USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, from its Earliest Settlementto 1908 > Part 79
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
For several years after the war Mr. Shuhire engaged in farming on rented land in Richland township and then purchased a farm of one bun- dred acres, which he operated a number of years, but finally sold that place in 1901 and bought the farm where he now resides. He has made many useful and valuable improvements upon the place, which consists of ninety-four acres, but since 1905 he has rented the land and is now practically living-retired, en- joying a well earned rest.
Mr. Shuhire was married in Hartford, in September. 1867, to Miss Sallie Tidball, who was born and reared in Ohio, and they became the parents of five children who are still living, namely: Martha Alice, the wife of William Nichols, of Hartford; Elizabeth J., the wife of JJoshua Carrens, of Colorado; John H., a resident of California; Lettie, a teacher of Colorado, and Lena B., at home. They also lost three children in infancy. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Shulmire was again married in 1884, his second union being with Lizzie Vernon, a native of Ohio.
The republican party finds in Mr. Shulmire a stanch supporter of its principles, and he has served as road supervisor and also on the school board for fifteen years. He is a Master Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Hart- ford, and is also an honored member of Hartford Post, G. A. R., where he enjoys meeting with his old army comrades. His wife is a member of the Christian church and both are held in high regard by all who know then.
OSBORN LOPER.
Osborn Loper, a successful and enterprising agriculturist residing on seetion 28, Squaw township, Warren county, was born in Jones county, Iowa, March 4, 1853. His father, Daniel Loper, was born in Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 29, 1825, and at the age of fifteen left home to come to the west. He intended to buy land in Chicago, which was then only a small village, but did not like the location and subsequently stopped at Burlington, Iowa, from which point he enlisted for service in the Mexican war. In 1847 or 1848 he took up his abode in Jones county, Iowa, purchased government land and there resided until eighteen years ago, when he removed to sonthwestern Kansas, where he still lives. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Jane Burnett, was born in Ohio on the 6th of August, 1831, and also still survives, living with her husband in Kansas.
Osborn Loper, who was one of a family of thirteen children, acquired his education in the distriet school and remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of twenty-three years. For the next four years he was engaged in farming rented land, and in 1881 came to Warren county, pur- chasing his present farm of two hundred acres. which was then a wild and unimproved traet. Subsequently he bought forty aeres more of the wild, unbroken prairie but has brought all of his land under a high state of cultiva- tion and has placed many improvements thereon, including a modern residence.
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barns and other buildings. Through his well directed energy and capable business management he has become prosperous but in former years met with misfortune by going security for others, whose bills were left for him to pay. Possessing a broad humanitarian spirit, he paid them without ill feeling and resolutely set to work to retrieve his lost possessions. Success to him does not mean the accumulation of worldly goods alone but the build- ing up of a character which will withstand the temptations of life and which will remain as a blessed benediction after he has passed to his reward.
On the 21st of January, 1876, Mr. Loper was united in marriage to Miss Mary Porter, who was born in Poweshick county, Iowa, August 5, 1856, a daughter of Ross and Sarah Jane Porter, who were natives of Ohio but now are deceased. The wedding took place in Jones county, Iowa, and this union was blessed with four children, three of whom are living: Myrtle E., the wife of W. S. Anderson, of Ontario, California; and Ora and Howard, at home, who are attending Simpson College at Indianola.
For many years Mr. Loper has voted the prohibition ticket, believing that the temperance question is a paramount issue before the country today and that the final eradication of the liquor traffic is the wisest course to pursue. He has served as township assessor for three years and for a similar period has been township trustee, discharging his duties in prompt and capable man- ner. Both he and his wife are faithful and devoted members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church at Medora, Iowa, being converted, he at eighteen and she at fifteen. He is now serving as class leader in the church and is an ex- emplary Christian, doing unto others as he would that they should do unto him. He is public spirited, giving his cooperation to every movement which tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community.
RICHARD MOORE.
Richard Moore was born in Monroe county, Indiana, in 1825, and died in Warren county, Iowa, December 3, 1907. The intervening span of eighty- two years was to him a period of activity and business enterprise, of progress- iveness in citizenship and of recognition of one's obligations to his fellowman. His youth was spent upon a farm in his native county, his parents being Garrett and Catherine (English) Moore. The father was a native of Ireland and came to the new world in 1817, settling first at Newfoundland, Nova Scotia. In 1843 he became a resident of Indiana and his life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Catherine English, a native of County Kent, Ireland, who in her later life came to Iowa with her son. Her family numbered four children.
Richard Moore was reared upon the home farm and attended the country schools. While his educational training was limited to the branches of learn- ing therein taught throughout his entire life he broadened his knowledge by reading and investigation and in the school of experience learned many val-
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uable lessons. The year 1856 witnessed his arrival in lowa, at which time he located four miles northwest of Indianofa, settling on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. This he purchased and for many years he made it his home. As the financial resources increased he added to the property from time to time until within the boundaries of his place were comprised four hundred acres of rich and productive land. In addition to the tilling of the soil he engaged quite extensively in stock-raising, making a specialty of sheep. He was diligent and persevering and worked earnestly to accomplish anything that he undertook, while in all of his dealings he was straightforward and reliable.
In September, 1856, Mr. Moore was married to Miss Elizabeth C. Ramsey, who was born in Orange county, Indiana, in 1834, and was a daughter of James D. and Nancy H. (Cleveland) Ramsey, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. Her father was a carpenter and farmer. Mrs. Moore is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Moore voted with the democracy but the honors and emoluments of office had little attraction for him. How- ever, he served for one term as supervisor and was a faithful official. He was a man who stood high in the estimation of his neighbors and friends, for his entire life record was characterized by manly, honorable principles.
BOYD F. READ.
Boyd F. Read, a prominent and well known farmer and breeder of pure bred Shire horses, is the owner of six hundred acres of valuable land on sections 13, 14 and 23, Virginia township. He was born in this township on the 25th of December, 1865, a son of John B. Read, whose sketch appears on another page of this work. He supplemented the education which he had acquired in the public schools of New Virginia by a course in Iowa Business College, at Des Moines, and devoted two winters to study at Simpson College. Since starting out in life on his own account he has always carried on agricultural pursuits as a life work. He has lived on his present place, the old John Van Scoy property, since 1902. He is a lover of fine stock and is one of the largest breeders of horses in the county, being now in partnership with his brother, C. E. Read. They have an imported English Shire horse at the head of their stable, which is one of several they have owned.
In 1894 Mr. Read was united in marriage to Miss Estella Strock, who was born in Virginia township, a daughter of W. C. Strock, who is mentioned on another page of this volume. For several years prior to her marriage she engaged in teaching school. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Read have been born four children : Jarona Olive, John Clarke, Esther Irene and Boyd Francis.
Politically Mr. Read is a republican but has no desire for political pre- ferment. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which she is actively and helpfully interested. Having spent his entire life in this county, Mr. Read is widely and favorably known for his excellent
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personal traits of character as well as for his praiseworthy success as a farmer and breeder of fine horses. Mr. Read, his father and brother, were among the original stockholders in the Citizens Savings Bank of New Virginia.
M. C. RAY.
M. C. Ray, a progressive, active young business man, who acts as station agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Ford and conducts extensive farming and stock-raising interests on section 15, Riehland township, was born at Hartford, this state, November 12, 1872, the son of James M. and Mary E. (Snowden) Ray. His father was a native of Indiana, where he was born in 1818. He was a cooper by trade, in which occupation he was en- gaged in Indianapolis at the time of his marriage to Mary E. Snowden, who was born at Upper Sandusky, Ohio. The young couple came to Warren county, October 14, 1847. where the husband entered land one mile west of Hartford. He also established a cooper shop at Hartford and divided his time between the two industries, making the farm his permanent home. Dur- ing the dark days of the Civil war he enlisted in Colonel IIenderson's regiment at Indianola-the Thirty-fourth Infantry, and held the rank of corporal. He was honorably discharged and returned to his anxious family and again took up the work of the civilian. Here he spent the remainder of his days, passing away September 2. 1896. having survived his wife, who died on June 7, 1896, but a few months. They were the parents of five sons and four daughters, and Charles is the only one now deceased. With the exception of one sister, who resides in Hartford, the members of the family are widely separated.
M. C. Ray. the youngest member of the family, was reared on his father's farm west of Hartford. Here he received a good common school education, which was supplemented by a course in the Iowa Business College at Des Moines. On starting out in life he followed the occupation of farming for one year, after which he engaged in railroad work at Carlisle, where he re- mained for one year, when in 1896 he accepted a position with the Chieago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad as station agent at Ford. where he has since re- mained continuously. Mr. Ray now has a half interest in a farm of two hun- dred and fifty-one acres in the home place, npon which he has placed many valuable improvements. He has remodeled the house, built a barn and other necessary outbuildings, has put in eement walks and installed a hot and cold water system, and added further improvements necessary for the comfort of his family and the profitable conduct of his business. He feeds and raises about one carload of cattle and two earloads of hogs each year, in addition to the raising of hay and grain.
On September 8, 1896. Mr. Ray was married to Miss Emma K. Smith, daughter of Jaeob Smith, and a native of this county. Unto this union have
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
been born five children, Mabel W., Phoebe A. and Mary Lneile, all living and two sons, Clyde S. and Eldon J., deceased.
In politics Mr. Ray is a republican. His fellow citizens, recognizing lus worth and ability, have honored him with various local offices. Fraternally, he is a Master Mason, being a member of the Hartford lodge. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which lodge he has passed through all the chairs. He is likewise a member of the Yeoman of Hartford, and of the Modern Woodmen of America at Swan. He attends the Presbyterian church at Hartford, of which his estimable wife is a member. The success and prosperity to which Mr. Ray has attained are entirely due to his own efforts, as he began life empty-handed and has acquired his property through self-denial, industry and good management.
JOSEPH OTIS WATSON.
One of the leading members of the Warren county bar. now successfully engaged in practice in Indianola. is JJoseph Otis Watson, who was born in this city on the 10th of November, 1869. a son of JJudge Joseph C. Watson, who was one of the most prominent citizens of this section of the state at an early day. The latter was a native of Fairmont, West Virginia, and of English descent, though for many generations the family have resided in this country and were represented in the Revolutionary war. Judge Watson obtained a good education and in early manhood took up the study of law, becoming a member of the West Virginia bar. Coming to lowa in 1854, he purchased a tract of land in Squaw township, Warren county, on which he lived for some years. during which time he speculated in land and dealt considerably in stock. Subsequently he took up his residence in Indianola and embarked in merchandising, meeting with success in all his undertakings. His fraterna: relations connected him with the Masonic order, and he also held membership in the Baptist church. One of the leading democrats of the community, he took an active interest in public affairs and served as county judge of Warren county for four years.
Judge Watson was united in marriage to Miss Julia Ann Armstrong, who was born in Ripley. West Virginia. of English ancestry, and was also descended from good old Revolutionary stock. She, too, was an earnest member of the Baptist church and died in that faith in October, 1907. in her seventy-third year. The Judge passed away in 1877, at the age of forty-four. In their family were seven children, of whom five are still living, namely : P. Gad, a resident of Indianola; J. H., also a resident of Indianola ; Martha, who has taught school in that city; Joseph O., of this review; and Julia H., who has also taught in Indianola.
Joseph O. Watson attended the common schools of Indianola and later was graduated from Simpson College in 1893. after which he taught French and German in his alma mater for two years. In 1897 he was graduated from
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the law department of the State University at Iowa City and then began prac- tice at Indianola. In his chosen profession he has met with marked success, being today regarded as one of the most prominent attorneys of the city, with a large and representative clientage.
In 1902 Mr. Watson was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Clark, who was born in Wayne county, Iowa, in 1870, a daughter of L. B. and Louisa (Mendenhall) Clark. Three sons grace this union, namely: Joseph, Vinton and Richard. The parents are both members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Watson is also conected with the Masonic fraternity. His political allegiance is given the republican party and he has filled the office of county attorney two terins in an able and satisfactory manner. He stands high in the cstecm of his professional brethren and is justly regarded as one of the leading citi- zens and lawyers of his native county.
JOHN B. READ.
John B. Read, deceased, who was a prominent agriculturist and pioneer settler of New Virginia township, was born in Harrison county, West Vir- ginia, November 14, 1830, being the twelfth in order of birth in a family of thirteen children born unto Francis and Arah (Hall) Read. Of this family of five sons and eight daughters only two are now living, namely : Nathan, of Fremont county. Iowa; and Cynthia, the wife of Addison Morris, of Atlantic, Iowa. The Reads are of Scotch-Irish origin and the first representative of the name to come to America was John Read, the grandfather of our subject. He was a native of Ireland, located in Virginia and was a member of the colonial forces in the Revolutionary war. his demise occurring in the Old Dominion. His son, Francis, father of John B. Read, was a soldier in the war of 1812, his birth having occurred in Benton county, Virginia. As was the enstom at that time, he owned a number of slaves and when John B. Read came to Iowa he brought three negroes with him. They were free but as they were still young, wished to be under his care. Franeis Read also passed away in the state of his nativity.
John B. Read was reared on the old homestead where he was born and obtained his education in the subscription schools. On the 29th of April, 1859, he arrived in Warren county, Iowa, and took up his abode in a hewed log house in Virginia township, where he purchased land. He was a man of splendid physique and was thus enabled to cope with the difficulties and arduous duties of frontier life and his labors were an important element in the work of development that transformed a wild and unimproved region into a rich agricultural district. Succeeding in his farming interests, he became the owner of a valuable tract of land and carried on the work of the fields until several years prior to his death, when he removed to New Virginia, spending his remaining days in retirement from active business. He was an enterpris- ing and public-spirited eitizen and was considered a valuable friend by his
-
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neighbors in pioneer times, for his sound judgment and keen discrimination made his advice much sought on all matters of general interest. For thirty years prior to his death, which occurred on the 31st of May, 1907, he had been in poor health.
On the 28th of May, 1857, Mr. Read was united in marriage to Miss Emily Cather. a native of Harrison county, West Virginia, and a daughter of Colonel Thomas and Barbara (McDonald) Cather, representatives of distinguished Virginia families. Her paternal great-grandfather fought in the Revolutionary war. while her father served in the Union army during the Civil war, acting as brigadier general of the Home Guards. The family originally came from Scotland and its representatives have been prominent in military affairs in this country. The grandfather of Mrs. Read was a member of the Virginia state legislature for five terms and also acted as magistrate of the town for some years. Her father was also a leader in politics, being one of the dis- tinguished members of the whig party in his locality and serving for some years as a member of the state legislature. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Read were born five children, namely : Guy R. C., a prominent attorney of Omaha, Ne- braska; Jarona B., the deceased wife of J. G. Paine; B. F., a well known agri- culturist of Virginia township, who is mentioned on another page of this work ; Thane, who died in childhood ; and C. E., a farmer of Virginia township.
In his political views Mr. Read was an ardent republican but never sought nor desired office. He was one of the original stockholders of the Warren County Bank, and was also a stockholder in the Citizens Savings Bank of New Virginia. He had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since fourteen years of age, and his widow was connected with the Baptist faith as long as there was a church of that denomination in New Virginia. She owns the valuable estate which was left her by her husband and still makes her home in New Virginia, being one of the few pioneers remaining to tell of the struggles and hardships which the early settler had to undergo in his efforts to establish a home on the frontier.
JOHN UTTERSON.
With the farming interests of Allen township John Utterson has long been actively identified and today the owner of a nice farm of eighty acres on Scotch Ridge, his home being on section 18. He is a native of Scotland. born near Berwick, on the 6th of April, 1828. and in his native land he grew to manhood. being reared to agricultural pursuits and given fair school ad- vantages.
Resolved to try his fortune in America, Mr. Utterson went to Greenock. Scotland, where he took passage on a sailing vessel, the Charles Harrison. and was nearly six weeks in crossing the Atlantic but finally landed safely in New York in July of that year. After two months spent in the Empire state. where he worked on a farm he proceeded to Ohio and was engaged in railroad
JOHN UTTERSON
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construetion for a time. In 1852 he came to Warren county, Iowa, and secured employment on a farm by the month, working in that way for a few years. He then returned to Ohio and was engaged in railroad work in Co- lubiana county.
Mr. Utterson was married in Belmont county, Ohio, December 20, 1860 to Miss Sarah Petit, who was born in Virginia, September 13, 1835, and was principally reared in that state, whence she removed to Ohio. They remained residents of Belmont county until after the birth of four of their children and about 1865 Mr. Utterson returned to Iowa, accompanied by his family. He located upon the farm where he-still resides, having previously pur- chased the land, but at that time only a few aeres had been broken and the only improvement was a small house. He eleared away the brush, placed the land under cultivation, built fenees and later erected a good story and a half honse with a basement and also a good barn. He also planted an orchard and shade trees and now has a well improved and valuable farm. In connection with its eultivation he also engaged in the raising and feed- ing of stock.
Mr. Utterson has been called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 4th of July, 1898, and was laid to rest in Seoteh Ridge cemetery. Unto them were born five sons and four daughters, namely: James, a con- traetor and builder of Carlisle; John a resident of Des Moines; David, who is engaged in farming near Summerset; Robert, a blacksmith of Summerset, and Gordon, who is engaged in farming near Carlisle in Polk county; Lizzie, the wife of William Hastie, whose sketeh appears elsewhere in this volume; Lena, who is now keeping house for her father; Carrie, who died at the age of five years, and Flora, who married Richard Roper and died, leaving three children.
Mr. Utterson votes independent of party ties and has never eared for politieal office. He is an active member of the Scotch Ridge United Presby- terian church and is a man held in high esteem by all who know him on account of his upright life and honorable business methods.
D. D. CALE.
The subject of this sketeh is a member of the well known firm of Cale & Misner, general merchants of Cumming, Iowa. £ He is one of the native sons of the state, born in Seott county on the 22d of November, 1854, his father being H. Cale, who came to Warren county in 1855 and located in Linn township, where he is still living. Our subject's mother, who bore the maiden name of Amelia Penry, now deceased, and six of the seven children of the family are living.
D. D. Cale was only six months old when brought by his parents to Warren county and he is indebted to the public schools of this locality for the educational privileges enjoyed during his boyhood and youth. He remained
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upon the home farm until he attained his majority, when he went to Des Moines and accepted a clerkship in the grocery store of T. B. Robinson, in whose employ he remained for six years. For two years he was employed as bookkeeper in that city and during the following two years traveled in Kansas for the Chamberlain Medicine Company.
At the end of that time Mr. Cale came to Cumming in 1890 and pur- chased the general store of C. O. JJenks, which he conducted alone for one year. His brother-in-law, C. W. Misner, then purchased an interest in the business, which they have since conducted with good success under the firm name of Cale & Misner. They carry a large and well selected stock of gro- ceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, tin and hardware. Owing to their fair dealing and reliable methods they have secured a liberal patronage.
JOHN F. KELLER.
John F. Keller is one of the active and successful farmers and stock- raisers of Lincoln township, living on section 15. He was born in Peoria county, Illinois. September 21, 1854. His father, Jacob G. Keller, was a native of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, born in 1830. and there he was reared to manhood. When a young man he went west to Peoria county, Illinois, where he cast his lot with the early settlers and while living there he mar- ried Miss Matilda Frank, also a native of Juniata county, Pennsylvania. For many years Mr. Keller followed farming near the city of Peoria and there reared his family numbering fourteen children, eleven of whom, two sons and nine daughters, have reached adult age and are now married and heads of families. The father has reached the very venerable age of seventy-eight years.
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