USA > Iowa > Keokuk County > The history of Keokuk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. : a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 73
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JAMES, GEO. S., son of S. A. and Sarah James; born in Lancaster, Iowa, April 16, 1849, and was married to Miss Frances S. Bar- ringer, April 10, 1879; she was born in the State of New York, in 1857, and came to Iowa in 1877; he is the junior member of S. A. James & Son, in real estate and loan business.
Johnson, R. M., carpenter. Johnson, T., tinner.
Josbaker, Peter, farmer, Sec. 35.
JOHNSTON, C. G., attorney and abstracter, of the firm of John- ston & Hankins; born in Steuben- ville, Ohio, in 1837, and was rais- ed there until 1851, on a farm; at this time he emigrated to Iowa and settled in Davenport; he read law and was admitted to the bar in Scott county in 1859; he returned to Steubenville, Ohio, and in 1864 accepted a position in the Treasury Department at Washington, D. C .; he came to this county in 1867 and engaged in the practice of his profession; he has been honored with the office of mayor of the city; he married Miss Hannah
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Updegraff in February, 1867; she was born in Jefferson county, Ohio; they have three children: Edward A., Josiah and Zella.
K ELLER, C., butcher; born in Germany in 1840, where he lived until 1860, when he came to the United States and settled in Ohio, and remained there ten years; he learned his trade in his native country, and has followed it successfully since coming to this county in 1870; he married Miss Louisa Emdre in 1862; she was born in Germany; they have eight children: Charlie, George, Jacob, Lula, Theodore, Ida, Mag- gie, Clara and Baby; they lost one daughter: Ida.
Kelley, G., shoemaker.
KECK, IRVING A., born in Washington county, Iowa, in March, 1846; his mother was a daughter of John Jackson, one of the first settlers of Washington county; his father, Joseph Keck, settled in Washington in 1842, and as a successful financier and public-spirited citizen has been prominently connected with the interests of that flourishing city almost from the first to the pres- ent time, a period of thirty-nine years; Irving A. Keck was bred and trained a banker; he was ed- ucated in the schools of Wash- ington-first in the public schools and then in the academy of that place; during his leisure hours while attending school, and his whole time after graduation, he was in his father's bank, and re- ceived his ideas of financiering while assisting in the practical work of that institution; upon the organization of the First Na- tional Bank of Sigourney, he was appointed cashier in 1871; since that time he has had exclusive charge of the management of that institution, and the best proof of his skill and industry is
the bank's record, which for sta- bility, accuracy of accounting and liberality of dealing has no su- perior in the State; Mr. Keck is an author as well as a banker, he having contributed several of the most interesting and reliable arti- cles appearing in the "Annals of Iowa," a periodical published some years since and edited by a num- ber of the most distinguished gentlemen who settled in the State during an early period; considering the fact that Mr. Keck is now but thirty-three years of age, his life has certainly been an exceptionally successful one; he married Miss A. D. Wait, of Boone, Iowa; she was born in New York.
KERR, E. B., of the firm of How .. ard & Kerr, dealers in books and stationery, wall paper, etc .; is the son of the Rev. Joseph and Mary J. Kerr, and was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1838, and was raised in that State until sixteen years of age; he came to Iowa in 1854 and settled in Jefferson county; he was raised a farmer and afterward learned the trade of carpenter; during the late war he enlisted in the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry and was commissioned captain of Co. G; he served three years; he came to this county in 1861, engaged in farming and owns a farm of eighty acres; he has held the office of county sur- veyor, and is the present incum- bent of the office; he married Miss Kate A. Deming in 1862; she was a native of Ohio; their fam- ily consists of three children: Mary A., Clara H. and Julia. Keys, L. H., grocer.
Klett, G., blacksmith and carriage works.
Klinesmith, G. E., wagon maker.
Knape, F., cigar manufacturer. AFFER, E., druggist and jew-
L eler; born in Tuscarawas
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DIRECTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
county, Ohio, April 17, 1837; he was raised in Ohio in mercantile pursuits until seventeen years of age; in 1854 he came to Keokuk county, and has been engaged in merchandising since that time; he has been closely identified with the growth and prosperity of the county; he has attained a large measure of success and gained an enviable place in the confidence of the people; he has served the county on its board of supervisors and the city in its council; he en- listed in the Forty seventh Iowa Infantry during the late war; he married Miss Susan F. Godson in 1864; she was born in New York; they have one daughter: Stella May; Mr. Laffer is one of the organizers of the Union Bank and vice-president of the same. LAFFER, PHILLIP., farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Sigourney; born in Tus- carawas county, Ohio, August 2, 1827; he was there raised on a farm and lived there until 1855, when he came to this county and settled where he now lives; he owns one hundred and nineteen acres of good land, well improved; has on his land a fine bearing or- chard; August 28, 1862, he en- listed in Co. F. Fifth Iowa Infant- ry; served fifteen months and was then discharged on account of disability; he participated in sev- eral small battles; he married, in 1850, Miss Catharine E. Williams, a native of Ohio; they have four children: Hannah E. (now Mrs. Randall), Franklin, George and Edward.
Laffer, H., farmer, Sec. 9. Landers, J., farmer, Sec. 3.
LASH, D. W., restaurant and con- fectioner; born in Johnson coun- ty, Indiana, in November, 1842, and came to this State in 1845; he was raised a farmer until sev- enteen years of age, when follow- ing the impulses of his patriotic
nature, he enlisted in Co. F. Eighth Iowa Infantry and served four years and nine months, and was in the engagements at Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Jackson, and many other engagements of less importance; he married Miss Isa- dora Stickney in 1868; she was born in Louisa county; they have two children: Lola and Lulu; lost one daughter: Lottie.
Leachman, Wm., clothing merchant, Sec. 35.
Lewis, J. G., farmer, Sec. 35.
LOWE, J. M., merchant, dealing in clothing, hats, caps, and gents' furnishing goods; was born in In- diana in 1844, and was brought by his parents to this county in 1849; he was raised on a farm until 18 years of age and then en- listed in the 33d Iowa Infantry in Angust, 1862, and served until discharged on account of disabil- ity; he returned to his home and then attended school for some time at Oskaloosa; he has been engaged in his present business since 1866; he has held the office of city treasurer four years; he married Miss Belle Hair in 1869; she was born in Ohio; they have three children: Elsie, Thomas L., and Addie.
Loux, Joseph, farmer, Sec. 21. Lucie, D. J., merchant.
Lyons, G. T., laborer.
M cCARTY, T. F., county au- ditor; was born in Onedia county, New York, in 1842; from that county he removed to New England, and came to this State in 1858 and engaged in railroad building; his home since 1865, when he came to the county, and previous to his election to his present office, was in Layfayette township, where he owns a farm of 80 acres; he was elected auditor first in 1877 on the Democratic ticket, and although his township was strongly Republican he car-
Frolimaly Mano
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SIGOURNEY.
ried it by a large majority; he was re-elected again in October, 1879; he married Miss Mary Boyer in 1869; she was born in Pennsylva- nia; they have four children: Catharine M., Theressa, Charlie and George.
McClelland, J. S., printer.
McCLENAHAN, R., postmaster; was born in Stark county, Illinois, in 1840, and lived there until 12 years of age; he came to this county in 1854 and was raised on a farın; heeding his country's call for troops to defend it against the traitors of the South, he enlisted in Co. F, 5th Iowa Infantry, and was the first man to enlist from this county; he was wounded at the battle of Iuka, and discharged on account of disability; after his return he learned the marb-lework- ing business and followed that oc- cupation until June 5, 1869, at which time he received the ap- pointment of postmaster, on the recommendation of the popular vote of his party; he married Miss Tillie Hoover; she was born in Stark county Ohio; they have a family of two children: Curtis and Freddie.
McCollough, A., farmer, Sec. 16.
McJUNKIN, E. W., attorney; was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1844; in early life his time was divided between farming and mer- cantile pursuits ; he received an academical education, but while pursuing his studies the call for troops to suppress the rebellion of the South awoke the student from his dreams over mathematical problems, and he enlisted in the 123d Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years; the war being over, he came to Iowa in 1865 and entered the office of his uncle, Attorney-General McJunkin, of Washington, as a student of law; after preparing himself he was
admitted to the bar in September, 1868; he was engaged in the prac- tice of his profession for two years in Knoxville, Marion county, Iowa, previous to his coming to this county, in 1872, and since which time he has been associated with G. D. Woodin, Esq., in the prac- tice of law. He married Miss Sally A. Jenkins in December, 1872; she is a native of Kentucky; they have one son: Paul.
McIntire, J. A., pattern maker. McLean, M. H. McLean, W. I., farmer.
McNabb, John, farmer, Sec. 6.
McMurry, David, farmer, Sec. 4.
McNabb, H., farmer, Sec. 5. McMullen, Wm., hotel-keeper.
McWILLIAMS, W. C., county re- corder; was born in Knox county, Ohio, in November, 1851, and raised there until six years of age, and at that period was brought by his parents to Keokuk county; he was raised a farmer, and divided his time between farming and teaching until elected to his pres- ent position in 1878.
McWILLIAMS. DR. T. B., phy- sician and surgeon; was born in Knox county, Ohio, November 12, 1843, and was raised in that State until 14 years of age, when he re- moved to Iowa ; he came to this county in 1857; he studied medi- cine and graduated from the Keo- kuk Medical College in 1871, al- thoughi he had been practicing for three years previous to his gradu- ation; he married Miss Amanda Gore in 1867; she was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, and died September 23, 1870; he married for his second wife Miss Sadie R. White in 1877; she was born in Pennsylvania; he has two children by his first marriage: Lucy Ad- die and Frank.
MACKEY, C. H., attorney; born in Fulton county, Illinois, in
38
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DIRECTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
. 1837; here he received his educa- tion and learned the trade of car- penter; he came to this county in 1855; having a natural taste for the profession of law, he pre- pared himself for admission to the bar, and was admitted in 1858; in August, 1862, filled with pat- riotism, and obedient to the calls of his country, he enlisted in the Thirty-third Iowa Infantry, and was commissioned lieutenant-col- onel, and was mustered ont in July, 1865; returned to his home and resumed the practice of his profession, and has built up a large business; he was elected to represent the county in the State Legislature in October, 1879; he married Miss Lydia Reed in 1858; she was born in Ohio; they have five children : James R., Mollie, Frank, Lizzie and Charles; lost two: Nellie and Freddie.
MACAULAY, CHARLES, dealer in stoves, agricultural implements, hardware and tinware manufac- turer; was born in the north of Ireland in 1834, and when thir- teen years of age removed to Scotland; he was brought up a a farmer, and remained in the em- ploy of one man nineteen years, who, in recognition of such servi- ces presented him with a valuable testimonial; he emigrated to the United States October 28, 1869, and came to this county in 1870; he is doing a prosperous business, and building up a large trade. Maleby, A., egg dealer.
Mahon, Richard, farmer; Sec. 35. Marsh, G. L., jeweler.
Mead, Clark, farmer; Sec. 35.
MERRIAM, W. D., real estate dealer; was born in Lowell, Wash- ington county, Ohio, in 1825, and lived there until he arrived to years of manhood; his early life was spent on a farm, and after- ward he devoted considerable at- tention to the grain and produce
business, and at the outbreak of the rebellion was doing a large business in shipping to New Or- leans and other river towns; he came to this county in 1864, and engaged in his present business; he owns a farm of 160 acres near Sigourney, beside wild lands in other places; he married Ruth Clark, in October, 1868; she was born in Hamilton county, Ohio; Mr. Merriam has one daughter: Angevine (now Mrs. West), living in Ohio, by a former marriage.
Middleton, J.J., farmer, Sec. 20. Miller, Fred, carpenter.
Mitchell, Mathias, farmer, Sec. 19. Miles, William, farmer, Sec. 8.
Minteer, J. P., farmer, Sec. 12. Minteer, B. C., livery stable. Miles, Daniel, fariner, Sec. 5. Miles, John, farmer, Sec. 5. Miller, C. E., farmer, Sec. 2. Miller, J. W., farmer, Sec 1. Mohme, Henry, farmer, Sec. 36. Morrison, John, grain dealer.
Myer, A., farmer, Sec. 35.
TAMUR, THEODORE, saloon; N born in Paris, August 24, 1842, and was raised there; he emigrated to the United States in 1865, and settled in Chicago, where he remained one year, and came to Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1866; he married Miss Christine Triebel in 1868; she was born in Keokuk county; they have four children : Charles, Henrietta, George and Theodore.
Neas, Samuel, farmer, Sec. 2.
NEEDHAM, WM. H., editor of the "Sigourney News," is a native of Guernsey county, Ohio, and was born on the 22d day of Au- gust, 1840, and lived there until thirteen years of age, and then came with his parents to Iowa, and settled in Oskaloosa in Octo- ber, 1853; he received the bene- fits of the educational advantages of the town and entered the "Her- ald" office and learned the print-
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SIGOURNEY.
ing business, and followed it for a time as an avocation in Des Moines and Albia until the out- break of the rebellion; he enlist- ed in the Twenty-second Iowa volunteer Infantry as a private, andafter several- promotions, was mustered out as first lieutenant at the close of the war; he partici- pated in the battles of Port Gib- son, Champion's Hill, Jackson, Black River Bridge, and in the charge on Vicksburg, May 22d, 1863, and was also under Sheri- dan in the Shenandoah Valley, at the battle of Fisher's Hill and Cedar creek; after the war he re- turned and bought an interest in the "Herald" and was connected with it for twelve years; he held the office of postmater of Oska- loosa from February 1, 1870, un- til March 1, 1976; in November, 1878, he became the editor of the "Sigourney News;" he married Miss Olive A. Knowlton Decem- ber 26th, 1866; she is a native of Clinton county, Ohio; their fam- ily consists of four children: Charles K., John R., Edna Pau- line and Emma; lost one daughter: Alice Pearl.
Neff, Mrs. M., physician.
Neff, Samuel, stock dealer. Nelson, John, farmer, Sec. 10. Newkirk, C. J., farmer, Sec. 17. Newkirk, Daniel, farmer, Sec. 20. Nuller, David, farmer, Sec. 8. Neiman, Fred, farmer, Sec. 35.
LEMAYER, JOSEPH, furn-
ture dealer and undertaker; born in Germany, October 3, 1828, and was raised there until 1854; in his youth he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker to learn the business; he came to the United States in 1854, and settled first in New York, where he remained one year then came to Iowa, City, and during the year 1855 came to Sigourney, where he has since re- sided; he has served as a member
of the town council, and is one of Sigourney's prominent business men; he married Miss Mary Rupf in 1855; she was born in Germany in 1827; they have three children : Joseph, Mary and Lucy. OLIVE, D. P., merchant, dealer in general merchandise, agricultural implements and lumber; was born in Perry county, Ohio, Jan- uary 19, 1821, and lived there un- til 1857; while living there he read law, and was admitted to the bar November 5, 1844; he came to this county December 15, 1857, and engaged in the practice of his profession, which he continued for many years, but owing to im- paired health he relinquished his profession and engaged in his present business; he has held various township offices; le mar- ried Miss Margaret Sellers March 30, 1845; she was a native of Per- ry county, Ohio, and died June 10, 1877 ; he married for his second wife Mrs. Belle Williams, October 12, 1878; she was born in New York; their family con- sists of three children: James, Louisa and Emma.
P AGE, T. B., farmer, Sec. 14.
PAGE, A. T .; born in Cavendish, Windsor county, Vermont, Sep- tember 15, 1806, and lived there until eighteen years of age, when his parents removed to Mansfield, Ohio, where he lived for twenty- eight years; his youth was divid- ed between teaching school dur- ing the winter months, and work- ing on a farm in summer; he was also engaged to some extent in mercantile pursuits previous to his removal to this county, in 1854; this business he resumed after coming to Sigourney; he held the office of justice of the peace many years, and very satis- factorily; he owns an undivided half of about eighty five acres of
630
DIRECTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
land in Sigourney township; he married Miss Cynthia J. Dana in May, 1829; she was born in Utica, New York; they have three chil- dren : Joseph, Thomas, and Cleora (now Mrs. Huffman).
Parker, I. B., farmer, Sec. 10.
Parker, Sam., house-mover.
Parker, J. T., carpenter. Parks, E. A., jeweler.
Pernell, M., farmer, Sec. 35.
Penell, J. S., farmer, Sec. 35.
PFAFF, M., furniture dealer and undertaker; born in North Caro- lina, in 1828, and removed with his parents to Indiana, in 1830; he was raised a farmer; having a desire to come to Iowa, and want- ing some one to come with him, he paid the expenses of a compan- ion to accompany him, and when he arrived here, in 1851, he had but fifty cents left, and this he paid for the lodging and break- fast of the person coming with him; he has worked at his pres- ent business since that time; he owns a farm of fifty-one acres, beside valuable city property; he married Miss Amelia Strong, in 1853; she was born in Mich- igan; they have six children: Harriet (now Mrs. Clark), Carrie (now Mrs. Cheney), Frank, Ettie, Belle and Earl.
Pfaff, G. W., farmer, Sec. 16.
PFAFF, A. J., stock raiser, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Sigourney; born September 1, 1820, in North Caro- lina; when seven years of age his parents emigrated to Indiana and settled in Morgan county; he was raised a farmer and has followed it as an occupation to the present time; he came to Iowa at an early day and without means; when he arrived here he had only fifty cents in his pocket and owed fourteen dollars, but he had what was more valuable than gold-he combined industry, perseverance and econo- my together with a strong consti-
tution and fixed principles of hon- or and honesty; he went to work with a will, and has been eminent- ly successful; he owns 450 acres of land, and his homestead is one of the best improved farms in the county; he married Miss C. Jack- son in September, 1851; she was born in Ohio; they have three children: George, Harriet and Del- la; they lost an infant daughter. PFAFF, SAMUEL I., farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Sigourney; is the son of John D. and Lourana Pfaff, and was born in North Carolina in 1819; the family moved to Morgan county, Indiana, when the subject of this sketch was eight years of age; his early life was spent on a farm; he afterward learned the wagon-making trade, and after he came to Sigourney, in 1848, he worked at the busines 16 years; in 1865 he bought the farm he now occupies, containing 160 acres, well improved; he came here without means, and has ac- cumulated what he now enjoys by honest labor: he married Miss Caroline Jackson in 1851; she was a native of Ohio; they have four children: Willis B., William C., Charles D. and Samuel I .; lost one son : Jackson A.
Pilkington, R., farmer, Sec. 2. Pinkerton, C, billiard saloon. Plessner, O., blacksmith.
POPE, MAJ., A. J., deputy audi- tor; was born in Morgan county, Indiana, in 1837, and learned the trade of tinsmith in youth, and came to this county in 1856, and worked at his trade; heeding the call of the government for troops to preserve the honor of the coun- try and to suppress the rebellion of the South, he enlisted in the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, Octo- ber 21, 1861, and after passing through several grades of promo- tion, he was mustered out as ma. jor at the close of the war; he was
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SIGOURNEY.
at the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, seige of Vicksburg, Jackson, At- lanta and many of less importance than the last named places, he was prisoner July 22, 1864, and taken to Macon, and afterward to Charles- ton, and placed under fire of the federal guns; he participated in the grand review at Washington, and after his return to this county, he was appointed an assistant in the office of collector of internal revenue, and afterward, he was appointed collector, and held the office four years; he has also had four years experience in the audi- tor's office; he married Miss Han- nah Pinkerton, in 1861; she was born in New York; they have a family of five children: John, Jes- sie, Mary, Worth B., Eakes.
Prather, C. G., drayman. Prather, John, drayınan.
PRICE, A. C., M. D., physician and surgeon; among the medical prac- titioners of Keokuk county, no one is more deserving of a place in these memorials than the sub- ject of this sketch, who has been engaged in the practice of medi- cine in this county more years than any other in his profession; he was born in Urbanna, Ohio, in 1822, and is the son of Abraham and Martha Price; the former was a native of New Jer- sey; the latter was born at Fort Hamilton (now Cincinnati), and is one of three of the first white children born in this place; the family moved from Ohio, to San- gamon county, Illinois, and thence, to Morgan county, and in 1841, he came to Iowa, and located in Iowa City; he was raised a farmer, with very limited advantages, but after his removal to Iowa City, feeling desirous of acquiring an education, he availed himself of the facilities offered by the Acad- emy in the town, and at intervals teaching school; he turned his
attention to medicine, and read with Dr. S. M. Ballard, as precep- tor; he attended the St. Louis Medical College, and graduated from that institute in 1850; he came to this county at an early day, and soon built up a large and fairly remunerative practice; he established himself in the con- fidence of the public, and was always prompt in responding to the calls of duty, whether the pa- tient was able to pay for profes- sional services or not, and in no instance has ever refused to attend the suffering on this account; he responded to the call of President Lincoln for volunteers to assist in putting down the rebellion, and recruited Co. D, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned captain, but after serving for a time was compelled to resign in consequence of im- pared health; after his discharge, he returned to his home and re- sumed the practice of his profes- sion; in his medical relations he has built up his reputation by skill and energy, and much of his success may be attributed to his careful attention to the details of his profession; he is a well-read man, of independent thought, and has strong convictions of his re- sponsibility as a citizen, never wavering in the discharge of his duties; he has held the office of postmaster at Sigourney, and one of the State commissioners for the insane; he was married to Miss Amanda F. Stebbins, in the au- tumn of 1852; she was a native of Kentucky, and died April 14, 1877 ; he has two children : Imogene and Maud.
R ANDALL, MAXON., retired farmer; born in Steuben county, New York, September 10, 1810, and was raised there until sixteen years of age; he then went to Salem, Ohio, in 1826, to
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DIRECTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
learn the trade of millwright; he returned to New York and also lived for a time in Erie county, Penn .; in 1822 he removed to Il- linois and was one of the inspect- ors of election that organized Kendall county, in that State; he came to Iowa with a wagon and four yoke of oxen, bringing two plows with him; he reached Tal- leyrand May 5, 1843; he settled in Warren township, where he re- sided thirty-five years; he has held various offices of trust; he served as county commissioner for many years, and also drainage commissioner, beside filling all the township offices; he is one of the oldest settlers of the county, and has been closely identified with its material growth and pros- perity; he married Miss Drusilla Greenfield, in 1832; she was born in Montgomery county, New York; they have six children: Sarah (now Mrs. Hankins), Sabra (now Mrs. Payton), Nancy (now Mrs. Hildebrand), James P., Jolın and Thomas J .; two sons, Maxon W. and Charles, enlisted in the late war; the former died at Helena, and the latter in Mis- sissippi.
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