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 66
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
=***==
h ON. M. L. CREW, farmer. The father and mother of our subject were both native- born Virginians. Walter Crew, his father, was a Friend by birth, and his wife, Sarah Rice, was the daughter of a slave-owner. Micajah Crew was the father of Walter, and the ancestors were of English origin. He settled in Hanover County, Va., where his family were reared, and upon the original farm both himself and wife died. There was a large family born to Dr. William Rice, the maternal grandfather of our subject, but he was three times married, the first wife being the grand- mother of Mr. Crew. She was the mother of four children : Blair, a Baptist minister; Izard, a phy- sician and large land-owner; Sarah, mother of our subject; and Mary, who became the wife of Dr. Samuel Hargrave. Roger A. Pryor, of historie fame, married Sarah, a daughter of Blair Rice. In 1849 Walter Crew sold his Virginia homestead, and with his family, consisting of fourteen children, made his way overland to the State of Iowa, making Salem their objective point. The lands now owned by M. L. Crew were the original homestead, and in 1850 the family removed to their new home, and the old house, which for the first few years was used as a dwelling, is still standing. Their children were named respectively: Talitha wedded Walter
Terrell, of Johnson County, who after her death married her eldest sister, Jane; he is one of the best known men of , Johnson County, having been a farmer, a miller, and also a surveyor, which profession he formerly followed in Louisiana. Mary married John Collett, well known in this county as a teacher, his family residing in Salem ; William R., a neighbor of our subject (see sketch); Sarah wed- ded Joseph Thacker, now deceased, who for several years was florist in charge of the greenhouse at the Asylum for the Insane at Mt. Pleasant; Susannah married Charles J. Poulter, an Englishman, now a resident of this township; Walter is a resident physician of Mankato, Jewell Co., Kan., and was the husband of Nancy Smith, whose death occurred in 1885; Tacy D. wedded John Savage, a resident farmer of this township (see sketch); M. L., our subject, was next in order of birth; Samuel died unmarried; Annie married James Starbuck, a resi- dent of Jay County, Ind .; Martha is unmarried, and a resident of this county ; Lucy B. is the wife of Peter Smith, a farmer residing near Mt. Pleas- ant; Edmund, who died the same spring the family came to Henry County, completes the family. All were born in Hanover County, Va. The death of Walter Crew, Sr., occurred when in his seventy-third year, and his wife survived him five years, reaching her seventy-first year. They lived in full accord with the tenets of the Society of Friends, and their loss was felt not only by that society, but by the entire circle in which they moved.
Walter Crew was a great lover of books, a man of much general information, and unusually well- read, and inculcated on his children a systematic course of daily reading, prescribing books and sub- jects for them to study, and the result is apparent in his children. He inherited many books from his father, to which he had added largely by purchase, and on his removal to the West had, for a non- professional man, an unusually complete library. These books he shipped to St. Louis, intending to send them from there to the nearest point in Iowa. Unfortunately they reached St. Louis just prior to the great fire in that city, in 1849, and were all consumed. The loss was a severe one to Mr. Crew, as he was never able fully to replace them.
558
HENRY COUNTY.
M. L. Crew was born at Crewsville Farm, Han- over County, Va., June 13, 1835, and was fourteen years old when the family removed to lowa. He was educated at the common schools, with the exception of one year spent at the seminary at Salem. Aug. 23, 1859, he was married to Mariam, daugh- ter of Dr. Samuel and Mary (Overman) Stephenson, his first wife. Dr. Stephenson was born in 1802, in Londonderry, Ireland, was educated for a profes- sion, and came to America in 1829. He read medicine, and attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, in 1832. He settled in Highland County, and on Dec. 24, 1834, married Mary Overman, whose parents were Friends. They had four children : the first two were twin boys who died within a year; Mariam was born Jan. 2, 1837; Eliza in 1839. Their mother died in 1840. Dr. Stevenson came to Iowa, settled in Salem, and began the practice of medicine there in 1847, remaining in that village a number of years. He and his wife are now living at Elwood, Iowa. Eliza married James Pope, resided in Canby, Cal., and died May 20, 1887.
For a number of years after his marriage Mr. Crew taught school in winter and farmed in sum- mer. For several winters he was Principal of the public school in Salem. In 1870 he purchased. the old homestead near Salem, and gave up teaching, devoting himself to farming. Unlike most who are reared in the Friends' Church, he took an active in- terest in politics, and zealously advocated the prin- eiples of the Republican party. In 1881 he was elected to represent the county in the Nineteenth General Assembly. While a member of the House he labored to promote the interests of agriculture, and gave earnest and active support to a bill abolishing the use of free passes by the officials of the State, and also one to prohibit a greater charge by the railroad companies for a short haul than for a long one, for the same class of freight. Ile voted for the submission of the Constitutional Amendment to the people, to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors, and opposed what he believed to be a di- version of the Agricultural College from the purposes for which it was endowed, and favored daily manual labor as one of its distinguishing features. He sought by bill the adoption of a uniform system
.
of text-books for the public schools, and to make provision by which pupils could obtain them at wholesale prices. The following year he took part in the canvass for the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment, and in 1883 was unanimously renom- inated for Representative on a platform declaring in favor of embodying in statutory laws the princi- ples of the Constitutional Amendment, they having been set aside by the courts. The other two parties united, and nominated W. I. Babb, a dis- tinguished lawyer. The issue being the embodying the amendment in law, Mr. Babb was able to hold his party in line, and also obtain many Republican votes from those who were opposed to any further legislation on the subject of temperance, and Mr. Crew was defeated by a small majority, but he did not lose hope of the final triumph of the principles which he advocated.
Mr. Crew began life in very moderate circum- stances, but his wife seconded his every laudable ambition, and cheerfully aided in every honest, manly effort to acquire a home and competency. She shared with him a love of books, and the long winter evenings, which are so often tiresome on the farm, were occupied in reading aloud, each member of the family taking part. Their union was blessed with three children: Mamie, the eldest, was edu- cated at Whittier College; Ada died when four years old; and Mattie, the youngest, whose educa- tion is not yet completed. The two girls still remain with their father. The good mother died Feb. 16, 1886. She was a consistent member of the Congregational Church, and amid the sunshine and shadows of life was ever the same cheerful, kind and intelligent companion and friend, the same lov- ing mother and devoted wife, and her death east a gloom over the happy home.
S AMUEL SUMMERS, deceased, was a pio- neer of Henry County, Iowa, of 1844. He was born in Chester County, Pa., in 1805, his parents being George and Elizabeth Summers, both from Bucks County, Pa. Mr. Summers was engaged in farming and mercantile pursuits, and was married in his native county,
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILD N FOUNDATIONS.
Whiting
56I
HENRY COUNTY.
March 3, 1829, to Miss Margaret Smith, a daughter of Robert and Mary Smith. Mrs. Summers was born in Chester County, Pa., Oct. 16, 1803, and died in Sidney, Shelby Co., Ohio, in 1841. Six children were born of their union, five sons and one daugh- ter. Robert, the eldest, emigrated to California in 1850, was married there, and died Dec. 30, 1880, leaving a widow and children; Philip is a resident of Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa (see sketeh) ; George and Mary A. are twins; the former married Eunice Rork, and resides in Missouri; Mary A. is the wife of Christian Maier, whom she married shortly after reaching Washington Territory with her father while on the way to California. Her husband is a millionaire resident of Walla Walla, W. T. The next child was Samuel, who mar- ried Theodosia Rork, and is a farmer in New Lon- don Township, Henry Co., Iowa. The youngest of the family is John, who also went to California in 1864, married there, and resides at Michigan Bluffs, in that State.
Samuel Summers, the subject of this sketeli, came to Iowa as stated, in 1844. For twenty years he was engaged in farming in Henry County, but in 1864 decided to go to California, and made the journey overland with ox-teams, going by way of Idaho and Washington Territory. He remained in California until 1868, when he returned to llenry County and resumed farming until his death, which occurred at his home in New London Township Dec. 8, 1880. In polities he was a Democrat, was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a good Christian, and an upright, honorable man, respected wherever he was known.
6 IMOTHY WHITING, deceased, late Presi- dent of the National State Bank of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and one of the most prom- inent and honored citizens of that place, was born at Brewer, Penobscot Co., Me., Feb. 7, 1809. His father, Col. John Whiting, removed to Steuben
County, N. Y., when our subject was but six years of age, and there engaged in farming. The suc- ceeding nine years were passed upon his father's farm. His primary education was obtained at the district school. When fifteen he entered Prattsburg Academy, where he completed his studies. Upon leaving the academy he engaged as a merchant's clerk on the munificent salary of $50 a year and board. By diligent and faithful attention to duty he soon secured an advanced salary, and by frugal and economical habits acquired sufficient capital to engage in business. When twenty years of age he formed a partnership with another young man, and engaged in the mercantile business at Painted Post. The venture proved unfortunate on account of the mismanagement of his partner, and a failure was the result, leaving quite an excess of liabilities over the assets of the firm. Mr. Whiting, by perse- verance and industry, succeeded in paying every cent of their joint obligations. Thus he established a reputation for those sterling qualities of integrity and honesty that were his ruling characteristics through life. Ile continued in business in Steuben County until 1857. when he removed to Mt. Pleas- ant, Iowa, being attracted to that eity by its superior school and academic facilities, where his children might receive their education while remaining at home. On coming to Mt. Pleasant he engaged in banking, which business largely occupied his time until his death, which occurred Feb. 6, 1887, on the last day of his seventy-seventh year. He was one of the founders of the Mt. Pleasant branch of the Iowa State Bank, in 1858, and was its Cashier and controlling spirit, and its representative in the State Board of Directors. This board was composed of the leading financiers of the State, whose duty it was to supervise the different branches of the State Bank in the various cities where located. Mr. Whiting's keen business tact and financial ability and thorough knowledge of the true principles of banking were soon recognized by his associates. Ile became an influential member of the board, and maintained that position during his connection with it. In February, 1865, the Mt. Pleasant branch of the State Bank was re-organized, and chartered as the National State Bank of Mt. Pleas- ant, with Mr. Whiting as President and his son
562
HENRY COUNTY.
John as Cashier. Mr. Whiting continued to serve as President and was the chief manager of the bank up to within a short time prior to his death, covering a period of twenty-two years. Under his wise supervision the bank pursued a prosperous and successful course, and became one of the solid financial institutions of the State. Mr. Whiting was noted for his strict performance of duty, punctuality and persevering industry. He usually walked from his residence in the suburbs of the city to the bank early in the morning. When the bank opened at 8 o'clock he always had any busi- ness that was in arrears the day before well in hand, and was ready to give prompt attention to the business of the day. His unfailing punctuality was one of the secrets of his great success in busi- ness. It is said of him that during the thirty years of his active business life at Mt. Pleasant be was never known to be tardy in keeping an appoint- ment unless prevented by unavoidable accident. He never sought or would accept public office or political preferment. He did yield so far to the urgent solicitation of friends as to serve as Trustee of the State Hospital for the Insane at Mt. Pleasant. filling the position of President of the board for eleven years, during which time he discharged the duties devolving upon him with his usual fidelity and earnestness.
Hle united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1831, and remained a consistent member of that society through life. He was ever active and liberal in support of all departments of church work. During the greater part of his residence at Mt. Pleasant he served as Superintendent of the Sunday-school, and for a number of years he filled the position of President of the County Sunday- School Association. Applying himself with his usual energy and methodical industry to the busi- ness in hand, he made the Sunday-school an im- portant adjunct to the church. For twenty years he served as President of the Henry County Bible Society, and by his liberality and zeal made this one of the most reliable counties in the State in this field of religious work. It was not his custom to take part in public exhibitions of generosity. lle had no patience with such displays; but his warm sympathies and liberal aid were easily enlisted
to help any laudable cause. All pretensions and shams he hated intensely. His deeds of charity were privately performed, and it pleased him best to have the good deed done without being identi- fied with the act. Yet, when circumstances re- quired a public effort to aronse a general giving he never hesitated to take the lead. Among the latest of his acts of public generosity was a donation of $5,000 to the Iowa Wesleyan University of Mt. Pleasant, on the condition that a like sum should be raised elsewhere for its assistance. Mr. Whiting was a great student through life, and his mind was richly stored with practical knowledge. His opinions were based on close investigation and careful analysis, and his conclusions when reached were convictions. His temperate and orderly life preserved his physical and mental faenlties with unusnal vigor in his old age, so that while approaching fourscore years be continued to visit the office regularly and give personal attention to his extensive business.
Mr. Whiting was united in marriage at Painted Post, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1833, to Miss Sarah A. Mc- Call, daughter of Ansel and Ann (Shannon) Mc- Call, and a native of that town. For nearly fifty-four years the married life of this aged couple had been an honor to each other and the communities where they resided. Faithful in their united devotion- each an unselfish helpmeet to the other-their lives were blended in the most harmonious relations. Four years prior to Mr. Whiting's death they cele- brated their golden wedding, surrounded by their children, grandchildren and friends. They were the parents of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. of whom seven are now living, viz: John Il., residing at Mt. Pleasant (see sketch) ; Henry, now a resident of Florida; Charles H., a book-keeper in Chicago, Il .; Samuel S., a mercan- tile salesman in Minneapolis, Minn .; Frank Il., proprietor of a foundry and machine-shop at Cedar Rapids, lowa: Ann E., wife of Prof. J. II. Hop- kins, Principal of the High School at Ypsilanti, Mich. ; Sophia E., wife of Robert S. Gillis, Cashier of the National Bank of Mt. Pleasant (see sketch). Four of the children are deceased. Mrs. Whiting is living in the old home, corner of Adams and Henry streets. Mt. Pleasant, and is now in her seventy-fifth year.
-
563
HENRY COUNTY.
Mr. Whiting was a prominent and represent- ative citizen of Mt. Pleasant, and worthy of the honor of the portrait which appears on a preceding page.
R OBERT L. JAY, M. D. The ranks of the medical profession in this county contain many noted both as skillful physicians, and men of culture. Among them may be men- tioned the subject of this sketch, who was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, in 1849, the son of Rev. John and Mary (Alexander) Jay, who rank among the first families of Southeastern Iowa. Rev. Jay was one of the first Methodist Episcopal ministers who preached the glad tidings in this part of the State, and when the Indians were more plentiful than white men, he rode a circuit and preached at the homes of the early settlers, whose rude log cabins were cheer- fully offered for the services, which were well at- tended by those within reasonable distance. The Alexander family located near Talleyrand in Keo- kuk County, and the mother of Mary Alexander died while crossing the ocean en route from Ireland to America. The Rev. and Mrs. Jay were parents of seven children, as follows: Elizabeth became the wife of David Bales, of Sterling, Neb .; Marietta wedded John Robinson, a farmer of Blue Springs, Neb .; William married Georgia Griffey, and re- sides in South Sioux City, and is the editor of the Sioux City Sun, John, the youngest, died unmar- ried; Marcellus and Melvin were twins, and both are practicing attorneys at Dakota City, Neb., and were students of law with Judge Griffey, of that State; Marcellus is married, and Melvin became the husband of Lanra Tracy. Partners in business and residents of the same city, both are deservedly popular and prosperous. These, with the subject of this sketch, complete the family.
When the latter was fifteen years of age, he vol- unteered and became a drummer boy of Company D, 15th Iowa Infantry. He saw active service and was present at the siege and capture of Atlanta, Ga., was at the front in Sherman's great march to the sea, the campaign through the Carolinas, and par- ticipated in the grand review held in Washington City, the greatest military pageant ever witnessed
on the American continent. After his return from the army, Robert L. began studying medicine with Dr. Payne, of Richland, and later took a medical course at Keokuk. In 1869 Miss Sibbie Davis be- came his wife, and in 1871 the Doctor began to practice in Baden, Iowa. Miss Davis is a daughter of John and Sarah (Free) Davis, of Richland, a family widely known in Southeastern lowa, her father being a merchant of Richland, and one of the earliest settlers in that part of the country. Eight children were in the Davis household : Ze- relda, wife of Sherd Tracy, proprietor of the Swazy House, of Richland; James, who married Sarah Stockman, resides in Pawnee County, Kan .; Hen- derson, the husband of Lou Cox; Mary, wife of Bert Funk, a manufacturer of Sigourney, Iowa; Sibbie, wife of Dr. Jay; Lydia, wife of Hayes White, of Fairfield; Harry, a partner with his father in the mercantile trade, wedded to Cora Campbell; and Lena, wife of Ralph Smith, of Sig- ourney, lowa.
Dr. Jay located in Wayland in 1884, and has the leading practice in that neighborhood. His skill has made him deservedly popular, and his reputa- tion as a physician and a gentleman is high. Four children grace the union of Dr. and Mrs. Jay-Le- nora, John, Alma and Mollie, the latter born in Wayland. We are pleased to publish in this vol- ume this sketch of the soldier, the citizen, and the accomplished physician and his family.
OHIN R. PONTIUS, a farmer residing on sec- tion 6, New London Township, post-office, Mt. Pleasant, settled in Henry County in the fall of 1858, and has a valuable and highly improved farm of 250 acres. Mr. Pontius is a native of Ohio, and was born in Ross County, near Chillicothe, Oct. 14, 1828. His parents were Andrew and Mary A. (Bitzer) Pontius, both of Pennsylvania, but of German descent. His father was born in Pennsylvania and his mother in Ross County, Ohio, and the latter died at the age of seventy-two, the father at the age of seventy-six.
Our subject grew to manhood on a farm, and was married in Ross County, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1855, to
.
564
HENRY COUNTY.
Miss Mary Compton, daughter of John Compton. Her birthplace was Ross County, Ohio. Four chil- dren were born of their union, three sons and a daughter: Horace M., now living in Nebraska; An- drew J. is now railroading on the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy Road; Jessie A. and Charles E., liv- ing at home. Mrs. Pontius died Aug. 4, 1871, and Mr. Pontius was again married, Aug. 29, 1882, in New London Township, to Mrs. Mary Watkins, widow of Richard Watkins, and a daughter of Han- son Jackson. Mrs. Pontius was born in Center Township, and her family were old settlers of Henry County. She has two children by her former mar- riage, one of whom is now living, Richie Watkins. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Pontius is a member of Henry Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F., of Mt. Pleasant. Ilis father was born in Pennsylvania, but removed to Ross County, Ohio, while yet a child. He continued to reside on the old homestead, where he died, having passed seventy-three years of his life on the same farm. Mr. Pontius is one of the leading farmers of New London Township, and is held in high esteem by a large circle of acquaintances.
2 ICHOLAS MILLER, a prominent pioneer of Henry County, Iowa, of 1841, and President of the New London Old Settlers' Associa- tion, was born in Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio, June 7, 1822, and is the son of Jacob and Catherine (Rigal) Miller. His father was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and was born near Chambersburg, and was an industrions Christian man, and a member of the Lutheran Church. His wife, the mother of Nich- olas, was also born near Chambersburg, and was of German parentage. Her father was born near Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, and emigrated with his parents to America when but nine years of age. Hle enlisted in the Continental army, and served during the Revolutionary War.
The parents of our subject, Jacob and Catherine Miller, emigrated from near Chambersburg, Pa., to Somerset, Ohio, about 1800, going by teams over the mountains. Their oldest daughter was born in the wagon on the summit of the Alleghanies, and
the family was four months on the road. Nicholas was reared in Somerset, Ohio, where he served an apprenticeship at the wagon-maker's trade. He came to New London, Henry Co., Iowa, June 18, 1841, and purchased a couple of lots in that thriv- ing hamlet, and shortly after returned to his Ohio home, where he spent the winter, returning to New London in the spring of 1842. Ilis trip back to Ohio, a distance of 1,600 miles, was made at a total cost of less than $10. On his return to Iowa he built a small house and a wagon-shop on his New London lots, both of which are yet standing. Ile made the first wagon that started from that place for California. if not the first in the county. lle worked at his trade here until the spring of 1847, when he again visited Ohio. After spending a short time in his native town, he went to St. Louis, where he worked at carpenter work until fall, when he returned to New London. He was united in marriage at that place, Nov. 24. 1847, to Miss Mary Morris, daughter of Isaac and Margaret Morris, who were among the very earliest, if not the earliest settlers of Henry County, and of whom a sketch ap- pears elsewhere. Mrs. Miller was born on the Big Sandy River in Eastern Kentucky, Ang. 4, 1828, and emigrated with her parents to what is now Henry County, Iowa, then a part of the Territory of Wisconsin, in the spring of 1834.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of ten chil- dren, six sons and four daughters: Washington A., born Sept. 24, 1818, died Nov. 17, 1873; Armin- tha, born April 21, 1850, died April 24, 1850; Samuel, born April 23, 1851, is single and resides in Northern Idaho; Matilda, born Dec. 25, 1858, is the wife of John A. Edblum, has three children, and resides in New London Township; Nicholas II., born Nov. 26, 1855, died March 25, 1858; Jacob W., born Oct, 12, 1857. is single and resides with his father; Mary E., born Feb. 9, 1860, resides in Warren County, Iowa, and is the wife of John W. Edgar, and they are the parents of three children; Sarah Jane, born Dec. 16, 1862; Thomas S., born Sept. 13, 1861; William G., born Nov. 1, 1868. The three younger children still reside at home with their father.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.