USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, from its Earliest Settlementto 1908 > Part 76
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In September. 1854. Mr. Myriek was married in Marion county. Towa, to Miss Elizabeth Long, who was born in Kentucky but was reared in this state. They made their home for a time in Palmyra. later removed to Indianola and from there to Des Moines, working at his trade in all of these places. He finally returned to Warren county and located on a farm near Palmyra. where he continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life. He owned one hundred and thirty-one acres of land and successfully carried on farming and stock-raising. making a specialty of hogs.
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ELI MYRICK.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Myrick were born the following children : Anderson, a farmer living near Hartford, Iowa; Perry, a farmer of South Dakota; Eliel G., a physician of Montrose, Iowa; Asa P., a farmer and breeder of fine horses, living in this county; Jane, the deceased wife of John F. Wellons, of Warren county ; Lavena, wife of Henry Caiu, of Hartford; and Iva, wife of S. C. Love, who is station agent and telegraph operator at Wyeth, Iowa.
By his ballot Mr. Myrick supported the men and measures of the republican party. He served as road supervisor and was officially connected with the schools but never cared for political honors. He was a prominent Mason, belonging to Hartford Lodge, No. 83, of which he served as worthy master for three years, and he was officiating at a Masonie funeral when he died suddenly on the 21st of June, 1908. His death was widely and deeply mourned for he had many friends throughout the county which had been his home for almost sixty-three years. He took a prominent part in its develop- ment and upbuilding and he justly deserved the high regard in which he was uniformly held. His estimable wife is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Palmyra and like her husband has a host of warm friends in the community which has so long been her home.
JAMES A. LOCKRIDGE.
James A. Lockridge, residing on section 30, Greenfield township, is numbered among the honored pioneers of Warren county, having made his home here continuously sinee 1853. His birth occurred in Hillsboro, Indiana, February 3, 1836, his parents being Samuel and Mary Philipp (Meeks) Lock- ridge. The father, who was a native of Augusta county, Virginia, followed farming as a life work and, after being married in West Virginia, brought his wife to Henry county. Indiana, and subsequently to Brown county, that state. At the latter place Samuel Lockridge entered six hundred and forty acres of land, being successfully engaged in its operation for sixteen years. On the expiration of that period he disposed of the land and came to Warren county, Iowa, in 1853. purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres in Jefferson township. There he made his home until he passed away at the age of fifty-five years. being accidentally killed in a sawmill. The death of his wife occurred in 1896, when she had attained the age of eighty-four years. Their family numbered nine children, four sous and five daughters, all of whom are still living.
James A. Lockridge, the second in order of birth in his father's family, was rearcd to agricultural pursuits and accompanied his parents on their removal to this county. In August, 1853, he began the operation of a rented farm south of Spring Hill. continuing to cultivate rented land until eight years after his marriage. In 1867 his father gave him the forty acres on which he now resides in Greenfield township, to which he added from time to time until he now has a valuable and well improved property of three hundred
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and fifty-eight acres. It was originally timber land but through his earnest and well directed labors has been transformed into a productive and highly cultivated farm. He erected a substantial and commodions dwelling and barns, set ont an orchard of one thousand trees and likewise assisted in laying out the roads here. In addition to the work of general farming he has also engaged in raising and feeding cattle and hogs, both branches of his business bringing to him a gratifying annual return.
In December. 1858, in Warren county, occurred the marriage of Mr. Lockridge and Miss Amanda J. Bedell, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Lefting Bedell. who came to this county in 1845. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Loekridge are as follows: Morganey. at home; Roach, a farmer of Linn township. who wedded Miss Lawrence, by whom he has two children, Pearl and Harry Lawrenee; Chrystie, also at home; Wytha, the wife of Whitley Allen, an agrieulturist of Greenfield township, by whom she has one child, Agnes ; and Hephizibah, the wife of C. J. Pieree, of Des Moines.
Mr. Loekridge gives his politieal allegiance to the democracy where national questions and issues are involved but casts an independent loeal ballot. His fellow townsmen. recognizing his worth and ability. have ealled him to public office and he has served as road supervisor and school director. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church of Norwalk, in which he has held office. Fifty-five years have passed sinec he came to Warren county. This state was then a wild district, its lands un- claimed, its resources undeveloped. A few courageous frontiersmen had dared to locate within its borders but the work of progress and improvement remained to the future and there was little promise of early development. In the years which have since passed, Mr. Lockridge has not only witnessed a most wonderful transformation but has largely aided in the labors which have transformed the wild tract into a splendid commonwealth. He is a worthy representative of a well known old family here and is one of the best informed men of his age in the county. He is well acquainted with all the old settlers and, though he has passed the seventy-second milestone on life's journey, is still an aetive and public-spirited citizen, giving his cooperation to every movement and measure which tends to promote the general welfare or further the agricultural interests of Warren county.
B. K. KENNEY.
B. K. Kenney was born on the 28th of November. 1848. on the farm where he now resides on section 5. Allen township. his parents being S. T. and Eliz- abeth (Kessler) Kenney. the former a native of Hendricks county, Indiana. and the latter of Virginia. The father was reared and married in his native state. and in 1848 brought his bride to Warren county. Iowa. entered land from the government and made his home here until the time of his demise. which occurred near Carlisle in 1900. when he had attained the age of ninety.
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two years. In addition to his farming interests he preached the gospel as a minister of the Baptist church for almost a half century, his earnest labors proving an important factor in the moral development of this county. His widow, who is now eighty years of age, resides at Liberty Center.
B. K. Kenney, the eldest of nine sons, was reared on the old homestead farm and acquired a common-school education. Subsequent to his marriage he operated a rented farm for fourteen years and for three years rented another tract of land. He then purchased sixty acres on the Middle river, later bought twenty acres more, erected a house and farm buildings and de- veloped a good farm. In 1891 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the farm where he now resides on section 5, Allen township, and subsequently bought forty aeres more, so that his home place now comprises two hundred acres of well improved and valuable land. He has here erected a commodius and substantial residence, as well as outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, has fenced the fields and altogether has a model farming property. For the past sixteen years he has also operated an additional tract of two hundred acres of rented land. In addition to the work of general farming he also raises good graded horses and feeds about two carloads of hogs annu- ally. He likewise raises the Percheron horses and has a male called Black Joc at the head of his herd. Starting in life on his own account without financial assistance, the success which has erowned his efforts is entirely the result of his unfaltering energy and unwearicd industry, guided by good bus- iness judgment.
In September, 1873, Mr. Kenney was united in marriage to Miss Martha Randelman, a native of Indiana, by whom he has cight children, five sons and three daughters. The record of the family is as follows: Alfred B., who oper- ates a hundred-acre farm in Allen township and who wedded Miss McDaniel, by whom he has two children; Carrie Dell, who has four children and is the wife of J. F. Klinc. an agriculturist of Polk and Warren counties; Ernest F., who follows farming in Warren county and who wedded Miss Lyons and has two children ; George H., who is a graduate of Drake University and is a physician, now being engaged in hospital practice at Des Moines; Ira J., who is on the home farm; Levi M., who married Miss Fisher and also resides on the home farm; Nina O., who is a graduate of the Carlisle high school and Drake University and who has been a school teacher for several years; and Pearl Q., who is still under the parental roof.
Mr. Kenney gives his politcal allegance to the republean party where questions of national importance are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot. For two years he served as justice of the peace and has been a member of the school board for fifteen years, the cause of education ever finding in him a stalwart champion. Fraternally he is connected with the Yeomen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Carlisle, having passed through all the chairs in the latter order. He is an official member of the Christian church at Carlisle, with which his wife is also identified. Throughout his entire life or for a period of sixty years he has resided in this county, being a worthy representative of one of its oldest and best
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known families. He still has in his possession the deed which was issued to his father by the government in 1848, and from that early day to the present time has been an interested witness and active participant in the work of development and progress here.
THOMAS BARKLEY.
Thomas Barkley. a prosperous farmer living on section 2, Linn town- ship. is of Irish descent. his father, Robert Barkley. having been born in Ireland, whence he emigrated to the United States when he was but eighteen years of age. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Ohio and took an active interest in the political affairs of the community, his support being given to the democracy. He was called to varions township and comity offices, among them being that of auditor of Noble county for the years 1851. 1852 and 1853. In 1856 he removed to Iowa, first settling in Linn Grove, but he later removed to the farm of four hundred acres which he had entered in 1854 in Linn township. Warren county. He was the first supervisor of this township under the old organization. He built a residence on his land and lived there the remainder of his days, passing away at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, Priscilla (Atkinson) Barkley, was a native of Ohio. She survived her husband a number of years and died on the old homestead abont one year ago. aged eighty-eight years. She was a member of the Christian church They were the parents of nine children, but two of whom are now living. namely, Mrs. Lockridge, of Idaho, and Thomas, of this review.
Thomas Barkley was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, February 17, 1842. HIe was, therefore, but fourteen years of age when his father removed from Ohio to Towa, since which time he has made his home continuously in this county. He has no occasion to feel other than most grateful to the country, for the soil has responded generously to the cultivation he has given it and he has gradually been able to increase his holdings until he now owns two hundred and forty acres of good land, with all the necessary improvements for the comfort of himself and family and he has an assured income from the products of his farm.
Mr. Barkley was married in 1868 to Miss Roxana Cale, who was born in Indiana, January 1. 1849, the daughter of John H. and Amelia (Penry ) Cale. They removed from Indiana to this county in 1855, since which time they have been residents of Linn township. The mother is dead, but the father is still living and makes his home with his daughter Mrs. Barkley.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Barkley have been born eight children. but four of ivhom are still living : Elmer L., a resident of Greenfield township, married Cora Mahan and has one child, Lnl May. Charles H. married Effie Haynes and lives on his father's farm. Alvin T., a resident of Linn township, married Florence Patrick and has one son. John Thomas. Fred is at home.
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Mr. and Mrs. Barkley are members of the Christian church at Norwalk, and the community recognizes in them the type which goes to make up its substantial citizens and contributes largely to its moral and social welfare. Mr. Barkley gives his political allegiance to the democracy, and is actively interested in the questions and issues of the day. At one time he served as township trustee.
JACOB MOON.
Jacob Moon residing on his two hundred aere farm in section 34, Otter township, is now enjoying the reward of a life of thrift and industry in his retirement from active duty with an assured income that more than exceeds his present wants, and at the same time has the satisfaction of seeing the children who have grown up under his fatherly care and guidance nicely set- tled in life, in happy homes of their own.
Jacob Moon was born in Allegheny county, Maryland, on December 15, 1830, the son of George and Hannah Kirk Moon. His father was a boot and shoe maker by trade, and also operated a small farm. In politics he was an old line whig. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist church. The parents removed from Maryland to Preston county, West Virginia, where the mother died at the age of about seventy. The father passed away in 1888 at the age of nearly ninety years. They were the parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom but three are now living, namely : Jacob, of this review; Lizzie, the wife of E. J. Cox, of Barbour county, West Virginia ; and George W., who lives in Preston county, West Virginia. George W. served in the Union army, as did one other brother, who died in April, 1907.
Jacob Moon passed the days of his boyhood and youth in Preston county, West Virginia, where he attended the subscription schools of that period. Books were few and of primitive style. He aided his father in the conduct of the farm until, at the age of nineteen, he started out in life for himself. The construction work of the Cumberland & Ohio Railroad, which was then in the process of building, afforded him remunerative employment, where he held a position with the mason contractor, as well as in other parts of the work. This being completed he was employed as a farm hand and helped float barges of timber down the Ohio river. He eventually bought a small farm in Monongalia county, West Virginia, where he was married, and later sold out and came to Iowa. He worked at the mason's trade in Clayton county until he accumulated his first thousand dollars, and then came to Warren county, where he has been very successful in stock-dealing, buying and raising cattle, also feeding cattle and hogs, and dealing in horses, besides engaging in gen- eral farming. The profits of his business he invested largely in Warren county land, at one time owning about five hundred acres, but he has since sold con- siderable of this and with the proceeds of its sale has aided his children in getting established.
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In October, 1856, was celebrated the marriage of Jacob Moon and Miss Frances E. Dunn, who was born in Monongalia county, West Virginia, May 11. 1839, the daughter of James and Elizabeth Ann (Shelf) Dunn. Mr and Mrs. Dim were born and reared in that county, where the father engaged in farming. He died in 1907 at the age of ninety-three years, the mother having passed away some years before. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moon have been born seven children. as follows: Wilbert, born December 6, 1857, married Miss Sallie Jane Bales, in Nebraska, and resides on the north half of section 34, Otter township, where he operates eighty acres of land belonging to his Eather. They have five children, namely : Edna, Ransell, Paul, Floyd Hooper, Beulah and Lena. Calvin was born December 5, 1858, and died at the age of eighteen months. Omer J. was born April 24, 1860. On April 5, 1888, he married Miss Bertha E. Turner, by whom he has one child, Rolla. He is en- gaged in farming in Payne county, Oklahoma. Mary Ellen was born October 12, 1862. On the 24th of March, 1887, she became the wife of Francis M. Fetters, a farmer residing on section 3. Liberty township, and they have two children, Bert and Luln May. Solomon Dallas, born April 29, 1865, conducts a farm in Liberty township. He was married on February 22, 1889, to Miss Mary M. Hess, and they have four children, Pearl, Carl, Ray and Clyde. Elizabeth H. was born November 5, 1868. On January 17, 1889, she became the wife of Douglas C. Hess, a farmer residing on section 36, Otter township, and they have had three children, Meldy, deceased; Alma, living, and their first- born died in infancy. James W., born May 13, 1874, married Miss Clara Bales, daughter of Nathan Bales, and has two children, Iva and Gladys.
Mr. Moon is liberal in his religious views. For twenty-five years he was active in Masonic circles, though for some years now he has not been able to attend their meetings. In politics he is a republican, though part of the family are democrats. He has never sought nor desired public office.
CHARLES M. WELCH.
Charles M. Welch, an up-to-date farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 32, Lincoln township, is numbered among the oldest settlers of the county, dating his residence here since 1852. He is the son of John E. and Catherine (McCless) Welch, both of whom are natives of Columbiana county, Ohio, where they were married and where our subject was born on August 26, 1847. He had one brother, Russell. who died in 1866. John E. Welch was a blacksmith by trade, which occupation he followed for a number of years. In 1852 he left his native state for Warren county, Iowa, where he acquired some two hundred acres of land. Some of it he entered from the government, and the remainder he bought. He was in all the vigor of his young manhood at that time, being thirty-eight years of age, and bent his energies in the direction of subdning the wilderness and establishing system and order out of the chaos that he encountered in this uncleared, unfenced
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tract of land. At the same time he set up a blacksmith shop on his place and added to his income by doing blacksmithing for the neighbors. He made a marked snecess of his undertakings and when he passed away in June, 1899, it must have been with the consciousness of a life well spent. His wife died in 1881.
Charles M. Welch passed the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof. On January 1, 1872, he was married to Miss Mary S. Brown, a native of Mahaska county, lowa, and a daughter of George Brown, who re- moved with his family to Warren county. Unto this union have been born three children, namely : John E., who married Miss Augusta Fisher; G. F., a real-estate dealer in Ganado, Texas, and Nellie, the wife of W. O. Hardin, a farmer of Polk county. They have two children, Mary and Clyde.
After his marriage Mr. Welch resided on his father's place and carried on the work of the farm for several years. Later he bought a place adjoining this, where he located with his family and resided for a number of years. Upon the death of his mother he returned to the old homestead and took charge of the farm and business. He has since made an addition to and re- modeled the honse, has built a good barn and improved the place until it is now one of the best appearing. best producing farms in this section of the country. In all Mr. Welch now owns and operates two hundred and fifteen acres of land. He combines with general farming the feeding and raising of stock, finding in this a hierative source of income, while at the same time building up his land.
Mr. Welch gives his political support to the democracy. He cast his first vote in 1868, nor has he missed voting for any presidential candidate of his party since that time. While taking an active interest in the affairs of govern- mneut he has never personally aspired to office, but by reason of the interest he has had in the public schools he has served as school director for a number of years. Socially he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Welch and the daughter, Mrs. Hardin, are members of the Baptist church.
W. A. SIMONS.
W. A. Simons, a prosperous and progressive agriculturist of Lincoln township, whose home is on section 28, has spent his entire life in Warren county, his birth occurring here April 17, 1872. He is a son of D. N. Simons, a prominent citizen of this county, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. Upon his father's farm our subject spent the years of his minor- ity, early acquiring an excellent knowledge of all the duties which fall to the lot of the farmer, and in the meantime he also acquired a good practical edu- cation in the common schools and the Ackworth Academy.
On the 18th of March, 1896, in Lincoln township, Mr. Simons married Miss Edith Buchanan, a daughter of Alexander Buchanan, one of the sub- stantial farmers of Allen township, who is represented elsewhere in this work.
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She was born in Illinois but grew to womanhood in this county, and by her marriage has become the mother of one child, Mary.
AAfter his marriage Mr. Simons located on one of his father's farms and he is now engaged in the operation of two hundred and sixty aeres on section 28, Lincoln township. He is very progressive in his methods of carrying on his work and is meeting with well deserved snecess in his farming and stock- raising. In business affairs he has always been found trustworthy and reliable and his labors are meeting with a merited reward. His political support is given the republican party but he has never songht nor desired office, pre- ferring to give his undivided attention to his farming interests. A Methodist in religious belief, he attends services at the Farmers Chapel, while his wife is a member of the Friends church at Ackworth. They are well known and highly esteemed people and have a host of warm friends in the commity where they reside.
AUSTIN WARNOCK.
Austin Warnock, who is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Carlisle and one of the valiant defenders of the Union during the Civil war, was born on the 20th of December, 1831, in Ross county, Ohio, of which state his father, John Warnock, was also a native, but his paternal grand- parents came from Ireland and were early settlers of Ross county. In the spring of 1852 the father brought his family to lowa and settled on a farm in Polk county, where he purchased two hundred and sixty-one acres of land, but he was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, however, for he passed away in 1855. His wife survived him for a number of years, being eighty- seven at the time of her death.
Austin Warnock spent the days of his minority in his native county, being twenty-one years of age when the family came to Iowa and located in Polk county. After the death of the father he and his brothers carried on the farm until after the outbreak of the rebellion. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he enlisted in September. 1862, as a member of Company C, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and went south with his eommand to Missouri. He participated in the engagements at Port Gibson, Magnolia Hill, Champion Hill and Black River Bridge, where the colonel of the regi- ment was killed. He was under fire almost every day for three months and was in the siege of Vieksburg and Jackson, Mississippi, after which he returned to Vieksburg. He was granted a thirty-day furlough which he spent at home and then rejoined his command at Carrollton, Louisiana, near New Orleans. After many fights and skirmishes they were sent to Texas and were later ordered to join the Banks expedition up the Red River but remained at Fort Durussa and met General Banks on his retreat. Later they assisted in the capture of Spanish Fort and from there went to Mobile and then baek to Texas. From Galveston they proceeded north to Columbus,
MR. AND MRS. AUSTIN WARNOCK
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Texas, and were next located near Houston. The war having ended, Mr. Warnock then returned to Davenport, where he was honorably discharged in September, 1865, never having been wounded nor taken prisoner during his entire service in the war.
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