USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, from its Earliest Settlementto 1908 > Part 69
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After farming in Knox county, Illinois, for several years, Mr. Onderkirk came to Iowa in 1869 and took up his residence in Union township, Warren county, where he bonght land. but later sold that farm and purchased another in Belmont township, where he resided for eleven years. In 1884 he disposed of that plaee and bought the farm in Union township where he now lives. He has improved it by the ereetion of good and substantial buildings and in connection with general farming he raises a high grade of stoek.
Politieally Mr. Ouderkirk has been a lifelong republican, having voted that ticket since casting his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont in 1856
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MR. AND MRS. PHILESTER OUDERKIRK
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with one exception. He has been a delegate to numerous conventions of his party and served on the school board for a number of years and as secretary of the same. During the Civil war he manifested his loyalty to his country by his enlistment on the 11th of August, 1862, in Company G. Eighty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. but he was discharged in 1863 for disability. He is one of the honored citizens of his community, whose worth well merits the high regard which is uniformly given him.
OLIVER TRUEBLOOD.
Oliver Trueblood, deceased, was for many years prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Belmont township and was numbered among its leading citizens. He was born in Washington county, Indiana, on the 4th of December, 1831, and was a son of Caleb and Mary (Pyle) Trueblood, natives of North Carolina and Ohio respectively. In early life they removed to Indiana, where they continued to make their home until called to the world beyond. In their family were the following children : John, Samuel, Mrs. Esther Pritchard, Cyrus, Harry, Abraham, Oliver, Abigail, Linley and Mary Ann. Of this number only Esther, Mary Ann and Abraham are now living.
In the state of his nativity Oliver Trueblood was reared and educated, and there he was married on the 9th of November, 1854, to Miss Mary Har- ned. Her parents were John S. and Ruth (Green) Harned, the former a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, and the latter of North Carolina. They were pioneers of Washington county, Indiana, where they were still living at the time of their deaths, the father dying at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother at the age of seventy-two. By occupation Mr. Harned was a merchant, but was also interested in farming to some extent. There were nine children in his family, namely: William, Robert, Elizabeth, Jos- eph, Benjamin, Charles, Rebecca, Mary and John. Mrs. Trueblood has two brothers still living: Joseph, who resides near Flora, Illinois, and Benjamin. whose home is near Salem, Indiana. The parents were members of the So- ciety of Friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Trueblood became the parents of eight children : Ellen, born May 26, 1856, is the wife of Louis Turner of Marshall county, Iowa ; Cydia Am, born July 24, 1858, is the wife of Arthur Bailey, of Milo; Charles Elmer. born January 6, 1864, married Lillie Randolph, of Salem, Iowa, and is a Methodist minister of Winterset; Samuel J., born March 3, 1865, married Effie Crew, and resides in Warren county; John Allen, born October 4, 1868. died in infancy; Curtis H., born January 13, 1873, married Isora Smith, and lives in this county; Clara Belle, born April 24, 1874. is the wife of Charles Lener, of Warren county; and Ernest, born February 10, 1881, married Ada MeClelland and is engaged in the hardware business in Milo.
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After his marriage Mr. Trueblood continued to follow faring in Indiana until the spring of 1868, when he came to Warren county, lowa, aud settled on a farm in Belmont township, making his home there until called from this life on the 24th of November, 1894. He was a faithful and consistent mem- ber of the Society of Friends and his well spent life gained for him the confidence and respect of all with whom he was brought in contact wither in business or social life. He was widely known throughont this county and the commmity monrued the death of a useful and valued citizen. Politically he was an ardent republican. In 1897 Mrs. Trueblood removed to Milo, where he built a comfortable residence, and has since sold the farm in Bel- mout township. She is a most estimable lady and like her husband has made many friends in Warren county.
WILLIAM T. SANDY.
William T. Sandy is connected with agricultural interests but manages his farm property from his home in Indianola. He is numbered not only among the pioneer settlers but also among the native sons of this county, his birth having occurred in Union township ou the 15th of October. 1856. Ilis father, Ephraim G. Sandy, was born iu Owen county. Indiana, in 1832, and was a son of Jeremiah Sandy of that state, who in the early '50's came to lowa and entered a tract of land in Union township. Warren county. on which the town of Sandyville has since been built and thus named in his honor. He was one of the prosperous pioneer residents of the community. His son, Ephraim G. Sandy, inherited the father's business talents and enter- prise and remained actively engaged in the work of the farm until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when in 1862 he responded to the country's call .for aid and joined the Union army with the boys in blue of Company D, Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served for about two and a half years and was in the commissary department during a portion of that time. When the war was over he returned home and resumed his identifica- tion with general agricultural pursuits here. In his business affairs he ac- enmulated considerable property but died in 1868. in the thirty-sixth year of his age. Politically he was a republican but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. Ilis widow. who bore the maiden name of Eliza Jane Stitt, was born in Indiana in 1836 and survived him until 1875. She was a devoted member of the Christian church. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Stitt, both of whom died in Indiana. By her marriage Mrs. Sandy became the mother of five children: Elijah F., who died at the age of twenty-six years; William T .; Aliee, who has departed this life; an infant son, deceased ; and Inda. who has also passed away.
William T. Sandy. now the only surviving member of the family. was reared upon the home farm and attended the country schools. The occu- pation to which he gave his attention in his boyhood has since claimed his
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energies during the greater part of the time. In 1884 he made a trip to Montana and upon a ranch which he there purchased he engaged in raising horses. Later he returned to his Union township farm whereon he resided until 1892, when he removed to Prairie City, in Jasper conty, this state. There he filled the position of cashier of the State Bank for three years and in 1895 he came to Indianola, where he has since resided but gives his at- tention to the management of his farm. He is extensively engaged in feeding cattle and hogs and finds this a profitable source of income. His landed in- terests are valuable and comprise eighty acres in Loucoln township and two hundred aeres in Union township, while his wife is also the owner of one hundred and sixty aeres in the latter township.
In 1877 Mr. Sandy was married to Miss Isadore Brown, who was born January 10, 1858, in Pleasantville, Marion county, Iowa, her parents being William J. and Margaret Brown, who removed to Sandyville in 1868. Her father is now deceased but her mother is living and makes her home in Indianola. Mr. and Mrs. Sandy have three children: Maggie M., the wife of Fred Peek. a farmer of Valley Junetion, by whom she has a daughter, Lucile Marie ; Clyde B., who is farming east of Indianola, is married and has a daughter, Dorothy; and Flossie I., at home. Mrs. Sandy is a member of the Christian ehureh and Mr. Sandy belongs to the Mutual Benevolent Asso- eiation. They are both highly esteemed and he is well known as a eitizer. who gives loyal support to the republican party and stands firm in his allegiance to every eause in which he believes. Great changes have come during the period of his residenee in this county, for in his boyhood days it vet bore many evidences of the frontier but he has seen it transformed into one of the most progressive distriets of the state, and has borne his full share in the work of general development and progress, His connection with any un- dertaking insures a prosperous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to earry forward to suecessful completion whatever he is associated with. He has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a eareful man of bnsi- ness and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable, methods. which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen.
ROBERT MeELROY.
Robert McElroy, residing on one of the neatest and best improved farms in this locality, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres on seetion 32. LineoIn township. dates his residenee in Towa since 1850, and in Warren conty since 1869. He was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, April 17. 1830. the son of John and Mary N. (Watt) MeElroy. His paternal grand- father, Mathew MeElroy, was a native of Ireland, in which country he was reared and married. On coming to Ameriea he first settled in Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania. where John, the father of our subject, was born. He afterwards moved to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and there his family
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was reared. In early manhood John MeElroy was married to Miss Mary N. Watt, a native of Ireland, and settled on a farm in Pennsylvania. There he lived for some years prior to his removal to Ohio, where he cleared land and opened up a farm, later disposing of this place and settling in Hohes county. Iu 1850 he removed to lowa and settled in Marion county, after- ward removing to Warren county, where he spent the remainder of his days. He died here in 1891 at the advanced age of ninety-five years and twelve days. His wife survived him and died at the age of ninety-two.
Robert MeElroy grew to manhood in Holmes county, Ohio, and came to lowa with his parents in 1850. He aided his father in the preliminary work of getting his farm in shape for proper enltivation, also opened up a place of eighty acres for himself. He was married in Marion county in Angust, 1854. to Miss Sarah E. Smith, daughter of Elias Smith, a native of Virginia, in which state Mrs. MeElroy was born. Her father removed from Virginia to near Lafayette, Indiana, about 1836 when she was but a child, and there she passed her girlhood days. The young couple began domestic life on the Marion county farm, but this they later sold and removed to Lucas county where they bought a place of about two hundred and forty acres. On this place they resided about ten years and sold it in 1869, at which time they removed to Warren county and bought the place where they now reside. In purchasing the farm Mr. MeElroy, with an eye to the future, took into consideration more the character of the soil and possibilities of its develop- ment than he did the improvements which were on it at that the, as the house consisted of a log and frame structure and the facilities for the handling of stock and properly carrying on the work of the farm were of a very crude nature. His harvests, however, soon yielded him bounteous returns and he began the work of improvement which has resulted in the present handsome appearance of the place, and the installation of the necessary modern ma- chinery for the profitable conduct of his business. He has built a substan- tial two-story residence, good barn, and the necessary outbuildings, has established a fine orchard. and has the place all under fence. hi connec- tion with general farming Mr. MeElroy raises good common stock. feeding for the market about a carload of cattle annually, and also a large number of hogs.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. McElroy have been born five children, three of whom are living. A son. George W., died at the age of about two years, and an- other son. Charles W., grew to manhood and died here on the farm, November 3. 1904. Of those who are living, the oldest. William R., is married and lives on a farm near Hartford. A sketch of his life appears elsewhere in this volume. Mary Ann, the widow of L. F. Hoops, resides in Amarillo, Texas. Robert Watt, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this edition, is married and resides on a farm.
Mr. MeElroy has been a lifelong republican. He cast his first ballot for president for Fremont in 1856. since which year he has not missed a vote for the republican presidential nominee. Outside of home affairs Mr McElroy has not aspired to public office, though his personal interest in local improvement
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prompted him to accept the office of township trustee, in which capacity he served for two terms. He has ever been identified with the school work here and has served as director for twenty-four years, and has acted secretary of the school board for the past ten or twelve years. He has also served as delegate to the county conventions. He and his estimable wife are both members of the United Presbyterian church, of Scotch Ridge, of which organ- ization he served as elder for a number of years.
S. A. RALSTON.
S. A. Ralston is numbered among the prominent business men of Lacona. where he has been engaged in the drug business for the past fifteen years. He is a native son of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Allamakee county, December 16, 1858, and is one of a family of three sous and four daughters, born of the marriage of John and Isabella (Archibald) Ralston. The father was born in Scotland, where he remained until he attained mature years, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York .. He there spent the succeeding two years, when, atttracted by the opportunities of the new west, he made liis way to Illinois where he remained one year, while in 1858 he continued on his journey to lowa, locating in Allamakee county, where he purchased a farm. Mrs. Ralston was also born in Scotland and both par- ents are still living, having now reached the advanced age of more than eighty years.
S. A. Ralston, whose name introduces this review, was reared in his native county and remained with his father until he reached years of ma- turity. He then learned the photographie business and carried on an enter- prise of his own for eight years, of which period he spent four years in Albia, Iowa, and for four years in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He then re- turned to Iowa and located in Indianola, where he learned the drug business under the direction of a Mr. Husted with whom he remained for three years. Subsequently he eame to Laeona and engaged in business on his own account and is still conducting this enterprise. He carries a complete line of drugs and druggist's sundries and has built up a large and extensive trade, owing to his reasonable prices and the courteons treatment which he extends to his patrons. He erected the structure in which his business is located and he also owns a modern and commodious residence in which he and his fam- ily reside.
It was on the 20th of May. 1896, that Mr. Ralston was nited in mar- riage to Miss Grace Myers, a daughter of Isaac Myers, one of the pioneer settlers of Iowa. Mrs. Ralston was born and reared in Lacona and by her marriage has become the mother of one son, F. Paul.
Mr. Ralston gives his political support to the men and measures of the republican party but has never been active as an office seeker. He has, however, been identified with the schools for several years and at the present
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writing is acting as the efficient school treasurer. Having spent his entire life in lowa, with the exception of two years, spent in South Dakota, and the two years in Wisconsin, he is well known in many sections and all who know him speak of him in terms of highest praise. His business, too, is ever conducted according to the strictest rules of integrity and fair dealing so that he is highly respected in business as well as social circles.
THOMAS T. ANDERSON
Thomas T. Anderson, senior editor of the Indianola Herald since 1886, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, March 25, 1844, and came to Iowa with his parents, Andrew and Mary (Findley) Andersou, both of whom were natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania. The father, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, was born in 1812 and departed this life in March, 1878. He was a saddler by trade. In his boyhood days he removed with his mother to Ohio, the father having previously died, and there the family opened up a farm, cutting the timber from a tract of land preparatory to developing the fields. Andrew Anderson was thus identified with the agricultural interests of Ohio until 1854, when he removed westward to lowa and settled in Davenport.
There he remained for a short time and was also for a brief period a resident of Mahaska county, but in the fall of 1857 he came to Warren county and took up his abode in the log cabin known as the Greenfield cabin. It had been built by Elisha Perkins and a pieture of it is shown in this work. The family oeeupied that primitive dwelling for about a year and were closely associated with the pioneer improvement of the county. Andrew Anderson lived an industrious and frugal life, remaining a resident of Greenfield town- ship until within a year of his death. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church and was universally esteemed by his neighbors as a man of the strictest integrity and of unswerving honor.
His political allegiance was given to the republican party. His wife, who was born July 29, 1816, died in 1857 in the little cabin home previously alluded to. She, too, was of Scotch-Irish lineage and was the eldest daughter of the Rev. Samuel Findley, a well known divine of Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Anderson were born nine sons: William M., who was a physician of St. Charles, lowa, but is now deceased ; Samuel Findley, who was a member of Company G, Third lowa Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Shiloh; Hugh, who died at the age of fourteen years; Thomas T., of this review; James M., associated with his brother in the publication and ownership of the Indianola Herald; John T., a merchant of Seward, Nebraska ; Andrew P., deceased ; Ross P., an attorney of Seward, Nebraska ; and an infant.
Thomas T. Anderson accompanied his parents to Iowa and in his boyhood acquired a country-school education. Ile afterward learned the harness- making trade, which he followed nntil 1882, when he was elected clerk of the court and served for four years. In 1886 he and his brother James purchased
ANDREW ANDERSON
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the Indianola Herald and since that time he has been senior editor of this popular paper. It is one of the most successful journals published in the state, most progressive methods being followed, while at all time the paper is kept abreast of the advancement that is being continually made in the journalistic profession.
At the time of the Civil war. Thomas Anderson loyally espoused the cause of the Union, enlisting as a member of Company D. second lowa Cavalry. at Des Moines. He was but seventeen years of age when he joined the army and was made chief bugler, remaining at the front until the close of hostilities. He participated in many important engagements, including the battles of Corinth, Iuka, Farmington, Franklin, Nashville, and about forty other battles and skirmishes. When the war was over, he returned home in November. 1865. and resumed work at the harness-maker's trade. His life has always been one of intense and well directed activity and his success is attributed en- tirely to his own labors.
Mr. Anderson was married in 1866 to Miss Clara Liston, a daughter of Jesse and Rebecca Liston and a native of Gallia coanty, Ohio, who came to Warren county about 1849. Mrs. Anderson's parents were among the eight people who organized the Methodist church in 1850. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were born four children : Nellie, deceased ; Edgar L., publisher of the Atlantic (Ia.) Telegraph, a daily and weekly paper; Eva R., the wife of Ed. T. Hatfield, a real-estate dealer of Chicago; and Thomas T., who died in infancy. The wife and mother passed away January 29. 1890. at the age of forty-six years. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and her many excellent traits of heart and mind endeared her to those with whom she was associated. In 1895 Mr. Anderson was again married, his second union being with Lyde A. MeCool, who was born in Scott county. Iowa. Both Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. in which he is serving as an official.
He also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to James Randolph Post. No. 116, G. A. R., of which he is a past commander. He is likewise connected with the Southern Towa Press Association. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he was postmaster of Indianola for four years under President Harrison. Both as a private eitizen and through the columns of his paper he advocates needed reform and progress in municipal affairs and his labors in behalf of Indianola's welfare have been effective and far-reaching.
JAMES M. ANDERSON.
James M. Anderson, the junior partner of the firm of Anderson Brothers, owners and publishers of the Indianola Herald, was born in Guernsey connty, Ohio, November 22. 1846. and, as stated. the family eame to Iowa in 1854. he being then a youth of eight years. No event of special importance occurred to
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vary the routine of farm hfe for Ium in his boyhood days. He worked in the fields, aiding in plowing, planting and harvesting the crops, but thinking to tind other pursuits more congenial. he learned the trade of saddlery and harnessmaking, and followed it continously until 1882, when he again went upon the farm. Four years later he joined his brother, Thomas T. Anderson, in the purchase of the Indianola Herald from the firm of Baker & Knotts, and since that time they have continuously condneted this journal. They have a well appointed printing establishment and the Herald, neat and attrae- tive in appearance, bright and newsy in its conduct and thoroughly up-to-date in every partienlar, is now enjoying an extensive circulation and an excellent advertising patronage.
James M. Anderson was married in 1868 to Miss Sarah E. Harper. a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Harper. Mrs. Anderson was born in Ohio and died on the 27th of August. 1897, at the age of fifty-three years. There were five children of that marriage. of whom three are living: Andrew C., the eldest. is the owner and publisher of the Fort Collins (Colo.) Conrier, in partnership with Charles D. Miller, present foreman of the Indianola Herald. Maude E .. is associated with her brother Andrew on the Courier, and Mary Pearl is now a teacher in the schools of Fort Collins. Having lost his first wife. Mr. Anderson afterward married Mrs. Viola Blodgett. nee Hoaglan, of Indianola, formerly of Clarke county. lowa Both Mr. and Mrs. James M. Anderson hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and upon its ticket he was elected to represent his district in the legislature in 1899 and again in 1901. He is the author of the famous road law of Iowa, which cansed considerable comment throughout the state, and during his two terms as a member of the house he was connected with much important constructive legislation as accomplished in the committee rooms. In professional lines he is associated with the Southern Iowa Press Association. In his attitude everywhere is manifested the true spirit of altruism and although aggressive in every sense of the word. he has always avoided even the semblance of that popular tendency so detri- mental to humanity. namely the sacrifice of friendship or principle for the promulgation of selfish interests.
WILLIAM H. SCHOOLEY.
William H. Schooley figured for many years as one of the prominent and influential residents of Indianola and Warren county. In his attitude every- where was manifested the true spirit of altruism : and although aggressive in every sense of the word, he always avoided even the semblance of that popular tendency so detrimental to the common welfare of humanity, namely. the sacrifice of friendship or principle for the promulgation of selfish interests. He was born in Columbiana county. Ohio. in 1840. a son of Reuben and Hannah
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(MeChin) Schooley, both of whom were natives of the same county and belonged to old families of the Society of Friends, the father being of Scotch and German descent, while the mother was of Irish extraction. Reuben Schooley was an old-line whig until the dissolution of the party, when he joined the ranks of the recently organized republican party.
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