Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah September 20, 2020

M. V. Tate

Mrs. M. V. Tate

Martin V. Tate, living on section 24, Warren township, has resided on his present farm since 1883 but put aside the active work of the fields in 1908 and has since enjoyed honorable retirement. His birth occurred in Jennings county, Indiana, on the 4th of October, 1839, his parents being Enos and Sarah (Thomas) Tate, who were natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. The father, in company with his three brothers, John, James and William, removed from Kentucky to Indiana, taking up his abode among the earliest settlers of Jennings county. There he followed farming and made his home until called to his final rest in 1845. His wife long survived him, passing away in Oregon five years ago. Their children were as follows: George Washington Tate, whose demise occurred in Oregon in 1906; Elizabeth, who was the wife of James Hueston and died in southern Iowa thirty-five years ago; Louisa, who passed away in Oregon, first gave her hand in marriage to John Briner and subsequently wedded William Rodman; Martin V., of this review; Sarah Jane, who was the wife of John Cameron and died twelve years ago; Mary Ellen, who is the wife of Samuel Laman, an agriculturist of La Fayette, Oregon; and Julia, the wife of Colonel Smith, of La Fayette, Oregon.

One year after her husband’s demise Mrs. Sarah Tate located on a farm in Keokuk county, Iowa, where our subject remained until 1862, when he went to the front in defense of the Union, as a member of Company H, Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, having enlisted at South English, Iowa. He remained in the army for three years and participated in numerous engagements, including the battle of Jenkins Ferry in Louisiana. On the expiration of his term of service he was mustered out at New Orleans and when hostilities had ceased returned home with a creditable military record, having never faltered in the performance of any task assigned him. He resumed farming in Keokuk county and in 1883 came to Carroll county, locating on section 24, Warren township, where he has resided continuously since. On first coming here he purchased a quarter section of land, sold eighty acres of it and later bought another quarter section near Manning, while subsequently he purchased a quarter section adjoining his homestead. He now leases the property to his two sons and has lived retired for the past three years. The sons carry on general farming and also raise and feed hogs. Four acres are planted to fruit, the land is well tiled and the farms are highly improved in every particular. The old California trail crosses Mr. Tate’s farm. The “forty-niners” came west along this trail, and for years after Mr. Tate took up his abode on his present homestead, wagon trains passed through his lands enroute to Carroll. The divide here is the highest point in the state. Mr. Tate had chosen Iowa as a permanent location because of the fact that his father had been west years before and the black soil of this state had struck his fancy. His mother had two brothers in Keokuk county and urged her husband to locate there while en route west.

On the 5th of November, 1868, at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Mr. Tate was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Jane Hueston, a daughter of Jabos and Eliza (Hale) Hueston, who were at that time residents of Henry county, Iowa. The father passed away at Clarinda, Page county, while the mother’s demise occurred in Henry county. Unto our subject and his wife were born four children. Eliza is the wife of Samuel Keat, an extensive farmer and stockman of Warren township, Carroll county, by whom she had eight children: Harry, John, Mabel, Emma, Albert, Arthur, Nellie and George. Albert wedded Miss Lois Lathrop, a daughter of Calvin and Louisa Lathrop. Her father died in Nebraska, but her mother is still living at Red Oak, Iowa. Albert Tate resides on one of his father’s farms. Unto him and his wife has been born one child, Arlo. Mary Ellen Tate passed away when a maiden of eight years. Luther, an agriculturist of Warren township resides with his parents.

Mr. Tate is a republican in politics and has served as school director for three years, while for six years he held the office of trustee of Warren township. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, while his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He is likewise an honored member of McPherson Post, No. 33, G.A.R., at Manning, Iowa. The evening of life finds him looking back upon an active, useful and honorable career, happy in the regard and esteem of all with whom he has been associated.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~