USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 50
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
The maternal side of the family is traced back to Plymouth Rock, through the Weaver and Sharples families, the subject's grandmother having been a Weaver. The earliest progenitor of the Hartman family in America was . John Hartman. Dr. William Dell Hartman, uncle of the subject, was a member of the Academy of Science at Philadelphia, and during his career as professor he made a fine collection of shells which was eventually purchased by the Carnegie Museum at Pittsburgh.
Isaac M. Sloanaker, father of Chester. was a Whig and an Abolitionist. He was a strong-minded and a useful man. and his death occurred in 1863; his wife survives, having attained the age of eighty-seven years. She makes her home with the subject and is a woman of gracious personality. She is the mother of two children. Chester, of this review. and Mrs. Edith Mary Lyday, of Newton.
Chester Sloanaker was educated in the public schools and the State Nor- mal at West Chester, Pennsylvania, and also studied at two private academies there. He first turned his attention to farming, which he continued in his native state for five years, then came to Newton, lowa, in 1881 and was one of the organizers of the First National Bank here in 1882, becoming its cashier. the duties of which position he discharged in a most worthy manner for a period of ten years, his courteous treatment of the bank's patrons and his conservative and judicious management of its affairs rendering it one of the most popular financial institutions of central Iowa .. He became its president. which important position he held for a period of ten years, during which the bank enjoyed a still greater period of prosperity; he is at this writing vice- president and is devoting part of his time to real estate and other large inter-
5,36
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA,
ests. He is essentially an organizer and promoter by nature, and he pos- sesses rare business acumen and foresight. being able to forecast with re- markable accuracy the future outcome of a present transaction, and he has been very successful in a financial way, having, by his individual efforts, ac- cumulated a handsome competency and extensive property interests, including one of the most attractive, modern and desirable residences in Newton, the presiding spirit of which is a lady of culture and genial personality, known in her maidenhood as Elizabeth Failor Lyday, whom Mr. Sloanaker married on September 13. 1881. She was born in Springfield, Ohio, and came to Jasper county, Iowa, in her youth. She is the daughter of Joseph H. and Mary (Fai- lor ) Lyday. This union has been blessed by the birth of six children, namely : George Hartman died when thirteen months old: Joseph Lyday, who lives near Fresno, California, graduated from Iowa College, Grinnell, class of 1908, and engaged in the eucalyptus tree industry, maintaining a large mir- sery at his home: Ruth married Earl C. Guessford, teller with the First Na- tional Bank of Newton: Ralph Chester is with Graber & Miles Garage Com- pany, of Newton : Mary Cecelia graduated from the Newton high school with the class of 1911 : Hiram Lyday is a student in the local high school.
This family belongs to the Lutheran church, of which Mr. Sloanaker is an elder, and he has been identified with the church council since he has resided in Newton. Politically, he is a Republican. He is a genteel gentleman at all times and a man in whom the utmost confidence is reposed owing to his hon- est methods.
H. C. KORF.
Among the earnest young men whose depth of character and strict ad- herence to principle have gained for him the admiration of his contempor- aries, H. C. Korf, well known attorney of Newton, Jasper county, is niim- bered, and in his professional career he has shown a tenacity of purpose, an indomitable energy and that self-reliant courage whose natural concomitant is definite success.
Mr. Korf is one of the native sons of this county of whom she should be justly proud. His birth occurred on April 25, 1876 He is the son of Henry and Wilhelmina (Weseman) Korf. the father a native of Germany and the mother of Freeport, Illinois. The former came to America in 1848 when eight years of age, accompanied by his parents, who located on a farm near Freeport, Illinois. Henry Korf grew to maturity in Illinois and was educated
537
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
there, remaining on the home farm during his youth. He came to Jasper county, lowa, in 1867. locating on a farm in Malaka township, where he be- came well established, developed a good farm and where he lived until 1906, when he retired and moved to Newton, where he now resides, spending his declining years in the midst of plenty and in comfort as a result of his long life of hard work and good management. He is a member of the Presbyter- ian church, and he and his wife have many friends throughout the county. They are the parents of seven children, namely : H. C .. of this review ; Mrs. Hermina Rourke, of Marion, Ohio; Mrs. Marie J. Babcock, of Des Moines, Iowa; Amanda is in the law office with her brother. H. C .; L. G. lives in Newton ; E. T. is a civil engineer and lives at Ogden, Utah ; E. O. is a student at the State University.
H. C. Korf grew to maturity on the home farm and there he assisted with the general work during the crop seasons during his early life, receiving. in the meantime, his primary education in the country schools and at Hazel Dell Academy at Newton, later attended Highland Park College at Des Moines, also took a course at the State University, graduating from the law department in 1899, having made a very commendable record there, and in the same year he was admitted to the bar, soon afterwards beginning active practice at Newton, where he has since remained, building up a very satisfac- tory clientele and taking a very high rank among the men of this profession in central lowa. He has kept well informed on all the important court decisions and revised codes, being at all times an assiduous student. He has been most successful in all his legal work and he stands second to none of his contem- poraries in a locality noted for the high order of its legal talent. Owing to his marked ability and his public spirit, he was soon singled out for positions of public trust, and for a period of four years he was city attorney of Newton. the duties of which important office he discharged in a manner that reflected credit upon himself and proved the wisdom of his constituents in selecting him for the place. This was from 1903 to 1907.
Mr. Korf was married on August 9, 1905, to Patience E. Wormley, of this county, where she was born, reared and educated, being the representative of an excellent early family here. This union has been graced by the birth of one child, Wilimenia, born June 30, 1910.
Mr. Korf is a director in the First National Bank and the Newton Sav- ings Bank : he is secretary and director of the Jasper County Telephone Com- pany, and is also a stockholder in a number of local manufacturing concerns. and he has an interest in several large farms, joint ownership in a number of large landed estates, in this state, and a large tract in Minnesota and Nevada.
538
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
Mr. Korf has been very successful in a business way, being a man of rare executive ability, soundness of judgment and able to foresee with re- markable accuracy the future result of a present transaction. Politically, he is loyal to Republican principles, and fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is one of the trustees of the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Korf is also a member.
Mr. Korf has led an exemplary life and has the confidence and good will of all who know him, and he is regarded as one of the most substantial and representative citizens of his county, as well as a lawyer of unusual capability. He has been the artificer, very largely, of his own fortunes, and though he has encountered numerous obstacles, his courage has never flagged and he has shown himself to be one thoroughly appreciative of the dignity of honest toil and endeavor. He has done much to improve the agricultural prosperity of the county as well as encourage improvement along various lines, and, judging from his past honored and praiseworthy record. it is safe to predict that the future has much of good in store for him and his fellow men a still greater need of his services.
ALBERT H. REED.
That life is the most useful and desirable that results in the greatest good to the greatest number and. though all do not reach the heights to which they aspire, yet in some measure each can win success and make life a blessing to his fellow men; and it is not necessary for one to occupy eminent public positions to do so, for in the humbler walks of life there remains much good to be accomplished and many opportunities for one to exercise one's talents and influence which in some way will touch the lives of those with whom we come into contact, making them better and brighter. In the list of Jasper county's honored citizens is .Albert H. Reed, who is living in retirement in Newton. In his career there is much that is commendable and his life forcibly illustrates what one can accomplish, even in the face of obstacles, if one's plans are wisely laid and his actions governed by right principles, noble aims and high ideals.
Mr. Reed was born on February 12. 1836. in Jacksonville, Illinois, the son of Dr. Maro McLain Reed and Elizabeth (Lathrop) Reed, both natives of Connecticut, and in the old Nutmeg state they grew up, were educated and married. At Hartford the father practiced medicine two years, then located in Jacksonville, Illinois, and there the major part of his active career was
539
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
spent. The Reed family is one of the oldest in New England and its several representatives for a number of generations have distinguished themselves in various walks of life wherever they have dispersed, being noted for their industry, culture and intellectual attainments. The paternal grandfather of the immediate subject of this review was Elijah F. Reed, a physician, very prominent in his profession, in fact, was in advance of his times. He was the first doctor along the Connecticut valley to abandon the old practice of bleed- ing a patient for almost all ailments. He lived and died in Connecticut. after a useful and honored life. He was a descendant of one who came over in the "Mayflower." William Bradford, who was elected the second governor of the Plymouth colony. His son, Maro McLain Reed, received his classical education at Yale College and his medical education at two medical colleges. Like his father before him, he was very successful as a medical practitioner and was highly esteemed for his many commendable attributes of head and heart. He was a man of fine publie spirit and broad-minded. He was a strong abolitionist and prohibitionist. After coming to Illinois he and Elihu Woolcot, with others, founded the Congregational church at Jacksonville. He practiced medicine in Jacksonville for a period of forty-five years, during which time he became widely known, in fact, was regarded as one of the leading physicians of that part of the state. His death occurred in 1877, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife was a refined gentlewoman of excel- lent New England parentage, and she is remembered as having a face good to look upon, full of benevolence and purity of mind and soul. indexing the inner life of one who held close communion with higher things. She was born in 1807 and lived to the goodly old age of ninety-seven, beloved by all who knew her.
Nine children, of whom Albert H., of this review was the third in order of birth, were born to Dr. Maro McLain Reed and wife; those now living are. Julia, wife of William T. Reid, of Belmont, California. Mr. Reid was at one time president of the State University of California, but at present he is the owner and manager of the Belmont School for Boys, a preparatory school for Harvard University : he is assisted in the work by his wife, a woman of fine culture, great executive ability, and unwavering fidelity. Maria Reed married J. W. Thompson, and they live retired at Berkeley, California; Har- riet Reed was stewardess for a period of twenty years for the Belmont School for Boys and died in 1902: Mary E. Reed, now deceased, was the wife of Professor Blackburn, of Chicago University.
Albert H. Reed enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education. He at- tended the Jacksonville schools and was graduated from Illinois College in
540
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
1859. after which he attended Andover Theological Seminary, in Massachu- setts, and was graduated from that institution in 1862. After leaving the sem- inary, he took up the work of the American Missionary Association for Freedmen at Norfolk, Virginia, but after two years of earnest endeavor, he was forced to retire from the work on account of failing health, which had been undermined by the miasmatic climate, and a severe accident. Since then he has led a more or less retired life.
On May 13, 1868, Mr. Reed was united in marriage with Julia Went- worth, a descendant of one of the illustrious Eastern families. She was born at Rollingsford. New Hampshire, January 5. 1838. the daughter of John H. and Judith A. ( Pottle) Wentworth. Her father was a lineal descendant of Elder William Wentworth, of England. Five of the governors of New Hampshire have borne the name of Wentworth. In Portsmouth today stand several handsome colonial mansions formerly occupied by the Wentworths who were governors of the Granite state. The Wentworth House, the most prominent hotel in the city of Portsmouth, has achieved international prom- inence by reason of the peace conference between Japan and Russia being held there and the signing of the treaty between those nations there. John Wentworth, father of Mrs. Reed. died in 1860 at the age of fifty-four years. His family consisted of eight children. Besides Mrs. Reed, they are, Elias P., who is now eighty years old, is a retired farmer, living near Portsmouth. at Greenland: Eleanor married Charles Maloy, of Waltham, Massachusetts, he having been a literary man and a lecturer of prominence, a follower of Emerson : Martha H., the wife of Joseph Langton, is living at Kittery Point. Maine, just across the river from Portsmouth ; he was formerly a merchant. but is now living retired: Thomas Fenner Wentworth is now deceased: he was formerly a prominent attorney in New York City : Francis G., who served through the Civil war, having enlisted as lieutenant in the Seventh New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, and he was breveted major during the raid at Washington.
Mr. and Mrs. Reed were married at Jacksonville, Illinois, and they con- tinued to reside in that city for a period of thirty-one years, in the same house, and then they moved to Newton. Iowa. This union was blessed by the birth of four children, named as follows: Elizabeth Wentworth Reed, a very capable and talented professional nurse, has had an extensive training in her line, having attended a training school at Fall River, Massachusetts, and also one of the best hospitals in New York City, receiving careful in- structions in surgery as well as in nursing : she has been successfully engaged in her work in Newton for ten years, and her services are always in great
541
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
demand. Julius .\. Reed, the subject's second child, who is with the great Wanamaker department store of New York City, was named for his uncle, Rev. Julius A. Reed, well known throughout the state of Iowa as a Congrega- tional minister, his entire life having been spent in home missionary work. After the first few years of this work, he was appointed superintendent of home missionary work for the whole state of Iowa, which position he held for eighteen years. Julius A. Reed, son of the subject of this review, was married to Harriet Lyons, of New York, and they have one child, Harriet Wentworth Reed. Jennie Reed, third child of the subject, died in childhood. William T. Reed, the youngest child, who lives at Tucson, Arizona, married Mabel Edwards, of Newton, and they have four children. Laura Wentworth, Jennie M., Theodore F., and Ora Elizabeth. Both of the sons, Julius A. and William T., enlisted in the Spanish-American war. in Company K, Fiftieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
Mr. and Mrs. Reed are Congregationalists in religious belief, and they were members of the church of this denomination in Jacksonville, Illinois. As intimated in a preceding paragraph, they have lived a retired life in New- ton during the past twelve years, and it has been their custom for some time. to spend their winters in Tuscon, Arizona.
DANIEL L. GIBFORD.
It is at all times very interesting to compile and preserve the experiences of the old soldiers who went out to fight the country's battles during the slave- holders' rebellion fifty years ago. These gallant old fellows are fast passing away, and we should get all their experiences first hand before it is too late. for it is not only interesting but important that we preserve these personal ex- periences, for, after all, those are the events that make history. What would history be worth were it not for the vivid actions of the individuals? That is all there is to the splendid histories of ancient and modern times. The story as told by one who has passed through the bloody experiences of a half century ago of several years of stubborn struggle and was in numerous battles, marches and campaigns, and perhaps, prisons and hospitals, is far more inter- esting than if narrated long hence by some writer who may distort events out of their true historic significance. One of the honored veterans of that great conflict whose military career would, if properly set forth, make a volume of interesting narrative is Daniel L. Gibford. of Newton, Jasper county.
542
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
Mr. Gibford was born in Allen county, Indiana, February 3, 1841, the son of William and Sarah ( Ritter) Gibford, both natives of Ohio. His grandparents on both sides came from Germany, the subject having been named after his grandfather, Daniel Ritter, a tavern keeper in Stark county, Ohio, in the early days, by reason of which fact he became widely known. The subject's father was the third child in the family of Abraham Gibford and wife, whose family consisted of seven children. In 1840 the parents of Daniel L. Gibford came from Ohio and settled in Allen county, Indiana, but soon after the birth of the subject of this sketch they returned to Stark county, Ohio, and a few years later they removed to Monroe, Green county, Wisconsin, where the father, William Gibford, engaged in manufacturing and continued his trade of cabinet making. In 1854 he came to Newton, lowa, having been induced to come here by W. B. Ritter, brother of Mrs. Gibford, who had come to this county a short time previously. After living in New- ton three or four years, they moved to a farm in Palo Alto township, and in 1867 Mr. Gibford sold his farm and again moved to Newton and there spent the rest of his life, dying in 1891 at the age of eighty-two years, his wife hav- ing preceding him to the grave in 1884, dying at the age of seventy-six years. Their family consisted of eight children, of whom Daniel L., of this sketch. was the eldest ; the others are, Jonathan, a veteran of the Civil war who lives at the Soldiers' Home : Catherine, now deceased, was the wife of L. D. Jones. formerly of Reasnor, this county; Frank, who was killed by a train in Cali- fornia : William, a stone-mason, lives in Denver, Colorado: Emily, wife of Frank Osborn, lives in Seattle, Washington: Charles owns a plumbing estab- lishment in Newton; Alexander is in the dairy business at San Bernardino. California.
Daniel L. Gibford, when twenty-one years of age, enlisted in August. 1862, in Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, at Newton, under Capt. John Meyer, later made colonel; M. W. Atwood, first lieutenant, and M. C. Dean, second lieutenant. This regiment gathered at Iowa City. and when they were ordered south many of the boys carried a bottle of whisky with them, the subject being among the number : but he knew his mother would not have approved of this had she known of it, so he gave his bottle to a com- rade and eased his conscience, and he has never bought a drop of whisky since. He served faithfully until the close of the war and was honorably discharged in August. 1865. at Savannah, Georgia. He was in thirteen battles, some of which were among the most hotly contested of the war, among them being Port Gibson, Jackson, Champion's Hill and the siege of Vicksburg. He par- ticipated in the Red river expedition and went with Sheridan into the Shenan-
1
543
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
doah valley and was in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek, being wounded in the former, and he was one of the boys who tossed his hat when Sheridan dashed up from Winchester from his famous ride, arriving in time to rally his fleeing troops and turn defeat into victory. For meritorious service Mr. Gibford was made fifth corporal and color guard.
After returning from the war Mr. Gibford engaged in farming near Newton, this county. He had sent the money received from his services in the army home for his father to take care of, but it appears that the latter was a poor financial manager and when the young soldier returned from the front he found that he was practically penniless : however, he did not regret his services to his country. He bargained for fifty acres in 1867, in section 15. Palo Alto township, agreeing to pay one thousand dollars for the same. Hie did not have a dollar to pay on it at the time, in fact he was compelled to borrow two dollars from a comrade with which to pay for the revenue stamp at that time required on all such legal papers. But he was a man of determina- tion and grit and, working hard and looking careful to details, he gradually forged ahead until he had it all paid for. He not only improved it, but added twenty-five acres more, making a very desirable farm, which he still owns. The land is underlaid with coal which may prove a profitable source of in- come to the family.
In 1866 Mr. Gibford was united in marriage with Nancy A. Watkins. who was born in Kentucky in 1848. To this union three children were born, as follows: Eddie Sheridan, born in 1867. was named for the noted general. On September 19, 1890, on the anniversary of the battle of Winchester, he applied for a marriage license, intending to be married two days later. N. Townsend was the license clerk, and had fought in that battle, and in the same regiment, Twenty-eighth lowa, in which Mr. Gibford had fought, and the clerk induced the boy to have his wedding that night. His wife is now deceased, but he has four children, all daughters ; he is a contractor and lives at Kearney. Nebraska. Alice S. Gibford, the subject's second child, was born in 1868 and she married Lester Wolford They live on a farm near Lewellen, Nebraska, and have three children. Howard T. Gibford is a dentist at Greenfield, Iowa.
On August 20. 1879. Mrs. Gibford was claimed by death, and on Novem- ber 2. 1881. the subject was united in marriage with Elizabeth Bates, born October 25. 1850, in Stevenson county, Illinois. She is the daughter of J. and Hannah ( Lambert) Bates, the father a native of Vermont and the mother of Massachusetts. Her parents came to Iowa at a very early date, soon after their daughter. Elizabeth, was born. Her father died in 1853 and her mother
544
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
passed away in 1865. Their family consisted of three daughters and two sons, namely : Harriet married Horace Smith, a farmer of Palo Alto town- ship; Ellen married George Foster, who is in the employ of the United States government, having formerly been lock tender for the government on the Illinois canal; Edwin, a veteran of Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and formerly engaged in the livery business, now lives retired in Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Isaac died when eleven years of age.
Five children were born of Mr. Gibford's second marriage, namely : Alta Edna, born March 12, 1883, married Marion DeBolt ; they live in New- ton and have one child; he is with the Western Stock Remedy Company, being a stockholder in the same. Raymond B., born April 15, 1884, formerly cashier for three years in the Laurel Savings Bank. Laurel, Iowa, and for sometime bookkeeper in the Citizens Bank at Newton, is now with the Ehman-Gibford Chemical Company of this city as vice-president and general manager. Karl B., born May 22, 1887, who lives on the home place in Palo Alto township, is married and has one child; Morrell, born October 1, 1892, died August 22, 1893; Virgil, born May 14, 1894. died on September 20th following.
For a period of forty-two years Mr. Gibford lived on his farm and then bought property in Newton in 1908, having accumulated a competency, and retired from active work, and here he is now living in honored retirement. surrounded by plenty as a result of his former years of industry. He is a member of Garret Post No. 16. Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, he is independent. His wife belongs to the Methodist church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.