USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, from its Earliest Settlementto 1908 > Part 50
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On the 1st of December, 1881, Mr. Morton was married to Miss Henrietta Davisson, a lady of Virginia, and a daughter of Jacob Davisson, who arrived in this county in 1864. Mrs. Morton died in 1884, and on the 17th of Febru- ary, 1887, Mr. Morton wedded Miss Florence 1. Frew, a native of Lamont, lowa. In 1908, Mr. Morton was called upon to mourn the loss of his second wife, who died on the 26th of March at the age of forty-eight years. She is not only greatly missed in her own household, but also in the church and Sunday school, where she was an active worker, and in her home locality where she was widely known as a helpful and faithful friend. She was a lady of many lovable traits of character and hers was a splendid example of Christian life.
Mr. Morton has a family of seven children: Ina, Ley, Irene, James Cyrus, Hazel, May and Fern, all of whom are still under the parental roof Throughout the community the family is held in high esteem and no man. more thoroughly enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens than does Mr. Morton. He has been a lifelong republican where national ques- tions and issues are involved, but he casts an independent local ballot. Ho has served on the school board for many years, was it treasurer for twelve years and is still the incumbent in the office. The cause of education finds in him a firm friend and one who has done effective work in its behalf. He
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belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp at Indianola, is also connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, with the Modern Brotherhood and with the Yeoman. A devoted and faithful member of Center Chapel church, who joined that congregation on its organization. He has long served as one of its officers, is a most zealous worker in the Sunday sehool and for twelve years has been Sunday school superintendent. His aid can always be counted upon to further the moral development of the community and in many other ways he assists in the work of public progress and improvement. His life has been one of intense and well directed activity and he is most widely and favorably known in the community, where he has lived from early man- hood, covering a period of forty years. The rules which have governed his conduct have made his a most upright and honorable character. He is more- over a man of strong individuality, as well as stalwart purpose, and he justly merits the splendid suecess whielr has come to him in his business life.
WILL E. SAYRE.
Will E. Sayre, a prominent agriculturist and stock-raiser residing on section 31, Virginia township, was born in Barbour county, West Virginia, April 5, 1862, a son of Enoeh Sayre, who is mentioned on another page of this work. He remained under the parental roof until the year 1887 and subse- quently, after a few months spent in Crawford county, Iowa, went to Cali- fornia, becoming overseer on a fruit ranch. While in the Golden state he also pursued a commercial course of study in Woodbury's International Busi- ness College at Los Angeles. In 1891 he returned to Warren county, Iowa, and has sinee been extensively and suceessfully connected with is agricultural interests. He received two hundred acres from his father's estate and has added to his holdings from time to time until he now owns seven hundred and seventy acres of finely improved and valuable land. The commodious house and barn, the numerous shade and evergreen trees and fruit of all kinds have all been placed on the property since 1892, and the "Sayre Farm," as it is known, is one of the best improved in Virginia township. In addition to the work of tilling the soil he earries on stoek-raising on quite an exten- sive seale and is meeting with a large and well merited measure of prosperity in both branches of lis business.
On the 5th of April, 1893, Mr. Sayre was united in marriage to Miss Mamie Clay, a native of Clarke county, Iowa, by whom he has two sons, Alonzo R., and Enoeh F.
In his political views Mr. Sayre is a republican but has not cared for offiec, preferring to devote his energies to his private business interests. He is. an active and helpful temperanee worker. being himself a temperate man in all things. He is serving as trustee and recording steward of the Metho- dist Episcopal ehureh at New Virginia, in which he holds membership, hav- ing been appointed to solicit funds for the erection of this edifiee. He is
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widely recognized as a publie-spirited citizen and prosperons business man and as one whose aid and influence can ever be counted upon to further any movement or measure instituted for the npbuilding and improvement of the connty.
JOHN FREMONT SCHEE.
John Fremont Schee, president of the Indianola Banking Company and vice president of the Bank of Milo, also derives substantial income from large landed interests. He stands today as one of the most prominent business men of Warren county, honored and respected by all, not only by reason of the success he has achieved, but also owing to the straightforward business policy he has ever followed. His advancement has been made through consecutive stages, resulting from the recognition ad utilization of opportunity and he today enjoys the full trust of his colleagues and the adniiration of his contemporaries.
Mr. Schee was born near Attica, Marion county, Iowa, on the 2d of August, 1860. His father, Alexander Schee, was a native of Delaware and his ancestors, coming from Scotland in the seventeenth century, settled in that state. Alexander Schee was born March 3, 1817, and when he was but six months old his parents removed to a farm in the vicinity of Cadiz, Ohio, where they remained until 1849. That year witnessed the arrival of Alexander Schee in the newly created state of Iowa and he took up his abode in Winchester. Van Buren county, where he resided until 1852. He then became a resident of Marion county and was closely associated with its agricultural interests until 1866, when he came to Warren county, settling on a farm in Belmont township. This property still remains in possession of his children.
The father, who was an enterprising farmer and progressive business mau, and who made judicious investments, was seldom, if ever, at error in a matter of business judgment, and at the time of his death was probably the wealthiest man in his township. Moreover, he sustained an unassailable reputation for busi- ness probity and had the full confidence and esteem of his neighbors. His life was in harmony with the beneficent spirit of Masonry, of which he was a represen- tative, and at all times he would rather have suffered personal loss than to have injured another in any business or trade transaction. His political support was originally given the whig party and upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the republican party, continuing to vote its ticket until his death. Hle was recognized as one of its leaders and always represented it in its public deliberations. He served as township trustee for many years. yet he had no official aspiration, accepting the office only because his fellow townsmen insisted that he should thus represent them. Citizenship was to him no mere idle word. He fulfilled its duties and obligations and ever stood loyally in defense of what he believed to be right. He died May 28. 1893. honored by all who knew him.
Ilis wife, who bore the maiden name of Alice Brindley, was born in Mary- land, September 1. 1821. and passed away September 6. 1902. at the age of
ALEXANDER SCHEE
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
eighty-one years. She was of English lineage and when she was about a year old was taken by her parents to Ohio, the family home being established upon a farm near Cadiz. There, on the 5th of March, 1840, she gave her hand in marriage to Alexander Selice and they became the parents of seven children : Oliver, who was born May 18, 1841, and now living in Kansas City, Missouri, was for many years a prominent educator, but now devotes his attention to agricultural pursuits near Kansas City. At one time he served as superintendent of the schools at Newton, Iowa, and was also principal of the high school at Muscatine, this state. During the period of the Civil war he advocated the Union eause and became a member of Company A, Thirty-third Iowa infantry, when twenty years of age. He served throughout the greater period of hostilities and attained the rank of sergeant major. Eleanor, born October 29, 1842, is the wife of John B. Johnson, a retired farmer of Bussey, Iowa. James, born February 3, 1845, is now in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he is well known as a banker, being president of the Bank of College View, a suburb of Lincoln, Neb. He is also the owner of large property interests in Iowa and is interested in the Citizens bank of Milo, the Bank of Milo and the Indianola Banking company and other finnacial institutions. Hc, too, has a creditable military record, having joined the army in 1863 as a member of Company I, Thirty-third Iowa Infantry, until the close of the war. £ Nathan Schee, born October 29, 1847, is also prominently connected with banking affairs in this state, being interested in banks in Indianola, Milo and other places. He has been the president of the Bank of Milo since its organization and also has large interests in the Oskaloosa Manufacturing company and has made extensive investments in the lumber business and in landed interests in Texas. Lewis Selree, born April 15, 1853, is the vice president of the Indianola Banking company, and has other business and invested interests in Warren county and elsewhere. Phebe, born April, 26, 1855, is the wife of John Downing, a farmer of Liberty township. Jolm F. is the next of the family.
The last named, brought to Warren county in his infancy, was reared upon the home farm in Belmont township and attended the country schools until he entered the agricultural college at Ames. He afterward spent a year as a student in Simpson College and two years in Ames, and in the intervals between his collegiate courses he taught school for about three years. In 1882, when
his brother, Nathan Schee, established the Bank of Milo, John F. Schee entered the institution as its cashier, taking up the duties on the 6th of March, 1882. At that time there were only three banks in the county. Mr. Sehee remained in active connection with the bank of Milo until 1894, when he went to Des Moines and entered the Drake Law School, being admitted to the bar in 1896. The same fall he came to Indianola and became vice president of the Indianola Banking Company. He has been one of its organizers in 1893 and in 1900 he became its president, since which time he has remained as its chief executive officer. He is also the vice president of the Bank of Milo and in addition has large landed interests. Prominent among the business men of the country, he has been closely identified with its interests as a representative of one of its most important business undertakings. He is a man of keen discrimination
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
and sound judgment and his executive ability and excellent management have brought to the concerns with which he is connected a large degree of success. The safe, conservative policy which he inaugurated connnends itself to the judgment of all and has secured to the company an extensive patronage.
On the 28th of August, 1884, Mr. Schee was married to Miss Martha E. Farlow, who was born in Clarinda, Iowa, March 2, 1865, her parents being Samuel and Arbelia (Ribble) Farlow. Iler father, a minister of the Methodist church, was connected with the Des Moines conference for more than sixty years and his influence was of no restricted order in the moral development of the state. He died in Indianola in November, 1906, and his upright life made him honored by all who knew him.
Unto Mr. and Schee have been born two daughters, Jessie and Florence, who are now students in Simpson College. Mrs. Schee is a member of the Methodist church and presides with gracious hospitality over her present home. Mr. Schee is a stalwart republican and during his residence in Milo served for two terms as mayor and is now president of the Indianola school board. He has marked literary taste, has always been a student, and his home is a favorite resort of the people of the community whose interests are in har- mony with his along lines of thought and research. The circle of his friends is select rather than large and yet his business affairs have brought to him a wide acquaintance and his probity has made him honored and respected wherever known.
IRWIN T. ANDERSON.
Irwin T. Anderson, deceased, was born in Madison county, Iowa, on the 19th of April, 1866, a son of William and Nancy (Irwin) Anderson. The former, a native of Ohio, was an early settler of Madison county and was prominently connected with agricultural pursuits, but is now deceased. His wife was a daughter of William Irwin, who in a early day located in Vir- ginia township, Warren county.
Irwin T. Anderson acquired a common-school education and subsequently engaged in teaching for several years. He afterward became a farmer. and was successfully connected with agricultural interests until the time of his demise on the 27th of January, 1895.
Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Minnie E. Sayre, a daugh- ter of Enoch Sayre, deceased, and unto them were born two children. Enoch and Aural, both of whom reside with their mother. The latter was born on the Sayre homestead, where she now makes her home, this being her share of her father's estate. She here owns one hundred and twenty aeres on see- tion 31, Virginia township, and likewise has one hundred and sixty acres in Madison county. Since her husband's death she has managed the prop- erty and in recent years has rented the land, being a lady of excellent business qualifications and good judgment.
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In his political views Mr. Anderson was a strong republican and was serving as township assessor at the time of his death. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Baptist church, while his widow is identified with the Methodist Episcopal church at New Virginia. Mrs. An- derson is a well known and highly esteemed resident of the community, her many good traits of heart and mind having gained for her an extensive circle of friends.
JOHN A. SHULER.
John A. Shuler has for sixteen years been a resident of Indianola, giving his attention to the farm and to the raising, feeding and shipping of stock. He has been one of the most extensive landowners of the county and still has large holdings of about six hundred acres, while to his children he has given four hundred and sixty acres.
Mr. Shuler began life's journey in Owen county, Indiana in 1846. His father, Peter Shmler, born in Virginia, was of German descent and in an active business life devoted his attention to farming. On leaving the south he became a resident of Gosport, Indiana, and there engaged in farming until 1850, when he removed to Wayne county, Iowa. In his new location he took up his abode upon a farm but was not long permitted to enjoy his Iowa home, for his death occurred two years later. He was identified with pioneer interests and development in Indiana and in Iowa and on coming to this state entered a tract of land from the government in Wayne county, after which he bent his energies to the task of converting the wild prairie into pro- ductive fields. He was but forty-six years of age when his life's labors were ended in death and the community mourned his loss, for they recognized in him a worthy citizen and an earnest Christian man. He belonged to the Bap- tist church and gave his political support to the whig party. His wife was also an equally faithful member of the Baptist church. She bore the maiden name of Jane S. Hancock, was born in Owen county, Indiana, and was of Scotch-German descent. She belonged to the same family as General Winfield Scott Hancock. Long surviving her husband, she died in 1905 at the ad- vanced age of eighty-three years. In their family were six children.
John A. Shuler. the fourth in order of birth, spent his youth- as do most farm boys, working in the fields from the time he was old enough to handle the plow and gaining practical experience concerning the best methods of planting and harvesting the crops as the years went by. He mastered the common branches of English learning as a country school student and later attended Pella University. He afterward engaged in teaching for eight years but through much of his life has been closely associated with farming interests. For a period of ten years. however, he was the president of the First National Bank of Indianola. He came to Warren county in 1872, set- tling in Richland township. where he resided until 1875, when he removed
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
to Union township. There he lived for sixteen years, carefully conducting his business affairs and his farm indicated in its neat and thrifty appearance his careful supervision and practical methods. He left the farm in 1891 to accept the presidency of the bank and continued as its executive head for ten years. For the past sixteen years he has lived in Indianola and now gives his supervision to his farm and to the raising, feeding and shipping of stock. In all of his varied interests he has been successful and from time to time he has added to his original property holdings in this county until at one time he was the owner of ten hundred and sixty acres of valuable land. He has since, however, given four hundred and sixty acres of this to his two children but retains about six hundred acres and from the property derives a gratifying annual income.
John A. Shuler was but seventeen years of age when in the latter part of 1863 he enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of Company B. First Indiana Heavy Artillery. With this command he served for two years, participating in the battles of Spanish Fort. Fort Gaines. Fort Morgan and Fort Blakeley He had thus had important and varied military service when mustered out, although he was still a young man in his teens when the war was over. He is now a member of James Randolph Post. G. A. R., and with his comrades delights in recalling the scenes and events which occurred upon the tented fields.
In 1876 Mr. Shuler was married to Miss Sarah A. Sandy, who was born in Union township, this county. in 1851, being a representative of one of the old pioneer families. Her parents were Jeremiah G .. and Lodena (Stitts) Sandy, the former a prominent and prosperous business man. who followed farming, merchandising and banking, being for sometime president of the First National Bank of Indianola. Mr. and Mrs. Shuler have a daughter and son. Grace and Jerry A., the latter a farmer of Lincoln township. The parents are members of the Christian church and are highly esteemed for their good traits of character and many social qualities. Mr. Shuler is a republican and has served as assessor. He has. however, never been an office seeker but has preferred to concentrate his time and energies upon business affairs, wherein he has displayed keen discernment and correct judgment. Realizing that "there is no excellence withont labor," he has been an ener- getic, progressive man and now well merits the prosperity which has come to him.
JOHN W. SLOCUM.
John W. Słocum is a well known and worthy representative of the mer- cantile interests of Indianola, where he is now condueting a drug store. Iowa numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Adair county, Angust 23, 1874.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
His father, George P. Sloeum, was a native of the state of New York, his birth having occurred near Geneseo. The family comes from German ancestry and in his boyhood days he accompanied his parents on their ro- moval from the Empire state to Illinois. He enlisted from Henry county, Illinois, in the fall of 1861 and was assigned to duty with the boys in blue of Company D), One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ilinois Infantry, serving with that regiment until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Mobile Bay and others of importance and was injured while in the line of duty. He made farming his life work and gained a gratifying measure of success by his well directed diligence and unfaltering determination. He came to lowa in 1869, settling in Adair county, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1904 when he was in his . sixty-third year. He voted with the republican party and held a number of township offices. Socially he was connected with the Grand Army of the Republic. He married Addie A. Ackley, a native of Connecticut and of English descent. She is now living at Bridgewater, Iowa, at the age of sixty- seven years, and is a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. The family of this worthy couple numbered three sons and two daughters. namely: George E., who is engaged in draying in Bridge- water. Iowa; Edna, the wife of Dr. E. L. Kaufman, a physician of Iowa; John W., of this review; Fred A., editor of a newspaper at Massena, Iowa; and Nellie, who is a teacher of music.
John W. Slocum was reared to farm life, working in field and meadow through his boyhood when not occupied with the task of acquiring an edu- cation. He attended successively the country schools, the high school at Fontanelle, Iowa, and Simpson College at Indianola, which he entered in the winter of 1894, being graduated therefrom in the class of 1898. He then pnr- sued a five years' normal course and for one year pursued a business course. He was thus well qualified by liberal educational advantages for the practical and responsible duties of a business career. He entered the drug store of J. S. Forrester & Company as a clerk and in four months purchased the store, which he has since conducted. He was registered as a pharmacist in January, 1901. IIe now manufactures certain preparations of his own, including Slo- «um's corn cure. Slocum's headache tablets and Slocum's laxative pills and has found good sale for these products as well as for the general line of drugs which he handles. In his business life he has been very successful. In addition to the drug store he owns an ice cream factory and manufactures ice cream for ten towns, at the same time enjoying a large local trade. He is likewise business manager for the Chautauqua which is held here each year and is a man of alert, energetic spirit and strong determination, who forms his plans readily and carries them forward to successful completion.
Mr. Slocum was married in 1898 to Miss Grace Shuler, who was born in Union township in 1877, a daughter of John A., and Anna Shuler, who were pioneer farming people of this county. Later they became residents of Indianola and Mr. Shuler was president of the First National Bank. He afterward retired from active business life to enjoy the fruits of his former
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toil. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Slocum have been born two children: John W., in February, 1900; and Glenn. in February, 1906. The parents are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Sloein belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He votes with the republican party and has served as alderman from the fourth ward. He is interested in all that pertains to the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of his community and is a representative citizen, wide-awake, alert and enterprising, giving his allegiance to movements and measures for the public good. He and his family ocenpy an attractive and comfortable residence and are noted for their warm-hearted hospitality.
ROBERT F. REEVES.
Robert F. Reeves is numbered among the representative citizens of Warren county. He now makes his home in Milo, where he is living retired, but for many years he was actively identified with farming interests. His birth occurred in Hancock county, Indiana, August 30, 1836. His great-great- grandfather in the paternal line was the founder of the Reeves family in America, coming here with two brothers from England before the Revolution- ary war. The grandfather. James Reeves enlisted as a soldier of the war for Independence. Both he and his wife, Elizabeth, were natives of North Carolina, where they spent their lives, their home being near Raleigh, until 1815, when they removed to Proble county, Ohio, and the following year located in Hancock county, Indiana, where they died.
Their son, Eli Reeves, was born in the Old North state and in early man- hood wedded Amelia Curry, a native of Virginia. They went to Indiana at an early day and in 1844 came to Towa, casting in their lot among the pioneer residents of this state. They first settled near Oskaloosa. where they secured a claim from the government of one hundred and sixty acres of land. There Mr. Reeves developed a wild traet into rich and prodnetive fields, upon which he spent his remaining days. He reached the age of ahnost ninety years, and his wife, surviving him for about eleven months, passed away at the age of eighty-three. Their sons and danghters were as follows: Elizabeth, who died in infancy ; Robert F. ; James, a resident of Osceola. Iowa : Azariah, who resided in MeCook county, Nebraska : Maria, the wife of A. J. Fansher, who is living near Oskaloosa : Sarah Aum, the wife of John McCormick, whose home is near Oskaloosa, Towa; William J., who is located near Montezuma. Towa: Anna. who married Nathan Cox and resides near Oskaloosa.
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