USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 27
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MILTON VANSCOY.
Milton Vanscoy, who is a prosperous farmer living near the little station of Murphy, in Buena Vista township, is a fine example of what a man can accomplish by industry and thrift. He was born in Randolph county, West Virginia, in the year 1849, and is the son of John and Emily (Slagel) Vanscoy, both natives of West Virginia, and of Randolph county. In 1870 John Vanscoy and his wife came to Iowa, where their son Milton had preceded them a couple of years. They did not locate here permanently, but proceeded on to Kansas, and established a home in Coffey county, that state. It was not long until the home was broken up, by the death of John Vanscoy, which occurred in 1871 in the little town of Leroy. He was sixty-five years of age at the time of his death, and was the last of the surviving members of a family of ten children. The mother, Emily Vanscoy, who died in 1880, was the daughter of Jacob and Susan Slagel, and was one of thirteen children, three of whom still survive. Two of them, Ely Slagel, eighty-two years old, and Elizabeth Slagel, eighty-four, neither of whom ever married, make their home with their nephew, the subject of this review. Jacob Slagel, another brother, lives in Hayworth, Illinois, and is eighty years old.
Milton Vanscoy, the subject of this sketch, was one of ten children, six of whom are now living, namely : Isaiah, born in 1848, lives in Rockville. Nebraska : Perry, born in 1856, lived in Revenna, Nebraska, but is now dead : Jacob L., born in 1864 and who makes his home in St. Louis, is a railroad car- penter and travels a great deal; W. A., born in 1868, lives in Jasper county, Iowa: Lucy J., born in 1870, married Daniel Jackson, and lives in Killduff,
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Jasper county, Iowa; Noah D. died at the age of forty years at Tacoma, Washington; Elizabeth died in infancy; and Jasper, who died at Van Cleve. Marshall county, Iowa, in 1909, at the age of sixty-eight years.
Milton Vanscoy came to Iowa in 1868 and was employed as a farm hand . and at other labor. He saved a little money and in 1870 went to Coffey county, Kansas, but was there defrauded and swindled out of his savings. He managed to obtain enough money to pay his way back to Iowa, and returned here in 1871. In a short time after his return to Jasper county, he commenced buying land. He bought in small tracts, the first being eight acres, and has from time to time since added to it until he now owns one hundred and thirty- five acres of fine land. He also owns a tract of six acres in the city of Newton.
In 1882 Mr. Vanscoy was united in marriage to Mary C. Davis, who was born in 1846 and is the daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Fleece) Davis. Her mother died near North Salem, Indiana, when the daughter Mary was a small child. Her father a few years later married Mary Zimmerman.
To Mr. and Mrs. Vanscoy have been born two children: Nora, born in 1884, who married A. K. Miller, a street car motorman, now living in Los Angeles, California ; they have two children, Ralph and Harold; Pearl, born in 1886, married Wildman M. Woods, a machinist, living in Jasper county ; they have two children, Meryl and Francis.
Both of Mr. Vanscoy's daughters are accomplished musicians. Mr. Van- scoy was at one time director of the schools of his district. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Protestant church, to which they give an earnest support. Public-spirited, enterprising and honorable in business, genial in social intercourse, and stanch in his friendships, Mr. Vanscoy has won and retains the good will and esteen of all who know him.
GEORGE A. HANS.
Among the progressive German citizens of Jasper county whose labors have benefited alike themselves and the community in general the name of George A. Hans should be mentioned among the first in the list, for a glance at his well kept and highly improved place would indicate that he is a man of thrift and modern ideas ; besides he is a man of splendid reputation for honesty and fair dealing, and his whole life is not given over to sordid money getting, the finer attributes of his nature making themselves manifest.
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Mr. Hans was born April 12, 1864, in Jones county, Iowa, and he is the son of Andrew and Mary (Schwab) Hans, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to America in 1850, when he was nineteen years old ; the voyage across the Atlantic required thirty-one days on that occasion. Landing in New York, he remained there several years, engaged in fishing and farming. Later he removed to Illinois, where he remained a year or two, then came to Iowa, buying forty acres in Jones county. Here he prospered by reason of untiring efforts along judicious lines and, adding to his place from time to time, he finally became the owner of four hundred acres and became one of the substantial and influential men of his vicinity. In 1893 he moved to Jasper county, Iowa, and bought two hundred and forty acres in section 24, Newton township, and he there established a splendid home. He is now living retired at the advanced age of eighty-one years, living with his daughter at Nevada, Story county, this state. At the present time he owns eighty acres, formerly owned by his son, Andrew, Jr. His wife died in 1877; she was the mother of George A., of this review. The father subsequently married Malinda Hartman, who is now deceased. Four years ago Andrew Hans, Sr., made a trip to Germany, visiting his old home and relatives. While he lived in Jones county, his old mother came from Germany to visit him. He has been a good and useful man, doing much for the communities where he has lived and winning a host of friends by his kindness and genial ways.
George A. Hans, of this review, was one of a family of nine children. of whom Nettie, Mary, Henry, Carrie, Elmer and Eddie died before reaching maturity ; Andrew died four years ago, leaving a wife and one child ; he was a farmer in Newton township: Amelia is with her father in Story county, as mentioned above; George A. was the fourth in order of birth.
The subject came to Jasper county with his father and here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 14. Newton township. Selling this four years ago, he obtained possession of the farm his father bought in section 24 and here he has since resided, engaged very successfully in general farming and stock raising, becoming well known as a breeder of shorthorn cattle. He has a splendid farm, well improved and up-to-date. He has a com- modious and elegantly furnished house and substantial outbuildings.
In 1889 Mr. Hans was united in marriage with Hattie Mitchell, who was born in Jones county. Iowa, February 6, 1868. She is the daughter of John and Harriet (Street) Mitchell, natives of Ohio, who moved to Jones county in an early day and there engaged successfully in farming, the father dying in 1902, at the age of sixty-seven years : the mother died in March, 1912. aged seventy-four years. Their family consisted of twelve children, named as
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follows: Francis lives in Oklahoma, where Peasley also resides; Tom lives in Jones county, Iowa; Mary married George Wherry, of Story county ; Furby married Sigle Overholtz, of Jones county ; Emma is at home; Talbert is in business at Tipton, Iowa; Anna married Harvey Wherry, of Story county ; Wilbur is in business at Tipton; Jerome lives on a farm in Jones county, engaged in business with Wilbur; Laurence lives at West Branch.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hans: Georgie, born September 24, 1891 ; Velma, born September 4, 1896, is attending Muncie high school and she has received a musical education; John, born January 12, 1898.
Mr. Hans is a member of the Yeomen lodge at Newton, and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church at Newton. Politically, he is a Re- publican.
GEORGE W. WORMLEY.
Perhaps as well known and well respected citizen for his years as the entire county can boast of is Prof. George W. Wormley, former head of old Hazel Dell Academy and now prosperous farmer. Keen, alert, vigorous of mind and body, he is a type of that nervous, aggressive manhood that means so much to any community or country. He was born in McDonough county, Illinois, May 25, 1860, being the son of Samuel S. and Susan (Shoopman) Wormley, the father being a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Illinois. Mr. Wormley was very fortunate in possessing a father of more than ordinary character and culture. As a boy, the father came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, where he remained but a short time, later removing to Illinois, where he learned the mason's and plasterer's trade and where he was married. After his marriage, he taught school for about one and one-half years, after which he moved to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1867, arriving in Jasper county with nothing but his wife, two children and an old wagon. At once he began working at his trade, which he followed for two years, after which he rented part of what was then known as the old Newton farm, where he remained two years. At the end of that time he purchased forty acres of naked land about one mile north of Newton, moved on to it and began farming, working at his trade in the fall. By 1876 he had accumulated enough so that by sell- ing the forty acres, he was enabled to purchase the King farm of one hundred acres near the old College farm, and to this he later added enough of the old College farm to make his holdings two hundred and thirty acres. The father
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was one of the stalwarts of his time, taking great interest in all educational matters and in all the progressive movements of his day and taking care that each of his large family of children received the best education that could be procured. As a farmer he was one of the best in the county, being known far and wide as a model farmer. Religiously, he was a Congregationalist, being a consistent member of that church. He died upon the home place July 3, 1906, at the age of seventy-three years. He is survived by his wife, who at this writing is aged sixty-seven years.
The subject of this review is one of a family of twelve brothers and sisters, seven boys and five girls, of whom the subject is the oldest. But one, Henry W., is dead, having been killed by falling from a mower in 1885 when a boy; Thomas J., residing in Kingsley, Plymouth county, Iowa, is principal of the city schools; John M., an attorney, resides in the same place; Samuel A., also of Kingsley, is engaged in the livery business: Armenta A., wife of G. O. Kelly, a stockman, resides in Newton; Cora B., wife of Hiram Hand, a farmer, resides in Jasper county ; Luella, wife of H. S. Kelly, of Omaha, Nebraska, where Mr. Kelly has charge of the commissary depart- ment of Ringling Brothers shows ;. Mary, widow of Dr. W. E. Harremon, lives in Story, Iowa, her husband having formerly been the physician of the state college there; Patience E., wife of H. C. Korf, attorney, resides in Newton; James G., a farmer, resides with his mother on the home place : David F., a farmer, resides in this county.
Mr. Wormley was united in marriage to Mary E. Spencer, daughter of Henry M. and Amanda (Chambers) Spencer, March 17, 1885, her parents being natives of Ohio. They came to Jasper county in 1858 where they have since remained, the father being one of the pioneers of the county.
Mrs. Wormley is one of four children, two of whom are living and two dead, Charles and William; Burton, born June 8, 1858; and Mary E., born January 27, 1862, still survive.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wormley have been born six children, namely: Don- ald S., born October 20, 1886, is in Ames College at Ames, Iowa; Burton H., born October 21, 1888, is also in Ames College; Frederick B., born June 26, 1891, is in high school at Newton; Hazel Dell, born April 19, 1893; George M., born May 28, 1896; Mary E., born December 30, 1899, the last two being still at home.
Mr. Wormley is one the foremost educators of the county. He began teaching at the age of eighteen in the county schools and after teaching nine terms, in the spring of 1881 went to Ames College, from which institution he was graduated in 1884 as a civil engineer. The year following his gradua-
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tion he purchased old Hazel Dell Academy, an institution which has prob- ably had enrolled seventy-five per cent. of the business men of Newton and vicinity at one time or another and about which a fine glamour of college romance will ever linger. He was principal of this school for nine years or up until 1893, giving to it all the energy and genius of his remarkably strong character. Then the name was changed to Newton Normal College, and many changes made in the buildings and their location, a new building being erected by a lot sale plan. The new school was continued until 1896, when Mr. Wormley severed his connection with it in order to take his family onto a farm. Selling the school, he purchased the fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres upon which he now lives, becoming one of the good farmers of the county, for Mr. Wormley does everything he attempts thoroughly and well. In connection with his general farming he raises thoroughbred hogs and cattle.
Mr. Wormley is one of the finest mathematicians in the state, is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is also his excellent wife and fam- ily. He is also a member of the Central Lodge No. 73, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. of Newton, having gone through all the chairs, subordinate, encampment and canton. George W. Wormley is clean, fearless and straight out from the shoulder. despising hypocrisy and deceit and never courting tawdry acclaim. He is one of Jasper county's best citizens.
JAMES M. BROWN.
Among the honored citizens of Jasper county who shouldered their guns when Fort Sumter was fired upon and who followed the flag through many bloody campaigns and harassing marches during the great Civil war. none bore a more honorable part than James M. Brown, now living in retirement after a long and useful life, devoted principally to general agricultural pur- suits and stock raising, a man who has richly earned the high esteem in which he is held by all classes in this locality, for he has done much toward the general upbuilding of his vicinity and his ideals have ever been high, and his conduct above reproach.
Mr. Brown was born in Washington county, Ohio, December 18, 1841, and he is the son of Zebediah and Hannah (Ward) Brown, the father being a native of New York and the mother of Pennsylvania. They devoted their lives to farming, leaving Ohio when their son, James M., of this review,
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was one year old and went to West Virginia, where they lived nine years. In 1850 the family came to Iowa, making the trip by boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi and landing at Princeton, where the father bought a large tract of land and began farming. His death occurred in 1852 of typhoid fever; the epidemic which took him away also killed the subject's uncle, brother and niece. James W. continued to live with his mother until her death in 1857, at which time he went to live with a married sister, re- maining with her until the outbreak of the Civil war. On October 28, 1861, he proved his patriotism and courage, although but a boy of twenty, by enlisting in Company E, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was sent by way of Davenport to Benton Barracks, where he was drilled for several months. He was then sent to Jefferson City, Missouri, and there was dis- charged from his regiment on account of complications following an attack of measles. He then went home, where he remained until August 15, 1862. when he re-enlisted in Company G, Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, for the three years' service. He was again sent to Benton Barracks, thence to Rolla, Missouri, marching from there to Springfield, that state, and later to Fayetteville, Arkansas, fighting several skirmishes en route. At Fayetteville he took part in the battle of Prairie Grove, then marched all the way back to St. Louis. He took part in some of the most desperate battles of the war, including Iron Mountain, Duvall's Bluff, siege of Vicksburg, Yazoo, Port Hudson, New Orleans, Morganzee Bend, the Red River expedition, Mobile Bay, Fort Morgan, Fort Blakely, and although his service was hard and dangerous he always acquitted himself as a true soldier. On July 8, 1865, he was honorably discharged, and returned to Scott county, Iowa, where he farmed until 1869, then came to Jasper county, Iowa.
On November 1, 1866, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Sarah E. Morrison, of Orange county, New York, the daughter of Henry and Har- riet (Sherman) Morrison, both natives of New York, in which state they spent their lives on a farm and there the father died, after which the mother brought her family of nine children to Wisconsin and later to Iowa, in which state she died.
Mr. Brown is one of a family of eight children, of whom three are living. Mrs. Lafayette Martin, of Creswell, Oregon: Addison F. and himself.
To Mr. and Mrs. Brown nine children have been born, three of whom are deceased; George and Charles died in infancy : Henry died on the farm east of Newton when twenty-two years old; Edward is at home: Carrie is the wife of T. T. Powers: Gertrude is at home: Kellogg, Frank. Eben and Bertram are all in South Dakota on farms.
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Mrs. Brown has two brothers and a sister living at this time, Henry Morrison, of Newton; John Morrison, of Plattsville, Wisconsin; Mrs. Cath- erine Wallace, of Springville, Pennsylvania.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Congregational church of Newton. He belongs to Garrett Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He has been very successful as a business man. Besides his city property, he has considerable property in South Dakota. Prior to his retirement, five years ago, he farmed near Kellogg and later near Newton. He is a Republican and has served his township as assessor, road supervisor, member of the school board and in other capacities, always discharging his duties in a very able and acceptable manner. He has served his party as committeeman and as a delegate to both county and state conventions, and he has always made his influence felt for the good of the same. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps. She is a lady of high intelligence and culture and, like her husband, enjoys the friendship of a very wide circle of acquaintances.
WARREN A. KITCHEL.
One of the most active and successful of the young native farmers of Clear Creek township, Jasper county, is Warren A. Kitchel, and, judging from his past record, the future holds much in store for him, for he belongs to that class of men who believe in carving out their own fortunes, laying their own plans and doing their own work, never waiting for fortune to come to them or for someone else to perform their tasks.
Mr. Kitchel was born on May 8, 1880, in Clear Creek township, Jasper county, on the farm on which he still resides and there he grew to maturity and began working when but a small boy. During the winter months he attended the neighboring schools. He resided north of Collins three years, in Rhodes one year and six months and two years in Collins, the remainder of his life being spent on the home farm, which he purchased in 1910. It con- sists of eighty acres and lies in Clear Creek township, and on March 1, 1911, . he moved thereto and he is placing it under excellent improvements and prov- ing his ability at building up the soil.
Warren A. Kitchel is the son of Albert and Lusetta ( Roberts) Kitchel. the father born in Michigan. February 9, 1837, and the mother in Ohio in 1842, and they grew up and received such education as they could in the pioneer schools of their respective communities. Immigrating to Jasper county.
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Iowa, in 1853. among the carly settlers, they were married here and here they worked hard to develop a farm in the new country and they are still living at Collins. There were six children in the Kitchel family, including a half sister, now deceased: Mrs. Gertrude Darling was born January 1, 1870, and is living in Rhodes, Iowa : Mrs. Laura Jackson, born March 8, 1872, is living in Forest City, Iowa; Ed was born April 8, 1875, and is living in Collins township, Story county; Mrs. Kate Stevens, born March 27, 1877, is living near Pratt, Iowa : Warren A., of this sketch, is the youngest. They were all reared in Clear Creek township, and here attended the common schools.
The father, Albert Kitchel, was a soldier in the Union army, having en- listed from Minnesota.
Warren A. Kitchel was married on February 11, 1903. to Ella Graef, who was born in Newton, Iowa, January 15, 1879, and she was reared in Story county. She is the daughter of Hugh and Sarah ( Walker) Graef. the father born in Germany, from which country he emigrated to the United States, located in Story county, Iowa, and died there on February 7. 1910. The mother, who was born in Ohio, is living in Collins, Iowa. One brother, Fred Graef, who was born in Story county in September, 1868, is living near Riceville, Iowa.
Politically, Mr. Kitchel is a Republican and he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America of Collins. Mrs. Kitchel belongs to the Christian church at Collins.
MRS. BRUCE CARSON.
Mrs. Bruce Carson, whose maiden name was Murdock, was born in Scotland in 1869, coming with her parents to America when one year old. She is the daughter of Archibald and Margaret Murdock, who were born in Scotland, and is the widow of the late Robert Carson, who died in Octo- ber, 1908.
Mrs. Carson has two brothers and one sister, all of whom reside in Jasper county. They are James Murdock, William Murdock and Mrs. Claude Carrier, all of them prominent and well-known people of the county. Mrs. Carson is an energetic and capable woman and, with the assistance of her step-children, successfully manages and operates the large farm upon which she resides. The husband of the subject of this sketch was also born in Scot- land, coming to this country twenty-five years prior to this date. Upon his arrival he engaged in mining, which occupation he followed more or less
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until he died, operating a mine upon his home farm, which since his demise ยท his widow now controls.
Mr. Carson was a prominent man in his county, being a member of the First Presbyterian church at Newton, the county seat of the county, and being affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and that of the Woodmen of the World at the time of his death. In politics he was a Democrat, but often voted independently.
The subject of this sketch has no children of her own, but is a good mother to the three children of the former wife of Mr. Carson. The children are, respectively, Ellen Carson, aged twenty-two; Mary Carson, aged nine- teen, and Archie Carson, aged eighteen, who all reside with their mother upon the home farm, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres of as good land as the county affords. Mrs. Carson's home is one of the best in Palo Alto township.
HON. HERBERT K. SKINNER.
It is the progressive, wide-awake man of affairs who makes the real his- tory of a community, and his influence as a potential factor of the body politic is difficult to estimate. The examples such men furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish, and there is always a full measure of satisfaction in adverting even in a casual way to their achievements in advancing the interests of their fellow men and in giving strength and solidity to the institutions which tell so much for the prosperity of the community. In every life of honor and usefulness there is no dearth of incident and yet in summing up the career of any man the biographer needs touch only those salient points which give the keynote to his character. Thus in setting forth the life record of Hon. Herbert K. Skinner, sufficient will be said to show what all who know him will freely acquiesce in, that he is one of the enterprising and progressive citi- zens and representative men of Iowa, at present the able and popular repre- sentative from Jasper county in the state Legislature. Such a life as his is an. inspiration to others who are less courageous and more prone to give up the fight when obstacles thwart their way, or their ideals have been reached or definite success has been obtained in any chosen field. In the life history of Mr. Skinner are found evidences of a peculiar characteristic that always makes for achievement-persistency coupled with fortitude and lofty traits --- and as the result of such a life he has long been one of the best known, most influential and highly esteemed citizens of this locality.
How.Herbrot. A. Stimmer
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Mr. Skinner was born in Stockholm, St. Lawrence county, New York, April 2, 1849. In 1853 he moved with his parents to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where they remained until 1860, in which year they moved to Jasper county and have been continuous residents here ever since.
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