USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Past and present of Appanoose County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
In 1885 Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Eva Roland, who was born in Warsaw, Missouri, May 26. 1868. but has spent the greater part of her life in this county. Her parents, William and Perlina Roland. are both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have been born eleven chil- dren: Eli. living in Chariton, Iowa: Harrison : Jack; Ada; Tillie; Clara; W. S., Jr .: Carrie ; Emery; Alice Mildred, who died in infancy: and Hal- bert.
In politics Mr. Bailey has been a lifelong republican and has served as township trustee. as clerk of the election board and as a member of the school board. He has a wide acquaintance and many friends in this county and is well known as a representative citizen and farmer. His carefully managed business interests have won hin substantial success and indicate what may be accomplished when determination and energy lead the way.
JOHN M. HICKS.
Among the citizens of Appanoose county who have attained an hon- ored place in the community through their acknowledged ability and per- sonal worth and whose business activities have been important enough to affect the general development of the city is John M. Hicks, one of the most extensive stock buyers and shippers in this part of Iowa. His birth occurred in Hancock county, Tennessee, on the 16th of March, 1851. his parents being Gabe and Sarah (Seals) Hicks, both natives of that state. The paternal grandfather was of German-English lineage, and the grand- mother Scotch-Irish, and both came to this country at an early day. The marriage of the parents occurred in Tennessee and in the spring of 1857
303
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
they came west, locating in Appanoose county, lowa, where the father pur- chased two hundred acres of well-improved farm land near U'nionville. He carried on general agriculture for some time but finally concentrated his attention upon raising stock, which he shipped to the eastern markets. He remained upon the farm until his death, which occurred in 1870, after which his wife removed to Unionville, where she passed away. In their family were four children: Andy and Larkin, who have passed away; R. M., a resident of Centerville ; and John M .. of this review.
John M. Hicks was a small child when he was brought to Appanoose county by his parents. When he had attained the usual age he entered the district school and there acquired his education, aiding his father with the work of the farm when not engaged with his books. After the death of Gabe Hicks, the subject of this review came to Unionville with his mother and here worked with a section gang until 1876, when he formed a partnership with J. B. Morrison with whom he engaged in the hoop- manufacturing business for some time. In 1887 he left Iowa and removed to Perkins county, Nebraska, where he purchased land and engaged in farming. However, he returned in the fall of 1890 and bought three hundred and twenty acres of land in Udell township, upon which he engaged extensively in raising high-grade stock. In 1895 his house was torn to pieces by a severe cyclone and one year later he sold the farm to W. C. Miller and moved into Unionville, his present home. However, he still continues active in stock dealing, upon which he has concentrated his attention for a number of years, shipping to the Chicago market. All of his business affairs are judiciously carried forward, showing discriminat- ing business judgment and a marked spirit of enterprise, and prosperity has come as a natural result of his ability which commanded it.
On the 22d of February, 1876. Mr. Hicks was united in marriage to Miss Laura J. Miller, a daughter of Claudius and Martha J. ( Baldridge) Miller, the father born in Hickman county. Tennessee. December 1, 1824. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Hicks were Nathaniel and Sarah ( Mar- tin) Miller, natives of North Carolina. On the maternal side the grand- parents were Andrew and Margaret Baldridge, carly settlers in Tennessee, where the father followed the trade of millwright until his death. Mrs. Hicks' father, Claudius Miller, attended a subscription school in Hick- man county. Tennessee, and his education was extremely limited and has been largely acquired through reading and observation in later years. He married in Tennessee in April, 1845, and three years later came to Iowa, locating in Appanoose county as a pioneer and taking up government land in Union township. On August 22. 1862. he enlisted in Company C. Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, going to the front as second sergeant.
306
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
He won promotion to the position of first sergeant on the 7th of March, 1863, and on the 3d of February, 1865, was made first lieutenant, with which rank he was mustered out on the 24th of August, 1865, at Devall Bluff, Arkansas. He returned home and for a time engaged in the general merchandise business in Unionville, conducting a profitable enterprise for a number of years and finally selling it in order to go to Nebraska, where he took up farming. In 1893 he returned to Unionville and opened a general store which he conducted successfully until 1906, when he retired from active life. His first wife passed away in Appanoose county in 1875. To their union were born nine children: Benjamin G., whose birth occurred in 1848 and who died in Iowa about 1906; Joseph, who was born in Appanoose county, October 27, 1850, and who is engaged in farming in Kidder, Missouri; John, who was born in Appanoose county, Septem- ber 3, 1853, and who died August 16, 1854: Laura J., the wife of the ' subject of this review, born May 27, 1855; Amanda, who was born April 9, 1857, and who is the wife of John E. Miller, a carpenter in Unionville; Sarah, who was born September 20. 1859, and who is the wife of George Stutevoss, a stock-raiser, of Elsie, Nebraska, who died October 14, 1895; Snow, who was born July 19, 1861, and died in infancy; W. C., who was born August 20, 1862, and who is engaged in farming in Udell township; and Rosa, who was born June 19, 1866, and who is the wife of Wyke Large, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. After the death of his first wife Mr. Miller married Miss Dorcas E. Jennings, a daughter of Percy and Lydia (Casey) Jennings, the former a carpenter of Greene county, Pennsylvania, where both parents passed away. Mrs. Miller came to Iowa previous to her mar- riage and taught for some time in the schools of Unionville and Moulton. She died in 1899, leaving two children: Mabel, who was born January 2, 1882, and who is the wife of Frederick Koehler, a dairyman of Ratoon. Mexico; and Agnes, who was born September 18. 1883, and who is resid- ing at home. Mr. Miller is one of the well-known and prominent citizens of Unionville. For many years he has taken an active part in local repub- lican politics and has served as county supervisor and as state representa- tive. He is a member of the blue lodge of Masons, and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal church, which direct and influence the activities of his every-day life. To Mr. and Mrs. Hicks has been born a son, Claudius R., whose natal day was December 9, 1878, and who is at present acting as train dispatcher at Cedar Rapids. lowa. He married Miss Annette Hawn, of Vinton, and they have two children, Mildred Maurice and Laura Jeannette.
Mr. Hicks is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church. to which his wife also belongs. He is connected with the blue lodge of
30
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
Masons and stands high both in business and social circles, for he is a man who commands the confidence and high regard of all with whom he is brought into contact. His political support is given to the democratic party and as a public-spirited citizen he takes a commendable interest in the welfare and growth of the community, although this never takes the form of office seeking.
HARLEY C. McANELLY.
Harley C. McAnelly whose home farm is an excellent tract of land of three hundred and fifty acres in Franklin township, is engaged in the feeding and shipping of stock in connection with the cultivation of the soil and is well known as one of the practical and progressive agriculturists of his community. There is a valuable deposit of coal upon a portion of his farm and of late years he has been giving more and more attention to the development of the vein, having met with a gratifying degree of success in his mining operations.
Mr. McAnelly is a native of lowa, born in Wayne county, June 23. 1875. He was reared upon his father's farm and received his primary edu- cation in the district schools. However, he is largely self-educated, hav- ing gained the greater part of his knowledge through reading. experience and observation since attaining mature years. Mr. McAnelly began his independent career by purchasing eighty acres of land in Appanoose county, which he developed for three years. after which he rented out the place and went to the state of Washington, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres and engaged in general farming for two years. When he sold his Washington property he returned to lowa and settled on a farm in Franklin township, this county. From time to time he added to his original tract and finally acquired three hundred and fifty acres, upon which he made substantial improvements, remodeling the residence and building a good barn and outbuildings and making it in all respects a valu- able and desirable property. Mr. MeAnelly is likewise extensively inter- "sted in stock-raising and has met with much success with his standard-bred horses and his graded cattle and hogs. Of late years he has given special attention to the development of the rich coal deposits which underhie : large portion of his property and in 1912 be sunk a shaft and opened up a coal mine, which has already reached a depth of one hundred and sixty feet. The vein is rich, varying in thickness from two to three feet, and it adds very materially to the value of the property.
308
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
Mr. McAnelly married, in Wayne county, Iowa, March 23, 1899, Miss Hattie Fortney, a native of Adair county, Missouri. She received her primary education in the district schools of that section and was later grad- uated from the Kirksville Normal School. Mr. and Mrs. McAnelly have adopted a son, Lawrence. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, attending Simpson chapel. Mr. McAnelly is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and in both fraternal and social relations has won and merited high regard, while in his business life he has met with well-deserved prosperity.
SETH JOHNSON.
Seth Johnson is a retired farmer living at Moravia. He has passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey and his has been an active and useful life, largely devoted to general agricultural pursuits, but since 1900 he has engaged in no business although he is still the owner of a valuable farming property in Franklin township, Monroe county. He was born in West Columbia, Mason county, West Virginia, December 27. 1837, his parents being James and Margaret (Van Meter) Johnson. The father was a native of Pennsylvania who was married in West Virginia, which was probably the native state of his wife. In 1852 he came with his fam- ily to Iowa, settling five miles northwest of Moravia in Monroe county. The district was then a frontier region, the work of civilization and devel- opment having scarcely been begun in that locality. He had visited the state in 1848, at which time he entered land from the government. and in 1850 he returned and built a house upon this claim, bringing his family to the new home in April, 1852. He traveled by way of the water route to Alexandria, Missouri, and thence drove across the country to his farm. He and his wife remained upon the old homestead there until called to their final rest. Mr. Johnson gave his early political allegiance to the whig party and following its dissolution joined the ranks of the new republican party. He and his wife held membership in the United Brethren church and their well spent lives gained for them the warm regard of all who knew them. In their family were nine children, all born in West Virginia. One of the number died in infancy while the other eight accompanied their parents to Iowa. There were six sons and the surviving members of the family are Seth and his brother, William H. Johnson, of Moravia, while a sister, Mrs. Jane Funkhouser, of Valley, Nebraska, has recently passed away.
MR. AND MRS. SETHE JOHNSA
311
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
Seth Johnson has resided in this county since 1852. arriving here when a youth of fourteen years. The experiences of his early life were those which fall to the lot of the farm lad as he assists in the work of tilling the fields and caring for the crops. He shared in the hardships and privations of frontier life in Iowa and when he started out in business on his own ac- count it was to continue in farm work, to which he devoted his energies until 1900, when he removed to Moravia. He was an active, energetic farmer, working persistently and diligently as the years went by in his efforts to develop and improve his fields and gather therefrom good har- vests. While he left the farm in 1900 to take up his abode in Moravia, he is still the owner of three hundred and eighty acres situated five miles northwest of the city in Franklin township, Monroe county. This place includes one hundred and twenty acres, which was formerly owned by his father.
On Christmas day, 1862, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Rebecca Catharine Clodfelter, who was born in Indiana, September 17. 1838, and came to Iowa with her parents in 1844. She was a daughter of William and Malinda ( Miller) Clodfelter, who drove across the country from In- diana and settled north of Albia. lowa was still under territorial form of government then and there were vast unsettled tracts of land while bands of Indians roamed in different sections of the state. Mr. and Mrs. John- son traveled life's journey happily together for almost forty-six years, be- ing separated by the death of the wife on the 27th of August. 1908. Mr. Johnson votes with the republican party which he has long supported but has never sought nor desired office. His religious faith is that of the United Brethren church. He is one of the esteemed, honored citizens of Appa- noose county, having a wide acquaintance in this part of the state, while his good qualities have gained for him the confidence and friendship of those with whom he has become acquainted.
NICHOLAS W. WILSON.
Among the men who have contributed to the business, agricultural and political development of Centerville and the surrounding country, Nich- olas W. Wilson holds a high place. He owns eighty acres of land just outside the corporate limits of the village and is there carrying on a mod- ern and carefully managed agricultural enterprise, being ranked among the progressive and successful farmers of this locality. In addition he is doing able service on the board of township trustees, his official activity
312
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
directly influencing the public welfare. In all of his business interests he displays keen discernment, energy and ambition and has, therefore, advanced step by step to prosperity. He was born in Monroe county, Indiana, October 29, 1858, and is a son of Christopher and Cynthia Jane (Wilson) Wilson, natives of Kentucky, of Scotch lineage. The father was a well educated and broadly cultured man, whose keen intelligence enabled him to recognize opportunities and whose executive force enabled him to take advantage of them. He was successively a lawyer, merchant and farmer in Indiana, where he removed as a young man. For some time he taught in the public schools and in this way gained sufficient money to defray his expenses in attending State University. After he left Indiana he went to łowa, settling there before the state was admitted into the Union. However, he did not remain long, returning to Indiana after a short time. At the outbreak of the Civil war he offered his services to the federal government, enlisting at Indianapolis and serving for three months. After his discharge he went to Missouri and there again enlisted and this time continued at the front almost until the close of the war, receiving his discharge on account of disability. After he was mustered out he located in Lewis county, Missouri, and opened a hotel at Monti- cello. He conducted this enterprise successfully for some time but aban- doned it later in favor of farming. In 1876 he moved to Chariton, Iowa, and there lived a retired life, passing away in 1874. His wife died in the same year. During the period of their residence in this state their fine qualities of mind and character gained them many warm friends and they were ranked with the leading and representative citizens of the com- munity.
Nicholas W. Wilson was still a child when his father settled in Lewis county. Missouri, and his education was acquired in the public schools of that section. During his childhood he aided in the operation of his father's farm and continued at this work until he attained his majority. His training at farm labor was comprehensive, bringing him into close touch with all branches of agricultural work, so that his practical under- standing enables him today to direct wisely the details of his farm opera- tions. When he was twenty-one years of age Mr. Wilson bought land in Lucas county, lowa, and afterward removed to Knox county, Missouri. where he followed farming. In 1902 he came to Appanoose county and located at Udell, where he engaged in the general mercantile business. conducting in addition a hardware and furniture store at Kellogg. After two years he disposed of both enterprises and bought one hundred and twenty acres east of Udell, giving his entire attention to general farming.
313
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
In 1908 he sold the property and purchased eighty acres in close proximity to the village limits of Centerville and he has since remained upon this farm, his labors being attended with substantial success. Mr. Wilson has built a fine modern home upon his property and has made other impor- tant improvements in building and equipment. By close application and good management he has steadily progressed and is today one of the sub- stantial and representative citizens of this part of the state.
Mr. Wilson has been twice married. On the 14th of February, 1882. he wedded Miss Nettie Scovel, who passed away in 1897. To this union were born six children : Pearl E .. who passed away at the age of one year and two months: Edith M., formerly a teacher in Appanoose county, who is now attending Des Moines College: Amy L., the wife of E. M. Bishop. a farmer of Vermillion township, by whom she has two children, Mar- jorie and Vivian : Nettie Olive, who married Ralph Atkinson, a farmer of Udell, by whom she has two children, Ivan and Orene; Dellazon ML., who is aiding in the operation of the home farm: and Adelia J .. the wife of Ernest Paul Caylor, a farmer of Udell township. Mr. Wilson was mar- ried for the second time in 1898, in which year he wedded Miss Anna Williams, a daughter of Parkerson and Sarah Jane ( Essex ) Williams. the former a native of Indiana, of Welsh ancestry. He was a veteran of the Civil war and afterward one of the prominent farmers of this part of Iowa. He died in Chariton in 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had three children: Sterling Harokl. who was born April 4, 1900, and who now attends the Wright school in Vermillion township: Sarah Ruth, who passed away at the age of two months; and Kenneth, born February 4. 1907, who also attends the Wright school. The family are devout mem- bers of the First Baptist church, which all of the children joined before they were ten years of age, some of them having been converted at the family altar. Mr. Wilson has always taken an active part in church work. has guided his life by its principles and for a long period has served as' deacon. His wife is a member of the Foreign and the Ladies Home Missionary Societies. Mr. Wilson's political allegiance is given to the republican party and on several occasions he has been called upon to serve in local offices. He was assessor in Lucas county, Iowa, for two terms and also clerk of his township. In Chariton, lowa, he served as street commissioner and, in the fall of 1912, was elected to the board of town- ship trustees of Vermillion township. He has ever manifested a deep and helpful interest in those projects which are of vital significance to the welfare of the community and his cooperation in them has been beneficial and far reaching. Mr. Wilson belongs to the Independent Order of Odd
314
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
Fellows in Udell and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, in Centerville. His course has at all times conformed to the highest prin- ciples and most honorable methods, and his business integrity as well as his prosperity forms a fitting crown of a well spent life.
ROLL W. SMITH.
Roll W. Smith, admitted to the bar in 1900, has since 1906 engaged in the practice of law and from 1908 filled the office of county attor- ney, his term expiring on the ist of January, 1913. He was born in Wayne county, Iowa, in April, 1874, a son of Thomas M. and Amanda M. (Joiner) Smith, who were natives of Illinois and Indiana, respectively. The father became a resident of Wayne county, Iowa, at an early period in its development and engaged in farming, purchasing and improving a tract of land which he cultivated for many years, bringing the fields to a high state of development. He finally left the farm, however, and took up his abode in Centerville, where he engaged in the lumber busi- ness and, extending his efforts, he conducted a yard not only in Centerville but also in Mystic. His activities in this direction reached large propor- tions and he continued in the business until his death, which occurred September 4, 1901. His wife, surviving him for about eight years. died November 1, 1909.
Roll W. Smith was reared and educated in Centerville and after com- pleting his preliminary education in the public schools, accepted a posi- tion as court reporter. He followed that pursuit for twelve years and while thus engaged his interest was awakened in the practice of law and he began studying with the purpose of one day following the profession. His reading was pursued under the direction of Judge Fee and he was admitted to the bar in 1900. In 1906 he entered actively upon the prac- tice of law in Centerville and the experience which he had already had in the work of the courts enabled him to so conduct the litigated inter- ests entrusted to his care that he was not long in building up a good practice. In 1908 he was elected county attorney for a four years' term and in the office has made an excellent record, carefully safeguarding the legal interests of this county. In 1906 he formed a partnership with J. M. Wilson, who has recently been elected state senator. and the law firm of Wilson & Smith has since occupied a prominent place in the legal circles of Appanoose county.
313
HISTORY OF APPANOUSE COUNTY
In September, 1895, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Nellie Bryan, a daughter of D. W. and Elizabeth ( Hammock) Bryan. The father was a farmer by occupation and on coming to Appanoose county at an early day secured a tract of land which he carefully cultivated and im- proved for many years. At one time he filled the office of county recorder. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born two children. Dorothy and Marjory, who are fifteen and twelve years of age, respectively. The par- ents are members of the Methodist church and Mr. Smith belongs to the Masonic lodge and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he has ever been a republican but the only offices he has held have been in the line of his profession. In his chosen calling his progress has been continuons and enviable and it is well known to the public and his col- leagues that he prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care, so that his presentation in the court is clear and forcible. Court and jury listen to him with attention and he seldom fails to win the verdict desired.
HARRY S. GREENLEAF.
Harry S. Greenleaf, one of the promising young attorneys of Appa- noose county, is practicing his profession in Centerville as junior mem- ber of the law firm of Porter & Greenleaf and is also serving for the second term as city solicitor. His birth occurred at Unionville, this county, on the soth of July, 1881, his parents being Stephen and Mary Lillian (Saw- yers) Greenleaf, who came of Scotch-Irish lineage. The father was born at Bloomfield, Iowa, on the 24th of June, 1853, a son of Dr. Daniel C. and Amanda C. (Young) Greenleaf. Dr. Daniel C. Greenleaf, a native of Indiana, was a physician and surgeon by profession and served as such during the period of the Civil war.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.