USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 46
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTE , LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA. 497
spent his last days in Newton, where his death occurred. He lived to see and take part in the wonderful development of the county, being one of the hon- ored pioneers, and known as an honest, plain, modest, unassuming gentle- man whom to know was to respect. He owned a good farm and was in- dustrious and thrifty. His wife passed away in 1880 at the age of fifty-four years. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living: J. K. makes his home near Waterloo, lowa: Mrs. Lizzie A. Winstead, of Cir- cleville, Ohio; Margaret H. Vanatta, of Newton, Iowa; W. O., of this review ; Charles S. is living on the old home farm five miles north of Newton : Hugh E. lives in Boise, Idaho, where he is practicing law; Mrs. Agnes McClain died when thirty years of age. in 1876; Mattie died when eighteen years old.
W. O. McElroy spent his early life on the home farm where he assisted with the general work during the crop season, attending the common schools in the winter time, also took a course at Hazel Dell Academy at Newton. When twenty-one years old he entered Ames College, taking a course in civil engineering, graduating there in 1881. For two years he successfully followed this profession, but having entertained a laudable ambition to enter the legal profession, he accordingly began the study of law in 1883 with Col. David Ryan, of Newton, and, having made rapid progress, was admitted to the bar six months later. In May, 1884. he formed a partnership with his preceptor, which continued most successfully until Colonel Ryan went on the bench in January, 1887, at which time Mr. McElroy formed a partnership with J. A. Kerr, now of Seattle, Washington, this partnership continuing for three years, Mr. McElroy having been alone most of the time since, taking a first place among his professional brethren in this section of the state and figuring prominently in all the local courts, keeping abreast of the times in all matters pertaining to his profession and devoting his attention almost exclusively to his work.
The domestic life of Mr. McElroy began on September 6, 1888, when he was united in marriage with Julia Cavanagh, of Iowa City, a lady of re- finement and many estimable traits and the representative of a prominent family there, being the daughter of Matthew Cavanaugh, a prominent citizen of Towa City. He and Mary Fellows constituted the first class of Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, lowa. Mrs. McElroy was graduated from the State University. This union has been blessed by the birth of the following chil- dren : Margaret, who is a junior at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York : Harold is attending the Iowa State College at Ames; Richard is a junior in the Newton high school: Carroll, who is now ten years old, is attending the home schools.
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Mr. McElroy has, by careful and prudent management and methods of strict integrity, acquired a handsome competence. He is a director in the Jasper County Savings Bank, and he has some valuable landed interests in Idaho. His home on East Main street, Newton, is a commodious, modern and attractive one where the many friends of the family frequently gather.
Mr. McElroy has ever kept in touch with the affairs of his city and county and is an ardent advocate and liberal patron of all worthy enterprises making for their advancement and prosperity. His activity in behalf of every movement for the good of his fellow citizens has endeared him to the people among whom the greater part of his life has been spent, and his popularity is bounded only by the limits of his acquaintance. He has served as city so- licitor. county attorney, as a member of the school board and he has been president of the library board ever since the library was built, about sixteen years ago, in fact. the city is largely indebted to him for securing the hand- some donation by Andrew Carnegie for the building, and Mr. McElroy spent a great deal of time in seeing that the building was erected according to plans and specifications, spending a great deal more time in this way than one would naturally suppose, but he has the good of the community at heart and has ever sought to serve the public well. For nearly twenty years he has been trustee of the Iowa State College at Amnes, and he was chairman of the board for six years. He has been elected one of the trustees to administer the specific fund of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars given by G. W. Catt to the State College at Ames. He is loyal to the Republican party, but is not especially active in political affairs. Fraternally. he stands high in Masonic circles, being a member of the blue lodge, and having attained the Royal Arch and Knight Templar degrees. He and his family worship at the Congregational church.
Mr. McElroy is deeply interested in educational affairs and he was chairman of the committee on faculty and course of study at the State College at Ames for more than ten years, this being the most important committee in the college. Mrs. McElroy has also been active in educational matters, and she was head of the local high school for five years previous to her marriage.
Mr. McElroy is always master of himself in the trial of cases and is rarely not at his best, being uniformly courteous and deferential toward the court and forbearing to his opponents. His treatment of his case is always full of comprehension and accurate. his analysis of the facts clear and ex- haustive, and he seems to grasp without effort the relation and dependence of facts, and so groups them as to enable him to throw their combined force upon the point they tend to prove. He is not only an able and reliable coun-
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selor, with a thorough acquaintance of the principles, intricacies and com- plexities of jurisprudence, but his honesty is such that he has frequently advised against long and expensive litigation, and this, too, at the loss of liberal fees which otherwise he could have easily earned. He is a man of the people, cosmopolitan in his ideas and of such sterling qualities as to render him popular with all classes; however, he is a plain, straightforward and un- assuming citizen who is merely seeking to live a wholesome life in all its re- lations, and while benefiting himself, does not neglect his broader duties to the county, state, nation and his fellow men in general.
TOBIAS SHAFFER.
An enumeration of those men of a past generation in Jasper county who won honor and public recognition for themselves and at the same time hon- ored the locality to which they belonged, would be incomplete were there fail- ure to make mention of the late Tobias Shaffer, one of the prominent and sub- stantial citizens of Newton, who, through all life's vicissitudes, sustained a very enviable reputation in all circles, and left behind him the greatest of all inheritances, a good name, something to be desired, according to Holy Writ. much more than silver and fine gold.
Mr. Shaffer was born May 24, 1839, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, the son of Philip and Rebecca Shaffer, of that county, where they spent their lives engaged in farming pursuits, and there the subject grew to maturity, assisting with the general work about the place and attending the public schools during the winter months, remaining with his parents until he was married to Amanda Ressler. August 22, 1862. She was born May 29, 1842, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and was the daughter of William and Elenor Ressler, of that county, where they spent their lives engaged in farm- ing.
Four days after his marriage Tobias Shaffer proved his patriotism and his loyalty to the flag by enlisting on August 26. 1862. in Company F. One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and he re- mained in the army nearly three years, proving to be a very gallant soldier. He was wounded at the battle of Fisher's Hill. September 22, 1864, having been shot through the left knee. Later he was taken to a hospital at Phila- delphia, where his limb was amputated. After he recovered he returned to his wife at the oldl home in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and there they re-
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mained until 1871, when they came to Jasper county lowa, and located on a farm near Wittemberg. Remaining there three and one-half years, they moved to Newton and purchased a home. Mrs. Shaffer resides at No. 208 East North street. He retired from active life, after accumulating a com- petency.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer, Joe W., born Decen- ber 31, 1866, in Bedford county. Pennsylvania, married Edith Stine, of St. Joseph, Missouri, and one child was born to them who died in infancy. The death of Joe W. Shaffer occurred in St. Louis, August 10, 1904. Alberta May Shaffer was born in Jasper county, Iowa, August 6, 1873. She married Andrew Stewart and they live at Rockwell City, Iowa, where he is an exten- sive farmer and cattle dealer. They have three children, namely: Eugene, Ruth and Donald, who are all attending school at Rockwell City.
Tobias Shaffer was a member of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Shaffer belongs to the Christian church. Mr. Shaffer was an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Newton, Iowa. In political affairs he was a Democrat, but later in life became a stanch Republican, remaining so until his death. Owing to his being disabled in the army his government remembered him with a pension of fifty-seven dollars per month as long as he lived, and his widow now receives twelve dollars per month. Her beautiful and well furnished home in Newton is often the gathering place for her many warm friends.
JOHN MOSS.
The foundation principles of all American institutions are English, and no nationality of people who have come to this country have so affected the destinies of the country as have the English. The majority of the earliest set- tlers were English and they gave the type to our institutions. But in later days immigration from England has greatly lessened, in comparison with that from the continental countries, so that it is the exception to find in this coun- try those of English birth, thus directly coming from that little island whose people rule over the largest empire which the world has known, whose lan- guage is spoken by far more persons than any other European language, and whose sons and daughters, wherever found, typify the elements which have made their country so great.
John Moss was born in Worsall, Staffordshire, England, on March 15, 1832, and received his early education in the Blue School, from which he
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graduated with high honors, manifesting in his boyhood the intellectual abil- ity and the perseverance which were characteristic of his life. In England he became a grainer and decorator, and followed that occupation until 1869, when he came with his wife and family to Jasper county, lowa, and there resided until his death, on December 8, 1885. More than thirty years ago he estab- lished the first floristry in Newton, and this plant is still in operation by his widow and children as the only one in Newton today. The business, which was quite profitable in the lifetime of Mr. Moss, has greatly increased, and the up-to-date establishment is very attractive.
John Moss was a stanch Republican and always stood up for the princi- ples of that party, in which he was an active worker. In religion he was a member of the Episcopal church and took a prominent and leading part in the church work at Newton, for as a true Christian he believed that his efforts could be nowhere better spent. He was a man of strong and vigorous charac- ter, of influence in the affairs of his community, greatly devoted to his wife and family, to whom he was ever a kind and loving husband and father. Mr. Moss was one of the solid and substantial citizens of Newton, of whom his adopted country might be as proud as he was of her, and he filled a unique place in the city of Newton, which no other man could enter into.
Mr. Moss was married on August 1, 1864, to Eliza Hanson, the daugh- ter of Thomas and Jane Hanson, born in Birmingham, England, on August 19, 1844. Five years after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Moss came to America and located at Newton, lowa. To their union fourteen children were born, of whom but four are living : Arthur .\. Moss, born July 13, 1865. in North Wales, Great Britain, lives in Ottumwa, Iowa ; Charles .\. Moss, of Spartan- burg. South Carolina: Anna E. and Sidney H. Moss, living in Newton with their mother and managing the floristry.
After the death of Mr. Moss his widow was married to James Lister.
James Lister was born on February 9. 1830, in Yorkshire, England. He began his business career in Bradford, England, where he remained for seven years, and is supposed to have been the first butcher in that city. In 1856 he came to Newton, Iowa, and engaged with Murhorn & Brothers, millers, for some time. Later he farmed in Jasper county, Iowa, and at the time of his death was the owner of a considerable amount of property in Newton. On July 13. 1902, he passed away, and his remains were interred in Newton cemetery. In politics Mr. Lister was a Republican and his religious affilia- tions were with the Mormon church. He was a man well known in Newton, a good, conservative business man, with many friends, and who possessed the esteem and respect of all who knew him, and had the highest reputation for integrity and uprightness. He was in many affairs a leader of his neighbors.
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James Lister was first married in Bradford, England, to Mrs. Ann Fos- ter, the daughter of George Ingle, who was born on July 3. 1825, in York- shire, England. She was the mother of one child by her previous marriage, Diniah, now Mrs. Needham. Mrs. Ann Lister died in Jasper county in 1890, and on April 25, 1895, Mr. Lister was married to Mrs. John Moss, of New- ton, and after this marriage he lived in Newton until his death.
Mrs. James Lister is an accomplished lady of refinement, who herself attends to much of her business affairs, and takes her full share in the social, church and philanthropic activities of Newton, and is always ready to aid any deserving person who is in need.
SAMUEL PIERCE WILLIAMS.
For many years the late Samuel Pierce Williams was actively identified with the life of Johnson county, playing a role of no mean consequence in her affairs and becoming widely known as one of her honored citizens. His well directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his own business interests and his sound judgment brought to him prosperity and his life demonstrated what may be accomplished by the man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work and has the perseverance to continue his labors, even in the face of seemingly discouraging circumstances. In all the relations of life he commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he was brought into contact, as was abundantly evidenced on many occasions, and without a suitable record of his life and achievements this volume would be incomplete.
Mr. Williams was born on February 6, 1838, in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, the son of Thomas and Jane B. Williams, prosperous farmers of that place. In 1843 his parents moved to Centerburg, Knox county, Ohio, where the subject received his education. He remained at home with his par- ents until he was twenty-one years of age, then came to Johnson county, Iowa, locating on a farm and the following year, 1860, Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth Marhis, of that place. She was born in New Jersey, April 17. 1841, the daughter of Benjamin and Lucinda Marhis. She came to Ohio when she was a small girl, where she remained until she was fifteen years old, then came to Johnson county, Iowa. After her marriage, she and Mr. Williams moved to a farm and there remained several years, later moving to a farm in Shelby county, Iowa, purchasing a fine place of several
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hundred acres, where he remained until his death, on January 1, 1889. He was a successful farmer and was highly respected, his character being above reproach. To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Williams five children were born, namely : Berton died in infancy : Lucinda Catherine married Alpheus Leigh, of Shelby county, and she died leaving one daughter. Bessie Lee, who was raised by her grandmother, Mrs. Williams, wife of the subject, with whom she still makes her home. Charles E. Williams married Effie Davis and they are now living in Omaha, Nebraska ; Samuel C. is married and lives at Ames, Iowa.
Samuel P. Williams, of this review, was a prominent member of the Christian church of Shelby county, and he was a stanch Republican, taking an active part in the affairs of his party. Hle cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He was very successful as a business man and left an ample com- petency. A few years after his death Mrs. Williams came to Newton and purchased a modern, cozy and neatly furnished home on East South street, where she has since resided. She is highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends.
ISAIAH B. CARNS.
The record of Isaiah B. Carns, one of Newton's most substantial and highly honored citizens, is that of a man who has worked his way from a modest beginning to a position of considerable prominence by his efforts, which have been practically unaided, which fact renders him the more worthy of the praise that is freely accorded him by his fellow men and of the respite that he is enjoying in his declining years. The major part of his life has been one of unceasing industry and, perseverance and the notably systematic and honorable methods he has ever followed have won for him the unbounded confidence and regard of all who have formed his acquaintance, and in look- ing over the list of Jasper county's representative citizens, none is deemed worthier of a place in the pages of this work than that of the venerable gen- tleman whose name appears above.
Mr. Carns was born of a sterling old Buckeye family, pioneers of Colum- biana county, Ohio, his birth having occurred in Springfield township, that county, on September 23. 1829. He, is the son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Mishey) Carns, natives of Pennsylvania. The father followed farming all his life, coming to Ohio with his young wife in 1808 and settled in what was then a wilderness, in which wild game was plentiful and Indians were numer-
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ous. They began life in a log cabin and literally hewed out from the woods a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, and it was there that Isaiah B. was born and. his father dying when he was but three years old, he was compelled to work hard as soon as he was old enough to go to the fields. his mother, by indomitable pluck and courage, keeping the family together until the subject was fourteen years of age. then she, too. closed her eyes on earthly scenes. The son, Isaiah B., then went to Stark county, Ohio, and lived with an elder brother two years. Although having only a limited opportunity to attend school, he studied hard at home and when only sixteen years old began teach- ing in the winter months, working on the farm in the summer, continuing thus for four years, in the meantime taking a general course of instruction in Twinsburg Seminary. He then entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he remained two years, and he made a splendid record in both these institutions. Later he returned to Ohio and resumed teaching, but after four months he began the regular business course in Duff's Mercantile College. at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He then went to Cincinnati, Louisville, and later to St. Louis, seeking employment as bookkeeper, but failed to get suitable work, consequently he came on to Keokuk, Iowa, September 27, 1853. and taught in Lee county that winter. In the spring following he was called to a chair in what was then known as the Iowa Wesleyan Institute, where he remained one year, when, on account of sickness, he was compelled to return to Ohio. When he came back to lowa he located at Farmington and there organized an academy in which he taught the following fall and winter. In the summer of 1856 he went to Pennsylvania, where he was united in mar- riage with Margaret Kiddoo, daughter of John Kiddoo, of Jefferson county, Ohio. Returning with his wife to Farmington, Iowa, he undertook to con- tinue with the school, but the panic of 1857, coming on, the school failed, after which Mr. Carns came to Jasper county, where he had previously secured one hundred and twenty(acres of wild land. This he moved upon and began im- proving, remaining there for four years, and there he passed some of the darkest hours of his life, undergoing some of the hardships and privations always incident to a life in a new country. Then the war between the states came on, and excitement was high in his locality, neighbors all around him began enlisting, so. his patriotism being aroused. he bade adieu to his young wife and three small children on August 15, 1862, and enlisted in the, Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry at Newton, and was sent at once to( Cairo, Illinois. thence to Columbus, Kentucky, where the winter of 1862-3 was spent. In the early spring he was sent to Paducah and drilled until June 30th, on the night of which they embarked for Vicksburg, and there served through the
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siege: later Mr. Carns was sent to Helena and Little Rock., Arkansas, and from there he was sent home on sick leave. After remaining at home a month, he was placed in the United States hospital at Keokuk. . The following February he joined his regiment at Little Rock and in the fall of ,that year was sent to Fort Smith, later to Fort Gibson, where he was mustered out August 15, 1865. having been a very faithful defender of the flag for, three years. Returning home, he engaged in the real estate business, entering the office of a real estate dealer who, four years later, he bought out. , Then he engaged in the general real estate business for a period of thirty-one years continuously, selling lands and making abstracts, during which time he became very well established and took rank as one of Jasper county's substantial citi- zens, retiring from active life in 1896, and he is spending his old age in an attractive, commodious and neatly kept residence in Newton.
Mr. Carns is the sole survivor of a family of eleven children, and his wife is the only one living of a family of ten children. To them have been born three children, two of whom are living : Fannie is at home : Jennie is the widow of A. F. Solmon, and resides at home: Lizzie died in infancy. This family belongs to the Presbyterian church of Newton, Mrs. Carns being an active member of all the church societies and as active in church work as her health will permit. Mr. Carns has served his church as elder and trustee. Prior to the Civil war he was a member of Mystic Lodge No. 55. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, passing through all the degrees. After the war he dimitted out. He is an active temperance worker, and a member of an anti- saloon league. In politics he is Republican. He belongs to Garrett Post No. 16. Grand Army of the Republic, at Newton. Mrs. Carns was for a number of years a teacher in the public schools and is a woman of talent and culture. Her brother. Joseph D. Kiddoo, was a brigadier-general during the Civil war, being desperately wounded at Petersburg. Before his death he was breveted major-general.
ARTHUR LISTER.
Among the prominent business men of the younger generation in Jasper county who are deserving of the large success that attends their efforts and of the high esteem in which they are held is Arthur Lister, a man who is not only endowed with indomitable industry, but who maintains a high standard of business and social ethics in every relation of life, thereby winning and re- taining the good will and confidence of all who come into contact with him.
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Mr. Lister comes to us from our sister nation across the Atlantic, and while cherishing patriotic impulses from his native land, he has become thoroughly Americanized and is an ardent supporter of our institutions. He was born in Yorkshire, England, January 18, 1865, and he is the son of William and Hannah (Brown) Lister, both natives of England, where they were reared, educated and married. The family emigrated to America in March, 1865, landing at New York. The father at once went to Philadelphia and engaged in the wool business, having worked as a wool sorter in his native country. After remaining in the Quaker city for five years they came to Iowa, locating at Newton in 1870, the elder Lister having purchased land south of the city before coming here and on this he located and there the son Arthur, of this review, lived until he was seventeen years old, when he engaged in the meat business for his father in Newton. After conducting this for about three years the son went to Rhode Island to learn the wool business with a brother, James. After remaining there three years, he returned to Newton, Iowa, and engaged in the grocery business with his father for three years, after which he went to Denver, Colorado, thence returned to Rhode Island, where he again took up the wool business. In a little more than two years he returned to Newton, and, the father having died the meanwhile, he engaged in the gro- cery business for himself for nearly five years. Closing out this business, he became the manager of the opera house in Newton and later at Grinnell. He leased the opera house at Grinnell and managed it for about two years, during which time he purchased the opera house at Kellogg. which he retained four years. Later he went to Des Moines and engaged in the real estate business, having disposed of his opera house at Kellogg. He is at present manager and part owner of Lister's Opera House at Newton, and owns and operates bill- posting plants in Colfax and Newton. In 1906 he went on the road at the head of the Chase-Lister Company, a theatrical organization, remaining out one year. While engaged in the grocery business in Newton and as manager of the local opera house, Mr. Lister was united in marriage with Louise Schwerin, of Burlington, from whom he was subsequently divorced. This union was without issue.
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