Applegate, Thomas S.

APPLEGATE, BLUNK, DAVIS, HAKES, WATSON, RIVERS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/18/2009 at 11:34:01

HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
Published 1911
By Prof. L.F. Parker
Pages 286-288

THOMAS S. APPLEGATE

Thomas S. Applegate, who for twenty years has filled the office of justice of the peace in Montezuma, his decisions being a clear exposition of the law and the equity in the case, was born in Ray township, Morgan county, Indiana, December 3, 1834, a son of Joseph and Lavina (Blunk) Applegate. The father was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1808, and was reared in Bullitt county, that state. The mother was born in Harrison county, Indiana, in 1814, and was a daughter of George and Rebecca (Davis) Blunk, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Virginia. Mrs. Blunk died at the age of one hundred and six years, while her mother reached the remarkable age of one hundred and fifteen and David Blunk, a brother of Mrs. Lavina Applegate, passed away at the age of one hundred and three.

The marriage of Joseph and Lavina (Blunk) Applegate was celebrated in Indiana and in 1854 they came with their family to Iowa, driving across the country. Settling in Sugar Creek township, Poweshiek county, the father entered land from the government and upon the claim which he secured and developed he made his home until his death, which occurred about 1880. His wife survived him for some years, passing away in the same township in 1887. He had made farming his life work and in early manhood had engaged in teaching school through the winter months. For a number of years he filled the office of justice of the peace during his residence in Indiana. His political allegiance was originally given the whig party and upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the new republican party. His religious faith was that of the Baptist church. Unto him and his wife were born nine children, of whom four sons and one daughter are yet living, while three of the family died in infancy, and Mrs. Eliza Hakes passed away January 3, 1911. Those who still survive are: Mrs. Zerelda Watson, a widow living in Touchet, Washington; Thomas S.; Ira, of Norton county, Kansas; Peter N., whose home is in Carroll county, Arkansas; and William J., of Springfield, Kansas. The second son, Ira, enlisted at Montezuma for service in Company C, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, on the 11th of August, 1862. At the same time Thomas S. Applegate joined the army and they went to the front under Captain J.W. Carr, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. They took part in all of the engagements of the regiment until Thomas S. Applegate was wounded in the last fight at Cedar Creek, Virginia, October 19, 1864, a fragment of a shell striking him in the ankle. He was honorably discharged in January, 1865, but his brother Ira remained at the front until the cessation of hostilities.

After he had recovered from his injuries Thomas S. Applegate resumed farming and was continuously and successfully connected with agricultural pursuits in this county until 1884, when he sold his farm in Sugar Creek township and established a hardware and implement business in Searsboro. There he was engaged in the conduct of his store until 1898, when he came to Montezuma, where he has since resided.

During much of the period of his residence here Mr. Applegate has filled public offices. He is a stalwart republican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party and its principles. He filled the position of county supervisor from 1884 until 1889, was justice of the peace in Sugar Creek township for two terms and afterward served as deputy sheriff for one term. In 1900 he was chosen justice of the peace of Montezuma and entered upon a new term in the office on the 1st of January, 1911. His decisions are strictly fair and impartial and the record he has made in presiding over the justice court commends him to the confidence of all law-abiding citizens.

On the 16th of July, 1854, Mr. Applegate was united in marriage, in Sugar Creek township, to Miss Sarah Rivers, who was born in Morgan county, Indiana, in 1831, and about 1848 came to this county with her parents, Richard and Mary (Watson) Rivers, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of North Carolina, although both spent their last days in Poweshiek county. Of the children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Applegate three died in infancy or early life, Joseph Richard passing away in infancy, Mary Lavina when four years of age and John at the age of eight years. Those still living are: William, of Tama, Iowa; and George T., of Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Applegate is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and his religious belief is that of the Church of Christ, in which he is serving as elder. His life has ever been upright and honorable and his many manly and sterling qualities have gained for him the warm and enduring regard of all with whom he has come in contact.