USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Past and present of Appanoose County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 36
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Unto Dr. Tillmont and his wife have been born four children: Martha Elizabeth, whose birth occurred January 10, 1902, and who is a student in the Centerville public schools: John, born January 15. 1904: Mary Josephine, born November 2, 1905, who is likewise a student in the pub- Vol 11-22
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lic schools; and Elizabeth Ann, whose natal day is December 17, 1909. The second child died in infancy.
In politics Dr. Tillmont is a republican, loyally supporting the men and measures of that party. He acted as city physician for four years and is now serving the second term as coroner of Appanoose county. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 741. He is likewise a member of the Country Club. The Doctor and his wife are devoted members of the Catholic church and the families on both the paternal and maternal side, as far back as they have been traced, have been devoted adherents to the Catholic faith. Dr. Till- mont maintains the strictest conformity to the highest professional ethics and enjoys in full measure the confidence and respect of his professional brethren, as well as the general public.
RINEHART BROTHERS.
Among the extensive landowners, prominent farmers and progressive and enterprising business men of Appanoose county James W. and David H. Rinehart hold places of weight and influence. Since the beginning of their active careers they have been in partnership and this association has been effective of lasting results, gaining for the two brothers a substantial measure of success. Both are natives of Monroe county, James W. having been born in January, 1862, and David H. on the 17th of February, 1864. They are sons of Samuel and Eliza ( Potts) Rinehart, natives of Virginia, the former of whom came to Monroe county in 1858 and entered land from the government. He gave his entire attention to the development and improvement of this property during the remainder of his life. becoming a successful agriculturist and an extensive landowner. He had valuable holdings in both Monroe and Appanoose counties and for the last twenty years of his life resided in the latter section. He died in October. 1900, and was survived by his wife until May, 1909.
Both of the Rinehart brothers had the same educational advantages. They were still very young when their parents moved into Appanoose county and there they attended district school, later graduating from the Moulton high school. After completing his education James W. Rinehart taught in the graded schools of Appanoose county for eight years and did such able work along lines of public education that he was elected county superintendent of schools. holding this office for two years and accomplishing a great many lasting and beneficial results. On August
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1, 1892, James W. and David H. Rinehart formed the partnership which has existed since that time. They have been engaged in many important business enterprises and have gradually become forces in the growth of Appanoose county, always working together in harmony, each supple- menting and aiding the other's work in an effective way. Immediately after their association was formed they engaged in the newspaper business, pur- chasing the Centerville Journal, which was at that time a weekly democratic organ. The Rinehart brothers, however, published the paper semi-weekly, James W. acting as editor and David H. as foreman. For nineteen years they conducted this enterprise, doing much during that time to raise the standards of local journalism and to influence and direct public thought and opinion along worthy lines. In August. 1911, they sold the Centerville Journal and have since devoted their entire time to the management of their extensive farming interests and their valuable tracts of town property. At the present time they own and operate three hun- dred acres of land just across the state line in Missouri and they also have large coal mining interests in that state. The latter part of their interests is under the personal supervision of David H. Rinehart, while his brother manages their two hundred and sixty acre farm in Appanoose county, upon which they are extensively engaged in raising mules. Both are able, resourceful and progressive business men of acknowledged abil- ity, capable of forming plans readily and determined in their execution. and accordingly in the course of years they have won a degree of suc- cess which places them among the representative citizens of this part of Iowa.
On the 13th of October. 1884. James W. Rinehart married Miss Ida Boal, a daughter of Dr. and Susan ( Mills) Boal, natives of Ohio, where the father practiced his profession before he went to Bloomfield. Iowa. There he secured a gratifying patronage as a physician and sur- geon and was very successful in the conduct of his affairs until his death, which occurred in 1892. His wife still resides in Bloomfield. Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart became the parents of three children: Delmar D., aged twenty-six, who is now in the newspaper business in Chicago: Earl, aged twenty-two. who is also a Chicago journalist : and Ruby, who is the wife of A. Ziver, well known in the cement business in Des Moines, lowa. Ruby Rinehart inherited much of her father's news instinct and reportorial talent and before her marriage did some truly remarkable work in journal- ism. Of her ability in this direction one of the local papers wrote in part as follows: "Ruby Rinehart. the twelve-year-old daughter of Editor J. W. Rinehart of the Centerville Journal. experienced the unusual event that won for her the distinction of being the youngest newspaper woman
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in the world. Each day at the press table in the Centerville courthouse sat little Miss Rinehart, covering the murder case of John Junkin for her father's paper. All the horrible details of the murder of Clara Rosen by John Junkin were diligently recorded by the little newspaper woman, who covered the assignment in the absence of her father, who was other- wise engaged. Little Miss Rinehart is the youngest feminine reporter in the world, but this is only shown in her youthful appearance. Her stories have that degree of elearness and accuracy that would do credit to many older men, experienced in the profession. Her position at the press table placed her immediately in front of the accused negro, who was sentenced to hang, but she was too much engrossed in her work of report- ing the case to be bothered by anything like that. Miss Rinehart has been doing regular work for her father since the death of her mother, some two years ago, and she hesitates not a moment in recording the most difficult stories for her paper. The youngster when but seven years old won the Demarest medal in a declamation competition and aside from her talents as an elocutionist she possesses a strong soprano voice. Her father has been in the newspaper business for seventeen years and little Miss Rinehart has practically had nothing but a newspaper environment her entire life." Mrs. James W. Rinehart died on the 23d of December, 1906, after a long illness.
The Rinehart brothers are loyal democrats and James W. was for twenty years chairman of the democratic committee. He also served for a number of years on the Centerville board of education, discharging his official duties in a conscientious and straightforward way. Both James W. and David H. Rinehart are members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and belong to the Christian church. In numberless ways they have assisted in advancing the permanent welfare of this commun- ity and no record of Appanoose county would be complete without a review of their lives and of their long and honorable business association.
JOHN R. BRADLEY.
Through well-directed activity and enterprise John R. Bradley has gained a high place in the business circles of Centerville, where since 1892 he has been engaged in general contracting and building. He was born in Morgan county, Indiana, August 9. 1850, and is a son of William H. and Martha (Elliott) Bradley, the former born in Clark county. Indiana, January 30. 1826, and the latter in Kentucky, February 20. of the same year. Mr. Bradley's paternal grandfather was Benjamin Brad-
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ley, a native of the south. His wife was born in Ireland. The mother of our subject removed from Indiana to Kentucky when she was still a child and there her marriage occurred. Immediately afterward Mr. and Mrs. William H. Bradley came to lowa, locating in Appanoose county, where they purchased eighty acres of land in Vermillion township, adding to it from time to time until the farm comprised six hundred and eighty acres. Upon this the father engaged in general farming but later gave much attention to buying and shipping stock, carrying on an extensive business along this line for a number of years. His wife passed away in 188t and six years later the father sold the farm and went to Numa, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He remained there for eight years and then sold his business interests and moved to Centerville. where he made his home with the subject of this review. Later he moved to Mount Pleasant and there his death occurred at the home of his daugh- ter, Melvina Boydston. For many years he was active in the Masonic order, holding membership in Centerville Lodge, No. 42, F. & A. M.
John R. Bradley acquired his education in the district schools of Appanoose county and in the Centerville high school. After he laid aside his school books he helped his father with the work of the farm until he was married, after which he moved upon a portion of the homestead, which he developed and improved for some time. In 1884 he learned the carpentering trade and worked at it for wages for eight years, after which he established himself independently as a contractor and builder, in which work he is still active. He has erected some of the finest and most attractive business houses and residences in Centerville and the sur- rounding district and has handled much valuable property, doing a very extensive and profitable business.
Mr. Bradley has been thrice married. His first wife was in her maiden- hood Miss Mary Crist. a daughter of John and Mary Ann Crist, the former a farmer in Appanoose county. The first Mrs. Bradley died one year later and in 1884 the subject of this review wedded Mrs. Martha C. Brown. a daughter of Addison and Rhoda ( Bryant ) Veach, the former born in West Virginia and the latter in Galesburg. Ilinois. Both came to Appanoose county in the early '50s and there the father learned the blacksmith's trade, later opening a shop in Centerville. Afterward he removed to Numa and engaged in the same business until his death. which occurred in 1895. His widow returned to Centerville and died in that city at the home of the subject of this review. Mrs. Martha Bradley passed away on the 11th of February. 1902, and on the 29th of December, of the following year. Mr. Bradley was again married. His third union was with Miss Ann Spooner, a daughter of James B. and
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Catherine (Bryant) Spooner, the former a native of Indiana, born in 1828, and the latter of Galesburg, Illinois, where her birth occurred in 1833. The father came to lowa in 1846 and entered eighty acres of government land in Center township, Appanoose county. A few years later the mother came and in this section their marriage occurred, after which they settled upon the farm, where they passed the remainder of their lives, the mother dying in 1898 and the father on the 29th of April, 1905. Mr. Bradley had one daughter by his second marriage, Martha, who was born May 10, 1890, and who died October 9, 1911. During her life she was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star at Centerville. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley are devout members of the Methodist church.
Mr. Bradley gives his allegiance to the republican party and has held various responsible township offices, for he never seeks to avoid the duties of citizenship. Fraternally he is connected with Centerville Lodge, No. 42, F. & A. M. Throughout his business career he has always faithfully discharged any obligation devolving upon him and has thus established a reputation for integrity and reliability. his name being an honored one wherever it is known.
LEVI McDONALD HENRY.
Among the estimable pioneer citizens of Centerville who donned the blue and went to the front in defense of their country's flag must be mentioned Levi McDonald Henry, who is now living retired but was for many years actively engaged in business here. He is a native of Martinsburg, Knox county, Ohio, his birth having occurred on the 11th of September, 1828. His father, Robert Henry, was of Irish and Welsh extraction but was born in Huntington. Pennsylvania. When a small lad he removed with his parents to Knox county, Ohio, where he made his home until his death in 1877. He was married in the town of Martins- burg to Miss Mary Ann McDonald, who was of Scotch descent, her parents both having been born in the city of Edinburgh. Scotland. She only lived a few years after her marriage, and for his second wife Mr. Henry chose Rebecca Dillon, who had been married before, and was a daughter of Robert and Martha Dillon, retired farming people of Martins- burg, where Mrs. Henry passed away in 1906.
Reared in a home of limited means the early advantages of Levi MeDonald Henry was very meagre. His schooling was confined to a few terms of irregular attendance in his home district, but as he always
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was a close observer and a wide reader, he has acquired a large fund of general information, which marks him as a well educated man. In his early youth he went to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where he began his appren- ticeship at the tailor's trade, completing his period of service in Columbus. that state. Feeling that he was qualified to develop a business of his own, he went in the spring of 1851 to Washington, Missouri, where he estab- lished and maintained a shop for a time. From there he went to Spring- field, Illinois, but six months later he made a tour of the south. In 1853. he returned to Springfield, where he was married the same year. His next removal was to Minneapolis, Minnesota, of which city he became a resident in 1854, remaining there for two years. At the expiration of that time he returned to Illinois, locating at Bloomfield, where he resided until 1863. when he removed to Centerville, and opened a tailor shop. The same year Mr. Henry enlisted in Company F. Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and went into camp at Camden, Arkansas. He was captured by the enemy at Marks Mill and was held for a year prisoner at Camp Frith, Texas, being released in February. 1865. He was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, on July 27, of that year, and upon receipt of his discharge returned to Centerville and engaged in the clothing business. Mr. Henry was successfully identified with the commercial develop- ment of this city for many years thereafter, and upon his retirement from active life sold his store to his son, George A .. who has since passed away.
The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. Henry was known in her maidenhood as Miss Eleanor Boyd, and was born in Ohio on the 4th of July, 1835. her parents being Alexander and Margaret Boyd, farming people of Coshocton county, that state. The father was murdered during the childhood of Mrs. Henry, who was reared by an uncle, Lyman Shaffer. of Springheld, Illinois, and lost all trace of her mother many years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry were born two sons: John W., who was born in Minneapolis, on Christmas day. 1854: and George A .. whose birth occurred on the 17th of March. 1857. at Bloomington, Illinois. They are both deceased. The last named married Miss Jessie Spooner and to them were born two children: William, deceased; and Cora, the wife of C. H. Wyman, of Sheridan, Wyoming, and the mother of two children, Jessie and John Henry.
In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Henry are Presbyterians, and are consistent members of the local church of that denomination. Fraternally he has attained high rank in the Masonic order, being a member of the blue lodge, commandery and shrine. He is also affiliated with the Royal Arcanum, and the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. His political support he accords to the democratic party, but has never held
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a public office. In Appanoose county, of which he has been a resident for practically a half century, Mr. Henry is held in favorable regard. having been known as a straightforward, reliable business man, progressive and patriotic citizen, and a loyal and trustworthy friend. He is passing the evening of life in honorable retirement, enjoying the ease and comfort provided by the accumulations of an active and intelligently spent life, and the respect and esteem of a large circle of acquaintances.
PEARL A. WHITE.
Pearl A. White, filling the office of city clerk, is recognized as one of the prominent republican leaders of Appanoose county. He was born on a farm two miles north of Moulton, in Washington township, Appanoose county, Iowa, December 30. 1878, and is a son of John W. and Mary F. (Hollingsworth) White. The father was born in Indiana and both were of Scotch English descent. He devoted his life to farming and to the real-estate business. The grandfather, John White, was born in Nash- ville, Tennessee, February 22, 1816, and was a son of Abraham White. a soldier of the Revolutionary war. In 1849 John White. the grandfather, removed from Indiana to Iowa, settling in Douglas township. Appanoose county, where he preempted a claim which be purchased when the land was placed upon the market. To his original holdings he added from time to time until he was the owner of nearly two thousand acres. He was also an extensive stock trader and real-estate dealer and his business af- fairs were so carefully, systematically and wisely managed that success resulted in large measure. Deeply interested in the moral progress of the community, he built the Methodist Episcopal church at Salem. His wife was a native of Kentucky. Their son. John W. White. came to Iowa with his parents in 1849, at which time the family home was established in Douglas township. Some years afterward he wedded Mary F. Hollings- worth, who was brought to Appanoose county by her parents in 1847. settlement being made in Vermillion township. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm in Washington township. Appanoose county, Iowa, and John W. White. like his father, beeame in time an ex- tensive landowner and stock-raiser, his holdings embracing over six hun- dred acres. In 1894. however, he disposed of his farm property and re- moved to Centerville, where he opened a real-estate office and is still ac- tive in the business. He has never sought nor desired political preferment but by his ballot supports the republican party. His children are six in
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number, namely: Ella, who is the wife of C. E. Snyder, a carpenter of Centerville; Myrtle, who gave her hand in marriage to Willian Nye, a barber of Centerville; Pearl A., of this review; John, at home: Clarence L., a graduate of the Centerville high school and the Iowa State Uni- versity, who is now city engineer of Dallas, Oregon; and Harry, who is a barber of Centerville.
Pearl A. White, pursuing his education in the public schools of Moul- ton, became a high-school pupil but when in his junior year entered the Kansas State Normal, continuing his studies there for a year. On the expiration of that period he returned to Centerville and studied law, his reading being directed for three years by Claude R. Porter and C. F. Howell. He afterward taught for four terms in the district school and in 1907 he was called to public office in his election as mayor of Centerville. He served for one term and his administration was characterized by many needed reforms and improvements. In 1911 he was appointed city clerk and is still the incumbent in that office. He is regarded as one of the party leaders in this section of Iowa and in the spring of 1912 was elected secre- tary of the republican county central committee. His fraternal relations are with Centerville Lodge, No. 940, B. P. O. E., in which organization he has many friends. He attends the Methodist church and is well known throughout Centerville and Appanoose county by reason of his active and hearty support of many measures and movements for the public good. He is at all times actuated by a public-spirited citizenship and his labors have been an effective force for the welfare and benefit of the community.
ZIBA B. NIGHSWONGER.
Ziba B. Nighswonger, who is serving his third term as a member of the board of supervisors of Appanoose county, is numbered among the suc- cessful agriculturists and stockmen of Moulton, where he owns a well cultivated farm of two hundred and eighty acres. He was born in Mar- shall county, Illinois, on the 23d of February, 1862. and is a son of Rea- son and Ellen (Gregory) Nighswonger. The father, whose birth occurred in the vicinity of Richmond, Virginia, on the 20th of January, 1819. belonged to an old colonial family, but was of German extraction. His grandfather emigrated to this country in early manhood and located in Pennsylvania, where his wife and two children were massacred by the Indians. He subsequently married again and of this union was born a son, also called Reason Nighswonger, and the grandfather of our subject.
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The great-grandfather was a veteran of the French and Indian war. In carly life Reason Nighswonger, Sr., removed to Virginia and engaged in farming and also rafted logs. He lost his life on the Ohio river in the 3os. leaving a widow, who in her maidenhood was known as Susan Buffing- ton, and nine children, all of whom lived to attain maturity. Some years after the death of her husband Mrs. Nighswonger and her family removed to Illinois, locating in Pike county, that state, in the late '30s. One mem- ber of this family, Asa Nighswonger, is still living and resides in Marshall county, Illinois. Reason Nighswonger, Jr., who was the fourth child born to his parents, obtained his education in the subscription schools of Virginia. He assisted his brothers in clearing and cultivating the fam- ily homestead in Illinois, and he also worked in the lumber woods and rafted logs to St. Louis. On the 12th of October, 1843, he was married to Miss Ellen Gregory, a daughter of Robert and Nancy ( Broyles) Gregory. The family were natives of Tennessee, whence the father removed to Illinois in 1830, and passed away in Marshall county, that state, about 1867. He was a son of John Gregory. His widow subsequently removed to lowa and here passed her latter years. About 1850 Reason Nigh- swonger removed with his wife and two eldest children to Marshall county. Illinois, and bought government land, which he cultivated with a fair measure of success until 1876. In the latter year he came to Appanoose county, and purchased a farm southeast of Moulton, where he later acquired extensive holdings. Although he lived practically retired dur- ing his latter years he continued to make his home on his farm, where he passed away on April 23, 1904. He was survived by his widow until the tst of March, 1909. Mr. Nighswonger was a very devout man and a zealous worker in the Christian church of which his wife was also a member. To this worthy couple were born twelve children, two of whom died in infancy. In order of birth the others are as follows: David, who passed away in 1867, a volunteer in a company of Illinois infantry during the Civil war and for thirteen months confined in the Confederate prison at Tyler, Texas: Melissa, the wife of W. B. Hoskins, of Orient. lowa; Minerva, the deceased wife of J. B. Teagarden, of Fairfield. Nebraska: Elizabeth Ann, who married A. S. Hoskins, of Hiawatha. Kansas: Charles D., who is residing in the vicinity of Wildon. Decatur county. lowa: Robert, who died at the age of thirteen: Addie, the wife of John P. Stansberry, of Moulton, lowa: Ziba B., our subject : Willian F., who is residing in Leroy, Kansas: and Eva, the deceased wife of J. P. Stansberry, of Moulton, Iowa.
The first fourten years in the life of Ziba B. Nighswonger were passed in the state of his nativity. He was reared in very much the manner of
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all farmer lads of that period, and in the acquirement of his education attended the public schools of Illinois, the high school of Moulton and the State Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri. While engaged in the mastery of the various branches of learning he was also fitting himself for the career of an agriculturist by assisting his father with the cultivation of the fields and care of the stock when not occupied with his lessons. He cultivated his father's land until about 1890, when he purchased eighty acres on section 1, township 67, where he continued his agricultural pur- suits for three years. In 1893, he removed to his present farm, which is located on section 24, township 68, where he made his home until 1910. In the year last named he removed to Moulton where he has since resided, but still superintends the operation of his farm. His fields, which are planted to such cereals as he deems best adapted to the soil, annually yield abundant harvests and in connection with diversified farming he engages in stock-raising. He deals largely in sheep and hogs, and as he is a capable man. of practical ideas and good business judgment. is meeting with more than an average degree of success.
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