USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 43
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teacher, he wanted to do his work through the columns of a newspaper and not in the school room. Removing to Pittsburgh, he became a journeyman and reporter, and also filled the position of foreman in several offices in that city. He was a member of the second, if not the first, typographical union in this country. While engaged as foreman on the Chronicle in Pittsburgh, he gave to a man who afterward became famous his first work in a printing office. This was no less a personage than David R. Locke, who is noted as the author of the "Nasby Letters", and who made a great success as editor and publisher of the Toledo Blade.
As Mr. Robinson grew older and gained additional experience, he dis- covered that a more thorough education would be of advantage to him. Accordingly he went to Waynesburg. Pennsylvania, where he entered college and attended several terms, but did not graduate. Later he became proprietor of a book store in Wheeling, which, after conducting for little more than a year, he sold. For a time he managed a straw paper mill, in which a brother was interested. On account of failing health, he removed from Wheeling to Fairfield. Huron county, Ohio, and returned to his "first love." the news- paper business. At that time he purchased an interest in the Fairfield Gasette, and continued its publication for two years. He then accepted a position as local editor of the Peoria (Illinois) Transcript, and after a short time thus spent he purchased the Republican at Middleport, Iroquois county, Illinois. The fever and ague drove him out of that town, and he went to Bucyrus, Ohio, where he bought an interest in the Journal and remained for six and one-half years.
Meantime the Civil war was in progress. Mr. Robinson assisted in raising two companies of volunteers for Union services, notwithstanding the fact that Crawford county was relied upon for a Democratic majority of nineteen hundred, and the blue coat of a soldier upon the street was oftentimes the signal for a knock-down. Though desirous of enlisting. Mr. Robinson realized that to do so meant to discontinue a Republican paper in Crawford county, and on consulting with Ohio's old war governor, David Todd, he was told. "Stick to your paper, Ralph. You can do more good for the Union cause there than you can by fighting rebels at the front." Therefore his fighting was done through his paper, and he did his full share of it, too. Moreover, he has the honor of a lieutenant's commission, having been commissioned in Company B. First Ohio Regiment, "Squirrel Hunters," at the "siege of Cincinnati," and partook of six-weeks rations of hardtack and "pig's bosom."
While in Bucyrus, Mr. Robinson married Fannie J. Hamilton, whose home was in Monroeville, Ohio. From Bucyrus he came to lowa and pur- chased a half interest in the Fairfield Ledger with W. W. Junkin. remaining
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there for six and one-half years. He then went to Clarinda, where he pur- chased the entire interest of the Clarinda Herald, running it until 1877. when he came to Newton and bought a half interest in the Newton Journal, and subsequently purchased the entire paper, in the publication of which he was engaged until his death. Socially, he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was a Royal AArch Mason, having taken the first three degrees in Wheeling Lodge No. 128. in 1853. when he lived in that city. He was made a chapter Mason in McCord Chapter of Fairfield, lowa, and received the council degrees at Newton.
In all his newspaper venturings and wanderings Mr. Robinson was successful as a publisher and gained the respect and confidence of the people among whom he resided. He was thrice honored by being chosen as a delegate to national editorial conventions. Since his residence in Iowa, he visited all parts of the country, from Manitoba on the north to the old city of Mexico on the south, and from Boston on the east to San Diego on the west. travel being his principal recreation. In politics he was always a Republican. He was a member of an old Whig family, and his first Republican vote was cast for John C. Fremont, and every vote afterwards was cast for the nominees of the party he represented, without an exception or a scratch on the tickets. The great good accomplished by the party during all these years of his con- nection therewith furnished him with reliable evidence that he had made no mistake in his political affiliations. From 1854 to the Emancipation Proc- lamation of President Lincoln, he was more or less identified with the "Old Liberty Guard" and knew much of the workings and passengers of the underground railway and of the travel of the latter from slavery of the South to their Mecca of freedom in Canada.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson became the parents of two daughters and two sons. The eldest daughter, Margaret, now the wife of Rev. R. F. Chambers. of Jackson, Minnesota, is an enthusiastic and earnest worker in church mat- ters. The eldest son. Roy, is one of the proprietors of the Walsenburg ( Colorado) Independent. The second son, S. Mona, is manager of the Newton Manufacturing Company. The younger daughter. Daisee, now Mrs. Mark Evans, is now with her mother since the father's death. Mr. Robinson's fifty-two years of hard continued labor in and about a printing office was a limit few men have attained. and he was continually found in his printing establishment, guiding and directing, and at his editorial desk. His editor- ials attracted no little attention. When he supported an enterprise, he did it with his whole soul, and what he condemned through his paper, his friends were apt to let alone.
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HENRY SILWOLD.
Henry Silwold, well known attorney and substantial citizen of Newton, Jasper county, was born in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, January 12, 1860. He is the son of Henry and Charlotte (Depping) Silwold, both natives of Germany where they spent their childhood, emigrating to America when young. The elder Silwold devoted his life to farming and by hard work and good management became well established. He came to Iowa in 1866, located in Malaka township, Jasper county, where he bought land which he placed under excellent improvements and a high state of cultivation and where he continued to live until his death, in October, 1901, his wife surviv- ing until March, 1908. They were highly respected in their community and had a host of friends wherever they were known. Six children were born to them, five of whom are living, namely : Henry, of this review ; Mrs. Herman Claussen, who lives four miles north of Newton ; Mrs. W. J. Kelly. of Grovont, Wyoming; Fred is living on the old home farm in this county ; Mary is also living on the old homestead.
Henry Silwold was six years of age when his parents brought him to Jasper county ; here he grew to maturity on the home farm which he worked during the crop seasons, attending the common schools in the wintertime : after which he took a preparatory course at Hazel Dell Academy at Newton before entering Drake University, in 1885, at Des Moines, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1890. having completed the collegiate course. He remained under his parental roof-tree, with the exception of the time spent in school, until he was twenty-five years of age. He had long entertained a laudable ambition to study law, and after leaving college he plunged into Blackstone and other authorities in earnest and made rapid progress with W. ʻ O. McElroy, of Newton, and he was admitted to the bar in October, 1892, and soon thereafter began active practice at Baxter. Iowa, where he gained a good foothold at once, remaining there three years. Seeking a wider field for the exercise of his talents, he moved to Newton in May, 1898, and has remained in the practice here to the present, proving himself to be a painstak- ing and careful advocate, and he is regarded as a logical and earnest pleader at the bar. He keeps fully abreast of the times in all matters pertaining to his profession, such as the latest decisions in important cases, new codes and revised statutes, and, judging from his past worthy and eminently honorable and satisfactory career, he bids fair to become one of the leading attorneys of the state in due course of time.
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Mr. Silwold has never assumed the responsibilities of the married state. Politically, he is a Republican and has been more or less active in political affairs for a number of years, always lending his support to any movement having for its object the general development of his locality. He was county attorney from April, 1900, to January 1, 1902, holding this important office in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satis- faction of all concerned. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, and in religious matters he belongs to the Congregational church.
MILTON A. McCORD.
Milton A. McCord has long been recognized as one of Jasper county's foremost citizens, having long had the interests of the county at heart and which he has ever striven to promote in whatever laudable manner that pre- sented itself. His life has been led along high planes of endeavor and has been true to every trust that has been reposed in him. Thus for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that he is an honored veteran of the greatest of the world's wars, in which he valiantly upheld the Stars and Stripes, he is eminently entitled to specific mention in a history of this character.
Mr. McCord is the son of David and Eleanor ( Temple ) Macord. the father born in Virginia and the mother in Tennessee. Milton AA. was the eighth in a family of eleven children, and he was born in Paris, Illinois, Feb- ruary 5. 1845. He lived in his native state until he was ten years of age, the family emigrating from Illinois in 1855 to Jasper county, lowa, making the trip overland, locating in Newton township where, as pioneers, they settled on an unimproved farm which they developed and on which a good home was established, the elder Macord becoming one of the county's well-to-do men. owning at one time over two hundred and forty acres of land. Here Mrs. Macord died in 1873, at the age of sixty-five years, the father's death occur- ring in 1884 at the age of seventy-eight years. The family has been identified with the business interests of Jasper county from its infancy and has borne an · unsullied reputation.
Milton A. MeCord grew to maturity on the home farm, and when but a boy he assisted in the general work about the place. attending the common schools in the winter time. He remained on the parental homestead until Au- gust 1. 1862, when, heeding his country's call. although yet a mere boy. he enlisted in Company K. Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in which he
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served very faithfully for three years and nineteen days, during which time he participated in the battles of Champion's Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Port Gibson, Fisher's Hill. Black River, Cedar Creek and many others. His broth- ers, William B., Thomas T., James H. and David N., were also in the service.
After receiving an honorable discharge, Mr. McCord returned home and began freighting across the plains with ox teams, making two trips to Denver, later engaging in farming and stock raising, being thus successfully engaged up to 1890. He has always been more or less interested in public affairs and always stood ready to support such measures as made for the progress of his county, and his loyalty has been rewarded by his friends electing him to sev- eral positions of trust and responsibility, having been elected sheriff of Jasper county in 1891, in which capacity he served for two terms in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of his con- stituents. On March 1, 1898, he was appointed postmaster at Newton, which position he held to October 1, 1910, and in which he further demonstrated his eminent fitness as a public servant, pleasing both the department and the people of the town and vicinity. Mr. McCord was a delegate to the Republi- can national convention in 1908.
On November 26, 1868, Mr. McCord married Gertie M. Reed, who was born in Indiana, and this union resulted in the birth of three children, Percy R .. Hettie and Stella M.
WILLIAM CLAYTON PORVIN.
The history of Jasper county, Iowa, would be lacking should there be failure to give mention to William Clayton Porvin, who, though he spent the greater portion of his life in his native state of New York, was for many years a well known citizen of Newton, Iowa, where he took a leading part in all enterprises which promised the development of the community, and be- came influential in business and financial matters.
William Clayton Porvin was born on January 11, 1828. the son of John and Sarah Porvin. His parents moved to Philadelphia when he was nine years old. and remained there until he was eighteen, when they returned to . New York. Here his father died, and here the son lived with his mother until he was forty-six years old. On June 22. 1875. he was united in marriage at Middletown, New York, to Elizabeth Hamilton, who was born on January 30, 1839. She was the daughter of James W. and Catherine (Taylor) Hamil-
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ton, of Middletown, New York. Her father was a native of Scotland, and came with his parents when eight years old to Philadelphia. After his mar- riage Mr. Porvin and his wife remained for three years at Middletown. While living in New York he had been a wholesale druggist, and had been very suc- cessful, but on account of failing health, he and his wife moved to Newton. Jasper county, lowa, in 1879.
To Mr. and Mrs. Porvin were born two children : Edith C., at Middle- town, New York, on June 26, 1876, who is now deputy county superintendent of Jasper county, and is residing at home with her mother ; and Hamilton. who was born at Middletown, New York, on May 31. 1878, and is employed as a bookkeeper with the Hawkeye Feeder Company.
Mr. Porvin died on November 14, 1893. His remains were interred in . Newton cemetery. He was a member of the Congregational church, and gave to it his strong support. In politics he was a Republican, but took little active part. William Clay Porvin was not a relative of Theodore S. Porvin, but William Porvin, who was killed at the battle of the Alamo, near Porvin, Texas, was an uncle of William Clay Porvin.
William C. Porvin was a man of high ideals and culture. He was a man of the strictest integrity in business dealings and of keen judgment in finan- cial affairs. He was free with charity for the poor and needy, and was the friend of those in want, supplying their needs with pleasure. He was a man of strong intellect. and agreeable presence. Though his marriage occurred late in life, he was very much devoted to his wife and children, and no cloud ever occurred to shade their recollection of him as a kind and loving husband and father. As in his later days his business did not occupy all of his attention. he was enabled to give to his family much of his time and society. This man of splendid character and attainments was one whose loss was deeply felt in Newton, for he had during his residence there strongly impressed his individ- uality on the people of that city, and they fully recognized the character of the man who had gone from their midst, and who had given so freely of his life and his talents to the service of the community, which had learned to honor and respect him.
Mrs. William Clay Porvin, an accomplished woman, whose appearance belies her age, is living with her children at No. 445 West McDonald street. Newton, and takes her full share in all the activities of the city, both social, religious and philanthropic, while Mr. Porvin's son and daughter are taking active and responsible parts in the work of the world.
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RICHARD LAMB.
Fealty to facts in the analyzation of a citizen of the type of the late Richard Lamb, of Newton, Jasper county, is all that is required to make a biographical sketch interesting to those who have at heart the good name of the community, because it is the honorable reputation of the man of standing and affairs, more than any other consideration that gives character and stabil- ity to the body politic and makes the true glory of a city or state revered at home and respected abroad. In the broad light which things of good report ever invite the name and character of Mr. Lamb stand revealed and secure and though he is remembered as a man of modest demeanor, with no ambition to distinguish himself in public position or as a leader of men, his career was signally honorable and it may be studied with profit by the youth entering upon his life work.
Mr. Lamb was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, September 9. 1829, and he was four years old when he accompanied his mother from his native hills to Hendricks county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood and received his education. His early youth was spent on the farm with his mother, two brothers and one sister, John. Caleb and Elizabeth.
The subject was about four years old when his father, Albert Lamb, died,-in fact, death took him from his family while enroute to their new home in the North, to which the mother bravely pushed on and established in the Hoosier state.
Richard Lamb came to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1852, located at Newton and remained here three years. Here he met Nancy Thompson and they were married on February 25, 1855. She was born on September 3, 1834. and she was the daughter of Jerry and Jessie Thompson, of Kentucky. His par- ents moved from Wayne county, Kentucky, to Clinton county, Iowa, where they located on a farm. After his marriage Richard Lamb remained in New- ton but a short time, when he took his mother back to Indiana, their old home. and remained there five years on a farm in Hendricks county. Later Mr. Lamb brought his wife and mother back to Newton, Iowa, in the fall of 1860. and in 1865 they bought eighty-five acres of good land and there Mr. Lamb and wife made their home for a period of twenty-three years, during which time they enjoyed a liberal reward for their labors and developed one of the choice little farms of this part of the county. Finally, his health failing, he moved back to Newton, where he continued to reside until his death, on No- vember 13, 1901, at the cozy and neatly furnished home, No. 425 West North street, where Mrs. Lamb continues to reside.
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They were the parents of two children, a daughter and a son. Frances Jane, born April 16, 1856, is now the wife of E. C. Ogg, of Newton, and the mother of two sons living, Harry and George R, the latter being now in school at Monmouth College, Illinois. Albert Lamb, the subject's other child, died in infancy.
Religiously, Richard Lamb held to the Baptist faith, and he was always a stanch Republican, taking a very active part in public affairs in his earlier years. Fraternally, he belonged to Lodge No. 59. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Newton, and he was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Lamb was very successful in a material way and as he prospered through hard work and good management he added to his original eighty-five acres until he had a valuable place of two hundred acres, also a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in another part of Jasper county, which was well located and desirable land. He also owned one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Dakota, besides his home in Newton, adjoining which is one acre of land. He was one of the substantial and popular citizens of the county and, owing to his upright life, his kind and genial nature, he enjoyed the con- fidence, good will and friendship of all who knew him.
WALTER J. MORGAN.
It is probable, as a rule, that few of the present generation have ever realized in the dimmest way the transcendent possibilities that rested upon the shoulders of the pioneers of this country, of which worthy band the well remembered late Walter J. Morgan, of Newton, Jasper county, was an hon- ored member. Grant it that their lives, in certain instances, were somewhat narrow and that they realized but little the great results that ultimately crowned their efforts; yet there exists the supreme fact that they followed their restless impulses, took their lives in their hands, overspread the wild prairies of the Hawkeye state and. with patient energy, resolution and self- sacrifice that stands alone and unparalleled, they worked out their allotted tasks, accomplished their destinies and today their descendants and others enjoy undisturbed the fruitage of their labors.
Mr. Morgan was born May 17, 1830, at Marshall, New York, and when he was a small boy, his parents, Walter and Louisa Morgan, came to Erie county, New York, and there the subject remained with his parents until he
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was seventeen years old, when he went to Wisconsin, locating at Kenosha, where he remained for a number of years, and while there he learned his trade as cabinet maker, and while living there he was married. on December 10. 1855. to Delia Derbyshire, the daughter of S. S. and Delia Derbyshire, Mrs. Morgan's birth having occurred on December 14, 1834, and she was living with her parents in Kenosha at the time of her marriage. This union was without issue.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan remained in Kenosha for nine years, and in 1864 they came to Jasper county, locating on a farm of four hundred acres in Clear Creek township, where they remained two years, then, late in the spring of 1867, they moved to another farm near Newton of two hundred acres, but remained there only a short time, moving to Newton in 1867, where Mr. Morgan launched in the furniture business and remained here until his death. on December 7. 1883, dying at the home where his widow lias since lived, No. 306 East Washington street, and he is buried in Newton cemetery.
Fraternally, Mr. Morgan was a prominent Mason and Woodman at New- ton. He held to the creed of the Congregational church. although he was not a member of the same, but he was a liberal supporter of the local church and a great worker in the same. He was always a friend to the poor and did many charitable acts, not for any show or approval of the public, but out of the largeness of his heart. In political affairs he was always a stanch Republican although he never took an active part in public affairs. He was very success- ful as a business man and left his widow a beautiful and commodious hoine and quite a competency. She has long been a favorite with a wide circle of friends in Newton and vicinity, being the possessor of many estimable traits of character.
THOMAS SMITH, JR.
Prominent in the affairs of Newton and Jasper county and distinguished as a citizen whose influence was far extended beyond the limits of the com- munity honored by his residence, the name of the late Thomas Smith, Jr .. for a quarter of a century the able and popular street commissioner, stands out a conspicuous figure. Characterized by breadth of wisdom and strong individuality, and in all of his enterprises and undertakings actuated by noble motives and high resolves, his success and achievements but represented the result of fit utilization of innate talent in directing effort along those lines
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where mature judgment and rare discrimination led the way, and he long enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all classes, having done much for the general upbuilding of the city and community and led a clean, upright life from his youth up.
Mr. Smith was born in England on March 10, 1834, and after a long and busy career he passed to his reward at Newton, lowa, on February 25, 1907, at the attractive modern residence at No. 623 South Farmer street, where Mrs. Smith still resides. He grew to manhood and was educated in England. emigrating to New York City at the age of twenty-one years, but remained there only a short time when he came west, and, finding Jasper county a place of future possibilities and delightful surroundings, he decided to make this locality his permanent home. lowa then being in her first stages of development. He first located in Newton township, but soon afterwards came to the town of Newton, where he made luis home until his death. being very active up to within a year and a half of that time, having resigned his position with the city in order to spend his declining days in retirement. ill health forcing him to take this step. He spent his early life engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, having in his youth worked with his father, Thomas Smith. Sr .. a native of England and a prosperous farmer there.
In 1856 Thomas Smith, Jr., was united in marriage with Mary Jackson. of Newton, lowa, and to this union three children were born, only one of whom survives. Frank, who is married and resides at Colfax, this county.
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