USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 55
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Mr. Eastman was a prominent member of the Congregational church, having united with that church when a young man. He was also an active and worthy member of the Masonic lodge and the United Workmen of New- ton. Politically, he was a stanch Republican, taking a leading part in the affairs of his party.
To Mr. and Mrs. James Eastman six children were born, as follows: Eva died in Newton when seven years of age; Clarence also died here when ten years of age; Bertha married Harry Moore, of Newton; they moved to Oklahoma, where the wife died, leaving two children, Marian and Florence, who remain with their father, he being a very prosperous farmer there. George Eastman is a large contractor in Omaha, Nebraska ; he married Winnie Quin- lan, of Newton, and they have one son, Clarence. Florence Eastman married Arthur Joy, of Newton, and they have two children, Lucile and Morris, both attending school at Newton. James H. Eastman married Maud Joy, of New- ton, and they have three children, Joy, Harry and Arthur, also attending school at Newton.
REV. JAMES E. RYAN.
No estimate of the immense amount of good that comes from a long and useful life like that of the late James E. Ryan, can be made, for it was far- reaching in its effects and will continue through coming generations, like the light that "shines more and more unto the perfect day." Few lives have been so unselfish, so pregnated with good deeds and so controlled by an insatiable desire to be kind and beneficial to his fellow men; therefore, his memory is cherished wherever he was known, by thousands whom his life touched directly or indirectly.
Rev. Mr. Ryan was born in the city of Roscrea, Ireland. His parents came to New York in 1831 when he was a small boy, thence they went to Montreal, Canada, and there they were living during the year of the great cholera epidemic. His parents being poor, the subject was compelled to start in life for himself when very young, being about nine years old when, in 1837, he began clerking in a dry goods store in Toronto. continuing in the same line of work seven years there and in Ontario, Buffalo and New York City
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and a number of other large cities. In 1845 he united with the Episcopal church and resolved to become a minister, and he at once began a course of study at the academy at Romeo, Michigan, then under the direction of Prof. Rufus Netting Law. During the winter of 1846-1847 Mr. Ryan taught school and boarded around among the patrons of the school. In the fall of 1847 he entered the freshman class at Western College, later locating at Hud- son, Ohio, where he remained three years, but, being poor and out of funds, he left college at the close of his junior year to accept a position offered him as tutor in Williams Hall, a school for boys, and at the same time he became a divinity student at Bexley Hall, both institutions being located at Gambier, Knox county, Ohio, the seat of Kenyon College. He was graduated from Bexley Hall in 1853 and the same year he was ordained deacon by Rev. Charles P. McIlvaine, bishop of Ohio, and the following year he was ordained to the second office of priest by the same bishop. For several years he served as rector of Grace church at Warren, Ohio. In 1858 he was sent by the church as a missionary to Kansas, later taking charge of the church at Atchison, that state, then he was called to St. Paul's church at Des Moines, Iowa, and he en- tered upon the duties of that important parish in the fall of 1864 and for a period of twenty-six years he labored faithfully and effectively in the diocese of Iowa, giving his best efforts to the various churches to which he was called. In 1871 and again in 1877 he had the honor of representing the diocese of Iowa in the general convention of the churches and was for a number of years deacon of the northern and central conventions, and in 1885 he resigned the rectorship of the Good Shepherd in Des Moines. Later, about 1880, on ac- count of ill health, he and his family came to Newton, Iowa, where he spent the balance of his days.
On April 8, 1875, Rev. Mr. Ryan was united in marriage with a lady of talent and culture, Mrs. H. C. Hawkins, at her home in Troy, Kansas. She was born April 17, 1834, in Canandaigua, New York. She first married H. C. Hawkins, of Marshall, Michigan. Afterwards Mr. Hawkins and his wife moved to Topeka, Kansas, throughout which state he became known as one of the ablest lawyers of the same and ranked high as a public man, serving, at one time, very ably and commendably as a member of the Legislature of that state. His death occurred when he was a comparatively young man, forty- three years old. By their union one son. J. C. Hawkins, was born, who married Eva Ketman, of Humboldt, Iowa, the daughter of a very prominent family there, and Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hawkins are now living in Newton, Iowa, where they, like Mrs. Ryan, have a host of friends and are highly respected and in- fluential in the best social circles.
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Rev. James E. Ryan was a man whom to know was to love, admire and praise, for he was high-minded, learned, kind, generous, untiring in his efforts to do good and at the same time unassuming, content merely to follow in the footsteps of the humble Gallilean and to know that he was doing His will, con- sequently the widespread fame and honor he won was justly due him, and the world is better and happier by his having lived in it.
DAVID EDMUNDSON.
Widely known as one of the leading citizens of central Iowa during her pioneer history and the subsequent period of her development, the name of David Edmundson stands out conspicuously, and although he has long since been called to a higher plane of action, the influence of his useful life, the many unselfish and charitable deeds he performed will continue to pervade the lives of succeeding generations, and the hearts of those who had the good fortune to be associated with him are warmed and their spirits braced by some faint echo of the words of wisdom and kindness he spoke. His well directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his business interests and his keen discernment brought him prosperity and his life demonstrated what may be accomplished by any man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work and has the perseverance to continue his labors in the face of any discouragements which may seem to arise. In all the relations of life he commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he was brought into contact, and a biographical history of Jasper county would certainly lack an important link were a record of his useful and interesting career omitted.
David Edmundson was the scion of a fine old Southern family, many winning characteristics of which he seemed to inherit, and he himself was born on Dixie soil, his birth occurring in Harrison county, Kentucky, June 9, 18II, and there he spent his early boyhood, removing with his parents, William and Mary Emundson, to Indiana, locating at Greencastle in 1827, and there the death of his father occurred, and afterwards David Edmundson came to Burlington, Iowa. He located in Des Moines county in 1836 and there he remained until in March. 1841, when he was united in marriage with Tem- perance Gordon, a lady of many beautiful attributes and the representative of an excellent old family, her birth having occurred in May, 1821, in Pennsyl- vania, she being the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Gordon. After their marriage they moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa, having remained in Des Moines
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county but a short time. Remaining about a year in the former place, they moved, in 1846, to Jasper county, and here purchased one hundred and sixty acres where the county poor farm is now located; after remaining there three years they moved to Newton in 1849 and there Mr. Edmundson assisted in laying out the city, and here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres from the government, he and his wife being among the very earliest settlers of this county and city, and certainly none were more influential or prominent in its early history than they, and none better known or more highly esteemed, for with old-time hospitality and genuine neighborly impulses they performed un- numbered acts of kindness among the first settlers. Mr. Edmundson was active in politics and wielded a strong influence for his party and he was called upon to represent Jasper county in the state Legislature when the capital of the state was located at Iowa City. He was afterwards elected county judge, the duties of which important office he performed in an eminently creditable man- ner, as he did those of representative. He had charge of building the old court house, in 1862, which was only recently torn down.
When the Civil war came on Mr. Edmundson was too patriotic to re- strain his impulses to fight in defense of the old flag and he offered his services to the Union, though he was fifty-one years old at the time. He was com- missioned second lieutenant of Company D. Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and after a very gallant service of two years resigned and returned to this county and for the next fifteen years devoted his attention very largely to the office of justice of the peace. He was one of the brave band who crossed the trackless western plains to the gold fields of California, he and a number of other Jasper county citizens making the long and prolix journey in 1850, the trip requiring three months. The return trip was made by water by way of the Isthmus of Panama and up the Mississippi river. He, in later life, talked most interestingly of this experience in the far West and of other early occur- rences. Politically, he was early in life a Whig and after the Republican party was organized he loyally supported its principles. He made a splendid record as judge, both in this county and at the military post at Columbus, Kentucky.
The death of this excellent citizen occurred at his late residence. No. 520 East Temperance street, Newton, Iowa, on July 26, 1895. at the age of eighty- four years. One of his brothers lived to be ninety-two years old and his mother was ninety-four years of age when she passed away in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
To Mr. and Mrs. David Edmundson eight children were born, namely : Arabella, the eldest child, is the wife of S. W. Macy, of Spokane, Washington ; Alex lives at Los Angeles, California : David G. lives at Des Moines, Iowa; Ella is deceased : Freda lives at the old home in Newton: Mary is deceased ;
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Charles is deceased; Elizabeth lives with her sister, Freda, at the old home- stead mentioned above, and here the mother, who was a woman of gracious personality, passed to her rest on April 2, 1910.
The Edmundson family has ranked in the forefront of Jasper county citizens from the earliest pioneer days to the present, none standing higher socially, and no one has done more for the locality honored by his citizenship than David Edmundson, whose memory is revered by all who knew him per- sonally or of his work.
L. A. WELLS.
Good intellectual training, thorough professional knowledge and the pos- session and utilization of the qualities and attributes essential to success have made L. A. Wells, of Newton, Jasper county, eminent as an attorney-at-law, and he stands today among the enterprising men of this profession in central Iowa, figuring prominently for some time in the affairs of his locality, although yet young in years.
Mr. Wells was born October 31, 1879, in Crawford county, Iowa, and he is the son of N. A. and Emma J. ( Benefiel) Wells, the father a native of Vermont and the mother of Davenport, Iowa. N. A. Wells was for many years a well known stock buyer, having come to Jasper county twenty-six years ago, moving from Crawford county, this state. He was a successful business man and was prominent in political affairs and he was representative from Jasper county in 1897, filling this important office with much credit to himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all his constituents. He is at present living in Wadena county, Minnesota, where he moved about seven years ago. His wife died March 20, 1898. There were five children in their family, named as follows : W. B., of the United States navy, was with Rear Admiral Schley, on the famous cruiser "Brooklyn" at the great naval battle of Santiago during the Spanish-American war. He is now on detached duty at the Annap- olis Naval Academy, and is writing text-books on marine engineering and naval construction ; he is a graduate of the academy at Annapolis, 'and stands very high in naval circles. S. H. Wells is on a ranch in Wyoming: Mrs. Edith Kohler lives on a farm twelve miles south of Newton ; Mrs. Mattie Lewis lives in Oklahoma.
L. A. Wells, of this review, came to Jasper county with his parents when a child and he was reared on a farm five miles south of Newton, and when old enough he assisted with the various duties about the place, attending the
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neighboring schools during the winter months. He was always an ardent student and he made a splendid record while attending the high school at Newton, from which he was graduated in 1898, and the University of Iowa, having graduated from the law department of the latter in 1901, after which he began practice at once in Newton, and was very successful from the first, his practice having continued to grow steadily to the present time, being re- garded as a very cautious, energetic and safe advocate and an earnest and logical exponent before a jury.
During the Spanish-American war in 1898, just as he was finishing high school, Mr. Wells gave vent to his patriotic impulses by enlisting in Company F, Fiftieth Iowa Infantry, and was stationed at Jacksonville, Florida, for six months, from April to November.
On April 18, 1902, Mr. Wells was married to Mary J. Manning, daughter of Richard Manning, a prominent citizen of Newton, Iowa, in which city Mrs. Wells was born, reared and educated and where, owing to her genial nature, she has always been a favorite in the best social circles. This union has been graced by the birth of two daughters, Hortense, seven years old, and Esther, five years old.
Politically, Mr. Wells is a Republican and he has long supported every laudable movement looking to the betterment of his county and state, and he has the confidence and respect of all who know him, his career so far having been characterized by lofty purpose and honest precept.
JOHN HEWS.
The life history of John Hews, one of Jasper county's best known and highly honored pioneer citizens, would indicate that he is the possessor of sterling qualities that cannot help winning in any vocation if back of them is an indomitable courage, as seems to have been the case in this instance, and he has labored to goodly ends, ever keeping the interests of his neighbors and the locality in general before him while working to advance himself and, there- fore, he has played well his role in the local drama of civilization. He is one of the gallant veterans of the great Union army, having gladly sacrificed much, like many legions of brave comrades, "in order that the nation might live." Thus many reasons might be advanced why Mr. Hews is justly entitled to con- spicuous and exhaustive mention in the history of this, one of the most thriv- ing and favored sections of the great commonwealth of Iowa, whose interests he has ever had very much at heart.
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Mr. Hews was born September 3, 1837, in Saratoga county, New York, the son of James and Sally Maria (Efnor) Hews, he being the third child in order of birth, the two that preceded him dying in early infancy. These par- ents with their only child, John, who was too young to take any note of hap- penings at that time, 1838, made the long overland journey from New York to Illinois and in that state the son grew to young manhood and received most of his education. The family finally moved to Jasper county, Iowa, when this country was new and unsettled, or very sparsely so, and here the subject as- sisted in building a school house which he attended for a while. It was built of round logs and the seats were made by splitting a log in halves, and holes were bored in the ends in which the legs were fastened; puncheons were also used for flooring. It was a typical first settlers' school house. Being the oldest of the family, a great deal of responsibility fell to him and he knew the meaning of hard work in all its significance. The nearest mill to them was at Lynn- ville, and there he had to go to mill, and later he went to Oskaloosa on the same errand; but these long trips were looked upon as a pleasure rather than as irksome, for he was usually accompanied by some lively companion whom he not infrequently made the butt of practical jokes. He drove an ox team and, taking sufficient rations for the entire trip, would camp by the road over night, the trips consuming four or five days. On one occasion he was com- pelled to haul water to be used in the mill, before steam could be generated with which to grind his corn. He tells many interesting stories of conditions and happenings here when he was a boy and when all were on an equal footing financially and socially; when there were few roads, no fences; when there were wolves, wild turkey and plenty of good game of various species; in fact, he would be apt to tell you that those old times, the good old days of the pio- neers, were the best, and who of us would have the temerity to dispute him?
Mr. Hews enlisted on August 8, 1862, at Galesburg, in Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and after remaining at Camp Pope, Iowa City, a short time, was sent to Helena, Arkansas, thence to Port Gibson, where he took part in the battle, later fought at Champion's Hill, then was in ' the siege of Vicksburg for forty-eight days, then he was in the skirmishing about Jackson for fourteen days, after which his regiment was sent with General Banks on the Red River expedition; later Mr. Hews went with Gen- eral Sherman into the Shenandoah valley, and he took part in the sanguinary battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Harrisburg; he was in camp at Cedar Creek and from there was sent to Martinsburg to guard a supply train and while he was there the Cedar Creek battle was fought. He marched bare-
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footed from Cedar Creek to Winchester. From there he was ordered with the rest of the regiment to Savannah, Georgia, and there Mr. Hews was honorably discharged, and was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, at the close of the war, after having seen some hard service. According to his comrades he was al- ways very faithful in the performance of duty, and for meritorious service he was promoted to sergeant at Vicksburg. He was in seventeen or eighteen general engagements and many skirmishes.
After he returned from the war, Mr. Hews went back to farming; he had married in 1859 and at the time of his enlistment he had two small chil- dren. He owned forty acres of land in Elk Creek township and the wife and children lived there until he returned from the front. She was known in her maidenhood as Elizabeth Payton, who was born in Hendricks county, In- diana, the daughter of James and Mary (McDaniels) Payton, natives of Kentucky. The family came to Iowa in 1855 and settled near Galesburg. There were eight in the family that grew to maturity, namely: Mary A., wife of Napoleon B. Mayfield, now of Kansas, was the first white child born in Jasper county ; she became well educated, was highly intellectual and at one time was superintendent of schools of this county; Mrs. M. E. Hays is living in Kansas; Mr. Hays was formerly sheriff of the county when he lived at Sharon Springs : Milton C. lives at Creston, Iowa ; Spencer H. lives at Lynn- ville, this county.
The death of Mrs. Hews occurred in 1876, leaving eight children, only three of whom grew to maturity, namely : Edwin O., a landscape gardener in California; Alva was kicked by a horse and killed when twenty-seven years of age ; William, living in Kansas.
In 1878 Mr. Hews again married, his second wife being Frances A. Hewitt, who was born at Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Buntin) Hewitt, natives of Ohio. By this marriage one child was born, Leota May, who died at the age of two years. Mr. Hews' second wife passed to her rest at Galesburg, February 14, 1909.
Mr. Hews has been very successful in his business relations, having owned various farms, and in 1869 he went to Nebraska and bought one hun- dred and sixty acres which he sold four years later. Returning to Jasper county, 'he quit farming in a short time and took up carpentering, which he has followed more or less ever since, but is now leading a retired life with his sister, Mrs. Snodgrass, in Newton, whose husband died in October, 1890; she owns a good farm of over a hundred acres in Newton township, but prefers to live in the town of Newton.
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Mr. Hews spent eight years in Wichita, Kansas; for the past two years he has lived in Newton, this county. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Newton; also belongs to Garrett Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He is a "standpat" Republican, and while living in Nebraska he was elected justice of the peace on the Republican ticket, and he held various offices in Elk Creek township. He is a worthy member of the Christian church.
WILLIAM HARVEY NOLIN.
One of the honored vocations from the earliest ages has been husbandry and as a usual thing men of worthy impulses have been patrons of agriculture. The free outdoor life of the farm has a decided tendency to foster and develop that independence of mind and self-reliance which characterizes true manhood and the boy is indeed fortunate who is reared in close touch with nature in the healthful, life-inspiring labor of the fields.
Among the enterprising young farmers of Fairview township, Jasper county, Iowa, is William Harvey Nolin, who was born in Marion county, Iowa, February 21, 1885. He is the son of Cyrus Nolin and wife, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
The subject was the second in a family of four children, the others being, Robert George, now deceased; Elvin Meek; Mary Alice Blanch.
William H. Nolin attended school at Sunny Point and he grew up on the home farm, assisting with the general work there when a boy. On the even- ing of his twenty-first birthday he was married, and he then began renting land of his father-in-law, and the year following he rented of his father. In IgII he and his brother, Elvin, bought a portion of the James A. Tool farm of one hundred and twenty acres, renting other land also, operating two. hun- dred and eighty acres in all. The two live together and work the place together and they are making a success as general farmers and stock raisers, making a specialty of Poland-China hogs, Belgian and Shetland horses and light Brahma chickens.
William H. Nolin is independent in politics, voting always for the best man, regardless of party. He is a prohibitionist in belief. He belongs to Tool's Chapel Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Nolin was married on February 21, 1906, to Grace Lucile Jarnagin, who was born December 19, 1884. in Marion county. She is the daughter of Alpheus Jarnagin, who came from Illinois to Iowa in 1865. Mrs. Nolin at- tended the Enterprise district school in Fairview township, this county.
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To the subject and wife three children have been born, namely : Karl William, Burt Roscoe and Harold Elvin.
Elvin Meek Nolin, mentioned above, as in partnership with the immediate subject of this sketch in operating the farms in this township, was born October 4, 1887, in Fairview township, this county. He attended the rural schools and the high school at Monroe, from which he was graduated in 1898, after which he taught school very acceptably for two years ; but he has pre- ferred farming and he is making good.
On February 21, 1911, Mr. Nolin was married to Cattolina Fennema, who was born in 1890, the daughter of John F. and Wilhelmina L. (De Jong) - Fennema. These parents, who are of Holland descent, are farmers in Marion county.
CAPT. JOSEPH R. RODGERS.
No resident of Colfax is better known to its people, stands higher in their regard, or comes from a more honored family, which he by his life has made more honored, than does Capt. Joseph R. Rodgers, now retired, who was the first mayor of Colfax, installed as such on September 9, 1875. He came to Newton, Jasper county, in 1854 with his parents, Hugh and Emily (McManus) Rodgers. Hugh Rodgers came to this county from his native city, Charleston, South Carolina. He was the son of Henry and Jane (Nealy) Rodgers, respectively natives of Limerick and Cork, Ireland. Two of Hugh's brothers, Dr. Henry Rodgers and William Rodgers, also located at Newton, where the three brothers were among the leaders of the people for many years. Hugh Rodgers engaged in mercantile pursuits, and was coroner of Jasper county from 1858 to 1864 and from 1871 to 1876. The brothers were prominent in Masonic circles. Hugh was the first junior warden of Newton Lodge No. 59, of Masons, instituted on March 20, 1855, was proxy for the worshipful master at the grand lodge in June, 1855. William Rodgers was the first senior warden of the Newton Lodge, the first principal sojourner of Gebul Chapter No. 12, Royal Arch Masons, insti- tuted in 1856, and was a charter member of Commandery No. 22, Knights Templar, and of Lodge No. 73 of Odd Fellows. Dr. Henry Rodgers was a resident of Newton in 1850, and is credited with being the pioneer doctor of Jasper county. He was treasurer of Newton township in 1850, county treasurer from 1850 to 1854, and county recorder from 1850 to 1858. A son of Henry Rodgers, T. F. Rodgers, still, in 1910, resides on a farm near New- ton.
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