USA > Iowa > Lucas County > Past and present of Lucas and Wayne counties, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 32
USA > Iowa > Wayne County > Past and present of Lucas and Wayne counties, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 32
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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
WILLIAM C. EVANS.
Incessant energy, indefatigable industry and close attention to details are the elements which constitute the success of William C. Evans, one of the prominent agrieulturists of Lueas county, where he has extensive holdings of valuable land on sections 1 and 10, Jackson township. Born in Knox- Vol. II-16
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ville. Knox county, Ilinois, on January 23, 1856, he is a son of Joshua Brown and Georgiana (Crawford) Evans, the former a native of Hartford, Con- neetient, where he was born in 1824. and the latter of Scotland. His grand- father, in company with Thomas and JJoshua Evans at the beginning of the Revolutionary war emigrated to this country from England. enlisting in the American army. The father passed away in Knoxville, Illinois, in 1871, but the mother is still living on the old home farm in Knox county, that state. In their family were eleven children: AA. S .. deceased ; George W., a resident of Lneas, who was born November 14, 1848. and who for the past twenty years has been assessor of Jackson township, Lucas county: Mary, who makes her home with her mother in Knoxville and who for thirty years has taught school in Illinois; Ernest. of Woodburn, lowa: Eliza, deceased: William C., of this review: Margaret. of Hartford. Connecticut : J. D., deceased : Anna, of Gales- burg, Illinois; Ellen, of Knoxville, Illinois; and a daughter who died in infancy.
William C. Evans was reared on the home farm and acquired his education in the schools of the neighborhood. Very early he became acquainted with the details of agriculture and followed farming in the vicinity of his birthplace. Although his early education was very limited he has greatly improved his knowledge by continuous reading and study and is accounted one of the well informed men upon all such subjects as come up in the course of life. le came to lowa in 1880 and. settling in Jackson township, Lucas county, has followed agricultural pursuits ever since with continued success, giving par- ticular attention to his stock-raising interests. His success is the more remarkable and noteworthy for the reason that when he came here all his worldly possessions consisted of a horse and ten dollars and now he farms three hundred and forty aeres, belonging to Mrs. Evans, all well improved and equipped, and he has one hundred and eighty acres, the l'arms being located on sections 1 and 10. Follow- ing scientific and progressive methods, he has increased the value of his property from year to year and his farms today betray by their appearance the prosperity of their owners.
On January 4. 1885, Mr. Evans was united in marriage in Jackson town- ship. Lucas county, to Miss Margaret Ann Ginn, who was born in Wapello county. lowa, March 11. 1866. While yet a small girl she removed with her parents to Clarke county, this state, where they remained for one year, and in 1879 came to Lucas county. Her parents were Joseph and Eliza Jane ( Elder) finn, both natives of Ohio. The father died in Lucas county, Iowa, in June, 1903. at the age of seventy-five years, but the mother survives and still resides in Jackson township. Early in life the father made the overland trip to Pikes Peak in search of the precious metal, setting ont with an ox team from Ottumwa, lowa, but the desired success was not to be his. Mr. and Mrs. Ginn had six children : John, who died at the age of two years; Mrs. Evans; Wil- liam, of Des Moines, lowa : Albert, deceased : Samuel Tilden, of White Breast township, this county; and Joseph Arthur, living in Jackson township. All of these children were born in Wapello county with the exception of the young- est, who is a native of Lucas. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are the parents of three children, all of whom were born in Jackson township. Jay Harold, the eldest, was born November 25, 1886, attended the common schools of the neighborhood and the public schools of Lucas and then took a commercial course at Simpson
.
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College, at Indianola, Iowa. lle also attended college for two years and after graduating from the liberal arts department of the state university at lowa City taught school for several terms but is at present connected with the Omaha Sanitary Supply Company, of Omaha, Nebraska. Byron, the next in order of birth, born July 11. 1891, passed away shortly after his first birthday, on August 28. 1892. William, who completes the family, was born September 28. 1896, and attends the public schools in the neighborhood of his father's farm.
Mr. Evans is republican in his political views and gives his support to the measures and candidates of that party. Deeply interested in the cause of edneation, he has efficiently served as school director of his district and is fraternally connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, being a member of the Lucas lodge. Mrs. Evans is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Not only has Mr. Evans been an interested witness of the changes that have made this section one of the richest agricultural regions of the United States but he has been a helpful and eooperant factor in the transformation. A self-made man. he is highly regarded and esteemed wherever known and while he has attained commendable personal prosperity has been a serviceable factor in his community.
HENRY HI. BARGER.
Henry HI. Barger, successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising upon two hundred aeres of land in Lucas, his native county, was born in Union township. November 22. 1860. Ile is a son of James Madison and Anna Eliza (Willmore) Barger, natives of Rockbridge county, Virginia, the former born in 1823 and the latter in 1825. Their marriage occurred in 1844, and ten years later they came overland to Iowa, settling in Union township in pioneer times. Here both passed away, the father dying August 28, 1882, and the mother January 20, 1904. Ten children were born to their union: John W., whose birth occurred on the 7th of March, 1845, and who died on the 5th of November, 1912; Mrs. Jane E. Courtney, who was born in April, 1847. and who is now residing in Orange, California; Josiah A., whose birth occurred December 12, 1849, also of Orange; California ; Eli D., who was born August 5, 1851, and who died in 1908; Isaiah, who resides in Warren township; George W., who was born on the 6th of June, 1856, and who resides in Colorado: Vir- ginia A., who was born May 16, 1858, and died at the age of nineteen years; Henry II., of this review: Jasper N., who was born March 7, 1863, and who is now a resident of Plattsmonth, Nebraska; and Mrs. Elva Anderson, who was born February 21, 1867, now a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. The live eldest children were born in Virginia and the remainder are natives of lowa.
Henry H. Barger was reared upon his father's farm in Union township and from his childhood assisted with its operation, beroming at an early age thoroughly familiar with the best agricultural methods. When he began his independent career he naturally turned his attention to the occupation to which he had been reared and sinee that time has been engaged in farming and
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stock-raising. being today numbered among the prominent and snecessful agri- eulturists of his native township. He owns two hundred acres of land lying on sections 1, 11 and 12 and has made substantial improvements upon this property, erecting good barns, granaries and outbuildings and installing the necessary machinery. Ilis stock-raising interests claim a great deal of his attention and, being capably conducted. are an important source of income to him.
Mr. Barger has been twice married. He wedded first. in 1855. Miss Mary E. Skidmore, a native of Jackson township, who died in Union township, leav- ing two daughters: Mrs. Ahna Terhune, who was born July 23. 1886, and who is now living in Woodburn, Iowa; and Mrs. Eva Melvin, who was born April 17, 1890, and who is now residing in Derby. In 1897 Mr. Barger was again married. his second union being with Miss Alice Cottrell, born near In- dianola, lowa, October 8, 1876. She is a daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Eliza (Hampton) Cottrell. both of whom have passed away, the mother dying in January. 1913. In the Cottrell family are four children, Vinton, Robert. Rhoda and Alice, the wife of the subject of this review. Mr. and Mrs. Barger have four children : Lola Fay, who was born October 20. 1898: Zella Marie. born March 27, 1900: Hal Edwin, born April 24. 1901: and Gerald Henry. born June 11, 1906. All are attending public school in this locality.
Mr. Barger gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has served as a committeeman for a member of years. He is interested in the cause of education and is doing able and effective work as a member of the school board. lle is a man of high integrity and force of character, enjoying in large measure the friendship of those with whom he has been brought in contact, and his life of well directed activity has gained him a creditable place in local agri- cultural circles.
EMANUEL HENRY.
Emanuel Henry is living retired in Derby after twenty-nine years elose association with farming interests of Warren township. Well directed labor. untiring industry and firm determination have guided and directed the activ- ities of his career and have brought him success and a comfortable fortune which enables him to spend the declining years of his life in rest and retire- ment. He was born in Pennsylvania, March 13, 1833, and is a son of Martin and Wilhelmina Henry, also natives of that state, who afterward moved to Ohio where their deaths occurred. Twelve children were born to their union. of whom four still survive. as follows: Mrs. Catharine Winters of Ohio: Emanuel of this review; Caroline, who resides in Ohio; and Jeremiah. of the same state. Of the deceased members of this family, two, Martin and Eli. died while in the army during the Civil war.
Emanuel Henry was five years of age when he moved with his parents to Richland county, Ohio, and he there grew to manhood, acquiring his education in the district schools. After laying aside his books he moved to t'nion City.
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where he was married and thence to Delaware county, Indiana. Ile turned his attention to farming there and remained until the fall of 1873, when he moved into Iowa, settling in Warren township. Lueas county. There for a period of twenty-nine years thereafter he remained active in agricultural pursuits, oper- ating an excellent farm which he made productive and valuable by his own well directed and practical labors. In the course of years he accumulated a comfortable fortune and in 1902 retired from active life, moving to Derby where he has since resided. He owns here a comfortable, well furnished and modern home with beautiful grounds and is enjoying the fruits of his former period of toil and labor.
In Darke county, Ohio, on the 11th of January, 1855. Mr. Henry was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Dale, who was born in Miami county, that state, December 3. 1835. She is a daughter of Adam and Elizabeth ( Ilowser) Dale. natives of Ohio, and early settlers in Darke county. Both have passed away. dying in Warren township, this county, the father at the age of seventy and the mother at seventy-six. Six children were born to their union: Paul, deceased ; Mrs. Henry, wife of the subject of this review: Jacob, who resides in Ottumwa, lowa ; Abraham, of Mystie, Iowa; John, who makes his home in Creston; and Adam, of White Breast township. All the above children were born in Ohio, the eldest in Miami county and the others in Darke county. Mr. and Mrs. Henry became the parents of nine children: Mrs. Elizabeth Christy, who was born April 16, 1857, and who resides in Hoisington, Kansas; JJacob, whose birth occurred October 6, 1859, and who makes his home in Warren township : Mrs. Mary Catharine Magill, who was born February 3, 1862, and who has passed away: Andrew, who was born January 5, 1864, and who resides in Kan- sas: Mrs. Martha Decker. born February 27. 1866, residing in Saskatchewan, Canada : Mrs. Emma Bowman, born Angust 9, 1868, living at Promise City, Iowa; John William, who was born July 23, 1870, and who has passed away : Emannel, Jr., born December 20, 1872. living with his parents in Derby : and Frank, who was born April 19, 1877, and who died in infancy. The elder children were born in Indiana and Illinois and the youngest one in Iowa. All were reared in Warren township. Mr. and Mrs. Henry have twenty living grandchildren. eighteen of whom were reared in this part of the state.
Mr. Henry is a member of the German Baptist church of Warren township and he is a democrat in his political beliefs, taking an intelligent interest in public affairs. By years of incessant labor he has secured a comfortable fortnne which enables him to spend the last years of his life in retirement. enjoying the peace and happiness which come from the consciousness of worthy work well done and an upright life well lived.
A. G. CHERRYHOLMES.
A. G. Cherryholmes, prominently connected with business interests of Derby as a partner in the hardware firm of Cherryholmes & Nessen, is numbered among the pioneers in Lucas county, his residence here dating from 1854. This has covered the period of the section's greatest growth and development
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and although he was still a child at that time. he afterward bore his full share in the work of progress, his activities promoting the agricultural development of his township and later the mercantile growth of the city where he now makes his home. He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on the 27th of August. 1852, and is a son of John and Mary (Norris) Cherryholmes, natives of that state, the father born in 1804 and the mother in 1819. They left Port Washington, Ohio, in a covered wagon on the 20th of September, 1854, and arrived in Union township, Lucas county, on November 8th of the same year. They settled on a farm here when pioneer conditions prevailed everywhere, the settlements being sparse and the houses between their property and Chari- ton few and far between. The father continued to develop his holdings, becom- ing one of the prosperous and substantial farmers in this locality, dying upon his property in Union township in 1889. His wife survived him some years, passing away in 1894. In their family were eight children: W. H .. deceased ; Joseph, whose home is in Kansas; Rhoda and a daughter (unnamed), both of whom died in infancy : A. G., of this review : Mrs. Amanda E. Gibbs, of lumes- ton ; Mrs. Ruth Brevard. of Colorado; and I. D., of Taylor county. lowa. The five eldest children were born in Ohio and the three youngest in Union town- ship, but all were reared in Lucas county.
A. G. Cherryholmes was only two years of age when he came with his par- ents to Lucas county and amid the pioneer conditions then prevailing he grew to manhood, attending the district school and when not engaged with his books assisting with the work of the homestead. When he began his independent career he naturally turned his attention to the occupation to which he had been reared and he followed farming in Union township until 1897, when he moved into Derby, where he has since resided. On the 4th of October. 1905, he formed a partnership with Mr. Nessen and they entered into the hardware and imple- ment business in Derby under the firm name of Cherryholmes & Nessen. They deal in all kinds of shelf and heavy hardware, vehicles and farm implements, conducting one of the largest enterprises of this character in this section, and they have been accorded a liberal and representative patronage, for their prices are at all times reasonable and their business methods honorable and straightfor- ward. Mr. Cherryholmes is known as a resourceful, farsighted and progres- sive business man and his success is the direct result of ability combined with industry.
In 1881 Mr. Cherryholmes was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Brevard. who was born in Indiana on the 26th of June. 1551, a daughter of Jonathan and Charity ( Marsh) Brevard, natives of that state. They came overland to Clarke county, łowa, in 1864 and settled on a farm there on which they con- tinned to reside until their deaths. In their family wore the following chil- dren: Mrs. Rachel A. Brower. James Martin and Jesse M .. all of whom are deceased : Mrs. Jane Crawford, of Nebraska: Mrs. Cherryholmes, wife of the subject of this sketch; Isaac, whose home is in Colorado: Mrs. Amanda Folk. of Washington; and John F. of Clarke county, lowa. All of these children were born in Indiana with the exception of Mrs. Crawford and Charles W. Mr. and Mrs. Cherryhohes became the parents of one daughter, Araminta. who died in infancy.
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Fraternally Mr. Cherryholmes is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Yeomen and his wife holds membership in the Rebekahs. He is a demoerat in his political beliefs and has served ably and creditably as road supervisor and assessor of Derby. A publie-spirited and progressive eitizen, he is interested in the welfare of the section to which he came in pio- neer times and is active in promoting its growth. Business men respect him for his integrity and his straightforward dealings and wherever he is known he holds the esteem and confidence of all who are associated with him.
ISAAC M. TAYLOR.
Isaac M. Taylor, a worthy native son of Lucas county and a representative of an honored pioneer family of Union township, owns and operates a well improved farm of three hundred and thirty-two aeres in Union and Warren townships and has resided thereon from his birth to the present time. He was born on the 10th of December, 1860, his parents being Jacob and Mary (MeKnight) Taylor, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Virginia. Jacob Taylor came to this county in 1854, when a young man of eighteen years, making the overland journey with an ox team. Ilere he spent the remainder of his life, devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits until he passed away in Union township in 1872. His wife, who had made the overland journey to Towa in company with her parents in 1856, died in Union township, Lucas county, in 1870. They were well known and highly esteemed here, and in their passing the community lost two of its honored pioneer residents. Their chil- dren, six in number and all natives of Union township, were as follows: Mary Virginia, who is deceased ; Isaac M., of this review; John Everett, who resides in the North Yakima valley of Washington: William P., of Warren township, this county ; Eugene, deceased ; and a son who died in infancy.
Isaac MI. Taylor first attended the district school near his father's farm and subsequently continued his studies in the public schools of Derby. The place on which he was born has remained his home to the present time, and early in life he became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agrienlturist. The pursuits of farming and stock-raising have claimed his at- tention throughout his entire business eareer and he now owns three hundred and thirty-two acres of valuable land in Union and Warren townships, with two sets of excellent improvements. His live stock is of good grade and this branch of his business has added materially to his yearly income. He annually harvests bounteous erops which find a ready sale on the market and has long been numbered among the prosperous agriculturists and representative citizens of his community.
. On the 22d of February, 1882, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Joanna McCullough, whose birth occurred in Greene county, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of September, 1857, her parents being Thomas and Elizabeth ( Webster) MeCullough, likewise natives of that county. Following the death of Thomas MeCollough, which occurred in Greene county, Pennsylvania, his widow came with her family to Lucas county, Iowa, in 1875, and here spent the remainder
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of her life. Her children were seven in number, namely: Canada, who is de- eeased; William, a resident of Chanute. Kansas: John, who makes his home in Concordia, Kansas; Mrs. Joanna Taylor; Joseph Leroy, who passed away in Kansas; George L., living in Lakin, Kansas: and Charles Ellsworth, of Wayne county, Iowa. All were natives of Greene county. Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have become the parents of four children, all of whom were born on the same farm in Union township where the father first saw the light of day. The record is as follows: Carl E., whose birth occurred on the 24th of June, 1883, and who resides with his parents on the home farm; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth New- some, born Mareh 14, 1885, who is a resident of Union township: Charles, who was born September 10. 1888. and resides with his parents; and Ray, who was born on the 19th of Angust, 1890, and also lives in Union township. The two eldest sons attended the Capital City Commercial College of Des Moines, Iowa, Carl being a graduate of that institution and Charles pursuing his studies there for one year.
Mr. Taylor is a democrat in politics and has served in the capacity of town- ship trustee for four years, having also held the office of road supervisor. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America at Derby, while his wife is a member of the Baptist church at May. He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen whose aid and cooperation can ever be counted upon to further any movement or measure instituted to promote the general welfare. That his life has ever been upright and honorable is indicated in the fact that the asso- eiates of his boyhood and youth are still numbered among his stanch friends and admirers.
CHARLES II. DAVIS.
Charles II. Davis, controlling an important and Inerative business in Derby as a real-estate agent, has been a resident of Lucas county since 1875 and has been prominently connected with business affairs in this eity for about thirty-three years. Ile was born in Schuyler county. Missouri, in Lancaster. December 15, 1853, and is a son of William J. and Nancy I. ( Roe) Davis, natives of Virginia, the former born October 14. 1823, and the latter April 22, 1826. The parents removed from Missouri to Illinois where they remained for two years, going from there to Virginia. The father was well known in military circles there, being second lieutenant in the Twentieth Virginia Regiment, State Militia, com- missioned May, 1844, the document being dated at Richmond. July 3. 1844, and signed by James MeDowell, governor of the state. From Virginia Mr. and Mrs. William Davis moved to Kentneky and there on the Ist of September. 1861, the father enlisted in the Union army, joining Company 1. Third Kentucky Vol- unteer Regiment, and dying while in the service of his country on October 15, 1862. Three of his brothers were also members of the Union army. Mr. Davis' wife survived him many years, dying in Derby, May IS. 1906. She was a grand- daughter of John and Nancy Roe, the former born October 22, 1769, and the latter December 30, 1770. Her parents were Edmund and Isabella Roe, the former of whom was born May 9. 1797. and died in 1882. The latter's birth
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occurred December 29, 1796, and her death in 1883. This family also sent a representative to the battlefields of the Civil war, Edward Washington Roe, unele of the subject of this review, having been killed at the siege of Vicksburg. Mr. and Mrs. William J. Davis became the parents of seven children: a son who was born December 19, 1845, and who died in infancy ; James A., born April 14, 1847, who died April 3, 1907 : John W., who was born March 9, 1850. and who resides in Oklahoma; Edward, who was born June 6, 1852, and who died February 7, 1853; Charles H., of this review; Tolbert II., who was born November 25, 1856, and who died November 6, 1860; and Mrs. Sarah Isabelle Patton, who was born August 24, 1859, and who died at Shenandoah, Iowa, May 27, 1887.
Charles HI. Davis was reared in Kentucky and acquired his education in the public schools of that state. After laying aside his books he turned his attention to farming and this occupation he followed for some years thereafter, first in Kentucky and then in Lueas county, Iowa, where he removed in 1875. He engaged in agricultural pursuits here for five years and at the end of that time moved into Derby where, with the exception of two years, he has since continued an esteemed and respected resident. For sixteen years after his arrival here he conducted a large and profitable mercantile establishment, building up an exten- sive and representative patronage which was accorded him in recognition of his upright and honorable business methods, his progressive standards and his earnest desire to please his customers. When he disposed of this enterprise he turned his attention to banking and for two years thereafter acted as assistant cashier of the Home State Bank of Humeston. He then entered into partnership with Mr. Crocker of Chariton and together they established a bank in Derby. which under their able management became one of the strong and reliable moneyed institutions of this part of the state. Mr. Davis severed his connection with banking interests here in 1905 and about 1908 accepted the appointment of post- master of the city, discharging his important duties in a prompt, capable and thoroughly satisfactory way. Failing health obliged him to resign this office and he has sinee that time devoted his attention to the real-estate business, han- dling a great deal of valuable property. Ile has at different times owned a num- ber of fine farms in Lucas county and is now the proprietor of one hundred and sixty acres of choice land in Kansas, besides having a hall interest in a forty acre tract in Union township and ten acres adjoining Derby. He has dealt extensively in Derby town property and his own home in this city is an attractive. modern and comfortable residence.
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