USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Past and present of Appanoose County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 33
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Mr. and Mrs. Adamson united with the Christian church at Center- ville in January. 1896, and remained members there until they removed to their present farm in Franklin township, where they have been actively
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identified with the Mt. Olive church since 1904. Mr. Adamson has since served continuously in the capacity of Sunday school superintendent and also as an official of the church board. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is now serving with ability and conscientiousness as township trustee. He has for many years been active in the public life of the district and has been chosen delegate to numerous county conven- tions. In his business dealings he has ever been straightforward and reli- able, enjoying the full confidence of those with whom he has been asso- ciated. and he is in every sense of the word one of the representative citizens of Appanoose county.
ROBERT BEECHER CARSON.
Among the estimable pioneers of Appanoose county, who belong to the rapidly thinning ranks of the honored men who donned the blue and went to the front in defense of their country's flag, must be mentioned Robert Beecher Carson. He began his career as an agriculturist, but more than forty years ago he came to Moulton and engaged in the grain business. Later he established the lumber and fuel business he is still conducting, and he was also one of the founders of the State Savings Bank, of which he is now vice president. Mr. Carson has passed the greater part of his life in lowa, but he is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Shelby county on the ist of October, 1842. He is a son of William Tatman and Sarah ( Coster) Carson, who located in this state more than sixty years ago. The father, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, on the 20th of August. 1817, passed away in April, 1904. but the mother, who is in her eighty-ninth year, having been born July 5, 1823, is still living and makes her home in Bloomfield, Iowa. The Car- son family is of Scotch-Irish extraction, but have long been residents of the United States, some of the forefathers having sought refuge from religious persecution in southern Pennsylvania during colonial days. There the grandfather, John Carson, was born on the 11th of May. 1788. In early life he removed to Miami county, Ohio, going from there to Shelby county, Indiana, where he passed away in 1873. His father was a veteran of the Revolutionary war. Accompanied by his wife and family, in 1851 Will- iam T. Carson came to fowa and preempted a quarter section of land in Davis county, which is still in possession of the family. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Carson numbered ten, two of whom died in infancy. Those who lived to attain maturity are as follows: James, a resident of Davis
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county, this state, who is deceased; Robert B., our subject; Elsina, the deceased wife of E. B. Kinnick, of Davis county, Iowa; Florence A., who married Jacob Abka, of Bloomfield, Iowa; Mary C., who is unmar- ried and residing at home; John W., a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, located at Waveland, lowa; Alice, who married W. J. Baldridge, of Bloomfield, lowa; and Joseph G., a resident of Seattle, Washington.
The first nine years in the life of Robert Beecher Carson were passed in his native state. In the acquirement of his education he attended the district school for two ternis, continuing his studies in a select school at Troy, this state. He was reared in very much the same manner as all country youths during the pioneer period and early became familiar with the duties of an agriculturist. After laying aside his text-books he assisted with the cultivation of the home farm until the fall of 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company G, Second Iowa Infantry, remaining at the front for three years and eight months, during which time he par- ticipated in some of the notable engagements of the war. He was in the charge up the hill at Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, siege of Corinth. where he was wounded in the leg, battle of Inke and the Atlanta cam- paign. He was with Sherman on his famous march and was in the Grand Review of the troops at Washington at the close of hostilities. When mustered out he returned home and resumed the duties of civil life as a farmer. He assisted with the cultivation of the old homestead until 1872, when he came to Moulton and went into the grain business. in which he met with a fair measure of success. About 1883 he extended the scope of his activities by putting in a stock of lumber and coal and has ever since continued in this line of business, carrying a full line of building materials. He assisted in the organization of the Moulton State Savings Bank in 1903 and is now vice president of this institution. Mr. Carson is an industrious man of principles and trustworthy business methods, which qualities have served to rank him with the representative members of the commercial fraternity of Moulton.
In 1873, Mr. Carson was married to Miss Elizabeth May Deeds, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania. in 1851. and is a daughter of Isaac and Mary Jane (Bryan) Deeds, who were likewise natives of Pennsylvania, where they passed away during the childhood of Mrs. Car- son. Mr. and Mrs. Carson have four children. as follows: Guy R .. who is married and residing in Des Moines; Craig, who married Verna Lee and is residing in Moulton : Helen, the wife of J. B. Sneed, of Moravia. and the mother of one child; and George T .. who is still at home.
The parents are members of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally Mr. Carson is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic, the Masonic
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order and the Eastern Star, of which Mrs. Carson is likewise a member. He once served as township trustee, but has never figured prominently in local politics, although he is not remiss in matters of citizenship and can be relied upon to support every worthy enterprise or commendable movement. He is a stanch republican, having upheld the principles of this party, for which he fought at Civil war times, since attaining his majority, and its measures and candidates find in him a stalwart champion. Mr. Carson is widely and favorably known in this vicinity, where he has many friends who accord him the respect and esteem he merits by reason of the honorable and upright manner in which he has directed his career.
GEORGE M. SMITH.
George M. Smith has been a resident of Pleasant township since 1893 and was for a number of years closely associated with business interests in Cincinnati. Of late, however, he has turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and as the owner of a well improved farm of two hundred acres holds a high place in farming circles. He was born in Bevier, Macon county, Missouri, on the 29th of December, 1872, and is a son of Charles E. Smith. a native of Indiana, who came west to lowa with his parents when he was still a boy and from there moved to Missouri, where he grew to maturity. In Macon county he married and afterward obtained work in the mines, rising to the position of foreman. His wife passed away in 1894 and he now makes his home with his son, the subject of this review.
George M. Smith was reared upon his father's farm in Macon county and remained at home until after he had reached manhood, acquiring his education in the public schools. When he began his active career he came to Appanoose county and formed a partnership with Charles Claw- son, with whom he engaged in the butcher business in Cincinnati for over sixteen years. The partners also engaged extensively in dealing in real estate and in handling stock. After a time Mr. Smith purchased his part- ner's interest in both enterprises and continued to operate them until 1911, although he had moved on to his farm one mile south of the city some years before. Since disposing of his business interests he has directed his attention almost entirely to the development of his land. the results of his care and supervision being apparent in the excellent condition of the farm. Mr. Smith has erected a fine house upon his property, has fenced his fields and made other substantial improvements and is
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ranked today among the most active and progressive farmers of this part of the state. He gives special attention to raising and feeding stock and his success in this branch of his work is the result of long experience and thorough knowledge. His business methods will bear the closest scrutiny and his integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in his career.
Mr. Smith married, in Cincinnati, November 5. 1907, Miss Luella James, a native of Ohio, who came to Iowa with her parents and later moved to Nebraska. Afterward, however, the family returned to this state and located in Appanoose county. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Samuel James, now a resident of Cincinnati. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three children, Georgia, Mary and Doris.
In his political views Mr. Smith is a loyal democrat and has been affiliated with the party since casting his first vote. While a resident of Cincinnati he was elected to the town board and served with ability and conscientiousness for two or three terms. He is well known in the affairs of the Knights of Pythias and has served through all the chairs, being now past grand chancellor. He has also represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the state at different times. He stands high in both business and social relations and deserves special mention as one of the representative agriculturists of Appanoose county.
JERRY A. REPLOGLE, M. D.
Dr. Jerry A. Replogle, engaged in the practice of medicine in U'dell, for which work he was carefully and thoroughly trained in a college course, was born in Udell township, Appanoose county, October 10, 1859, his parents being George B. and Catherine (McGee) Replogle. The father was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1831, and the mother was a native of Washington City, Maryland, born March 10, 1831. They were of French and Irish lineage respectively and were married in Baltimore, Maryland, December 19, 1852, after which they established their home upon a farm in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. In 1856 they became residents of Davis county, Iowa, and a year later removed to Appanoose county. George B. Replogle renting a farm in Udell township. As he prospered in his undertakings he purchased land in Vermillion township which he cultivated until 1863. when he removed to Moulton, where he engaged in dealing in grain. In 1874. however, he returned to his farm and from that time on gave his attention to bee
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culture and to the care of his orchard, which was one of the finest in the county. He had an extensive apiary and was well known in that respect, having many hives and gathering therefrom each year a large amount of honey. For a number of years he filled the office of township clerk and was always a progressive and public-spirited citizen, supporting many measures and movements for the general good. His wife died on the old homestead farm in Vermillion township in 1892, after which he left the old place and made his home with his children, dying at the residence of his son John in Udell township, February 5, 1910. Unto him and his wife were born eleven children: Martin L., who is a retired farmer and stock dealer of Longbeach, California; Jemima M., who was born August 3, 1854, and died October 17, 1871; David M., who was born April 9. 1856, and died April 16, 1857: John A., who was born August 25, 1857, and is a resident farmer of Udell township; Jerry A., of this review; Abraham J., who was born August 2, 1861, and is engaged in selling oranges at Santa Ana, California: Louise Elnora, who was born March 5, 1863, and is the wife of Richard Downing, chief clerk in the freight department of the Frisco railroad offices at St. Louis: Henry M., who was born April 3, 1865, and was graduated from Rush Medical College of Chicago in 1895 with the M. D. degree, after which he practiced his profession in Udell until his death May 29, 1904: Silas M., born Jan- uary 19, 1871, who died November 10, 1872; Leah, born July 28. 1874. who died October 9, 1874; and Geneva, who was born March 20. 1876, and died April 6, 1891.
Dr. Replogle spent his youthful days under the parental roof, remain- ing at home until 1881, when at the age of twenty-two years he went to Pottawatomie county, Kansas, and in partnership with his brother purchased a ranch of one thousand acres. For a few years he lived in the Sunflower state and then returned to Udell township. where he carried on general farming until he resumed studies in preparation for a pro- fessional carcer. He was graduated from the Iowa State College at Ames in 1892 with the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Surgery and located for practice at Centerville in 1893. At length, however, he resolved to engage in the practice of medicine and became a student in the college at lowa City, lowa, completing the course in the medical department in 1898. when the M. D. degree was conferred upon him. He then returned to Centerville, where he practiced until 1904. when he removed to U'dell. where he has since been located. He is constantly advancing in his pro- fession as his ability increases through experience, reading and investiga- tion, and his practice is now extensive and gratifying.
On the 9th of October. 1893. Dr. Replogle was married to Miss Mag-
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gie Gedney, a daughter of Captain J. B. and Sarah ( Laseur ) Gedney, the former a retired farmer living in Centerville. Mrs. Replogle died only eighteen months and twenty-one days after their marriage and on the 14th of October, 1900, the Doctor was married again, his second union being with Miss Christina Mitchell, a daughter of Alexander and Maggie Mitchell, both of whom were natives of Scotland, while the father became a coal miner of Centerville. In 1903, Dr. Replogle was again called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away in Center- ville on the 12th of March. The following year he removed to Udell, where he has since made his home. By his first marriage he had one child, who died in infancy.
In addition to his growing practice, which claims much of his time and attention, Dr. Replogle gives his supervision to a farm of one hun- dred and forty acres which he owns. This is a well-improved tract of land on section 7, Udell township, and in the spring of 1912 he further increased his possessions by the purchase of a forty-acre tract of fruit land in Hidalgo county, Texas. He has never been an office seeker but gives his political support to the republican party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Udell and the Rebekah degree and is also a member of the Court of Honor. He was formerly identified with several other fraternal organ- izations but has withdrawn. His religious faith is that of the Christian church, of which he is an active and valued member, serving as an elder in the church of Udell. His life has indeed been well spent. his useful- ness and worth being acknowledged by all. and in his profession he is meeting with the advancement and success which follow capability and close application.
CORSE PAYTON.
Corse Payton, prominently known in theatrical circles throughout the country and successful in his efforts in this great department of public entertainment, was born in Centerville, December 18, 1866, a son of Josepli and Elizabeth Payton. The father was born in Shelby county. Missouri, November 12, 1836, and was a son of John and Emily Payton. He came to Appanoose county in 1844 and five years later took up his abode in Centerville, where the remainder of his life was passed, covering a half century. He was one of the pioneer settlers here and took active and helpful part in promoting the work of public progress and improve-
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ment. After enlisting in 1862 as a member of Company D, Sixth Regi- ment of lowa Volunteer Infantry, he served for three years, after which he reenlisted and remained at the front until illness forced his resignation and he was obliged to return home. In 1877 he was elected city marshal of Centerville and served for two terms. He was also at one time street commissioner of Centerville and was numbered among the prominent rep- resentatives of the republican party in Appanoose county. He ever rec- ognized the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizen- ship and sought to promote public welfare through the exercise of his franchise and in many other ways. He was an honored member of the Grand Army post at Centerville and also belonged to the Odd Fellow's and Knights of Pythias lodges, exemplifying in his life their beneficent spirit and high purpose. He passed away September 30, 1899, after a half century's residence in Centerville and fifty-four years' connection with Appanoose county. He was married in 1858 to Mrs. Elizabeth ( Swearingen ) Manson, who was born in Springfield, Hlinois, August 6. 1836. and still occupies the old Payton homestead in Centerville. She is a lady of many splendid traits of character and her good qualities of heart and mind have endeared her to all with whom she has come in contact. By her former marriage she had a daughter, Mary Manson, who is the widow of S. Spooner and a resident of New York city. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Payton were born four children. James, the eldest, who is a miner, married Jennie Fischer, now deceased, and he and his four children make their home with his mother. Center passed away at Salem Ohio, and Henry was killed at the Centerville depot.
Corse, the youngest member of the family, pursued his education in the schools of Centerville and since starting out in the business world has devoted his energies and attention to theatrical interests, in which con- nection he has become widely known. He was the founder of the popular ten-twenty-thirty-cent theatrical entertainment, the performances given by stock companies. He saw splendid possibilities in that direction for placing upon the boards capable companies and thus giving to the public a high class of entertainment of a character that could not be done where companies have to meet heavy traveling expenses. In this undertaking he has displayed executive ability and much initiative spirit. His labors have made him widely known in theatrical circles throughout the country and he is a member of various organizations formed among theatrical people, including the White Rats of America, the Friars, the Vaudeville Comedy Club, the Actors Society and the Managers Association. He is also a member of the New York Press Club and is a charter member of the Brooklyn lodge of Elks and a member of the Masonic fraternity. The
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military chapter in his life history covers service in the Iowa National Guard. His political faith is that of the republican party and his religious belief that of the Baptist church, his membership being in New York.
Mr. Payton was married to Miss Etta Reed, a native of Ohio. His frequent visits to Centerville have made him widely known in this city where his acquaintance with many old friends is maintained while at all times he is constantly adding new ones. He is known in his professional connections from one end of the country to the other and is very popular with theatrical people as well as managers. Business ability, executive force and keen insight have been features in his success which is of sub- stantial and enviable character.
WILLIAM F. ORGAN.
During a residence of twenty-two years in Iowa William F. Organ has improved and developed three fine farms and has made substantial contributions to the agricultural development of the state. He stands among the progressive and representative farmers of Pleasant township, where he owns and operates two hundred acres of land on section 16, which by his own well directed energy and intelligent management he has made a model property. He was born in Derby, England, Novem- ber 20, 1864, and acquired his education in his native community, where he remained until he was eighteen years of age. In 1882 he took passage at Liverpool on a steamer bound for New York and arrived in that city in October of the same year. He pushed westward to Brookfield, Mis- souri, where he obtained employment upon the old Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad and afterward for five or six years did mason work on bridges. In the hope of bettering his financial condition he came to Iowa and set- tled in Lee county, where he worked for some time in a rock quarry. After two years, however, he went to Grafton, Illinois, and resumed his quarrying, continuing in that line of work until he went to Farmington, Van Buren county, Iowa, where he engaged in coal mining. His mar- riage occurred in that section and immediately afterward he came to Pleas- ant township and located on five acres of land near his present farm. This property he later sold and purchased eighty acres, which he developed only a short time, after which he bought a tract of one hundred and fifty-five acres, built a residence upon it and continued to develop and improve it for some time. When he sold this farm he moved to his present property, upon which he has since made substantial improvements. He
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has erected a fine residence, good barns and outbuildings, has fenced his land into convenient fields and planted a number of acres in orchard. In addition he gives special attention to raising, feeding, buying and sell- ing stock, his herds containing many high-grade animals. He owns also a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in New Mexico, four miles from Las Vegas, upon which he has been installing an excellent system of irri- gation and which is rising in value every year.
Mr. Organ married, in Van Buren county, December 6. 1891. Miss Ella Waderas, who was born in Ohio but who came to Jowa when she was six or seven years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Organ have three sons and four daughters, Blanche Ruth, Fern Eliza, Flossie M., Virgil W .. Glen. Clifford G. and Irma. Mrs. Organ is a devout adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Organ is independent in his political views and votes always for the man whom he considers best fitted for the position without regard to party affiliations. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias in Cincinnati and is also a charter member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His career has been identified with the later period of agricultural develop- ment in Appanoose county, where he has gained prosperity and success and where he is an honored and respected citizen.
BELFORD ALEXANDER WALKER.
Belford Alexander Walker is now living retired in Mystic but for many years he was actively associated with agricultural interests in south- ern lowa, the energy and industry which he manifested in the conduct of his business affairs bringing to him the substantial measure of success which now enables him to rest from further labor. He was born in Morgan county, Missouri. February 14, 1844, a son of Simon and Mar- garet ( Bryan ) Walker. The father was born in Ohio in 1809, and the mother in Pennsylvania in 1818, and they were married in the latter state. After a two-years' residence in Ohio they removed to Morgan county, Missouri. in the fall of 1839 and there resided until 1855, when they came with their family to Walnut township. Appanoose county, where their remaining days were passed. The father secured here a farm. one mile and a half northwest of Walnut City, and converted it into a rich and productive place. He also worked to some extent at the carpenter's trade. His political support was given to the democratic party until Stephen A. Douglas became its presidential candidate, after which he
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voted with the republican party. He was a loyal member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and his life was ever honorable and upright. He died at about the age of ninety-four years and six months and his wife passed away when ninety-four years of age. They were the parents of eleven children of whom one died in infancy, the others being: James N., a general merchant of Walnut City, Iowa; Sarah Ellen, the widow of Nehemiah Swift and a resident of Washington; B. A., of this review; Mary Elizabeth, who is the widow of S. H. Smith, of Walnut City; Marshall, of Nebraska; Simon, whose home is in Coon Rapids, Iowa; R. B., of Walnut township; Harriet C., the wife of Jasper Stoltz, of Mystic; B. F., of Johnson township; and Lucy, the wife of John Bland, of Oklahoma.
Belford A. Walker was a lad of eleven years when in 1855 the family home was established upon a farm in Walnut township. He has since re- sided in Appanoose county save for a period of three years spent as a soldier in the Civil war. In August, 1862, when a lad of about eighteen years, he enlisted as a member of Company F, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of hostilities, being mustered out at Duval's Bluff, Arkansas, in 1865. He was a brave and patriotic soldier, never faltering in the performance of his duty whether on the lonely picket line or fighting on the firing line. . On his return to this county he began farming and was actively connected with agricultural interests until 1911. when he retired and took up his abode in Walnut City. Year after year he care- fully, systematically and successfully conducted his farming enterprise and his well managed business interests brought to him the desirable competence which is now his and which enables him to live retired. He is still the owner of two hundred and sixty-three and a half acres of land lying along the Chariton river on section 28. Walnut township. and for thirty years he resided upon that place.
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