Story, Isaac K.

STORY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/2/2021 at 21:03:25

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.748

ISAAC K. STORY
In the record of the settlers who have long resided within its borders of Warren County, mention should be made of Isaac K. Story, who for forty years has made his home here. Throughout this period he has been connected with farming and stock-raising interests and is now dealing in live stock, making large purchases and sales annually. His birth occurred in Greene County, Ohio, November 25, 1841, his parents being Thomas and Annie (Humble) Story.
Thomas Story, the father, was born in Ireland and in his boyhood days was brought to the United States by his parents who located in Ohio. He there became a farmer and resided in that state until 1853, when he removed to Ind­iana. After a residence of three years in the Hoosier state he came to Iowa in 1856 and settled on a tract of land in Louisa County. Subsequently he removed to Missouri where his last days were passed, death claiming him in 1892, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-three years. At the time of the Civil War he espoused the cause of his adopted country and joined the boys in blue of Company C, Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry. The date of his enlistment was August, 1862, and he remained with his command for two and a half years, or until the close of hostilities, when victory perched upon the Union banners. Like the great majority of those who defended the Union he was a Republican in his political views, for it was the party which stood for the supremacy of the federal government during the dark days of the Civil War. His wife was a native of Urbana, Ohio, and died October 16, 1867, at the age of forty-three years. She came of English lineage and her life was actuated by her belief as a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Story were born thirteen children, of whom Isaac K. Story is the eldest. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in the days of his boyhood and youth. He at­tended the country schools when not busy with the work of the fields and when he put aside his text-books he concentrated his attention entirely upon farm work, in which he continued until a few years ago. He arrived in Warren County in 1868, although he had been a resident of Iowa from 1856, coming with his parents when they took up their abode in Louisa County. In 1861 he put aside the plow and like his father joined the army, enlisting in Louisa County as a member of Company K, Eighth Iowa Infantry. Three years had passed and he then reenlisted on the 1st of January 1864, in the same company and regiment with which lie remained until mustered out at Davenport, Iowa in 1866. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh and was captured on the field that night but was recaptured the following day. He also took part in the battles of Corinth and Vicksburg, Mississippi, Mobile and Spanish Fort and others of lesser importance. He went upon many of the long hard marches and stood valiantly in defense of the old flag on the firing line or as faithfully did his duty on the lonely picket line.
When the country no longer needed his aid Mr. Story returned to his home in Louisa County, where he was identified with farming interests until his re­moval to Warren County in 1868. Here he located in Squaw Township, where he began the cultivation of a rented farm. He afterward lived in White Oak and Liberty Townships and was connected with farming interests here until 1881, when he removed to Indianola, where he has since engaged in dealing in live stock.
It was after his arrival in Warren County but in the same year that Mr. Story was married to Miss Rebecca Ramey, whose birth occurred in Greene County, Ohio, October 20, 1844, her parents being John and Lydia Ramey, who came to Iowa in 1845 and settled in Louisa County. In 1867 they removed to Warren County and took up their abode in Squaw Township. Mr. and Mrs. Story have six children and three grandsons. Their children are: Anna, the wife of W. H. Hewitt ; Linnie Agnes, who departed this life in 1875; Jane, the wife of William Brewer, of Indianola, where he is engaged in merchandising; John R., a clerk of Indianola; William H., a practicing dentist of this city; and Alice Belle, who is a teacher in the Indianola high school.
Mr. Story belongs to the Odd Fellows society and the Grand Army of the Republic. He votes with the Republican Party and has filled the office of deputy sheriff but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. A long residence in Iowa has made him largely familiar with the history of the state as it has emerged from pioneer conditions to take on all of the evidences of a modern civilization. He has lived in this county for forty years, is well known to many of its citizens and his salient traits of character are such as have gained for him the esteem and friendship of many with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.