USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, from its Earliest Settlementto 1908 > Part 88
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In 1871 Mr. Edgerton was united in marriage to Mrs. Stephen Townsend, nee Marilla R. Chrissey, who was born at Stockton, New York, in 1839, a daughter of Addison and Nancy J. (Mills) Chrissey. Her demise occurred November 12, 1882. at a hospital in Hamilton, Illinois. In 1884 Mr. Edgerton was again married, his second union being with Clara P. White, by whom he has two children, William R. and George W., both of whom were born on the old homestead farm.
Charles C. Edgerton, the only son of Joseph V. Edgerton and his first wife, was born November 15, 1872, and reared in Liberty township. H attended school at Des Moines, there mastering the branches of learning which equip one for life's practical duties. He made his home with his father until 1898, when he bought a farm in Squaw township, being engaged in its operation for six years. In the spring of 1908, however, he returned to the old home farm, which he is now cultivating in association with his father, being widely recognized as one of the progressive and enterprising young agriculturists of the community. He was joined in wedlock to Mrs.
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
Eva E Holston, noe MaGrath, who was born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1870, a daughter of John MeGrath, who died in Missouri. By this mion there have been born five children, namely: Arthur, Daisy, Mattie, Estella and Julia. all of whom are at home. They are all natives of Liberty township except Julia, whose birth occurred in Squaw township. In his political views Charles C. Edgerton is a stanch republican and served as township clerk in Squaw township for Four years. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America at Liberty Center, being a charter member of the latter order.
Joseph V. Edgerton also gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as school director and in various other positions of public trust. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Indianola, thus maintaining pleasant associations with his old army comrades. His religions training was that of the Quaker faith. For more than a half century he has now been identified with the agricultural interests of this county and is as highly esteemed for his upright career as a man and citizen as for his snecess in a business way.
CLARENCE W. YOGGY.
One of the representative young farmers of Jefferson township is Clarence W. Yoggy. who is now successfully engaged in the operation of his father's farm of four hundred acres, his home being on section 28. He is one of lowa's native sons, his birth occurring in Cedar Rapids, October 12, 1881. ITis father. Rev. J. H. Yoggy. a minister of the Evangelical Association, was born in Pennsylvania, but when quite young removed with his parents to Illinois. locating near Naperville, where he was reared and educated. Having studied for the ministry he was ordained in the Evangelical Association and has since engaged in preaching the gospel. being presiding elder of the West Des Moines conference for about twenty years. Ile has also followed farming to some extent and on coming to Iowa in 1867 he located on a farm in Benton county. but since 1890 has made his home in Des Moines. He spent six years in Chicago as treasurer of the Northwestern College of his denomination. In Illinois Rev. Yoggy was married to Miss Mary Motter, a lady of German birth, and unto them were born four sons and three daughters.
Of this family Clarence W. Yoggy is the youngest son. He spent his boyhood and youth principally in Audubon and Polk counties, and was edneated at Highland Park Seminary. Des Moines, from which he was gradu- ated with the class of 1902. After leaving school he was employed as agent for one year, and then took a winter course at the Agricultural College at Ames. Iowa.
Coming to Wiek, Warren county, in 1904. Mr. Yoggy married Miss Alberta Hall, who was born, reared and educated in Des Moines. They began their domestic life on the farm where they still reside and as an agriculturist
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Mr. Yoggy is meeting with good success. In connection with general farm- ing he is also engaged in stock-raising. Both he and his wife are active members of the Evangelical Association and they have a host of warm friends in the community where they reside. In polities Mr. Yoggy is a republican.
JACOB S. MILLER.
A well developed and highly improved farm comprising one hundred and sixty-eight acres on section 17, White Breast township, is the home of Jacob S. Miller. He is numbered among the prosperous and progressive agrienl- turalists of Warren county and his success is well deserved for it has been acquired through his own well directed effort. He is a native son of the township, born January 14, 1861, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Miller. pioneer settlers who came here from the Buckeye state. The father was a farmer by ocenpation and located on a tract of land which he purchased upon his arrival in Warren county. Here he reared his family and spent his last years, passing away in May, 1881. His wife survived him for about seventeen years, her death occurring in 1898.
Jacob S. Miller is the only son in the family of two children, born of his father's marriage, his sister being Mary L., wife of Harvey Swift, a resident farmer of White Breast township. The son was reared on the farm, assisting his father in the work of the fields from the time of early spring planting until the erops were harvested in the late autumn. He remained under the parental roof until his father's demise, being at that time a young man of twenty years. He then took charge of the homestead property, conducting the same for five years. On the expiration of that period he established a home of his own by his marriage in August, 1886. to Mrs. Eliza A. Strahan, a widow.
Following his marriage Mr. Miller located on a farm in the vicinity of his old home operating that place for a few years. During this time he saved a sum sufficient to enable him to invest in land, becoming the owner of his present farm, which comprises one hundred and sixty-eight acres, situated on section 17, White Breast township. Since locating here he has remodeled the house. built a good barn and other substantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, has built fences, set out fruit and shade trees and altogether has made it a model property. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he also engages in raising stock, keeping thoroughbred cattle. horses and hogs, and this branch of his business is proving to him a profitable source of revenue. For several years he has also engaged in thrashing during the harvest season and in this connection has become well known not only in his immediate locality but throughout various sections of the county.
After a happy married life covering eighteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were separated by the death of the latter, which occurred in April, 1904
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Her remams he buried in the Shupe cemetery. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Miller was blessed with five children, three sons and two daughters, namely : Engene S., Miles N .. William H .. May and Junia J., all of whom still survive.
Politically Mr. Miller has allied himself with the principles and policy of the republican party but has never aspired to public office, preferring to give his undivided time and attention to his private business interests. Ile has spent his entire life in White Breast township, covering a period of forty-seven years. He belongs to that class of representative men who readily discern opportunities of improvement and who are rapidly forging to the front. He has brooked no obstacles that could be overcome by honorable and determined effort and has therefore acquired a competence that now supplies him with all the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
W. H. HARTMAN.
W. H. Hartman, a prominent pioneer of Warren county, and who is still engaged in mercantile and farming pursuits here, was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 25, 1836, his father being J. D. Hartman. The latter, who was also a native of Richland county. Ohio, was a farmer and miller by ocenpation, and was married in the Buckeye state to Miss Margaret Parker, who was born in Pennsylvania. The parents of our subject came to Warren county. Iowa, in 1846, laid out the town of Hartford and sold the first goods ever disposed of in that town. J. D. Hartman conducted his mercantile enterprise in a log house. and for many years was known as the veteran merchant of Hartford. He spent a few years prior to his death in California, and passed away in Indianola when sixty-seven years of age, his widow being called to her final rest when she had attained the age of eighty-one years. Their family numbered five children. three sons and two daughters.
W. H. Hartman was reared and edneated in Hartford and subsequently was employed in his father's mill. Purchasing ninety aeres of land west of Hartford, he grubbed out the timber and erected a house. developing a good farm property. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in Company B. Thirty- fourth Regiment, which was organized at Hartford. Warren county, and participated in the battles of Vicksburg and Arkansas Post, but after seven months' service was sent home on account of ill health. Disposing of his farm near Hartford, he bought an improved place of one hundred and twenty acres in Camp township, Polk county, where he resided for two years. In 1868 he bought eighty acres of his present farm on section 1. Allen township, subse- quently added forty acres and still later fifty acres more, while from time to time he has made additional purchases. He erected a good two-story residence and outbuildings, and fenced his fields, making the place a model farming property of the twentieth century. In addition to the work of the fields he also raises a fine grade of cattle, feeding mostly hogs. In 1883 he built a store in Clarkson, a quarter of a mile from his farm residence, and has since con-
W. H. HARTMAN
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
dueted mercantile pursuits here. He is a well known and honored pioneer of the county. whose success in business also entitles him to representation among its prosperous and progressive citizens.
On the 27th of December, 1860, Mr. Hartman was married to Miss Samtha Roberts and by this union were born seven children, as follows: Laura E .. who died at the age of two years; Albert C., an agriculturist of Palmyra, who wedded Lily Miller, by whom he has three children; Lwu May, who is the wife of George Carty, and resides in the state of Nevada; Charles, who is on the home farm; Belle, at home, who for several years taught sehool in Des Moines and also in Indianola ; Frank, who resides in Nevada; and Dora, at home .
Mr. Hartman gives his political allegiance to the republican party where national questions and issues are involved, but at local elections casts an inde- pendent ballot. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and since that time has never failed to support the presidential nominee of the republican organi- zation. He continuously served as postmaster at Clarkson for twenty-six years and never had an inspection during the entire period. He likewise served as road supervisor, and for several terms was trustee, while for a number of years he was a member of the school board. He has also been a delegate to several county conventions and has taken an active and helpful part in loeal politics. his aid and influence ever being given on the side of right, truth and progress. He still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic at Carlisle, and both he and his wife are identified with the Baptist church of Hartford. A resident of this eounty for sixty-two years, he witnessed the building of Des Moines and Indianola, and in the early '50s earricd mail from Hartford to Indianola. He is one of the few remaining veterans of the civil war, and is widely known and highly esteemed as one of the oldest living pioneers in Warren county.
PROFESSOR WILLIAM ENNIS HAMILTON.
Professor William Ennis Hamilton, who for sixteen years has occupied the chair of philosophy in Simpson College at Indianola, was born at New Riehmond, Ohio, October 9, 1845. His father, William Lyon Hamilton, was born in Ohio in 1817 and was of Seotch descent. In early life he began teach- ing school and was also identified with agricultural pursuits. For sixty years he was a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and his influence was always on the side of justice, truth and progress. He remained a resident of Ohio until 1856, when he came with his family to Iowa, settling in Henry county, where he purchased a tract of land and carried on general farming. His business affairs were carefully eondueted and brought to him a gratify- ing measure of success. When age conferred upon him the right of franchise he became a supporter of the whig party but when the republican party placed
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its first presidential candidate-John C. Fremont-in the field, he voted for the pathfinder and continued to support the republican ticket until a few years prior to his death. Then believing that the temperance question was the paramount issue before the people, he voted the prohibition ticket. At all times he stood loyally in defense of what he believed to be right and none mestioned the sincerity of his purposes. He held local township offices but could not be said to be a politician in the sense of office-seeking. He married Miss Eliza Ann Duncan, who was born in Maysville, Kentucky, in 1820 and came of Scotch and English ancestry. Her father, Ennis Duncan, was an orderly sergeant in the war of 1812. Like her husband, Mrs. Hamilton was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She died on the Ist of May, 1905. and William Hamilton survived only until April, 1906. Thus passed away a worthy couple who were esteemed and honored by all who knew them.
Professor Hamilton of this review was the eldest in their family of seven children, four of whom lived to attain their majority. He was reared as a farm lad and attended the country schools. Ambitious for further educa- tion, however, he afterward became a student in the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant in 1863 and, pursuing the classical course, was graduated in 1867.
In that fall he came to Indianola and accepted the professorship of mathe- matics in Simpson College, where he remained for a year. He next entered the Des Moines conference and in 1868 was assigned to the pastorate of the church at Onawa. There he continued for a year, was for two years at Harlan and for one year at Tabor. Ile likewise spent three years in Woodbine and a similar period at Fremont City prior to being assigned to the church at Guthrie Center. His pastorate at that place continued two years and also at Adel for two years, and for one year he was at Harlan .. In 1883 he returned to Simpson College, where for three years he was professor of mathematics and during the succeeding three years was president of Simpson College. In 1889 he left school to become pastor of the Methodist church at Corning, Towa, where he continued for three years, and then returned to Indianola in 1892, since which time he has occupied the chair of philosophy in Simpson College.
On the 8th of February. 1866, Professor Hamilton was married to Miss Isabella Anderson, who was born near New London, Iowa, January 26. 1847. They had four children : William O., now deceased; Ida B .. Theodosia, who is librarian at Simpson College; and Florence M.
When but eighteen years of age Professor Hamilton became a soldier of the Union army in the Civil war, enlisting in May. 1864, at Mount Pleasant as a member of Company H. Forty-fifth Iowa Vohmteer Infantry. He was mustered out in October. 1864. at Keokuk. Hle has never sought to figure prominently in public affairs and in polities is independent. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and since attaining his majority Professor Hamilton has done active and effectve work for the in- tellectual and moral progress of those among whom his lot has been cast. The first movement to enlarge the facilities of Simpson College was made inder
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
his administration and largely through his efforts Science Hall was erected and dedicated. He is a capable instructor, imparting clearly and readily to to others the knowledge he has acquired and hokls to high ideals in his professional work.
ALBERT PERLEY.
Among the honored citizens of Carlisle who are now able to lay aside all business cares and live retired enjoying the competence secured by former labor is numbered Albert Perley who came to this section of the state in 1855 and bore a prominent part in its early development. He was born in Enos- burg, Franklin county, Vermont, on the 7th of May, 1829, and in his native state grew to. manhood, receiving good common-school advantages, which well qualified him for life's practical duties. He began his business career by working in a sawmill.
Mr. Perley was married on Cape Cod bay, Massachusetts,, October 3, 1854, to Miss Georgiana Ranslow, a native of Cambridge, Vermont, in which state she was reared and educated. Her father was Rev. George W. Ranslow, pastor of the Congregational church of both Georgia and Milton, Vermont, for thirty-three years. He died in 1864, at the age of sixty-four years, while her mother was Anna Parmelee, a daughter of Rev. Simeon Parmelee, also a Congregational minister, who was born January 16, 1782, and died February 10, 1882, being over one hundred years of age at the time of his death. Mrs. Perley successfully engaged in teaching school for some twenty terms, and by her marriage she has become the mother of three daughters: Helen W. is a graduate of the Highland Park Conservatory and is now teaching music. Ida R. is the wife of A. W. Perley, a dairyman of Richford, Vermont, and they have two sons, Albert and Arthur. Cornelia Isabelle is the wife of Levi Myers, a farmer of Jefferson township, this county.
The year following his marriage Mr. Perley came to Iowa and first located in Warren county, where he worked in the sawmill of John D. Parmelee for two and a half years. Ile then turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits, buying a farm, eighty acres of which lies in Polk county and one hundred and sixty acres in Allen township. Warren county, but his residence was in the former county. He improved the place by the erection of a good residence, two barns, granaries. sheds and eribs and also planted an orchard and thus converted it into one of the best farms of the locality. He raised cattle and hogs but made a specialty of hogs and continued to engage in the cultivation of his land until 1899, when he rented the farm and bought property in Carlisle. where he has since resided. He has remodeled the residence, has built a barn. put down cement walks and otherwise improved the place, so that he now has a nice home and is surrounded by all the comforts which make life worth the living. Since coming to Carlisle he has sold his farm and now lives retired.
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In politics Mr. Perley was first a whig, but on the organization of the repubhean party he joined its ranks and has supported every president nomi- nee of the party from John C. Fremont down to Theodore Roosevelt. While residing in Polk county, he served as township trustee for some years; was treasurer of the school Fund for abont twenty-two years; was assessor ton years; and also served as supervisor and on the grand jury. He proved an efficient officer and in the discharge of his duties won the commendation of all. He has also been a delegate to state and county conventions of his party. Both he and his wife are prominent members of the Carlisle Methodist Epis- copal church. taking an active interest in church and Sunday school work. and for thirty years he has been teacher of the bible class. In 1904 they cele- brated their golden wedding, their children, friends and neighbors giving them a most agreeable surprise, and there were present over one hundred guests who left a number of nsefnl and valuable presents.
GEORGE W. SAYLOR.
George W. Saylor, a successful farmer and dairyman residing on seetion 3, Greenfield township, is a native of this state, having been born near Taylor- ville, in Polk county, March 12. 1854, the son of J. P. and Martha (Bales) Saylor. Ilis paternal grandfather, Benjamin Saylor, removed to the state of lowa in 1845 from Indiana, his home being near Logansport, and settled in Polk county.
There J. P. Saylor. the father of our subject, grew up and entered land from the government. There he was married to Miss Martha Bales, who was a native of Logansport, Indiana. In 1870 he removed to Osage county. Kansas. where he entered land and improved it, remaining there for three years, and during this time he conducted a livery barn in conjunction with his farming operations. He sold out in 1873 and went to Des Moines, Iowa, buying a property there which two years later he traded for the farm on which our subject now resides. Here the father spent his remaining years and died.in 1881. aged fifty-nine. The mother is still living at the advanced age of sev- enty-eight years and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Fox. in Des Moines. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Saylor were born six children, as follows: Frank A., born on February 4. 1852, spent twelve years on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in this county, and later went to Des Moines, where for twenty years he was connected with the Utica Clothing Store. of that eity. At present he divides his time between the home of his sister in Des Moines and the home of George W. of this review. Lydia is the wife of E. H. Fox, of Des Moines. Aliee died at the age of three years. Nellie, who was a grad- uate of the Des Moines high school, and engaged in teaching. died at the age of twenty-nine years. Edgar is an instructor of vocal music in San Francisco and has a troupe of his own on the road engaged in musical comedy. George W., the subject of this sketch. is the third in the order of birth.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY
George W. Saylor completed his education in the Baptist College of Des Moines and then returned home. On the 7th of April, 1887 he was married in Bloomfield township, Polk county, to Miss Mattie Hays, daughter of William Hays, an old settler of Polk county, and a native of Davess county, Missouri. For ten years the young couple continmed to reside in the house in which his parents had lived, prior to the building of their present modern comfortable home. In addition to the residence Mr. Saylor has also built barns and the necessary outbuildings for the proper conduct of his work. He is conven- iently located within five miles of the city of Des Moines, where he finds a ready and profitable sale for the products of his farm. Mr. Saylor keeps a herd of ten thoroughbred Jersey cows and employs a cream separator in the manufacture of his butter, all of which he has sold to private trade for the past nineteen years. He utilizes the by-product of his dairy in the raising of hogs.
In national politics Mr. Saylor is a republican, though in local affairs he is independent. voting for men and measures rather than for party. Fra- ternally he is a member of Grant's Camp, M. W. A. He enjoys an extensive acquaintanceship throughout Warren and Polk counties, as well as in the city of Des Moines, having spent his entire life in this loeality.
CAPTAIN EVAN D. BRYANT.
Warren county's citizens are ever glad to pay honor to the memory of Captain Bryant, while his associates in life speak of him in terms of the highest respect and cherish his memory as a sacred treasure. This is not because he won national renown or did special work which called to him wide attention but because in the every day duties of life he was faithful and in all of his relations with his fellowmen was honorable. IIe possessed, too, qualities of friendship that were manifest in a genial spirit and a kindly interest in those with whom he came in contact. Aside from the service which he rendered his country as a soldier of the Civil war, he capably filled the position of county treasurer of Warren county, while in his business carcer he was known as a leading farmer.
Captain Bryant was born near Indianapolis in Hendrieks county, In- diana, October 28, 1833, a son of Silas and Nancy (Tincher) Bryant. Of their family of eight children four are now living: Mary Jane, the wife of A. P. Kinney, of Indianola; Fanny S., the wife of S. Jones, of Las Animas. Colorado; Sallie, the wife of Wesley Johnson, of Danville, Indiana; and Mrs. Nancy E. Estep, also of Danville. The father, Silas Bryant, was born in Kentucky in 1802 and at the age of twenty-five years left his native state for Hendricks eounty. Indiana, where he spent his remaining days. He was successful in his undertakings as a farmer and stock-raiser and was thus enabled to provide a comfortable home for his family. He was also a broad- minded and public-spirited gentleman and a devout Christian man, who was
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