USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Past and present of Appanoose County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 9
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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
FRANK P. WHITSELL.
Among the men who for many years were active factors in shaping and directing the business life of Centerville was Frank P. Whitsell, who died May 28, 1908. Since he was six years of age he made his home in this community and his active career was closely connected with its general development. His death was, therefore, a distinct loss, depriving Center- ville of one of its most active, representative and enterprising men. Mr. Whitsell was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Beaver county, May 14,
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1852. His parents were Lawrence and Isabelle (Earl) Whitsell, also natives of Pennsylvania, the former a hatter by trade. He followed this occupation in his native state but abandoned it about 1858, when he came to Appanoose county and began farming. He purchased land just north of Centerville and operated this enterprise successfully for a number of years. Afterward he moved into the town and became identified with the hotel business, conducting what was known at that time as the Key- stone Hotel. He was active in the management of this house for several years but finally abandoned it in favor of farming. He resumed his agricultural operations upon three hundred and sixty acres of land which he owned and this property he developed until he retired from active life. He moved into Centerville and there made his home until his death, which occurred in 1897. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in 1854.
Frank P. Whitsell was educated in the public schools of Centerville, for he was only six years of age when the family moved to Iowa. After completing his studies he worked in his father's hotel and when he moved back on the farm assisted in the work of cultivation and improvement. In 1875 he began his independent business career, conducting a livery stable in Centerville. His intelligently directed energies brought him success and he continued in this business until his death on May 28, 1908. He was a man of excellent ability and sound judgment and in the con- duct of his affairs met with a degree of success which placed him among the leading business men of Centerville.
In January, 1877, Mr. Whitsell married Miss Cora E. McCreary, a daughter of John and Martha ( Pennington) McCreary, natives of Vir- ginia. The father came to Centerville in 1858 and there worked at the carpenter's trade until his death, which occurred in 1859, one year after he took up his residence here. His widow survives and is making her home with her daughter. She has reached the advanced age of eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Whitsell became the parents of two children: Lloyd L., aged thirty-five, who is in the livery business in Centerville; and Roy R., aged thirty-two, who is deputy county treasurer at Trini- dad, Colorado. Mrs. Whitsell inherited a comfortable competency upon the death of her husband and now has some valuable business interests in Centerville. She owns her attractive home at 202 West Maple street and the livery business which her husband formerly conducted. She is a member of the Eastern Star and an adherent of the Christian Science religion. Her many fine qualities of heart and mind have gained her a wide circle of friends in the city in which she lives.
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Mr. Whitsell was a member of the Masonic lodge and his political allegiance was given to the democratic party. He was public-spirited and loyal in all matters of citizenship, taking a deep interest in all projects which had for their object the further development of his community. He made good, use of his time and opportunities and as the years passed gained prosperity, and at his death left to his children the record of a blameless life and the memory of an untarnished name.
N. J. MAIN.
One of the leading and influential men of Taylor township is N. J. Main, who since he began his active career in 1878, at the age of twenty- one, has been an individual force in the agricultural development of this section and whose well-directed work since that time has been a source of continual and substantial success. Today he is living in a beautiful home in Moravia and is surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries which his work has brought him, giving his time to the supervision of his three fine farms. During the years he has made steady advancement in prosperity and wealth but his labors have had an even broader significance than this, for they have constituted one of the greatest factors in the development of a fine farming section. Mr. Main is a native of Appanoose county, born March 1, 1857, a son of John W. and Sarah E. (Thackery) Main, the former a native of Monroe county, Ohio, and the latter, of Union county, Indiana. Their marriage occurred in the latter state, to which the father had removed with his parents when he was still a boy, and afterward Mr. and Mrs. John W. Main came west to Iowa, buying a farm in Chariton township, four miles west of Moravia, in 1855. Upon this property they resided until 1885, when the father retired from active life and moved into the town, where his declining years were spent. John W. Main was twice married and became the father of twelve children. His first wife. who was the mother of the subject of this review, died on September 30, 1890, aged sixty-two years, eight months and nine days. She had been a lifelong member and an ardent worker in the United Brethren church and was a woman of exemplary life and high standards. After her death the father of our subject was united in marriage to Mrs. E. J. Sumner, who survived him for twelve years. She later married again, her last union being with her fifth husband. The father of the subject of this review was a loyal republican and very radical, voting always for the men and meas- ures for which the party stands. While he never sought public office, his
MR. AND MRS. N. J. W.VIN
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ability yet carried him forward into prominence in public life and he served for many years as township trustee. He died September 30, 1894, at the age of seventy-three years, three months and nineteen days. He was a man of high principles, sterling integrity and upright life, giving a devout adherence to the United Brethren church. He was for many years class leader and one of the trustees of the church, exemplifying in his life and practicing always the doctrines he professed. His death removed from Appanoose county one of its most widely known and honored citizens and was attended by deep and sincere regret.
N. J. Main was reared at home and acquired his education in the public schools of Appanoose county. At the age of twenty-one he began his active career, renting land upon which he raised corn but still continuing to re- side at home. He worked in association with his father, who had given him some stock and was assisting him in his start in life. Mr. Main of this review married in . 1882 and immediately afterward settled on seventy- two acres of land in Monroe county, which he and his father had purchased in partnership some time before. This property was in a run-down condi- tion and consequently the selling price was very low, Mr. Main and his father paying for it eight hundred dollars. With characteristic energy and well directed labor N. J. Main applied himself to making the farm prof- itable, following the most progressive agricultural methods and the most upright business standards, and today the land is worth one hundred dol- lars per acre. Mr. Main lived upon this farm for eleven years, after which he traded it for a tract of one hundred acres. In the meantime he had ac- quired another farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Monroe county and he joined the two tracts and in company with others formed a stock company and built a cheese factory. This venture was extremely success- ful and at times Mr. Main milked twenty head of cows. Subsequently, however, he traded the one hundred and twenty acre farm and the seventy- two acre tract in Monroe county for two hundred acres in Chariton town- ship, Appanoose county, to which he removed and upon which he resided until 1903, when he moved into Moravia, still continuing to operate his holdings. He owns two hundred and forty acres in Chariton township, one hundred and sixty acres, less the railroad right-of-way, on the out- skirts of Moravia, and seventy-two acres on the line between Monroe and Appanoose counties. Upon his one hundred and sixty acre farm he re- cently erected one of the most modern homes in Taylor township and in this he is residing, giving personal supervision to the management of his agricultural interests. All of his business affairs are conducted ably. in- telligently and along progressive lines and as a result Mr. Main has at- tained a gratifying prosperity which places him in the front ranks of successful men in Appanoose county,
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On the ist of January, 1882, Mr. Main married Miss Mary A. Stark, a daughter of David T. Stark, who was born in Scott county, Indiana, and who came as a young man to Appanoose county, settling here some time prior to 1858. In that year he married Miss Sarah A. Buroughs, who came with her parents at an early date to Appanoose county. Mr. and Mrs. Main became the parents of seven children: Linnie Maud, the wife of O. C. Smith, who is now operating one of the farms belonging to the subject of this review; Otha E., who lives at home: Elva R., who is attending Leander Clark College in Toledo, Iowa; Iva Merle, Ross Forrest and Freda Belle, all of whom reside at home; and John David, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Main are members of the United Brethren church and Mr. Main is on the board of trustees. He is a republican in his political beliefs and takes an active part in public affairs, having served in the office of assessor of Chariton township and as a member of the town council of Moravia. Fraternally he is affiliated with East Moravia Lodge, No. 510, I. O. O. F. His life has been well spent in all its relations. He has been true to high and honorable principles and has therefore made his name respected and esteemed in the section in which he was born and in which he has so long resided.
DAVID C. O'NEIL.
David C. O'Neil, a prosperous and highly esteemed citizen of Center- ville, has here made his home for three decades and for the past five years has been successfully engaged in the real-estate and insurance business. His birth occurred in St. Lawrence county, New York, on the 6th of June, 1859, his parents being David and Jane (Hatley) O'Neil. The father was a native of Ireland, while the mother, a lady of Irish descent, was born in New York. David O'Neil became a sailor boy when but twelve years of age and made three trips to the United States, remaining here after reaching American shores for the third time. Landing in New Orleans as a youth of fourteen, he there began work on a farm and later secured employment on a boat. Eventually locating in the state of New York, he was there married in 1835 to Miss Jane Hatley, a farmer's daughter. Turning his attention to general agricultural pursuits, he remained in the Empire state until 1860, when he removed to Illinois. In 1880 he came to Appanoose county, Iowa, and here spent the remainder of his life, devoting his attention to the work of the fields with excellent results. His wife, who survived him for several years, was called to her final rest in 1900.
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David C. O'Neil obtained his education in the district schools and after putting aside his text-books assisted his father in the operation of the home farm. In 1882 he came west to Iowa, locating in Centerville, Appa- noose county, and for a period of fifteen years worked in the coal mines. Subsequently he went upon the road as traveling salesman for a whole- sale liquor house. In 1907 he embarked in the real-estate and insurance business and his undertakings in this connection have been attended with a gratifying measure of success. He purchased a coal mine from the Trio Coal Company in 1910 but disposed of it about three months ago. His home, which he owns, is one of the most attractive residences in Centerville.
In 1884 Mr. O'Neil was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Burns, who was born in Illinois in 1860, her parents being Patrick and Mary (Stratton) Burns, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Illinois. Patrick Burns emigrated to the United States when a youth of sixteen and took up his abode in Illinois, where he was married. A few years later he removed to Wapello county, Iowa, and resided on a farm near Ottumwa until 1894, when he returned to Ireland and there passed away. His widow makes her home in the northern part of lowa with her brother, James Stratton. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil have three children, as follows: Mary Jane, who was born in 1886 and is still at home; Emmet D., who was born in 1887 and is a plumber of Centerville, this county; and John H .. whose birth occurred in 1890 and who is a plasterer residing in Cen- terville.
Mr. O'Neil is a stanch democrat in politics but has never sought nor desired office as a reward for his party fealty. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, while his religious faith is that of the Chris- tian church, to which he and his family belong. In business life he is well known for his alert and enterprising spirit. and his salient qualities and characteristics are such as win honor and success.
MARTIN BOUGHNER.
The life span of Martin Boughner covered eighty-five years and the record was one which brought him respect and good-will, for while he never sought to figure prominently in public life he was in all of his husi- ness dealings reliable and enterprising and the success which he won was gained through honorable, straightforward methods. He was born in Pennsylvania, September 15, 1826, a son of Richard and Mary ( Robb)
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Boughner, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Pennsyl- vania. In early life the father went to Germantown, Indiana, where he engaged in the hotel business, spending his remaining days there. He was born in 1801 and departed this life in 1888, having for about four years survived his wife, who died in 1884.
Martin Boughner remained a resident of Pennsylvania until seven- teen years of age, and during that period acquired a good common-school education. He then went with his parents to Indiana where he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until the spring of 1855, when he removed to the vicinity of Centerville, Appanoose county. A year later he took up his abode in Centerville, where he remained for a year, work- ing at his trade. He afterward purchased eighty acres of land near this city and set about developing and improving it, making his home thereon until 1878, when he and his sons went to Kansas where he entered a claim from the government. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improve- ment made upon their property but with characteristic energy they began to till the soil and cultivate the fields, Mr. Boughner remaining there until his death, which occurred September 10, 1911, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-five years.
He was a young man of twenty-five years when on the 12th of Janu- ary, 1852, he married Catherine Hittle, a daughter of Henry and Cath- erine (Bohrer ) Hittle. The father was born in Pennsylvania in 1809 and there' he learned the blacksmith trade. In 1844 he removed westward to Germantown, Indiana, where he engaged in blacksmithing, conducting his shop until the death of his wife. He had married Catherine Bohrer. who was born in Germany in 1807 and passed away in 1863. Mr. Hittle afterward made his home with his children in different places, thus pass- ing his time until his death, which occurred in 1880. At the time of the Civil war his patriotic spirit was aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union and he enlisted with the regiment known as the Iowa Graybeards, being composed of elderly men whose age would have exempted them from military duty had they so desired.
Mr. and Mrs. Boughner were the parents of three children. Viola, the eldest, became the wife of Samuel Conger on the 23d of February. 1871. Her husband was for many years engaged in farming in this county but is now living retired in Exline, having acquired a handsome competence that enabled him to put aside other business cares. To Mr. and Mrs. Conger have been born the following children who are yet living. while one, Chloe C., who was born July 28, 1872, died in Livingston county, Missouri, March 5, 1877. The others are Emma R., Roxie C., Elsa B., Martin 1 .. Jacob R., Mary MI .. Ruth E., Benjamin W. and Clifford R.
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William Henry Boughner, the elder son of Martin Boughner, is the owner of a four hundred and forty acre farm near Downs, Kansas, while Jacob W., now retired, owns a farm of fifteen hundred and twenty acres in Kansas.
Martin Boughner at one time served as justice of the peace in this county and his political allegiance was always given to the republican. party from the time of its organization until his death. His religious faith was that of the Methodist church to which he was ever loyal, con- tributing generously to its support and aiding in its work. His widow and her children are also members of that church. Mr. Boughner was respected wherever known and most of all where he was best known. He lived a consistent, earnest, Christian life and the many sterling qualities of manhood and citizenship which he displayed gave him firm hold upon the affectionate regard of friends and neighbors as well as his family.
ALFRED ROSS WILCOX.
On the long list of the brave men who went to the front as soldiers of the Civil war appears the name of Alfred Ross Wilcox. Unscathed, he faced death again and again on southern battlefields but met it at length by drowning when a passenger of the ill-fated steamer Golden Eagle that burned near Johnstown when making a trip on the Mississippi. Mr. Wilcox was a native of Gallia county, Ohio, born March 1, 1835, a son of Hiram and Elizabeth Alvia Wilcox, the latter a native of the Buckeye state, and the former born in the town of Chenango, Tioga county, New York, November 9. 1797. They never came to Iowa but spent their entire lives in Ohio, where they passed away in the same year. The father was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Alfred Ross Wilcox pursued his education in the schools of his native county, was there reared to manhood and took up the occupation of fari- ing. He continued to carry on general agricultural pursuits. following his removal to Iowa in 1850, at which time he located on Village creek near Ottumwa. There were still many evidences of frontier life in that section of the state at that day. With characteristic energy he began the develop- ment and improvement of his farm and converted the plains into rich and productive fields. He was living thereon when he responded to the coun- try's call for aid, enlisting as a member of Company K. Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which regiment he served until the close of hos- tilities. He participated in many hotly contested battles, took part in the
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long, hot marches and the weary waiting in winter quarters. At the bat- tle of Shiloh he was wounded in the left leg but as soon as able he resumed his place in the ranks and remained in that command until mustered out.
When the war was over Mr. Wilcox returned to the home farm near Ottumwa, having been married before that time to Miss Sarah McMillen, who died while they were living in Ottumwa, and was buried there. There were five children of that marriage: Alvenza, of Ottumwa; Mary, the wife of Harvey Bigford, of Kansas City, Missouri; Cora, who is the wife of Charles Keating, of Des Moines: Alvia, who died at the age of twenty-four years; and William, who was a twin brother of Alvia and died at the age of thirty years. Coming to Appanoose county Mr. Wil- cox was here married to Anna Cole, who died at Lineville, lowa. They had three children of whom one is now living, Josie, a resident of Des Moines. On the 3d of June, 1877, Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage to Louisa J. Crews, a daughter of James and Delania (Allard) Crews. The father, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was of Dutch and Irish descent and throughout his life followed the occupation of farming. His wife was a native of New York and belonged to one of the old American families. On removing westward they located on the Goshen prairie in Missouri near Lineville, lowa, where the father carried on farming for a few years and then took up another claim to which he removed five miles north of Lineville. They were among the early settlers of that section, locating in Wayne county, lowa, seventy-five years ago. They built their cabin out of logs and experienced the usual hardships and priva- tions of pioneer life at that early period. The father died in Holt county. Missouri, in 1881, and the mother passed away in Kansas in 1910. having survived him for almost three decades.
After Mr. Wilcox's third marriage he removed to Unionville, Iowa, where he lived for two years and then established his home at Eldon, Iowa, where he worked as a section boss until he was run over and had his left foot cut off. This left him in a crippled condition for life, ren- dering further labor of that kind impossible, so that he established a grocery and dry-goods store in Eldon. This he conducted with a fair measure of success until 1880, when he started for St. Louis for the pur- pose of purchasing an artificial leg. He took passage on the ill-fated steamer the Golden Eagle that caught fire and burned to the water's edge opposite Johnstown. His body was never recovered. Mrs. Wilcox con- ducted the store for a short time after his death and then closed out the stock, removing in 1883 to Centerville, purchasing here a nice home at No. 1012 West Maple street, where she has since lived. The children of the third marriage are: Lucy L., the wife of Charles Wilson ; and Louisa
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J., of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson make their home with their mother and they have two children: Earl, twelve years of age; and Frankie, nine years of age, both attending the Central high school.
Mr. Wilcox was a republican but had no aspirations for office. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church to which his widow belongs and he was a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Grand Army post at Unionville. He had many friends among his fraternal brethren and enjoyed in large measure the confidence and trust of those with whom he was associated in the various relations of life. He always endeavored to live peacefully with his fellowmen, to do unto others as he would have they do unto him and was known as a reliable and enter- prising merchant, a loyal citizen, a faithful friend and a devoted hus- band and father.
BURTON W. SHUTTS.
Burton W. Shutts was well known to the patrons of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad on the Centerville division, for through a long period he served as railroad conductor and was known as a courteous, obliging official, ever ready and willing to look after the interests of the corporation which he represented. These qualities won him high regard and gained for him many friends in this part of the state. His birth occurred in Milford, Oswego county, New York, January 14, 1860, his parents being Nelson and Sarah ( Wells) Shutts, who were also natives of the Empire state. The father was a lumber dealer and in early life removed to Pennsylvania where he conducted a lumber business, operat- ing extensive sawmills. He built up a business on large and gratifying proportions and gained therefrom a most satisfactory income. In 1897 he retired from business and now makes his home at Starrucca, Pennsyl- vania, his former interest and activity in manufacturing circles providing him with a handsome competence that enables him to enjoy all comforts of life. His patriotic spirit was manifest at the time of the Civil war, for he enlisted as a member of Company F. One Hundred and Twenty-first New York Volunteer Infantry with which he served throughout the period of hostilities, participating in a number of hotly contested battles. Both he and his wife are living and both have reached the age of seventy-five years.
Burton W. Shutts spent his youthful days in Pennsylvania and its public schools afforded him his educational privileges. He worked for his
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father until he had attained maturity and was then married and started out in life on his own account. This was in 1879. In 1886 he and his wife removed to Frankford, Missouri, where he took up railroading as an employe of the Hannibal & St. Louis Railroad Company, acting in the capacity of brakeman for six months. He was then promoted to the position of conductor and remained with that road for six years, after which he entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road Company as a brakeman. Two years passed and he was then pro- moted to the position of conductor, after which he removed to Burlington, where he resided for a year. He was next transferred to Moulton, Appa- noose county, where he remained for ten years, when Centerville was made the division point of the road and in consequence Mr. Shutts removed to this city, where he remained until his death, which resulted from an accident that he sustained while getting on his train on the 12th of Jan- uary, 1909. He had made an excellent record in railway service and enjoyed the full confidence and trust of the corporations which he rep- resented.
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