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 40
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S AMUEL M. TURNER. Postmaster and merchant of Coppock. is a prominent citi- zen of Henry County. Among the earliest families settling in Salem Township was his father. Thomas N. Turner. who was born. reared and married in Kentucky. The Turners were of Scotch origin, but the early history of the family cannot be detailed. Thomas N. Turner was three times married, his first wife being Miss Margaret M. MeKinney. After their marriage. in the an- tumn of 1815, the next spring found them en route for Iowa, and to this date one of the best known and most highly respected families in her bounda- ries is the one under consideration. They were parents of ten children, all sons, and all born in this county. William L. married Cordelia Lanc, and resides in Polk County. lowa; John F. wed- ded Lydia Allred, and resides in Harrison County. Mo .: Samuel M., our subject; Henry wedded Aletha Jay, whose death occurred Nov. 15. 1847; Perry M. married Elizabeth Graham, and also lives in Polk County; Benjamin Il. and Martin M. are unmarried, and live with their father on the farm ;
Oscar. Zephania and David died in childhood. The death of Mrs. Turner occurred Nov. 20, 1873, and on Nov. 12, 1875, Mr. Turner was married to Mrs. Nancy (Wright) Vorris, who died the follow- ing August, and on May 6, 1877, Thomas Turner married Mary M. ( Long) Ridinger. She was the widow of George Ridinger, who, by her first union, had six children, named Samuel 11., William T., John E .. Sarah C., Mary A. and George D .. all liv- ing. The four youngest are married. as follows: George is the husband of Hettie MeDonough. and resides in Corvallis, Ore .; Sarah C. wedded Julius Lippmon, now deceased. She makes her home with Mr. Turner, and is the mother of Jules R., a bright boy four years of age. Mary A. mar- ried William A. Smith, of Trenton; John E. wed- ded Emma T. Kephart, and resides in this county. The parents of Mrs. Turner, John and Mary M. Long, came to Iowa from Franklin County, Pa .. in 1842. settling in Jefferson County, and bringing with them six children-John. William, Sarah. David, Henry and Mary MI. Only two are living. the eldest and youngest. John married Barbara Courtney, and resides in Chariton. Iowa. The parents both died in Jefferson County. the father in his sixty-first and the mother in her sixty-third year.
Our subject, Samuel M. Turner, was born May 7. 1854. on the farm in Franklin Township, educated in this county, and grew to manhood on the farm. lle was married. in 1872, to Miss Elizabeth C. Mason, whose father, W. Mason, was an early settler, and whose history will be found elsewhere. A few months after his marriage Mr. Turner rented a farm in Henry County. and three years later re- moved to Montgomery County. where he staid three years, when, for a year, he made Jeffer- son County his home, and then farmed for another year in Henry County. AAn accident to his right hand disabled him for farm work, and he engaged in huckstering for a year, and when the railroad was graded he came to the village of Coppock, not yet laid out, and erected a home, the first one built upon what is now the town site. At once he engaged in business, and from that day to this the name of Turner has been associated with the busi- ness prosperity of the new village. llis was the
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first family to settle in the village; his the first business building, and he the first merchant and Postmaster, the post-office being secured through his instrumentality. His commission bears the signature of Timothy O. Howe, Postmaster Gen- eral, and Frank Hatton, First Assistant, dated July 5, 1882. Since that date he has continuously filled the office. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Turner: Martha L. and Harry O., who died within a few days of each other, in 1878, one on October 18, and the other October 26; Clayton O. and Elsie M. The latter is entitled to the distinction of being the first child born in Cop- pock, her birthday being Dec. 31, 1882. Mr. Turner was also the first regular dealer in grain in the town. His first stock was exclusively of groceries and provisions, but to this was soon added dry-goods and fancy article>. The stock of gen- eral merchandise now carried will invoice 83,000 or over, and his sales for 1887 were in advance of $10,000. Ile was also the first who fed the way- farer in the new town, and while not exactly keep- ing a hotel. his was the first boarding-house. Like others of his name, he possesses that genial disposi- tion which makes his name so well known, and his excellent business management is rapidly making him well off. His is a front rank among the pioneers of Coppock, and as a son of Henry County, and a business man of integrity and enterprise, his name is widely known.
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OIIN H. WALLBANK, Postmaster of Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa, is one of that class of enterprising, energetic citizens who do much to insure the prosperity and devel- opment of the places where they make their homes, as he has in Mt. Pleasant. Ile was born near Man- chester, England, Nov. 7, 1838, and is a son of James and Sophia (Hayhurst) Wallbank, both natives of England, who followed their son to the New Workl, cmigrating in 1871, and settling in this county, where both died, the former in 1878 and his widow in 1884. They were people of excellent repute, who enjoyed the respect of those who knew them.
They were the parents of two sons, one of whom, George, still lives in his native land. The other, John II., the subject of this sketch, received a good education in England, and for six years was em- ployed in the revenue service of Great Britain, in the excise department. Leaving his native land he went to Australia, and lived there and in New Zealand between three and four years, and also visited many of the South Pacific Islands. He re- turned to England, and in 1867 emigrated to Amer- ica, and coming to the West, located in HIenry County, which has ever since been his home. His first business venture here was in Trenton, whence he went to Marshall, now called Wayland, where he staid until 1878, when he removed to Mt. Pleas- ant and engaged in the boot and shoe trade, which hie carried on until Dec. 31. 1883, on which night the building in which he was doing business burned down, and Mr. Wallbank was a heavy loser. He then sold out the balance of his stock, and in 1885 opened a clothing store, in which he carries not only a full stock of clothing of all grades, but a complete line of gentlemen's furnishing goods and men's shoes. This is not Mr. Wallbank's only bus- iness enterprise, as he has a fine branch store at Winfield, known as Green & Wallbank, in this county, and is the owner of a 200-acre farm in Jef- ferson Township, all under cultivation.
He was married in England, in 1860, to Miss Martha Whitman, a native of that country. They are the happy parents of six children, now living, namely : Sophia E., Eliza, Nellie, Anna, James and Arthur.
Mr. Wallbank is a leading man in the Democratic party in the county, and in August, 1886, was ap- pointed Postmaster of Mt. Pleasant, under President Cleveland's administration. Since coming to the county he has been one of the most efficient work- ers in the party, and his appointment over a number of competitors was a well-merited recognition of his zeal in the cause. Not only in political affairs is Mr. Wallbank a leader. In business circles he is recognized as an enterprising citizen, and is al- ways to be found in the ranks of those who encour- age all movements tending to the advancement and prosperity of the county and city, in whose affairs he keeps thoroughly posted.
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Mr. Wallbank belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is a member of Adoniram Lodge No. 120, A. F. & A. M .. of Wayland, and also of Henry Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F., of Mt. Pleasant. IIis wife and eldest daughter are members of the Pres- byterian Church. He has proved himself an enterprising, go-ahead and capable citizen, and is justly entitled to representation in this volume.
M ELVILLE C. LEACII, who is Postmaster and agent of the American Express Com- pany, New London, Henry Co., Jowa, was born in Allen County, Ind., Oct. 19, 1858. Ile received a common-school education, and at the age of thirteen left school and was employed as a cash boy, and from there went to a wall-paper and paint store, where he learned book-keeping. At the age of sixteen he started ont to see the world, and "pulled up" at Cleveland, Ohio, where he was employed as book-keeper in a wholesale paint and paper house. After a year of that service he re- turned to Ft. Wayne, Ind., with the hope of im- proving his health, which was delicate, and engaged in the butchering business, continuing in that line two and a half years. Mr. Leach then went to St. Joseph, Mo., where he was employed as assistant fore- man of a large packing establishment. In 1880 he left St. Joseph and came to New London, Iowa, where he has since resided. For several years he was em- ployed as salesman with James MeClellan, merchant, and was appointed Postmaster in December, 1885, entering upon the duties of the office Jan. 1, 1886.
Mr. Leach was married at New London, July 21, 1880, to Miss Emma Mcclellan, daughter of James McClellan, who was an early settler of Henry County, and whose history is given elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Leach is a native of New Lon- don, Iowa. Two children were born of their mar- riage, a daughter and a son: Mamie E., born May 6. 1882, and Grover, July 30, 1885, both born at New London. Mr. Leach is a Democrat, and took an active part in the last Presidential election in sup- port of his party's National and Congressional candidates, He is a Master Mason, and a member of New London Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M. Ile
was appointed agent of the American Express Com- pany in 1882. In connection with the post-office and express office, Mr. Leach carries a stock of fruits, vegetables and confectionery, in which he has built up quite a fine trade, and he is regarded as one of the enterprising and rising men of the vil- lage.
6 HOMAS B. LEE, farmer, residing at New London, Henry Co., Iowa, a pioneer of 1836, was born in Bond County. Ill., June 25, 1835. Ilis parents were John and Charity (Smith) Lee, also pioneers of Henry County of 1836, of whom a biographical sketch appears elsewhere in this work. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm in the northern part of New London Township, and received a common-school education. Ile was engaged in farming until the summer of 1862, when he enlisted on August 7 as a private in Company K, 25th Regiment lowa In- fantry, and served until the close of the war. Ilis first service was at the beginning of the siege of Vicksburg under Grant, next at the battle of Ar- kansas Post, Kennesaw Mountain and Chattanooga, which included Missionary Ridge, Taylor's Ridge and Lookout Mountain. Next at Nashville, Re- saca, and Columbia. S. C., from there to Savannah, Ga., where he wasamong the first to enter the city. From there he went to Beaufort and Columbia, S. C., participating in those engagements. Ile made the march to the sea under Gen. Sherman, fighting his last battle at Goldsboro, N. C. During his long term of active service Mr. Lee was neither wounded nor prisoner, was never confined in a hospital or in an ambulance. On his return from the war he re- sumed farming in Henry County, and was married in Des Moines County. Iowa, to Miss Elizabeth Bridges, March 9, 1873. Mrs. Lee was born in Des Moines County, and is the daughter of Napo- leon and Sarah ( Hackelman) Bridges. Her parents emigrated from Illinois to Iowa in 1836.
Mrs. Lee's father, Napoleon Bridges, was born in Indiana, and her paternal grandfather in Virginia, the family being of German descent. Her mother, Sarah Hackehnan, was born in Wabash County, Ind., to which place her parents had removed from
1
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ASTOR. .. AD TILDE: +
No Eveland James
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Maysville, Ky. In 1835 the family removed to Morgan (now Cass) County, Ill., but later returned to Rush County, Ind. Mrs. Lee lost her father when he was thirty-eight years of age, and her mother died at the age of twenty. Her grandfather, Abner Hackelman, founded a colony in Oregon, in 1845. Mrs. Lee was reared in Des Moines County, lowa.
Mr. Lee continued to carry on his farm of 206 acres, which is well improved, and situated on sec- tions 2 and 12 of New London Township. Henry County, until about 1881, when he moved to the vil- Iage of New London, where he now resides. Ile also has eighteen aeres of timber land in the same town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are members of the Methi- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Lee is a Republican in politics, and has held various local offices, Ile has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of New London Township, and as one of the Council of the village. He is a member of J. W. Hardin Post No. 384. G. A. R., of New London, and is held in high esteem as a respected, honorable man, and good citizen.
AMES W. EVELAND, a farmer of Henry County, lowa, resides on section 32, Wayne Township. While our subject was not one of the first settlers of the county, yet he takes rank among the most prominent of his township, and by virtue of long years spent here is numbered as an old settler and one of Henry County's best citizens. lle was born in Warren County, Va., Dec. 30, 1824, and is a son of John and Frances (McFarland) Eveland, Both were natives of that State, he born in Loudoun and she in Warren County. In Virginia seven children were born : James W. ; Mary J., who married Enoch Lemasters for her second husband, resides in Whit- sell County, W. Va. ; Sarah C., wife of George Mar- shall; Frances R., and Harriet B., who wedded Edward Williams, was one of a pair of twin sisters; Elizabeth, Frances and Martha Ann, who died young. The parents removed to Ohio in 1846 and located in Belmont County, where the mother died later.
Our subject came to Iowa in September, 1849, and took up his residence in the home of Abraham Lane, one of the first families of the county, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere. Mr. Eveland was not well suited in lands, as at that time all claims near streams or timber were taken. lle owned a land warrant and later took a claim in Lucas County, also purchasing fifty-seven aeres of timber adjoining. Hle returned to Mr. Lane's and was united in marriage with the daughter, Margaret E., Feb. 14, 1850, and their first three years of married life were passed upon the old George Miller farm in Trenton Township. Mr. Eveland was a poor man when he was married, and for several years made but slow progress, especially as times were hard and he owned not even a team. Ile began life with the determination to succeed. how- ever, and this he has accomplished, although many long and weary days were passed before success was attained. Before they were finally settled the wife of Mr. Eveland died, leaving three small children-llelen, Jacob and Lois. JJacob is now the husband of Emma Mecker, and resides near Winfield. In 1855 the death of Mrs. Eveland occurred, and Mr. Eveland was married in 1857 to Miss Martha J. Gholson. They began life upon the farm, and within a few rods from where they now live. The old house in which so many happy and prosperous days have been passed still stands, and in it all the children, except the two last, were born. The farm of to-day was then a broad grassy plain. The fine house, the barn, the lofty trees, all stand as monuments to the enterprise of Mr. Eve- land and his wife, both of whom have given the best years of their lives to making for themselves and children a home, which is second to none in the township. As the days went by prosperity came, and the hard times of their carly married life have been almost forgotten. Children and grandechildren have nestled in their arms, and the old house, now comparatively deserted, is yet thought of as the place in which their joys were the most complete. Under its roof lowa, wife of George Dunn, of Baltimore Township; Mary J., wife of Edward Scott, of Colorado, and David Lewis, were born. William and Joseph A. were born in the brick home erected in 1868.
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Thousands of dollars have been expended in im- provements, all earned since Mr. Eveland became a resident of Wayne Township. Ilis home is one of the finest, and his barns, that cover so many feet, were erected for the accommodation of large quantities of stock. Helen, the eldest daughter, died in 1875. Her husband was Francis McFeron, son of Wesley McFeron, of Trenton Township. They were the parents of one daughter, Helen, born a few days before her mother's death. For years Mr. Eveland has been a member of the School Board, and is one of the ardent advocates of education in its fullest sense.
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Since the above was written this well-known and respected citizen has gone to his last home, having departed this life after a brief but severe illness, on Feb. 10, 1888. His death was greatly regretted by a wide circle of friends, to whom his manly and upright character had endeared him. He was a member of Star of Hope Lodge No. 34, I. O. O. F., of Swedesburg, who attended his funeral in a body. Ilis remains were interred in Green Mount Ceme- tery.
We are pleased to give on an adjoining page a portrait of Mr. Eveland, as a tribute of respect to the memory of a good man, and a token of the filial respect and affection his children bear for his memory.
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h C. BARKER resides upon section 13, Jack- son Township, where he is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising. Among the men of the township who are making an enviable record as farmers and business men, there are none more worthy of mention than Mr. Barker. He was born in Tioga County, Pa., Ang. 15, 1818, and is a son of Ambrose and Mary A. (Terry) Barker, both natives of Delaware County, N. Y., in which State they were married. They removed to Pennsylvania in 1845, and in 1865 emigrated to lowa, settling in this county and purchasing a farm in Jackson Township, and are yet residents of the county. They were the parents of seven children: Margaret, wedded to Alpheus
Dann; Betsy A. became the wife of John Irvin ; Mary C. married William Myres; Henry C. is the husband of Isabel Short. born Dec. 4. 1819; Robert M. died in infancy ; Amelia died unmarried; and Augusta wedded Charles Clark. The two eldest are residents of Tioga County, Pa .; all the others being residents of Henry County. Our sub- ject received a good education, and prior to his marriage was a teacher in this county. He was later employed by Harrison & Warner, in county and State atlas work in Iowa and Wisconsin, and in this Mr. Barker became quite successful. This ex- perience has been of much value to him in the form- ation of recent business enterprises. His marriage was celebrated on the 10th of April, 1873, his wife being a daughter of Alex, and Mary ( Arnold) Short. who were well-known and wealthy residents of this county. The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Barker has been spent on a farm, and Mr. Barker has well proved his adaptability for the business, from the fact that in ten years he has spent over $3,000 in improvements, all of which has given their farm a substantial appearance. Their new mansion was completed in 1887, and it is the best farmhouse in Jackson Township east of the river. His bank barn was erected in 1882, and its commodious apart- ments furnish all the conveniences afforded by a modern style of architecture. In fact we are pleased to note such substantial improvements, as they speak volumes for the enterprise of not only our subject but of his township. Their home has been graced by the births of Charles A., Carrie, Laura, Penina, Orrin and Gladys. The household has never known a sorrow and the circle is yet unbroken. In a social and political sense Mr. Barker has no superiors. He is prominent in local politics, and has been successively a member of the School Board, Township Supervisor, Justice of the Peace, and in 1880 was appointed enumerator of the United States census. In all the positions the duties were well and faithfully performed.
The hospitalities of the Barker mansion are too well known to need further memtion; there the friend and the stranger alike find a cordial welcome and ample accommodation. As a host Clay Barker excels, and his good wife, who is hostess, wife and mother, in its fullest sense makes theirs a home in
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all that the name implies. Both stand high in the estimation of their friends and neighbors, who appreciate their character and worth.
ILLIAM A. CRABTREE is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Henry County, Iowa, residing upon section 3, Marion Township. He was born in Monroe County, Ky .. Jan. 24, 1827. Ilis parents were Hiram and Mar- garet (Johnson) Crabtree. They were natives of Virginia, but were married in Kentucky, where ten children were born to them. six of whom are now living: Abraham married Miss Lucinda Murphy; they reside on a farm in Mercer County, Ill., and have a family of seven children. John M. was united in marriage with Melinda King; he is a farmer in Tazewell County. Ill. Elizabeth, who is . the widow of John S. Hamilton, resides in Scott County, Ill. ; Mary is the wife of S. H. Redman, a nurseryman in Villisea, lowa, who for a number of years ran a steam ferry at Keithsburg, Ill. ; Michael died in 1862, in Scott County, Ill .; Hiram died at Nashville, Tenn., while fighting for his country ; Stephen is farming in Tazewell County, Ill .; Cath- erine, the widow of W. A. Kirkpatrick, is residing in Scott County, Ill .; our subject is tenth in order of birth. In the year 1830 Mr. Crabtree emigrated with his family to Illinois, locating in what was at that time Morgan County, but which has since been divided, they living in the part known as Scott County. Here the children grew to man and womanhood, except one child who died in infancy. IIere the parents both departed this life, the father dying Sept. 13, 1844, at the age of seventy-one; his wife following him to that home of the redeemed on the 22d of June, 1868, at the age of eighty- three. They were devoted members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, Mr. Crabtree being a local minister. He was one who did much to civilize and christianize the new community in which he lived.
On account of the death of his father, our sub- ject was compelled to take charge of the farm and eare for the family, and for one so young, he being but seventeen, it was a great responsibility. His
edneation was received in such spare moments as he could find from farm work. He remained in charge of the farm until the age of twenty-two, then going to Winchester he learned the trade of plow stocking and carpentering. Making Win- chester his home, he followed that trade for twenty- one years, or until the year 1870, when he came to Ilenry County. Bnying 360 acres of land on sections 3 and 4, of Marion Township, he has since given his attention to farming and stock-raising. Mr. Crabtree was united in marriage with Miss Eliza A. Martin, on the 6th of August, 1854, in Scott County, Ill. She is the daughter of Samuel and Susan (Sisson) Martin, who were natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree are the parents of four children : Dora, who died in infancy; Net- tie Belle, who was born in 1857, is the wife of Winfield S. Hickman, a farmer of Frontier County, Neb. ; they have one son, Frederick G. Charles L. was united in marriage with Miss Estella Foster, who is a native of Henry County, Iowa. They are the happy parents of one child, Edmund C. These three children were born in Scott County, Ill. ; William HI., their fourth child, was born in Henry County.
Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, taking an active in- terest in all church work. They are highly re- speeted in the community in which they reside, and are always ready to advance an enterprise that is for the public good. Mr. Crabtree has held various township offices, both in Illinois and Iowa, and has been Assessor for two years. Politically he is a Republican, but in favor of prohibition.
LFORD TRUEBLOOD, of Mt. Pleasant, one of the pioneer settlers of Henry County, Iowa, was born in Washington County, Ind., April 24, 1841, and is the son of Phineas and Elizabeth (Overman) Trueblood, natives of North Carolina. Mr. Phineas Trueblood when a lad of twelve removed with his father, Abel Trueblood, to Washington County, Ind., in 1816. Our subject's father emigrated to Henry County in 1847, settling on section 35, Tippecanoe
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Township, residing there until his death, which occurred in March, 1877, at the age of seventy- three. His wife preceded him four years to her final home, departing this life in 1873. They were both members of the Society of Friends.
Alford, our subject, was but five years old when his parents came to this county. He was reared on the farm, and educated at the district school. On the Ist of September, 1864, he formed a matrimo- nial alliance with Miss Rosanna Smith, a native of Indiana. By this umion there are eight children -- William Foster, Nelson, Matilda, Alvan, Newton, Eliza Ellen, Lena Florence and Le Roy. Mr. and Mrs. Trueblood are members of the Society of Friends, and are highly respected by all. In poli- ties Mr. Trueblood is a Republican, and is at present serving his township as Justice of the Peace. He owns 194 acres of land in Henry County.
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