USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 44
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Carlos Conwell supported and cared for his aged parents until their deaths. He has made a success of general farming and stock raising and has a neat little farm of fifty-nine acres, part of the old homestead, which he has kept well improved.
Politically, he is independent and he and his family affiliate with the Methodist church. He is a member of Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, at Baxter.
FRED DODD.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the favorably known and rep- resentative citizens of this section of Iowa, in which he has spent his life. He has by his indomitable enterprise and progressive methods contributed in a material way to the advancement of his locality and during the course of an honorable career has met with success as a general farmer and stock raiser, being a man of energy, sound judgment and honesty of purpose.
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Mr. Dodd was born in the locality where he still resides on October 31, 1862. He is the son of Joseph, Jr., and Amelia ( Million) Dodd, the father born in Ohio, September 27, 1817. and the mother in Lexington, Kentucky, November 6, 1821. They were married in Illinois, and came to Clear Creek township, Jasper county, Iowa, in 1854, being among the early settlers ; here they developed a good farm and spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in the spring of 1897, the mother having preceded him to the grave on August 17, 1889. Their family consisted of ten children, six of whom are living, named as follows: Charles E., born January 14, 1841, is living in Collins township, Story county : Sarah J., born January 9, 1843, and William W., born March 23, 1845. are both deceased; G. W., born September 23, 1847. is living in the state of Washington; J. U., born February 5, 1850, is deceased : Samuel P., born July 18, 1852, is living in Clear Creek township; Mrs. Amelia A. Stock is deceased : Frank J., born April 28, 1856, is living in Clear Creek township; Mark, born November 21, 1860, lives in Wisconsin ; Fred, of this sketch. They were all born in Clear Creek township, except the three oldest, and they were all reared here.
Fred Dodd grew up on the home farm and there worked when a boy, attending the public schools in his neighborhood. He endured such hardships as were incident to the life of a pioneer's child. He devoted his life to farm- ing and stock raising and has met with much success. In 1908 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Eden township, Marshall county, and this he has improved until it is one of the best farms in this section of Iowa. He has a pleasant and well furnished home and everything about him denotes that he has been a man of thrift.
On August 6, 1885, Mr. Dodd was united in marriage with Julia Mow- rey, who was born in Pennsylvania, July 2, 1867. She was two years old when the parents brought her to Iowa. Her father, J. E. Mowrey, was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. September 23, 1838. The mother of Mrs. Dodd was known in her maidenhood as Louisa Wilkins, and she was born in Somerset county. Pennsylvania, July 23, 1841. They came to Story county, Iowa, in 1868 and for many years lived on a farm, but have now retired and . are living in Baxter. To Mr. and Mrs. Mowrey the following children have been born : Mrs. Mary F. Kline, born September 4, 1862, is living in Baxter ; Mrs. Alice Cross, born April 24, 1864, lives near Colfax; Jesse, born March 2. 1866, lives near Nevada, Missouri : Julia, wife of Fred Dodd, is next in order of birth; William, born April 2, 1869, of Marshalltown: Ella, born May 13. 1871, lives near Colfax: Milton, born October 1. 1873, lives in Kansas City ; Mrs. Anna Dell Webb, born June 7. 1877. lives at Baxter; Irvin, born March
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1, 1880, died when one year old; Ross, born March 5, 1882, is the present county attorney of Jasper county and resides at Newton.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dodd seven children have been born, five of whom are living, namely: Warren J., born November 21, 1885, is living in Indepen- dence township; Walter W., born February 2, 1887, is living on the home farm with his parents; Oscar, born February 13, 1892, died February 16, 1892; Elvan, born June 4, 1895; Ross, born December 15, 1900; Clifford, born October 27, 1904, died November 21st of the same year; Georgia F., born October 19, 191I.
Politically, Mr. Dodd is a Democrat and he has been a member of the local school board. Fraternally, he is a Mason. Mrs. Dodd belongs to the Christian church.
JAY B. SWALWELL.
One of the young agriculturists of Clear Creek township, Jasper county, who is deserving of our special notice at this point is Jay B. Swalwell, for his record has been one of honor and industry and, while yet young in years, he has shown that he is the possessor of those qualities that seldom if ever fail to win in the battle of life, and it is not too much to expect that we will find him in future years as one of our leading citizens and most successful men of affairs in the line which he has chosen as his life work.
Mr. Swalwell was born in this township on March 8, 1883, and here he grew to manhood and received his education in the public schools and where he has always lived, being content to spend his life right here at home, know- ing that there was no better place. He is the son of Thomas and Harriet (Kimberly ) Swalwell, the family born in Yorkshire, England, March 19, 1845. and the mother in Herkimer county, New York, June 1, 1852. The father was reared in England, but emigrated to America when a young man and settled in Illinois, May 1, 1867, where he remained one year, then came to Jasper county, Iowa, and has been engaged in farming here ever since, owning two hundred acres in Clear Creek township, three hundred and twenty acres in Emmet county and one hundred and sixty acres in New Al- bany township, Story county. These farms are all well improved and are on an equal with any in their communities. Thomas Swalwell was first married to Jane Richardson, to whom one child, Thomas Vernon Swalwell, was born. The wife and mother died in Iowa in 1871 and in 1872 Mr. Swalwell was married to Harriet Kimberly and to this union thirteen children were born,
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namely : Lot, deceased; Harriet F. Oswalt, born in 1874, lives in Emmet county, Iowa ; Nellie Oswalt, born in 1876, lives in Story county, Iowa; Ruth Vilas, born in 1878, lives in Madrid, Iowa; James Weaver, born in 1880; Jay B., of this review ; Belva, born in 1884, is teaching at Ogden, Iowa ; Iva, born in 1886, is teaching in Jasper county ; Eve Bark, born in 1888, lives in Grovont, Wyoming; Charles D. was born in 1890; Christopher, born in 1893; Ada, born in 1895; George, born in 1897. This family was reared in Clear Creek township and was educated in the local schools.
Jay B. Swalwell was married October 25, 1911, to F. Myrtle Ball, who was born in Marshall county, Iowa, October 23, 1889. In politics he is inde- pendent.
Mr. Swalwell cultivates eighty acres of excellent land in Collins town- ship. Story county, and he has shown himself to be skilled in the art of mod- ern agriculture. He raises grade stock and is making a success as a general farmer and stock raiser.
AMOS SNIDER.
It is the pride of the inhabitants of this country that when the titanic struggle between the states closed in 1865 all the vast army of citizen soldiery quietly laid down their arms and returned to the pursuits of peace. It was pre- dicted by the governments of Europe, not only that the country would be di- vided, but that after the war an enormous army would be kept up and a military dictatorship would be established on the fragments. perhaps of every state. Foreign nations did not understand the spirit of the people of this country, that is. the spirit of the people in all the free states. They could not under- stand how we could come to love the name of liberty and be willing to sacrifice blood and treasure to save a country founded upon the rock of freedom. In view of these misguided ideas the most of the foreign nations stood ready to pounce upon the fragments when the smoke of war had rolled away. But they beheld a splendid sight. They saw the great armies melt away, saw a re-united country in which liberty was a fact as well as a name, and saw the soldiers return to their farms and shops, mills and various other vocations.
One of the gallant boys in blue thus to return was Amos Snider, now a well established farmer of Richland township, Jasper county. He was born in Linn county, Iowa, three and one-half miles south of Cedar Rapids, about 1843, the son of John and Margaret Snider. the father a native of Sangamon
MR. AND MRS. AMOS SNIDER
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county, Illinois, and the mother of Kentucky. Each came to Iowa in pioneer days, single, and located in Linn county. The father devoted his life to farming and became the owner of some property there, but sold out and moved to Hardin county when it was still new and about 1853 or 1854 he moved to Jasper county, where he remained until 1865, when he moved to Kansas, in which state his death occurred in 1883. His wife died in Jasper county. They were the parents of seven children, three supposed to be living at this writing. The elder Snider was a Republican, but took little active interest in public affairs, being of a retiring disposition. He, too, was a veteran of the Civil war, having served in Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, for a period of nearly three years, during which time he took part in about fifteen battles and skirmishes, in one of which he was wounded in the arm.
Amos Snider, being reared in a newly settled country where schools were few, had no chance to obtain an education; then, too, it was necessary for him to assist with the general work in developing the home farm. He was eighteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Jasper county. He entered the army in the same company with his father and took part in about the same engagements, serving about the same length of time. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Lookout Muntain, Port Gibson and Cham- pion's Hill. At the last named battle he was wounded in the left side of the head by a bursting shell, which badly stunned him, but he recovered in due course of time. After the war he returned to Jasper county and began oper- ating a saw-mill in Lynn Grove township, which he continued for eight or nine years, then went to Kansas, where he remained a year. Returning to Richland township, this county, he bought a farm of twenty acres which he gradually added to until he now has a very productive and desirable place con- sisting of one hundred and twenty acres in this township. This land he cleared, broke and improved and placed under a high state of cultivation. He is also the owner of eighty acres of good land near Newton and twenty acres north- east of his home. He has carried on general farming and stock raising suc- cessfully, but is now living practically retired from active life.
Politically, Mr. Snider is a Republican. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Snider was married about 1864 to Millie Ann Messick, after he returned from the army. She died about a year later, leaving twins, William Henry and Minnie; the former died at the age of twenty years, and the latter married a Mr. Hamilton. About two years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Snider was married to Dora Bailey, whose death occurred about (75)
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1894. To this union one child was born, Nellie, who is still living. Mr. Snider was again married, his last wife being Mrs. Jennie Jumper, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Jackson and Susan Jumper. Her family came to Iowa when Mrs. Snider was four years old and here her father died and the mother is still living.
JOHN W. EDWARDS.
Among the honored and worthy citizens of Jasper county who have taken an active part in the general development of their community and won an envied reputation for wholesome living is John W. Edwards, who was born in Fayette county, Iowa, May 18, 1858, and he is the son of Elias E. and Abigail M. (Gillum) Edwards, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a miller and in later years a farmer. They grew to maturity, were educated and married in the East and came to Fayette county, Iowa, in 1855, locating in Auburn, where the father conducted a general store until 1865, when he moved to Jasper county, where he purchased twenty-nine acres of coal lands near Monroe upon which he opened a coal bank, selling to the local trade. In 1898 he sold out and came to Reasnor, where he led a retired life until his death, in 1902, at the age of seventy-five years, the death of his wife occur- ring in October, 1909, when seventy-nine years old. The father was a well known, substantial and influential citizen, prominent in local politics. He has the good will and respect of all who knew him. In his family were six chil- dren, all of whom are living, namely: Mary E. Summey, wife of J. W. Summey, a farmer living in Canada; Emma C. married John M. Dawson, a farmer and carpenter, living near Monroe; Alpharetta M. married Frank Gar- nant, who resides at Monroe; Ella E. is the widow of John M. Simpson, and lives at Reasnor; John W., of this review; Leota M., wife of J. M. Franklin, a former resident of Missouri.
John W. Edwards received a good education and began life for himself as a farmer in Cass county, Iowa, in 1879, continuing thus for five years. He then operated a coal mine near Monroe for five years, after which he pur- chased a farm near Reasnor and farmed for two years. He then sold the farm and purchased the general store of Caldwell & Son in Reasnor, which he still conducts, having built up an extensive trade with the town and surrounding . country through his honest and courteous dealings and the fact that he al- ways carries a large and carefully selected line of goods, handling a general
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line of groceries, clothing, shoes, notions, hardware, in fact, almost everything used by the farmer and general public, and, according to the statement of many of the long-time customers of his neatly kept and well arranged store, his prices are always right.
On July 20, 1879, Mr. Edwards was united in marriage with Sarah E. Rater, daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Romans) Rater, natives of Kentucky, both now deceased, after long and active lives on the farm, the father dying in 1904, and the mother in 1910, while living in Reasnor. Their family con- sisted of ten children, of whom seven are living, namely: W. G. is farming in Adair county, Iowa ; G. A. is farming near Reasnor; John P. and Martha, wife of Zoro McCrosky, are deceased ; Sarah E., wife of Mr. Edwards, of this review, was born June 26, 1861, and she was called to her reward on Septem- ber 13, 1909. She. was one of the most popular and best beloved women in Reasnor and vicinity, possessing those rare attributes of head and heart that win and retain friends. Her beautiful Christian character was reflected by the numerous kindly deeds she performed for those about her. Upon the eve of her death a most remarkable incident occurred, which indicated her perfect faith. While her husband and family waited about her bed for the final sum- mons of the white-winged messenger to bear her gentle spirit to a higher sphere of action, she clasped her hands together and suddenly uttered these words, while a look of indescribable rapture came over her face: "Glory, glory, glory ; Don't be afraid; there is nothing to fear. He has answered my prayers, He has put my feet upon the solid rock, Christ Jesus. Glory Halle- lujah! Glory Hallelujah! Praise His name, praise His name!"
The other children born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Rater are, Philene, wife of Charles Mortimer, a farmer living in Adair county ; Asbury D. is also farming in Adair county; Mary is the wife of James H. Farris, a farmer living near Monroe; Lulu D. is the wife of Peter DeHoet, a farmer living in Minnesota ; Florence D. is the wife of William Lufkin, a farmer near Reasnor.
To Mr. and Mrs. Edwards were born three children, all living, namely : Effie May, wife of Fred Minen, who resides in Reasnor, was born May 30, 1880, in Jasper county ; Attie Faye, born in Cass county, Iowa, December 27, 1882, is living at home ; Laurence E., or "Pete," as he is familiarly called, was born in Cass county, Iowa, December 16, 1884, and is living at home.
Mr. Edwards is a member of Jasper Lodge No. 168, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Monroe. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Reasnor, of which he is at present secretary and treasurer, also trustee. He was steward of the same for ten years, and superintendent of
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the Sunday school for thirteen years, in fact he has always been an earnest church worker and a liberal supporter of the church. He is easily one of the very foremost citizens and business men of Reasnor and the southern part of the county ; politically, he is a Prohibitionist, and he takes the interest of a good citizen in all public movements for the general welfare of the locality.
CLARENCE EMMET THOMPSON.
One of the citizens of Baxter, Jasper county, who is deserving of repre- sentation in this history is Clarence Emmet Thompson, a man who always possessed energy, resolution, determination and in early life acted according to the motto, "I will find a way or make one." His good common sense, cau- tion, foresight and accurate powers of observation, together with the traits named above, enabled him to overcome the common obstacles met in the path of life by everyone and become very comfortably established, at the same time winning the good will of those with whom he came into contact by reason of his integrity.
Mr. Thompson was born in Clear Creek township, Jasper county, Iowa, January 20, 1873. He is the son of David H. and Sarah (Pentico) Thomp- son, the father born in Huntington county, Indiana, April 5, 1846, and the mother in Pennsylvania, December 5, 1848. The father came with his par- ents to Jasper county in 1854, grew up with the same, saw its development and was a continuous resident here for a period of forty years. The mother of the subject came with her parents to Iowa in 1853, settling in Davenport, Scott county ; later the family moved to Jasper county, locating at Newton, and the parents of the subject were married in Clear Creek township, this county, in 1865, here established a good home and farm, and they are now spending their declining years in a well furnished home in Rhodes. The father formerly owned a part of the famous Oswalt mill in Clear Creek township.
There were ten children born in the Thompson family, nine of whom are living at this writing, named as follows: Mrs. Emma Lowry, born December 7, 1866, resides at Morrill, Nebraska; Mrs. Phoebe Ellen Mowry, born No- vember 22, 1868, resides in Nevada, Missouri; Harvey J., born in Madison county, Iowa, October 28, 1870, lives near Eldora, Iowa; Clarence E., of this sketch ; Mrs. Jennie Mowry, born April II, 1875, died March 22, 1893; Walter G., born July 24, 1877, is living at Rhodes; Millard A., born October
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IO, 1879, lives at Margo, Canada; Mrs. Mary Girton, born June 26, 1881, resides near Academy, South Dakota ; Amos R., born August 3, 1883, lives in Rhodes; Guy M., born February 2, 1889, lives in Butler, Missouri. With the exception of Harvey J., these children were born and reared in Clear Creek township.
Clarence E. Thompson lived in Clear Creek township, this county, until he was nineteen years old, received his education in the common schools and helped his father about his work. At the age just mentioned he moved north of Collins and spent two years farming, then returned to Clear Creek town- ship and spent two years, thence to Independence township, where he followed farming for six years. He then moved to the town of Baxter, where he en- gaged in the farm implement business. He is at present teaming here. He owns a neat and well furnished home in Baxter.
Mr. Thompson was married on February 10, 1897, to Anna Phipps, who was born in Kentucky, February II, 1873. Her parents, James and Mary (Upchurch) Phipps, were born in Kentucky, he on June 14, 1837, and there they grew to maturity, obtained such education as the early schools afforded and there they were married and began life on the farm, remaining there until about 1880, when they brought their family to Jasper county, Iowa, and here the mother's death occurred at the age of forty-two years; the father survives and is making his home in Marceline, Linn county, Missouri.
Seven daughters and two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Phipps, namely : Theodosia died in infancy ; Felix lives in Kellogg, Jasper county ; Lizzie Amy lives in Colorado ; Fannie married George C. Butler, of Baxter, Iowa ; Emma Perrin lives in Independence township; Anna, wife of Mr. Thompson, of this review; John is deceased; Mary Jane, born August 23, 1877, died June 18, 1889 ; Ellen Wolfe is living in Colorado.
To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson three children have been born, namely : Maude, born in Polk county, Iowa, September 12, 1898; Harold, born in Independence township, February 18, 1902; Lola, born in Independence township, June 2, 1904. These children are attending the public schools in Baxter.
Politically, Mr. Thompson is an independent voter. He is a member of Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, and of Baxter Camp, Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Royal Neighbors at Baxter. They are both worthy representatives of fine pioneer families of this county, and they number their friends by the scores throughout the county.
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THOMAS F. KELLEY.
In presenting the biography of Thomas F. Kelley, one of the progressive citizens of Independence township, Jasper county, who is known to be a gen- tleman of noble ideals and laudable ambitions, we believe that the reader will be benefited and encouraged, for his has been a life that has made for success because of the honorable principles he has employed in dealing with his fellow men and because of the many admirable attributes he possesses which make his daily walk one worthy to be emulated.
Mr. Kelley was born in New York City, November 23, 1846. He is the son of Patrick and Julia (Smith) Kelley, both natives of Ireland, the mother born on January 20, 1816, died in Jasper county, Iowa, in 1899, and the father's death occurred here in 1889 at the age of seventy-seven years. Their family consisted of nine children, named as follows: Mrs. Mary O'Neill, deceased; Thomas F., of this review ; Mrs. Julia Rorabaugh, of Colfax; Mrs. Katie Rorabaugh lives near Colfax; Daniel lives on the old homestead near Colfax. The rest of the children died in infancy. The Kelley family came to Jasper county in 1868 and located in Mound Prairie township, and here they became well established and influential in their community.
Thomas F. Kelley graduated from the grammar schools of New York City and entered the free academy, now known as University of New York City. When seventeen years of age he came to Knox county, Illinois, where he remained until 1868, when he came to Jasper county and he has since made this his home. He has met with a large measure of success as a general farmer and stock raiser, being now the owner of seventy acres of good land in Independence township, which he has placed under excellent improvements and on which stand a good home and convenient outbuildings.
Mr. Kelley showed his patriotic spirit by acting as drummer boy in the New York militia during the Civil war, and he made an effort to enter the regular army, but was refused on account of his youth and size, being at that time a mere boy.
On February 17, 1881, Mr. Kelley was united in marriage with Jessie B. Campbell, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, July 13, 1856, and there she spent her early childhood, coming with her mother to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1867, and this has been her residence ever since. Her father, John Campbell, was a soldier in the Union army and while in the service he fell ill and died. Both he and his wife, who was known in her maidenhood as Sarah Leeper, were natives of Ohio. The mother came to Jasper county, Iowa, and
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died here. Their family consisted of six sons and one daughter, namely : Jessie B., wife of Mr. Kelley ; James, Alex, Thomas,. Willis, Collin and George.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kelley, namely : Royston, born October 25, 1881, was graduated from the law department of the University of Iowa; Dean, born January 6, 1884, was graduated in pharmacy at the Drake University at Des Moines ; John A., born May 4, 1886, died October 5, 1903; Daniel Jay, born March 27, 1890, is principal of the schools at Lynn- ville, Iowa; James A., born November 23, 1892, was graduated from the Newton high school in the class of 1912. These children were reared in Jasper county and they have been well educated, their parents gladly making such sacrifices as were necessary ; but they have been well repaid for their pains, for their children are now well prepared for the struggle which the poets call "the battle of life."
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