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 24
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IIOMAS G. ALLENDER, deceased, was born near Baltimore, Md., Jan. 28, 1818, and moved from there with his parents to Ohio when but a small boy. In 1838 the family moved to the Territory of Iowa, which had just been organized, and located in Trenton Township, Henry County. On the 31st day of March, 1842, Mr. Allender was united in marriage with Miss Jane M. Allred, a native of North Carolina. By this marriage there were ten children: Elizabeth Ann, born Jan. 11, 1843, married M. L. Rice, a native of Pennsylvania, June 9, 1859, and died in July, 1870; Martha I., born Oct. 26, 1844, married J. C. McCoy, March 25, 1866; Eliza Jane, born July 26, 1846, died Sept. 4, 1865; William II., born Ang. 23, 1848, married Mary E. Downing, Nov. 7, 1869; she was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, March 5, 1849, and died Jan. 20, 1882. He again married, Sept. 20, 1883, Martha O. Schloder, a' native of Henry County, Iowa, born Ang. 2, 1849. Benjamin R., born in November, 1850, died in infancy ; Thomas E., born March 23, 1852, married Anna Coleman, Dec. 7, 1879, and now resides in Nebraska; John A., born March 13, 1854, married Martha E. Logsdon, Ang. 26, 1875, a native of Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, born Dec. 10, 1855; Cor- nelia F., born Jan. 18, 1856, married Charles W. Downing, Sept. 6, 1872, and now resides in Fur-
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nas County, Neb .; James F., born Sept. 22, 1860, married Margaret A. Lawrence, Oct. 24, 1882; she was born Feb. 22, 1855, at Cleveland, Ohio. One died in infancy.
After their marriage our subject and wife lived three years in Trenton Township, where Mr. Allen- der engaged in farming. He then moved to Tippe- canoe Township, lived there two years, then moved to Jefferson Township, where he remained five years, returning then to Trenton Township, in 1852, where he resided thirty-two years. Mrs. Al- lender died March 25, 1882, and Mr. Allender two years later moved to Mt. Pleasant, where he died March 23, 1886. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For nearly forty years he filled official positions in church and state. As a School Director he was very efficient, and would employ only the best teachers procurable. In him the cause of education always found a stead- fast friend, and in his death the county lost a most valuable citizen.
AMES HAMMOND ARNOLD, retired. The importance of the history of Henry County depends largely upon the accuracy of the personal sketehes of the men who have for a generation been interested in the development of her soil, her society, her schools and her churches. Among such men we are pleased to no- tice James Hammond Arnold, the second oldest man now living in the county, and the oldest in Salem Township. His family are all widely known and highly respected, and of each one we will make mention in their proper place. James 11. Arnold was born Dee. 7, 1797, near Brownsville, Fayette Co., Pa., and is a son of James and Com- fort (Conwell) Arnokl. Three brothers. Andrew, Jonathan and Jesse Arnokl, emigrated from Ches- ter County, Pa., near Philadelphia, to Ft. Red- stone, on the east side of the Monongahela River. and settled within protecting distance of the fort, in 1765. Jonathan Arnold, grandfather of our subject. wedded Rachel Scott, whose parents came from Scotland, in which country she was probably born. and he located on the cast bank of the river oppo-
site the mouth of Ten-Mile Creek, and the others immediately below. The claim of Jonathan consisted of over 1,000 acres, which he im- proved, and upon which he lived and died. Of his children there were Jonathan. Benjamin, Levi. Hannah, Rachel, Sarah, William and James, the two latter being twins. James, like the others of his name, was a farmer. His father, and Jonathan, his oldest brother, also owned and operated a powder mill on the old homestead, and James owned a mill in Jefferson County, Ohio. lle removed with his family to Jefferson (now Harrison) County, Ohio, in 1803, the date of her admission as a State. Ile was wedded in Pennsylvania to Comfort Connell, who bore in that State, James HI., our subject, Hyatt and Narcissa L. The Arnolds were among the first families settling in that part of Ohio, and there a daughter, Matilda, was born the same year they made their settlement. ller birth was fol- lowed by those of Putnam and William C., the date of the birth of the latter being 1808. From the best knowledge of our subject, the family were of Quaker stock, but his mother was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and James Arnold donated a church site for the latter denomination, and the same site is still known as the "Beech Spring" meeting- house, and is yet occupied as church property. The death of James Arnold occurred in Harrison County, Ohio, Jan. 21, 1811, and his widow after- ward married George Keller, a farmer of the same county. To him she bore no heirs. She died in that neighborhood in her fifty-first year.
Our subject is the only surviving member of the family. After the death of his father he re- turned to Washington County, Pa., and learned the process of wool manufacturing. He then took a trip down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and then to Cuba, and back to Philadelphia. This voyage exhausted his cash resources, so on foot. with his bundle on his back, he tramped over the mountains 300 miles to Fayette County, Pa., where he rented a woolen-mill, and again accumulated some money. While there he formed the acquaint - ance of Sarah, daughter of John and Martha (Sam- ple) Ewan, to whom he was married April 29, 1821, in Fayette County, Pa. She was born Jan. 21, 1798. in Winchester, Va. They remained in
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Pennsylvania till 1823, Mr. Arnold all the while engaged in the manufacture of woolens. In that State the eldest daughter, Martha, was born, but died in infancy, lle removed in the fall of 1821 to Belmont County, Ohio, where he rented another woolen-mill, at Belmont Station, operating it for five years, then going to Morristown, where he erected a large factory. and for years carried on the same. In 1842 he sold the factory, and en- gaged in merchandising, and being also appointed Postmaster, he continued in business until their removal to lowa, in 1853. The mechanical inge- nuity of our subject led to his invention of many valuable devices in the manufacture of woolens, and he has the honor of being the patentee of the first threshing-machine ever patented, July 8, 1830, the patent bearing the signature of President An- drew Jackson, with Martin Van Buren, Secretary of State. Mr. Arnold built a machine which was later improved by other patents, and he then de- cided to have nothing more to do with it. The children born in Ohio are Louisa N., now the wife of George Pitman, a farmer of Salem Township; Liber- tatia, the widow of lTon. A. J. Withrow, who was a former Representative of this county in the State Legislature; Columbus V., ex-Treasurer of this county (see sketch) ; he is now the husband of Addie Howard, and resides in Mt. Pleasant. Boli- var W. and Cleopatra died in childhood; Pizzaro C., the hardware merchant of Salem, wedded Phobe Childs; Galileo died in childhood; Xeno- phon H., with whom our subject resides, wedded first Mary Hlaskett, and after her death Miss Emma V. Armstrong, of Fayette County, Pa. In April, 1853, James Il. Arnold purchased the farm which is yet his home, and without any experience as a farmer decided to reside in the country. After his sons became old enough to work it. they as- sumed its management, and each child married and removed to other localities, except X. H., familiarly known as Zen, who became manager in full. The death of the wife and mother occurred in 1874, at the age of seventy-six years. She was a loving wife and tender mother, and the aged couple for many years braved the vicissitudes and privations of toil, but in their ripe old age were blessed with abundance, and their children have each made an
enviable record in both the financial and social world. Our subject is to-day hale and hearty. Hle can still use his rifle, and often from the tree- top falls the nimble squirrel at the eraek of his gun. Although living for so many years on the farm, he has never plowed a furrow, but has plenty to spare, and spends his declining years in ease and comfort. For more than a quarter of a century he has kept a weather diary, and the temperature is taken by him at sunrise and at 2 P. M., also the direction of the wind. It is noted in the plainest seript, and gives exact information regarding the above points for every day covering the period mentioned. Not only is he one of the oldest, but one of the most respected, citizens of the township, and a host of friends wish for him many more years of life and healthı.
ESSE B. ALLEN is a farmer and resides on section 4, Jefferson Township, Henry Co., lowa. He was born in 1837, and was nine years of age when his parents came to Henry County, which has been his home ever since, ex- cepting two years spent in California with his brother John. Reared and educated upon a farm he chose that avocation, and in it has gained the success which comes to those of industrious habits. In 1867 Miss Rachel, daughter of Jonathan and Julia (Gardiner) Anderson, of this county, became his wife. Her family came to Henry County in 1865, from Licking County, Ohio, in which State Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were married. Julia Gardi- ner was a native of Maryland, and Jonathan Ander- son of Virginia. There were nine children born to this worthy couple: Daniel, who wedded Eliza J. Palmer, resides in Smith County, Kan. ; Catharine wedded Edward Crosby, a farmer of Page County, Iowa: Nancy married David Davies; Maria be- came the wife of Sterling Davis, of Smith County, Kan .; Jennie married Calvin Oglesby, of Osborne County, Kan .; James, deceased; Rachel, wife of our subject; Ellen, widow of Sebastin Roush, of Page County; Mr. Ronsh died in this township, where he was well known. William became the husband of Mariab Harlan; they reside in Page County. The parents of these children removed to
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that county in 1879, and three years later the wife and mother died. Jonathan Anderson, now an aged gentleman of eighty-three years, finds a com- fortable home with his children, all of whom are in easy circumstances, the sons being farmers and the daughters wives of farmers. Two children have blessed the union of Jesse and Rachel Allen-the first, Wade J., born March 29, 1869, and the second died in infaney.
In 1865 Mr. Allen purchased his present farm near the village of Wayland, which furnishes excel- lent school facilities, markets and church privileges. The family are, like those of their name and kin- dred, honored in society, esteemed by their neigh- bors. and prominent factors in the township in which they reside.
h K. LEEDIIAM, of Leedham & Baugh, deal- ers in Inmber, lath, shingles, and mannfact- urers of sash. doors, blinds, moklings, etc .. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, established the latter business here in 1872. The firm employ about four- teen hands in the factory, situated at the terminus of Lincoln, on llenry street. Mr. Leedham was born in Washington County, Ohio, Dec. 24, 1830, and is the son of John and Sarah (Kensington) Leedham. His parents were born in England and came to America in 1818, settling at Marietta, Ohio, and were among the earliest settlers in that region. They came to lowa in 1844, and settled in New London Township, Henry County, where John Leedham was engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in March, 1865. His wife also died in the same month, but four years later. John Leedham was an upright man of unblemished char- acter, who was considered by those who knew him to be one of the best men of the locality in which he resided. In England both husband and wife were members of the Established Church, but after coming to this country adhered to the Universalist Church.
The subject of this sketch, HI. K. Leedham, was reared on a farm, but learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked three years. He was also em- ployed at a sawmill about three years, and after-
ward again went to farming. In 1872 he com- meneed the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, in company with Mr. L. G. Baugh (see sketch), which connection has now continued for fifteen years. Mr. Leedham was married, July 12. 1853, to Elizabeth Clark, daughter of Jacob Clark. who was an old settler of Van Buren County, Iowa. Mrs. Leedham was born in Pennsylvania, and died childless in April, 1861. Mr. Leedham was mar- ried again, Feb. 16. 1862, in Des Moines County, lowa, to Mrs. Emma Wright, widow of John Wright, and daughter of Almer Lewis. This lady was also born in Pennsylvania. Three children were born of this union: Perry A., born Dee. 16, 1864, who has been reading medicine, and is now studying in Iowa City with a view to adopting the profession of a physician; Ida M., born Feb. 3, 1869, died June 16, 1871, and Earle M., born May 29, 1880, died Sept. 24, 1882.
Mr. Leedham is independent in polities, believ- ing that good government is more likely to be oh- tained through electing good men to office than by a elose adherence to party lines. Hle is a broad- gauged, whole-souled style of a man, to whom, to use a Western phrase, it " is safe to tie to." As a business man and a citizen, he is justly held in esteem, and for his manly qualities and his integrity of character, he enjoys the confidence of the entire community.
L EWIS G. BAUGH, of the firm of Leedham & Baugh, manufacturers of and dealers in sash, doors, blinds, etc .. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was born in Loudoun County, Va., Jan. 9, 1827, and is a son of Lewis K. and Eliza A. (Beedle) Baugh. His father was also a native of Loudoun County, Va., born Nov. 19, 1795. lle was a mill- wright by trade, and came to Iowa in 1855, and died in Lee County, Sept. 10, 1862. His mother was born in Alexandria, Va., Jan. 31, 1797. and died in Clarke County, Ohio, March 5, 1885. Our sub- jeet learned the trade of millwright with his father, who had learned it of his father, the grandfather of Lewis G., who died at the good old age of ninety years. On the 21st day of June, 1853, Lewis G.
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Baugh was united in marriage, in Miami County, Ohio, with Miss Jane Darst, a native of that county, born Sept. 13, 1830, and daughter of Rev. John Darst, a Dunkard preacher of prominence in his State. Her people were among the early settlers of Dayton, Ohio. She has a twin sister, the exact counterpart of herself, living in Christian County, Ill., the widow of Joseph Hackenberg. Her parents had seven children in all, and her mother died when she and her twin sister were but three weeks old, and the infants were brought up by an aunt, with whom they lived until they were about six years old, when, their father having married again, they returned to his home. At the age of ten Mrs. Baugh was taken by another relative, with whom she lived until she was about sixteen, when an elder brother assumed the care of her and her twin sister, and had them educated. With him she lived until her marriage with Mr. Baugh. Besides her sister, she has two brothers now living : Samuel, a carpenter, living near Springfield, Ohio, and Henry II., a practicing physician at Toledo, Ohio. She has also two half brothers and two sisters living.
Mr. and Mrs. Baugh have had five children, only one of whom is now living. Two of their daugh- ters, who had grown to womanhood, together with a son twelve years of age, were victims of dipl- theria, and all died within a period of twenty-six days. The only remaining daughter when just entering upon womanhood was drowned. Flora was born Aug. 6, 1854, and died July 5, 1874; Julia was born Nov. 7, 1859, died Aug. 1, 1871; John L., born Aug. 12, 1862, died July 9, 1874; Edith S., born April 19, 1868, was drowned Nov. 7, 188.1, in the distressing accident which happened on Tracy's Pond, in Mt. Pleasant, when she lost her life, as did Prof. Wolfe, of the Ihigh School; Miss Carpenter, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, a teacher, and a classmate, Miss Ella Teter, by the sinking of a boat. The only survivor of the family is Charles Henry, who was born in Mt. Pleasant, July 21, 1871, and is now attending school in Mt. Pleasant, and em- ploys his leisure time in his father's mill, having given evidence of superior skill, which his father is giving him every opportunity to develop. Some of his handiwork would be creditable to older me- chanics, and indicates a decided genius in that line.
Mr. Bangh came to lowa in November, 1857, and to Mt. Pleasant in May, 1858. He worked at his trade till 1872, when he formed the existing partnership with II. K. Leedham (see sketch) in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. The firm of Leedham & Baugh have a large establishment and are doing a fine business. Mr. Baugh is a man of more than ordinary skill in his business, and attends closely to the interior work of the mill, and the marked excellence of the articles manufactured by the firm is largely due to his careful oversight. For thirty years he has been a resident of Mt. Pleasant, and in that time has done his share in building up the city of his adoption. lle is a good business man and an excellent citizen. Politically he is a Republican, and socially a member of the I. O. O. F., holding membership with Henry Lodge No. 10, of Mt. Pleasant, joining that body in Ohio when he was twenty-one years old.
When the partnership of Leedham & Baugh was formed, May 9, 1872, nearly sixteen years ago, preparations were at once begun to erect the mill, and that season the main building was finished. It is three stories high and is 15x60 feet in dimensions. The following year they added a building 20x28, two stories in height, principally used for storage of manufactured goods. These buildings being not yet large enough to accommodate their rapidly growing business, the next year they added another 22x44, and two stories high ; a drying-house, 18x50, two stories, was the next, and a couple of years later another building was put up, size 30x50, like- wise two stories high. These. with stables and sheds, give them ample facilities for their large trade, which still keeps growing. Power is fur- nished by a sixty horse-power engine. When the firm first began they employed six men, but now have fourteen hands at work, who, with the greatly improved machinery invented and put into the mill of late years, turn out more than four times the amount of work formerly done. In round figures, their product the first year was worth $8,000. Last year it footed up $40,000, showing a decidedly healthy growth. They now handle between eighty and 100 carloads of lumber each year, and have a steady demand for all they can turn out. Their
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trade is mostly local, but they ship goods to other States, to Nebraska, Missouri, etc. They have also a special trade on walnut house brackets, which they send all over the country.
The steady growth of the business of this lirm is due to the reputation they have earned of always turning ont honest work, fully up to and generally a little better than it is represented to be. The trade fully appreciate this, and consequently the firm is never at a loss for enstomers, as one once made is secured for good. The result is that while other factories of the kind suspend a part of each year, these works are never shut down except for necessary repairs.
G EORGE C. TRAXLER, residing on seetion 20, Marion Township, is by birth a Pennsyl- vanian, having been born in Cumberland County of that State, Oet. 31, 1842. His parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Cramer) Traxler, were also natives of Pennsylvania, though of German de. scent. The father and mother of Jacob Traxler came to America at a very early day and settled in Pennsylvania, where Jacob was born. Jacob and Elizabeth Traxler were the parents of nine children : Catherine A., wife of Levi Flickinger, now resides in Story County, Iowa; John, a farmer and briek- maker of Seward County, Kan., wedded Rebecca Yount; Jacob, whose first wife was Eliza J. Humes, who died Aug. 5, 1867, leaving three children, was again married, to Mrs. Elizabeth Gould, and is a resident of Trenton Township, Henry County ; Mary, deceased wife of John Black, of Trenton Township; Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Elias Black : Frances R., the deceased wife of J. W. Moore, of Marion Township; George, the subject of this sketch, is next in order of birth : Joseph, a farmer of Appa- noose County, Iowa, and Grazel, who died at the age of nine. John Traxler emigrated to Iowa in 1853, and his father Jacob, with the rest of the family, came in 1854. The father bought eighty- four acres of land in Marion Township, on which he lived until his death, which occurred April 24, 1871. lle was born Oct. 28, 1807, and had been blind for a number of years before his death, hay-
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ing lost his sight while blasting. His wife died Oct. 9, 1872. They were both members of the Lutheran Church, and were regular and faithful attendants of the same.
George Traxler obtained his education in the common schools of the township, but at an early age he left to learn the trade of brick-making, which business he followed until 1885. On the 15th of October, 1865, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma L. Harper, of Franklin County, Ohio. Mrs. Traxler is a daughter of Elisha and Ann (Davis) Harper, and was born Jan. 29, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Harper were natives of Pennsylvania, but of Ger- man and Irish descent. To them were born six children : David, a farmer of Marion Township; Eliza A., wife of Samuel Jay, of Dallas, Col. ; Will- iam J., a farmer of Page County, Iowa; Mrs. Trax- ler; Margaret, wife of David Kenworthy, of Mt. Pleasant, and Eli. a farmer of Trenton Township. Mr. Harper died Nov. 18, 1855, and his wife was again united in marriage, with Reuben Mannings, now deceased. Mrs. Mannings is now residing in Trenton Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Traxler are the happy parents of two children: Levi A., born Dec. 26, 1866. and Annetta, born Oct. 11, 1868. In March, 1886, Levi started a store of general merchandise on the Washington road. Mr. Traxler and his good wife are highly respected by all who know them. He was reared a Democrat, but east his first vote with the Independent party. He owns a nice farm of fifty-six acres, on which he has good and substantial farm buildings.
ILLIAM R. CREW, farmer As stated in the sketch of llon. M. L. Crew, all the children of Walter and Sarah (Rice) Crew were born in Hanover County, Va. William was born in December, 1826, and was in company with his parents and their entire family when they came to this State. Prior to that event he was engaged in the milling business, and soon after his marriage began business for himself, and from 1851 to 1857 was in the mercantile business with his brother-in- law, Alfred Sluyter. in Salem.
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The marriage of William R. Crew and Miss Caro- line Richey was celebrated in February, 1862. Eight children blessed their union, viz: Cordelia A., now wife of D. S. Swan, a merchant of Cheyenne, Wyo .; Leroy B., husband of Ella Matthews, and a resident farmer of this township; Eva E. is the wife of William B. Donaldson. formerly a druggist of Salem, now doing business in the West; Edwin G. became the husband of Lucy Bales, and is farming in this township; Luella II. married John IT. Boyce, a farmer of Salem Town- ship; Alfred S. is with his brother-in-law Swan in Cheyenne, and Fannie F. is her father's house- keeper. One, Carrie, died in infancy. After a few years spent in mercantile business, Mr. Crew re- moved to the Crew homestead, and later purchas- ing the farm now his property, removed to it in 1866. His wife died Aug. 3, 1867, and on March 24, 1870, the marriage of Mr. Crew and Mary E. Smith was celebrated. Her parents were James and Mary (Brown) Smith, who were residents of Waynesville, Ohio. The death of her mother ocenrred when Mary was five years of age, and after her father died she came to Towa in company with several of her brothers and sisters, who intended mak- ing a home in the West. The children were named respectively : Orestes R., who wedded Elizabeth HIartle, and died in Salem in 1883; Asher B., who removed to Ohio, and Rachel, wife of Samuel Siveter; the two latter were twins. Mary E., wife of our snbjeet, and Charles G., a resident of Dakota. The wife of Mr. Crew was during a part of her residence in Iowa, a teacher, having received a good education at the Friends' School in Richmond, Ind. She was thirty-five years of age when she be- came the wife of Mr. Crew, and bore him two children-Leonard F. and William R., twins. The death of the latter occurred in infancy. Assuming the eares of a mother to all the children born to Mr. Crew's first wife, she enacted a noble part, and no mother could have been more truly loved. Be- tween her own son and his half brothers and sisters no favoritism was shown, and to each and all she was a true mother in every sense of the word. Each vied with the other in promoting her pleasure, and when her spirit took its flight, each and all felt most keenly the loss of one who in every deed and word
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