USA > Iowa > Lucas County > Past and present of Lucas and Wayne counties, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 20
USA > Iowa > Wayne County > Past and present of Lucas and Wayne counties, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 20
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
In 1880 Mr. Bartlett married Miss Ellen Teeter, a native of Appanoose county and a danghter of (. N. Teeter, of that section. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett have become the parents of four children: Frank, a farmer residing in Wayne county : Allie, who married Lester Webb, also engaged in farming in Wayne
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county : Ray, who is residing upon the old homestead ; and James, whose home is in Montana. Mrs. Bartlett is a devout adherent of the Methodist church. Mr. Bartlett is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. He is well known in this part of the state, where he has spent many years of his life. and his straightforward and enterprising spirit has gained him widespread esteem and confidence and many friends.
JAMES P. VORHIES.
Among the residents of Lucas, Iowa, there are none more widely and favorably known than Mr. and Mrs. James P. Vorhies, who have made their home in this city for nearly four decades. An aggressive man of modern tendencies, Mr. Vor- hies occupies a substantial position in the community life and moreover has a dis- tinguished war record to his credit, having participated in some of the important. engagements during the conflict between north and south. He was born near Rome. Henry county, lowa. May 22. 1842, and is a son of Isaac and Melinda ( Knotts) Vorhies, who were among the earliest settlers of lowa, coming to Henry county in 1836. The father was a native of Ohio, born May 30, 1806, and died in Henry county, Iowa, in 1865. The mother, Mrs. Melinda Vorhies, a native of West Virginia, was born on September 29. IST1, and also passed away in Henry county, in 1871. The paternal grandparents of our subject were John and Mary Vorhies, the former born October 6, 1766, and the latter March 18. 1769. To them were born the following children: Mary Ann. June 29. 1789; Aaron. born October 22. 1791; Deborah. born September 15. 1793: Ephraim, October 16, 1795; Susanna, February 16, 179; John. January 29. 1800; Daniel, January 22, 1802: Mary, March 18, 1804: Isaac, the father of our subject : and William, born December 7, 1808. All of these children were born in Guernsey county, Ohio.
Isaac Vorhies, the father of our subject, resided in Henry county. lowa. from 1536 until the time of his death. successfully following agricultural pursuits. To him and his wife were born fourteen children: Levi, born January 26. 1830. who passed away about 1907: Hugh, born July 26. 1831, who died about 1871; Susanna, born January 21. 1833, who married Dial Kwinshaw and died abont 1908: Daniel, whose birth occurred on the fith of June, 1531, and who is a resident of Mount Pleasant, lowa: William, born March 10. 1536: Maria Jane. born November 12, 1837, who died when an infant: Edward Matthew Mont- gomery, born April 7. 1839, who died in infancy : Lemuel Edgar, born Jammary 30. 1811, a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska: James P .. of this review ; Marshall A .. born March 11, 1844, who died in 1877: Mary Jane, born February 18. 1816, who married Sam Scarf and died in 1875: John Emery, born December 26. Isis, who died as a child : General George Washington, born November 17, 1850, who died about 159>; and Virginia Wren, born February 8. 1853. who married a Mr. Lane, residing at Audubon, lowa. The four eldest children of this family were born in Ohio and the remainder in Henry county. lowa.
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James P. Vorhies was reared upon his father's farm, attending the schools of the neighborhood and early becoming acquainted with agricultural pursuits. Ile grew to manhood in Henry county, enlisting from there for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company 1, Fourteenth Jowa Volunteer Infantry. of the Union army. His regiment belonged to Colonel Shaw's brigade and he served with his command until the elose of hostilities August 8. 1865. He enlisted on September 3, 1861. and for most of the time was under the com- mand of Generals Grant and Sherman. He distinguished himself for his faith- fulness to duty and courageous conduet and participated in the battles around Forts Henry and Donelson, also participating in both sanguine conflicts at Corinth, in the famous battle of Hornet's Nest and that of Shiloh. He was with Banks on the Red River expedition and at Memphis and near the elose of the war was under the command of General A. J. Smith. After enlisting he was sent to Missouri and from there to Davenport, to Camp Butler, whence the new recruits were sent to the battle line. Mr. Vorhies also has the distinction of having been one of the guards of honor that guarded Abraham Lincoln's body on the way from the state house at Springfield, Illinois, to the Oak Ridge cemetery of that city. The orderly sergeant being away Mr. Vorhies was detailed to act as sergeant. At the elose of the war he returned to Henry county, where he snecessfully followed mercantile pursuits until May 20, 1874, when he removed to Lucas, Iowa, of which city he has since been a resident. For some time he also pursued the trade of carpenter in Lucas but now lives practically retired, enjoying a well earned rest after an active and useful life. Discharging his eivil duties as well as his military obligations, he has always been a patriotic American, having a life record to his credit which entitles him to the highest commendation.
At. Salina, Jefferson county, Iowa, Mr. Vorhies was married on March 29, 1866, to Miss Clarissa B. George, a native of Ohio, who was born February 14, 1846. Her parents came to Jefferson county, lowa, in 1849, and were among the earliest settlers of that part of the state. They came overland from Butler county, Ohio, and it took them three weeks to reach their destination. Her parents were James and Jane (Kidwell) George, the former a native of Ohio, born July 2, 1803, and the latter of Kentucky, born September 30th of the same year. Both died in Jefferson county, lowa, the father in 1861 and the mother in 1879. The mother's father. Mrs. Vorhies' maternal grandfather, Jonathan Kidwell, was the famous editor of the Star of the West of Cineinnati and also of the Sentinel of that city. The family is still in possession of a book which he wrote in 1829 and published in 1830, and he also wrote the Disquisition on the Pentateuch, which was printed in 1848. This grandfather was also widely known as a minister and preached to charges at Cincinnati. Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky. He was one of the famous trio of Univer- salist ministers at that time, they being Kidwell, Gifford and Waldew. Mr. and Mrs. James George were the parents of the following children: Mary A., born December 3, 1824, who died in 1898; Elizabeth, born May 12, 1826, who passed away in 1884; TIezekiah JJ .. horn March 7, 1831, who died in 1863; Matthew L., born March 7. 1833, who died in 1850; Rebecca JJ., born December 24, 1834, who died in 1854; William IL .. born in 1836; Jonathan K .. born Sep-
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tember 1. 1838 : Sarah E., born July 12. 1840 : Maria L., who died in 1854 ; Nancy E., born March 2. 1842 ; and Mrs. Clarissa B. Vorhies, the wife of our subjeet.
Mr. and Mrs. James P. Vorbies became the parents of six children, of whom one. Norma Everitt, passed away at the age of seven months. The others are : James L .. born in Jefferson county. lowa, January 5, 1870, and now a resident of Lueas; Mrs. Ada Poutcher, born August 17. 1871, residing in Chariton. lowa: Clarence W., born April 23. 1874. of Madrid. lowa: Ernest G .. born May 24, 1877. of the same city : and Carl R., born July 6, 1852, also of Madrid. The three eldest children were born in Jefferson county and the remainder in Lucas county. Mr. and Mrs. Vorhies are the grandparents of seven grand- children: Lourine and Irene, twins, born March 2. 1896; Marvel J .. born June 30. 1597: Jay, born in February, 1899; and Helen C., born in April, 1900, are all the children of George and Ada Poutcher. Laurel Lester, born February 23, 1910, is the son of Ernest G. Vorhies, and JJames Raymond, born February 25, 1910, is the son of Carl R. Vorhies.
Publie-spirited and progressive, Mr. Vorhies has actively participated in the public life of his community, serving as township trustee and member of the city council of Lneas. He also was postmaster for one term, discharging his duties efficiently and to the great satisfaction of his patrons. He keeps in con- taet with his comrades in the war as a member of the Grand Army post at Chariton. The family home is one of the comfortable residences of the city and there Mr. and Mrs. Vorhies extend a warm-hearted hospitality to their many friends. Mrs. Vorhies is still in possession of valuable family relies which she highly prizes, among them a plate from a set given her mother at her wedding which is now over ninety years old. She also possesses a set of silver teaspoons, with her mother's initials engraved upon them, which were given to the latter by her father at the time of her wedding. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vorhies enjoy the high regard of all who know them and take a helpful part in all move- ments undertaken for the betterment of the community along moral and material lines.
ISAAC SHRIVER
Isaac Shriver, who passed away in Allerton on the 20th of September. 1901. was for many years identified with the agricultural interests of Wayne county, where his people located during the pioneer days, but the latter period of his life was passed in this city, his energies being devoted to the development of a furniture business in which he had engaged more than a decade before his death. His birth occurred in Monroe county, Ohio, on the 6th of February, 1844, and he was the thirteenth in order of birth of the seventeen children born to Elias and Rachel (Stuart) Shriver. The parents were natives of West Virginia, whence they removed to Ohio, coming from there to Iowa in 1855. The father subsequently acquired some land in this county and here he and the mother passed the remainder of their days.
The first eleven years in the life of Isaac Shriver were passed in the state of his nativity. His education was completed in the public schools of lowa.
ISAAC SHRIVER
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and while engaged in the mastery of the common branches of English learning he assisted his father with the operation of the home farm. He remained under the parental roof until he was nineteen years of age, when he started out for himself. The succeeding seven years were passed in the state of Colo- rado. where he herded cattle and also worked in the mines. Returning to Wayne county at the expiration of that time, he erected a residence and such other buildings as were required on his portion of the old homestead and there pursned the career of an agriculturist for twenty years. Deciding that commercial activities would be more to his liking he next removed to Allerton and engaged in the furniture business until his death.
On the 7th of December, 1865. Mr. Shriver was married to Miss Cynthia Mariek, who was born on the 9th of May, 1844, in Monroe county, Ohio, her parents being Henry and Elizabeth (Brown) Marick. They were natives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania respectively, but for many years resided in Ohio, coming from there to lowa in 1855. They located in Wayne county, where Mr. Mariek purchased some land in the cultivation of which he engaged during the remainder of his active life. Here both he and the mother passed away and were laid to rest in the Highy cemetery. Their family numbered six, Mrs. Shriver being the fourth in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Shriver there were born ten children: Hersa Belle ; Isaac, better known as Bert, who died at the age of four years; Thomas Benton; Della; Dora; Vivian and Lucy, who died in infaney; Lura, usually ealled Edna ; Jessie and Frederick.
Mr. Shriver was a member of the Christian church, with which his widow is also affiliated, and for several years held the office of deacon. Politically he supported the democratic party and served two terms on the school board of Allerton, while for one term he discharged the duties of councilman. Mr. Shriver was a man of many estimable qualities and was widely and favorably known in this locality, where he was regarded as a worthy representative of a respected pioneer family.
HARRY D. HINES.
Harry D. Hines occupies as manager of the Old Colony Creamery one of the foremost positions in the commercial life of Humeston. He is a native son of Iowa, being born at Chariton. October 28, 1870, his parents being J. H. and Caroline (Blair) Hines. The father was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, about 1823, and passed away at Chariton, June 4, 1879. He was one of the earliest settlers of Lucas county and a master bridge builder by trade, also following the occupation of railroad contracting. lle built many of the bridges between Chariton and Leon on the Chariton and St. Joe division of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad. The mother, Caroline (Blair) Hines, was a native of Pennsylvania, born April 20. 1848, and now makes her home with her danghter at Flushing, Long Island. Mr. and Mrs. Hines were the parents of four children, three of whom are living and of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest. The others living are: Allen A., born April 9, 1872, residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota ; and Mrs. Edna Freeman. born Inly 31. 1876, residing
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at Flushing. Long Island. Carrie, the first born, died in infancy. All the children were born at Chariton, lowa.
Harry D. Hines spent his boyhood in Chariton and there attended public school in the acquirement of his education until nine years of age. At the death of the father in 1879 the family removed to Kansas, where they remained for two years, after which they returned to Chariton, remaining a few months there and thenee removing to Humeston, where our subject has since resided. Harry D. Hines continued his education while in Kansas and subsequently attended the Humeston public schools, supplementing his education by a course in the Central Normal University at Humeston, from which he grad- uated with the class of 1893 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Ilis excellent education fitted him well for the profession of teaching and he followed this line of ocenpation for three years before he entered the employ of James L. Humphrey as bookkeeper. continuing in that capacity until 1906. His executive ability was soon recognized by his employer and in that year he was appointed to the position of superintendent of the creamery department. remaining in that connection until the fall of 1909. when he was made general manager of the whole plant on the demise of Mr. Taber, his predecessor in the position. This creamery was established in December, 1880. by Dr. George McCulloch. James Taylor. J. T. Riggle. J. R. Cassady and J. D. Hasbrouck, these gentlemen being the owners of the enterprise. It was first operated under the old gathered-cream system. During the early 'SOs it passed into the hands of J. F. Stoop and Millard Chase and these gentlemen in turn disposed of it to Haldeman & Son. This firm operated the business until January 1, 1896, at which time it was purchased by James L. Humphrey. Jr .. of New Bedford, Massachusetts. In October of the same year Mr. Humphrey added to his interests by purchasing the wholesale poultry, butter and egg business of Chase & Stoop and consolidated the two enterprises. The old creamery was located at first in the east part of Humeston and was known under the name of the Wayne County Creamery, but when the same came into the possession of Mr. Humphrey it was named the Oldl Colony Creamery, under which name its goods are known at present from ocean to ocean. The business has marvelously increased and necessitated in 1897-8 the erection of a fine new brick plant in the central part of Homeston, adjacent to the railroad, where annually thousands of pounds of cream and poultry are taken care of. From a small and humble beginning this institution has grown to one of the largest in lowa, having an annual out- put of about a million dollars, and it is in a large measure due to the executive ability, to the energy and industry of Mr. Hines that the business has increased to these proportions and that it is handled today in such an exemplary manner that it is a model for other institutions of the same kind.
Mr. Ilines was married March 25, 1897, to Miss Lennie Holmes, a native of Wayne county, Iowa, where she was born January 15. 1879. In this county she grew to womanhood and has made it her home since. Her parents were Gilbert and Elizabeth (Garton) Holmes, both of whom have passed away, and in their family were six children, of whom four are living: Mrs. Hines; Gil- bert, who resides at Ritle, Colorado; Mrs. Mabel Wright, living at Corydon ; and Ross, who makes his home at the same place. Two sons died in infancy. The youngest of the children was born in Kansas but the others are all natives of
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this county. Mr. and Mrs. Hines have one daughter, Ilelen Bernice, who was born at Humeston, Iowa, January 3, 1898, and is now attending high school in the aequirement of an education.
Mr. Ilines is a democrat in his political views and although he has never aspired to publie office takes a laudable interest in the affairs of his party and the issues of the day and gives to all public questions that attention which a right-minded citizen considers his duty. His fraternal affiliations are with Fidelity Lodge. No. 228, A. F. & A. M. A man of strong character and busi- ness ability, he has become recognized as a forceful element in the commercial circles of the community and he enjoys the high regard and confidence of all those with whom he comes in contact. He has attained to a high place by honorable methods only and his activities, while of direct result to the large interests which he represents, are constructive in the development of a wide section surrounding IInmeston. The keynote of his success may be said to be that he does well everything he finds to do and his career is proof of the fact that success is ambition's answer.
JOHN W. GARRATT.
The name of John W. Garratt has long been associated with progressive and sneeessful agriculture in Wayne county, where he has passed his entire life. He was born in Benton township in a little house still standing on the farm he now owns on the 20th of April. 1862, and is the only son of the late James Garratt. His father was born in Chestershire, England, on April 1, 1817, and there he was likewise reared and edneated. His energies were early directed along agricultural lines, which pursuits he continued to follow in the old coun- try until 1842, when he emigrated to America. After a year's residence in the United States he went back to England, but in 1844 he returned to this country and settled in the vicinity of Alton. Illinois. From there he went to JJackson- ville, that state, where he bought some land which he diligently improved and cultivated for several years thereafter. In 1854, Mr. Garratt entered some government land in Wayne county, lowa. a portion of this traet still being in the possession of his son, and in April of the year following removed here with his wife and family. He immediately settled on his homestead and there resided until his death, which occurred in 1899. After removing here he entered land for a number of his friends in Illinois and also bought and sold real estate. He increased his own holdings and at one time owned three hundred acres, but he later disposed of a portion of his tract and at the time of his death his farm comprised only two hundred and forty acres. For his wife Mr. Garratt chose Miss Deliah Lowe, who was born in Cass county, Illinois, then known as Morgan county, on the 18th of August, 1821. She was reared and married in her native state whence she removed to Iowa with her husband, whom she survived for. many years, her death occurring on the 8th of March, 1912. Of this marriage there were born four children, the eldest of whom is a daughter Mary, now Mrs. C. V. Allen of this state, while the last born was our subject, John W. The other two members of the family died in infancy.
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The entire life of John W. Garratt has been passed amid the scenes with which he is now daily familiar. His early years were very similar to those of other lads with whom he was reared. At the usual age he entered the district schools of Benton township, where he acquired his education, and while engaged in the mastery of the fundamental principles of English learning he was also becoming familiar with the duties of the agriculturist. As the years passed he assumed more and more of the responsibilities about the farm of which he had the entire management for about fifteen years prior to the death of his father. Mr. Garratt is enterprising and progressive in whatever he undertakes, directing his business in a well organized, systematic manner. His fields, which he plants to such erops as he deems best adapted to the soil. are annually yielding abun- dant harvests, and in connection with his diversified farming he is raising stock and is an extensive feeder. As the years have passed he has increased his acreage until his hollings now aggregate five hundred aeres, all of which he has brought to a high state of productivity. His buildings and fences have been substantially constructed and kept in good condition. while at various times he has introduced about the premises different devices for reducing the labor and expediting the work, making his one of the valuable properties of the commu- nity. By the exercise of good judgment and sagacity he has prospered in his undertakings and is not only an extensive property holder but is one of the stockholders and a director of the Farmers National Bank of Allerton.
On the 19th of October, 1899. Mr. Garratt was married to Sarah Hall. a daughter of James and Martha ( Kimple ) Hall. natives of Pennsylvania. whence they removed to Towa in 1857, being among the pioneer farming people of this section of the state. To Mr. and Mrs. Garratt there have been born two children. as follows: Zell K., whose birth occurred on the 7th of November, 1900; and Boise L., who was born in January, 1904.
His political support Mr. Garratt extends to the democratic party, and although he has never sought an official position he is one of the public-spirited men of his township, taking an active and helpful interest in everything he feels will tend to promote the welfare of the community either intellectually. morally or materially.
HOLT BROTHERS.
Among the younger commercial enterprises of Lucas is the firm of Holt Brothers, who established themselves in the livery business in this city in 1913. The firm consists of Henry and John Holt, both of whom now give most of their attention to their new departure, although they are still extensively inter- ested in agriculture and also own valuable Clydesdale breeding horses. Their success has been but the outcome of intelligently directed efforts and is the . result of well applied industry and energy.
Henry Holt was born in Clarke county, lowa. May 1. 1876, and John in Otter Creek township, Lucas county, lowa, January 1. 1878. Their paternal grandparents, who came as pioneers to lowa, were John and Ava ( Kilgore) Ilolt. natives of Indiana, who were born in 1824 and 1527, respectively. They
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both died in the same year, the grandfather on January 2, 1864, and the grand- mother in November of that year. Among their children was Lifus, the father of John and Henry Holt. Ile was born in Martin county, Indiana, December 29. 1846, and by his marriage to Mary A. Holt in 1873 became the father of five children; Mrs. Rowena Manley, Henry, John, Seymour and Mrs. Georgia A. Evans. A more extended mention of Mr. and Mrs. Lifus Ilott is made in another part of this work.
Henry and John Holt grew up under the parental roof and were educated to agricultural pursuits. Both brothers followed farming successfully until the beginning of 1913. when they formed a partnership in order to engage in the livery business in Lucas, where they own one of the best equipped barns in this part of the county. Within a short time they have achieved an enviable success which must be attributed to their business ability and their genial and pleasing way in dealing with their patrons.
On February 6, 1902. Ilenry Holt was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Lulu Pennington, a native of Otter Creek township, where she was born Angust 16, 1879. There she attended the common schools and grew to womanhood. Her father. A. L. Pennington, was born in Monroe county, Indiana, January 10, 1851, and when but a year old was brought by his parents to Otter Creek town- ship, where he is at present residing. His family were among the earliest set- tlers in this township. The mother of Mrs. Henry Holt was Elizabeth A. (Deekard) Holt, also a native of Monroe county, Indiana, where she was born June 14, 1854. She came to lowa in 1872, when about eighteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Pennington were the parents of three daughters: Mrs. Ida May Davidson, born May 2, 1877, who now resides in Chariton, lowa ; Mrs. Minnie Lum Holt, of this review ; and Mrs. Ada Belle Ashby, born August 26, 1886, residing with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Holt have become the parents of five children : Pearl, born January 12, 1903; Benlah, September 22, 1905; Merrill, September 17, 1907; Mildred, JJune 13, 1909; and Wilma, whose birth occurred on the 12th of October, 1910. The second of these children was born in Jackson township but the remainder are natives of Liberty township. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Holt own forty acres of choice land in Liberty township with good improvements.
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