve- lyn, graces the marriage. Clyde E., the second son, was married October 10, 1894, to Miss Alice G. Given, who was born in Keokuk, Iowa. Her father, Robert Given, was a na- tive of the north of Ireland, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Alice Gibson, was a native of Canada. Eva A., the youngest and only daughter, is an excellent young lady, and was a faithful student of Des Moines College, at which she graduated with the highest honors of the class of 1891.

After his marriage Mr. Brenton, of this re- view, settled on a farm of eighty acres on sec- tion 16, Adel township, Dallas county, where stood a frame building, in which the family lived for fourteen years. There the children were all born. Prosperity attended the efforts of Mr. Brenton, and, as his financial resources increased, he extended the boundaries of his land until at the time of his death it comprised about 6,000 acres. In 1878 he removed with his family to Dallas Center, and the following year erected their beautiful home there. He bought an interest in the only bank of the place, and later gained full control of the same, which he left in a flourishing condition. Before re- moving to Dallas Center he had branched out in the stock business, and at the time of his death was probably the largest shipper in the State of Iowa. He passed away on the 10th of December, 1893, mourned by many friends for his upright, honorable life had gained him the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He was a strong Repub- lican, taking a lively interest in political affairs, but never aspiring to political honors, pre- ferring to give his entire time and attention to his extensive business interests, in which he met with a well deserved success.

Since his death his two sons, Charles and Clyde, have continued to manage the estate which he had mapped out, with most gratify- ing results. They are both progressive, enter- prising young men, fully abreast with the times, and do credit to the example set them by their

worthy father. They possess business ability of a high order, and their straightforward deal- ings have gained them a liberal patronage. As a family the Brentons have always been strongly attached to each other, and what is for the in- terest of one member has always been con- sidered for the interest of all.

0 R. JOHN DOWNS ELBERT was one of the most prominent charac- ters in the history of early Iowa and for many years was the promoter of almost all lines of enterprise that tended to the development and upbuilding of Van Buren county. He belonged to that sturdy race of pioneers who left behind them the comforts of civilization and braved the hardships of West- ern life in order to form homes on the frontier. They laid the foundation for the civilization and transformation of the localities with which they became connected, and for their noble work in this direction are deserving of the gratitude of all succeeding generations.

Dr. Elbert was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, May 16, 1806, and was a son of Dr. John Downs and Elizabeth (Ficklin) El- bert. The father was a physician who located on the " dark and bloody ground " in an early pay. In 1812, he removed with his family to Logan county, Ohio, where our subject spent his childhood and youth. The country had few schools, and educational privileges were necessarily meager. The era of cheap books, -cheap in price,-had not yet been ushered in, and the acquisition of a good education was a difficult thing with the poor, -only in fact to be accomplished by those whose energy and determination overcame all obstacles; but the very difficulties that lay in the way of Dr. El- bert seemed to serve as an impetus for re- newed effort on his part. He availed himself of every opportunity to secure learning, eagerly devoured the books to which he had access, and became a man of broad general informa- tion. He took up the study of medicine, and in 1829 received a license from the hands of a

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RECORD OF IOWA.

distinguished Dr. Drake, of Cincinnati, and established himself as a physician and surgeon in Ohio.

In 1840 Dr. Elbert joined the countless throng of adventurous men who came to find homes and employment in the West and set- tled in Van Buren county, Iowa, about five miles from Keosauqua. Here he lived until his death, in 1865. Besides the license granted to Dr. Elbert by the Cincinnati col- lege, he held two honorary medical diplomas, . one from the Missouri University at St. Louis, and one from the University of Pennsylvania. As a surgeon he attained an extensive reputa- tion in southern Iowa and northern Missouri, and some of his operations, exhibiting origin- ality, boldness and skill, entitled him to rank with the best operating surgeons of our country.

In 1829 Dr. Elbert was united in marriage with Miss Achsa Hitt, daughter of Rev. Samuel Hitt, and with her he happily lived until his death. Mrs. Elbert is still living and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. An- nie E. Townsend, of Albia, Iowa. Three other children are living: ex-Governor Samuel H. Elbert, of Denver, Colorado; Hon. Benja- min F. Elbert, of Des Moines, Iowa; and Mrs. Robert M. Clarke, of Beatrice, Nebraska.

What Dr. Elbert did in improving the land and forwarding all manner of county and State enterprises, in the cause of religion and in the kindred cause of fraternity, in the labors and improvements of his profession and in political efforts, is only what might have been antici- pated by those who knew the man and had been attentive observers of his character. He was never known to spend an idle hour, and always was interested in some scheme, either contemplated or in operation, for the public good. He had an energy that gave him no rest, -an impetuous and somewhat imperious feeling that was never dormant. As a surgeon this characteristic gave him eminence and an extensive practice; as a farmer, gave him broad lands and fertile fields; as a politician it made him a leader in the higher branch of the Terri-

torial Legislature, to which he was elected in 1842, and of which he subsequently became president. He was a consistent and valuable member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, honored and esteemed in all the walks of life.

OGER .MILTON TENNY is a promi- nent agriculturist residing at Montour, having located on the site of the town in 1861. The Tenny family, of which he is a member, is of English descent, and our subject traces his ancestry back to Thomas Tenny, a native of Yorkshire, England, who located in Salem, Massachusetts, in December, 1638. The genealogy of this family was care- fully compiled and published in 1891 by M. J. Tenny. The great-grandfather of our subject, Captain Jonathan Tenny, was born in Brad- ford, Massachusetts, July 25, 1736, and died in 1806. The grandfather, Dr. Joshua Tenny, was born in Salem, New Hampshire, in 1764, became a very prominent physician, was fre- quently called to public office, and died in 1844.

The father of our subject, Rev. Erdix Tenny, was a native of Vermont, born July II, 1801. His death occurred November 13, 1882, and a noble and well spent life was thus ended. He was a minister of the Congrega- tional Church, and served as pastor of the congregation in Lyme, New Hampshire, for thirty-six years. He was twice married, having first wedded Mary Latham Kendrick, who died September 13, 1835, leaving two children: Allen, now a lawyer of Norwich, Connecticut; and Edwin, who died in Tennessee, October 26, 1860. For his second wife he chose Miss Elizabeth Hamilton, who for a few years sur- vived her husband, her death occurring in Nor- wich, Connecticut, in 1884. They had a fam- ily of eight children, the eldest of whom is our subject. The others were George H., a physi- cian who died in Boston, Massachusetts, leav- ing a wife and one daughter; Mary E., who died in 1880, at the age of thirty-six years; Henry B., who resides in Boston, and is con-

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nected with the Boston & Albany Railroad depot; and four who died in infancy.

Mr. Tenny of this review was born in Lyme, Grafton county, New Hampshire, De- cember 4, 1839, and resided in his native State until seventeen years of age, when he acquired a common-school education. He then went to Boston and engaged in clerking for three years, but the West seemed to be to him a better field of labor, and when a young man of twenty years he cast his lot with the early settlers of Tama county, Iowa, where he has now made his home for upwards of a third of a century. His first work here was in school-teaching in Indian Village township. In 1862 he pur- chased 250 acres of land, for which he paid $1,800, and at once began to improve his farm. In course of time the greater part of it was plowed and planted and transformed into rich fields which yielded to him a golden trib- ute in return for the labor he had bestowed upon it. A portion of this farm has been platted and now lies within the corporation limits of Montour. Mr. Tenny still owns 150 acres of the original tract, but his real estate, however, amounts to 800 acres. He has fol- lowed farming and stock-raising throughout his life, and has met with marked success in his undertakings.

On the 12th of April, 1866, Mr. Tenny was united in marriage with Miss Maggie J. Leyenberger, a daughter of Jacob Leyenberger, who was born in Ohio and came with her par- ents to Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Tenny had two children, but Florence died at the age of two years. The other daughter is Laura E., now a student in a medical college of Chicago, be- longing to the class of 1896. The family resi- dence, which was erected by our subject in 1895, is one of the finest homes in Montour. It is tastefully furnished and its hospitable doors are ever open to the many friends of the family.

In politics Mr. Tenny is a stanch Repub- lican, having warmly advocated the principles of that party since attaining his majority. For three years he served as a member of the

Board of Supervisors, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. He was reared in the Congregational Church, and has been connected with it since his boyhood. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman, highly respected by all, and is one of Tama county's honored pioneers.

HILANDER APPLEGATE, whose energy and diligence have brought to him a handsome competence that now enables him to live retired, is a gen- tleman whose well spent life commends him to the confidence and good will of all. In his business career he has displayed sound judg- ment and unfaltering perseverance and has always been loyal to a high sense of moral obligation.

Mr. Applegate is by birth as well as inter- ests a Western man. He was born in Mont- gomery county, Indiana, near Crawfordsville, the county seat, September 12, 1827. His father, James H. Applegate, was a native of Butler county, Ohio, and in his early life followed the tailor's trade, but afterward engaged in farm- ing. His death occurred in 1840, in his thirty- eighth year. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Ruami French, and she also was a native of Butler county, Ohio. Her death occurred in Marion county, Iowa, in 1878, at the age of seventy-four years. Our subject was the eldest son and second child in their family, which numbered four sons and five daughters. Only four of this number are now living, namely: Mrs. Emily Lowe, of Knoxville, Iowa; George W., a resident of Nebraska; James H., a farmer living in Mont- gomery county, Indiana; and Philander.

The last named spent his boyhood days in the county of his nativity and began his educa- tion in a school-house which was built of logs and furnished with the primitive equipments commonly seen in school-houses of that char- acter. He remained on the home farm until twenty-two years of age, and was then united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Dixon, daugh-

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ter of Charles Dixon. For five years they re- sided in the Hoosier State, living upon a farm, and in the fall of 1855 came to Iowa, spend- ing the succeeding winter in Fairfield, Jeffer- son county. In the spring they continued their journey to Marion county, locating in Indiana township, about eight miles south of Knoxville. There Mr. Applegate purchased eighty acres of land, on which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made. With characteristic energy he began its devel- opment; the fields were plowed and planted and in course of time yielded good harvests; and as his financial resources were accordingly increased, Mr. Applegate extended the boun- daries of his farm by additional purchase until it comprised 240 acres of cultivable land. There he carried on farming and stock-raising and was quite successful in his undertakings. He continued this business until 1888, when he removed to Knoxville, where he has since lived retired, devoting his attention only to the management of his property interests. He sold one farm to his son, A. B., but yet owns another, which yields to him a good income.

In 1889 Mr. Applegate was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in the month of April. They had nine children, six sons and three daughters, namely: Elizabeth A., wife of H. A. Overton, of Marion county; James H., now Judge of the Fifth Judicial Dis- trict of Iowa; Ellsbury E. and Isaac W., both agriculturists of Marion county; Allen B., who is living on the old homestead farm, which he purchased of his father; Salina, wife of C. F. Flanegan, of Marion county; Clark D., who carries on agricultural pursuits in Marion county; and Ollie, wife of D. C. Belknap, of Knoxville. Mr. Applegate was again married on the Ist of January, 1890, his second union being with Miss Kate Belville, the youngest daughter of William B. and Anna (Wilson) Belville. The lady is a native of Ohio, but accompanied her parents to Iowa in her early girlhood.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 98

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