USA > Iowa > Henry County > Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 21
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The family of George and Isabella Shelledy con- sisted of three sons-Edward, George and Carey D. The widow afterward married John Compton, and bore him six children-Samuel, Virginia, Loui- siana, Stephen, William and Isabella. The death of the mother occurred in Marion County, Iowa, in 1822. After the death of his father and mar- riage of his mother Carey D. Shelledy, then sixteen years of age, left home and went to Charleston, Ill., where he learned the saddlery and harness trade. When eighteen years old he came to this county,
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and in the winter of 1840 opened a shop, the first mechanie of this art in the now thriving county seat. HIe made the first saddle and breeching har- ness ever manufactured in Henry County. IIis shop stood upon the site of Presley Saunders' bank, but there was not enough call for his services to pay the young man, and he went to Lowell and took charge of a carding-mill for Thomas Angell, which he operated for two years. The next year he went to what is now known as the second pur- chase of Indian lands, upon which Ottumwa and Oskaloosa are situated. lle aided in building all the first cabins of Oskaloosa, as when he reached the place only one log store stood upon its site. This was a general store that retailed groceries and 1 whisky, owned at the time by Leeper Smith. Mr. Shelledy was present at the Osage Agency when the treaty was made, and selected three claims, built a log cabin on each, later sold two claims, and secured enough money to enter eighty acres at the first land sale at Fairfield. His marriage had been cele- : brated prior to this time, Miss Amanda Shelledy becoming his wife. They began life on limited capital, and in Mahaska County theirs was one of the first marriages. The father of Judge Seavers performed the ceremony, and the young bride was installed mistress of a log cabin, with hewed pun- cheon floor erected by her husband. That was the beginning of his good fortune. Children came to their cabin home. The first was Elizabeth, now the wife of Charles Simpson; her birth was followed by that of a son, George E., who died in infancy; then Jane, who died in childhood, and who was born in Jasper County, to which her parents had removed, and where other children were born, viz. : Ella, now wife of George Collins; Margaret, wife of Hugh Bowen, and Stephen, the husband of De- borah Collins. In 1869 Mr. Shelledy returned to Henry County, and purchased the farm upon which William Archibald now resides. Ilis wife died in Jasper County, and in Des Moines County Mr. Shelledy married his second wife, Mrs. Jane ( Lin- der) Hale, who had three children by her first hus- band, named George W., Sylvester and Sarah J. After her marriage to Mr. Shelledy she bore Lean- der and Andrew, twins: Fremont, Nathaniel. Emma, Charles, Amy, Ella, John, Frank and Fred.
All are living except Ella, and are widely scattered. Leander married Mary Kyle. and Andrew married her sister Rena; Fremont wedded Ella Cook, in Nebraska; Emma is Richard Foster's wife, while the others are unmarried. Margaret was a teacher in Marion and Cass Counties prior to her marriage, but all the sons are farmers, and the daughters have wedded farmers.
From the lad in 1840, with thirty-seven and a half cents in his pocket, our subject grew to manhood. reared a large family, and is now, in his mature years, one of the large land-owners and wealthy men of Baltimore Township. For many years Mr. Shelledy served as a member of the School Board, but dis- liking to attend to any business except his own, has declined any connection with other official po- sitions. His education in his youth was very lim- ited, all his learning being self-acquired. but his children have all been given a liberal education. In 1876 he purchased the Hussey farm. and is now the owner of 200 broad acres, and is in easy cir- cumstances. He is the grandsire of eighteen chil- dren, and the father of seventeen. Genial and social, Mr. and Mrs. Shelledy have always been noted for their hospitality, and this sketch will be read with interest by scores of old pioneers, among whom they are numbered. His step-father was a cruel man to the children, and was very fond of chastising them upon the least provocation. The last seen of him by our subject, he was standing in the door with a birch switch in his hand, waiting for Carey to put in an appearance, but he had climbed out of a back window, and was making tracks for Illinois, without bidding any of the fam- ily adieu. When he next saw his mother he had grown to manhood, and she failed to recognize him. He went to Indiana after her, intending to give her a home, her second husband being also dead at the time. That good lady accompanied him to Iowa, and found a comfortable home under his roof during the remainder of her life. Mr. Shelledy was in early days an avowed Abolitionist. and was largely interested in the underground rail- road, of which mention will be made elsewhere, and in that connection acted both as Station Agent and as conductor, and was instrumental in securing the freedom of many a poor colored man before the
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Emancipation Proclamation gave them all their lib- erty. For his manly character, his uprightness and straightforward manner, he is greatly esteemed by those who know him.
ARRETT NUGEN, a farmer residing on see- tion 36, New London Township, is a pioneer of 1840. Ile has several well-improved farms, aggregating 595 acres, and his post- office is New London. Mr. Nugen is a native of Virginia, and was born in Kanawha County, now in West Virginia, in February, 1813. His parents were also natives of Virginia. His father, John Nugen, Sr., was born near Richmond, Va., in 1775, of Irish parents, and was a soldier of the War of 1812. He was married in Kanawha County, Va., to Miss Mary C. Lee. They were the parents of sixteen children, thirteen of whom grew to man and womanhood; and four sons-David, Jarrett, Charles and Silas-came to Iowa, and settled in New London Township, Henry County; Charles came in 1838, Jarrett and David in 1840, and Silas in 1855. Of these David and Jarrett are still residents of this county, are wealthy, and large land-owners. Silas resides in Dakota Territory, and Charles is now deceased. The family are remarkable for their longevity, there being now living eleven of the twelve children who reached maturity. The oldest was born in 1804, and is now eighty-three years of age; the youngest is fifty-seven years old.
John Nugen, Sr., emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky, and a few years later to Wayne County, Ind., in 1818. He continued to reside in that county, engaged in farming, until his death, which occurred in 1859. His wife was of an old Virginia family of Colonial times. Her father served through the Revolutionary War as a soldier of the Conti- nental army, and was a warm patriot.
Jarrett Nugen, our subjeet, was reared on his father's farm, and was united in marriage in Wayne County, Ind., March 8, 1838, to Miss Melinda Butler, daughter of Samuel Butler. Mrs. Nugen was born in Wayne County, Ind., and her father was a native of Georgia, emigrating to the former State at an early day. Seven children were born
of their union, five sons and two daughters, and five are now living : William H. was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, Jan. 6, 1841, and served in the late war as a member of Company K, 25th lowa Volunteer Infantry; he was engaged in the mercantile business at New London for twelve years, four in company with Capt. Richard, and eight by himself, but is now engaged in farming. Mary, born April 6, 1843, is the wife of Gad Lyman, of New London; John Z., born April 25, 1845, married Miss Zora Belle Newell, and resides at New London (see his sketch) ; Lizzie was born May 28, 1847, and resides with her father; Josephus, born April 27, 1850, died at the age of four; Ell- wood died in childhood; the other being an un- named infant. Mr. Nugen first came to Iowa Oet. 18, 1839, purchasing a elaim in Des Moines County, and after a brief stay returned to Indiana. The following year he returned with his family, arriving at their home in Pleasant Grove Township Oct. 8, 1840. On the 2d of March, 1841, he moved to Henry County, and on the 16th of November of that year he established his permanent home, where he has since resided. Mr. Nugen was a Whig in early life, and since the dissolution of that party has been a Democrat. Hle is a Master Mason, a member of New London Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M. He has been an active business man, and by industry and good management has accumulated a large property, and his character as a man and citizen is above reproach.
W. SATTERTHWAIT, druggist, Mt. Pleas- ant, lowa, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, March 29, 1835, and is the son of Enoch and Nancy (Dilley) Satterthwait. His parents were natives of England, but came to America in early life. They settled in New Jersey, and subsequently moved to Guernsey County, Ohio, when that county was in a primitive condi- tion, where his father owned a large tract of land, on which he carried on farming and stock-raising. J. W. lost his mother when he was but two years old, and his father died six years later, leaving the son an orphan at the tender age of seven years. His
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people were members of the Society of Friends, and he was reared among Quakers and educated at a Quaker school. Ile served several years as a druggist's clerk, and in the autumn of 1856 came to Mt. Pleasant. Iowa. The succeeding four years were spent in various undertakings, and in 1860 he purchased an interest in the drug business, but did not engage personally in it at that time. He en- listed in the war of the Rebellion in response to the first call of the President for troops in April, 1861, and entered the service as a member of Com- pany F, Ist Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry (three-months men), and served through the term of his enlistment and a few days longer. He par- ticipated in the campaign under Gen. Lyon ; the regiment remaining in the service a short time after the expiration of their term of enlistment before being mustered out, in order to take part in the battle of Wilson's Creek, then pending, and in which they were actively engaged.
On his return from the war, in August, 1861, he engaged actively in the drug business at Mt. Pleas- ant, in which he has continued ever since. In 1869 he was elected by the Republican party to repre- sent Henry County in the Iowa Legislature, and served one term: he has also served as a member of the Common Council of Mt. Pleasant. Ile was one of the proprietors and organizers of the Henry County Agricultural Society, and has ever since been a member, and has held the positions of Seere- tary and Treasurer. Mr. Satterthwait has always taken a warm interest, in educational matters, and has served about twenty years as a member of the Board of Education, which position he holds at this writing, and most of the time being President of the Board. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the State Normal School, and has filled that position four years, and has always wielded a large influence in educational matters, and has given eminent satisfaction to the people in every position to which he has been called.
Mr. Satterthwait was married at Mt. Pleasant, in April, 1862, to Miss Emma Randolph, a daughter of John H. Randolph. Mrs. Satterthwait was born in Mt. Pleasant, lowa. Her father was a native of Virginia, and a member of the well-known family of that name. Her mother was born in Kentucky.
The family were among the carly settlers of Henry County, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Satterthwait have four children. all girls-Myra, Lulu, Stella and Gladys; all born at Mt. Pleasant. Myra is the wife of W. W. Bene- diet, now of Passadena, Cal. The rest are unmar- ried. Mr. Satterthwait is a 32d degree Mason, and prominently identified with the fraternity in Iowa. lle has held official positions in all the local Masonic bodies of Mt. Pleasant, and in the grand bodies of Iowa. He was one of the charter members of Jeru- salem Commandery No. 7. Mt. Pleasant, and is the present Eminent Commander of that body. He is also Worthy Patron of Bethlehem Chapter No. 38, of the order of the Eastern Star. As his Masonic record shows, Mr. Satterthwait possesses superior executive ability and the essential qualities of a leader among men.
Mr. Satterthwait, although not a communicant, is a friend and supporter of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, of which two of his daughters are mem- bers. He is also the leader of the church choir. llis wife and daughter Lulu belong to the Presby- terian Church. Physically, he is tall, well-formed, and of commanding presenee. As a business man, and socially, he is held in high esteem among those who know him best, and is justly regarded as one of Mt. Pleasant's foremost citizens.
E LIJAN RICHARD, deceased, was for many years a prominent merchant in New London, where he located on his first arrival in Iowa from Virginia, in which State he was born, near Pembroke, Frederick County, Nov. 14, 1798. The ancestry of Mr. Richard on both sides were of Ger- man extraction, his mother being a native of Germany, who came to this country with her par- ents, landing on her eighth birthday. His boyhood days were spent in Winchester, in his native county, in which place he was engaged in mercantile busi- ness for Samuel Brown, a member of the Society of Friends. When a young man he removed to Wood- stock. Shenandoah Co., Va., where he began busi- ness for himself, and where a few years later he was married to Miss Eliza II. Thompson, a native of
ELIJAH RICHARD.
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS,
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Chester County, Pa., who came to Woodstock with her parents when a child. Their marriage was cele- brated in April, 1818. After some years spent in business in Woodstock. Mr. Richard went onto a farm given him by his father, situated in the same county. and on that place he remained until his re- moval to lowa. In that county all of Mr. and Mrs. Richard's children were born. The eldest was an infant who lived but a few hours; the next was Catherine A. G., now the sole survivor of the family, and the oceupant of the old family home in New London. The others were: William Thomp- son Henry, who died when but a little over four years of age : John Thompson, who came to lowa with his parents and died in New London in Sep- tember, 1845, having been twenty-one years old the preceding month; Mary Elizabeth, who was twice married in Henry County, her first husband being John Green, of Mt. Pleasant, where he died; her second husband was Elisha Saunders, also of Mt. Pleasant, but who subsequently removed to New London, where both died. The youngest of the family was Ignatins Perry McCandless, who also accompanied his parents to Henry County, and died in Angust, 1844, having been sixteen years old the preceding April.
The new Territory of Iowa at that time attract- ing much attention, in 1841 Mr. Richard deter- mined to remove thither. and selling his Virginia farm he made the journey overland, crossing the Mississippi at Ft. Madison in the beginning of Oc- tober of that year. A few days later he bought a place at New London, to which he at once removed his family, arriving there Oct. 27, 1841. For two years he cultivated the small farm with the aid of a man he had brought from Virginia, but this did not satisfy his active temperament, and in the spring of 1844 he engaged in mercantile business in New London, which he carried on until the increasing infirmities of age caused him to retire a few years before his death. During eight years of that time he was Postmaster of New London, but on the inauguration of President Lincoln in 1861, resigned the position, he being a strong and uncompromising Democrat. During the later years of his life he lived retired, in the enjoyment of ample means in the home which was selected as their future resi-
dence by his daughter Catharine, on the very day on which they arrived in New London, and on which be subsequently built the commodious resi- dence which she yet occupies.
For more than forty years Mr. Richard was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and had many times offered a site for a church edifice in New London, but the matter had not been set- tled when he passed away, and his daughter, faith- ful to her father's memory, kept his pledge, and in 1887 donated to the society over an acre of ground in the center of the village, on which the neat frame church now stands and in which services are regu- larly held.
In April, 1848, Mrs. Eliza II. Richard passed from this life, mourned by her husband and sur- viving children, and with the love and esteem of all who knew her as she was, a loving wife and de- voted mother. Mr. Richard followed her June 22, 1881, passing away suddenly, unexpectedly and painlessly, living but a few minutes after he was attacked by illness. He left behind him the repute of an honorable man, a good citizen and faithful friend, who was never known to do wrong. His loving daughter still occupies the family home, calmly waiting for the summons which will reunite her to those who have gone before. The excellent portrait on an adjoining page of this ALBUM is a tribute of her affection for the memory of the par- ent whom she so dearly loved and so greatly respected.
R RANK P. PECK, M. D., Second Assistant Physician and Pathologist of the Iowa State Hospital, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, since April 1, 1883, was born in Will County, Ill., near Joliet, Oct. 1, 1858, and is the son of Armenins D. and Hannah II. (Hopping) Peck. He received his lit- erary education at the Lockport (III. ) High School, and taught school for five years before entering the Chicago Medical College in 1879, where, after a regular course, he graduated in the class of 1883, having spent eighteen monthis of that time in Cook County Hospital. He then eame directly to Mt. Pleasant, lowa, to accept the position he now holds, as stated above. In politics he is a Repub-
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lican ; religiously a member of the Baptist Church, and fraternally a Master Mason, a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M.
Dr. Peck is a young physician of fine ability, a thorough student of advanced ideas, and has spared no pains to familiarize himself with all that pertains to a thorough knowledge of his profession as rap- idly as possible, and has already won a high place in the estimation of those best qualified to judge of his merits. Ilis father, Armenius D. Peck, was a farmer by occupation, and a worthy man of good re- pute. He was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Oct. 20, 1820. In his youth he went to Chautau- qua County, and then in 1835, to Danville, Ill., with his parents. The following year the family removed near Joliet, Will County, where the father engaged in farming. He married Miss Hannah Hop- ping. Five children were born to'them, three sons and two daughters, Frank P. being the third child. Mr. Peck is connected with the Baptist Church, and in politics is a Republican. Mrs. Peck was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., Nov. 23, 1821. She was an estimable lady, a devoted wife and mother, an earnest Christian and member of the Baptist Church. Her death occurred Oct. 23, 1879.
OHN C. COLLINS is a farmer of Baltimore Township. The Collins family came from Indiana to this county in 1850. Henry B. Collins, the father of our subject, was born in New York, and his wife, Catherine Shannon, in Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio County, Ind., where our subject, the eldest son, was born ; his birth was followed by that of Adelia, wife of Robert Wood; William, who wedded Rachel Bun- ker; George, husband of Ella Shelledy ; Mary, wife of R. T. Wood; Julia, deceased wife of Jonathan Bunker; Deborah J., wife of Stephen Shelledy; Olive B., wife of John Grubb; Margaret, wife of George Hannah, which completed the family.
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When Henry B. Collins came to this county he purchased 206 acres on section 30, Baltimore Town- ship, upon which his son George resides. With the exception of a small cabin and some cultivated
land, Henry Collins improved the tract during his lifetime, and with the exception of the farm house built since his death by his widow, all the improve- ments stand as monuments of his industry. His widow survived him ten years, dying at the age of seventy-two. The children of this family have all been possessed of the same enterprise which char- acterized the parents, and all who are living, with the exception of Mary, who resides in Webster County, are still residents of Henry County. Henry B. Collins died .July 30, 1877, aged sixty-eight, and his widow April 26, 1886.
Our subject was born Jan. 5, 1838, and was mar- ried. in 1859, to Miss Phoebe E. Kent, of Lee County, who was born Nov. 22, 1842, and is a daughter of H. Tapley and Cynthia A. (Crossley) Kent, who came from Montgomery County, Ohio, about 1856, to Lee County. Her mother is still living in Caw- ker City, Kan., and of their children, three sons and one daughter, William wedded Emma Glover; Theodore became the husband of Lizzie Carmichael ; Ross is unmarried, and resides in the West; and Phæbe is the wife of John C. Collins. Since his marriage Mr. Collins has been a farmer four years in Lee County, one winter in Kansas, one in Mills County, lowa, and the remainder of his married life has been passed in Henry County. Eight chil- dren have graced their union: Lucy M., wife of Adam Myers; William. Annie, Bertha. Tapley, Belle, Thurman and Frank. William is now a teacher in Kansas, and with Annie and Bertha, com- pleted a classical course at the Denmark Academy, and Annie is now engaged in teaching in Cawker City, Kan. We are pleased to present the sketch of this family, who have for years been accorded a noble place in the social and business world, and as the Collinses ever will remain on record as among those who have aided largely in the development of Henry County. they are given a deserved place in her history.
In company with his brother. George Collins, a dairy was established on the II. B. Collins farm in June, 1887; the capacity of the cheese factory is 150 pounds a day, and they in partnership are using fifty cows in the dairy, which number they intend to increase. Mr. Collins superintends the outfit, and is a practical operator with large experience.
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Not a pound is shipped, the products not being snfli- cient to supply home demand. In this enterprise over $1,500 is invested, and they expect to largely increase the stock tbe coming months.
until 1832, when the desire to again become a pio- Deer took possession of him, and he accordingly loaded his family and household effects into wagons and started on the long, tedious journey to Iowa, leaving Lucinda and Cornelius at the old home- stead, where they remained for several years, and later moved to Hancock County, Ill. Leaving his well-improved farm of 160 acres and all the com- forts of home, he landed in Henry County, which was an unbroken wilderness, and bought 605 acres of wild land in Marion and Canaan Townships, in one body. At that time there were no laid out roads or landmarks. The first road marked out was from the place where Hill's building now stands in Mt. Pleasant to Wapello. This was laid out with an ox-team. He was a man who lived for his family, and was quiet and reserved in his way, but had many friends and was highly respected. Ile and his good wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and she was taken from him in the year 1872. Mr. Bowers was called to his heavenly home in 1881, at the age of eighty-nine years and eleven months. IIe had no pain, and day by day saw him grow weaker, yet on the day of his death he ate a hearty dinner. His last words were: " I am not sick," but he fell back dead in his son's arms.
M ATHIAS S. BOWERS, a farmer and stock- raiser, of Marion Township, residing on ser- tion 25, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, Feb. 24, 1835, and is the son of John and Rebecca (Vernon) Bowers. His father was born in Greene County, Pa., June 24, 1792, and his mother in Muskingum County, Oet. 10, 1805. John and Rebecca Bowers were the parents of twelve chil- dren ; of that number eleven are still living: Amos married Miss Elizabeth Spry, of Custer County, Ohio; Henry wedded Miss Sarah Violet, and re- sides in Washington, Washington Co., Iowa; Lu- cinda, widow of Patterson Calhoun, resides in Zanesville, Ohio; Cornelius married Catherine Cal- houn, and resides in La Harpe, Hancock Co., Ill .; Charles S. married Emeline Moore, who died in 1866, leaving two children, and he was again mar- ried, to Eliza Erving, and now resides at Elmwood, Peoria Co., Ill .; Charles was a member of the 4th Iowa Cavalry and served three years; Mathias, our subject, is the sixth child in order of birth; Dorothy, Our subject was reared on a farm, and in the oc- eupation of tilling the soil has continued to labor all his life. His early education was received at the common school. Mr. Bowers has witnessed the rapid changes in this county since 1852, for since that time he has made his home in Marion Town- ship, where he has a well regulated farm of ninety- five acres. He was mited in marriage to Miss Emma Spry, born in Muskingum County, Ohio, Oct. 30, 1837. She is the daughter of William and Mary (Vernon) Spry, who had a family of twelve children : Elizabeth; Lucinda, deceased; M. B .; Martha, wife of Thomas Moore, residing in Florida; Milton J., a farmer in Kearney County, Neb .; Joseph W., a member of the 25th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, died at Vicksburg; Samuel N., a farmer and stock-raiser in Nodaway County, Mo. : William E., a farmer of this county ; May, wife of William Steadman, a farmer of Marion Township; John E., wife of Allen Vernon, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Lizzie, widow of Jacob Twigs, a resident of Beatrice, Neb .; Harrison was a member of the ttli Iowa Cavalry, and died at Memphis, Tenn., in 1864; Harriet, wife of a Mr. Humphrey, a con- duetor on the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney Rail- road, resides at Lincoln, Neb. ; Eliza, wife of Allen Courtney, a farmer of Marion Township; and Chris- tiana, wife of Logan Myers, residing near Marshall, Iowa. Their children were all born in Muskingum County, Ohio, their father having settled in that county at a very early day and was married at that place. IIe found the country in a state of natural wildness. With but few exceptions the virgin soil was yet unvexed by the plow. The nimble deer, thoughtless of danger, lightly bounded over the plain, contentedly grazing upon the succu- lent grasses. He cleared 100 acres of land and made for himself a home, and continued to live there | in Villiska, Iowa; Charley W., a farmer in Ne-
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