Amos, James A.

AMOS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/26/2021 at 14:43:22

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.425

JAMES A. AMOS
James M. Amos who died May 8, 1898 on his farm on section 21, Otter Township, was born in Baltimore, Maryland on the 4th of July 1823 and was left an orphan at an early age. He had a brother, John Amos, now deceased, and a sister, also deceased. After the death of the parents the children were scattered and reared by different families. For a time James M. Made his home with a man who took him to Ohio, but at a very early age he was thrown upon his own resources and the success that came to him in life was due to his own unaided efforts. During his youth he went upon the river, being employed on barges, steamboats, etc. on the Ohio, Mississippi and Red rivers, making many trips to New Orleans. After about ten years spent in this way, he finally located in Knox County, Illinois, where he was subsequently married.
It was in 1854 that Mr. Amos and his wife decided to come to Warren County, Iowa as land was much cheaper here than in Illinois at the time. He entered one hundred and twenty acres in Lincoln Township, west of Indianola where they lived for ten years and he then traded that property for two hundred and fifty-three acres on section 15, Otter Township, where he erected a residence and made his home until 1887. He then built on the southeast quarter of section 21, Otter Township, where he continued to make his home until called to his final rest, it being now the property of his son, Sherman. To this tract he subsequently added eighty acres and as time passed he extended the boundaries of his land until he had one thousand acres, of which seven hundred and eight acres are now owned by his sons, Sherman and Grant G...
In connection with general farming, Mr. Amos also raised considerable stock, and in business affairs he met with far more than ordinary success. He was justly numbered among the self-made men of the county as all that he possessed was gained through his own business ability, sound judgment and good management. At one time he held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was a man of high character and sterling worth who gained the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and as a Republican he took an active interest in public affairs, serving as treasurer of the county school funds and as township assessor.
On the 27th of August 1850, in Knox County, Illinois, Mr. Amos married Miss Mary E. Stephens, who was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, September 13, 1831. Her parents, Lewis and Elizabeth (Alder) Stephens, were representatives of old Virginia families, and from that state they removed to Knox County, Illinois in the fall of 1849, there making their home until called to their final rest some twenty-five years ago. In their family were eight children, of whom one son and four daughters are still living. Mrs. Amos is a most estimable lady and now at the age of seventy-seven years she resides on the old homestead with her son, Sherman.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Amos were born eleven children as follows: Ora, born July 3, 1851, is now the wife of A. J. Conner, a farmer of Otter Township, and they have six children. Laura E., born September 10, 1852, is the wife of R.M. Bacon of Morris County, Kansas, and they too have six children. Ida V., born March 6, 1855, died June 7, 1863. Nancy E, born February 15, 1857, died June 11, 1863. John G. born April 22, 1859, died June 24, 1863. James Liberty, born July 4, 1861, died May 22, 1893. He was first married September 11, 1888, to Miss Mary Baugh, who died in 1891, and in January 1893 he married Miss Eva Pope, by whom he has one child, John Amos, now fifteen years of age, who resides with his mother in Indianola. She married again but lost her second husband and is now engaged in teaching. The son, John, was left one thousand dollars by his grandfather, to be paid when he reaches his majority.
Mary N., born January 10, 1864, is the wife of Herbert Worthley, of Otter Township, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Lurena, born March 28, 1866, was married January 11, 1887 to W.T. Butler, also represented on another page of this work. Grant G., born May 5, 1869, received a good common-school education and remained on the home farm until twenty-seven years of age, when he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ellen Chumbley, a daughter of Joseph G. Chumbley, represented elsewhere in this volume. Four children bless this union, Nellie May, born January 21, 1898; Nora Ellen, December 13, 1900; Aaron Howard, October 1, 1903; and Charles Monroe, April 28, 1907. Since the death of the father, Grant G. and W. Sherman Amos have operated the farm of seven hundred and eight acres on section 21, 22, 27 and 28, Otter Township, in partnership, under the firm name of Amos Brothers. They are extensively engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of pure-blooded Hereford cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs.
W. Sherman, born December 7, 1871, also attended the common schools, and as previously stated, he is successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising in partnership with his brother. He was married August 21, 1895, to Miss Lillian M. Woods, who was born Decatur County, Iowa in 1873, a daughter of William M. and Emma (Bassett) Woods. The family was originally from Pennsylvania, but her parents were reared in Knoxville, Illinois from which state they came to Iowa in 1870, and removed to Warren County in 1889, locating first in Indianola. Later they removed to a farm in White Oak Township, where Mr. Woods died in 1896, at the age of fifty-one years, but his widow is still living on the home farm in that township at the age of fifty-seven. They had nine children, those living being Mrs. W.S. Amos; Nellie, who was born in 1875, and is now the wife of Frank Lester, a farmer of White Oak Township; William M., who was born in 1877 and is now in Montana, where he has taken a claim; Hugh O., was born in 1879, and is manager of the Hawkeye Telephone Company at Indianola; Ralph, who was born in 1886 and is still at home; Mildred, who was born in 1891, and is now a junior in the high school at Indianola; and Edna, who was born in 1894, and is a home. Sydney died in infancy, and Fred at the age of six years. Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Amos have had four children, namely: Mary E., born June 10, 1897; James William, born October 12, 1900; Frankie Lloyd, who was born September 24, 1902, and died September 8, 1903; and Carl Morgan, born August 7, 1904. The mother and daughter are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Amos is connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 70 at Indianola. Since attaining his majority he has always supported the Republican Party and has efficiently served as a school officer. In business affairs he has always been found notably reliable and he has the confidence and respect of all who know him.
Alice V., the youngest in the Amos family, was born June 22, 1874, and was married August 21, 1895 to Harry L. Barnes, a painter, residing in Grand Junction, Colorado. They have one daughter.