USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 20
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In May, 1852, Charles Van Epps, father of the subject, moved with his family to Iowa, locating near Davenport, in Scott county, where he engaged in farming, later bought three hundred and twenty acres in Clinton county. He became fairly well-to-do and was highly respected. His death occurred on October 16, 1855. His widow survived until October 8, 1886, when she died at Davenport.
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Harmon V. Van Epps, of this review, began working for himself on a farm when he reached his majority. A few years later, in 1860, he bought forty acres of land in Muscatine county, later bought forty acres more, and a few years later an eighty-acre tract. Selling his holdings in 1884, he came to Jasper county and bought a half section of land in Buena Vista township, just south of Kellogg. This he held for twelve years, then sold it and purchased a place southeast of Newton, just outside the city limits. A few years later he sold this and bought property on East Main street in Newton. This he still owns. In 1910 he bought twenty-one acres adjoining the city on the east, on which he erected a modern, spacious and beautifully located home. Here he has a fine young orchard, comprising two hundred cherry trees and two hun- dred peach and apple trees, this attractive home being known as "Cherry Grove Place."
On November 29, 1860, Mr. Van Epps was united in marriage with Amanda M. Cunningham, who was born in Noble county, Indiana, on October 29, 1840, the daughter of Levi and Fidelia (Schoonover) Cunningham. Her father was born near Cleveland, Ohio, February 13, 1813, and died September. 22, 1883. Her mother was born in Genesee county, New York, May 29, 1814, and died in December, 1899. The father of Mrs. Van Epps was a blacksmith by trade, also engaged in farming in Noble county, Indiana. He came to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1846 and bought land. He was one of the courageous adventurers who crossed the great western plains to the Cali- fornia gold fields in 1849. He was fairly successful and returned to Iowa, but made a second trip to the Eldorado on the Pacific coast in 1852, on the same mission, being in the same company with Horace Greeley, the famous editor and politician. In 1873 he came to Jasper county and bought forty acres of land in Newton township, and here he lived until shortly before his death, which occurred while on a visit to his daughter in Missouri. After his death his widow married Jacob Lambert, and they are both now deceased.
Mrs. Van Epps is one of a family of seven children, namely: Esther married Aretus Schoonover, now deceased, and she is living at Lake Park, Oregon; Price, now living at Spokane, Washington, was a soldier during the Civil war in the Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry; he accompanied his father to California on his quest for gold; Dorleska married David Daly and she died in Colorado; Olive R. married Albert Van Epps and lives at San Diego, California; Mary married David Coyl and died in Missouri; Wallace is living on a farm in South Dakota, which he homesteaded in 1910, near Edgmont. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Canada, which he homesteaded.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Van Epps four children have been born, two of whom are now living, namely : Harry, born October 6, 1861, a machinist, living at Newton, married Ida Reynolds, who died, leaving two children, Percy R., who makes his home with his grandparents, and Nellie Grace, who died in infancy. Harry Van Epps later married Ada Baugh, and they have one child, Arthur E. Edwin P. Van Epps was born September 1, 1865, farmed in Buena Vista township and died in February, 1911, leaving a widow and two children, Bertha and Merl E. Fannie R., born October 17, 1873, died January 15, 1896. Wilmont Stacy, born January 14, 1877, lives in Kansas City, Mis- souri, where he is an optician; he married Jennie Rowland.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Van Epps are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has served as steward and superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a Republican, and has long been interested in the general prog- ress of his locality in all lines.
EBENEZER W. HENRY.
Jasper county has been greatly indebted to the old Keystone state for the many enterprising citizens she has sent here to assist in developing the same, placing this locality on a par with any in the national Union. Of this worthy number Ebenezer W. Henry, now living retired in the town of Monroe, is worthy of special mention. He was born in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, February 28, 1853, and he is the son of John and Jane (White) Henry, both natives of the same vicinity in which the subject was born. The father was a farmer and stock man, dealing in sheep and other stock of fine blood, and was one of the substantial and highly respected men of that county. He never came West except to visit, and his death occurred in Pennsylvania at the age of sixty-three years, his wife dying there also at about the same age. He was a great reader and a deep thinker, kept well informed. He was active in political affairs and took a prominent part in church work as well as in other public matters designed for the good of his fellow men. His family consisted of four children, all sons and all still living, namely : Robert and Joseph reside in Pennsylvania; Lewis lives in Asheville, North Carolina; Ebenezer W. of this review; they are all well-to-do and highly honored citizens.
Ebenezer W. Henry received a good education and up until 1879 he worked at home on the farm, then came west to Jasper county, Iowa, where he has remained ever since, with the exception of a short stay in the West coast
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country. Upon his arrival here he bought one hundred and twenty acres five miles north of Monroe and began farming. A year after its purchase he was married, on April 28, 1881, to Athalia A. Andrews, daughter of G. B. and Martha (Winegar) Andrews, of Washington county, New York. Mrs. Henry's parents were farmers and early settlers of Iowa, having come to Jas- per county in 1857, finding here a wild, unsettled region. The father had come here previously and entered one hundred acres of land, to which he later added sixty acres, and finally had an excellent farm, which he still owns and occupies. He is a fine old pioneer gentleman and is known all over the county as "Squire" from the fact that he served as justice of the peace many years. He was one of the early teachers in this county, and at one time taught a term of school in his home while his family were back East on a visit. He has always been a man of splendid public spirit and he has ably served his town- ship in many capacities. He is now advanced in years, having been born in 1829; his wife, who is still living, was born in 1836. They are the parents of three children, namely: Harriet Wheeler, wife of Ellsworth Wheeler, is living with her parents on the old farm; Lavonia Kinart, wife of Alfred Kinart, who lives in Harrisonville, Missouri; and Athalia A., wife of Mr. Henry.
After living on his farm twelve years, Mr. Henry came to the town of Monroe and entered into partnership with Orcutt Brothers in the general lum- ber and grain business, and he continued successfully in this line for a period of eight years, then failing health forced him to retire and move to California ; however, he remained there but a year when he came back to Monroe where he has since lived retired.
Few men in all Jasper county are better or more favorably known than Mr. Henry. Of wide experience, well read, honest, obliging and broad in his sympathies, he has ever enjoyed the confidence of all classes. While living on the farm he served his township in nearly every capacity, and the town of Monroe soon demanded. his services upon his removal here, and for twelve years he was a member of the city council, and for two terms served as a mem- ber of the school board. He was at one time a member of the county com- mittee, and in fact, he has always taken more or less interest in political and public affairs.
Mr. Henry is also prominent in lodge circles, being a member of Fairview Lodge No. 194, of Monroe, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a past master. He is also a member of Monroe Lodge No. 277, Knights of Pythias. being a past chancellor commander of that order.
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Mrs. Henry is a woman of rare accomplishments and charming person- ality. She is a member of Fairview Chapter No. 229, Order of the Eastern Star, of Monroe, being a past worthy matron. She is also a member of the Pythian Sisters, of which she is at present treasurer. She also holds a past chief certificate. Socially, she has long been a favorite with a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. She is a member of the well known P. E. O. society and also the Woman's Relief Corps.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Monroe, of which he is a steward; he is at present teaching in the Sunday school and was at one time superintendent of the Sunday school for three years. Mrs. Henry is a member of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. Politically, the subject is a Republican. He is a director in the State Savings Bank at Monroe, and, having been successful in whatever he has turned his attention to, is now in possession of an ample competency.
JEREMIAH W. WILSON.
An enumeration of those men of the past generation in Jasper county who won honor and recognition for themselves, and at the same time honored the locality to which they belonged, would be incomplete were there failure to make mention of the well remembered and highly revered gentleman whose name introduces this biographical memoir, Jeremiah W. Wilson, late of New- ton, who has been called to a higher sphere of action by the fate that awaits all mankind, but the good he did during a long and strenuous life will long mould and pervade the lives of those with whom he came into contact.
Mr. Wilson was born on August 8, 1834, in Lawrence county, Pennsyl- vania. When a boy he attended an academy at Poland, Ohio, and afterwards entered Mt. Union College, in the same state. Early in life he evinced a laud- able ambition to follow the legal profession and began reading Blackstone and other authorities with McSweeney & Given, in the city of Wooster, Ohio, one of the strongest law firms in the north part of the state in those days. He made rapid progress and was admitted to the bar at Medina, Ohio, September 21, 1855. The following year he moved to Newton, Iowa, where he con- tinued to reside until his death on May 6, 1887. His widow has continued to live there in her attractive and neatly kept home, which is regarded by her many friends as a place of hospitality and good cheer.
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Mr. Wilson was an attorney who ranked second to none in this part of the state, being well grounded in the principles of jurisprudence and very painstaking and vigilant in his research. He took an abiding interest in pub- lic affairs and in October, 1861, he was elected county judge of Jasper county, which high office he held with much credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned until in August of the following year when he resigned to offer his services in defense of the Union, enlisting in Company K, Twenty- eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He proved to be a very faithful and gallant soldier, and for meritorious service he was promoted to the rank of adjutant of his regiment in 1864, which rank he held until the close of the war, winning the hearty approval of his superior officers and the admiration of his men. After being honorably discharged he returned to Newton and resumed the practice of law. On January 1. 1878, he was appointed aide-de-camp to Governor Kirkwood of Iowa, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and he re- mained as such while the administration of Governor Kirkwood lasted, giving, as usual, the utmost satisfaction.
Mr. Wilson had taken a great interest in Masonry. From the annals of the grand lodge of Iowa in 1878 we take the following exactments by Hon. H. S. Winslow, gives the Masonic history of the deceased brother Wilson : "His Masonic history is a most honorable one; he was initiated in Newton Lodge No. 59. January 28, 1858; he passed July 31st of that year and joined , on August 28th following. The Royal Arch degree was conferred upon him in Gebal Chapter No. 12, October 21, 1869. He was knighted in Oriental Commandery No. 22, March 22, 1872. His daily life indicated that he at- tempted to carry out the lofty precepts of this worthy and time-honored order."
Mr. Wilson was united in marriage in 1859 to Mary M. Helphrey, a lady of culture and refinement and the representative of an excellent old family. She was born in Utica, Licking county, Ohio, and she was the daughter of Jacob and Catherine Helphrey, who moved to Newton, Iowa, where they were residing when the subject was married. To this union three children were born, namely : Mrs. W. W. Fenlon, of Clinton, Iowa; Mrs. P. W. Newell, of Los Angeles, California : Mrs. Dollie Baum, of Newton, Iowa. They were all well educated and are very comfortably situated in life and highly respected wherever they are known, each reflecting the wholesome home atmosphere in the midst of which they were reared.
Mrs. Wilson, whose cozy and attractive home is located at No. 221 South Vine street, Newton, is spending her declining years in the midst of plenty and she has a host of warm loyal friends who delight in her genial company.
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JAMES HICKEY.
So many things must be considered in the development of a county, state or nation, that neither the biographer nor historian can place a finger upon some one certain element or quality and say : "Here we have the very essence of this land's development and the keynote of its future." But one thing there is that we may be certain and that thing is sturdy manhood wherever we find it and no matter under what conditions. The history of the great county of Jasper, part and parcel as it is of the splendid commonwealth of Iowa, would indeed be incomplete without the biography of James Hickey, and in this statement there is no mawkish sentiment, no fulsome flattery. Well may any division of people take pride in the good citizenship, in the culture and refinement of one of their native born, for Mr. Hickey was born in Newton, the county seat of the county, August 13, 1859, and has resided in the county ever since. . He has watched it grow from a wilderness of raw prairie, peo- *pled by howling wolves, and the haunt of wild deer. into its present splendid fulfillment of well repaid husbandry. When he came to his present residence, he was but ten years old and the great rolling land about him presented no such aspect of well kept field and winding roadway as now.
His father, James Hickey, was a native of Ireland, immigrating to Ohio and coming to Jasper county from Carrollton, in that state, in company with old Dr. Hunter in 1842. His mother, Hannah (Tewey) Hickey, was also a native of Ireland. In 1860 Mr. Hickey's father purchased the eighty acres of land now occupied by the subject of this sketch as a residence, purchasing the same from Abraham Carrier for twenty-four dollars per acre. It was upon this land he was making his home when death claimed him thirty-five years prior to this writing. His mother departed this life in March, 1905, while making her home with her daughter, Nora, in Newton.
Mr. Hickey, the subject of this sketch, is one of a family of six children. two boys and four girls. Those living are: Mrs. Nora Murphy, wife of Patrick Murphy, resides in Newton; Lida Harboldt, wife of Christopher Har- boldt. residing near Goddard, Iowa; Mary Wilkinson, wife of Joseph Wil- kinson, resides in Pomona, California.
On May 13, 1885, Mr. Hickey was united in marriage to Hannah O'Rourke, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Corkery) O'Rourke, both of whom were natives of Ireland. Both of Mrs. Hickey's parents are dead. Mrs. Hickey was born in Monroe, Green county, Wisconsin, in 1860, and is one of eight children, seven of whom survive, namely: William and John, who re-
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side in South Dakota; Charles and Patrick reside in Monroe, Wisconsin; Lawrence, a traveling salesman for an electrical company, resides in California ; James, residing in Asher, Iowa; one sister is dead.
Mr. and Mrs. Hickey have four children : William J., born September 14, 1886, is in Des Moines, Iowa; Margaret Allen, wife of Frank Allen, born November 26, 1887, resides upon a farm in Jasper county ; Mamie Robinson, wife of William J. Robinson, a traveling salesman, resides in Brenton, Canada, and was born April 19, 1889; James Francis, born June 6, 1895, makes his home with his parents.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hickey are people of culture and refinement, Mr. Hickey being an inveterate and consistent reader and possessed of an excellent library. Both he and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic church, and are beloved by their wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Both have striven to give to their children the best that can be had by way of training and education. To pass an hour in conversation with James Hickey is a keen pleasure, for he has a mind rich in knowledge acquired from broad experience. as well as from the reading of good books. Then above all he has the quick sympathy and kindliness which dwells in the hearts of all true Irishmen.
HENRY A. PERRIN.
It is hard for the present generation to properly appreciate the brave deeds of the "boys in blue," who sacrificed so much on the altar of patriotism during the sixties, but as years go by the immensity of their deeds will be realized to a fuller extent and each veteran will be accorded full measure of credit and praise. Henry A. Perrin, well known citizen of Monroe, Fairview township, Jasper county, is one of this band of patriots and a man who is esteemed not only because of his unselfish deeds in behalf of his country, but also for his exemplary home life.
Mr. Perrin was born April II, 1844, in Clinton county, Ohio, and he is the son of Conrad and Elizabeth Ann (West) Perrin, natives of Ohio. The father, who devoted his life to carpentering, came to Iowa in 1856 and settled in VanBuren county, having made the long journey principally by steamboat and partly by rail to Keokuk and from there by stage to Keosauqua, thence to Polk county in 1858, where he settled on a farm which his sons operated. Here the family remained until 1862, when they moved to Marion county where they lived until the fall of 1865, in which period they came to Monroe,
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Jasper county, where they have since remained. The home was broken up after the death of the mother, the father having moved to Adams county where he made his home with a son until his death, at the advanced age of ninety years. He was born in 1816. He was a stanch Whig, later a Repub- lican. His family consisted of twelve children, of whom six are living, namely : Ellen is the widow of Eber Parish, of Knoxville, Iowa; Henry A., of this re- view ; Elias H. lives in Prescott, Iowa; Mary Baker is the widow of Eugene Baker, of Deer Lodge, Montana; Samuel T. lives in Columbia, South Dakota; Clayborn L. lives in Des Moines. Four died when children, and Jane died when twenty-two years of age and Margaret when twenty years old.
When Henry A. Perrin was seventeen years old he enlisted in August, 1861, in Company B, Tenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was sent to St. Louis and later to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where the winter was spent; in the spring of 1862 they were sent to Yazoo, Mississippi, and from there to Helena, Arkansas. Mr. Perrin took part in a number of engage- ments and saw considerable hard service. Among the battles in which he participated were Iuka and Corinth, the siege and fall of Vicksburg, and the battle of Helena, Arkansas. Later he was transferred to the Fourth Veteran Reserve at Rock Island on account of a severe rupture, and on September 6, 1864, he was mustered out of service at Milwaukee. Soon afterward he re- turned to Monroe, Jasper county, and took up carpenter work, which he had learned under his father, and this has been his occupation all the years of his active life, and being a very skilled and conscientious workman he was always in great demand.
On April 2, 1871, Mr. Perrin was united in marriage with Emma Labar, daughter of Silas and Sarah Labar, of Pennsylvania, both of whom died in that state. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Perrin, namely : Winnie married J. W. Burke, of Kellogg, Iowa ; Harry J., Elmer G., Clarence and Nellie G., all live in the village of Monroe.
Mr. Perrin is a member of Shelledy Post No. 84, Grand Army of the Republic, of Monroe, of which he has twice been commander. He is a mem- ber of the Baptist church of Monroe. He has always taken much interest in local affairs and in 1897 he was appointed postmaster of Monroe and he proved to be such an able and efficient public servant that he has held this position ever since, his son, H. J., being his assistant and his daughter, Nellie G., is clerk in the same. The son, H. J. Perrin, is a young man of much business ability and is well known and much liked. He has spent his life in Monroe. He is a member of Fairview Lodge No. 194, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Monroe, also of Jasper Lodge No. 168, Independent Order of Odd
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Fellows, of Monroe, of which he is past grand ; he is also a member of Monroe Encampment No. 60, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past chief patriarch and at present fills the office of scribe ; he is also affiliated with Eureka Rebekah Lodge No. 52, and Camp No. 7806, Modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of the Baptist church.
The Perrins have always been regarded as among the leading families in the southern part of Jasper county and they have done much for the general development of the same.
CUSTER BROTHERS & WRIGHT.
One of the most popular and best known mercantile firms in Jasper county is that of Custer Bros. & Wright, grocers, of Monroe, whose rapidly growing business and large success has been due to the honesty, enterprise and fore- sight of the managers, and they have long enjoyed the confidence and good will of their hundreds of patrons from all over the county.
Charles R. Custer was born in Monroe, Iowa, May 23, 1870, and he is the son of Aaron and Hullena ( White) Custer, the former a native of Penn- sylvania and the latter of Ohio; they were married in the last named state. They came west in 1869, settling in Monroe, this county, where the father en- gaged in his trade of carpenter and cabinet-maker. He then formed a partner- ship and launched out in the furniture business. This firm built the brick block now occupied by the O'Connor & Perrin restaurant. Aaron Custer then sold out and engaged in the general fire insurance business for a few years after which he started a lumber yard in company with Messrs. Dixon and Run- nels, which business, in partnership, and later, individually, he continued. eighteen years. It was during this time that he was elected for two terms to the General Assembly of Iowa, on the Republican ticket, and he inade a brilliant record there, winning the hearty approval of his constituents and the leaders of his party. After disposing of his lumber business he moved to Missouri, where he again resumed this line of endeavor. He owned and operated a big mill at Ash Hill, that state, for some time. At the end of three years he returned to Monroe, where, the first year, he built a number of dwelling houses. Later he built the business rooms now occupied by the firm of Custer Bros. & Wright, Mr. Custer up until his death, August 17, 1907, age sixty-three, being connected with the firm, then known as Custer, Wright & Company. In the passing away of this, one of the most prominent citizens of the early days in Jasper county, the community lost a stalwart,
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brainy, influential man. He probably did more for Monroe than any other citizen and at all times its best interests were his. He served as its mayor, as a councilman, upon its school board and also served his township in numerous capacities, always with credit to himself and to the great satisfaction of the people. At one time he organized a factory for the manufacture of wood novelties and to do general wood work, which factory was later moved to Missouri. Of a decidedly inventive mind, Mr. Custer worked for years on a system of dry separation for refractory ores, principally gold and silver, which work, since his death, has been taken up by his sons. who are at present per- fecting the system and the machine. Every detail and element of the inven- tion is covered by patent and the invention bids fair to revolutionize mining in refractory ore regions. At one time Aaron Custer did his utmost to interest capital in the development of a mineral paint, the raw materials for which are in large deposits not far from Monroe. He partly succeeded, but matters over which he had no control prevented the success of the enterprise. His widow still lives in Monroe, also three children, Mary Wright, wife of C. B. Wright, Charles and John Custer, who, with Mr. Wright, compose the present firm.
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