GEDDES, Samuel S.

GEDDES

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 5/30/2021 at 15:51:48

Samuel S. Geddes
Samuel S. Geddes, a farmer of section 3, Douglas Township, Ida County, was born in Knox County, Ohio, near Mt. Vernon, November 29, 1829, a son of James Geddes, who was born in New York, in 1800. His father, John Geddes, was a native of Scotland. The mother of our subject, nee Elizabeth Irwin, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of William Irwin, a native of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Geddes moved to Knox County, Ohio, in a very early day, locating near Mt. Vernon, where they erected a log cabin, and remained there many years. Both died in Ohio, the mother at the age of seventy years and the father at eighty years, and was buried at Mansfield, that State. They were the parents of four children: Hon. George W., who was Judge of the Courts for fifteen years, and is now a attorney of Mansfield, Ohio; Irwin, the next in order of birth; Cordelia, wife of N. S. Reed, also of Mansfield; and S. S., our subject. The father followed farming during life, voted with the Democratic party, and was a member of the Methodist Church.
Samuel S., the subject of this sketch, was reared in Knox County, Ohio, to the age of twelve or fourteen years, and then went to Richland County, same State, where he attended the common schools and also the Haysville Academy. He was next engaged in teaching and clerking there for a number of years, and in 1855, removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he was employed as a clerk for about fifteen years. In 1876 he purchased 200 acres of land in Douglas township, Ida County, paying $6 per acre, and a part of this land also lies in Cherokee County. Mr. Geddes has improved his place, erected a good, one and a half story residence, 26 x 16 feet, with an L, 14 x 20 feet, and has a fine grove and orchard.
Our subject was married in Polk County, Iowa, in 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Nagle, who was born near Steubenville, Ohio, a daughter of Franklin Nagle, a native of Polk County, that state. Mr. and Mrs. Geddes have had six children, namely: Irvin, of Montana; Lettie Bell, of Orange City, Iowa; Eddy S. of Dixon county, Nebraska; and George and James Arthur, at home. Mr. Geddes has been identified with the Republican party since its organization, and has served as a member of the County Board three years. Religiously, both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is one of the prominent and leading men of Douglas township.
Source: Biographical History of Crawford, Ida, and Sac Counties, Iowa, p.492