USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 51
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bell were born eleven children, of whom James S. Bell was the eldest. Farm life early beeame familiar to him in its various phases, for, from his youthful days, he assisted in the work of the fields, tak- ing his place behind the plow at the time of early spring planting and eontinu- ing his work umtil after crops were harvested in the late autumn. He attended the distriet sehools and also the Davenport Commercial School. Ile was but eight years of age when the family arrived in Iowa and upon different farms of the state he lived until 1893. In 1882 he beeame a resident of Cher- okee county and there he resided for eleven years, when he took up his abode in the city where he now resides. Ilis farm there comprised four hundred acres of land that was rich and productive and yielded golden harvests for the eare and labor he bestowed upon it. As opportunity has offered he has made varions purchases from time to time and now owns land in Washington township, Buena Vista county, constituting a large and well improved farm. lle also has a half section in Elk township and farming land in both South Dakota and Minnesota. In faet his holdings are very extensive and he is one of the most prosperous landowners of this part of the state. His possessions have been largely aequired through his own labor, and his life reeord indi- cates what may be accomplished if one possesses perseverance and diligenee.
In 1870 Mr. Bell was nited in marriage to Miss Mary Jones, who was born in North Wales in 1850 and was brought to the United States in 1867 with two brothers, who loeated with her mother's brother in Scott county, Iowa. Her father was keeper of a lighthouse in Wales and was killed in a
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storm. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bell were born five children: Charles, deceased ; Eva, the wife of E. C. Willeutt, a farmer of Buena Vista county, Iowa; Essie, who has departed this life ; John C., who conducts a restaurant in Storm Lake; and William II., who is a bookkeeper in the First National Bank at Villisea, lowa. The parents are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in its work take an active and helpful interest. Mr. Bell is now serving as superintendent of the Sunday school and is also a member of the board of stewards. He does all in his power to promote the growth and extend the influence of the church and is in hearty sympathy with its purposes and its teachings. Ilis political endorsement is given to the republican party and in 1906 he was elected county supervisor. His record is that of a man who has made good use of his opportunities and placing his eapital in the safest of all investments-real estate-he is now one of the large and prosperous landowners of the county.
IRA E. CANON.
Ira E. Canon is a progressive and enterprising agrieulturist, owning and operating three hundred and twenty acres of land situated on seetions 27 and 28, Hayes township, on which he has made his home sinee 1887. He is a native of Illinois, born in JJo Daviess county, September 12, 1855, a son of James Canon, a native of the Keystone state, born in 1828. He ran away from home in 1844, when a youth of sixteen years, and made his way to Galena, Ilinois. He was married in Jo Daviess county to Miss Catherine Deeds, who was a native of Iowa. He followed farming in that county for one year after his marriage and in the fall of 1855 removed to Sauk county, Wiseonsin, and preempted eighty acres of land from the government. The place was cov-
ered with timber and Mr. Canon cleared and developed the land, later adding to his original possessions until he became the owner of two hundred and forty
aeres. His business interests, however, were interrupted during the Civil war, for in 1863 he joined Company A, Thirty-sixth Wiseonsin Infantry, of which he became sergeant. He was taken prisoner at the Weldon Railroad engagement and spent some time in Libby, Salisbury and Belle Isle prisons. After eight month's confinement he was paroled and sent to Washington, receiving his discharge papers at Madison, Wisconsin. lle then resumed farming pursuits in Wisconsin and spent his remaining days in that state, passing away in February, 1906, when he had reached the advanced age of seventy-eight years. His widow still survives.
Ira E. Canon was taken from his native state of Illinois to Wisconsin in his infancy. As soon as old enough to handle the plow he was put to work in the fields and from that time until he was twenty-four years of age he assisted his father in the operation of the home place. Ilis educational advan- tages were somewhat limited, for his services were needed on the farm, so that his education has been largely acquired through experience, reading and observation since he reached mature years. It was while residing in Sank
MR. AND MRS. IRA E. CANON
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county, Wisconsin, that Mr. Canon was married to Miss Clara Kester, their wedding being celebrated in 1879. The mother and an infant son died in 1883 and she left one daughter, Ruby, who was reared by an aunt, and who now makes her home in Ladysmith, Wisconsin.
In 1887 Mr. Canon made the overland journey to Buena Vista county. bringing with him some cattle. He located on land which his father had pur- chased and which was but partially improved. Ile also purchased an eighty- aere tract and gave his time to the development and improvement of the two farms, living for several years on the one belonging to his father. IIe eventually located on his own farm to which he has added from time to time until the place now embraces three hundred and twenty acres, located on sections 27 and 28, Hayes township. He has built a modern dwelling supplied with hot and cold water, heated by furnace, and containing all modern con- veniences such as are found in the city home. He has also erected substantial ontbuildings, has laid ten thousand tile, built substantial fences and made the place a valuable property, unexcelled by any tract in this locality. Mr. Canon gives much of his time to stock-raising, feeding from one to four car- loads of hogs and cattle each year. He has ever followed the most practical methods in carrying on his work and is meeting with a gratifying measure of success.
After coming to Iowa Mr. Canon was married a second time, this union being with Barbara Fultz, their wedding being celebrated in Angust, 1892. Mrs. Canon was born in Allamakee county, this state, and engaged in teaching prior to her marriage. She is the mother of two children, Essel and Cassie.
Politically Mr. Canon is a republican, casting his first presidential ballot for Rutherford B. Hayes, and he has supported every candidate of the party since that time, 1876. Ile has served as township trustee and as a member of the school board, of which he has been treasurer the past two years. He is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter at Storm Lake and he is also identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. Progress is the key- note of Mr. Canon's sureess. Ile has not been slow to adopt methods which he believes will achieve results in his farm work and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of Buena Vista county. In his relations with his fellowmen and in his treatment of his neighbor he never loses sight of the golden rule and all with whom he comes in contact have for him high regard.
JAMES BUTLER.
James Butler, a successful and progressive agriculturist residing on see- tion 2, Storm Lake township, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. November 1, 1866. In 1878 his father, Patrick Butler, brought the family to Buena Vista county, lowa, and purchased a tract of seventy-one acres of raw land, which he opened up and developed into a valuable property, feneing the fields and erecting good buiklings. Later he bought one hundred and sixty acres adjoining and here reared his family and spent his remaining days, his
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demise oeenrring on the 18th of April, 1897. His wife, who survived him for a decade, was called to her final rest on the 2d of March, 1907. Unto this worthy couple were born five sons and three daughters, namely: Frank and John, both residents of Storm Lake; Thomas, living in Pittsfield, Massachu- setts ; James, of this review; Michael, who makes his home in St. Louis ; Mary, the wife of Albert Hughes, of Storm Lake; and Anna and Lizzie, who keep house for their brother James.
James Butler was a lad of twelve years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to this county and, as opportunity offered, attended school at Storm Lake. ITis time was largely occupied, however, in assisting his father in the development of the new farm and when the latter passed away he took charge of the property and has since been successfully engaged in its enltiva- tion. In addition to the work of general farming he also raises high grade stock, including cattle, horses and hogs, and both branches of his business return to him a gratifying annual income. His farm, which is situated within a mile and a half of Storm Lake, comprises two hundred and thirty-one acres of rich and productive land and is a neat, well improved and valuable property.
Mr. Butler gives his political allegiance to the men and measures of the democracy where national questions and issues are involved but at local elec- tions easts an independent ballot. Reared in the Catholic faith, he is a mem- ber of the church of that denomination in Storm Lake. Having been a resident of this county for thirty years, he is widely and favorably known here and is recognized as a prosperous and representative agrienlturist as well as an upright and honorable citizen.
NATHAN A. COUCHI.
Nathan A. Conch well deserves mention in this volume for he is numbered among the valued and highly honored citizens of Newell and Buena Vista county. Ile has lived a straightforward, busy and useful life, having for many years been identified with agrienltural pursuits, but is now enjoying well earned rest. His birth occurred in Guilford county, North Carolina, June 2. 1838, his parents being Meshach and Elizabeth (Mills) Conch, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. The father was a son of Meshach Couch and the mother was a daughter of Jeremiah Mills. Meshach Conch, Sr., was born September 8, 1743, and in 1773 was married to Mary Conch, whose birth occurred April 16. 1758. They were the parents of the following children : Sally, Samuel, Phebe, James, Joseph, Mary, Nathan. Meshach, Perey, Joshua and Priscilla.
Meshach Conch, Jr., learned and followed the cooper's trade and after- ward became a farmer. On leaving the south he removed to Indiana and cast in his lot among the early settlers of Fayette county, whence he afterward removed to Randolph county, where he died in 1858, at the age of sixty-three years, while his wife passed away at the age of fifty-seven years. She was
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a member of the Society of Friends. Their family numbered four sons and three daughters : Joseph A., deceased; Charlotte, the deceased wife of John Gilbert; Jeremiah F., who has passed away; Mary, the deceased wife of Washington Gilbert ; Meshach, who has also departed this life ; Mary Elizabeth. the wife of Louis Macey, of Adel, lowa; and Nathan A.
The last named was nine years of age when the parents removed from Guilford county, North Carolina. to Indiana. He was reared upon the home farm in Randolph county, that state, and attended the district schools. In the periods of vacation he worked in the fields or did other labor incident to the development of the farm and when he was married he began farming on his own account on rented land. In 1861 he removed to Wisconsin and purchased forty aeres of land in Sauk county, where he resided until 1869, when he went with his family to Dallas county, Iowa, and in 1871 came to Buena Vista county. Tlere he seenred a homestead claim of eighty acres in Coon township and from time to time extended its boundaries by additional purchases until he owned a large tract of land. He now has a valuable farm of two hundred and eighty acres in that township and resided thereon until the spring of 1893, when he removed to Newell and purchased a good home which he still occupies. 3 He has since lived retired, deriving a good income from his farm property. so that he is now enabled to enjoy all of the com- forts and some of the luxuries of life.
On the 10th of Angust, 1856, Mr. Couch was married to Melinda Jackson. a daughter of Samnel and Jemima (Cox) Jackson. Mrs. Couch was born in Randolph county. Indiana, May 14, 1837, while her father was a native of North Carolina and her mother of South Carolina. Her paternal grandpar- ents were Samuel and Hannah Jackson, also natives of North Carolina, where the former followed the occupation of farming. The maternal grandparents were William and Elizabeth Cox, of South Carolina, who lived to an advanced age and reared a large family. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Jackson, Jr., became parents of eleven children ; three sons and eight daughters. of whom five are now living : John; Annie, who became the wife of Thomas Hutchins and after his death married a Mr. Covey; Jemima, the wife of John Cox; Rebecca, the wife of Alvin Owens; and Melinda. the wife of our subjeet.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Couch have been born four children : Samuel E., who is now serving for the seventh year as county treasurer and has been nomi- nated for another term. married Sarah E. Davis and has one son, Allen; William F., who is a blacksmith by trade but is now engaged in the real-estate business in Marathon, married Lizzie Waterman and they have three children. Bernice, Harry and Jay; Addy, a farmer, married Laura Pickering, who died leaving one son, Loys, after which he married for his second wife Delia Hutchins, by whom he has two children. Ora and Samuel; Mary, the only daughter of the family, is the wife of Hiram Waterman, who resides in Ontario, California, and has two children, Wilbur and Russell.
Mr. and Mrs. Couch celebrated their golden wedding August 10, 1906, at which time one hundred and twenty guests were present and many were the congratulations they received. On Christmas day they always have a family dinner, their children returning home on that occasion to partake of the feast.
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Mr. and Mrs. Coneh are members of the Congregational ehnreh, in which he is serving as deacon and church trustee. Ile has been an Odd Fellow since 1867 and now belongs to Newell lodge. No. 232, which he joined as a charter member on the day of its organization, October 17. 1872. Politically he is a republican and has served as school director, school trustee and constable. In every relation of life he has been found loyal to the trust reposed in him, whether in political office or ont of it. He is an honorable and upright man respected by all for his genuine worth and he is numbered among the valued citizens of this part of the state. Moreover, he is one of the early settlers of the county, having lived within its borders since pioneer times, while in the work of development and improvement he has done his full share. No longer does the county represent the appearance of a thinly populated region for it has all been divided into productive farms, nearly every aere being under eul- tivation while all the advantages of the older east have been introduced.
LEE ALLEN CAMPBELL.
Lee Allen Campbell, who is numbered among the enterprising and snc- cessful farmers and stock-raisers of Coon township, was born in Calhoun county, Towa, April 2. 1879. his parents being Peter D. and Rosetta (Stormer) Campbell, the former a native of New York and the latter of Tennessee. When a young man the father made the journey westward, locating first in Illinois, where he engaged in general agricultural pursuits, while subsequently he came to lowa and entered government land. . For three years he served under Sherman as a loyal defender of the Union eause, never faltering in the perform- ance of any task assigned him. His political allegiance was given to the republican party, while his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, with which his wife was also identified. He was in his sixty-fourth year when called to his final rest and seven years after- ward his widow passed away. The brothers and sisters of our subject are as follows: Mary, the wife of Uneian Soper; William, who is a tiler residing in Humboldt county, lowa ; Mike and A. Benjamin, both of whom are engaged in farming; Ilattie, the wife of Ned Sanquist; Arthur, who likewise follows the oeenpation of farming: Mortie, who is also engaged in agricultural pur- suits; and Millie, twin sister of Mortie, who is the wife of Arthur Beach.
Lee Allen Campbell attended school in his native county until he had attained the age of fifteen years, when he secured employment on a farm. At the age of twenty-three years he started out as a farmer on his own account, being well qualified for the work by previous experience and training. In 1908 he took up his abode in Buena Vista county, Iowa, and purchased his present farm of eighty aeres in Coon township, the land being well improved and highly enlivated. le follows modern and progressive methods in the conduet of his agricultural interests and has already gained a place among the representa- tive and prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of the community.
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Mr. Campbell was joined in wedloek to Miss Carrie Malfeld, whose birth occurred in Marshall county, lowa, in 1886. By this union there are two chil- dren : Ella Rosetta, whose natal day was November 27, 1905; and Melvin Roy, born April 5, 1908.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Campbell has given his political allegiance to the republican party, believing that its princi- ples are most conducive to good government. A young man, he possesses the enterprising spirit of the west, which has been the dominant factor in produc- ing the wonderful development of this section of the country. Brooking no obstacles that honest effort ean overcome, he has gradually advanced toward the goal of prosperity and his friends predict for him a bright future.
MRS. LUCY BROWN SMITH.
Mrs. Luey Brown Smith, the well known and popular postmaster of Sioux Rapids, was born January 7, 1861. at Hillsboro. Montgomery county, Illinois, a daughter of Newton G. and Euphemia (Grantham) Brown. Her father was a native of North Carolina. while the mother was a native of Illinois and a daughter of William Grantham, who was a famous preacher and eirenit rider at an early day, receiving his lieense as a minister from Peter Cartwright. He died at the very venerable age of ninety-six years. All of the name of Grantham in this country are descended from three brothers who came from England long prior to the Revolutionary war. They settled in three different colonies-Massachusetts, Virginia and Georgia. Dr. Grantham, of Illinois. was descended from the brother who settled in Massachusetts. The Grantham family in Virginia numbered several notable members, including a prominent lawyer who was born and reared there.
Mrs. Smith is descended from the Georgia branch of the family. Iler grandfather was born in Cobb county, that state, January 21. 1809, and at that point his younger brother spent his entire life, dying there at an advanced age during the period of the Civil war. At the close of hostilities his widow, Mrs. Mary Grantham, removed to Wichita, Kansas, where her sons, J. W. and J. R. Grantham lived. She died in Wichita some time later. William and Susanna Grantham, the grandparents, had a family of nine children: Thomas. Euphemia, Cynthia, Rachel, Olive, Sarah, Isabelle, John and Enoch. There were seven Grantham brothers who fought bravely for the independence of the colonies, who were cousins of William Grantham, Sr .. the great-grand- father of Mrs. Smith. He was born July 27. 1773, in Georgia, and married Elizabeth Harrison, a native of North Carolina, born July 11, 1776, their mar- riage being celebrated in 1796. Although William Grantham, Sr., was only three years of age at the time of the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, he distinctly remembered many of the stern events which occurred during the struggle for American independence that followed. He was married in Cobb county, Georgia, and continued to reside there until 1802, when with his wife and three small children he crossed the mountains and settled in what was
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then Christian but afterward became Henderson county, Kentucky. The family home was maintained at that place until 1828 and during that time other children were added to the household until they were parents of eight sons and five daughters. Five of the children married in Kentucky, but all removed to Ilinois about the same time. William Grantham, the grandfather, left Kentucky and went to Ilinois, where he was married to Susanna Man, who was born June 22, 1810.
In the paternal line Mrs. Eney Brown Smith was a grand-daughter of John and Sarah (Cabe) Brown. That family came of Protestant Scotch-}rish ancestry. John Brown had twelve children, the eldest being William Brown, while the others were: Newton, Livia, John. James. Jehn, Julia, Caroline, Martha, Jemima, Katherine and Sarah.
The birth of Newton G. Brown occurred in Hillsboro, North Carolina, in 1822, and he was a youth of fourteen years when he arrived in Illinois in 1836. After attaining his majority he married Enphemia Grantham and they made their home in Hillsboro. Illinois, where they conducted a hotel for a number of years. In 1864 Mr. Brown purchased the American House and was its pro- prietor for a long period. He died in 1879 at the age of fifty-seven years, while the mother later became a resident of Sioux Rapids. Iowa, and here passed away in 1895 when sixty-two years of age. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Brown were six children, of whom John and William died in infancy. Mrs. Smith has one brother and two sisters still living, namely: Thomas B., a resident of Omaha, Nebraska, married Laura Glenn and has one child, Junius G. Dora is the wife of C. A. Freeland, living in Hillsboro, Illinois, and they have seven children : Ora J., the wife of Howard Shelton ; Frances, the wife of Orin Denton ; La Rue Brown, the widow of JJ. C. Lindberg; Norman L., who married May Kortkamp; Frank B., who married Lena C. Hutchens; Lucy Caroline, the widow of JJoseph Tiffin ; and Olive Grace, at home. Olive, Mrs. Smith's younger sister, is the wife of Thomas M. Murdock, cashier of the Sioux Rapids Bank, and they have three children. Frank N., Margaret E. and June Brown.
Mrs. Smith was educated in Hillsboro (HH.) Academy, which was then known far and wide as the greatest seat of learning in the state. Prior to her marriage she served as assistant in the Hillsboro postoffice under her brother, Thomas B., who was acting as postmaster at that place. On the 24th of October. 1883. she gave her hand in marriage to J. M. Smith, who was a son of Henry C. and Rose ( Wood) Smith, both of whom were natives of Ken- tueky, but were married, however, in Montgomery county, Illinois. J. M. Smith was also educated in the Hillsboro Academy and following their mar- riage they settled in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where Mr. Smith was engaged in business for about three years. He died there May 27, 1887, at the com- paratively early age of thirty-eight years, and his death was deeply regretted by many friends, for he possessed many attractive social qualities that gained him warm regard.
Mrs. Smith remained in Arkansas for about two years after her husband's death and in 1889 returned to her home in Illinois, where she remained for about one year. In 1890 she went to Colorado, where she continued for
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about a year and a half and then came to Sionx Rapids, where she was employed in the store of her brother, Thomas B. Brown She continued thus busily engaged until 1897. when she became assistant in the postoffice and filled that position for three years and then, after a year's intermission. she was appointed postmaster. her first commission being dated March 15, 1902. Four years later she was reappointed in 1906 and is now acceptably filling the office, discharging her duties with credit to herself and satisfaction to the general publie. She possesses good business ability and. moreover, is faithful and accurate in all of the work that devolves upon her in this connection. She has gained many friends during her residence here and is held in the highest esteem throughout the entire community. Mrs. Smith is an active member of the Congregational church and also belongs to the Buena Vista Chapter, No. 309, Eastern Star. She is interested in the work of the Crittenton Home and is a member of the local board of the lowa Home Finding Society.
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