USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, from its Earliest Settlementto 1908 > Part 47
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T. M. MeClure was a young man of sixteen years when the family eamc to Iowa and he aided his father in the improvement and eultivation of the home farm until his marriage. It was on the 22d of March. 1855, that he wedded Miss Mary J. Latimer, who was reared here but was born in Ken- tueky, of which state her father, J. D. Latimer, was also a native. Six ehil- dren were born of this union, namely: John T., now a resident of Roswell,
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New Mexico, where he is engaged in the practice of law; Dora, the wife of 1. H. Wilder, a lawyer of Norton, Kansas; Frank. assistant cashier in the First National Bank of Indianola ; Ethelyn Dell. at home; Mary C .. who died in Jime. 1879, at the age of twenty-one years, and Amos, who died in 1862. at the age of two years.
After his marriage. Mr. MeClure located on a farm in White Oak town- ship, where he purchased eighty acres of land, and as he prospered in his farming operations he added to his property from time to time until he had two hundred and forty aeres, which he continued to cultivate for twenty-four years. In 1879 he rented his farm and removed to Indianola, buying ten acres of land within the city limits, only four blocks from the square. For about ten years he was engaged in the grocery business, but now gives his attention principally to looking after his property interests. In business affairs he has always been found just and reliable and the success that he has achieved in life is due to his own industry and enterprise.
At state and national elections Mr. MeClure affiliates with the democracy. but at local elections he votes independent of party ties, supporting the men whom he believes best qualified for office. He has served as township clerk. trustee and assessor, and has always been found true to any trust reposed in him whether publie or private. He is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows lodge of Indianola, in which he has passed through all the chairs and has served as past grand, and both he and his wife were connected with the Rebekahs. They hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and are people of prominence in the community where they reside. During the long years of his residence in this state Mr. MeClure has watched with interest its wonderful development and progress and has ever borne his part in the up- building of Warren county. He well remembers when Indianola was a very small village, has seen the railroad built and the telegraph and telephone introduced, and is thoroughly familiar with pioneer conditions.
MRS. SARISSA E. GILBERT.
Mrs. Sarissa E. Gilbert is a well-known resident of Milo, and we take pleasure in presenting her life record to the readers of this volume, knowing that it will be read with interest by her many friends. She was born in Huron county, Ohio, July 13, 1843, a danghter of Lyle and Anna (Hayes) Kerr, who were natives of Washington county. Pennsylvania and in abont 1840 removed to Ohio, where they remained until 1860. They then came to lowa. settling a half mile from Palmyra, in Warren county, where they spent their remaining days. The mother died June 12. 1861. Her birth occurred Jamary 27. 1808, so that she was fifty-three years of age at the time of her death. The father was born September 1. 1808. and died on the 23d of April. 1876.
In tracing the ancestry of Mrs. Gilbert we find the dual strains of a Scotch and Trish lines. When united these have prodneed a distinctive type which
Larissa & Gilbert
Pyman A Creighton
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has played an important part in the history of the American Republic, for with the alert mentality and versatility of the Irish has been combined the sturdy integrity and indomitable perserverance of the Scotch. America owes much to her Scotch-Irish citizenship, and has honored and been honored by noble men and women of that class. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Gilbert was Thomas Hayes, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, as was his wife who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Grimes. Ile was a soldier of the Revo- Intionary war, and probably of the war of 1812. The paternal grandfather was William Lyle. The ancestry of the Lyle family has been preserved in direct line from John Lyle, the Scotchman, through Robert Lyle, the Scotch-Irish- American, who lived from 1681 until 1765.
About 1681, in the reign of Charles II, a young Scotchman, John Lyle, left Scotland on account of the persecution of the Presbyterians, and settled on a farm in County Antrin, Ireland, where he married and reared a family, includ- ing Robert Lyle, who was born in 1698. According to the family traditions he not only clung to his religion, but to his death retained his Scotch dress. On one occasion when going to pay his rent to the lord of the manor he was required to remove his Scotch cap, stand uncovered and wait his turn for admission. This exposure to the weather brought on a severe illness. His son Robert, who had accompanied him, was so indignant over the treatment of his father that he declared he would not remain in a country where citizens were subjected to such indignities. He came to America, accompanied by his young brother, John Lyle, who sailed from Belfast in the latter part of the year 1741 and landed in New York in the spring of 1742. With little capital they purchased a small tract of land in New Jersey, near New Brunswick, where John Lyle spent his remaining days.
In 1747 Robert Lyle wedded Mary Gilleland and removed to Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a farm. He was prosperous and was highly respected, being for some years a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church, in which he and his wife held membership, his name appearing on the roll of the first grand jury summoned from Northampton county, October 3, 1752, and he was also a justice of the peace. He died December 9, 1765, in his sixty-seventh year. It was from this family that Mrs. Gilbert is descended.
Three of her brothers answered to the call of the country in the dark days of the Civil war, two being members of the same company. William enlisted in the First Iowa Cavalry and after about two and a half years of service became ill, and died at the age of thirty-four. Levi enlisted in Company G, Fifteenth Iowa Regiment, and served throughout the war. He was a perfect specimen of health and strength when he entered the army but the hardship, privation and exposure of military life greatly undermined his health and he was never again the same vigorous man. However, he lived to the age of seventy years and died in Warren county, May 15, 1905. Thomas enlisted in Company G. Fifteenth Iowa, and after a year and a half of service died from illness contracted in the army at the age of twenty-six years. Mrs. Gilbert has a surviving brother and sister. Her brother, Orville Kerr, resides with her. When young he received an injury that has left him totally blind, but
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with that peculiar instinet of the blind he is capable of going about town alone and can recognize all of his friends by their voices. The sister, Elizabeth, is the widow of John Harbitt, of Findlay, Ohio, who died July 19. 1906.
Sarissa E. Kerr, spent her girlhood days under the parental roof and on the 6th of March, 1872, became the wife of Lyman P. Creighton, a son of John and Anna Creighton. Ilis mother was born in midocean while the parents
were coming to America from Ireland. Mr. Creighton was a prosperous and successful farmer and owned one of the best tracts of land in Warren county, about a quarter of a mile from Hartford. It contained one hundred and fifty- six aeres, all under a high state of cultivation. and is still the property of Mrs. Gilbert. On the 8th of June, 1889, Mr. Creighton passed away at the age of fifty-eight years, and Mrs. Gilbert then assumed the management of the farm. On the 23d day of May, 1894. she became the wife of James Gilbert, a highly respected and prosperous citizen of Warren county. In November, 1895, they established their home in Milo, where Mr. Gilbert died September 25, 1907, at the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Gilbert still resides at the old home, which is one of the most desirable and attractive residences of Milo, surrounded by beautiful and well kept grounds. She is a member of the Presbyterian church. and is deseended from a long line of aneestry who had been loyal to this faith. She has been an earnest and active worker in the church and its teachings have been the rule of her life, while the Christlike spirit is manifested in her daily conduct. From her youth she has labored earnestly in the church, but more than that, she has put into practice its teachings in her association with friends and neighbors day after day. Her many good qualities have won her the sineere respect and love of all with whom she has come in contact, and her circle of friends is therefore eo-extensive with the cirele of her acquaintances.
ALONZO E. SAYRE.
Alonzo E. Sayre, extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising ou section 30, Virginia township, was born in this township on the 20th of Febru- ary, 1870, his father being Enoch Sayre, whose sketch is found on another page of this work. He acquired his education in the common schools and even- tually came into possession of two hundred acres of his father's estate, al- though he had previously purchased land and engaged in farming. He now owns an excellent property of six hundred and seventy-nine acres known as the "Highland Stock Farm," on which he raises, feeds and ships pure-bred Hereford cattle on an extensive scale. The success which has come to him is but the merited reward of his well directed labor and capable business management and he is now widely recognized as one of the enterprising and progressive yonng agrienlturists of the county.
On the 12th of December. 1894, occurred the marriage of Mr. Sayre and Miss Laura Foreman, a native of West Virginia and a daughter of Upton
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Foreman, now deceased. This union has been blessed with two children, Floran and Bayard F.
Politically, a republican, Mr. Sayre has served for three years as town- ship trustee, and is also an active worker in the cause of temperance. Hc has never tasted liquor nor tobacco and firmly believes that a man will be abundantly rewarded for leading a temperate life. He is a member and liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church and his influenee is ever given on the side of right, truth and progress. He has traveled extensively, having been in over twenty states. Having spent his entire life in Virginia township, he is most widely and favorably known throughout the commu- nity and has won the admiration and respeet of all with whom he has been brought in contaet.
WILLIAM L. FARMER.
The spirit of enterprise and indomitable energy is manifest in the life record of William L. Farmer, who resides in section 34, West Lincoln town- ship. Here he has successfully engaged in breeding and dealing in fine stock, within two miles of Indianola, where he owns and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of highly improved land. Warren county numbers him among her native sons and respects him as a citizen whose value has been proven in his relations to the public welfare. He was born on the farm where he resides, his natal day being January 1, 1861.
His father, Leonard Farmer, was a native of North Carolina, born in 1817 near Raleigh, where he resided until about eleven years of age. He then accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana, the family home being established on a farm in Morgan county, where he was reared to manhood. HIe was married in that county to Miss Mary Ferguson, who was also born near Raleigh, North Carolina, and accompanied her parents to the Hoosier state in her girlhood days. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer established their home upon a rented farm in Indiana, where they lived for several years, when thinking that they might more rapidly gain success in Iowa, which was then less thickly settled, but was growing rapidly, they made their way to Indianola in 1850. The present prosperous and populous county seat then contained but five houses and the county was very sparsely settled, but the land was rich in its possibilities. Mr. Farmer entered one hundred and sixty acres from the government, located his elaim in Lineoln township, and with characteristic energy he began its improvement. There he lived for six years after which he bought one hundred and sixty acres, where his son, William, now makes his home. This he also improved, breaking the sod and trans- forming the raw prairie into fields that annually produce rich harvests. He lived and died upon this property, passing away November 1, 1897, at the ripe old age of eighty-one years. His widow still survives and has reached an advanced age, being now in her ninety-first year.
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William L. Farmer, of this review, was the youngest in a family of three children and is the only one living, the others passing away in childhood. Ile has always made his home upon the farm which is yet his place of resi- dence. He was sent to the public schools that he might acquire a good Eng- lish education, and when not. busy with his text-books he worked in the fields. early gaining a practical knowledge of the best methods of planting his erops and caring for the harvests.
As a companion and helpmate for life's journey. Mr. Farmer chose Miss Carrie B. Hester, whom he wedded June 21. 1887. She was a native of Mis- souri and a daughter of Charles Hester, who for some years followed farm- ing in Warren county. but is now living retired in Indianola. At the time of his marriage William L. Farmer had charge of his father's land and began to further develop and improve the place. He has erected here a good two- story frame residence, a large and substantial barn and sheds that give ample shelter to grain and stock. He is also raising Red Polled cattle, keeping only registered stock, having engaged in this business since 1898. He also raises registered Shropshire sheep, Duroc Jersey hogs and Percheron Norman horses. He keeps only registered stock and has had some very fine animals upon his place. He has taken his sheep to the state and county fairs where he has won many premiums, and he stands today as one of the prominent stock- raisers of this part of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer have but one child, Clar- ence Roy, who assists in the work on the farm. and is also attending school. Mr. Farmer votes with the republican party where national questions are involved. At local elections where there is no party issue before the people. lie votes independent. He has served as road supervisor and has been secre- tary of the school board for nineteen years. He belongs to the Yeoman Society, the Knights of Maccabees and to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Farmer is also a devoted member.
Having spent his entire life here he is very well known, and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are numbered among those who have been acquainted with him from boyhood, is an indication that his has been an upright and honorable career. He is justly classed with the representative agriculturists of the community and in all of his farm work is practical and progressive.
D. W. HUSTED.
D. W. Husted wide-awake, alert and enterprising, is successfully eoudnet- ing a drug business in Indianola. He came to this city in 1888 and opened a drug store, which he has now conducted for twenty years. He not only enjoys a good local trade but covers the state with a line of proprietary goods of his own manufacture, conducting both a wholesale and retail business. ITe has also the largest preseription business in the county. He has been very successful in his undertakings, as is indicated by the large stock of
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goods which he carries in a well appointed store on the north side of the square. He is a liberal advertiser and an enterprising, up-to-date merchant, who well merits the trade which he enjoys and which he has won through honorable, progressive business methods.
Mr. Husted is married and has two children who are in school. He is well known in the business eireles of Indianola, where for twenty years he has figured as a leading merchant.
ALFRED M. FORD.
Alfred M. Ford, who is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on his farm of one hundred and sixty aeres, comprising the northwest quarter of section 10, Belmont township, was born in what is now Lincoln township, Warren county, not far from Ackworth, in 1863. His father, W. H. Ford, was a native of West Virginia and there resided until he had attained the age of twenty years, when, in company with a cousin, John McGee, he came to Warren county, lowa. He first located in Indianola but in the spring of 1867 took up his abode in Belmont township, where he transformed a tract of prairie land into a finely improved farm, carrying on the work of the fields until the time of his retirement from active life. Removing to Milo, he there lived in well earned ease for some years, his death occurring in December, 1903, at the age of sixty-five years. In his political views he was a stanch republican and for a number of years was identified with the Friends church, being a man of unfaltering integrity and upright life. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Maxwell, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, and in the latter '40s accompanied her mother to Warren county, being reared and married in this county. She was a lifelong member of the Friends church and passed away on the old homestead farm May 2, 1888, when more than forty-five years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Ford were born four children: Ella, whose death occurred when she was about four years of age; James E., of Lincoln township; Frank H., residing in Des Moines, and Alfred M., of this review.
The last named, who is a cousin of Judge J. H. Henderson, of Indianola, has spent his entire life in Warren county, with the exception of two years spent in Clay county, Kansas. He purchased a farm but later disposed of it and bought his present home place of one hundred and sixty acres in Bel- mont township Here he successively carries on farming and stock-raising, being widely recognized as one of the substantial and enterprising agricultur- ists of the locality.
Mr. Ford was here married, in December, 1886, to Miss Mary Hornady, who was born in Wapello county, Iowa, in 1868, a daughter of Michael and Minerva (Butterfield) Hornaday, who resided in Warren county for a num- ber of years. The father passed away at Savannah, Missouri, in June, 1888, while his widow makes her home at Sandyville, this county, being more than
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seventy years of age. Mrs. Ford was reared in Iowa and was one of a family of eight children, nearly all of whom reside in this county. She has become the mother of four children, namely : Jeremiah M., born in 1888; Alva, whose birth occurred in 1891; Lester, born in 1893: and Annie, who was born in 1895. in 1895.
Mr. Ford has always given stalwart allegiance to the men and measures of the republican party and is now a candidate for trustee in Belmont town- ship. He is a public-spirited citizen whose cooperation can be counted upon in every movement which tends to promote the moral, intellectual and ma- terial welfare of the community.
W. J. COCHRAN.
In every community there are certain names which are synonymous of the growth, development and improvement of the locality. The name of W. J. Cochran is closely associated with all that has contributed to the wel- fare and development of Warren county, his activity proving an effective element in the material, political, social and moral development of this part of the state. Wherever he was known he was honored and respected, but most of all where he was best known.
W. J. Cochran was born in Highland, Ohio, August 22, 1829, his parents being William and Elizabeth (MeConnell) Cochran, who were natives of Ire- land and Ohio respectively. The son spent his boyhood days in the state of his nativity to the age of fourteen years and in 1855 accompanied his parents on their removal to Warren county, Iowa, settling on a farm in White Breast township. There he assisted in the arduous task of opening up a new farm, became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the erops and eventually he bought the interest of the other heirs in his father's estate. With renewed energy he gave his attention to general farming. The place was partly improved when it came into his possession but he remodeled and added to the dwelling, making it a good home. He also put up substan- tial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and as the years went by he transformed his land into richly productive fields, from which he annually gathered good harvests.
As a companion and helpmeet for life's journey Mr. Cochran chose Miss Eliza E. Warnock, whom he wedded on the 7th of June. 1860. She was born in Ohio, March 6, 1839, and was a daughter of David and Mary Ann (Chaney) Warnock, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cochran were born nine children: Elizabeth, who is acting as housekeeper for her brother. Dr. A. L. Cochran, of Cumming. Iowa ; Matilda Josephine, the wife of J. W. Thorne. of Lacona, lowa: John Wil- liam, at home: David A., who was a physician of Milo, lowa, but died in March, 1908; Charles Simeon, a resident farmer of White Breast township : Samuel Clarence and Thomas Harris, both of whom are now deceased: A. L.
... .
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who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Cumming; and George Earl, who is yet upon the home farm.
As the years passed by W. J. Cochran prospered in his undertakings and his chief delight in his success was that it enabled him to supply his family with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. He left a large estate when on the 15th of August, 1901, he was called to his final rest. He not only figured as one of the leading agriculturists of his eom- nninity but was also a prominent factor in other lines of activity beneficial to the county. He was one of the organizers of the United Presbyterian church at Laeona in 1865, and on the 25th of November in that year was chosen a ruling elder and the following day was made elerk of the organiza- tion, serving in the latter position for thirty-five years. In the work of the church he was always deeply and helpfully interested and he contributed gen- erously to its support. He was twiee eleeted by the Des Moines Presbytery as a lay delegate to the general assembly of the Presbyterian ehureh, attending the session at Xenia, Ohio, and the other time at Albany, Oregon
Never neglectful of the duties of citizenship Mr. Coehran labored earnestly to promote publie progress and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth, ability and loyalty, ealled him to serve in various township and county offiees. He was county supervisor and was also assessor and township elerk, while in 1879 he was elected to represent his distriet in the lower house of the general assembly of Iowa. Over the record of his official eareer there fell no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil and in other relations in life he was actuated by high and manly principles. To his family he was most devoted, to his friends was faithful and throughout the community he was known as a noble eitizen and sineere Christian. His memory is yet cherished by all with whom he came in contaet and most of all by the members of his own household who knew him as a most loving and indulgent husband and father. Mrs. Cochran has been equally devoted to her family and in return receives the most filial devotion from her children. She yet resides on the old home farm, presiding over the household, and, with the assistance of her son George, manages the property.
GILES C. GARDNER.
Giles C. Gardner, one of the few remaining veterans of the eivil war and one of the prosperous farmers of Warren county, is now praetieally living retired at his home on seetion 31, Palmyra township. He was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of October, 1840, his parents being Truman and Sallie (White) Gardner, the former of Seoteh and the latter of German aneestry. His father was born in Seotland and was a young man on coming to the United States. By trade he was a ship earpenter and millright, and for a time followed those oeeupations in New York eity. There he was mar- ried and afterward removed to Erie county, Pennsylvania, still later to Ohio
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and subsequently to Logan county, Illinois, where he opened up a new farm. As time passed he prospered in his farming operations and eventually became the owner of nearly one thousand acres in that county, where he spent his last days. The mother of our subject died in Troy, New York, and the father subsequently married again. By the first union there were seven children, four sons and three daughters, and a brother of our subject, W. H. Gardner, of Carlisle, is represented elsewhere in this work.
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