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 93
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and her sisters, Anna and Emily, both well known authors; the at- tachment was so great between Mrs. Newsome and these celebri- ties that at one time when she was ill with typhus fever, Char- lotte Bronte came from London, a distance of 100 miles to see her friend, and notwithstanding the physicians tried to dissuade her from entering the sick room, she, . with woman's love, scorning all danger, came and embraced her friend; this friendship was life- long, and during the inany year- of separation a loving corresponds ence was continued until the Brontes died, and their letters are preserved as precious souvenirs. Noffsinger, David, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. South English.
NOFFSINGER, S., farmer, Sec .. 23; P. O. South English; born in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, August 19, 1813; his pa- rents, Daniel and Lucy (Van Treicy) Noffsinger removed to Knox county, Ohio, where he lived until 1856, when he removed to this county, where he now resides; Mr. N. was raised a farmer, and had more than ordinary education- al advantages: at the age of 22 he studied medicine at Mt. Ver- non; not being to his taste he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1863, when he resumed his early occu- pation of farming, and has since followed it; in January, 1839, he was united in marriage to Miss Lydia McClain, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania; she died in 1852, leaving one daughter: Kate (now the wife of James Slate); he married again to Miss Dora Sprague in 1856, a na- tive of Worthington, Ohio; they have one son: Ernest.
NOFFSINGER, A., farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. South English; born in Washington county, Pa., Novem-
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ber 27, 1825, and raised in Knox county, Ohio; he came to this county in the spring of 1853 and located where he now resides; he redeemed 180 acres of land from its original wildness; in 1848 he mar- ried Miss Mary J. Trindle, who was born in Ohio; she died Feb- ruary 12, 1854, leaving a family of three children, two of who are now living: John and James; he was again married to Miss Helen Wood, in January, 1858, a native of Ohio; they have three children: Albert, Mary A. and Emma B .; has held the office of township trustee; he is a good farmer and generally respected by all who are acquainted with him.
Nyswaner, John, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. South English.
P AGE, B. A., farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. South English.
Parnell, Peter, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. South English.
PATERSON, JOHN, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. North English; born in Scotland, February 29, 1824; there he lived until 1854, when he em- igrated to the United States, lo- cating where he now resides; he owns eighty acres of land, well improved; when he commenced farming he had but very little means, but by industry, persever- ance and hard, honest toil, he has prospered, and now has a fine res- idence and barn; August 11, 1862, he enlisted in company I, Twenty- eighth Iowa Infantry, and served with his regiment until the expi- ration of his term; he was dis- charged August 1, 1864, and then returned home, and has since de- voted his time to farming; mar- ried June 15, 1849, to Miss N. Gilchrist, a native of Scotland.
Peck, Geo. H., farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. South English.
Phelps, Margaret, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. South English.
PLATT, W. D., druggist, South
English; born in Rochester, New York, December 17, 1850; in 1859, he, with his parents, re- moved to Davenport, Iowa, and two years later to Rock Island, Illinois; here he attended school until 1867, when, at the age of seventeen, he entered into the em- ploy of John Benston, Esq., an eminent druggist of that city; he remained in that capacity for four . years; he then came to Muscatine, Iowa, and for eight years continu- ed his study of drugs, and in 1879 he entered into business in South English, having had unusual ad- vantages in learning his business ; he is a safe and competent drug- gist; May 10, 1876, he married Miss Mary C., daughter of W. D. Ament, a prominent carriage- manufacturer of Muscatine; they have one daughter: Mary Amelia. REED, WILLIAM, farmer, stock-dealer and stock-raiser, Sec. 29; P. O. Webster; born in Marion county, Indiana, February 11, 1829; there he lived until six- teen years of age; in 1849 he came from Indiana to this county and entered land upon which he now resides; he has a farm of 510 acres of the choice land of the vicinity; September 14, 1852, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Jemima H. Monical, a native of Ohio; by this union they have two daugh- ters : Mary J. (now Mrs. Jas. Ran- dolph), and Manda F. (now Mrs. A. Bottenfield); lost one son who died in infancy; Mrs. Reed has one daughter by a previous mar- riage: Matilda J. (now Mrs. Jas. Irons, of this county); he has been justice of the peace for several years, and is a prominent member of the M. E. Church.
Reed, Charles, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Webster.
REED, JAMES, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Webster; born in Marion county, Indiana, June 2, 1835; he
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DIRECTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
was there raised; he came to this county in 1855 and entered land on Sec. 31; in June, 1861, he en- listed in company F, Fifth Iowa Infantry and served with that reg- iment until the close of the war; participated in the battles of Springfield, Corinth, Vicksburg, Iuka, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and several others; re- turned to this county in 1871 and went to Oregon, remaining for four years, and then returned; Mr. Reed is a man of sterling worth, of a kind and obliging nature and strong in his friend- ship.
REED,ALEXANDER, farmerand stock-raiser, Sec. 29: P. O. Web- ster; born in Marion county, Ohio, July 24, 1832; he was there raised on a farm; in 1851 he moved to to this county and entered the land on which he now resides; he owns 203 acres under good cul- tivation, with excellent improve- ments; the first two seasons after his arrival here he cultivated his corn with an ox; he had no friends to help him, and he broke his land without favor from any one; he is a man highly respected, honest in his dealing, and enjoys the good will and confidence of his fellow- citizens; has held various offices of trust in his township; in early times, when, on account of high water, it was impossible to go to mill, he was obliged to grind his corn three times a day for a period of eight weeks; July 2, 1855, he married Miss Malinda G. Long, a native of Illinois; they have seven children: Susan (wife of S. Bot- tenfield). Sarah E. (wife of B. F. Montz), Ida, W. L., Jennie, Isaac and Gertie; have lost two: Edgar and Mand.
Richardson, J. F., Webster.
RICHMOND, C., farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Webster; born in Loraine county, Ohio, February 12, 1820;
was raised there on a farm until twenty years of age, when he was. engaged as watchman of a steam- boat on the Alabama river; he was soon promoted to mate of the same steamer, and after remain- ing at that occupation for several years, he moved to Illinois and engaged in farming, which he has- since followed; in 1844 he remov- ed to LaGrange county, Indiana, living there until 1866, when he came to this county and located on the place where he now resides, which consists of 160 acres of choice land, situated within half a. mile of Webster; Mr. R. com- menced life without any pecuniary aid, and has accumulated his- handsome property by industry and economy; February 27, 1841, he married Miss Elizabeth Marsh, of New Brunswick, but principal- ly raised in Illinois; have six children: Benjamin F., Charlotte A. (wife of B. Holmes), Elvira R. (wife of D. C. Hoyt), Arthur M., Alice B. (wife of J. Herrick) and George H .; lost two: Charles A., died October 12, 1869, and an in- fant daughter.
Robinson W. A., farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. South English.
ROGERS, EDWARD M., physi- cian and surgeon, Webster; born in Philadelphia, May 9, 1853; when five years old his parents moved to Iowa City, where he was principally raised, attending the common schools of that place; in 1872 he graduated from McLean's Academy, of that city; then studied medicine with his father, E. M. Rogers, who was a graduate of "Her Imperial Institute of Physicians and Surgeons, of Lon- don," and who has been deservedly considered one of the most emi- nent surgeons and physicians of this country; young Rogers was a student until the fall of 1876, when he then attended a course of
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lectures in Iowa City, and gradu- ated from Jefferson College, at Philadelphia, in March, 1878; on his arrival home he had a capital of thirty-five cents with which to commence business; he located in Johnson county in the same year, and there practiced his profession for one year, and in March, 1879, came to his present location; in 1874, Dr. Rogers lost seven thou- sand dollars, having gone security for a friend, who, through misfor- tune, lost his own and the Doc- tor's money besides; he was mar- ried November 4, 1876, to Miss E. W. Chissman, a native of Fay- ette county, Iowa; she is a lady of rare personal appearance and one who makes the Doctor's home an agreeable place for friends; they have one son living; have lost one son: Edmond C., who died Octo- ber 27, 1879.
ROOT, JOSEPH H., farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. South English; born in Cayuga county, New York, Janu- ary 25, 1824, where he was raised as a farmer; in 1855 he removed to Wisconsin. and came to this township in the same year, making the trip with an ox team; he owns 250 acres of choice land and his dwelling is surrounded with beau- tiful evergreens; has a fine bear- ing orchard also; in personal ap- pearance Mr. Root is a true repre- sentative of the better class of the pioneers; unassuming, social and hospitable, he is held in high es- teem by all who know him; he has held various offices of trust in the township, and credit is due him for the manner in which he has performed the duties pertaining to them; on May 17, 1855, he was united in marriage to Miss Laura A. Hoyt, also a native of Cayuga county; she is a lady of refine- ment; they have two children liv- ing: Elmer L. and Gracie N .; have lost three: E. F., died Feb-
ruary 18, 1872, Geo. H. died July 5, 1870, and Jennie May died February 22, 1866; Mr. Root traces seven generations of his an- cestors to England, over a period of 200 years back; Mrs. (Hoyt), Root is in the possession of a geo- ological history of her family; the book is in royal octavo form, con- sists of 686 pages and gives a. complete history of the Hoyt fam- ily; in it we find that Simon Hoyt was the first who came from England, and this was some time before the year 1629; the mother of both John and General Sher- man was of this family of Hoyt's ;. Mr. Root has taken two children to raise: Mary Lafferty and John Cox; they surely have a good home.
SEAMAN, S. H., farmer, Sec .. 29; P. O. Webster.
SEAMAN, M. H., farmer, stock- raiser and dealer, Sec. 29, P. O. Webster; born in Marion county,. Ohio, February 20, 1846; there. he was raised and attended the common schools for a short time in his early youth; his father died when he was six years of age and an older brother when he was- twelve, so that Mr. S. was left the sole support of his widowed mother, and he has proved him- self to be a kind and dutiful son; he was determined to acquire a more thorough education and worked hard in his youth to save the means necessary to accom- plish this desire; at the age of twenty-three he entered the Ohio Central College, which he attend- ed for one year, but was obliged to forego further study in that in- stitution as his services were need- ed at home; he returned and took charge of the farm and taught school during during the winters; he came with his mother to this. county in 1871 and located where he now resides; owns 120 acres in
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DIRECTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
home farm and 160 acres in the adjoining township.
Seerley, Thos., farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. South English.
SHEPARD, W. M., of the firm of Shepard & Co., hardware mer- chants, Southi English; born in Iowa City, Iowa, December 31, 1857, where he was raised, and was educat- ed at the university of that place; in 1875 he became the commercial agent of Remington & Sons, which position he held until 1878, when he entered into the hardware busi- ness at South English; this firm is in a prosperous condition and is doing an extensive business; Oc- tober 9, 1879, he was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie L. Miller, of South English; Mr. Shepard is of English descent, his grand- father having emigrated to this country about the year 1779.
Shipman, Thos., Sr., farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. South English.
SHINABARGER, GEORGE, far- mer, Sec. 26; P. O. South Eng- lish; born in Steuben county, New York, October 26, 1826, and was there raised; his father could not afford to send him to school, so he was obliged to work to help support the family; at the age of 21 years he left home with one suit of clothes and spent the most of the time teaming until 1852, when he went into the lime busi- ness; he followed that for a time, and then, after selling out, went into the dry goods and notions business; in 1862 he devoted his attention to farming and bought the farm of 105 acres of good land where he now resides; he has a fine residence; when he came to this county he had lost all his property, but he went to work and with indomitable energy and by the help of his noble wife they have been enabled to give their children a good education, and now have a comfortable home;
October 1, 1849, he married Miss Harriet Hill, of Rensellaer county, New York; they have three chil- dren: Ella (now Mrs. Wm. Pow- ell), Frank and Lida.
Sigafoose, Nancy, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. South English.
SLATE, MARTIN S., retired farm- er, Sec. 24; P. O. South English; born in Franklin county, Massa- chusetts, September 28, 1824; when but eleven years of age he, with his parents, went to Franklin county, Ohio, where he lived un- til 1850; he then came to this county and entered land on Sec. 27, which he still owns; has a fine farm of 115 acres; July 4, 1854, he was married to Miss Charlotte M. Dingee, a native of New York; by this union they had four children, one of whom now lives: A. C .; Mrs. Slate died Jan- uary 31, 1862; he married again to Miss Eliza C. Mitchell, a native of Marion county, Ohio; they have one daughter: Addie Belle; Mr. Slate was the first justice of the peace elected in the township, which was in 1852; he has been township trustee and has held oth- er offices of trust; is a man of strict integrity and is a prominent member of the M. E. Church, and has been for upwards of thirty years.
Slate, Joseph, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. South Englislı.
Sloan, Wm., South English.
Sloan, Harvey, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. South English.
SMAWLEY, JOHN, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. South English; born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1821; he was there raised and in 1845 removed to Cedar county, Iowa; he then re- turned to Pennsylvania, remain- ing there for two years, when he then went to Johnson county, Iowa; in 1869 he located on the place where he now resides, and
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owns 137 acres of choice land, which he has gained by hard, hon- est toil, energy and perseverance, as he commenced life without funds or favor; he had but limit- ed advantages for education, but he improved what he did have, and has now gained a knowledge of no mean order; he married Miss ; they have five children: Mary J. (wife of C. Troutman), William H., Amanda (now Mrs. H. McWilliams), Lu- cinda (now Mrs. Thos. Steele) and Samantha E .; lost two: John W., died March 12, 1861, and Louisa S., who died May 10, 1877.
SMITH, IRA F., farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. North English; born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1829; he moved with his father to Scott county, Iowa, then the Wisconsin Territory; here he was raised, having for his playmates the children of the ab- origines, and he has seen as much pioneer life in this then pioneer State as any man in the county and perhaps in the State; in 1858 he removed to this county, where he has since resided; owns eighty acres and controls sixty acres be- side; he had but very limited ed- ucational advantages, attending school but six months, but he has been an industrious student, and is now a well-read and thoroughly informed man; we say honor to the hardy men who have fought the battle of life without funds or favor; in September, 1847, he en- listed in company F, Fourteenth Regiment Illinois Infantry, and was discharged at New Orleans in July, 1848; he then returned to Iowa, where he has since devoted his time to farming; August 21, 1855, he married Miss Harriet E. Conrow, a native of Scott county, Iowa; they have a family of three children: Rodella E.
(wife of James Hall, of Nebras- ka), Jennie Viola and Loretta.
Spickerman, A. D., farmer, Sec. 30 ;. P. O. Webster.
Sprague, Eli, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. South English.
Sprague, Charles, farmer, Sec. 23 ;. P. O. South English.
STULL, J. D. druggist, South Eng- lish; born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1837; there he was raised upon a farm ;. he removed to this county in 1863; he owns a fine homestead, also a farm of 55 acres of choice- land, besides wild land in Mis- souri; Mr. Stutt has had fair edu- cational advantages, but made the- most of what he had; from 1856 to 1865 he was engaged in ship- ping stock; he then went into the the mercantile business, which he followed until 1877, when he en- gaged in the drug business, the firm name being Newsome & Stutt; he was married October 15, 1861, to Miss Ehnira Zollars, a native of Washington county,. Pennsylvania; she died in 1864; he was married again to Miss- Mary Ann Newsome December 25, 1867; they have two children :: Wm. H. and Wilfred. W. N.
Stull, Wm. L., farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. South English.
Stull, Abigal C., farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. South English.
T
"EETER, PARRIS H., farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. South. Eng- lish.
THOMAS, W. A., farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. North English; born in Hamilton county, Virginia, May 17, 1827, and made that State his home until 1850, when he came to Washington county, Iowa; in 1852 he located in this county, on the farm upon which he now re- sides, and which consist of 570 acres, all improved; he also de- votes considerable attention to
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DIRECTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
stock-raising and feeding; was married December 25, 1851, to Miss Jane A. Patterson, of Alle- ghany county, Maryland; they have six children living: Luvenia E., Margaret D., Hannah S., Mary A., Martha J., Annie S. and John W .; lost two: Charles M. and Carrie; he has held various township offices.
Thompson, Susan, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. White Pigeon.
Thompson, L. P., farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. South English.
AN TUYL, J. R., farmer, Sec.
32; P. O. Webster; born in Auburn, New York; is a son of William H. Van Tuyl, an emi- nent architect and builder of that city; he had more than ordinary educational advantages has; had a good academic education; he worked with his father for several years, but chose farming as his occupation, which he followed in that State until 1867, when he re- moved to this county and located where he now lives; he owns eighty acres of land, under good improvement; Mr. . Van Tuyl's ancestors emigrated to this coun- try from Germany at an early day; May 2, 1865, he married Miss La- vina Curtis; she was born in Auburn, New York; have one daughter: May, and one adopted son : Willis.
Vananken, A., farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. South English.
W AIT. W. H., farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. South English; born in Scioto County, Ohio, Jan- uary 3, 1835; brought up on a farm; he followed farming until December 7, 1861, when he en- listed in company K, Fifty-sixth regiment Ohio Infantry; served with that regiment, participating in all the engagements, which were as follows: Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, Siege of Jackson, Sabine Cross
Roads, Pleasant Hill, Snagg's Point, and several others; re-en- listed as a veteran in the spring of 1864, and served with the same regiment until his discharge at Columbus, Ohio, in May, 1866; then removed to this State and to the place where he now resides; this was in 1867; owns 160 acres of choice land under splendid cul- tivation; on the 16th of February, 1867, was married to Miss Abigal Adams, a native of the same coun- ty as himself; they have four chil- dren : Isabel, Pearly H., Lillian and Theodore; have lost two: Edith, died November 15, 1873, and an infant; he lost a fine house, with its contents, by fire in 1873; commenced life a poor boy, and by energy, industry, good judgment, and economy, has sur- rounded himself and family with an excellent home with all its comforts.
WERTZ, LEVI, farmer, carpenter and joiner, Sec. 7; P. O. White Pigeon; born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1827; was raised a farmer until eighteen years of age, when he was bound out for three years as an appren- tice to learn the cabinet and car- penter's trade; served his time and has followed it as an occupation nearly all the time since; in 1851 he moved to Wayne county, Ohio, and in 1856 came to Iowa county, this State; in 1862 he lo- cated in this county and bought a steam saw-mill, which he still owns and runs; owns a farm of seventy acres of choice land, well improved; November 27, 1849, married Miss Margaret J. Mc- Gregor, a native of Bedford coun- ty, Pennsylvania; she is of Scotch descent; they have three children: J.W., Alexander and Orra ; lost one daughter: Sarah E., who died in February, 1857.
WHEELER, A., farmer, Sec. 7; P.
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O. White Pigeon; born in Rich- land county, Ohio, March 31, 1825; when nine years of age he with his parents moved to Fulton county, Illinois, where they lived until they came to this county in 1855; entered the land on which he now resides, and owns ninety acres well improved and in a good state of cultivation; in youth his school privileges were limited, but he has made the best use of the opportunities afforded, and may well be termed a self-made man; has undergone the hardships inci- dent to pioneer life, and has expe- rienced its vicissitudes; at one time in company with one other person he started for the mill at Marengo, and had not proceeded far before the rain commenced falling in torrents; they were obliged to camp upon the track- less prairie; to make their situ- ation more uncomfortable tlie wind blew the canvass covering from their wagon, and they were exposed all night to the fury of the storm; but in the morning they soon found that hospitality for which the early settlers were characterized; May 12, 1851, mar- ried Miss Mary J. Marshall, a na- tive of Ohio; they have one daugh- ter: Josephine (wife of Jesse Fancher, of this county); a little girl, Mary J., finds a pleasant home in their family.
WHEELER, MARION M., farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 31; P. O. Webster; born in Marion county, Ohio, February 24, 1847; lived there until 1865, when he came to this county; remained until 1868, when he returned to Ohio for the purpose of disposing of some prop- erty there, in order that he might become a Western farmer; in 1871 he again came to this county, and then took a trip to Kansas, but the location not being desirable he returned to this county; owns 240
acres of good land, with fine im- provements, upon which he has a fine orchard; his farm was the first one entered on that section, and is one of the best in the coun- ty; September 7, 1874, married to Mrs. Mina J. (Yoakens) Reed, a native of Marion county, Ohio; have two children: Homer C. and Minnie Blanche; Mrs. W. has one child by a former marriage: Ada A .; she lost one: Jessie A., who died February 16, 1877.
White, Mrs. E. C., farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. South English.
WHITE, F. E., farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 17; P. O. South Eng- lish; born in Prussia, and was there raised; had a very limited education, and was raised under the most unfavorable circumstan- ces, as his father died when he was quite young, leaving a family of five small children to the care of his mother, who had to live with the most rigid economy, to save enough to keep the family from actual starvation; in 1857 emigrated to America and located in this county, where he has since resided; owns 420 acres of choice land, situated on the banks of the English river, and well adapted to stock raising, as it is supplied with water; March, 1862, he en- listed in company I, Thirteenth Iowa Infantry; served with that regiment until the close of the war, and was discharged August, 1865; participated in all the bat- tles of the Corinth campaign- Vicksburg, Atlanta and Sher- man's March to the Sea; was never sick, and never missed a meal of victuals when he could eat; Oc- tober, 1866, married Miss Lydia Betts, of Ohio; they have a fam- ily of three children: Ira, Ida and Virgil.
WHITE, JOHN F., merchant, South English; among the many worthy and enterprising citizens
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DIRECTORY OF KEOKUK COUNTY.
who have made their home in this township no one is worthy of a more extended notice than the subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in another part of this volume; he was born in Boone county, Indiana, June 3, 1835, his father being of English ancestry and his mother of Welsh origin; the former died when he was nine years of age, and the latter when he was fourteen; he received a very limited education in the district schools of his na- tive county, supplemented by an attendance at Lebanon, Indiana, Seminary for a short time; at the age of fourteen he commenced teaching and followed it as an oc- cupation for five years; when he was nineteen years of age he im- proved a farm in Holt county, Missouri, breaking the land him- self with a heavy yoke of oxen; in 1857 he decided to change his location and so came to Keokuk county, settling, in English River township and engaged in farming; there he owns a farm of 365 acres of land; the follow- year he bought out Hogin, Adams & Co., dealers in general merchan- dise, and since that time has car- ried on business successfully, and his record in this, as in other en- terprises, is an enviable one, for during twenty-one years that he has been in business he has never had a suit in court or asked an exten- sion of time on his commercial paper; in connection with his mer- cantile pursuits he has been en- gaged largely and successfully in stock-feeding and stock-dealing; he is a director in the Iowa City
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