USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 14
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Rev. Mr. Brown, now living retired in Jasper county, is known and beloved not only in this locality but throughout the state as well. His has been a remarkable career, without a parallel, perhaps. in that for forty years without a break he did not take a day's vacation, nor was he incapacitated by sickness. Forty years does not cover the full period of his ministry. He has been a most zealous worker in his chosen field and has nobly earned the respite which he now enjoys, leading a retired life with his faithful wife beside him. who has with fortitude and fidelity shared his labors and trials during his long career in the service of the Master.
Rev. Elijah S. Brown was born March 29, 1834, in Brown county. Illi- nois, being the son of James T. and Nancy (Harrell) Brown, the mother hav- ing been born in Adair county, Kentucky, and the father was born in Bote- tourt county, Virginia. When a young man he left his native state, going to Kentucky where he engaged in farming, and there he married, continuing to
REV. ELIJAH S. BROWN
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reside there until 1825, when, with his family, he moved to Illinois where he entered a quarter section of land from the government, in Brown county. Sell- ing his farm in 1848, he brought his family to Davis county, Iowa, buying a section of land ten miles from Bloomfield, the county seat, paying for the same only one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. This was done by means of land warrants which the United States government had granted to the sol- diers of the Mexican war. Here the family home was maintained until 1874, in April of which year the death of the father occurred, at the age of seventy- two years, his wife having preceded him to the great beyond five months be- fore, in November, 1873. She was seventy-four years old. They had estab- lished a good home and developed an excellent farm and were prominent among the pioneers of that locality, highly honored and influential in local affairs. Their family consisted of nine children, namely: P. F., who resided in Kansas at the time of his death, left a large family; Mary, who married Z. B. Rooker, died leaving three children: W. B., who was a soldier in the Civil war, died in Mississippi; C. H. died in Harrison county, Missouri, leaving a large family ; J. P. lives in Chicago, where he is extensively engaged in con- tracting ; he was a soldier in the Civil war; Sarah is the wife of John Ressler and died in Davis county ; W. W. is a farmer and lives in Barton county, Missouri; S. M., who was a soldier in the Civil war, is living in Ottumwa, Iowa, and Elijah S., of this sketch.
Rev. Elijah S. Brown, who was the fifth child in order of birth in his father's family, received his early education in the country schools and he remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, assisting with the gen- eral work about the farm. On December 23. 1855, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth E. Conaway, who was the daughter of Aquilla and Margaret (Barr) Conaway, and she was born November 20, 1834. in Vermilion county. Illinois. Her father was a native of Maryland and her mother of Pennsyl- vania. This family moved to Davis county, Iowa. in the year 1838, being among the first settlers there. This family consisted of twelve children, namely: Richard, died in Missouri; Malinda, wife of David Bish, died in Davis county; Joseph, who was a soldier in the Union army, died in the service near Helena, Arkansas; William died in Davis county, Iowa: Amer- ica married Joseph Bish, of Davis county; Eliza A. married John Lee, of Davis county ; Amanda is the wife of James Brown: John died in Missouri : Sarah J. died in infancy; Nancy married Isaiah Starkey; Fanny married Will Doyle, of Unionville, Missouri; Elizabeth, wife of the subject. The father of these children was a large land owner, a substantial and influential citizen of Davis county.
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Until he was twenty-six years of age Rev. Elijah S. Brown engaged in farming during the summer months and teaching school in the winter time; he also preached in a local way. He was ordained a minister of the Metho- dist Protestant church in 1862, and from that time until he retired in 1900 he was engaged in pastoral work continuously, becoming one of the notable men of his day and generation in the work of the gospel in lowa. He did consider- able circuit work, the places on the circuits where he preached being Drake- ville, in Davis county; Montezuma, Millersburg, Osceola, Attica, Milton, Jessup, Newton, Ohio Station in Iowa county; Marne in Cass county ; Downey in Cedar county. He was stationed at Osceola, Newton and Bussey . in Marion county. In each of these places he did a great work, strengthening the church in a general way and building up the congregations. He was president of the lowa conference of his church for thirteen years, filling this high office in a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability and fidelity and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, proving himself to be a good organizer and financier, a trustworthy and conscientious servant of the people and a learned and eloquent exponent of the divine word. Fraternally, Rev. Mr. Brown has been a Mason since 1866.
In ISSI Mr. Brown purchased the property where he now resides, owning a very choice place of thirteen acres which adjoins the east corporation line of the city of Newton. He has valuable and highly productive land and a sub- stantial and comfortable home, where, surrounded by his books and all the comforts of life, he is spending his declining years in peace, with no compunc- tion for the past and no fear for the future. In July, 1911, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on the subject by the Kansas City Uni- versity.
His home has been blessed by the birth of four children, namely: Mary, who was born on July 15, 1857, married John Norris, of Newton, and they are the parents of seven children : Martha Brown, born in June, 1860, died when nine years old; Sadie, who was born in September, 1862, married Henry Russell ; they are the parents of two children and they are living in Willows, California : C. S., born in October, 1868. is a lumberman at Atlantic, Iowa, where he is connected with the W. T. Joyce Lumber Company; he and his wife are the parents of two children.
The Brown family is of English and Irish ancestry, and Mrs. Brown is of Irish and Welsh descent. No family in Jasper county is better or more favorably known than this. or is more deserving of the high esteem in which it is held
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MASON C. OGG.
One of the successful young farmers of Fairview township, Jasper coun- ty, who has won the confidence and respect of his neighbors, while advancing his own interests in a material way, and with the excellent start he has the future augurs much for his success as an agriculturist and stock raiser.
Mr. Ogg was born in Fairview township, this county, December 10, 1879. He is the son of William Marshall Ogg and Harriet Elizabeth (Churchill) Ogg, the father born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, October I, 1849, and the mother was born in Wisconsin,in 1851. The paternal grand- parents, George and Lida (Rush) Ogg, were natives of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, the former born March 18, 18II, and the latter on June 2, 1820. . They were married May TI, 1845. George Ogg was a blacksmith by trade and he always kept a shop in connection with his farm. About 186[ he brought his family from Pennsylvania to Allamakee county, Iowa, and there bought a farm. Remaining there until 1874, he moved with his family to Jasper county and bought one hundred and sixty acres in Fairview town- ship. The death of George Ogg occurred on April 13, 1875, his widow sur- viving many years, reaching an advanced age, her death occurring on Decein- ber 29, 1899.
William M. Ogg, father of the subject, bought one hundred and twenty acres of the old homestead, to which he later added eighty acres more and in due course of time became well established. He and his family are mem- bers of the Baptist church, and in politics he votes the Republican ticket.
William M. Ogg was married on February 20, 1873, to Harriet E. Churchill, and to this union five children have been born: Mason C., of this sketch, and Ethel, who is at home, are the only ones living. Lyda died when about five years old; Wallace E. died when about eighteen years of age; Elmer E. died when about fourteen years of age. In order to give his chil- dren proper educational advantages, Mr. Ogg moved with his family to Des Moines, where he still lives, retired from active life.
Mason C. Ogg grew up on the home farm and assisted with the general work about the place when a boy. He had the advantages of good educa- tional training. He attended the Capital Prairie district school, Jasper coun- ty. He was fourteen years old when the family moved to Des Moines and there he entered the public schools, later attending the Baptist College in that city. where he made an excellent record and from which he was graduated in 1901. He turned his attention to farming after leaving school, beginning
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renting his father's farm of two hundred acres in Fairview township, Jasper county, and here he has remained, keeping the place well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He has met with encouraging success as a gen- eral farmer and stock raiser. He makes a specialty of raising full blood Here- ford cattle. Politically, he is a Republican and he has served as township trustee. Religiously, he belongs to the Baptist church.
Mr. Ogg was married on January 1, 1903, to Olive E. Woodard, who was born in Osage, Iowa, the daughter of Otis P. Woodard, who is engaged in the insurance business there. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ogg, Helen Sawyer and Wallace Almon.
AUGUST C. SCHUMANN.
Endowed with a liberal share of good common sense and possessing sound judgment, backed by a well founded purpose to succeed, August C. Schumann, farmer, of Mariposa township, Jasper county, has labored with the object primarily in view of making a good home for himself and family and acquiring a competency for his declining years. This laudable desire is being realized, and he is in what we sometimes call "easy circumstances," with a sufficient surplus for the proverbial "rainy day," which sooner or later comes to every individual, and which, when not provided for results in at least much inconvenience and unhappiness if not downright suffering. It is perhaps possible for every ablebodied young man to prepare against such a time, but some, instead of doing so, trust to luck, which is an elusive and capricious thing, and so, believing in the optimism of the future, they spend all on the present. Mr. Schumann, it seems, has been wiser and his prudence has urged him to pursue a different course, which, all contemplative minds will agree, is the wiser, and therefore his example and that of his worthy father before him as well, are to be commended to the younger readers of this work whose destinies are yet matters for future years to determine and who are hesitating at the parting of the ways, apparently unable to determine which course it were better to pursue.
Mr. Schumann was born in Mariposa township, Jasper county, Iowa, on May 10, 1868. He is the son of Peter Chris Schumann and Christina R. (Schaefer) Schumann, the father born in Roden, duchy of Waldeck, Ger- many, on December 18, 1823, and the mother was born in the city of Goeppin- gen in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, on January 28, 1838. Peter
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' C. Schumann grew up in Germany and there received his education and learned the wagonmaker's trade, which he followed with much success. In 1854 he was united in marriage with Henrietta Mueller, and in 1856 they emigrated to the United States, the trip being a tedious one, as such trips went in those days of slow-sailing vessels and few railroads. They came on to Muscatine county, Iowa, and there decided to make their future home, consequently renting a farm, but in 1859 he moved to Scott county. this state, and there his wife died. In September, 1867, Mr. Schumann moved to Jasper county, and on October 3d of that year he was united in marriage with Christina R. Schaefer, mother of the subject. She was the mother of one son, Otto F., who has since borne the name of Schumann.
Upon arriving in Jasper county, Peter C. Schumann purchased eighty acres of land in section 29, Mariposa township. Here he at once began to prosper for he had found a favorable locality and he added to his original pur- chase from time to time until he became the owner of four hundred and forty acres, one hundred and twenty acres of which was in Marshall county. It was all valuable and desirable land and he farmed on an extensive scale, keep- ing his land well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. He became one of the leading agriculturists in his community and was well known and influential, always evincing his desire to see the same grow and aiding in its progress in every way possible. Politically, he was a Democrat and he served his district as school director. He was baptized, confirmed and reared in the Lutheran church, from whose faith lie did not depart, liberally supporting the congregation in his vicinity. His second wife, the mother of the subject, passed to her reward on April 22, 1885, and the elder Schumann was again married, his last wife, who still lives, being Barbara Werner.
To Peter C. Schumann and his second wife were born the following children : August C., of this sketch, is the eldest : Gustav is living at Albion, Iowa; Mrs. Amelia Garregan lives in Grinnell, Iowa ; Albert is a resident of Marshall county; Christian is living in North Dakota. Fred Schumann was born to Peter C. Schumann and his third wife. In 1903 the father of the sub- ject moved to Laurel, Iowa, and retired from active life, and there his death occurred on February 18, 1909.
August C. Schumann grew up on the farm and assisted with the general work about the place and he has made this his life work. He had the advan- tages of a good common school education, having attended the schools of districts Nos. I and 4, Mariposa township, Jasper county. He was only nine years old when he began driving a team for his father on the farm, and when twenty-two years old he worked by the month for a year, then rented a farm
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for four years and thereby got a start. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Mariposa township, where he still resides. This he has greatly improved and kept well tilled, so that it ranks with the best in the community. In connection with general farming he raises some good live stock of various grades. In 1906 he erected an attractive, commodious and convenient dwell- ing, substantial barns and other convenient buildings. Everything about his place denotes thrift and good management.
Politically, Mr. Schumann is a Democrat and he has long manifested an abiding interest in the affairs of his township and county. He has served his community as township clerk for two terms.
Mr. Schumann was married on December 17, 1890, to May E. Lanz. who was born in Scott county, Iowa, on March 11. 1873. the daughter of Herman and Hattie (Gettings) Lanz, who came to Jasper county from Scott county. Mrs. Schumann's father was of German descent, while her mother was of English extraction. To the subject and wife have been born three children, namely : Lee H., born March 25. 1892: Verne, born April 1, 1897. died March 23. 1900: Mamie. born December 31, 1900.
JOHN M. WOODY.
One of the thrifty farmers of Fairview township, Jasper county, is John M. Woody, who has won a reputation as a man of excellent judgment and progressive ideas, which accounts for his continued success in his chosen line of endeavor. Being careful in his calculations, resourceful in his deal- ings and eminently honorable in his relations with others, people have always reposed confidence in him.
Mr. Woody was born in Marion county, Iowa, January 2, 1866. He is the son of William H. and Jennie E. (Day) Woody, both natives of Law- rence county. Indiana, the father born on July 11. 1834, and the mother in September. 1840. They grew up, were educated and married in their native county. In early life the father learned the carpenter's trade. In 1849 he came to Iowa with his parents, John, Sr., and Mary Woody, and settled on a farm southeast of Monroe. The father of the subject returned to Indiana when twenty-three years old and married, but lived there only a short time, when he brought his young wife to Jasper county, Iowa. Here he worked at the carpenter's trade for some time, finally buying eighty acres in Marion county, southeast of Monroe. He subsequently added to his place until he
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owned one hundred and sixty acres. In 1898 he moved to Monroe, after a . successful life as a farmer, and retired from work, and there he and his wife still reside. He is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church. He reared a large family, five sons and eight daughters, of whom John M., of this sketch, was the fourth in order of birth and the only son that lived.
John M. Woody attended the Pleasant View district schools in Marion county. When he was twenty-one years old he began renting land and in 1896 he bought three hundred and thirty-three acres on the Skunk river in Fairview township. Here he has built a large and attractive residence, good outbuildings and kept his fine farm well improved and under a high state of cultivation and as a general farmer and stock raiser he ranks with the best of the township. He makes a specialty of full blood short-horn cattle. Politically, he is a Democrat, but has not attempted to be a leader in public matters.
Mr. Woody was married January 1, 1890, to Anna L. Byers, who was born on the place where they now live, on December 2, 1866, the daughter of Thomas L. Byers. To the subject and wife the following children have been born: Olive B., Amor L., Percy H. and Mark M.
WILLIAM J. MARSHALL.
.A successful farmer and public-spirited citizen of Fairview township, Jasper county, is William J. Marshall, a man who is eminently deserving of the success that has attended his efforts in view of the fact that he has worked long and hard for the same. He grew up amid pioneer conditions and has been content to spend his life here at home, believing that here were to be found as good opportunities as anywhere for the man who desired to follow tilling the soil as a livelihood.
Mr. Marshall was born in the township where he still resides on August 31, 1868. He is the son of Robert Marshall, an extended mention of whom is to be found in another part of this volume in the sketch of G. F. Marshall.
William J. Marshall grew up on the home farm and there he began working about the place when but a small boy. He attended, during the winter months, the district school at Cottage Grove. He remained with his father until he became of age. When his twenty-first birthday arrived he began renting land-the home place-and soon had a start, for he worked hard and was economical. In the fall of 1902 he bought one hundred and
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA1.
twenty acres three and one-half miles west of Monroe and there he lived for four years, then bought the home farm of one hundred and ninety-five acres, and soon moved thereto. He has kept the place well improved and well tilled and has made a success as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has a fine home and is very comfortably situated.
Politically, Mr. Marshall is a Democrat, and he is at present school director in his district.
On September 25, 1889, Mr. Marshall was married to Ellen Lillian Crane, a native of Monroe, Iowa. She is the daughter of Edward Crane, a native of Ireland, who ran away from home when a boy and crossed the Atlantic to New Orleans, and finally came to Iowa. Two sons have been born to the subject and wife, Roy Meek Marshall and Burton Lee Marshall.
DAVID W. CHURCH.
Few men of a past generation in Jasper county did more for the general good of the same than the late David W. Church, a man whom to know was to admire and respect, for he was the possessor of that peculiar combination of attributes which results in the attainment of much that is worth while in this world. He aimed to be progressive in what he did, was always in sym- pathy with enterprises having for their object the common good, and his influ- ence was invariably exerted on the right side of every moral issue. Like all men of positive character and independence of mind, he was outspoken in what he considered right, and his convictions were such that his neighbors and fellow citizens knew well his position on all questions of a political, moral and religious nature. His private life was exemplary and his amiable traits of character and many virtues made him widely popular.
Mr. Church was born in Covington. Wyoming county, New York. June 3. 1819, and died March 29, 1907. He was the son of Timothy and Hannah Church, the former born February 17, 1793. and died November 4. 1859: the latter. born September 10, 1799. died July 29. 1845. They were married Julý 29. 1818. and were among the old settlers of that county, the father having been a native of New Hampshire, and the mother was born in New York state. Children were born to them, named as follows: David W. of this review : John. Hannah D., Joseph. Jessie. Lizzie. Elizabeth, Agustius, one who died in infancy.
When David W. Church was fourteen years old his parents moved to Michigan, locating on a farm not far from Detroit: later when the father
DAVID W. CHURCH
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retired from active life he moved back to Wyoming county, New York, where he and his wife remained until their deaths.
The subject received an excellent education in the schools of New York and Michigan. Turning his attention to the legal profession while yet young, he attended a law school in the last named state and was graduated in that branch in September, 1855. He met and married Eliza Parker while in Adrian, Michigan. She was the widow of John Parker, deceased, of that place, and she was the daughter of John Reynolds, who was born in France, and Stauchies Lebiga, who was born in Canada. They were among the old settlers of Canada across from Port Huron, and became well-known and well- established there.
The year following their marriage David W. Church and wife came to Jasper county, Iowa, locating in Newton in 1856, and to this union two children were born: Robert F. B., now deceased, married Ella Gilmore; Joanna Church married Ebenezer Wright, of Sycamore, Illinois, and to them one daughter was born, Edna, who is now married to Arthur Linden, of Chicago. The father being deceased, the mother is making her home with her mother just north of Newton.
David W. Church proved his patriotism by offering his services in defense of his country, enlisting on the 20th day of August, 1861, in Company I, Tenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and he served very faithfully and gallantly for over four years. After receiving an honorable discharge on the 21st day of November, 1864, he returned to Newton, Iowa, where he remained until his death, March 29, 1907, at the home where his widow still resides. He was always prominent in political affairs, and when a young man he voted the Democratic ticket, but in later years he was a Republican; however, he finally returned to Democracy before his death. For a number of years he very ably and acceptably served as marshal of the city of Newton and he was also con- stable. He was an active and worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He did much for the upbuilding of Newton, always being ready to assist in any manner possible the general progress of the town. As an attorney he won wide distinction, being well-grounded in the law, and he was earnest, painstaking and untiring. He kept well abreast of the times not only in his chosen life work but in all matters of public, scientific and universal import, and he was a well-read, scholarly man, a brilliant conversationalist and a man worthy of the confidence and high esteem which all who came into contact with him freely accorded. He was also a graduate in medicine of Michigan University and practiced in early life, but after coming to Iowa he never practiced medicine, but gave his attention to law.
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DAVID H. CRAVEN.
One of the most active, thoroughgoing and enterprising farmers of Mariposa township, Jasper county, is David H. Craven, whose success lies very largely in the fact that he has always advocated doing well whatever task presented itself and in not permitting the numerous paltry obstacles met in the pathway of everyone to annoy or thwart him. He believes in pushing ahead, employing twentieth-century ideas and methods in all phases of agricultural work and in dealing with his neighbors and acquaintances in a manner that will inspire confidence. He does not want a man's dollar if thereby he makes an enemy. Such men prove to be good citizens, good neighbors and good friends and are indispensable to any community.
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