USA > Iowa > Lee County > Story of Lee County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 31
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Herman Vogt has spent his entire life in the county of his na- tivity and after attending the public schools in his boyhood he began working as a farm hand for neighbors, being thus employed for about five years. Anxious, however, that his labors should benefit himself, he then began renting land, which he cultivated for five years. He then purchased his present farm, comprising one hundred and fifty-seven acres on section 36, Washington township. It is a good tract of land, carefully cultivated and pleasantly and conven- iently situated two miles from Fort Madison. He went in debt four thousand dollars when he purchased the farm, but does not owe a dollar upon the place at the present time and, moreover, he has put substantial improvements thereon, erecting good buildings and otherwise adding to the excellent appearance of his property. His methods of cultivation, too, are productive of excellent results, so that he annually harvests good crops. He takes great interest in stock and is acknowledged an excellent judge of horses.
On the 17th of January, 1889, Mr. Vogt was married to Miss Rebecca Risinger, who was born in Lee county, April 30, 1865, a daughter of George Washington and Julia ( Hoskins) Risinger, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Her parents
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came to Lee county with their respective families in early life in 1846 and were married here. The mother now resides in Fort Madi- son, but the father passed away in 1882, at the age of fifty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Vogt have had a family of five children : Robert, now in Oklahoma; Harry, at home; Myrtle, the wife of Pearl Weaver of Fort Madison; Edward, who died September 14, 1907, at the age of twelve years; and Caroline.
Mrs. Vogt and the children are members of the Christian church of Fort Madison, and Mr. Vogt was reared in the Lutheran faith but is not identified with any church at the present. His political support is given the democratic party, and for the past six years he has been township trustee. He has also filled road and school offices and is interested in the substantial improvement of the community to the extent of giving earnest indorsement and cooperation to all plans and projects for the public good.
A. C. RICHMOND, M. D.
Dr. A. C. Richmond has been successfully engaged in the prac- tice of medicine in Fort Madison since 1898. He is a native of Iowa, born near Cantril, in Van Buren county, June 13, 1854. His birthplace was a log house on a farm where his father had pre- empted land at an early day. His parents, Theodore and Elvira (Irish) Richmond, were both born near Indianapolis, in Hamilton county, Indiana, the former August 23, 1830, and the latter Octo- ber 23, 1830. It was in 1851 that they removed to Van Buren county, Iowa. Our subject was two years old when the family became resi- dents of Keosauqua, where the father followed his trade as a harness maker and saddler for about ten years. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company H, Nineteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and rose to the rank of captain, but after serving for two years he was forced to resign during the siege of Vicksburg on account of ill health. He then returned to his home in Iowa, but subsequently removed to Memphis, Missouri, where he died in 1901. His wife passed away there in December, 1907. Their children were: Sarah, who died at the age of twenty-one years; A. C., of this review; Mrs. Kate Bull, a resident of Montana; Frank, of Nebraska; Carrie, of Fresno, California; William and Emmett, also of Fresno, Cali- fornia; and Ella, who died at the age of thirty-three years at Mem- phis, Mo.
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During his boyhood Dr. Richmond attended the public schools and remained under the parental roof until about twenty-three years of age. Having received a good practical education, he taught in the country schools for ten years and for one year attended the normal school at Kirksville. One year was devoted to teaching in Minne- sota, after which he spent one year with his parents and then went to Kansas, where he taught for a time. For three years he engaged in prospecting at Leadville, Colorado, and then again returned to his father's home. For six years he lived on a homestead in western Nebraska and at the end of that time returned to Missouri. He next entered the Keokuk Medical College, having read medicine for years previously, and was graduated in 1898 and at once located for practice in Fort Madison. Here he has met with success in his chosen profession and is regarded as one of the leading physicians of the city. He is examining physician for the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Neighbors of America, the Mutual Protective League, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Ladies of the Maccabees and the Railroad Engineer's Pension Society. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Iowa State Medical Society and the Lee County Medical Society.
Dr. Richmond was married December 17, 1886, to Miss Etta E. Racey, of Scotland county, Missouri, by whom he has five children, Ernest, Theodore, Frank, Glenn and Arthur. Ernest and Frank are now students at the State Agricultural College at Ames, where the former has taken up electrical engineering, while the latter devotes his time to the study of agriculture. Theodore has become interested in newspaper work.
The family are all members and the doctor is a trustee of the Santa Fe Avenue Methodist Episcopal church and is serving as dis- trict steward. He is also a Master Mason and holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America.
WILLIAM H. SOUTH.
William H. South has been a lifelong resident of Lee county, his birth occurring in Charleston township, October 24, 1852. His father, John South, was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1827, and was only four years of age when the family removed to Montgomery county, Indiana, whence they came to Lee county, Iowa, arriving here on the 15th of June, 1840. In this county our
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subject's grandfather, John South, Sr., passed away. For a time the family lived in Van Buren township and from there removed to Franklin township and later to Charleston township in 1856.
On the 21st of June, 1849, John South, Jr., married Miss Nancy A. Martin, who was born in Monongalia county, West Virginia, June 6, 1829, and died here January 4, 1897. His death occurred Novem- ber 13, 1891, and his body was laid to rest in Charleston cemetery. In early life he concentrated his energies upon farming, but for twenty-five years prior to his death he was engaged in the agricul- tural implement business in connection with farming, under the firm . name of John South & Company, our subject being in partnership with him. He owned a valuable farm of two hundred acres in Charleston township, which property is still undivided, being owned by our subject and his brother. The father was an earnest Christian man and for a quarter of a century served as a deacon in the Baptist church and also as superintendent of the Sunday school. His po- litical support was given to the democratic party and for several terms he served as justice of the peace. As a pioneer of this locality he took an active part in its early development and improvement and bore the hardships and privations of frontier life. The first hogs that he marketed in this county brought him only a dollar and seventy- five cents per hundred and corn but twelve and one-half cents per bushel. He had four children, namely: Daniel, a farmer of Lee county ; William H., of this review; Theodosia E., who died at the age of two years; and John Mitchell, who died at the age of five years.
William H. South was reared in the usual manner of farm boys and attended the country schools when opportunity afforded. Later he was for two years a student at Whittier College, this state, gradu- ating from the commercial department of that school. For fifteen years he engaged in teaching school during the winter months, while the summer season was devoted to farm work. As before stated, he was engaged in the implement business with his father for some time, but the greater part of his life has been devoted to agricultural pur- suits and he is still part owner of the old homestead in Charleston township and also has other real estate interests.
On the 18th of September, 1877, Mr. South married Miss Susan I. Skyles, who was born in Jefferson township, this county, June 16, 1855, and is a daughter of Benjamin Skyles. They have become the parents of five children, namely: Ada, the wife of Bert E. Brown of St. Louis; Nellie Maude, who married C. W. Slingerland of Eg- bert, Wyoming; Ruby May, the wife of M. J. Campbell of Fort
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Madison; Anna Dora, who married Lowell King of Egbert, Wy- oming; and John William, at home.
Mr. South remained on the farm until December, 1906, when he was elected county auditor and removed to Fort Madison. He served in that capacity for two terms to the entire satisfaction of all concerned and for one term of two years he was deputy auditor. Since his retirement from business he has been engaged in the life- insurance business for a short time. While living in the country he served as justice of the peace for sixteen years, was clerk of his town- ship for two terms and treasurer of the school district for twenty-one years. Public-spirited and progressive, he has made a most com- petent official and has left the office as he entered it, with the entire confidence and respect of those with whom he has come in contact. For eleven years he served as secretary of the Odd Fellows lodge in Charleston and has been a member of the Baptist church since 1872, serving as deacon of the church at Charleston and as treasurer of the church in Fort Madison. He also served as treasurer of the Keokuk Baptist Association for about ten years. He has ever commanded the respect of all who know him and is prominent both in public and private life.
JOHN M. KENNEY.
The chief of police of any city is charged with grave responsibil- ities, the safety of life and property being largely in his hands, and great credit is due to the man who fulfills his duties in a satisfactory manner. Keokuk has such a chief in John M. Kenney, a native son, who was born February 13, 1858. His father, John Kenney, was a native of Ireland, born in 1833. He passed away at the compara- tively early age of thirty-five and was survived by his widow, who was in her maidenhood Catherine Skelley, also a native of Ireland. She departed this life at the age of sixty-two years. Besides our subject there are two daughters and two sons living. One brother, James, died in 1910. The eldest sister is Margaret and the younger Catherine.
John M. Kenney was a student in the Catholic schools of Keokuk until he was twelve years of age. As his father had died a year or so before this, our subject was obliged to go to work at the age of twelve. He learned the trade of ironmolder and at the age of nine- teen accepted a position with the Globe Iron Works and after two
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years was given charge of the foundry department. He held that place for seventeen years, which record shows him to be efficient and loyal. In 1889 he was elected to the city council from the sixth ward and served in that capacity for four years. He was an alert and public-spirited alderman, zealously serving the best interests of the city. In 1889 he was made deputy city oil inspector under the ad- ministration of Governor Boise and so continued for four years. He was appointed deputy sheriff of the county in 1898 and served four years. He was elected sheriff in 1901 and served two years, and was appointed deputy marshal in 1905, in which capacity he also served two years. He was then elected chief of police, for a term of two years, and in September, 1912, he was appointed chief of police by the commission, served the balance of the term and was reappointed on the 4th of May, 1914, so that he is now acting in that important capacity.
Mr. Kenney's two sisters live with him in a comfortable home and their hospitality is enjoyed by their friends. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose and the Knights of Columbus. He has always been prom- inent in organized labor and has belonged to the Ironmolders Union for thirty-two years, taking a great interest in the effort to secure justice for American working men. He has been quite prominent in the various labor organizations of which he has been a member, holding offices in most of them. He deserves great credit in that his success is due entirely to his own energy and natural ability. He was obliged to go to work at the early age of twelve, as his father was deceased and he was the eldest in the family. His first work was that of water boy on the old government canal, and his ambition and capability enabled him to work his way upward until he now holds a position of trust and honor in his native city and is respected by its citizens.
GREEN HENRY COLVIN.
Among the farmers of Lee county whose labors have added to the splendid reputation borne by Iowa as a great agricultural state is Green Henry Colvin, one of the native sons of the county and one who by close application, unfaltering perseverance and capably di- rected effort has gained a substantial measure of success in the work of the fields. He was born in Montrose township, May 1, 1859, and
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is a son of William and Catherine (Van Ausdall) Colvin, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. Several years after their marriage, or in 1854, they came direct to Lee county, settling two miles north of Montrose, where their remaining days were passed upon a farm. The father's birth occurred in Lincoln county, Kentucky, August 6, 1826, and he had, therefore, passed the eigthy-third milestone on life's journey when he was called to his final rest on the 19th of August, 1909. It was in 1847 that he wedded Catherine Van Ausdall and they lived to celebrate their golden wedding. William Colvin ranked with the most highly respected men of this county, honored by all because of an upright life. One who knew him long and well said of him:
"I am proud to say that William Colvin was my friend and it is as his friend that I wish to speak. There is nothing I could say or that anyone could say that could heighten your esteem of him, nor is there any need for panegyric or eulogy to keep his memory forever green in our minds and hearts. Least of all is there need for fulsome praise. His life has been an open book before us all for many years and the stainless record it presents is better than any laudation that could be voiced by human lips. But it seems fitting that some acknowledgment should be made of the virtues he exem- plified in his long career.
"His qualities were such as to command admiration and esteem. He rang true in every particular. He was genuine from center to cir- cumference. There was entire absence of pretense in his make-up. What he professed to be, that he was-a plain, kindly, earnest, honest, upright, God-fearing man. As such he lived his life and drew to himself friends who became bound to him as with bands of steel. He could not profess what he did not believe, nor would he suppress speech if he felt that he ought to speak out in the interest of truth and justice. Under all circumstances, whatever the issue or the emergency, he had the courage of his convictions. He never forced his opinions on anyone and he had the largest respect and tolerance for the opinions of others. But nothing ever tempted him to de- ceive for the sake of popularity or gain for any consideration what- soever. Men implicitly felt they could trust such a man and they made no mistake in giving him their confidence.
"William Colvin was strictly honest and he believed in exact jus- tice. He wanted every cent due him and he invariably met every obligation to the last farthing. He had no sympathy with schemes of 'high finance,' many of which appeared to him to be a kind of ornamental stealing. Sophistries, ancient or modern, never confused
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him. In passing judgment he split no hairs. To him a thing was either right or else it was wrong. There was no half-way house be- tween the two where he was content to abide. He accepted condi- tions as they exist in this world, but did all in his power to better them both by precept and example. He was no visionary-no impractical idealist. On the contrary, he was intensely practical. His judg- ment was as sound as his perception of right was clear. Without parading his professions, he was intrinsically a religious man. The basic principles of Christianity were ingrained in his daily life. He loved the right and did right for right's sake. The phrase 'a true Christian' is often misapplied, but the criticism does not hold good in his case. If there ever was a genuine Christian William Colvin was one. Honest, candid, truthful, high-minded, honorable, loyal to the right as God gave him light to see the right, he was an exemplar to all and an honor to the community in which he lived. As citi- zen, neighbor, friend, husband and father-in all the varied rela- tions of life-he performed well his part. On taking leave of us after a long, active and useful life he has left no known duty undischarged. He was faithful to every interest committed to his care-faithful even unto death. That he is now numbered among the glorified ones need not be said. He fought a good fight and kept the faith, and the reward of such is sure."
Since the death of her husband Mrs. Colvin has resided upon the home place with her married daughter, Mrs. Davis. In the family were seven children: Malissa, the wife of Austin Wright, of Keo- kuk; Amanda, the wife of J. G. Boyd, of Montrose township; Mary, who became the wife of Zach Boyd and died in Clark county, Mis- souri; Martha, who married William Grimes and died while on a visit in Iowa from her home in Indiana; Green H., of this review; Sallie, the wife of Frank Davis, living on the old home place; and Nancy, the wife of Robert Grimes, of Montrose township.
Upon the old family homestead Green Henry Colvin spent his youthful days, with the usual experiences of the farm boy of the period. He worked in the fields and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He continued to assist his father until his marriage and then removed to his present home on section 6, Washington township, where he has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land. He was formerly well known as a breeder of thoroughbred Polled Durham cattle, but now concentrates his attention upon general farming and annually gathers good crops as a result of the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields.
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In 1884 Mr. Colvin was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Rice, who was born in Washington township, November 19, 1859, a daugh- ter of Jonas Rice. Their two children are: Flossie, the wife of Alexander Foggy of Washington township; and Elma, at home. In his political views Mr. Colvin is a republican, and he and his family are members of the Christian church. He is interested in all that pertains to public progress and is a stanch advocate of Lee county and her best interests. For fifty-five years he has been a witness of her growth and development and is a representative of one of the pioneer families, connected with the county through six decades.
JOHN G. RICE.
The agricultural interests of Lee county find a worthy repre- sentative in John G. Rice, who lives in Washington township, where his birth occurred on the 23d of August, 1865. He is a son of Jonas and Harriet N. (Cowles) Rice. The father was born in Massachu- setts, November 28, 1823, at Hubbardston, Worcester county, and was a son of Colonel Jonas and Grata ( Partridge) Rice, who were also natives of the old Bay state. Coming to fowa in 1839, Colonel Jonas Rice entered land from the government and developed the farm, upon which he and his wife spent their remaining days. Their children were as follows: Mrs. Elizabeth Eaton, Mrs. Augusta Stephenson, Mrs. Jerusha Caufman, Artemus L., Jonas, William O., Mrs. Julia Stephenson and Mrs. Amanda Tibbetts. All of them came to Lee county and most of them spent their remaining days within its borders.
When four years of age Jonas Rice, father of John G. Rice, ac- companied his parents on their removal to Templeton. He was a youth of sixteen years when, in 1839, he came with his father to Iowa, the family home being established on section 5, Washington township, Lee county, where the grandfather of our subject pur- chased a quarter section of land. Upon that farm the father of our subject continued to make his home until his death, which occurred June 30, 1912. He lived a busy and useful life and became recog- nized as one of the leading agriculturists of the community. To his original possessions he added until he had three hundred and eighty-five acres at the time of his death. In addition to cultivating the fields he raised many dairy cattle, hogs and horses and for a num- ber of years he made the manufacture of cheese a special feature of
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his farm. On the 14th of June, 1849, he wedded Harriet N. Cowles, who was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, October 22, 1828, a daughter of Dr. Josiah Cowles. Jonas Rice was a staunch repub- lican in his political views for many years and became a foremost factor in the prohibition movement. He belonged to the Christian church, and his life in every relation was upright and honorable.
Mrs. Rice survived her husband for but a few months and died on the old home place October 31, 1912, at the age of eighty-tour years and nine days. Her parents were Josiah and Phoebe ( Merri- man) Cowles, who brought their family to Iowa in 1839, when their daughter, Harriet N., was but eleven years of age. The journey west was made on a raft by way of the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers, and Mr. Cowles established his home near Fort Madison. His life was of benefit to the community by reason of his professional and public service. He was a physician and carpenter and superin- tended the building of the roofs of the Iowa State Penitentiary. He also filled the office of government inspector of weights and meas- ures. Frontier conditions existed at the time of the arrival of the family. Indians were still in the neighborhood and would frequently go to the town to beg and trade. The Drake family also lived in Lee county at that time and among Mrs. Rice's early school teachers was Francis Marion Drake, afterward governor of Iowa and the founder of Drake University. On the 14th of June, 1849, she gave her hand in marriage to Jonas Rice, and for sixty-three years they traveled life's journey together, Mrs. Rice surviving her husband, as previ- ously stated, only a few months. She lived a quiet, unassuming life, given wholly to the good of others. Her Christian character was noble and pure, and the hours devoted to her own comfort and in- terests were all too few. She gave strong evidence of her Christian faith and when upon her deathbed she penned a poem which again and again breathes the spirit of Christian faith in the words, "All is well." In the family of Jonas and Harriet N. (Cowles) Rice were six children : Oscar J., deceased; Harriet A., who became the wife of William Benbow and has passed away; Lillian, the wife of I. B. Dow of Denmark, Iowa; Lucy I., the wife of Green H. Colvin, mentioned elsewhere in this work; John G .; and Edward J., who is living on the old homestead.
The youthful days of John G. Rice were spent on the old home farm, but when about twenty-two years of age he went to Des Moines, where he was employed as a stenographer by the Bankers Life Asso- ciation for six years. He had supplemented a public school educa- tion by six terms of study in the Denmark Academy and by a com-
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mercial course at the Capital City Commercial College at Des Moines. After six years spent in stenographic work in that city he returned to the farm and has since concentrated his energies upon general agricultural pursuits. He today owns and cultivates one hundred and forty-eight acres of rich and productive land, situated on section 7, Washington township. The place is well improved with the accessories and conveniences of a model farm of the twen- tieth century and in addition to cultivating the fields Mr. Rice engages extensively in butter making and in the raising of stock. The work of the farm is carefully and systematically conducted and substantial results accrue.
On the 17th of April, 1889, Mr. Rice was married to Miss Alice H. Haigh, who was born in Polk county, Iowa, May 6, 1865, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Askew) Haigh, who were natives of England and died in Polk county, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Rice have been born three children, Oscar H., Esther Irene and Dorothy May.
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