USA > Iowa > Jones County > The history of Jones County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens history of the Northwest, history of Iowa > Part 68
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COL. WILLIAM T. SHAW. Anamosa. William Tuekerman Shaw, a native of Maine. was born in Steuben, Washington Co., on the 22d of September. 1822; his parents were William Nicholas Shaw and Nancy D. (Stevens) Shaw ; his paternal grandfather was a distinguished officer in the Revolutionary army ; was aid-de- camp to Gen. Knox; was promoted to the rank of Captain of artillery in 1750, and served until the close of the war. Young Shaw was educated in the common schools of his native town and the Wesleyan Seminary at Readfield, attending the latter institu- tion two or three years ; at 19, he started for the West; spending one year in teaching a private school in Greencastle, Ind .; he then went to Harrodsburg, Ky .. and continued teaching until the Mexican war broke out; in 1848, Mr. Shaw strayed into Arkansas and the Indian Territory. among the Cherokees. Choetaws and other tribes, and, the next year, found his way into California ; he remained there, digging in the mines. until 1851, when he returned as far eastward as Anamosa, then little more than a four-cor- ners, on the banks of the Wapsipanicon River; in 1852, he returned to the Golden State again, by the overland route; two years later, he returned to Anamosa and specu- lated in real estate, being fortunate in many of his investments ; he built the Dubuque & Southwestern Railroad from Farley to Anamosa. and was at work on this road when the rebellion broke out; for the last ten or twelve years he has been engaged in banking,
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real estate and the building of brick blocks in Anamosa, and railroads to help the town ; the Iowa Midland road. running from Clinton to Anamosa, is the work of his hands; he is of the banking firm of Shaw. Schoonover & Co. In 1846, he enlisted as private in the 20 Ky. V. I., and remained with it until the close of the Mexican war : he was in the battle of Buena Vista, where both the Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel were killed ; Mr. Shaw returned as a non-commissioned officer. On the 24th of Octo- ber, 1861, he was commissioned Colonel of the 14th I. V. I., and served the full three years for which he enlisted ; his regiment was in the Second Brigade, Third Division. Sixteenth Army Corps, and. after being fearfully cut up at Pittsburg Landing, it com- posed, for a time, part of the " Iron Brigade," which consisted of the 8th. 12th and 14th Iowa and the 58th Illinois Regiments ; no better fighting regiment went from Iowa than the 14th, and no braver, more daring officer than Col. Shaw ; for awhile, he commanded the Third Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps, and when finally relieved at the end of the three years. on the 29th of October, 1864. Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith paid a high compliment to him for his " courage, patriotism and skill" during the fifteen months that he had its command ; when about to leave the division which he had so bravely commanded, the officers made him a present of a beautiful sword and scabbard, as a token of their kindly regard, which he cherishes highly. The Shaws are a patriotic family ; a cousin of the Colonel, Robert G. Shaw, commanded the 1st Col- ored Regiment, and was killed at Fort Wagner. Col. Shaw was elected to the State Legislature, and, during the session in which he served, was one of the leading mem- bers of that body. Col. Shaw has had three wives; in 1854. he married Miss Helen A. Crane, of Jones Co; she had two children, and died in 1865; one child survives her. His second wife was Rhetta Harmon, who lived only one short year. Ilis pres- ent wife was Mrs. Elizabeth Higby, of Kalamazoo Co., Mich.
J. L. SHEEAN. attorney at law. of the firm of Sheean & MeCarn, Ana- mosa ; is a native of Boston. Mass .. and was born June 3, 1835; when very young, his parents removed to Illinois and located in Jo Daviess Co., being among the first to locate in that early settled county ; he grew up to manhood and received his education there, and studied law in Dubuque, and was admitted to the bar in 1558; he came to Jones Co. and located in Anamosa in 1861, and since then he has practiced his profes- sion here. He has held school offices. On the 3d of July, 1862. he was united in marriage to Miss Laura J. Rawlins, a native of Jo Daviess Co., Ill., and a sister of Maj. Gen. John A. Rawlins: they have six children, three sons and three daughters.
H. W. SIGWORTH. physician and surgeon, Anamosa : is a native of Clarion Co., Penn., and was born Feb. 25, 1537 : he grew up and attended school there. and completed his literary course at the State University, Madison, Wis .; he studied medicine and graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1863; after graduating. he came to Iowa and located in Linn Co., and engaged in the practice of medicine ; he continued there fourteen years, and, in 1877. he came to Anamosa, and since then has practiced his profession here ; he holds the office of City Alderman, and has held town and school offices. On the 18th of May, 1863. he was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Bowen, daughter of Hon. T. S. Bowen, of Green Co., Wis .; they have five children, four sons and one daughter.
H. P. SIG WORTH. physician and surgeon, Anamosa ; is a native of Clar- ion Co., Penn., and was born Nov. 27, 1538 ; he grew up to manhood and received his education there, and began reading medicine; he entered the army and enlisted in the 155th Penn. V. I., and was commissioned First Lieutenant of Co. G ; he came to Linn Co., Iowa, in 1863, and completed his medical studies and graduated at Rush Medical College in 1866; be practiced medicine in Linn Co. until 1875, when he came to Ana- mosa and associated with his brother in the practice of medicine; in 1878. he attended Bellevue College Hospital, New York, and took the ad eundem degree. During the present year-1579-he married Mrs. Maggie Trion, from Marion, Linn Co., lowa ; he has one son-Miles P .. by a former wife.
DR. WH. M. SKINNER, physician. dealer in drugs, medicines, wali paper, toilet and fancy articles, Anamosa ; is a native of Onondaga Co., N. Y .; was
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born April 11, 1825 ; he grew up to manhood and received his education in that State he studied medicine in Fulton and graduated at Woodstock, Vt., in 1850. During the same year, on the 15th of October, 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss Mir. A. Parker, a native of Oswego Co., N. Y. ; they came to Iowa and located in Anation. in November, 1856; in spring of 1857, they went to Clear Lake and returned her- the following year; in 1859, they went to Colorado and again returned here in 1-tu he served as Deputy Recorder for one year, and. in the fall of 1862, they engaged i: their present business and have continued in it since then, and it is one of the old -t business houses, without change, in Anamosa. Dr. Skinner is ably assisted in his bu -;- ness by his wife, who has been in the store for fifteen years. Mrs. Skinner has entir. charge of some departments of their business, and has a large trade of her own, and i- justly popular with all. Dr. Skinner has held the office of President of the School Board, City Alderman and others; they have one son-William B., born June 13. 1800; now studying medicine.
B. F. SHITII, brick manufacturer, Strawberry Hill. Anamosa ; is a native of Gratton Co., N. H., and was born Feb. 8. 1830 ; he grew up to manhood there and learned the business of brickmaking; in 1853, he went to California, and was engaged in brickmaking there for seven years, then returned to New Hampshire; in 1869. he came to Iowa and located at Anamosa, and established his brick-works here ; since then he has been engaged in the manufacture of brick; there are very few men in the bu -- iness who have the thorough practical knowledge of Mr. Smith, and the brick he man - ufactures are of an excellent quality, superior to those manufactured elsewhere in this part of the State; he furnished the brick for the residence of Col. Shaw and also for Shaw's Block and many of the largest buildings in Anamosa Mr. Smith has been . twice married; his first wife was Clara Ferrin, a native of Grafton Co., N. II .; she died in December, 1869, leaving three children-Edward F., Addie J. and Bertie F. In March, 1874. he married Ellen Wheeler, a native of Grafton Co., N. H .; they have one son-Clarenee.
COL. CHAS. F. SPRINGER, deceased ; was a native of the State of Indiana, and was born in Sullivan Co., Aug. 10, 1834; in 1848, he graduated with honor at Asbury University, Greencastle, Ind .; he received the degree of Master of Arts in 1861, and delivered the Masters' oration at the Commencement exercises ; after completing his collegiate course he came to Illinois and located at Edwardsville, and entered the office of Judge Gillespie and commenced reading law, and was admitted to the bar in 1859; he formed a copartnership in the practice of law with Hon. David Gillespie ; after the breaking-out of the rebellion. he enlisted and was elected Ist Lieu- tenant, Co. K, 140th Ill. V. I .; his time having expired, he was mustered out ; he returned home and assisted in the enlistment and organization of the 150th Regimenty he again entered the service as Captain in that regiment on the 24th of February, 1865 : he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, and the following December was promoted and commis- sioned Colonel, and commanded the regiment until he was mustered out of the service on the 16th of January. 1866, after the close of the war. In 1863, he was chosen Presiden- tial Elector for the 12th Congressional Dist. of the State: in 1869, he was elected to repre- sent this Senatorial Dist. in the Constitutional Convention ; he was appointed a Delegate by Gov. Palmer, to the Capital Convention which assembled in Cincinnati, in which body he represented this Congressional District. In all publie positions with which he was hon- ored he discharged his duties with a degree of fidelity that was unsurpassed ; his adminis- tration of public trusts won for him the unlimited confidence of his constituents. He was a consistent and exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was Superintendent of the Sabbath school for some years. He continued in the practice of his profession. except during the intervals of time when he was engaged in the discharge of public duties, until his death, which occurred Nov. 15, 1870.
Mrs. Col. Charles F. Springer, formerly Miss Adelaide Isbell, is a second daugh- ter of Rev. Bishop and Olive P. Isbell. She recalls, among her earliest memories, the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts. Her education was early begun at home, and, when only 6 years of age, she began the study of the French language ; at
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the age of 14, she began the work of instruction, receiving 815 for three months' service, and boarding around, sometimes walking five miles a day to reach the school ; at the age of 16, she received a diploma from the State Normal School of New York ; through the kindness of Bishop and Mrs. Hamline, intimate friends of her parents, she entered Oakland Female Seminary, and, by passing a satisfactory examination, she was admitted to the second term of the Senior year in January, and received a diploma as Mis- tress of English Literature the following August ; in September. she taught the Sophomore Class in Hillsboro Female College, and continued the study of Greek, Latin and Music. The young girl whose joy was unbounded at receiving 85 per month, is now offered 8500 for ten months. A wedding might very properly occur right here to a graduate of Indi- ana Asbury University, C. F. Springer by name. But the home in Iowa must be paid for, and all are doing their utmost to accomplish that : two years as Preceptress at Greencastle, one year at Epworth ; three years. Principal at Marion ; two years as Preceptress, in the Upper Iowa University. and the debt is canceled; another year in a private school and the war is over; and, on the 5th of December, 1866. the joyous nuptials of Col. Charles F. Springer, (who joined the army as private, and returned at the head of his regiment) and Miss Adelaide Isbeil. are celebrated in the M. E. Church, Anamosa. Iowa, her father per- forming the marriage service. Removing to Edwardsville, Ill., four years of perfect blessedness were granted and a perfect home erected, in which they lived nearly two years, when death, who spares neither friend nor foe, but always takes the best, tore down this bright hearthstone and put out its altar fires. A year later, Mrs. Springer accepted a position in the Northwestern University, at Evanston, Ill .; but the death of her dear sister, Miss Eliza Isbell, and the failing health of her mother, rendered it necessary for her to return to Iowa, and, in the fall of 1872, she accepted the offer of the Board of Trustees of the Jones County Academy to become its Principal. The school had been organized one year before. and has continued under its present form for seven years ; and those desiring to fit themselves for teachers and anxious for improve- ment, will find this institution very beneficial. MIrs. Springer has written considerable for the press ; and her poem read before the Alumni of the Hillsboro Female College, June 7, 1877, was compared to Goldsmith's best efforts. Another poem, " Red, White and Blue," read July 20, 1879, at the Temperance Jubilee at Clear Lake, was fully appre- ciated by the large audience. Her literary efforts as missionary and temperance essays or poems, have usually been prepared while busied with her home work, as she has kept house for her parents, without kitchen help, for the past six years. She is not satisfied with her literary work, and it would scarcely have been attempted but from her hus- band's express desire to have her write. She was present as Delegate to the Woman's International Temperance Convention in Philadelphia, and read an essay on temper- unce, and also delivered a missionary address. As Recording Secretary of the Woman's Temperance Union of Iowa. she did good service, and though exceedingly conservative in many of the plans of the day, she possesses a large measure of that charity which does not intrude upon others' convictions. An extended tour in Europe, Asia and Africa has greatly increased her general information.
Rev. Bishop Isbell is the son of Isbell and Mary Smedley, both natives of Mas- -achusetts. The father dying in 1813, the mother married Cyrus Stratton in 1816, and came to Ellis. Hardin Co., Iowa. in 1858 ; she died December 13. 1865. at the ripe age of nearly 87 years. Bishop I-bell's early life was spent in Williamstown, Mas. . where, at the age of 20, he became a member of the M. E. Church, and. a few years later, joined the Troy Conference; for twenty-five years he labored in this Conference, which embraced parts of Massachusetts and Vermont. He never counted the sacrifices made as worthy a thought, although when he left secular work he was receiving several dollars a day, while the salary for young ministers was $100 per year, and, if married, the same for his wife: while as years passed on his usual salary was about 8350, and bever over $500. He has always been regarded as a deep thinker, a close student, at good linguist and a successful/minister. Of his executive ability in a very important Church trial in 1935. Bishop IFamline said of him that " he was one of the best bus- thess men I have found in the whole Church." At his last appointment, Castleton, over
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one hundred were converted and added to the Church through his instrumentality. Ilis health failing, he came to Iowa in May, 1858, and was followed by his family, wife and their three daughters, the following July ; but he still retains his connection with the Troy Conference ; since he came West, he has continued his work, often preaching twice each Sabbath ; at one time, being Pastor of the M. E. Church at Anamosa, and for several years past, has preached on alternate Sabbaths in Cass Township, some nin .. miles from home. He has the esteem of the ministry and laymen in an especial degr .... Although now 70 years of age. his mental powers seem on the inerease, keeping up his knowledge of Greek and Latin, while his physical powers are in no way dimin- ished. A poem falls from the point of his pen with no apparent effort. He is progres- sive in his ideas and keeps up with the current news of the day-occupying all his leisure moments in reading and writing. Among his neighbors, he bears the enviable reputation of an honest Christian man.
Mrs. Olive P. Martin ( Mrs. Springer's mother), spent her girlhood days as a teacher, in Williamstown and North Adams, Mass .; and then shared for twenty-five years, with her husband ( Rev. Bishop Isbell), the eare of three children, and entertain- ing a constant round of guests, who regarded the minister's house a free hotel, did not prevent deep interest and aid in all the social, benevolent and religious reforms of the day, while these duties were supplemented by a teacher's task. Shortly after reaching Anamosa, Iowa, in the summer of 1858, a commodious stone house was erected one mile from town. to which a school building was added, and the Hazel Knoll Family Board- ing School was established, and was continued fourteen years by the personal instruction of Mrs. Isbell and her eldest daughter, Miss Eliza Isbell. The latter, a native of Mas- sachusetts, was an artist of unusual talent. and the home contains many rare paintings. the work of her skilled fingers, ere she passed to the better land, which occurred in July, 1872. She also possessed her father's poetic gift from a child. She became a Christian at 6 years of age. The mother was the queenly head of the school, the daugh- ter the sunbeam. They also did their share for the soldiers during the civil war. and in the different church enterprises of the city. A large number of those who were under their tuition are now filling honored places in the world. This mother, beautiful in her physical presence and in her qualities of mind and heart, was permitted to linger till April 25, 1879. To tell the struggles this noble woman made for intellectual cuft- ure and the inspiration for knowledge. or the sacrifices made by these parents to give their children every opportunity for education, would fill a volume. Lacking years of her " three score and ten," she seemed too young to die, when her work was so ripen- ing under her hand.
The youngest daughter, Emily, now Mrs. Hon. J. M. King, is a native of St. Albans, Vt., and was but a child when she came to Iowa, and yet had acquired quite a good knowledge of instrumental music, as she began that branch of study at 9 years of age. She aided in the Musie Department of the Hazel Knoll School ; and for severd years has been considered a pianist of extraordinary ability. She is quite a pleasing writer of both poetry and prose, the latter of fictitious style with instructive moral. She has been exceedingly unfortunate in the accidental death of her betrothed (a graduate of Allegan College, and only 28 years of age), by a fall from his horse, in Middle Park, Colo., in July. 1-74. Two years later (1876), she married a highly cultured gentleman of Philadelphia. who lived but five days. Three years later, in March, 1879. she was married, by her father, in the M. E. Church. to the Hon. J. M. King, of Cas- cade, where she is now pleasantly located. She spent five years in Colorado.
JOHN S. STACY, attorney and counselor at law, Anamosa. Judge Stacy was horn on the 13th of May, 1833, at De Kalb, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y .; his parents were Pelatiah and Jerusha Tanner Stacy. The paternal ancestors were from Massachu- setts. thence to Oswego, N. Y., and his grandfather was one of the first settlers in De Kalb. His father arved a short time in the war of 1>12. at Ogdensburg. Hi- maternal ancestors were settlers in the vicinity of Cooperstown, N. Y., and the remains of many of them rest in the cemetery in that town. In boyhood. John S. Stacy had a great taste for reading, but was accustomed to the hard work of a farm. with only a
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few months at school each year until he was 16, when he attended an academy at Gouv- erneur, N. Y., there preparing for college ; he attended one term at Oberlin, Ohio ; then entered the Sophomore Class of Union College, and graduated in 1857 ; it was during President Nott's administration that Mr. Stacy was at Union College. He taught school several terms, studying law at the same time and during vacations. Immigrating westward. he spent a short time in teaching at Dover, Bureau Co., Ill., and, in the spring of 1858, located at Anamosa, Iowa; he entered the law office of Hon. E. Cutler, and was admitted to the bar in the autumn of the same year; he accepted an invitation to become a partner of Mr. Cutler, and the law firm of Cutler & Stacy commenced business on the 1st of January, 1850, which terminated in the autumn of 1862, by Mr. Cutler entering the military service. In 1864, Mr. Stacy engaged in banking, in connection with the practice of law, continuing until the autumn of 1873, when the panic compelled him to surrender. He was actively engaged in the building of the Iowa Midland Railroad. as attorney and Director. He was also Pres- ident of the Iowa & Minnesota Railway Company, which had so far succeeded as to secure the preliminary negotiations, in London, for a loan that would doubtless have resulted in the success of the enterprise, but for the panic just alluded to, which put a stop to a great many important enterprises. In 1874, Mr. Staey went to California, and spent two months there; he returned to that State again in 1875. and remained nearly two years, practicing law with success in San Francisco. Mr. Stacy was elected Judge of Jones Co., in 1861, and served one term. Judge Stacy has always been an ardent and active Republican. He was a Delegate to the National Convention which renominated Mr. Lincoln in 1864, and was one of his most hearty supporters. In 1858, while in Dover, Ill., Judge Stacy united with the Congregational Church, and, on settling in Iowa, transferred his membership to the Anamosa Church ; he is an active Christian worker, and foremost in all philanthropic measures. On the 16th of November. 1862. he married Miss Charlotte A. Kellogg. a daughter of Rev. E. W. Kellogg, who, for forty years, was a Congregational minister in Vermont ; she is a lin- eal descendant of William Bradford, second Governor of the Plymouth Colony; is a woman of fine mental culture and exalted Christian character, a worthy representative of the best Puritan stock ; she has three children, who feel daily the moiding hand of a Christian mother.
LEONARD N. STARK WEATHER. lime, Fairview ; he was born Aug. 8, 1814, in Herkimer Co., N. Y .; in 1848, came to Pennsylvania; in 1850, to Michigan ; in 1851, he came to Jones Co., Iowa; in 1852, hestarted the first saleratus Works in the State, and ran it about ten years : he formerly kept a hotel in Fairview ; in 1875, he commeneed the lime business and still continues it. Married Polly Thomp- son ; she was born in New York in 1824; have six children-Adelia, Lucy J., Char- lotte A., Ann E .. Mary A. and Ida L. Has been School Director about fifteen years, and Justice of the Peace about eight years. Republican ; Baptist.
JOHN STEWART. manufacturer of' fine creamery butter. Anamosa; is a native of Mariette, Washington Co., Ohio, and was born July 15, 1836; he grew up to manhood and received his education there. After the breaking-out of the rebellion, he enlisted in Co. B, 39th Ohio V. I. ; he was in a number of battles, beside a great many fights and skirmishes; in the battle of Corinth he was the third man in the rebel works; was wounded in the assault on the rebel works at Rough's Mills, Ga., and was in the service four years; in 1570, he came to Iowa and located in Manchester; in April, 1872, he established the first creamery in the State of Iowa, and now is the pro- prietor of six creameries; he came to Jones Co. and located at Anamosa in 1-78; he was awarded the first premium for butter at the St. Louis Fair in 1873 and 1874, and the second, third and fourth premiums in 1875; he was awarded the first premium on October butter and the first on November butter at the International Dairy Fair, New York, in 1878; he was awarded the gold medal at the Centennial Exhibition, Philadel- phia, in 1876, and was awarded the second prize at the Royal Agricultural Exhibition in London, Eng., June 30, 1879, and the second premium at the St. Louis Fair in 1879 ; his butter commands the highest price in the Eastern and foreign markets; he
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is the largest butter manufacturer in the State. Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Sarah F. Prescott, from Galena, Ill., Sept. 22, 1869; they have had two children. only one of whom is living-Newton P.
S. STRAUSS, of the firm of S. Strauss & Brother, dealers in dry goods. corner of Main and Garnavillo streets, Anamosa ; is a native of Baden, Germany, and was born June 20, 1838; he grew up to manhood there, and emigrated to America in 1856; the following year, he came to Jones Co. and located at Fairview, and engaged in the mercantile business ; he is one of the oldest merchants in the county, and does a large and leading trade.
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