1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO
M
WILLIAM MALLORY, Sheriff of Audubon County, is an efficient officer.
He was born in Henry County, Iowa, near Mount Pleasant, November 18,
1851, and is a son of Daniel Mallory, who was born at Harper's Ferry
in 1826. The grandfather of William Mallory was William Mallory, who
was a native of Virginia and a descend ant of an Irish family. Daniel
Mallory was a farmer in early life, and was among the early settlers
of Henry County, Iowa. He enlisted at Burlington, and going to Mexico
took part in most of the battles of the Mexi can war. After the close
of the war he went to California in 1849 in search of gold, re maining
there two years.He then returned to Henry County, Iowa, and engaged
in farming, which occupation he has since fol lowed. He is still living,
and resides in Henry County. Daniel Mallory's wife, the mother of
our subject, was a Miss Rhoda Jay, born of Quaker parents, in North
Caro lina. Her family removed to the Territory of Iowa when she was
a young child. Daniel Mallory and wife were the parents of ten children,
one daughter and nine sons, six of whom still survive. William Mallory,
the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm near the bank of
the Skunk River. He spent his summers in working on the farm, and
his winters in attending the district school. Later he was sent to
Howe's Academy at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he pursued his studies
one year. In 1873 Mr. Mallory was married to Miss Ophelia Lane, of
Henry County, a schoolmate, and a daughter of Abner and Barbara Lane.In1877
they removedto Audubon County, living on a farm for one year. When
the town of Audubon was started Mr. Mallory moved to the place and
em barked in the clothing business, which he carried on successfully
for six years. In 1885 he was elected sheriff of Audubon County, and
was reelected in 1887, and is the present incumbent of the office.Aside
fromthe duties of his office, he devotes considerable time to auctioneering,
his circuit extending over six counties. Mr. and Mrs. Mallory have
two sons J. Howe and Ira Wade. Mr. Mallory is a Royal Arch Mason,
and is also a member of the I. O. O. F., of which he is a charter
member. He is anactive and public-spirited man, deeply interested in
the progress and welfare of the community.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pp. 728.
GILBERT S. D. MASON, a successful cattlefeeder of Viola Township,
was born in the State of Pennsylvania, in the city of Philadelphia,
October 7, 1840. He is a son of William R. and Margaret (Comley) Mason,
natives of Delaware and Pennsylvania respectively. Both parents died
in the city of Philadelphia. Gilbert S. D. Mason was educated in the
schools of his native city. Although his father was one of the principal
wholesale merchants of Phila delphia, he made up his mind to be a
farmer, and accordingly began this occupation in Bucks County, Pennsylvania,
at the age of seventeen years. In 1873 he removed from Bucks County
to Carroll County, Iowa, set tling upon a farm five miles south of
Arca dia. This place contained 200 acres, which Mr. Mason improved
and used as a cattle farm until he removed to Audubon County, Iowa,
in 1883.He located on his present farm in Viola Township, which was
known for many years as the Hawer farm, and which at that time contained
160 acres. Mr. Mason has made additional purchases of land until his
farm now covers 320 acres of choice land in a high state of cultivation,
beautifully sit uated on the waters of the Nishnabotna River. While
it is well suited to small grains, it is admirably adapted to stockfarming.
In 1862 Mr. Mason was married to Miss Martha, the eldest daughter
of Josiah and Mary (Crous dale) Tomlinson, descendants from families
of Quakers who came to Pennsylvania with William Penn, and settled
in Byberry, Mont gomery County, Pennsylvania. Land tracts of the old
Penn purchase are still in the fam ily name. The old Penn chestnuttree
still stands upon the homestead, twentyfour miles north of Philadelphia.By
this union ten children were born, all of whom survive John H., Lewis
L., Gilbert. S., Jr., Philip S., William R., Josiah T., George W.,
Paul B., Emma M. and Benjamin F. In politics Mr. Mason is rather conservative.In
Carroll County he served on the school board for seven years, and
held other township offices. The Masons descended from an old English
family, and were early settlers of Connecti cut, removing from that
State to Delaware. The Grandfather Comley was an officer of marines
in the war of 1812, and died in the service at the Philadelphia navy
yard.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pp. 768.
DAVID A. McANULTY, of Audubon Township, has been identified with
the history of Audubon County since 1876. Tie was born in Boone County,
Indiana, May 7, 1845, and is a son of William and Amadella (Adams)
McAnulty. He is the fourth child of a family of seven children, and
when he was six years old his parents removed to Iowa and settled
in Washington County, where he was reared to the occupation of a farmer,
and educated in the common-schools. When there was a call for men
to defend the flag of this nation, he enlisted in the Ninth Iowa Cavalry,
Company D, and served until 1865, when he was discharged at Little
Rock, Arkansas. He then returned to Washington County, Iowa. September
17, 1868, he was married to Miss Leah Richardson, daughter of Aaron
and Anna (Cline) Richardson. She was born in Jefferson County, Iowa,
January 20, 1848. After his marriage Mr. McAnulty resided in Washington
County for eight years.He then came to Audubon County and settled on
a farm of 166 acres of raw prairie land. There he has since made his
home, making many valuable improvements in the way of erecting buildings
and placing the soilunder cultivation. He hasalso planted about one
acre of grove. The farm is considered one of the most desirable in
that part of the county.Mr. McAnulty, by honesty and upright dealing,
has won the confidence of the community in which he lives. He takes
an active interest in all enterprises tending to the advancement of
the people. He is a staunch member of the Republican party. He is
chairman of the Re publican township committee, and in 1887 he was
sent as a delegate to the State Convention. Mr. and Mrs. McAnulty
are the parents of one child -- Arthur, born July 31, 1869. He was married
December 9, 1888, to Miss Emma F. Benton, a daughter of Isaiah and
Tranquilla (May) Benton. She was born in Jo Daviess County, Illinois,
January, 1868.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 781.
GEORGE McCAIN, one of the well-to-do farmers of Melville Township, located on section 16, in the month of September, 1870. At first he
purchased eighty acres of land, onehalf of his present farm, winch
is all well improved. Mr. McCain was born in the village of St. Omer,
Indiana, December 30, 1839. He is the youngest of a family of ten
children. His parents were Williamand Mary (McCarty) McCain, who lived
for a time in Wayne County, Indiana, near the village of Centerville, at that time the county seat. Later on they removed to St. Omer, Decatur
County, Indiana, where the father engaged in farming and mercantile
business. He died in 1845, and the mother, May 8, 1873, at the age of seventythree years. Of the ten children only five are liv ing; a
brother of our subject in Indiana, one in Kansas, one sister in Colorado,
and one in Iowa. Mr. McCain, like most men of his age, received his
education under many dis advantages, within a rude log schoolhouse,
provided with slab seats. The teacher was paid by private subscription.
The youthful days of our subject were spent for the most part upon
his father's farm. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted as
a member of Company K, Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He saw
much hard service during his army life. His first engagement was at
Edwards'Ferry, at the time of the Balls Bluff disaster. In the fall
of 1861 his command went into winter quarters, and in the spring
crossed over into Virginia, going over the Blue Ridge Mountains. He
received his discharge in May, 1862, at the city of Wash ington, D.
C., after which he returned to his home, and enlisted in the thirty
days' regiment, formed to protect the country against the Morgan
raiders. In December, 1863, he enlisted in the three years' service
at Greensburg, Indiana, as a private soldier; but he soon after became
Sergeant-Major, and August 9, 1864, he was commissioned as First Lieutenant
of Company G. They were sent to Nashville, Tennessee, and became part
of General Hovey's Hoosier troops, and then went South with General
Sherman, preparatory to entering the Atlanta campaign. Mr. McCain was in the fall of Atlanta, and tells many thrilling scenes in connection
with this great event. From Atlanta, under the com mand of General
Thomas, he marched to the north into Tennessee, where his regiment
did various duties; he finally took a steamer, via Ohio River for
Cincinnati, and went thence by rail to Washington, D. C. He was then
ordered to Anderson, going down the Potomac River into Chesapeake
Bay, and to Cape Fear River, North Carolina; he then crossed the country
to Moorehead City, engaging in a three days' fight at Wieser Forks,
and defeating General Hooks. The company then marched to Goldsboro,
North Carolina, where they made junction with Sherman's army; there
they remained until the surrender of General Johnston's army took
place. The rest of the season, up to August, 1865, was put in at guard
duty; but on the 25th of that month Mr. McCain received his final
discharge,and returned to Decatur County,Indiana. Having thus faithfully
served both as a private and an officer, in an army which had finally
restored peace and liberty to a great nation, he then began to lay
plans for his own future welfare. For a year and more he was engaged
in the bridge building department of a railroad company in Indiana.
In March, 1867, he came to Iowa, and stopped in Jasper County, near
Newton. Here he engaged with the Rock Island Company in the same branch
of work he had been following in Indiana. This work took him along
the main line, and all the branches of the great Rock Island Route,
both in Iowa and Nebraska. He continued in this position until May, 1870, when he was married to Miss Ada A. Potter, of Marengo, Iowa, a
native of New York. In September, 1870, Mr. and Mrs. McCain removed to Audubon County, and bought land as above noted, where they have not only built for themselves a good home, but have established a character
in the community which is beyond reproach. Having been among the
first to locate in the northern part of the county, Mr. McCain has
helped to foster the public schools and estab lish the public roads,
and advance the welfare of the county in many directions.Mr. and
Mrs.McCain are the parents of five children -- R E., Mona E., Guy F.,
Mary A. and John Mayo. In politics Mr. McCain is a staunch Republican,
and has been honored by various local offices; he has served as town
ship clerk for two terms, trustee one term, assessor three terms,
and was elected supervisor soon after the establishment of the county
seat at Audubon. Under President Hayes's administration he was appointed
postmaster of Melville Center, holding this position from February
19, 1878, until February 19, 1880.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 801.
WILLIAM H. McCLURE, of the firm of Cousins & McClure, proprietors
of the Audubon County Republican, is a native of the State of Illinois,
and was born in Dundee, November 15, 1859.He is the oldest living
son of William and Mana (Wesson) McClure. William McClure, the father
of William H., was a stone and brick mason in early life, but in later
years turned his attention to farming. He was born in the State of
Maine, and removed to Illinois, where he married and settled upon
a farm. In 1868 he took his family to Cedar County, Iowa, and settled
on a farm, remaining there several years. He then moved to the town
of Wyoming, Jones County, arid still resides there. William McClure
passed his youth in Cedar and Jones counties, receiving his education
principally in the public schools of Wyoming. At the age of sixteen
years he entered the printing office of the Wyoming Journal, and there
learned the printer's trade. B e remained in the Journal office seven
years from the time of entering, and was then appointed postmaster,
serving from May, 1883, until 1885, at Wyoming, Iowa. In the month
of December, 1885, Mr. McClure came to Audubon County, and was employed
on the Audubon County Republican.In April, 1887, he purchased the
interest held by S. A. Foster, the firm being at that time Cousins
& Foster. Mr. Foster retired from the business, and the firm name
was changed to Cousins & McClure. Mr. McClure is a practical printer,
and a racy writer. He was married to Miss Kate Holmes, of Wyoming,
Iowa, a daughter of William Holmes, Esq. Mr. and Mrs. McClure have
had born to them four children -- Scott, Don, Mary and Edgar.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 824.
JOSEPH McFADDEN, a successful farmer and stockraiser, was born in
Fayette County, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1853. He is the youngest son
of Joseph and Mary (Jamison) McFadden. Joseph McFad den, the father,
was born in Pennsylvania, and is a descendant of a ScotchIrish family.
The mother, Mary Jamison, was also born in Pennsylvania, and after
her marriage to Mr. McFadden they settled in Fayette County, where
they lived until they removed to McDonough County, Illinois; here
they lived on a farm for six years, and in 1872 they removed to Audubon
County, Iowa, and settled on a farm now owned by Mr. Shingledecker
in the east part of the township of Leroy; at that time this place
was raw prairie, and here Mr. McFadden passed the remainder of his
days. He died October 4, 1886, in his ninety-third year, and was active
in mind and body until within six months of his death. When eighty
years of age he made a hand in the harvest field. He was a kind husband,
an indulgent father, and a generous neighbor. His wife is still living,
and makes her home in Shelby County with her daughter, Mrs. Andrew
Marshall. Joseph McFadden, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was thirteen
years old when he removed to Illinois with his parents; at the age
of nineteen the family removed to Audubon County, and his services
being valuable on the farm his school days were cut short; he was
well trained in agricultural pursuits. He continued to live with his
parents until May, 1886, when he was married to Miss Abbie Hoyt, daughter
of Francis and Elizabeth (Lauman) Hoyt. Her parents now reside in
Melville Township, Au dubon County, and are natives of Connecticut
and Pennsylvania respectively. Mr. and Mrs. McFadden are the parents
of one son -- Francis Hoyt McFadden. After his marriage Mr. McFadden
settled on his present farm of eighty acres, which he has developed
from raw prairie land into choice, well-improved land on which he has
built a good residence. He is a very successful stock feeder, fattening
from a half to a carload of cattle annually. Mr. McFadden votes with
the Republicans, and takes an active part in elections. Mrs. McFadden
was born April 22, 1862, at Ot tawa, La Salle County, Illinois.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 725.
GEORGE J. McLACHLIN has been a resident of Audubon County, Iowa,
since 1887. He was born in Caledonia County, Vermont, May 7, 1848,
and is a son of James and Almira (Varnum) McLachlin. The father, a
son of John McLachlin, was born in Vermont in 1818; he is a farmer
by occupation, and still lives in Vermont.His father was born in Scotland.
The mother of George J. was born in Vermont; she is living, and also
her four children, named as follows William V., George J., Charles
F. and Merritt H.George J. was reared to the life of a farmer. He
received his early education in the common-school, and later he entered
the Caledonia Academy, pursuing his studies there for three years.
He remained with his parents until his twentyfirst year, when, like
so many other young men, he was caught in the tide of emigration, and
drifted westward. In the spring of 1887 he removed to Audubon County,
and spent the first summer working for Mr. George Gray on his farm.
He then rented a farm of W. G. Cameron for one year, and in the mean
time he bought eighty acres of wild land in Lincoln Township, which
he broke out and began to improve.Four years later he sold this farm,
and removed to a farm of 160 acres which he had purchased in partnership
with his brother. They still own the place, which they have placed
under good cultivation, and to which they have added many improve
ments.The residence, which is a neat two story frame building, was
erected in 1880, and is pleasantly situated on a high and sightly
spot. Mr. McLachlin was married in 1871 to Miss Jane L. Dewey, of
Caledonia County, Vermont. She is the oldest daugh ter of Bela S.
and Lavinia (Carter) Dewey, natives of the State of New Hampshire,
now residing in Caledonia County, Vermont. Of their two children Mrs.
McLachlin is the only one surviving. Mr. and Mrs. McLach lin are the
parents of three children Glenn D., Harvey C. and Elsie J. Mr. McLachlin
has been engaged in stockfeeding and rais ing, shipping from three
to five car loads annually,he is enterprising, industrious, and honorable
in all his dealings, and has the respect and confidence of all who
know him.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 813.
FRANK R. McLAUGHLIN, of Lincoln Township, is one of the successful
farmers of Audubon County. He was born in Licking County, Ohio, August
27, 1853. His father, Charles McLaughlin, a descendant of a Scotch
family, was born and reared in the State of Ohio, and followed the
occu pation of a farmer the greater part of his life. Rachel A. (Covil)
McLaughlin, the mother of Frank R., was a daughter of Joseph Covil,
Esq. Charles McLaughlin and wife had born to them eight children,
five of whom are living. The mother is deceased, but the father still
survives. When Frank R. was about eight years of age his parents removed to Marshall County, Illinois. There he grew to manhood, receiving
the advantages of a common-school education and a good training in
agricultural pursuits. At the age of twenty years he be gan working
on a farm by the month, follow ing this for three years. Being convinced
that he could make money more rapidly by farming on his own account,
he rented land in Livingston County, Illinois, and the first year
suffered the disaster of being drowned out. He then returned to Marshall County, and worked on a farm one year. He then bought land in Marshall
County, which he cultivated five years. At the end of this time he
sold out and entered a farmingimplement store, where he clerked until
1885. Collect ing his effects, he removed to Audubon County, Iowa,
and located on his present farm, which he bought after renting it
for four years. The place was then known as the Whipple farm. It contains
240 acres, and is well stocked and well improved.Mr. McLaughlin was
married in 1885 to Miss Cora Evans, of Knox County, Illinois, a daughter
of Oliver Evans, who died when she was six years of age, near Oskaloosa,
Mahaska County, Iowa, in 1868. They are the parents of two children
Charles E. and Frank Ray. Mr. McLaughlin is a member of Utopia Lodge,
No. 161, I. O. O. F., at Gray.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 815.
WILLIAM McLERAN, proprietor of McLeran's stock ranch, one mile west
of Audubon, is one of Audubon County's thoroughgoing, successful citizens,
of whom no reasonable man ever has aught to complain.The best and
truest index to any man's character and life is the general opinion
entertained of him by his nearest neighbors, and those with whom he
dealt from day to day. Mr. McLeran's success as a stockgrower and
farmer comes largely from the fact that he has always been thorough
going and painstaking, and never afraid to do hard work himself. In
a volume of this character, which is to be handed down from generation
to generation, it is indeed fitting that some record be here made
of one who has gained a competency for himself and family wholly by
virtue of his own industry and unremitting zeal. His has been a life
to which one may refer any young man as a good one to pattern after,
with all assurance of abundant success.It requires more real, true
manhood, and genuine worth for one to begin life unaided by friends
and wealthy relatives than it does to have ready capital to commence
on;however, the strongest characters of American history have been
forged and wrought by boys who have been obliged to carve their own
way to final suc cess. Mr. McLeran, who has been a citizen of Audubon
County since 1879, is a native of the old Green Mountain State, Vermont.
He was born October 24, 1824, in the town of Barnett, Orleans County;
his parents were William and Eliza (Gleason) McLeran; his Grandfather
McLeran was also named Will iam; he served as a soldier in the war
of 1812, and lived to an advanced age. William, Jr., died when eightyone
years old. The mother of our subject was of English descent, born
in Massachusetts, and died at Rochester, New York; her remains now
rest at Barnett, Vermont. Mr. McLeran passed his youth and received
his education at Barnett, Ver mont, living at home on the farm until
he was about twenty years of age, at which time he engaged in railroad
business in New England and Pennsylvania, both as a con structor and
an operator; he ran the second locomotive ever built in the United
States. it was of a crude and curious design, and has for years been
on public exhibition in the city of Philadelphia; it was among the
curiosities at the Centennial Exposition of 1876, where Mr. McLeran
last saw it.In 1851 he was married to Miss Betsey Blanch ard, the
third daughter of Simon and Betsey (Spencer) Blanchard.She was born
.Decem ber 9, 1829, at Peacham, Vermont, where she grew to womanhood.
There she obtained an excellent education, graduating from the county
academy, operated on the endowment plan; it was accounted one of the
best edu cational institutions of New England at that time.After leaving
school she at once began teaching, and followed it for several years,
becoming a very popular andsuccessful teacher. Three years after his
marriage Mr. McLeran emigrated with his wife to Illinois; at first
he rented land near Rock River for a year, after which he bought eighty
acres in Bureau County, of that State; here he re mained for nearly
a quarter of a century, twentyfour years, during which period he was
successful as a farmer and stockgrower, his attention being especially
directed to swine growing. Mr. and Mrs. McLeran are the parents of
nine children, eight of whom still live Abbie, wife of E. D. Van Court;
Si mon B.; Helen M., wife of F. H. Chidister, of Aurora, Nebraska;
Fannie C., now at tending school away from home; Walter Palmer, at
home; George Ralph, at Com mercial College at Omaha, Nebraska; Her
bert Morris, at home attending school; and CharlesStuart, at home.
Thedeceased, namedBessie Blanchard, died in infancy. Upon selling
out in Bureau County, Illinois, in March, 1870, Mr. McLeran removed
to Audubon County, purchasing at first a quar ter section of land
of the Rock Island Rail road Company. He now has a fine farm of beautifully
rolling prairie land, located on sections 19 and 30, township 80,
range 35, west, and in the civil township of Leroy, which is one mile
west from Audubon, the county seat. The first season he was in the
county he had 400 acres broken, besides at tending to the erection
of a fine frame residence that would do honor as a city house, He
is at present as comfortably situated as any farmer in his county,
and is steadily in creasing his possessions by thrifty farming and
stockgrowing. He now has hundreds of fine cattle, hogs and horses
upon his farm. His premises are well adapted to stockgrow ing and
feeding, as he has established a fine systemof waterworks, by which
a wind mill becomes the power in pumping water to a large tank in
the stockyards and barn. He grinds and mashes all the large corn crop
he produces, after which it is judiciously fed to stock. He makes
a special point of de horning all his horned stock, and has become
especially successful in the feeding of young stock. Everything about
the place displays the art, so often lost sight of by farmers, that
of order. In political views Mr. McLeran is what might be termed
conservative; however, in State and National politics he always votes
the Democratic ticket. He has never aspired to public office, but always
tells those who seek to press him into such positions, which he might
ably fill, that his office is in his cattle yards. As one views his
large possessions, and sees how successfully all parts are carried
on, and then pauses to think of the fact, that when he landed in Illinois in 1854 all his earthly possessions were found in his most estimable
wife and two children, and $123, it goes without saying that all has
come from patient toil and frugal management.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 791.
ROBERT MILLER, deceased, was born in Allegheny County, near Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, June 9, 1801. He departed this life at his home in Leroy
Township, Audubon County, Iowa, July 28, 1886. He grew to maturity
in his native State. He attended the common schools, and early in
life learned the miller's trade, but afterward became a farmer.On
April 2, 1834, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wood burn,
who was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and was the oldest
daughter of William and Elizabeth (Veasy) Woodburn. Her parents settled
in Allegheny County in the day when Indians were numerous. They were
of Irish descent, two generations having been born in America.After
his marriage Mr. Miller settledin Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,
and in the fall of 1856 he removed to Mercer County, Illinois, where
he engaged in farming. He remained in this county ten years. In the
fall of 1866 Mr. Miller removed with his family to Audubon County,
Iowa, settling on a farm three miles south of Exira, which is now
known as the Gault farm. There he resided two years, and then removed
to his present farm, sit uated on the Nishnabotna River, section 1,
Leroy Township, and containing 133 acres of wellimproved land. Mr.
Miller was engaged in general farming, but especially delighted in
the care of fine livestock. His horses, cattle and hogs were usually
of high grades. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had born to them ten children,
eight of whom lived to maturity William, died at the age of eight
years; Martha W., wife of Perry Roberts; Benjamin F., died in November,
1886; Elizabeth, died at the age of eleven years; James, died in January,
1884; Thomas, a prosperous farmer; Samuel, residing with his mother
on the home farm; John A., a successful clothing merchant of Superior,
Nebraska;Mary J., died February 3, 1874, and Sarah A., died December
5,1879. Mr. Miller was appointed postmaster during President Hayes's
administration, the office being kept in his dwelling. He also served
as road supervisor. He was an oldfashioned Democrat, and was an admirer of President Cleveland's administration. He did not chew tobacco,
but enjoyed a good smoke. Mrs. Miller is now in her seventyseventh
year, and is in possession of all her mental faculties, and assists
and directs in the management of the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had
lived together for fifty two years. Benjamin F. and James Miller served
in the late Rebellion. B. F. was a member of the Thirtieth Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, Company G, and was Orderly Sergeant of his company.
James Miller was a member of the Ninth Illinois Mounted Infantry,
Company E, and served four years. He was among those who re-enlisted.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 742.
NELSON L. MOREY, a farmer of Leroy Township, was born in North Adams,
Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Feb ruary 16, 1836.His father was
Samuel Morey, a native of Rhode Island. He was a shoemaker in early
life, but later emigrated to Ashtabula County, Ohio, and engaged in
farming. The mother was Orvilla Hold ridge, a native of the State
of Massachusetts, and the mother of twelve children, ten of whom lived
to maturity. Milton L. was a child when his parents removed to Ohio.
The trip was made via the lakes and canal, the country being then
a dense forest. The new home was a truly pioneer one, having no conveniences
and scarcely the necessities. The schoolhouse in which our subject
re ceived his first lessons was the typical log house of that day.He
passed his youth on the farm with his parents, assisting in clear
ing out the farm.At the age of twentyone years he came to Iowa and
settled in Clinton County, where he worked on a farm by the month
for three years.He then returned to his old home in Ohio, where he
engaged in farming for some years. In 1868 Mr. Morey was married to
Julia A., daughter of Martin Quakenbush,a Canadian by birth. Mrs.
Morey was born in the State of New York, near Troy.After his marriage
Mr. Morey remained in Ohio for seven years, and then returned toIowa,
renting a farm in Clin ton County; here he remained until 1878, when
he came to Audubon County, and bought 160 acres of raw prairie in
Leroy Township. Mr. Morey has made many val uable improvements, and
is a successful farmerpaying special attention to the rais ing of
livestock. Samuel Morey, the father of our subject, was a soldier
in the war of 1812, and was a fifer in the battle of Sackett's Harbor.
He dropped dead of heart disease. Mrs. Morey's mother was Lucy Leed;
her father died in the war of the Revolution.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 738.
THEODORE F. MYERS, attorney at law, Audubon, Iowa, is a native of
the Hawkeye State, and was born in Powe hiek County, February 9,
1859. He is the fourth child in a family of seven children, all of
whom are living. He is the son of John A. and Mary E. Myers, natives
of Ger many. The father was a merchant during the active years of
his life, and is now retired and living at Montezuma, Iowa.John A.
Myers and wife emigrated to America and were among the first actual
settlers in Powe shiek County, Iowa. Theodore F., the subject of
this notice, was reared in the town of Montezuma, and received his
education in the common-schools of this place. At the age of nineteen
he began teaching. He afterward went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he accepted a position as assistant bookkeeper in the firm of Comstock's
Stove Works. He served in this capacity until the spring of 1880, when
he came to Audubon and accepted a position as clerk in the hardware
store of Martin & Keller. He remained here until the fall of 1881,
when he entered the law office of Joseph L. Stotts. In six months he
was made a member of the firm, and at the end of a year the firm was
changed to Andrews, Stotts & Myers. This firm con tinued to transact
business until 1886, when the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Myers
continued the law practice alone. He was admitted to the bar in 1883.
In October, 1881, Mr. Myers was united in marriage to Miss Lydia M.
Haines, of Washington, Iowa, a daughter of Gilbert Haines, of the
State of New York, who was one of the early settlers in Iowa. Mr. and
Mrs. Myers have one daughter Helen Gray. Mr. Myers owns several good
farms in Audubon County, and some Kansas lands. He is a member of
Aretas Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He is an active politician, and votes
with the Republican party. He has often served as delegate to conventions,
and as chairman of township committees.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 797.
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Contributed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs, April, 2005.
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