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 47
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E RNEST E. BATES. one of the leading and representative farmers of Henry County, lowa, residing on section 22, Trenton Town- ship, was born in Saxony, Germany, March 11, 1844. His parents were Christian and Margaret (Pantzer) Bates, both of whom were also natives of Saxony. Leaving "dat Vaterland" they emigrated to Amer- ica in the fall of 1854. After spending some time upon the broad Atlantie, they landed in this country, traveling on until they reached Iowa, where in Henry County they made their home. Christian
Bates purchased 320 acres of land, upon which he made many improvements. This farm is now owned by our subject, being 230 acres in extent, the re- maining acres being disposed of, and is one of the best cultivated farms in the township. In the fall of 1866 the marriage of Ernest Bates and Emily Allender was celebrated. She is a native of Henry County, born in 1846. Her father, James Allender, is still a resident of Marion Township. Eleven children have come to bless the union of this wor- thy couple, who rejoiced with them in their childish glee, and sympathized with them in childhood's sorrow. The silent reaper has passed by their home and the family circle remains unbroken. The names of the members of this happy family are: Annie, who is now the wife of Clark Jay, a resident of Oregon ; Margaret, Lydia, John, Amanda, Lizzie, Emma, Nellie, Albert, Elva and Frank. Mr. Bates is principally engaged in the raising of cattle and fine hogs, of which he always keeps the best grades. Ile is one of the enterprising farmers of Trenton Township, and everything on the farm points to the thrift and industry of the owner.
OHIN L. MYERS, a blacksmith of Winfield, was born in Greenbrier County, W. Va., April 8, 1830. He was educated in the prim- itive log school-house with its puncheon floor, slab seats and greased paper windows. Ile had to go four miles to school and then could only attend during the winter. In October, 1850, Mr. Myers emigrated to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and the fol- lowing autumn located in Seott Township, where he entered a claim, and in company with his brother, built a house. Into this his father moved in 1852. Mr. Myers and his brother opened the first black- smith-shop in Scott Township, they having previ- ously learned the trade in West Virginia.
In October, 1864, Mr. Myers was united in mar- riage with Ilarriet Tedron, a daughter of the Buckeye State, born in Athens County in 1844. By their union ten children were born, seven of whom are living : Jenetta, born June 29, 1865 ; John, born Sept. 17, 1866; Emma, born Oct. 17, 1867, is the wife of Ed Supplee, of Winfield; Sarah C.,
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born Dec. 4, 1868; George B., born March 7, 1872; Lizzie B., born April 8, 1875; Frank, born April 5, 1877 : Ida and Ada, twins, born Feb. 27, 1883; Those deceased are : George, died June 5, 1875, and Lizzie Bell died Feb. 21, 1885, and May, who died aged eleven months. In politics Mr. Myers is a Democrat. He is active for his party and takes great interest in local elections. Mr. Myers is one of the earliest settlers of Henry County, it being a wiid and unsettled prairie when he took up his resi- denee here, and there was not a house between Winfield and Big Creek. Seott Township was one vast prairie, and there were but few settlers along the interior. In 1850, Scott and Wayne Town- ships were all one, called by the latter name, and at the first election which he attended in Henry County at the time when Winfield Scott ran for President, there were but twenty-five votes polled in the two townships, and members of the Myers family cast four of those. Mr. Myers receives the respect due him as an old pioneer settler, and Henry County owes much of its advancement to Mr. Myers. So- cially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a Master Mason, and belongs to Good Faith Lodge No. 235.
E LIAS BROWN OGG (King of Bashan), a pioneer of lowa in 1839 and formerly, a prominent business man of Mt. Pleasant, ist now a resident of Marion Township, Henry County. Mr. Ogg is a farmer, and proprietor and manufaet- urer of Ogg's Hawkeye Liniment. a well-known and popular remedy for many of the ills flesh is heir to. He was born in Baltimore County. Md., May 6, 1814, and is the son of William II. and Catherine (Logsdon) Ogg. The first fifteen years of his life were spent in his native county. and in 1829 he went with his parents to what is now West Virginia; a year and a half later he re- turned to his old home, and in 1831 went to Knox County, Ohio, where he began at the age of seven- teen years to make his own way in the world. He was employed at driving a team and doing farm work at $9 a month, for which liberal compensation he was required to render service eighteen hours daily. Ile returned to Maryland in February, 1832,
and the month of October (1833) in his twentieth year, he was married to Miss Catherine Brothers. Mrs. Ogg was born in Baltimore County. Md., and was a schoolmate of her husband. In 1836 Mr. Ogg removed to Knox County, Ohio, and in the spring of 1839 came to Iowa. He located in Des Moines County, eleven miles west of Burling- ton, where he bought land and made a farm. In 1850 Mr. Ogg came to Mt. Pleasant, where he en- gaged in mereantile business. He built the first three-story brick building in the city, in which he opened a general store. After five years spent in this line. he sold his stock to Waters & Eastman and his building to William White. Ile then en- gaged extensively in the land agency business, and was also a Justice of the Peace. lle continued in that business two years, during which time he located more land warrants than any other man in this see- tion of the country, and did a large and profitable business. by which he accumulated a large amount of money. Hle then engaged in the banking busi- ness, in company with Henry Barclay and Henry Swan, under the firm name of Barclay. Ogg & Swan. They began business in an unfortunate time, the opening of 1857. the year of the great financial erash. Mr. Ogg had the misfortune to nearly lose ; his eyesight by inflammation. and for a long time was incapacitated from attending to business. The banking business seems to have been badly managed, and'in a few years Mr. Ogg found himself finan- .cially ruined. He retired to a small farm in Marion Township, where he now resides, and for several years has devoted his attention largely to the manu- facture and sale of his proprietary medicines. Mr. and Mrs. Ogg were the parents of twelve children: Joshua J., now residing in Florida; William H. died at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, leaving a widow and two children; Ann is the wife of C. T. Stevenson, and lives in Marion Township: Martha E. is the wife of William HI. Cox, and resides in Ottinnwa, Iowa; Elizabeth is the wife of Oscar Mitts, and resides in Marion Township; Charles B. married Mary Fergu- son, and lives on the old homestead in Marion Town- ship; Malachi married Mary Lamborn, and lives in Marion Township; Catherine, deceased ; Alfred F., deceased; Elias B., deceased. was married to Mary Ann Anderson; Lydia, deceased, was married to
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOP, LENOX AND TI D N FOUNDATIONS.
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George Mitts; Tom, deceased, married to Saralı Ann Farmer; he left a wife and three children.
Mr. Ogg has attained considerable prominence as an interesting writer of local chronicles, under the nom de plume of the "King of Bashan."
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W ILLIAM GLADDEN, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, dealer in farm machinery, machine supplies, buggies, wagons, sewing-machines, drain tile, etc., is a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, born near Steubenville, May 1, 1836. His father. Madison Gladden, was a native of the same county, but was of Holland and Spanish descent, while his mother, Margaret (McElroy) Gladden, was also born in the same county and State, but was of Seotch-Irish descent. William remained at home until eighteen years of age, in the meantime re- ceiving a liberal education in public and private schools, which was but really the foundation for the more extensive knowledge acquired by read- ing and private study in after years. On leav- ing home he came directly to Iowa, and located in Des Moines County, where for the next nine years he was engaged in farming and teaching, in which occupations he was reasonably successful.
In 1863 Mr. Gladden came to Mt. Pleasant, in the employ of the Burlington & Missouri River, now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, as Station Agent, and for the next two years efficiently served the company and public in that capacity. In 1865 he accepted an offer as general agent for the Farmer's and Merchant's In- surance Company, of Quincy, III., with headquarters at Mt. Pleasant. Resigning that position in the spring of 1869, he engaged in his present business, in which he has continued uninteruptedly to the present time. He has now been dealing with the farming community of this region for nearly twenty years, and has by strict attention to business, and a determination to give everyone as good goods as possible for the money, built up an exten- sive and successful trade. He is careful to keep a good assortment of repairs and supplies for the accommodation of his customers. Among the specialties that he handles are reapers, mowers and
binders, buggies, farm and spring wagons, White sewing-machines, "Superior" fence wire, and Molene plows and cultivators.
In the fall of 1868 Mr. Gladden visited New York State, and in September of that year, at Vie- tor, Ontario County, was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Gillis, a native of that town, county and State, and daughter of John and Margaret Gil- lis, also natives of that State. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gladden came to Mt. Pleasant, and now reside in a pleasant and com- fortable home on Monroe street, where friends and acquaintances always find a welcome, and which to them is a home in the true sense of the word.
Mr. Gladden is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. He is at present a member of Xenium Lodge No. 207, A. F. & A. M., Henry Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., and Jerusalem Commandery No. 7, K. T. He is a firm believer in the principles of the order, knowing them to be conducive to the pub- lic good. Politically he is a Democrat of liberal views, not actively partisan. As a business man he is enterprising, and is ever ready to give his means, and to use his influence for any measure calculated for the public good. As a citizen, friend and neighbor, he is upright and exact, genial and courteous to all. He is broad in his views of pub- lic policy, and liberal in his support of educational, religious and other local interests. Elsewhere will be found a view of his city residence, and upon the opposite page, a fine portrait of Mr. Gladden.
R. T. L. BEERS, the oldest established den- tist in Mt. Pleasant, having been in con- stant practice here since February, 1873, was born in Knox County, Ohio, Feb. 15, 1843. His parents were Joseph and Jane (Douglass) Beers. His father was born in New Jersey, and was of Irish descent, several generations removed. His mother was born in Ohio. and was of Scotch descent. T. L. Beers received a common-school education, and enlisted in August, 1862, as a member of Company B, 96th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was discharged in December, 1862, on account of physical disability. On his return from the war,
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he engaged in the study of dentistry at Frederick- town, Ohio, and in 1864 began practice at Hudson- ville, Ill. One year later he removed to Vin- cennes, Ind., where he practiced his profession one year. He was married at Fredericktown, Ohio. Nov. 26, 1866, to Miss Elvira M. Haskins, who was born in Delaware County, Ohio. Her father was a native of Vermont, and her mother of Pennsyl- vania.
Dr. Beers and wife have two children, a son and a daughter. The son. Charles Joseph, was born in Morrison, Ill., Feb. 21, 1871. The daughter, Jen- nie D., was born in Mt. Pleasant, March 21. 1877. Dr. Beers removed to Morrison. Ill., in December, 1865, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession for a period of seven years. He then re- turned to Fredericktown, Ohio, where he prae- ticed one year, and in 1873 removed to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in which city he has practiced his profession continuously since. By strict atten- tion to business and thorough knowledge of his profession, and by prompt and courteous treatment of his patients, he has won the confidence of the publie, and secured an extensive and lucrative prac- tice. He is a Republican in polities, and socially. a Knight Templar Mason. He a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 8. A. F. & A. M .; of Henry Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., and of Jerusalem Com- mandery No. 7, K. T. He and his wife are mem- bers of the First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant.
R EV. JOSEPHI BOWERS VERNON, de- ceased. was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1812, and was a son of John and Elizabeth Vernon. Ilis parents were natives of Bucks County, Pa. Joseph B. was reared on a farm, and followed that ocenpation in the East until the fall of 1851, when he came to Mt. Pleasant, and in the following spring removed to a farm four miles northeast of the city, on which he lived until 1863, when he sokl his farm and removed to the city. Always industrious and careful, he was a successful farmer. After his removal to Mt. Pleasant he was twice elected to the
office of Justice of the Peace. Mr. Vernon early in youth turned his thoughts to religious matters, and at the age of thirteen united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was until his death a pious and consistent member, and in which he became a local preacher, and did much good through his ministrations. He died June 16, 1882, in Mt. Pleasant, leaving a widow and children to mourn the loss of an affectionate husband and faithful parent.
Mr. Vernon was married March 22, 1837, while living in Ohio, to Miss Maria Monroe, the daughter of Daniel and Mary Monroe. Mrs. Vernon was born in Muskingum County, Ohio; her father in Virginia, and her mother in Erie County, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon's union was blessed by seven children, of whom five are now living. The eldest son, Leroy M. Vernon, D. D., is a distin- guished minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who has for seventeen years past been in charge of the Methodist Episcopal Mission in Rome, Italy, where he is now living. Under his superintendence the first American Methodist Episcopal Church was built in the Eternal City, in the face of much oppo- sition. He has been twice married, first to Miss Fannie Elliott, daughter of Rev. Charles Elliott, D. D., LL. D., who was President of Iowa Wesleyan University in 1857-61, and in 1864-66, and also filled several of the chairs in that institute. After her death Mr. Vernon was united in marriage with Emily Barker, of New York City. The next of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon's family is John Wesley, who is married to Mary Palm, of this county, and is a practicing attorney in Memphis, Tenn., and has been a member of the Tennessee Legislature, and served throughout the Civil War, in Company K, 4th Iowa Cavalry, in which he was Sergeant under Capt. James T. Drummond. The next of the family was Samuel M. Vernon, D. D., who was married to Hat- tie Kelley in Muskingum County, Ohio, and is now a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pa. : the daughter is Mary Elizabeth, who is the wife of Joseph T. Patch. Esq .. of Mt. Pleasant (see sketch) : William Spry, the youngest son, is married to Sarah M. Hatch, of Mt. Pleasant, and is a merchant of Des Moines, Iowa. The de- ceased are : Harriet Lucinda, who died at the age
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of fourteen months, and Joseph Albert, who died in infancy. Mrs. Vernon, like her husband, is a de- vout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which she united on Christmas Day, 1828, and is a lady respected and esteemed by all who know her. She is now calmly awaiting the summons which will reunite her to the husband with whom she lived in faithful companionship for so many years. Three of her uncles, whose names were Mon- roe, were prominent in the ministry of the Method- ist Episcopal Church.
OIIN B. COATE, dealer in general dry goods, notions, etc., Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was born near Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio, Oct. 21, 1836, and is a son of Joseph T. and Agnes C. Coate. Joseph T. Coate was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1815, in which place his parents had set- tled in an early day, going there from North Carolina. He and his wife were members of the Society of Friends, of which both were Elders. IIe had strong anti-slavery proclivities, and his house was a well-known station of the "underground railroad," in which many a poor fugitive was helped and sent on his way to freedom. He was one of the principal Abolitionists in Ohio, and his house was on many occasions surrounded by slave-holders from Kentneky, who, however, never succeeded in reclaiming any of their fugitive chattels from him. He east one of the three first free-soil ballots ever east in Greene County, Ohio. He died in 1877, at the age of sixty-six. llis wife, Agnes C., was also a native of Ohio, born in Clinton County in 1811, and is still living in her native county. Her par- ents were from Virginia, and were early settlers in Ohio. They had seven children, as follows: Eliza- beth B., widow of Abraham Haney, now living in Clinton County, Ohio; Nancy, unmarried, living with her mother; John B. was next; then Martha, wife of William Osborn, also in Clinton County ; Orlistus S., dealer in carriages in Wilmington, Ohio, and Loren A. and Mary, deceased.
John B. was brought up on a farm and was mar- ried, May 5, 1860, in Clinton County, Ohio, to Miss Delilah A. Andrews, a daughter of William B. An-
drews and a native of that county, born March 13, 1837. Four children were born of their union, two sons and two daughters : Ruth Eva died aged fourteen years; Mary A. is the wife of Harry V. McGregor, a dentist of Mt. Pleasant; Lincoln A. married Ollie L. Virden, and resides at Mt. Pleasant, and is the junior member of the firm of J. B. Coate & Son, and has two children, Eva and Ernest; Joseph William died in infaney.
While a resident of Clinton County, Ohio, Mr. Coate was engaged in farming, and continued in that occupation until December, 1862, when he removed to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and engaged in the agricult- ural implement business for a couple of years. He was next engaged in trading and speculating, and then spent four or five years in traveling for T. T. Haydock, manufacturer of buggies and carriages, of Cincinnati, and for the Favorite Buggy Company, of Cincinnati; he was also connected with his son at Gainesville, Tex., in the mercantile business. For a time he was connected with Sechler & Co. as a partner, and was also connected in like manner with the Favorite Buggy Company, disposing of his interest in the latter institution in September, 1887. At one time he was engaged in the furni- ture and musical instrument business, in company with L. B. Davis, under the firm name of Coate & Davis. The connection continued but about two years. He sold his interest in the Sechler Buggy Company in 1887.
Mr. Coate has operated largely in real estate in Texas, and is extensively connected with min- ing operations in Mexico, Colorado and Arizona, and has been quite successful. Some of the mines in which he is interested are developing wonder- fully rich ore and have advanced greatly in value. In the spring of 1887 he joined his son Lincoln A. in the dry-goods business in Mt. Pleasant. Jolm B. Coate is a wide-awake, enterprising and successful business man. Affable and eourtous in manner, upright and reliable in all his relations with his fellowmen, he has a host of friends, who respect him for his sterling qualities and trustworthy char- acter.
Mr. and Mrs. Coate still retain their birthright in the Society of Friends, but attend regularly at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant, of
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which their children are members. Mr. Coate is a Templar Mason, a member of Xenium Lodge No. 207, A. F. &. A. M .; Mt. Pleasant Chapter, R. A. M., and Jerusalem Commandery, K. T., and also llenry Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F. His wife and daughter May are members of Bethlehem Lodge No. 12, Eastern Star.
OSEPHI C. McCOY, section 3, Marion Town- ship, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, Feb. 5, 1837. llis father, William McCoy, who was a native of Greene County, Pa., went to Ohio in a very early day, and there became acquainted with and married Miss Jane Pollock. They lived on a farm in Guernsey County until 1838, when he took his family to Muskingum County in the same State, where he also gave his attention to farming, remaining in that county until 1844. In 1845 he emigrated to Henry County, Iowa, locating in Trenton Township, where he purchased 120 acres of land, which he converted into a fine farm, and on which he lived twenty-two years.
In 1867 he sold his land with the intention of going farther West, but on reflection, and desiring the advantages of good society, he decided to re- main in llenry County, so again he bought a partly improved farm in Trenton Township, and be- gan improving the land. Here he remained until his death, which occurred Sept. 9, 1872, at the age of sixty-two, his birth occurring May 31, 1810. His widow survived him but a few months, dying July 1, 1873. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. McCoy acting as Steward. He was a devoted and earnest Christian, always being found at his post of duty in the church. She was converted at the age of thirteen, and dur- ing her life was closely identified with all church work, being a full believer in prayer. Many an earnest petition ascended from her lips to the Giver of all good. Their union was blessed with nine children : Sarah Jane, born March 15, 1835, is now the wife of Lemuel llaines, of Mt. Victory. Ohio; Joseph C. was born Feb. 5, 1837; Margaret was born in 1839, and now resides in Des Moines,
the widow of William Irwin, whose death was caused from a wound received during the late war; Mary, wife of A. L. Ogg, of Indianola, Warren Co., Iowa : Samuel L., a harness-maker of Shelby County, Ohio, married Miss Clara Rheinhart; he was a member of the 19th Iowa Infantry. Rachel M., wife of Levi Cubbison, a hardware merchant of Winfield, Iowa; John W .; Olive, wife of J. B. Holmes, a farmer of Ringgold County, Iowa ; Hugh L., who is a farmer of Knox County, Neb., married Miss Clara Glaskell.
Joseph C. McCoy, our subject, remained at home on his father's farm, attending the district school until the age of twenty-two, when he entered lowe's Academy at Mt. Pleasant for a time. lle then went to Mahaska County, Iowa, and there worked upon a farm for about a year. In 1861 he enlisted in the 4th lowa Cavalry for three years' service, and was mustered in at Mt. Pleasant, from which place the regiment was sent to St. Louis, and from there to Helena, Ark., where they were en- gaged in skirmishing with the Texan Rangers, who fought Indian fashion. The 4th soon became familiar with their mode of fighting and drove them out of Arkansas. From Arkansas the regi- ment went by boat to Milliken's Bend, and from there marched to Grand Gulf, Miss., and there crossed the river, at which place Mr. McCoy was detached from the regiment and sent as an orderly to the Post Commander. He returned to the regi- ment at Haines' Bluff, in the rear of Vicksburg, where they remained scouting, and preventing Joe Johnston from reinforcing the rebels at Vicksburg. The regiment remained here on duty until after the surrender of Vicksburg, which occurred on the 4th of July, 1863, and was with Sherman in his cam- paign to Meridian, Miss. The regiment re-enlisted while at Vicksburg and were given a veteran fur- lough. On the expiration of its furlough, the regiment was reunited at Memphis, Tenn., from which place they went on a raid to Bolivar and Guntown. At Tupelo they met and fought Gen. N. B. Forrest, defeating him. From there they next marched to Holly Springs, and were at that place when Gen. Forrest raided Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 2, 1864. They returned to Memphis and recrossed the river after the rebel General Price on his raid
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through Missouri, marching from the latter place to Cape Girardeau, where the regiment took boats for St. Louis, and then marched to Ft. Scott, Kan., fol- lowing Price to the Indian Territory. They then turned back and marched to Springfield, Mo., from which place they returned to St. Louis and from there to Lonisville, Ky., and then to Gravel Springs, Miss. From there they went on the Wilson raid to Columbus, and thence to Macon, Ga., where they first learned the glad news that Lee had surrendered and that the war was over.
Mr. McCoy, with his Captain and thirty men from Company D, were sent to Washington, Ga., where they took charge of the commissary department, and were engaged for a time in parolling prisoners. At this place lived ex-Senator Tombs, of Georgia. The day previous to the day of the arrival of Com- pany D, Jeff Davis and Breckenridge passed through Washington, leaving with Tombs $5,100 which had been taken from the Treasury of the United States. Of this amount $3,000 was in silver of the coinage of 1861, and the remainder in $20 gold pieces. This money Tombs turned over to the Union troops, and Mr. McCoy took it to Gen. Up- ton, at Atlanta, Ga.
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