USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 13
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Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Blanford, namely: Dora. who is the wife of James Stewart, was graduated from the Young Ladies' Atheneum at Jacksonville. Illinois: William T. was graduated from a busi-
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ness college at Lexington, Kentucky; Consuelo is the wife of Lewin Pigler ; Frank ; Joseph ; Katherine was graduated from the business college at Lexing- ton, Kentucky, and she was also graduated from the high school at Grinnell, Iowa ; she was a young lady of talent and her promising career was cut short by death at the age of twenty-three years; George Edward and Charles A.
CHARLES O. MACY.
The important facts in the life history of one of Jasper county's intel- ligent men of affairs are set forth in the following paragraphs, briefly, but we hope correctly. The career of Charles O. Macy, president of Macy Broth- ers Exchange Bank at Lynnville and long one of the leading business men of this section of Iowa, illustrates most happily for the purposes of this work the fact that if a young man possesses the proper attributes of mind and heart. he can, though unaided, attain a position of unmistakable precedence and gain for himself an honored position among the men who are the fore- most factors in shaping the destinies of communities and towns. His life proves that the only true success in this world is that which is accomplished by personal effort and consecutive industry. It also demonstrates that the road to position is open to all who possess the courage to tread its pathway and serves as an inspiration to the young of the present and future generations, teaching by incontrovertible facts that true success is ambition's legitimate answer.
Mr. Macy was born in this county on December 15, 1866, and he is the son of S. H. and Abigail Macy, an honored old family here, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. The subject was educated in Lynnville, Lynn Grove township, later taking a course at Grinnell College, He first started in life for himself as a dealer in live stock, in partnership with his brother, E. B., under the firm name of Macy Brothers, in 1887. They built up a very extensive and lucrative business, becoming leaders in this line of endeavor in this section of the state. Later on they added grain, lumber and coal, maintaining headquarters both at Sully and Killduff. Their operations in these lines reached large proportions and have ever been on the increase, and by judicious management, keen discernment and honest, straight- forward dealing with their fellowmen they have made few mistakes and have accumulated a competency, becoming among the substantial citizens of the county. In 1900 they organized the Macy Brothers Exchange Bank at Lynn-
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ville, with Charles O. Macy as president and E. B. Macy as cashier. This bank has had a splendid growth and is considered one of the sound, safe and conservative institutions in this part of the state and its business has steadily grown since it was organized. The Macy brothers also own one of the finest farms in Jasper county, consisting of two hundred and eighty acres of well improved and productive land and here they carry on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. In addition to this they have an interest in about seven hundred acres of valuable and well located land.
Politically, Mr. Macy votes independently, and he belongs to the Friends church.
Mr. Macy was married in 1901 to Anna Newby, a lady of many com- mendable attributes of mind and heart, a native of Indiana and the daughter of John T. and Martha Newby, an influential old family. The beautiful home of the subject and wife has been blessed by the birth of three children, Car- roll, Ward and Willis.
Personally, Mr. Macy is a man whom it is a pleasure to meet, for with all of his capacity for the management of large affairs he is plain and un- assuming, the kind of character everybody likes. By courageous persistence he has surmounted all obstacles, attaining a position of prominence in the community and comparative affluence, having ever maintained a high order of living, dealing fairly with his fellowmen, and it would be hard to find a man in Jasper county who stands higher in general public esteem. He has never sought, public office, although well qualified to fill most any in the gift of the people, but he has preferred to devote his attention to his large private affairs: however, he has ever assisted in furthering the interests of his community whether in a political, moral or social way.
JOHN W. THARP.
The world is always ready to give credit to whom credit is due, or at least such an aphorism is qualifiedly true, and the man that accomplishes definite goals and does large things is always given credit by his fellow men ; especially is this true if one attains a high rung on the ladder of success despite unfortunate environment or overcomes insurmountable obstacles, refusing to be downed or thwarted by adversity. Such a man is John W. Tharp. one of the sterling citizens of Jasper county, who was born January 12, 1857. in Adair county, Missouri. Both his parents died when he was a baby. and he
JOHN W. THARP ·
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was reared by John Stover, with whom he remained until he was twelve years of age, when he set out alone to make his way in the. world. He has no recol- lections whatever of his parents; thus, without their solicitous care and guidance, he was compelled to forge ahead as best he could. Until he was twenty years of age he built grades for the lowa Central Railroad, with the exception of one winter which he spent in school. When eighteen years of age he was studying the "second reader," but, being determined to get an education, he put forth every effort in this line and by close application, which has been continued to the present time, he has been enabled to gather a vast fund of general information by miscellaneous home reading and study; in fact, it was but a few years until he was qualified to teach. Leaving the lowa Central Railroad, he worked with a bridge gang on the Wabash road and also part of the time in the railroad yards in St. Louis. On December 24, 1882, he was united in marriage with Melvina Earp, daughter of L. D. and Serena (Iler) Earp, the father a native of North Carolina and the mother of Ken- tucky; they spent their lives on a farm and came to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1847, settling among the early pioneers near where the town of Galesburg now stands, entering three hundred and twenty acres of land from the government. Prior to his death the father sold all his land and moved to Galesburg, where he lived retired until his death, in December, 1893, at the age of eighty-three years ; his widow survived until September, 1906, reaching the age of eighty-two years They became well known and prominent in Galesburg and vicinity where they so long resided Mr. Earp was fearless and outspoken for the truth and right and he was an ardent church worker, it being largely through his efforts that the Methodist Episcopal church at Galesburg was built. He was twice married, Mrs. Tharp being a child by the second marriage ; her brothers and sisters are, Eveline, wife of George Talbot, of Sac City, Iowa ; Thomas lives at Newton : John lives in Utah ; Milton lives . in Dorchester, Nebraska; Phoebe is the wife of Marion Butin, living near Reasnor ; those deceased are, Rozelia, who married Philo Linfoot ; Sarah Lin- coln, who died at sixteen years of age; an infant that died at six months and one in younger infancy. To Mr. Earp's first marriage were born nine chil- dren, of whom five are still living, namely: Peter lives in California ; Walter lives near Reasnor, this county ; Adeline is the widow of John Iler and lives in Grant City, lowa : Jonathan lives in Montana ; Nancy Clark is the widow of Oren Clark and lives in South Dakota: those deceased are. Philip. James, William ( died in the army ) and Mariah, wife of William Apliss.
Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tharp: Herbert Milton, born November 17. 1883. lives at Newton, Iowa. is married and has one child, (56)
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a daughter; Homer Weston, born July 25, 1885, lives near Reasnor on the farm owned by his father, is married and has one child. a son.
After his marriage John W. Tharp worked in a coal bank, on a farm, as cream buyer for the Newton Creamery Company and, in fact, did whatever he could to earn an honest living. At one time he and his wife moved in with her father and cared for him for two years. At another period of his life he lived in Newton and owned and operated a transfer line During three winters he was compelled to go to Cherokee, lowa, for medical treatment, but at all times he has worked most persistently and faithfully, and his industry has been very satisfactorily rewarded for he is the owner of a very valuable farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres, besides town property of considerable value. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for his large success in material affairs, owing to the fact that he has been compelled to go it alone, and having always led an honest and clean life he has won the respect of all ; who know him.
During the past eight years Mr. Tharp has very ably and conscientiously served his county in political and public capacities, always to the entire satisfaction of the people, most of the time as superintendent of roads, being considered one of the best road builders in the county this being his present occupation.
Everybody knows and respects John Tharp and at one time he was candidate for sheriff on the Republican ticket, and notwithstanding his popu- larity he was defeated. but solely owing to a split in his party. He is a member of Newton Lodge No. 59. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mrs. Tharp is an active member of the Methodist church at Reasnor and is a most excellent and kindly woman, well liked in all circles.
ROBERT MELVIN MORRIS.
Mariposa township. Jasper county, Iowa, has no more progressive or painstaking agriculturist and stock raiser than Robert Melvin Morris, a man who is eminently entitled to the success he has attained, for he has worked hard in the face of obstacles and has dealt honestly with his fellow men, ac- cording to those who have long known him.
Mr. Morris was born on February 8. 1873. in this township and he has been contented to spend his life right here at home knowing that no better place was to be found for the calling which he selected. Here he was edu-
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cated in the common schools, obtaining a good education and he spent his boyhood on the home farm in the summer months, making a hand when but a lad; however, the training he thus received augured for his future success.
Mr. Morris is the son of Stephen and Charlotte R. (Wilson) Morris, the father born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on July 3, 1838, and the mother was born in Arkansas on November 27, 1840.
The paternal grandparents, Paten and Martha Morris, lived and died in Ohio. The maternal grandparents, Robert W. and Johanna Wilson, left Arkansas in 1842 and moved to Clark county, Indiana, and lived there until 1854 when they drove through with wagon and team to Jasper county, lowa. R. W. Wilson entered a farm from the government just east of Rushville in Kellogg township and there he and his wife resided until their deaths. The mother of the subject was two years of age when she accompanied her parents from Arkansas to Indiana and she came west with them, later moving to Jas- per county, spending her girlhood days in Kellogg township. She received a good education and taught the first school in district No. 4, in Mariposa town- ship, when the district was opened in 1863. She and Mr. Morris were mar- ried on February 11. 1866, he having come to Jasper county from Ohio in 1860. Early in the Civil war the father, Stephen Morris, enlisted in Company I, Tenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in which he served most creditably for a period of three and one-half years. He was in the hospital a great deal of the time from eye trouble, which bothered him all the balance of his life. Stephen Morris had bought a farm in Jasper county before he came to Iowa, and after the war he traded that for the home place of one hundred and sixty acres in Mariposa township, to which he later added forty acres. He was a Republican in politics and all the family were members of the Methodist church. The death of Stephen Morris occurred on February 4, 1901, and since then the mother has been living among her children. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Morris, named as follows: Mrs. Sarah Elvira Pennington, of Colton, South Dakota ; Ame Clair died in infancy : Mrs. Hilaria J. Altemeier, of Mariposa township; Robert M., of this review, the fourth in order of birth : Jesse Paten is living in Newton, Iowa : Herbert S. is deceased : Mrs. Edith J. Snodgrass is living in South Dakota; Clarence is deceased ; Harvey Rice lives in Worth county, Iowa.
When twenty-one years of age Robert M. Morris, of this sketch, began renting land for agricultural purposes and, having gotten a start in that man- ner, he was enabled to buy a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 1902, in Mariposa township, known as the old Jimmy Lee farm, which he has greatly improved and, as stated, is making a success as a general farmer.
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Politically. Mr. Morris is a Republican, but takes little active interest in public affairs.
Mr. Morris was married on February 8. 1900, to Cora Hammer, who was born in Kellogg township, Jasper county, lowa. on March 12, 1880, the daugh- ter of Zachary and Jane (Tharp) Hammer. the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of Indiana. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Morris: Velma, born December 14. 1900: Olive, born December 29. 1902 ; Russell, born August 31, 1904: Merlin. born May 24. 1907 : Doris, born July 11. 1910.
BENJAMIN SANDERSON.
It is with a great degree of satisfaction that reference is made to the life of one who has made a success in any vocation requiring definiteness of pur- pose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of prosaic en- deavor or radical accomplishment, abounds in valuable lesson and incentive to those who have become discouraged in the fight for recognition or to the youth whose future is undetermined. For many years Benjamin Sanderson, of Richland township, Jasper county, directed his efforts toward the goal of success in the great arena of agriculture, and by patient continuance had won. But we are not surprised at this when we consider the fact that he was of sterling New England stock; that he had been persistent and self-reliant, and that his every relation with his fellowmen had been characterized by honesty.
Mr. Sanderson was born in Middlesex county, Massachusetts, June 10, 1832, the son of Abner and Sally (Sanderson) Sanderson, both natives of Massachusetts, but not related. The paternal grandfather, also named Abner Sanderson, was a well known Puritan and a prominent man in his town. The maternal grandfather, Nathan Sanderson, was also influential in his community, and a blacksmith by trade. The father of the subject of this sketch devoted his life to farming near Waltham, Massachusetts. His family consisted of nine children, all now deceased. The parents are also deceased. They were excellent people.
Benjamin Sanderson was educated in the common schools of his native community and reared on the home farm, where he worked during the sum- mer time when a boy. At the age of twenty years. in 1852, he moved to Ohio, but returned to Massachusetts, then a year later he went to Kansas, and in 1856 moved to Minnesota, located at Minneapolis and spent eight years in all in that country. It was during his residence in the Gopher state, that
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the great Civil war came on, and on October 8, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, in which he served with much credit until discharged for disability as the result of wounds received on the expedi- tion of Generals Banks and Steele, having been twice wounded, once so severely that he was left on the field for dead. According to his comrades he was a brave and efficient soldier. Returning to Minnesota, he lived in that state until 1868, and there he was married in 1866. He came to Jasper county, Iowa, and located on eighty acres where he lived until his death, hav- ing worked hard, managed well and consequently, at time of his death, he was very comfortably established, owning two hundred and eighty acres of rich, desirable land in Richland township. On this he had placed modern and extensive improvements of all kinds and carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, but for a number of years he had been practically retired, merely overseeing his farm. Politically, he was a Republican, and he had been township trustee.
On March 15, 1866, Mr. Sanderson was united in marriage with Cath- erine Mckay, a native of Waterloo county, Ontario, and the daughter of Alexander and Catherine (Calder) McKay, the father a native of New York and the mother of Scotland. They were married in Canada about 1835 and in 1855 moved to Minnesota and there spent the balance of their lives. Mr. Mckay devoted his life to farming.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson, namely : Sarah Jeannette, who married D. A. Brooke, lives next to the old homestead ; Benjamin died when six months old. On September 14, 1911, at the old homestead, surrounded by family and friends, Mr. Sanderson passed to the great beyond, loved, honored and respected by all who knew him.
JOSEPH A. BURNHAM.
By a life of persistent and well applied industry, led along the most hon- orable lines, the gentleman whose name appears above has justly earned the right to be represented in a work of the character of the one at hand, along with the other men of Jasper county who have made their influence felt in their respective communities.
Joseph A. Burnham, farmer, of Richland township, has spent his life in this locality and has been successful in his chosen life work, for he has not been afraid to apply himself to the daily tasks he has found awaiting him.
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He was born in Lynn Grove township, December 20. 1867, the son of Abraham and Margaret (Northcutt) Burnham. His maternal grandparents, Hezekiahı . and Sarah Northcutt, were natives of Kentucky, who later in life moved to Illinois and in the latter state the mother of the subject was born. The fam- ily moved to Iowa about 1855 and located in Lynn Grove township. Jasper county, on a place now known as the Briggs farm. This they developed and finally sold and built a mill, and later moved north of the town of Sully and there spent their last days, but died at the home of the subject's parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Burnham, mentioned above, grew up and married in this locality, and began farming when the country was still primitive and improvements were neither many nor extensive. By hard work and good man- agement they established a good home and owned a productive farm. Politi- cally, the father was a Republican, took considerable interest in local affairs and held several township offices. He is now living retired at Lynnville; his wife passed away in 1907. He is one of our worthy pioneers and has led a useful and honest life. His family consisted of three children, named as follows : Joseph A., of this review : Meretha and Edith.
Abraham Burnham is a veteran of the great Civil war. in which he fought gallantly as a member of Company K. Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in which he saw some hard service, covering the major part of the struggle. He was in many hard-fought engagements and trying campaigns, being finally discharged for disability, in fact, he has never completely recovered from the effects of his army life. his health having been permanently shattered, but he has never regretted his services to his country.
Joseph A. Burnham, of this sketch, was educated in the common schools and the Lynnville high school. He lived on the farm until he was seventeen years of age, then, in order to get a start in life, he worked out by the month. and was in the employ of Charles Johnson for a period of fourteen years. He saved his money and in 1899 bought a farm of sixty-three acres adjoining the corporation limits of Lynnville. He soon had this under excellent improve- ments, erecting a good dwelling, barn. fences, etc. He remained there but a year and a half when he traded this place to Joe Horn for one hundred and twenty acres in Richland township and lived there three years, when he sold out and bought eighty acres in another part of that township, two miles north- west of Lynnville. Here he built a good house, barn and made other improve- ments, and there engaged in general farming and stock raising, preparing large numbers of cattle and hogs for the market. Also dealt in real estate to some extent. in fact. he has not given up this side line, but still does some trading.
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Politically, Mr. Burnham is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant for offices. He belongs to the old Methodist Protestant church at Sully.
Mr. Burnham was married on August 12, 1899, to Daisy Sparks, daughter of John B. Sparks, a highly respected citizen of Lynnville. One child has been born to the subject and wife, Vada, now one and one-half years old.
GEORGE W. HITCHLER.
One of the successful men of Mound Prairie township, Jasper county, is George W. Hitchler, whose long residence here has shown him to be a man of courage, self-reliance and of the utmost integrity of purpose, as a result of which he has, during his entire life, stood high in the estimation of his neighbors and friends and is therefore deserving of a place in this book.
Mr. Hitchler was born in Sherman township, this county (but the vicin- ity in which his birth occurred is now a part of Mound Prairie township), March 6, 1859. He is the son of William Hitchler, who was born in Ger- many in 1810 and there he was reared and, when a boy, worked in his father's vineyard near the town of Rhodt, along the picturesque and famous river Rhine. Emigrating to America when twenty-one years of age, he found employment as a fireman on one of the first steamers on Lake Michigan. Then he returned to New York, in which state he had spent some time after landing here, and he worked in a lumber camp near Buffalo for quite a while. He was then married to Nancy Miller, who was born in the state of New York on May 2, 1829.
After his marriage William Hitchler went to Illinois, locating in Ken- dall county, where he rented land. In 1845 he drove from Rock Island to Jasper county, Iowa, and took up one hundred and sixty acres from the government. The country was a wild prairie and he was one of the earliest settlers there. In later years he has a fine farm and good home as a result of his close application to his place. He built a good house and barn, but in 1866 a Rock Island engine, that road having just been completed, set the prairie on fire, and Mr. Hitchler's farm was burned over, his home, outbuild- ings, grain, etc., having been destroyed. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. Their family consisted of eleven children, of whom George W., of this review, was the sixth in order of birth.
George W. Hitchler is one of the oldest native-born residents of Mound Prairie township, being now fifty-three years old. He grew up amid pioneer
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conditions and consequently had to work hard when a boy, with little chance to get an education ; however, he went to school during the short winter terms where the town of Metz now stands. He remained on the home farm until his marriage, then he rented the farm he now owns, finally buying one hun- dred acres, to which he has since added fifty acres, which he has placed under a high state of improvement and. cultivation. He carries on general farming and stock raising, and he has a pleasant home. Politically, he is a Republican, and he has been township trustee and school director. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church.
On September 18, 1882, Mr. Hitchler was married to Lyda Benskin, who was born in Richland county, Illinois, the daughter of Wesley Benskin. an Illinois farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Hitchler the following children have been born: Mrs. Maud Pentico and Mrs. May Walker, twins; Mrs. Viola McQuown, John. Pearl. Lola.
REV. ELIJAH S. BROWN.
The good done by such a life as that led by Rev. Elijah S. Brown cannot be estimated for such a light as his example has been "shines more and more unto the perfect day," and it is entirely consonant that in this work be included at least a brief resume of his long, active and eminently useful life work. He is a man who has sought to do his full duty in all the relations of life, without thought of reward or the praise of his fellow men, contented merely to feel that he is doing the will of the lowly Nazarene.
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