USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, from its Earliest Settlementto 1908 > Part 43
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Before leaving Pennsylvania, Mr. Taylor was married October 12, 1865, to Miss Mary Lebo, who is also a native of that state, and they became the parents of seven children, of whom one died in infaney. Those living are: William G .. a farmer of Virginia township; Rebecea, the wife of James Gar- rison, a farmer of Squaw township; Ada, the wife of Lloyd Reed, of Jack- son township; Ira A., a farmer of Squaw township; Nora, the wife of Fred Reddish, a farmer of Nebraska; and Dell, the wife of Walter Mitehell, a busi- ness man of New Virginia.
For many years Mr. Taylor affiliated with the republican party but is now independent in politics. He is a strong temperance man and does all in his power to promote the cause of temperance in his locality. IIe has served as school director and justice of the peace but has never eared for political honors, though as a publie-spirited and enterprising eitizen he gives his support to any measures which he believes will advance the general wel- fare. He now holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church at New Virginia and he assisted in building the church at Medford, where he served as trustee and treasurer. He is a man honored and respected wherever known and has a host of friends throughout Warren county.
GARDNER W. BRIGGS.
Gardner W. Briggs, who owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and sixty aeres in Linn township. was born in New York on the 15th of March. 1831, and is a son of Ezekiel Briggs, a native of Rhode Island. His paternal grandfather. Ephraim Briggs, was born in the same state and was descended from an old English family, which was early established in the new world. He aided the colonies in their struggle for independence as a soldier of the Revo- lutionary war and lived to the age of eighty-five years. His wife, who bore
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the maiden name of Naney Burlingame, died at the advanced age of ninety- four.
Ezekiel Briggs made farming his life occupation and being thoroughly opposed to slavery he affiliated with the abolition party. In early manhood he married Miss Abby Young, a native of Rhode Island, born in the town which was also his birthplace. Her father was Christopher Young, a native of the same state and a farmer by ocenpation. Some of his sons were soldiers of the Revolutionary war. Ezekiel Briggs died in 1862, at the age of seventy- five years, and his wife passed away in 1868, at the age of seventy-one. Their children who are still living are Gardner W., of this review; Sylvester F .; and Adeline Rosier.
Gardner W. Briggs is indebted to the country schools for the educational advantages he enjoyed during his youth and he remained at home until twenty-eight years of age, aiding his father in the work of the farm. In 1859 he went to Minnesota and for seven years was engaged in farming near Cascade in Olmstead county, but at the end of that time returned to New York and purchased the old homestead, where he continued to reside for a year and a half. Selling that place in 1868, he came to Warren county, Iowa, and located on his present farm of one hundred and sixty aeres in Linn town- ship. which he has since placed under a high state of enltivation and improved with good and substantial buildings, which stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. He has been very successful in the management of his farm- ing interests and has seenred a comfortable competenee.
On June 13, 1854, Mr. Briggs was married in New York to Miss Elizabeth Hungerford, who was born in that state on the 15th of October, 1834, a daugh- ter of John Hungerford. Four children bless this union, all of whom are still living, namely: Elmer E., now a resident of Colfax. lowa; Hubert S., of Los Angeles, California; Clare E., who married Boyd Buffington and resides in Fort Worth, Texas; and Mrs. Mary E. Aborn. of Omega, Oklahoma.
Having prospered in business Mr. Briggs is now able to live somewhat retired and for the past six years he and his wife have spent their winters in California. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he gives liberally of his means to the support of that and other denominations. He is identified with the republican party and as a wide-awake, progressive American citizen he never withholds his aid from any enterprise which he believes will prove of public benefit.
JOHN A. NOTESTINE.
No one is more deserving of representation in the history of a country than he who has defended its interests on the field of battle; no one is more deserving of mention in the record of a community than one who has been identified with its prosperity, growth and development through many years. To this class of men John A. Notestine belongs, for he was a soldier of the
C. A. Sotestive.
John M. Sotestive.
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Union army during the darkest hour in the history of the nation and in Warren county has borne a most helpful part in the work of general progress and im- provement. For many years he was identified with agricultural pursuits and also figured prominently in financial eireles as a representative of the banking interests of Milo, but is now living retired in well earned ease.
His birth occurred in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1833, his parents being John and Mary ( Wimer) Notestine. He had one brother, Samuel, who is now deceased, and a sister, Jane, the deceased wife of David Barber, a resident of Peoria county, Illinois. John Allen Notestine, however, was the youngest of the family. His father was a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania, where he made his home until his marriage, when he removed to Juniata county, the same state, where he died at the age of sixty-five years, at which time his remains were interred in the cemetery at the county seat of Juniata county. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and his support of the party was ever most stalwart. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church and his life, upright and honorable in all its connections, was therefore in harmony with its professions. His wife belonged to the German Lutheran church and passed away at the age of thirty-four years.
The Notestine family was founded in America by the great-grandfather of our subject, who became a resident of Pennsylvania, where John Notestine. the grandfather, was born, reared and made his home. The maternal grand- father was also a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania, and served his country as a soldier of the war of 1812, under General Scott. He had two brothers who were in the service, one of whom lost his life in the battle of Lundy's Lane. Many representatives of the ancestry of our subject were connected with the military interests and different wars of the country. His great-uncle, John F. Rice, was a brave and valiant soldier of the war of 1812. He was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in 1790, was the son of Peter Rice and a grand- son of Zachariah Rice, who lived in Chester Springs, Chester county. Pennsyl- vania, during the period of the Revolutionary war. He married Elizabeth Hartman and they had a family of twenty-one children. From an old ledger
which contains accounts and memoranda kept by Zachariah Rice from 1776 to 1780. it is learned that General Washington stopped with this family for many weeks and that their farm was used as a hospital for the sick and wounded
soldiers who were fighting for liberty. Zachariah Rice owned a mill and store
and became quite wealthy. In 1795 they removed from Chester county to central Pennsylvania, while different members of the family settled in Cumber- land, Perry and Juniata counties. The family has always been noted for longevity and also for the member of their progeny and their descendants are today found in every state in the Union.
John F. Rice, the great-unele of Mr. Notestine was born in Chester county. Pennsylvania, August 22, 1789. In 1813 he was a resident of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, and volunteered for nine-months' service in the war of 1812, under command of Captain Rogers and Colonel William Greene. The regi- ment rendezvoused at Bellefonte, now Center county, Pennsylvania, and took up the line of march early in April, 1813, arriving on the 22d of the month at
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Erie, Pennsylvania, where they remained in camp until Perry's fleet was ready to sail. The fleet consisted of only two brigs, the Lawrence and the Niagara. and a number of gunboats. Mr. Rice had volunteered in the land force, but Commodore Perry came into camp and in a speech offered twenty-five dollars in hand for volunteers on board the vessels for only one ernise. Mr. Rice was the only man in Captain Rogers' company who volunteered. Speaking of his experience, he said :
"I went on board the schooner Scorpion. under command of Captain Christian Champlin, of Carlisle. Pennsylvania. remained on that ernise three days and returned liking the service on the vessels better than on the land. I induced others to accompany me and when Commodore Perry came again for volunteers, ten others offered to go. I was in the battle of Lake Erie on board the Scorpion. Commodore Perry was on the Lawrence and when it was ent to pieces and all were killed but twelve men. I saw the Commodore leaving in a rowboat and going to the Niagara, being rowed by two comrades. Jacob Tool and Alexander Metlan. I heard the discharge of the cannon but did not see the ball strike his boat, but I saw him jerk off his coat. stuff it into the hole the ball made and then fly to the oars himself and go in safety to the Niagara. On reaching the Niagara, he inquired of Captain Elliott, its commander, why the boat was not brought into action and Elliott answered that the wind was against him. A Captain Brown then approached and said, 'Commodore, take . my advice-take command of this vessel yourself and try and break through the lines, open fire from both sides of them and then bring np or draw up your gunboats into action and you will gain the victory.' Perry did exactly as Captain Brown advised. I heard all this, for I was on the Scorpion and we had been ordered to escort him around to the Niagara for fear his boat would be sunk and he be drowned. The Niagara now sailed directly through the British lines and when almost between the Queen Charlotte and another vessel. the Niagara opened fire from both sides with fifteen guns each, doing terrible damage to both vessels. The noise was something terrific. We had several cannon each on the gunboat and when we opened fire on the British. the fleet was soon compelled to hoist the white flag. James Sims was the first man to board the Queen Charlotte and he got five hundred dollars reward, which had been offered by Perry to the first man aboard the British fleet. - was under Colonel Johnson, who killed Tecumseh. I saw him do that, for I was not far away. Colonel Johnson's horse had just been shot and the Colonel himself had been wounded when I saw Teenmsch rush up to him with a pistol drawn to shoot, but Colonel Johnson pulled ont his own pistol from his left side, arose in his stirrups and shot Teenmsch dead." John F. Rice was the last survivor of Perry's fleet. He died at Shelby. Ohio, aged ninety years. five months and sixteen days.
Such is the account which the uncle of Mr. Notestine gives of two of the most important events of the war of 1812. All this shows that Mr. Notestine comes from a military race and his own record has been in harmony with the history of the family. He was reared in Turbett township. Juniata county. Pennsylvania, and sat on a rnde bench in the little log schoolhouse, where he
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studied the lessons which qualified him for life's practical duties. He attended only through the winter months. for his work was needed elsewhere in the summer and he was employed as a farm hand until after the outbreak of the Civil war. On the 13th of December, 1861, he enlisted at Tivoli, Ilinois, as a member of Company C, Fifty-seventh Hlinois Infantry, under Captain William S. Swan; and Colonel S. D. Baldwin, the regiment being attached to the Third Brigade, Second Division, of the left wing of the Sixteenth Army Corps of the Army of Tennessee. The principal engagements in which he participated were at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and the Adamsville campaign, the battle of Shiloh, the advance on Corinth, ocenpying twenty-one days, the second battle of Corinth, the Lexington campaign to the relief of Colonel Ingersoll and the raid into Mississippi, when they met Forest and Chalmers and in a forced march covered one hundred and thirty-two miles in four days. Mr. Notestine was also in the battles of Barton Station, Big Bear Creek and Town Creek. At the last named he was wounded in the right leg but did not go to the hospital. He was also in the Atlanta campaign and from Atlanta was sent to Nashville, while at Springfield, Illinois, on the 27th of JJanuary, 1865, he was mustered out.
At the age of twenty years. Mr. Notestine had left home to begin his business career and had arrived in Peoria county, Illinois, with a twenty dollar gold pieee as his cash capital. For a short time he worked on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at one dollar per day, after which he began the cultivation of eighty acres of rented land. He followed farming in Peoria county until his enlistment for the war, and following his return from the army in 1865 he removed to Warren county, Iowa, establishing his home on section 23, Otter township. Here he purchased eighty-five acres of land. As the years passed, he gradually acquired more and more land, until he became the owner of extensive holdings and he has also bought and sold large farm property in different states. He was at one time the owner of the site at Milo and deeded the land to S. H. Mallory. He has recently divided among his children over thirteen hundred acres of land and he also retains a valuable farm property from which he derives an excellent income. He was one of the founders of the Citizens Bank of Milo, which was organized March 27, 1893, and of which he remained president for fourteen years. He proved as capable in financial circles as he had been in agricultural life but is now living retired and well merits the rest that has come to him, because he has been most energetic in all of his undertakings, managing his interests with excellent business ability and keen diserimination.
Mr. Notestine was married on the 1st of June, 1854, to Miss Catherine A. Barber, a daughter of John and Prudenee (Kenyon) Barber, who were natives of New York. Her maternal grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and under command of Ethan Allen participated in the battle of Stony Point, and was also in the battle of Bennington. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Notestine have been born five children : John, who for some twenty-three years has been an engineer on the Texas Pacific Railroad ; William J .. who died at the age of eighteen months; Prudence, the deceased wife of Leander Westerfield; Mary. the wife of Frank Runyan, a lumber dealer of Milo; and Catherine A., the
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wife of Charles F. Scott, who is a farmer and lives on the old homestead in Otter township.
Mr. Notestine was for years a member of Milo Post. No. 275, G. A. R., and thus maintained pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He also belongs to Milan Lodge, No. 409. A. F. & A. M. : Orient Chapter, No. 95, R. A. M .; and Lilly Lodge. No. 160. K. P .. which he joined on its organization. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and in matters of citizen- ship he is always progressive, withholding his support from no movement or measure which he deems will prove of public benefit. He is. indeed, a most prominent citizen of the county, and his success should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, showing what may be accomplished by one who is forced to start in life without capital. but who is willing to work to gain the success which he desires.
REV. F. M. ROBERTS.
While Rev. F. M. Roberts is well known as a prosperous farmer with ex- tensive agricultural interests, he is equally well known by reason of the active part which he has taken in promoting those interests that tend to uplift man- kind. to raise the standard of living and to promote a progressive citizenship. He is living near Ackworth where he has two hundred and forty acres of rich land that yields to him a steady return in reward for his care and labor. His home place is situated on sections 24 and 25. Lincoln township and yields to him a valuable annual tribute. He was born in Lucas county, Iowa, May 27. 1860.
His father. Wiley Roberts, was a native of Tennessee and a son of John Roberts, who removed with his family to Illinois where he resided for a few years and then came west to Iowa. He settled in Warren county where he purchased land and began the development of a farm which constituted the site of the old town of Hammonds. an active trading point and business center for a mmber of years. John Roberts afterward sold that farm and removed to Lucas county. where he became the owner of a tract which he developed into a productive property and which remained his residence until he was called to his final rest, while Wiley Roberts removed with his parents, settling in Imeas county, where he met all of the experiences and hardships of pioneer life. He was afterward married in that county to Miss Mary Holtam, a native of Indiana. He followed farming in Lueas county for many years and there reared his family. but afterward returned to Warren county. where he continued to make his home until his life's labors were ended in death. At the time of the Civil war he esponsed the Union cause and with an Iowa regiment did duty at the front. participating in many hotly contested engage- ments.
F. M. Roberts, whose name introduces this review, remained in Encas county to the age of fifteen years and then went west to Nebraska, spending
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four years in Hamilton county, that state, where he was employed at farm labor. In 1879 he returned to Lucas county and worked on a farm for several years. It was thus that he gained his start in the business world. But while he did faithfully and well every duty that devolved upon him while he was employed as a farm hand, he was ambitions enough to wish to own land for himself and resolved that some future day would see him the owner of a good property.
On the 25th of February, 1885, Mr. Roberts was united in marriage to Mrs. Eunice Ballard, who was a widow and a daughter of William Myrick, who cast in his lot with the citizens of Warren county in its pioneer days, coming to this state from Indiana. Mrs. Roberts was born and reared in Warren county and first gave her hand in marriage to Frank Sandy, by whom she had two children, one of whom is living, Elmer Sandy. Following the death of her first husband she became the wife of Mr. Ballard. She is a sister of Mrs. Frank Miller, whose husband is a prosperous farmer of Rich- land township. After his marriage Mr. Roberts settled on the Sandy farm, which he continued to cultivate and improve for a few years, carefully saving his earnings in the meantime. Hle then removed to Indianola and purchased fifty-two acres of land, adjoining the corporation limits. Upon this he erected a substantial residence, fenced the place, set out an orchard and converted the property into a neat and valuable farm, which he cultivated for two years.
On the expiration of that period he sold out and purchased a store in Ackworth, where he carried on general mercantile pursuits for four years. He was also connected with Hugh Williams in the grain business for a year and at length traded his store for a farm which he rented out. After dis- posing of his store he took up church work. He had charge of the churches at Ackworth, Walker and Lockridge, serving the three congregations, and for three or four years his labors were devoted entirely to the work of the church. In 1900, however, he purchased the farm whereon he now resides and took up his abode and has since erected a good residence, also a large barn and outbuildings that furnish ample room for stoek, grain and farm machinery. There is upon the place a good orchard of his own planting, containing a select variety of apples, peaches, pears and cherries. There is also much small fruit upon the place and in season he has everything that is to be produced in the way of small and larger fruits. With his farm Mr. Roberts makes a business of raising, feeding and fattening stock for the market. He thus handles from eight to ten carloads of cattle and hogs an- nually and his business in its various branches is meeting with the most gratifying sueeess. His judgment is sound and he is seldom if ever at fault in valuing a situation or the possibilities for success that may arise therc- from. He has improved two good farms and is justly counted one of the active and progressive men of the community.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have three children: Sadie, the wife of William Heswik. a farmer of Marion county; Alva, a student in Simpson College; and Ray. Mrs. Roberts lost a son by her first marriage-James Sandy. He reached adult age, was married and followed farming in Warren county, but
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died at the age of twenty-five years, leaving a wife and one child. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts also lost a son, Charles Roberts, who died in his third year. The parents are both active in church and Sabbath school work and Mr. Roberts has been serving as superintendent of the Sunday school for years, while his wife is a capable teacher therein. His polities are in harmony with the prin- ciples of the prohibition party. He was formerly a stanch republican and for a long period supported that party, but his opinions upon the temperance question led him to vote as he does at the present time. The cause of eduea- tion has ever found in him a stalwart friend and for years he has been officially identified with the schools, acting as president of the school board at dif- ferent times. He was elected to serve for one term as township assessor, has served as a delegate to numerous county conventions and has been as a delegate to numerous conferences of the Free Methodist Episcopal church. His fellow townsmen have thus reposed confidence in him and at all times he has proven himself worthy of their trust. He is a man of strong individual- ity, whose opinion has ever been founded on right, justice and truth and whose labors have been for the benefit of his fellowmen as well as for himself and who in matters of citizenship has desired and worked for that which will produce a progressive and honorable commonwealth.
HENRY J. SWITZER.
Henry J. Switzer, a capitalist, banker, farmer and stock-raiser, living in Indianola, is a native son of Warren county, his birth having oeeurred in Palmyra township, July 12, 1856. He was reared upon the farm which he now owns and since 1904 he has been a resident of Indianola, having a beautiful and attractive residence on Ashland Avenue.
His father, Samuel Switzer, was a native of Ross county, Ohio, where he was reared and married, there following the occupation of farming. He wedded Mary Fetters, also a native of Ohio, and they established their home upon a farm in that state where they lived until 1852, when they east in their lot with the early settlers of Warren county, Iowa. This was then on the border of civilization and presented all of the appearances of frontier life. They made the journey across the country with an ox-team and the ox yoke which was then used is still in possession of the family. On reaching their destination, Samuel Switzer purchased one hundred and sixty aeres of land in Palmyra township, and there exists today the original buckskin which was signed by President Pierce conveying the property to Mr. Perry, who entered the land in 1848. When this came into possession of Mr. Switzer he at once began to improve and develop the fields and in the course of years had trans- formed the traet into an excellent farm. To this he added until his holdings embraced two hundred and forty acres. He was one of the representative agriculturists of the community, a man who in his business relations was fair and honorable, while in his citizenship he was never found negleetful of any
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duty that devolved upon him. Unto him and his wife were born seven children all of whom reached years of maturity, while Henry Switzer, the eldest, operated the home farm, while the father spent his last years there, passing away in 1876 at the age of fifty-one years. His wife long survived him and died in 1903 at the age of sixty-nine years.
Henry J. Switzer purchased the interest of the other heirs of the old home property, following his father's death. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Alice Spurgeon, whom he wedded at Sandyville on the 13th of April, 1876. She was a native of Union township, Warren county, and a daughter of J. M. Spurgeon, who in pioneer days settled at Sandyville and bore his part in the work of general improvement and develop- ment there.
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