USA > Iowa > Polk County > Portrait and biographical album of Polk County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 34
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Jesse Grinstead continued his farming operations in Four Mile Township until his death, which or- curred on the 17th of December, 1866. at the age of seventy years, six months and three days. lle was a math well known throughout the community and held in the highest regard for his many ex- cellent traits of character He took an active in- terest in all that pertained to the welfare of the county and hold a number of local offices. In poli- tics, he was a Whig until the days of Douglas, when he became a supporter of Democratic prin- ciples. His widow still survives him and is now the wife of Robert C. Brown of Jaspe: County. In their family were four children of whom our sub-
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ject is the eldest: Vana S, is the wife of John N. Lec. a resident of Beaver Township; Martha J. is now deceased, and John T. resides on the old homestead.
It is with pleasure that we take up the personal history of James W. Grinstead, who is not only one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Polk County, but is numbered among its honored citi- zens as well. Born in Macoupin County, Ill., on the 25th of April, 1839, he came to Iowa when a lad of six years and has resided in this community during lowa's entire existence as a State. His hoy- hood days were spent in a manner not unlike that in which farmer lads usually pass their time with the exception perhaps of many hardships borne in consequence of his home being on the frontier where comforts and luxuries were almost unknown. Having remained at home and aided his father until twenty-five years of age, he then removed to a form of forty aeres in Beaver Township, which be bad previously entered and shortly afterward extended its boundaries until it comprised two hundred and eighty aeres, upon which he made his home for twelve years. During that time he succeeded in placing his land under a good state of cultivation and made many improvements. In 1877, he pur- chased an eighty-acre tract adjoining his old home on which was a frame house. But in 1888, he re- placed that structure by a beautiful residence which is commodious, tastefully furnished and pro- vided with all the comforts which go to make life pleasant and agreeable. In 1881. he created a large baru together with other needed outbuildings and is now the owner of one of the model faruls of Polk County. Its well cultivated fields. handsome residence. good buildings. excellent stack. etc., all are indicative of the activity and energy of the owner who may certainly feel a just pride in his success.
Mr. Grinstead chose as a life companion Miss Lucinda A. Lewis, and their marriage was celebrated on the 20th of April. 1501. 'Their life has been & happy one darkened by few clouds of trouble of an- versity Their greatest sorrow has been the loss of three children-Lewis B. Jesse J. and one child who died in infancy. George M., Melinda E. Cura 1. and James W. are still with their parents.
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Politically, Mr. Grinstead isa Democrat and has held the office of Assessor of his township for four years, Socially, he is a member of Blue Lodge. No. 313, 1. F. d. A. M .. taking an active part in the work of that order. His wife is a member of the New Light Church and he is a liberal supporter of the same. To say that Mr. Grinstead is highly esteemed is but a mild way in which to express the regard in which he is held throughout the com- munity. He has ever proved himself a loyal citi- zen. a devoted friend. a tender and loving father and an upright. honorable man, and such qualities are always sure of securing the confidence and re- spect of those with whom their possessor comes in contact.
HOMAS J. SAYLOR, who is engaged in general farming on section 11, Saylor Town- ship. is an honored representative of one of the pioneer families of lowa, as well as of this county. He was born on the 24th of March, 1830, and is the only child of Thomas and Mary (How- ard ) Saylor. His father died when he was a mere child and his mother became the wife of John B. Saylor. by whom she had seven children. live sons and two daughters: A. W., James .A., William A., Jolm Q. A., George S., Margaret and Avis Caroline. The family during the earliest history of this State settled in Van Buren County, there being no white settlers in the community at that time. Mr. Saylor. step-father of our subject. made a contract with the government to furnish beef and four to the Indians of Iowa. and in consequence took up his residence in this State. He afterwards became a resident of Polk County. where he resided until going to the war as sutler for the Twenty-third lowa Infantry. His death occurred in July, 1863. Benjamin Saylor. grandfather of our subject, was a native of South Carolina. born near Charleston of German parent- age. He made farming his life occupation and come to lown in 1838, being the first settler of Van Buren County. where he resided until 1817. when he came to Polk County, locating two miles west of Saylorville, where he resided for several years. He then became a resident of Des Moines, where
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he spent the remainder of his days. his death ve- eturing in June, 1851.
The story of the life of our subject is an inter. esting one as it was passed among the pioneer scenes of lowa and is closely connected with the history of this county. His early boyhood days were spent in his native city, whence in 1831. he removed to Valparaiso, Ind .. where he resided three years and acquired his early education. The month of May, 1837, witnessed his arrival in Van Buren County, where he made his home until May, 1815, when he came to Polk County. then a wild and un- settled region inhabited mostly by Indians. Its prairies were uncultivated, its forests still standing in their primitive grandeur, inhabited mostly by wild beasts, and the work of cultivation and pro- gress had been scarcely begun. Mr. Saylor par- chased two claims, consisting of six hundred and forty acres, only forty of which was improved. His land was located near the town of Saylorville which was named in honor of his stepfather. He has made his own way in the world since the age of nineteen years. He obtained his first property by trading a horse, which had been given him by his grandfather and he had raise l. for eighty aeres of land which fraet is still in his possession. Energetic and in- dustrions, he at once began its cultivation, contin- uing the same until 1859, when attracted by the discovery of gold in Colorado, he went to Pike's Peak. Ile sunk a shaft. but on account of the condition of the country at that time did not oper- ate the mine. He returned to his henne in October. 1860, and after making arrangements for the pro- vision and comfort of his family. he enlisted in the service of his country in July of the following year.
The first duty of Mr. Saylor after donning the blue was scouting, he becoming a member of the band of forty men commanded by Judge Mitchell. who were engaged in driving from the border the Indian, who had been committing serious deprodu- tions on the white settlers. On the 1st of August. 1862, he entered the regular service is a member of Company E. Twenty-third Iowa Regiment :1d was stationed at the barracks in Fast Des Moines. The Government frut learned by this time that it was useless to send out untrained men and until
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the 19th of September. the regiment was there drilling and preparing for duty at the front. it was then ordered to St. Louis and detailed as pro- vost guard for two or three weeks. That duty ended it went by way of Patterson. Mo., to the Iron Mountain, where it joined the forees under command of Gen. Davidson. On the Ist of De- cember. 1862, the army left Patterson, Mo .. with orders to cut off the advance of Gen. Marmaduke which task being completed it returned to Iron Mountain, March 9, 1863, after which it joined the forces of Gen. Grant at Vicksburg. whence it was sent to New Orleans under the command of Gen. Banks. In December, 1803, with his regiment, Mr. Saylor returned to Algiers and thence was slipped to the month of the Rio Grande River. where the regiment landed, marching along the coast for two hundred miles to Matagorda Bay. The garrison in Fort Esperanza which prevented the entrance of the Union troops into the bay, after an eight days' fight was captured. The troops then marched forty miles to Powder Horn, where they went into winter quarters. The Twenty-third Regiment formed a part of the Third Brigade. Second Division. Thirteenth Army Corps, and with those forces on the Ist of April. 1861. was ordered to New Orleans to join the Red River Expedition under Gen. Banks. They were afterward ordered to Arkansas to stop the invasion of Gen. Price. later spent two weeks in New Orleans and after- wards remained at the mouth of the Mobile Bay until March 1. fitting np a fleet for the campaign against that city, in which Mr. Saylor participated. After a month spent in Mobile with his command he was ordered to Galveston, Tex. After more than four years of hard fighting and arduous service ou Southern battle fields, he returned to Davenport. Iowa, where he was mustered out August. 11. 1865. with the rank of Orderly Sergeant.
Immediately after the close of the war. Mr. May- for returned to his home and family. He was mar- sind on the 16th of February. 1850, to Adeline F. Nagle, a radive of Ohio and a daughter of Franklin and Rebecca (Jackson) Nogle. Unto them have been born ten children, six of whom are you living: -- John F .. Chobe F .. Lizzie 1 .. Lillian May. Mattie L. and Jate Belle. Those de caved me Alsoda W .;
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Jemiie. Mary R. and William Clay. Mr. Saylor is a Republican in political sentiment sunt has served as Assessor and School Director. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Both are respected citizens and have a large circle of friends in the community.
ILLIAM MeDINITT is an honored pioneer of Polk County, now residing in the city of Des Moines. He was born on the 20th of June. 1819, in Prelde County, Ohio, and is of Irish and Welsh extraction. His father. Isaac Mc- Divitt, was a native of Maryland, and spent fifty years of his life in that State engaged in farming and stock-raising. For a life companion he made choice of Miss Mary Lakin, also a native of Mary- land, and a number of years after their marriage they removed with their family to Proble County, Ohio, where Mr. MeDivitt purchased from the Gov- ernment one hundred and sixty acres of land, which with the assistance of his sons, he cleared and cul- tivated until the year 1830. when he removed to Noble County, Ind. In that county be made pur- chase of five hundred and twenty acres of wild tim- ber land, and again with the aid of his sons. in the midst of the forest developed an excellent farm. On which he and his wife spent the remainder of their days. Their family numbered nine children.of whom William of this sketch is the oldest; Julia Ann, the second. became the wife of Dr. Milton Latta. tunl died in Goshen. Ind .; the third child died in infancy ; John is an extensive manufacturer of sash and blinds of Huntsville. Ala .; Mary Jane. wife of Conrad Lowry, died and was buried in Goshen, Ind .; Rebecca passed away while a resident of Ne- Wle County, Ind .: Elizabeth died near Oskaloosa, Lowa: Patrick died in childhood; Rebecca. wife of David Darlington, died in Dayton, Ohio: Martha died in infancy; Elta beenine the wife of John Me- ( line. and died in freshen. Ind.
companied his parents to Noble County, Ind., I where he became inured to the hardships and difficulties of pioneer life. He assisted his father
in clearing and improving a large farm in the midst of a dense forest in that State. cutting. pi- ling and burning much of the timber himself. His educational advantages were limited. He attended the common schools during the winter season when there was little work upon the farm, and pursued his studies in his leisure moments at home. At the age of twenty years. he began life for himself, by procuring a farm of forty acres in Noble County. Ind .. which, after improving. he traded for eighty acres in La Grange County, of the same State. Hay . ing been compelled to assist his father in such labois. he was prepared to perform such tasks in his own interest, and was therefore quite successful in his undertakings. After some time spent in the development and cultivation of his land in La Grange County, he sold out and removed to Jasper County. lowa, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. He made some improve- monts thereon, then sold out. removing to Walnut, now Webster Township. Polk County, and made purchase of a tract of land comprising four hun- dred acres. Twelve acres of that amount had been placed under the plow. and a little log cabin had been built. but otherwise it was in its primitive condition. For a number of years that farm con- tinued to be the home of himself and family, and with like energy and business industry, he gave his attention to its improvement. With the assistance of his sons, the farm was made one of the best in the county, the fields were well tilled, good barns and outbuildings were erected, and a tasty and com- motions residence was built. Mr. MeDivitt was recognized as one of the progressive and prosper- ous farmer- of the community. but at length was forced to sever his business interests, and retire to privide life. Having lost his right hand by an ac- cidental discharge of a shot gun. he was compelled to give up farming. soll his land and moved to his present home in the city of Des Moines. He has met adversity with manly fortitude and Christian resignation. and accepted his prosperity as a gift from the Giver of all good. He is a zealous and ting libeadly his time and money to the cause of Christianity. Almost unaided. he erected a church edifice at MeDivit's Grove in this county. For
When a led of ten years. William MeDivitt ne- . earnest member of the Christian Church, contribu-
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thirty five years he has been an arde ut supporter of the principles of the Republican party. and has filled all the offices in the town-hip.
Ere leaving Indiana for a home in the West. Mr. MeDivitt was married in Noble County, on the 14th of April. 1819. to Miss Sarah Parks, and inito them the following children were born : Elizabeth, who is now the wife of Nelson Snodgrass, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Isaac Il .. a leading farmer residing on the old homestead in Webster Township: Mari- etta, wife of Edward A. Tripp, of New Bedford, Mass.
The present wife of Mr. MeDivitt was Mrs. Nancy ( Maguire) Luther, and their marriage was celebrated January 20, 1869. The lady is a native of Bristol County, Mass., and a daughter of Barney Maguire, who was born in the Bay State, of Irish parentage. They have one child. a daughter. Ida Lenora, wife of John J. Gaston. a prominent at- torney and pension claim agent of Des Moines.
Mr. and Mrs. MeDivitt are held in high esteem throughout the community where their charity and hospitality have won them many friends. They have provided their children with good educational advantages, such as would fit them for the practi- cal duties of this life, and by example and precept have reared them in the way they should go. Their life work is far more worthy a place in this vohune than many who make more pretensions, and occupy more exalted positions, and might well be imitated by their posterity.
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ON. ROBERT C. WEBB, who resides on section 3, Four Mile Township, was for a number of years ranked among the promi- nent business men of the county. having been a partner in the largest whole-ale grocery business in the State. He is widely known through- out Central Jowa and is held in high regard by his many friends. He was born in Middle Tennis-co. August 20, 1827, and is a son of William and Sa- rah ( Journal) Webb, both of whom were native. of Richmond County. N. C. They removed to Indiana and from there to Tennes ce. In 1/29.
they returned to Wayne County. Ind. and later became residents of Grant County, where Mr. Well was elected the first School Commissioner in that county. He followed agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life and at one time owned lange tracts of land. but disposing of the greater amount returned to Wayne County, where his death occurred in 1865. lhis wife survived him five years, dying in 1870. Both were devoted members of the Methodist Church, and the hius- band took an active part in politica! affairs, first supporting the Whig party, after which he became a stanch Abolitionist. Of the children born to William and Sarah Webb, five are yet living-Ben- jamin, a former, residing near Kansas City; John, a Methodist minister of Des Moines: Jane P. wife of Iverson II. Benson, of Des Moines; Sarah A., wife of Henry Davis, of Randolph County, Ind .; and Robert, of this sketch. Those deceased are James, who died in Howard County, Ind., leav- ing a family: Calvin, who died in infancy ; and Elizabeth and Melinda, twins, who died in Grant County. Ind.
The early life of our subject passed uneventfully ; he attended the district schools during the winter season and aided his father in the labors of the farm during the summer months. Having attained to years of maturity, on the 2nd of October, 1815, he led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah A. B. Case, a native of Wayne County, Ind., and a daughter of William and Lavina Case, the former born in North Carolina and the latter in Ohio. The pater- nal grandfather. Isaac Case, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years. In 1%16 the young couple re- moved to Wabash County. Ind., where Mr. Webb chpaged in farming until 1849. when he went to Somerset, that St te. and embarked in the mercan- tile business. His undertakings in that line were successful in a marked degree and from that time forward he devoted altnost his entire attention to mercantile pursuits. In 1852. however, he was compelled to retire on account of failing health and spent the succeeding year in farming bot going to Kokomo. Jul. in isti. he resumed operations in the mercantile line. purchasing two stock- of goods of gentlemen who were retiring from Lui-
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ness. Again he built up a good trade, but closed out in 1861 and removed to Peru, Ind .. where after buying an entirely new stock of goods he opened a store and continued there in business until 1865, when he came to Des Moines. That winter he en- gaged in buying and selling wheat. but in the spring of 1866, opened a retail grocery store. From the beginning he did a large business and his trade so rapidly increased that at length he ell. barked in the wholesale grocery trade under the firm name of R. C. Webb & Son. Another partner being afterward admitted the style was changed to R. C. Webb & Co., which it continued until their retirement from business. Years of experience, of familiarity with the wants of his customers and the exercise of correct business principles soon brought Mr. Webb a large wholesale trade and he gained a wide reputation. The sales of the firm during the last two years amounted to $1,000,000, the largest. business done by any wholesale house in the city. Wishing to lay aside all care and retire to a more private life, in March, 1885, Mr. Webb disposed of his interest to the firm of Prouty & Pratt. who are keeping up the reputation of the house. It was the fourth wholesale grocery house established in the city and is first as regards success and amount of business done.
When disposing of his mercantile interests in 1885, Mr. Webb purchased his present fine farm of one hundred and forty acres in Four Mile Town- ship, to which he removed in October of that year. He was not content to retire utterly from business life so gives his attention to the management and supervision of the farm work. Hle is a worthy example of a truly self-made man his success being entirely due to his own efforts. After paying for his marriage license lwe had but thirty-two cents remaining and a wife depending upon him for support, but with a young men's bright hope of the future and a determina- tion to succeed he started out to make for himself supl bride a lonne. As beforestated his first efforts were at farming on rented land and practicing the "tietest economy and laboring almost incessantly from down to dark be acquired a small capital and unlocked in the mercantile business. It soon be- fahr evident that he had found the work for which
nature had fitted him, and in the years which fol- lowed he became a prosperous and wealthy citizen. Upright and honorable in all his dealings, he won the confidence of his patrons and made them his well-wishers for life. Indomitable energy has formed an important feature in his success and has overcome all the disadvantages which he met.
In 1885. Mr. Webb was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 7th of April of that year, leaving a husband and two children to mourn her death. She was a noble Christian lady and was beloved by many friends. Constan- tine L., her son, who was born in Wabash County, Ind., wedded Miss Georgiana Jones, by whom he had one ebill, Robert, and after her death. wedded Ellen Morrison, by whom he also has a child. He is now engaged in the wholesale grocery business at Seattle, Wash., and ranks among the prominent merchants of that place. Clara E., the daughter, is the wife of Alviu P. Vinedge, who is engaged in mining near Cook City. Mout. Their union has been blessed with two children, Alice and Webb. On the 7th of October, 1885, Robert Webb was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Nora Case, a native of Hinois, and a daughter of Isaac Case of Chicago. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Church and take an ac- tive part in the advancement of the cause.
The schools have also found in Mr. Webb a true friend. Believing education an essentiality to good citizenship he has done much for its promotion and deserves no little credit for his efforts in that direction. For ten years he has been a Director in the State Agricultural Society. His fellow citizens appreciating his worth and ability have frequently called upon him to serve in official positions and he has taken an active part in political affairs. While a resident of Indiana he was twice commissioned Justice of the Peace by Gov. Joseph A. Wright. and in this State has occupied many important of. fices. In 1876, he was sent as a delegate to the Na- tional Republican Convention, at Cincinnati, which nominated R. B. Hayes for the Presidency and in 1878. was elected by his party to a seat in the Town Senate, where he at once took rank among the leading and influential members. Through his efforts the people were released from paying toll re.
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quired at bridges and in many other ways he man- ifested his interest in the community at large. The temperance cause had ever found in him a stanch advocate he doing all in his power for the suppres sion of the liquor traffic. As a citizen none stands higher in the community than Hon. Robert C. Webb. His public and private life are alike above reproach. He has aided in the upbuilding of the town, county and State, has identified himself with the best interests of the community and has lived the life of an upright Christian gentleman.
LBERT GRETE, SR., is one of the well- known early settlers of Des Moines, dating his residence here from the spring of 1856. The now populous city was then a town containing only about fifteen hundred inhabi- tants, and gave little promise of its present ad- vaneed position. With the remarkable growth and progress which has been made since that time he has been identified, bearing no inconsiderable part in the noble work.
children are the fruits of the second marriage, and are as follows: Caroline, a resident of Fayette County. Pa .; Henrietta, of Pittsburg, Pa .; August also of Pittsburg; and Dora, of New Chn. Min.
The date of the arrival of our subject in Amer- ien, was 1819. the year succeeding the emigration of his mother and step-father. He was at that time twenty-seven years of age. He made his first loca- tion in Pittsburg. Pa., but shortly afterward re- moved to Fayette County, where he made his home until his removal to Des Moines in 1856. In his native land he had learned the trade of slaughter- ing, having served an apprenticeship to that busi- ness as is the custom in the Fatherland. He fol- lowed that occupation from the time he began his apprenticeship at the age of fourteen years, until well advanced in life, and has the honor of having created the first slaughter-house in Des Moines. Immediately after his arrival in this city, he en- gaged in the meat business, and carried on opera- tions in that line until 1865, when he embarked in the ice business. Ile began ou a small scale, which in- creased with the demand, and finally it became one of the most important industries of the city, his ice trade being the most extensive in Des Moines for many years. Another enterprise to which he de- voted his energies for a time, was the grocery trade but he is now practically living a retired life, hav- ing laid aside the cares and duties of former years, to enjoy the fruits of his labor in the carlier days of his manhood.
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