USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, from its Earliest Settlementto 1908 > Part 48
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Giles C. Gardner accompanied the family on their removal to Ohio and later to Logan county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood on a farm. When the country became involved in eivil war he enlisted in August, 1861, as a member of the Second Illinois Cavalry, which was an independent regiment and was first ordered to Missouri. The first engagement in which Mr. Gard- mer participated was at Belmont, that state, and he also took part in the battles of Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, Holly Springs, the Red River expedition, the battle of Nashville, and a number of other engagements of less importance. He was ill in the hospital at Paducah, Kentucky, for a time and was later on guard duty for thirty days, after which he rejoined his regiment and remained in the service until the close of the war, being mus- tered out at Paducah and honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, in September, 1865.
Mr. Gardner then returned home and resumed farming. He was married in Mason county, Illinois, July 4, 1867, to Miss Matilda A. Evans, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, and they have become the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, namely: George L. and Ewdard E., who are both married and live on farms near their father; James L., whose sketch will be found on another page of this volume; and Myrtle Dell, at home with her parents.
After his marriage Mr. Gardner located on a farm in Logan county, Illinois, where he continued to make his home until 1883, when he sold that place and came to Warren county, Iowa, buying a farm near his present home. His first purchase consisted of one hundred and forty-five acres, which he improved and cultivated for some time, and eventually bought his present farm, becoming the owner of over three Immdred acres of land, on which he has erected good and substantial buildings. Today he has three sets of farm buildings upon his place, two of which are occupied by his sons. In connec- tion with general farming he has engaged in the raising and feeding of stock, but for several years he has now practically lived retired, leaving his sons to carry on the work of the farm. They now feed about five carloads of cattle annually and also raise a large number of hogs.
Since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, while in the army, he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party. but has never cared for office, though he has been officially connected with the schools both in linois and lowa. He is a member of the Grand Army post at Hartford and both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, while their son, George, is also a member of the same church and is now superintendent of the Sunday school. As an honored
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veteran of the civil war and a public spirited citizen, true to the interests of his county and state as well as to the country at large, Mr. Gardner is deserving of honorable mention in the history of the representative men of this region.
FRANCIS MARION SADLER.
Francis Marion Sadler, residing in Indianola, was born in Van Buren county, lowa, January 11, 1852, and is the second in order of birth in a family of seven children whose parents were George and Adeline (Nedrow) Sadler, the former a native of Harrison county, Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father lost his life while serving as a soldier of the civil war, enlisting in August, 1862, in the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry. He was assigned to Com- pany D, and died in the hospital January 20, 1865. He was of French an- cestry, the family being founded in America during the early colonization period in Pennsylvania. As a business man he followed farming and thus provided for his family. He was in hearty sympathy with the movements and principles which gave rise to the republican party and cast his ballot for its candidates. His widow still survives him and is now living in Van Buren county, Iowa, having celebrated the eightieth anniversary of her birth on the 21st of April, 1908. She is a member of the Lutheran church and her many good qualities of heart and mind have gained for her the esteem of all with whom she has come in contaet.
Francis M. Sadler was reared upon the home farm and attended the eoun- try schools in the acquirement of an education. At the age of eighteen years he learned the wagonmaker's trade, which he followed continuously for thirty- five years, leading a life of well direeted industry and perseverance. In 1904 he held a position on the grounds of the Louisina Purchase Exposition at St. Louis and following his return to Iowa he followed carpentering until 1907, since which time he has resided in Indianola. He has been identified with Indianola almost continuously since the spring of 1876, at which time he became an employe in Jacoby's wagon shop. He has lived a life of unabating industry and well directed perseverance and whatever success he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own labors.
In 1877 Mr. Sadler was joined in wedlock to Miss Cassie L. Hine, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1857 They have one child, George Francis, who is now a musie professor of Hiawatha, Kansas. The parents belong to the Presbyterian church and Mr. Sadler holds membership with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors of America, and with the last named Mrs. Sadler is also connected. His poli- tical views are in harmony with the principles of the republican party and upon its ticket he was elected a member of the city council. He has a most notable record in that connection, having for twenty years been one of the aldermen, during which period he has been most closely associated with the
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material development, improvement and municipal progress of Indianola. His labors in behalf of the city have been effective and far-reaching. He is a charter member of the Indianola fire company and was the first assistant chief. While a member of the city conneil he was chairman of the fire com- mittee that organized the fire company and chairman of the water committee that built the water works. He has manifested a contageous enthusiasm in support of a fire department, realizing fully its value as a safeguard to the city, believing that every town should have a well organized fire system. A number of years ago Mr. Sadler assisted in organizing a company of soldiers, known as Company D, Third Regiment, Iowa National Guard, and rose from the rank of corporal to captain of the company. He has always taken an active interest in politics, was chairman of the Warren county delegation to the state convention when Jackson was nominated for governor, and east the thirteen votes of the county against the celebrated Struble amendment in op- position to the proposed mulet law. He keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and is recognized as a republican leader in Indianola and Warren county but has never sacrificed the publie good to partisanship nor the general welfare to self-aggrandizement.
DAVID H. NUTTING.
The history of the life of David II. Nntting is replete with the spirit of pioneer days and in reading it one almost forgets that in these modern times cities are linked to each other by ties of steel, so that but a few hours need intervene in traveling from one to the other. IIe was born in Franklin county. Massachusetts, September 30, 1823, the son of Porter and Anna (Fitts) Nutting. There were five children in the family, two sons and three daughters, of whom David H. was the fourth in the order of birth. He was named for his paternal grandfather, David Nutting, who was of an old Puritan family that settled in Massachsuetts in the seventeenth century, and was prominent in the affairs of that state.
David H. Nutting received his education in the common schools of the locality where he was born. He served an apprenticeship as a molder at Palmer. Massachusetts, and worked as a journeyman for some time at Hartford. Couneetient; at Middletown, Couneetientt; at Cincinnati, Ohio, and elsewhere. While at Worcester, Massachusetts, he was married to Miss Mary Fitts, daughter of Robert and Lucy (Bangs) Fitts. natives of Worcester county. Massachusetts, as was also the grandfather, who traced his ancestry back to an honored Puritan family. Mary M. Fitts was born in Worcester county. Massachsuetts, May 30, 1822. She was of a bright, studions nature and readily mastered the eurrienhum of the schools of the community. From the time of her marriage to David H. Nutting their lives are so closely interwoven as to make the history of the one appear as the history of both.
D H NUTTING
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Impatient of the monotonons and restricted life of a journeyman, and the impossibility of getting ahead in life on the earnings of his trade, Mr. Nutting left his family in Cincinnati in 1854 and started west for the purpose of securing a home and brighter future for his loved ones. His wanderings led him to Warren county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of wild land on sections 15 and 16, Otter township. On section 15 he found a long cabin, seventeen by nineteen feet in dimensions, with a clapboard roof and a puncheon floor. He then went to Lexington, Missouri, and sought work in a foundry which was building there, in the meantime sending for his family to come on from Cincinnati. His wife and children took the boat from that city to St. Louis, where they had to change boats in order to get to Lexington, the time spent enroute being fourteen days. They remained there for one year, saving their earnings and planning for their future home in the wilderness. While a resident of Lexington the issue arose as to whether Kansas should be admitted as a free or slave state, on which question Mr. Nutting cast his vote for the cause of freedom.
Oxen were used as a means of travel in those days and Mr. Nutting bought his team of oxen in Warren county and ferried them across the Missouri river, hitched them to a wagonload of goods in Lexington and set out from there with his family to travel to his new home. The hardships were undoubtedly many, but who shall say that the pleasures were not also great to these adventurous young people, and let us hope that on the occasion of the oxen getting loose and running away from the camp the sense of the ludicrous came to their rescue and that mixed with the excitement of the chase and the satis- faction of the recovery of the runaways no small amount of amusement was afforded them. They arrived at their new home in the latter part of August 1855, when they began life in true pioneer style. At that time there were but two stores in Indianola, no sidewalks excepting a footpath and but one hotel- the Barnwell. Mr. Nutting began the work of improving his farm, dividing it into fields and building fences, preparatory to its cultivation the following year. The educational advantages of the community were very poor at that time and in the spring of 1856 Mrs. Nutting, doubtless prompted thereto by the require- ments of her own children, opened a subscription school, and many of the now prominent men of the county began their education under her able instructions. In his spare hours Mr. Nutting also assisted, for both were deeply interested in the cause of education. In the meantime the work of improving the farm was going on and it was beginning to yield substantial returns. Mr. Nutting combined with general farming the industry of stock-raising, which proved a ready source of income and, with an eye to the future, the proceeds of his sales he invested in additional land. For this he paid various prices, as the value of the land was increasing all the time, owing to the rich returns which the soil yielded. On his first coming here he secured about two hundred acres of land at five dollars per acre. Following the war and the coming in of new settlers the surrounding land rose in value to seventeen dollars per acre ; later it advanced to twenty-two dollars and twenty-three dollars per acre. In the fall of 1875 Mr. Nutting bought the southeast quarter of section 25, Otter town-
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ship, for twenty-five dollars per aere. Four hundred acres which he owned in Squaw township he secured at prices ranging from ten to eighteen dollars per acre. In all, during his lifetime he acquired about seventeen hundred acres of valuable land, enclosed by over forty miles of fences. Ile also erected a modern home and equipped the farm with comfortable buildings and up-to- date machinery.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nutting were born three children, namely : William P. and Frank O., both of whom are engaged in farming in Otter township; and Sarah L., the wife of S. J. Burnett, who now resides on the home farm in section 15, Otter township, where she was born.
In national politics Mr. Nutting was a republican, though in local affairs he voted for men and measures rather than for party. He served as trustee of Otter township, but never cared for office. During the dark days of the Civil war he enlisted on September 28, 1864, in Company E, Fourth Iowa Infantry. He was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C., May 31, 1865, participating in the grand review at the national capital.
On February 12,1907, David HI. Nutting was called to his eternal rest, having survived his wife, who passed away on March 14, 1904, a little less than three years. As a citizen, a soldier, a pioneer and a business man Mr. Nutting deserved and enjoyed the confidence and respect of all, and his death left a void in the community that will be felt for many years to come. His funeral was conducted under the auspices of the Presbyterian church of Milo, of which himself, wife and family were members.
SMITH J. BURNETT.
Smith J. Burnett, a farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 15, Otter township, was born in Logan county, Ohio, Angust 12, 1850, a son of Jobm and Anna (Vanness) Burnett. His parents came to lowa in November, 1851, and located in Cedar county, where they purchased a farm. "His paternal grand- father, JJohn Burnett. Sr .. also came to Cedar conuty. Iowa, from Ohio, together with Governor Kirkwood. He and his wife resided there until the time of their deaths, which ocenrred during the Civil war. Mrs. Burnett, the mother of our subject, died in early womanhood, her death occurring in 1856 when she was but twenty-eight years of age. Her husband survived her for five years, passing away in 1861 at the age of forty-two years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Burnett were born six children. Thomas died in Pottawattamie county, lowa. in 1888, aged forty-two years. Katie married William Winterstein and resides in Griswold, Cass county, Iowa. They are now retired from farming. George, also a retired farmer, resides at Anita, Cass county. Smith J. is the next of the family. Charles is a farmer of Wheaton, Pottawattamie county. Kansas. Mary was the wife of a Mr. Dobbins. She died in Kentucky some fifteen years ago.
SARAH L. (NUTTING) BURNETT
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Smith J. Burnett passed the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof until ten years of age, and began earning his own living at the age of thirteen years. He received his education in the public schools. In his young manhood he removed to Pottawattamie county, lowa, where he bought a farm, near Griswold. Here he made his home for several years. Later he removed to Oregon and spent nine years on the Pacific coast, conducting a railroad eating house on the Oregon Coal & Navigation line. He then returned to Iowa and has since sold his farm and town property in Griswold. He spent one year in Colorado, where he operated a farm, after which he was in the employ of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway for some time. He also engaged in cement work, having been connected with a large contracting company in this line.
On June 26, 1907, was celebrated the marriage of Smith J. Burnett and Miss Sarah L. Nutting, the daughter of David H. and Mary (Fitts) Nutting. Mrs. Burnett was born and reared on the place which is still her home, which consists of a farin of about five hundred acres. Up to the time of their death her life was devoted to the care of her aged parents and Mr. Burnett is to be congratulated on having won this loyal heart, whose strong affection has been so amply proven in the case of her parents. In the care of the farm Mr. Burnett finds plenty of opportunity for the exercise of his ingenuity and skill as a farmer, and the broad experience he has gained in other lines stands him in good stead in applying the same business principles to his farming opera- tions. Mrs. Burnett is a member of the Presbyterian church at Milo.
DANIEL JACKSON KNOUF.
Daniel Jackson Knouf. more familiarly known as Jackson Knouf, is one of the representative farmers of Linn township. He is one of Iowa's native sons, his birth occurring in Benton county, May 28, 1857. His father was Henry Knouf, who was born in Pennsylvania, on the 17th of March, 1822, and on first coming to this state located in Iowa City but subsequently re- moved to Benton county. In 1866 he became a resident of Warren county, locating on the farm in Linn township where our subject now lives, and here he continued to make his home until called to his final rest in October, 1896. Throughout his active business life he always followed farming and he gave his political support to the democratic party. In early manhood he married Maria Cook, who was also a native of the Keystone state, and she died in Sep- tember, 1896, at the age of seventy-two years. Their children, who are still living are John, Samuel. Matilda C., Majors. George, D. Jackson, Au- gustus Bell and Martin.
D. Jackson Knouf was only nine years of age when the family came to Warren county and took up their residence upon his present farm. As soon as old enough to be of any service he began to aid in the cultivation of the land, and during the winter season he attended the country schools of the
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neighborhood. From 1888 until 1900 he was engaged in farming in Madison county, Iowa, and the following year was spent in Polk county, after which he returned to the old homestead in Warren county. Here he has fifty-nine acres of well improved land in binn township, devoted to general farming.
In 1884 Mr. Knouf was united in marriage to Miss Dora Mebain, a native of Warren county, and to them have been born two children who are still living, namely : Earl and Pearl. In politics Mr. Knouf is a democrat and he is regarded as one of the leading citizens of his community.
WILLIAM H. SCROGGS.
One by one the soldiers of the Civil war are answering to the last roll-call and the ranks are fast becoming decimated but the hearts of the American people will always thrill with the story of those who followed the stars and stripes, and fought in defense of the Union in the darkest hour in the history of our country.
William H. Scroggs, of Indianola, made a splendid military record and has every reason to be proud of the fact that he marched loyally to the front in defense of his country's interests and aided in crushing out the rebellion in the south. In days of peace he has largely given his attention to farming, but is now living retired. He was born in Greenfield. Highland county, Ohio, November 24, 1835. His father, Alexander Seroggs, was a native of Ross county, Ohio, and was of Scotch descent. His father, Alexander Scroggs, Sr., served as a soldier of the war of 1812.
The father of our subjeet was a farmer by occupation and his business affairs were capably conducted, so that he won success. He married Lavinia Rogers, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, and was of Welsh lineage. Her father was an officer of the war of 1812. Both Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Seroggs, Jr., were members of the United Presbyterian church, and were car- nest, consistent Christian people. His early political allegiance was given to the whig party, and when the question of slavery became a paramount issue he advocated the abolition movement and when the republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery into northern territory he joined its ranks and voted for its candidates. He was a man of sterling integrity who stood high among his neighbors. He died in 1862, at the age of fifty-eight years, while his wife survived until 1885. In the family of this worthy conple were ten children, of whom Thomas and one other died in infancy. The other members of the family are : James, who enlisted as a musician in the Civil war. passed away in 1903. William H., of this review. is the next member of the family. John G. enlisted.as a soldier of the Union army on the 19th of Septem- ber. 1861, becoming a member of Company C. Eighty-first Ohio Infantry, and was mustered out at the expiration of his three years' term, having been engaged in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth and numerous skirmishes. He is now
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a retired agriculturist of Warrensburg, Missouri. Josephine became the wife of Samuel Lundbeck, of Chillicothe, and after his death wedded Captain W. C. Mallatt, a retired merchant of Warrensburg. Missouri. Alexander R., who follows farming in Independence, Oregon, was a member of the Ohio Home Guards, serving in Kentucky. Mary L., residing in Greenfield, Ohio, is the widow of Captain J. C. Crawford, who commanded Company I of the Eighty- first Volunteer Infantry. Sarah, who was the first wife of Captain Mallatt, is deceased. Elbert E., follows general agricultural pursuits in Warrensburg, Missouri. The family has furnished several ministers to the United Presbyter- an church, and their influence has always been on the side of righteousness, truth and justice.
William H. Scroggs as a farm boy early became familiar with the work of the fields. In his early youth he attended the country schools and later pursued his studies in the South Salem (Ohio) Academy, and in the Monmouth (Ill.) College. He also engaged in teaching for five terms in early manhood. He was twenty-five years of age, when on the 19th of September, 1861, he responded to the country's eall for aid and joined the ranks of those who were flocking to the standard of the Union from the farms, the counting-honses, the shops and the professions. He became a member of Company C, Eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at the expiration of his three years' term was mustered out with the rank of first sergeant. He then accepted the captainey of Company B, of the One Hundred and Eleventh regiment of colored troops, and for meri- torious conduet on the field of battle, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel for the regiment, thus serving until the command was mustered out. He was then retained by General George Thomas to serve on court martial, first at Nashville and afterward at Louisville. General Shafter, later of Spanish war fame, was also a member of the same court. Mr. Seroggs was finally mustered out on the 1st of November, 1866, having served for over five years in military duty, during which time he made a splendid record. He was brave and loyal and inspired his men with much of his own valor. He was present at the battles of Shiloh, Corinth and Athens, Alabama. At Corinth he was wounded by a bullet entering the right arm and coming ont at the shoulder. At Athens he was taken prisoner by troops under General M. B. Forrest and was sent to Meridian, Mississippi, where he was held as a prisoner of war from the 24th of September until early December. He was then taken to Benton Barraeks, St. Louis, where he was exchanged, after which he rejoined his regiment.
On leaving the military service Mr. Seroggs entered the employ of the, government in a eivil capacity as superintendent of construction of national cemeteries, and was thus employed until 1867. On leaving the government ser- vice he went to Illinois, settling on a farm in MeLean county, where he snccessfully carried on general agricultural pursuits until 1891. In that year he came to Indianola and after looking over the country for a favorable investment he purchased two hundred and forty aeres of land in Lincoln township. This property now returns to him a good income. He looks after his farming interest but is practically living a retired life.
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On the 3d of JJannary, 1867. occurred the marriage of Mr. Seroggs and Miss Harriet Barbour, who was born in Niagara, New York, in 1840, and was of Welsh lineage in the paternal line and of Scotch-Irish descent in the maternal line. Her father was Robert Barbour, while her mother belonged to the Starke family of which Admiral Starke, of Revolutionary war fame, was also a representative. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Seroggs have been born seven children : Charles R., who follows farming in North Dakota; Alice, the wife of Dr. HI. M. Dale, of Los Angeles, California; Richard E., who is a dentist of Indianola ; William C., deceased ; Edwin, who has also passed away; JJolin H., a carpenter of Des Moines; and Ira, who is deceased.
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