USA > Iowa > Lucas County > Past and present of Lucas and Wayne counties, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 21
USA > Iowa > Wayne County > Past and present of Lucas and Wayne counties, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 21
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John Holt on March 15, 1898, married Miss Lillie Messman, who was born in Clarke county, Iowa, Jammary 1, 1877, both she and her husband having been born on New Year's day. In Clarke county she attended the common schools and grew to womanhood under the roof of her father and mother, JJacob and Harriet (Hart) Messman. The father was born on the ocean while his parents were crossing to America and the mother was a native of Henry county, lowa. Both passed away in Clarke county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Messman were the parents of three daughters: Mrs. Ida Penick, a resident of Clarke county ; Mrs. May Lynn, who makes her home in Adair county, this state; and Mrs. Lillie Holt, the wife of John Holt. The two older daughters were born in Henry county. Mr. and Mrs. lohn Holt have become the parents of six children : Olive, born August 28, 1899; Adrian M., born March 24, 1902; Ida Mae, born December 31. 1904; Ethel F., born November 13, 1906: Irene G., born March 18, 1908; and Boyd R., whose natal day was January 3, 1910. Those of the children who are old enough are attending the public schools of Lueas.
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Both Henry and John Holt give their political adherence to the democratic party and both are members of the Woodmen of the World of Chariton. John Holt is also affiliated with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen of Lucas. Be- sides their agricultural interests and their livery business they own registered imported Clydesdale horses, among them stallion Baron Hill, No. 15.1>5; the French draft stallion, Hero, No. 17,657 ; and the grade Percheron stallion, Jim, No. 591, of the lowa Department of Agriculture. These horses are kept at their barn in Lucas. Aggressive and progressive business men, the Holt brothers take a deep interest in the advancement of the city in which they make their home and have always been found in the ranks of those who have at heart the development of the section. They are successful and enterprising business men and, although their establishment has been in operation for only a few months, have already demonstrated that success is certain to crown their efforts.
MARTIN E. HITT.
Martin E. Hitt is now a resident of Clarke county, lowa, where he owns four hundred acres of valuable land. He was, however, for many years promi- nently connected with agricultural interests of Union township. Lucas county. and his work is accounted among the factors in the farming development of this section of the state. He was born in Madison county. Indiana. June 6, 1838. and is a son of Alexander and Inca (Curtis) Hitt, natives of Virginia. The father went overland to Indiana in 1832 and remained there until 1854, when he settled in Iowa. He died in Clarke county. this state, in 1582 when he was seventy-four years of age. His wife has also passed away. her death having occurred when she was seventy-eight. The parents were among the earliest pioneers of lowa and their name is still honored and respected by all who knew them. In their family were three children : Mrs. Sarah MeFetridge, who died at LeRoy. lowa : Martin E., of this review : and Samuel A .. who died in Wayne county, this state.
Martin E. Hitt spent his childhood and early youth in Madison county, Indiana, and acquired his education in the public schools of that state. lle accompanied the family to Towa in 1854 and in the following year removed 10 Harrison county, Missouri. He there made his home until 1862 and then moved to Franklin township. Clarke county, lowa. He subsequently became connected with agricultural interests in Lucas county, turning his attention to the development of his holdings and becoming recognized as a substantial and progressive farmer. Ile later removed again to Clarke county, lowa, and has since remained a resident of that locality.
In Union township, on the Isth of March, 1869, Mr. litt was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Hlohnes, who was born November 26. 1819. She is a representative of an honored pioneer family, her parents having been the first settlers in Union township. She was the first white child in the town- ship, where she is well known and widely esteemed. Her father. Hiram M. Holmes, was born in Kentucky and died at Great Bend, Kansas, at the age of seventy. Her mother, Sarah ( Ruth) Holmes, was a native of Indiana
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and passed away in Barton county, Kansas, when she was seventy years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Hiram M. Holmes became the parents of eight children : Jacob, who has passed away ; Mrs. Fudge, also deceased ; Mrs. Susanna Lowe, of Union township; two who died in infancy; Nathaniel and Mrs. Adeline Moore, who have passed away ; and Mrs. Hitt, wife of the subject of this review. Mr. and Mrs. Hitt became the parents of seven children : Rosanne, who died in infancy : J. W., who makes his home in Clarke county. Iowa; Clara B., who passed away when she was still a child; Frank K., who is residing with his l'ather on the home farm: Alva E., who died in 1900: and Elsie and Elza. twins, who died in infancy. All of the above children were born in Franklin township, Clarke county.
Mr. Hitt gives his political allegiance to the democratie party and is a devout member of the Christian church. He is well known in agricultural circles of the section where he resides, owning four hundred aeres of choice land in Franklin township, Clarke county. This property is provided with two good sets of improvements and is one of the best managed and most attractive farms in that locality. Mr. Hitt's name is honored and respected also in Lucas county, where his many excellent qualities of character are known and recognized, and although he no longer makes his home in Union township he is nevertheless connted among the men whose work has been a force in its upbuilding.
JOSIAH C. COPELAND.
Josiah C. Copeland. president of the Chariton National Bank and long an active factor in professional circles in the city, was born at Kenton, Ohio, Sep- tember 19. 1855, a son of Howard and Catherine (Darlington) Copeland. The father was also a banker in Ohio and died in that state in 1884. Ilis widow survived him for about nine years, passing away in 1893.
The early educational opportunities afforded Josiah C. Copeland were those offered by the public schools but later he had the advantage of study in Dela- ware University at Delaware, Ohio. After leaving school he clerked for his father and subsequently studied law for a time in his native state. In 1879 he arrived in Chariton. where he continued his law reading and was admitted to the bar in 1881. Ile at once entered upon active practice, which he followed for twenty years, and made for himself a ereditable position at the county bar. He was the first county attorney for Lucas county, filling that position for four years, and throughout the period of his active practice he was over faithful to the highest professional ethics and most carefully safeguarded the interests of his clients, his devotion thereto being proverbial. In 1904 he turned his attention to the banking business, entering the Chariton National Bank in the capacity of cashier. He filled that position for six years and in 1910 was elected to the presidency, which office he now holds.
On the 26th of November. 1896. Mr. Copeland was united in marriage to Mrs. Anna (Gibbon) MeCollough, who was born in Ohio but was reared in Chariton. She is a daughter of Dr. William II. and Laura R. Gibbon. Her father, Dr. Gibbon, was a man of much prominence and served as a surgeon in
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the I'nited States army. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Copeland have been born a son and two daughters: Lawrence Gibbon, born January 9. 1898; Anna Laura, born July 25. 1900: and Catherine G., born September 23. 1902.
Mr. Copeland holds membership in the Masonie fraternity, in which he has attained high rank. Ile has crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and he also has membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Sons of the American Revolution. In polities he is a stalwart republican. unfaltering in his allegiance to the party which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. The family attend the Episcopal church and are well known socially in Chariton. Mr. Copeland is a genial. cour- teous gentleman. kindly and just in spirit but in business prompt and energetic. By individual merit he has attained the present enviable position which he occupies in the financial circles of Lucas county.
PARKISON WILLIAMS.
On the 15th of June. 1912. there was called to his final rest one of the oldest and most esteemed pioneers of Lucas county in Parkison Williams, who had been brought to Warren township by his parents when a child of but four years. in 1845, and who had made that township his home and the field of his activities to the time of his death, which occurred when he had reached the age of seventy years. Parkison Williams was born in Decatur county, Indiana, on the 3d of November. 1841. His parents were Samuel and Susan (Swiney ) Williams. natives of Virginia. The father was one of the heroes of the Civil war, meeting his death at the battle of Pea Ridge in 1864. his wife surviving until 1881. when she passed away in Wayne county, lowa. They came overland to lowa in 1815. bringing with them their four-year-old son Parkison, and settled in Warren township. Lucas county. so that they must be counted among the very first pioneers in this section. At that time there was no indication of the wonderful agricultural development that should later ensue and settlements were yet very sparse, the land being mostly raw. unbroken prairie. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Williams were the parents of the following children: Parkison: Mrs. Margaret Wells: John, also a Civil war veteran, who died in the hospital at Rolla, Missouri. while in the I'nion army : Ned: Mrs. Marjorie Tuttle: Mrs. Martha Font : Mrs. Mary 1. Wilson : and Mrs. Jennie Tuttle. The seven younger children were born near Freedom, where all of them were reared.
Parkison Williams, being brought to Warren township in 1845, there received his education and early became acquainted with agricultural methods under pioneer conditions, Gradually he made himself independent and successfully followed farming and stock-raising through all his life, his efforts being attended with considerable success. His death took place near where the first settlement of the family was made, on June 15. 1912, and was the cause of deep mourning and regret not only to his family but to the many friends which he had made during a long, honorable and useful career.
Parkison Williams was united in marriage, in 1860. to Sarah J. Essex, who was born in Eagle Village. Indiana. July 5, 1844. She came overland to lowa
MR. AND MRS. PARKISON WILLIAMS
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with her parents in 1855, when eleven years old, and has made her home in Lueas county since. IIer parents, Edward and Salena G. (Gnge) Essex, natives of Indiana, both passed away in Lucas county, the father dying in Lineoln township. In their family were six children, of whom Mrs. Williams and Mrs. T. J. Hawkins are the only ones now living. The others were James M., Mary E., Anna E., and one who died in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Parkison Williams beeame the parents of eleven children: Mrs. Etta Tuttle, residing in . Wayne county ; Mrs. Elizabeth Ryan, also a resident of that county ; Samuel L., who is mentioned under that caption; Mrs. Anna Wilson, of Centerville, Iowa ; Mrs. William Connor, of Chariton, lowa; Dr. C. E. Williams, of Russell, Towa; Mrs. Nora MeInnes, residing in Chariton : Mrs. Hattie Layton, of Wayne county ; Salene, a native of Wayne county, who makes her home with her mother in Chariton: Elbert, of Lucas county ; and Arthur, of Chariton. All of the chil- dren were reared and educated in Lucas county, and Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Connor and Miss Salene, after completing the public-school course, took up academic work. The family home in Chariton is commodious and well furnished. Miss Salene Williams has for a number of years most snecessfully taught school in Lucas county and for the coming year has been selected to take charge of the sixth grade of the Columbus school of Chariton. She takes a deep interest in her work and is recognized as one of the most efficient teachers in the city. Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Connor also tanght school for a number of years.
His political views inclined Parkison Williams toward the republican party and he was actively and helpfully interested in all matters of publie importance. For a number of years he served as justice of the peace and discharged the duties of that office with great impartiality and to the satisfaction of the general public. Ile was a member of and deacon in the Baptist church, both he and his wife having joined that denomination near Freedom, where they were charter members of the Sharon church. The family formerly also owned one hundred and twenty acres of land in Lucas county, which, however, has been disposed of. The death of Mr. Williams was a severe loss not only to his imme- diate family but to his locality, for he had always actively participated in all matters pertaining to the general welfare and did much toward advancement and progress in this seetion, especially along agricultural lines. His name is held in high repute by his friends and neighbors, who found in him a man of high qualities of mind and character.
JOHN HENRY LOWE.
John Henry Lowe, one of the highly honored and respected citizens of Lueas county, has made his home in Union township for the past fifty-six years and has witnessed the wonderful transformation that has here occurred as pioneer conditions have given way before the onward march of civilization. General agricultural pursuits have elaimed his attention throughout his entire business career, and he is the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and twenty acres on sections 31 and 32. His birth occurred in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 30th of December, 1835, his parents being Jonathan and Mary ( Downard)
Vol. 11-11
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Lowe, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state, the latter born in Fayette county. Our subject's grandfather, Isaac Lowe, was a soldier in the War of 1812 and acquitted himself with credit. Jonathan Lowe passed away in Madison county, lowa, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, while his wife died in that county when sixty-six years old. Their children were eleven in number. as fol- lows: John 11., of this review : William, who resides on the old home farm in Madi- son county, this state; Martha, who lives with her brother on the old homestead in Madison county : Mrs. Elziria Williams, whose demise occurred in 1912: Oliver. Perry, living in Osceola, lowa; Mrs. Victoria Hyatt. who makes her home in El Paso county, Colorado; and five who died in early life. All were born in Pennsylvania.
John Henry Lowe enjoyed but limited educational advantages in his youth but has continually augmented his knowledge by reading, experience and observation and is a well informed man. When a youth of eighteen he made his way to lowa, journeying by boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi river to Keokuk and then traveling overland to Van Buren county, which he reached on the 9th of May, 1854. Thence he removed to Madison county but after a short time went sonth, spending the winter season in that section of the country. The following spring. in 1857, he came to Union township. Lucas county, lowa, and has here resided continuously since. Many evidences of pioneer life were still to be found, wild game and wild animals abounding, white numerous wander- ing tribes of Indians sojourned in the district. There were only six houses between Chariton and the abode of Mr. Lowe, who experienced all the hardships and privations of life in a frontier region. He first bought eighty acres of university land and subsequently extended the boundaries of his farm by an additional purchase of forty aeres, his holdings now embracing one hundred and twenty acres of choice prairie land in the most productive sertion of Lucas county. All the improvements thereon stand as monuments to his thrift. enter- prise and industry, and the neat appearance of the place bespeaks the care and progressive spirit of its owner. In former years Mr. Lowe specialized in the raising of full-blooded Hereford cattle and at present has a good grade of live stock. There was a time when he soll eggs at Chariton for three cents a dozen, while hogs brought only a dollar and a quarter per hundredweight at Smyrna. Deriding to purchase a scoop shovel. Mr. Lowe and a neighbor husked a load of corn and took it to Chariton, selling the same to a dealer for ten cents per bushel and thus obtaining sufficient cash to pay for the shovel, which cost two dollars and seventy-five cents. As the years have passed and the district has become more thickly settled, conditions have improved for the agriculturist in many ways. Mr. Lowe has won a gratifying measure of success in his oper- ations as a farmer and stock-raiser and has long been mimbered among the prosperous and representative citizens of this county.
On the 25th of October. 1859. Mr. Lowe was united in marriage to Miss Martha R. Brown, who was born in Fayette county. Pennsylvania, on the 4th of April, 1840, her parents being Richard and Sarah Brown. likewise natives of the Keystone state. It was in the year 1840 that they came to lowa, settling near Eddyville. Becoming discouraged with the poor prospects. however. they began the overland journey back to Pennsylvania but met a party from the east
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who contemplated settling in Iowa and who persuaded them to remain here at least another year. They purchased a traet of land in Lee county and thereon spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Brown died in 1854, during a scourge of the cholera. Their family numbered the following children, namely : Josiah, Charles, Rufus, LeRoy, Mrs. Frances Sprott, Mrs. Martha Lowe and Orpha, all of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and all of whom are deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lowe were born seven children, as follows: Alpheus, who is deceased ; Louisa, who died at the age of two years; Jonathan L., who is a resident of Union township; William, also of that township: Francis O., who lives with his father; Dell E., likewise on the home farm; and Charles E., who is deceased. The wife and mother was called to her final rest on the 1st of April, 1896, passing away in I'nion township, where her demise was deeply and sincerely mourned.
In polities Mr. Lowe is a democrat and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to positions of public trust. He has ably served in the capacity of township trustee, was a member of the school board for fifteen years and has acted as road supervisor for sixteen years, ever dis- charging his official duties in a most prompt and capable manner. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 329 at Derby. He is now in the seventy-eighth year of his age and enjoys the veneration and respect which should ever he accorded one who has traveled thus far on life's journey and whose career has been at all times upright and honorable.
JOSEPH F. WILSON.
Among the esteemed pioneers of Wayne county, whose names are enrolled among those of the nation's honored sons who donned the blue and went to the front in defense of their country's flag, appears that of Joseph F. Wilson. Self-educated and self-made, the ambitious and thoughtful will find many examples worthy of emulation in the life of this estimable man, who as president of the State Bank and the owner of large landed interests is now numbered among the substantial business men and respected citizens of Allerton.
The life record of Joseph F. Wilson was begun on a farm in Putnam county, Indiana, on the 16th of September, 1844, his parents being John and Susan (Bettis) Wilson. The father was a native of King George county, Virginia, and of English extraction, while the mother, whose birth occurred in Mason county, Kentucky, was of Irish and English lineage. They were married in the last named state and began their domestie life on a Kentucky farm, but soon thereafter they migrated to Indiana. locating in Putnam county. There the father continued his agricultural pursuits until 1854, when with his family he again started westward. Wayne county, lowa. being his destination upon this occasion. Upon his arrival here he purchased a traet of prairie land and diligently applied himself to its cultivation. Later he sold it and bought another farm, which he operated for a time and likewise sold. The year 1884 was marked by the death of both parents, the father passing away at the age of seventy-two years, while the mother was sixty-eight at the time of her demise. They are buried in the Clinton township cemetery, this county. Their family numbered ten, onr subject being the fifth in order of birth.
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The son of a pioneer farmer of limited means Joseph F. Wilson shared with his family all of the hardships and privations incident to frontier life. Ile was ambitions and enterprising from boyhood and early in life began to provide for his own wants. having earned every dollar he ever received. Realizing the necessity of having an education if he desired to advance in the world, when a Jad of ten years he gathered walnuts and carried them to Corydon in order to procure the money to buy a second reader. In common with the majority of farmer boys he early began to assist about the work of the fields and care of the stock, his duties in this connection preventing his attending school save at irregular intervals during the winter session. Ile remained at home with his parents until the 17th of February, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K. Eighteenth Missouri Vohmteer Infantry and went to the front. He was wounded by a rifle ball at the battle of Shiloh on the 6th of April, that year, and was compelled to suffer the amputation of his left arm. Many long weeks were spent in a southern hospital and on the 18th of August. 1862, he received his discharge and returned home. He remained on his father's farm, rendering steh assistance as he was able, until he was twenty-five. Appreciating the necessity of a better education he devoted much of his time to study and for one year attended school.
Upon leaving the parental roof our subject engaged in buying and selling stock, thus acquiring the money to enable him to buy a farm of one hundred and twenty aeres, which he cultivated for eleven years. Agricultural pursuits and stock buying engaged his undivided attention until 1882, since which time he has followed various activities. He has chiefly engaged in the loan, real-estate and banking business, however, in all of which he has met with a good measure of success. He owns his residence and a store building in Allerton. in addition to eighty acres of land in Jackson township and his farm of two hundred and forty acres in Howard township. He is also a stockholder of the Allerton State Bank, one of the thriving financial institutions of the county. A man of keen discernment and foresight, Mr. Wilson's judgment is seldom at fault in matters of business, as has been plainly manifested by the orderly progress of his career.
In the year 1870. Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Victoria Kniffin. a daughter of Daniel and Clarissa ( Ruseo) Kniffin, natives of the state of New York but of English lineage. They removed to lowa with their family about 1858, locating in Wayne county, which was their place of residence for many years. Subsequently they went to Ohio, and there passed the remainder of their years. Mrs. Wilson, who is the youngest in a family of six, was born on the 23d of July. 1853, and as she was only a child of about five years when she rame to lowa with her parents has passed the greater part of her life in this immediate vicinity. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson there were born three daughters, the youngest of whom, Lillian F., died in childhood. Their first born, Alma T., married Robert Woodcock, by whom she has had one son. Robert Wilson, now a lad of ten years, and is living in Milwaukee. Audrey La their second daughter, became the wife of Lloyd L. Livingston, also of Milwaukee, and they have one daughter Victoria Louise, who is nine years of age.
Mthough seekers after truth, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have never identified them- selves with any religious organization but attend the services of all denominations.
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Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic. In polities he is a democrat, and although he takes an active interest in all local affairs he has never been identified with the official life of the community. Nevertheless he is numbered among the enterprising and progressive citizens of Allerton, where during the thirty years of his residence he has never failed to accord his support to any movement which in his judgment would forward the intellectual. moral or material welfare of its citizens.
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