USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Past and present of Appanoose County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 17
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In 1882 Mr. Knapp was united in marriage to Miss Zada Slater, a daughter of William K. and Rachel ( Hanold) Slater, the former of whom was born in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, on the 22d of July, 1833, and the latter in Portage county, Ohio, February 8, 1843. Mrs. Knapp's father is of English ancestry, her grandfather having come from the British Isles when he was fifteen years of age and settled in Philadelphia. On the maternal side Mrs. Knapp is of Scotch descent. Her father left his native state of Pennsylvania when he was sixteen years of age and went to North Benton, Ohio, where his marriage occurred. He taught school there for several years and later followed the same profession in the public schools of Van Buren county, Michigan, laboring in that section from 1856 to 1876. Being a man of keen spiritual perception and of a logical mind religiously inclined, his attention was attracted to the higher things of life and he felt himself inspired to proclaim religious truths. He was ordained in the Christian church and preached in Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois and later in Appanoose county, being aided in his work by his broad culture, wide reading and retentive memory. He remained in Iowa until 1899 and then returned to Michigan, where he died on the 28th of September, 1904. His wife is living on the home place in Michigan, but spends her winters in Iowa with Mr. and Mrs. Knapp. Mrs. Knapp
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is the only child born to their union, her birthplace being Van Buren county, Michigan, and her natal day June 24, 1861. Our subject and his wife have one daughter, Eva, who was born in Missouri, March 7, 1883. She is the wife of Harry C. Bradley, by whom she has two chil- dren : Dorothy, born March 20, 1906; and James K., whose birth occurred July 8, 1911.
Mr. Knapp has no fraternal affiliations and although he gives loyal support to the republican party, has never sought public office. He early realized that success must be purchased at the price of earnest and well directed labor and his record has been one of indefatigable effort and close application to business.
LOUIS ANDERSON.
Louis Anderson, manager and treasurer of the Center Coal Company, is a well known and prosperous business man of the city. His birth occurred in Karlstad, Sweden, on the 27th of March, 1861, his parents being Andrew and Annie Anderson, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father followed agricultural pursuits throughout his active career.
Louis Anderson spent the first twenty-one years of his life in the land of his nativity and in 1882 crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating at Reed City, Michigan, where he entered the service of a large lumber concern as inspector. After having served in that capacity for about three and a half years he returned to Sweden and spent one year in a business college of that country. In 1886 he again came to the United States and, making his way to the northern part of Wisconsin, began working in the iron mines. In the fall of 1887 he came to Appa- noose county, Iowa, and here worked in the coal mines until 1888, when he was elected secretary of the newly organized Anchor Coal Company. In 1889 the concern sold out to Jim Wilson, Sr., and Mr. Phillips, of Centerville, and Mr. Anderson went back to Wisconsin, remaining in that state until 1893. In that year he returned to Centerville, this county, engaging in coal mining until 1901. At the time of the organization of the Exline Coal Company he was chosen its secretary and manager. In 1910 he went to Laneville, Appanoose county, and embarked in business on his own account as a coal miner and shipper. In July, 1912, he became identified with the Center Coal Company as manager and treasurer and has since served in the dual capacity, his efforts being a potent factor in
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the growth and success of the concern. He is a man of splendid business ability and keen discernment and well merits the prosperity which has come to him.
In December, 1890, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Emma Johnson, who was born in Sweden on the ist of December, 1862, her parents being John and Emily (Peterson) Johnson, likewise natives of that country. They emigrated to the United States in 1883, locating first in Wayne county, Iowa, and later coming to Appanoose county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. John Johnson devoted his atten- tion to farming throughout his life. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born nine children, as follows: Matilda, whose birth occurred in Wisconsin on the 11th of August, 1891, and who is the wife of George Shinonegel, of Centerville; Walter, Abbie and Luella, all of whom are deceased; Gerhard, who was born on the 27th of December, 1897: Loyce, whose natal day was May 23, 1899; Theodore, born November 28. 1900; Violet, whose birth occurred on the 28th of August, 1902; and Herman. born December 11, 1905. The two oldest children were natives of Wisconsin, while the remainder were born in Appanoose county, lowa.
Politically Mr. Anderson is independent, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Swedish Lutheran church of Center- ville, to which his wife also belongs. Fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Centerville. Coming to the new world in early man- hood, he eagerly availed himself of the opportunities offered in a land unhampered by caste or class and has worked his way steadily upward to a place among the prosperous and esteemed citizens of his community.
THOMAS H. DILLON.
In the latter years of his life, Thomas H. Dillon figured in the com- mercial circles of Centerville as a grocer. He was well known as a rep- resentative and energetic business man, as a progressive citizen and a consistent Christian, his salient qualities being ever such as commanded for him the respect and good-will of those with whom he was brought in contact. He was born in Lake county, Illinois, October 16, 1844, and was a son of Thomas and Abigail ( Davis) Dillon, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of England. The father, who was a shoemaker by trade, settled on Long Island on coming to the United States and later removed westward to Lake county, Illinois, where he took up farming. spending his remaining days in that locality.
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The boyhood and youth of Thomas H. Dillon were passed upon the home farm in Illinois, and he attended the district schools there through the winter seasons, while the summer months were devoted to the work of the fields, so that he early became familiar with all the duties and labors ineident to farm work. In 1867, when about twenty-three years of age, he removed to Missouri and engaged in farming near La Plata. Subsequently, however, he went to Bloomfield, but after a year returned to Missouri, settling in Lancaster. In August, 1892, he arrived in Cen- terville, where he had erected a new residence for his family and his remaining days were passed in this city. For twenty years previous he had been a salesman on the road, representing a wholesale grocery house of Keokuk, Iowa, and this gave him intimate knowledge of the business in which he afterward engaged, for in 1900 he established a grocery store in Centerville, conducting it successfully up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 9th of October. 1908. His daughter Grace then took charge of the store and is capably managing it today.
It was in 1867 that Mr. Dillon was married in Waukegan. Illinois, to Miss Mary Wilson, a daughter of S. D. and Polly Ann (Matteer) Wilson. The father, a native of Pennsylvania, was of Irish and German descent, and was a carpenter by trade but lived upon a farm. his sons, however, cultivating the fields while he worked at carpentering. His wife was also a native of Pennsylvania and was of Scotch and Dutch lineage. They became residents of Chicago, where the father passed away in 1896, the mother afterward removing to Centerville in 1904 and making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Dillon, until her death in 1907. To Mr. and Mrs. Dillon were born eleven children. Emma, who was born in La Plata, Missouri, and became the wife of George Moore. died in 1897, leaving two children, Charles and Florence. Kie owns and con- ducts a millinery store. Carrie is the wife of Garrett De Motte, a real- estate man of Hull, Iowa, and they have three children, Esther. Carroll and Scott Dillon. Anna is the wife of J. T. Sharrod, a banker of Plano, Iowa, and their children are Gail and Joseph Dillon. Dot is a student of osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri. Maude is living in Los Angeles, California. Thomas, a farmer of Coal City, lowa, married Lottie Hall and has two children, Thomas and Robert. Arthur. who is practicing osteopathy in Centerville, married Minta Dawkins and they have two children, John and James. Paul is a railroad man of Kankakee, Illinois. Grace became the wife of Luther Dawkins and they are now carrying on the store formerly owned by her father. Abbie, the youngest of the family, is studying music in Chicago.
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Mr. Dillon was for several years treasurer of the Centerville Retail Grocers Association and stood high in the regard of his colleagues and contemporaries in the business circles of Appanoose county. He was always enterprising, reliable and energetic and well merited the success that came to him. His political support was given to the republican party and after his removal to Centerville he served as a member of its city council. He belonged to Centerville Lodge, No. 400, B. P. O. E .; Centerville Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of which he was worshipful master for a number of years; and both he and his wife were members of the Order of Eastern Star. He held membership in the Christian church and his wife in the Methodist Episcopal church. Theirs was a hospitable home, whose good cheer was greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Dillon commanded the respect of all with whom he came in contact in fraternal, political, business, social or church relations, and the sterling traits of character which he displayed constituted an example well worthy of emulation. He was always loyal to duty, faithful to his friends and devoted to his family, ever regarding home ties as most sacred.
N. E. MURDY.
Prominent among the leading progressive and substantial business men of Moravia is N. E. Murdy, a registered pharmacist, who since 1904 has been engaged in the drug business, his activity contributing not only to his individual success but constituting also a factor in general development. Mr. Murdy is a native of Appanoose county, born in Moulton, May 5, 1878, and is a son of William. M. and Emeline (Wamsley) Murdy, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Indiana. The father came to Iowa in 1857, bringing with him his widowed mother, his father having died in Pennsylvania. The mother of our subject came to this state with her parents in 1848, her father, Wendell Vincent Wamsley, being one of the earliest settlers in Washington township. He took up land in that section when his nearest neighbor, John Cupp, was two and a quarter miles away, the next nearest, Mr. Sutton, residing at a distance of six miles. When the father of our subject came to this state he bought land in Washington township and in the course of years added to his holdings, acquiring three hundred acres, which he still owns. However, he has now retired and he and his wife make their home in Moulton. Mrs. William E. Murdy is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. N. E. Murdy was reared at home and acquired his education in the
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district schools of Washington township and in the Moulton high school, from which institution he was graduated in 1899. Afterward he taught school for two years, but in 1901 took up the study of pharmacy under C. A. Powers, of Moulton. Continuing in the employ of Mr. Powers for a time, he then went west to Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he worked in a drug store for a year, returning at the end of that time to Moulton. On the 5th of April, 1903, he passed his examinations and received his diploma as a registered pharmacist. Having bought the business conducted by his former employer, he had managed it alone for six months, when he sold back to Mr. Powers a half interest, and shortly afterward disposed of his other half in- terest, and in May, 1904, came to Moravia, where he purchased the drug business owned by F. C. Smith & Company, to the management of which he has given most of his time and attention for the past eight years. He is an able, resourceful and enterprising business man and his methods are at all times practical and progressive. As a result his patronage has extended rapidly and has reached gratifying proportions, placing him among the men who are an influence in business circles of the city.
On the 14th of October, 1903, Mr. Murdy married Miss Elma Painter, of Kirksville, Missouri, and to their union were born three children, two of whom are living, Paul Painter and Newton Gordon. Mr. and Mrs. Murdy are devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Murdy is well known in fraternal circles, holding membership in Antiquity Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and in the Independent Order of Odd. Fellows. He is a loyal democrat and active in public life, being a member of the present town council and of the Moravia school board, bringing to the discharge of his official duties the same well-directed energy and good judgment which have distinguished the activities of his business career. In all of his dealings he is thoroughly reliable and straightforward, and in matters of citizenship helpful and progressive, giving his aid and in- fluence to many measures for the public good.
WILLIAM T. MYERS.
One of the most prominent, successful and representative citizens of Appanoose county is William T. Myers, who has lived in this section since 1852 and in the course of a long, honorable and worthy career has gained the unqualified respect and confidence of all with whom he has been associated. For many years he was closely and influentially con- nected with agricultural pursuits and was at one time an extensive land-
WILLIAM T. MYERS
.
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owner but since 1905 has lived retired in Centerville, having earned rest and comfort by well directed work in the past. Mr. Myers is a native of Indiana, born in January, 1832, his parents being Joseph and Mary (O'Connor) Myers, the former a native of Germany and the latter of England. The father was a farmer and emigrated to America in his early life, settling in Indiana, in pioneer times. There he acquired land and gave his time and attention to its improvement and cultivation until his death, which occurred in 1838, when he was only thirty years of age. His wife survived him for some time, passing away in 1844.
William T. Myers acquired his education in the public schools of Indiana and then he laid aside his books and began serving an appren- ticeship at the tanner's trade. However, he found this occupation not to his liking, abandoning it in order to work as a farm laborer. For four years he served in the employ of others and at the end of that time was able to rent a farm, which he operated successfully until 1852, when he came to Appanoose county and entered a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Center township, which is now Walnut township. With char- acteristic energy he began improving and developing his property, plant- ing the fields in the most suitable grains, and gradually his work was rewarded by abundant harvests. As his financial resources grew he added to his holdings until his farm comprised eleven hundred and fifty acres of fine land. He still owns this property but in 1905 gave up its active management and moved into Centerville, where he has bought a com- fortable home at No. 531 West Maple street. No man in Centerville is more honored and esteemed than he, for his entire life has been influenced by high standards of integrity and great sincerity of purpose and in all of its relations has been upright, straightforward and honorable.
Mr. Myers has been twice married. In December, 1858, he wedded Miss Anna Osborne, a daughter of William Osborne. a preacher, mechanic and farmer, who came to Appanoose county in early times and remained in this section for a number of years, following all of his various occupa- tions. When he left Iowa he went across the plains to Colorado, joining the rush of gold seekers to that state, and there he made his home until his death. By his first wife Mr. Myers had three children: Mary, the wife of William Gillespie, whose son Carl is operating part of the home farm: Amanda, the wife of Frank Cate, of Centerville : and Rosie, deceased. Mr. Myers' first wife passed away in December. 1894, and on the 26th of September, 1896, he was again wedded, his second union being with Mrs. Eliza (Matheny) Sherrard, a daughter of Joseph and Jane (Sterrett) Matheny, the former a native of Worcester, West Virginia, and the latter of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. The father went to Pennsylvania in Vol. 11-11
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early times and there established himself in the salt business, operating his original enterprise along this line until his death, which occurred April 18, 1838, when he was twenty-six years of age. His wife passed away April 30, of the same year. Mrs. Myers is a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, born February 16, 1838. By her first marriage she had three children : Ella, the wife of J. H. Robinson, of Stillwater, Oklahoma; Albert L., who resides in Centerville; and Elmer R., a farmer in Payne county, Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are devout members of the Christian church.
Mr. Myers gives his allegiance to the republican party and since cast- ing his first vote has been loyal in his support of its men and measures. He served for years as trustee and was nominated for the position as mem- ber of the county board but failed to qualify. He is public-spirited and progressive in his citizenship and is always willing to lend his influence and aid to movements for the public good. Having reached the age of eighty years, he has earned the retirement he is now enjoying, having labored sincerely and earnestly to make it possible. He is in all things a dignified and courteous gentleman, of kindly spirit and strongly marked convictions, who in the course of more than sixty years' residence here has left an impress for good upon his community.
JOSEPH H. ROBERTSON.
Joseph H. Robertson, a representative of an honored pioneer family of Appanoose county, was in former years extensively and successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits as a farmer and stockman. For the past decade he has made his home in Centerville, where he is still actively engaged in business as a buyer and shipper of stock, but not on such a large scale as previously. His birth occurred in this county on the 8th of January, 1858, his parents being Moses C. and Elizabeth (Streepy) Robertson, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Knox county, Indiana. Moses C. Robertson was of Irish lineage, while Elizabeth Streepy came of German and Scotch descent. Throughout his active business career the former was successfully engaged in farming. stock-raising and shipping. When but a boy he accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana, remaining under the parental roof until he was married and started out as an agriculturist on his own account. In the fall of 1854 he came to Iowa, locating in Appanoose county, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land. As his financial
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resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable manage- ment, he augmented his holdings by additional purchase until they em- braced more than eight hundred acres. He there engaged in general farming and stock-raising. In 1884 he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Cincinnati, this county, where he spent the remainder of his life in honorable retirement. He lost his first wife in 1862 and subsequently married Mrs. Sarah Patterson, a daughter of Briggs Shepherd, who was an agriculturist of Appanoose county and passed away in 1894, aged eighty-two years. Mrs. Sarah Robertson passed away at Cincinnati, this county, in 1898.
Joseph H. Robertson attended school in Cincinnati, this county, until fourteen years of age and then began providing for his own support, assisting his brother in the work of the fields for some time. Subsequently he spent two years at work in a blacksmith shop at Numa, this county, and on the expiration of that period took a trip to Indiana. Returning to Appanoose county, he was here married in 1878 and began farming on his own account. He first bought eighty acres of land a mile west of Cincinnati and from time to time extended the boundaries of his place by additional purchase until it comprised about four hundred acres. It was in 1887 that he embarked in business as a buyer and feeder of stock, feeding from two hundred to eight hundred head of cattle yearly, for a period of fifteen to twenty-five years. In 1902 he placed his farm in charge of a tenant and has since made his home in Centerville, where he still buys and ships stock to some extent. In his undertakings as an agriculturist he has met with an enviable and well merited measure of prosperity, and he has long been numbered among the substantial and representative citizens of his native county.
In 1878 Mr. Robertson was united in marriage to Miss Emma Marth Stevenson, who was born in Ohio on the 30th of November. 1857, her parents being Parkhill and Mary (Gunder) Stevenson, of Irish and German descent respectively. The father's birth occurred near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, while the mother was a native of Darke county, Ohio. Mr. Stevenson, a shoemaker by trade, was married in Ohio and in 1868 came west, locating at Hibbsville, Appanoose county, lowa. In 1874 he removed to Cincinnati, this county, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away in 1902. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and was a worthy exemplar of the craft. The demise of his wife occurred at Cincinnati, this county, in 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson are the parents of three children. Ava J., who was born in this county on the 30th of May. 1879, was graduated from the Cincinnati high school in 1898 and is the wife of Harry Talbot of Centerville. Ora B., whose birth
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occurred in Appanoose county on the 9th of June, 1881, gave her hand in marriage to J. G. Madden, an attorney of Lineville, Iowa. Joie C., born in Appanoose county on the 11th of June, 1891, is a farmer of Vermillion township, this county. He married Miss Ruth Bradley, a daughter of Henry and Carry (Abernathy) Bradley, the former being at one time county superintendent of schools here.
In politics Mr. Robertson is independent, supporting men and meas- ures rather than party. For two years he served as alderman at large in Centerville, making a creditable record in this connection. He is identi- fied with the Masons and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. Mr. Robertson's entire life has been spent in Appanoose county and his acquaintance here is a wide one, so that this record cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers.
CHARLES H. MEYERS.
Charles H. Meyers, early settler in Iowa and a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the state, has for many years been identified in an influential way with farming interests in Pleasant town- ship, and his enterprise and well-directed work have contributed substan- tially to the progress in this locality. He was born in Hancock county, Illinois, August 3, 1859, and is a son of George Meyers, a native of Bavaria, Germany, who grew to maturity in that country and came to America as a young man. He located in Hancock county, Illinois, in pioneer times and there married Miss Kate Schneider, also a native of Germany, born in Hesse-Darmstadt. They remained in Illinois until 1868, in which year they moved to Iowa and located in Franklin township, Appanoose county. Here the father of our subject purchased a tract of wild land and with characteristic energy and determination set about the task of opening up a farm. He fenced his fields, brought the land under the plow and was soon gathering abundant harvests. As his prosperity grew he added to his holdings until he owned three hundred and eighty acres of land, which he managed so carefully and operated along such practical lines that he became one of the substantial and wealthy residents of this part of the state. He gained widespread respect and esteem by reason of his honor- able standards and upright business methods, and when he died upon the homestead his passing was widely and deeply regretted.
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