Isom Tolliver
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Isom Toliver was an honored pioneer resident of Greene county
and his memory is yet revered by those who knew him. He was born on the
top of Big Bald Mountain in Ashe county, North Carolina, July 29, 1814,
and came of English ancestry, the family being established in America
prior to the Revolutionary war. His grandfather, Jesse Toliver, was a
man of great force of character and ability and served for seven years
in the war for independence. five years as a captain of the line. John
Toliver, father of our subject, died in North Carolina, being survived
by his widow, Mrs. Anna Toliver, and twelve children, seven sons and
five daughters.
As Isom Toliver was the eldest son he practically beeame the head of
the family. In 1834 the mother with her children removed to Owen
county, Indiana, where they entered land and cleared a farm. While
there residing Isom Toliver was married, August 6, 1836, to Matilda
Reynolds, who was born in North Carolina. In the spring of 1848 he
removed with his family to Richland county, Illinois, where he again
entered land, cultivating his farm until the fall of 1853, when he sold
that property and came to Iowa. The following winter was spent in
Wapello county but in the meantime the father entered land here. In the
spring he brought his family to Greene county, settling at the south
end of the north Raccoon Valley in what is now Franklin township. The
work of development had scarcely been begun here. He was the fourth
settler on the west side of the north Racoon river and his was one of
the first entries of land made in the county. He took up the arduous
task of developing a new farm and continued its improvement until 1869,
when he sold out and purchased land in Bristol township, upon which he
made his home up to the time of his death on the 13th of September,
1893. He bravely met all the hardships and dangers incident to pioneer
life. In fact he greatly enjoyed this contest with the frontier in
reclaiming the land and bringing it under cultivation and in aiding in
the development of a new district.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Toliver were born eleven children, nine sons and two
daughters, but four of the sons and one daughter passed away in
childhood or youth. Those who reached adult age were John H., Gillum
S., Jacob M., James C., Doctor R., Terry J ., and Isom M. Four of the
sons served in the Union army during the Civil war. The eldest was a
member of Company E, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and fife
major of the regiment. He laid down his life on the altar of his
country. Jacob M., who was a second lieutenant of the same company,
served for eight years as district attorney in Northwestern Iowa and is
now practicing law at Lake City. Gillum S.,
was a member of Company H, Tenth Iowa Infantry, and after the war
served for three years as county surveyor and two years as county
treasurer. He was also a member of the thirteenth general assembly of
Iowa. In the spring of 1870 he formed a law partnership with the Hon.
John J . Russell at Jefferson, Iowa, under the firm name of Russell
& Toliver and has since practiced law here. James C. Toliver was a
member of Company H, Tenth Iowa Infantry. In civil life he served for
two years as deputy sheriff and four years as county recorder of Greene
county. Later he engaged in the real-estate and abstract business at
Rockwell City, Iowa, and is now an attorney at law of Ainsworth,
Nebraska. Doctor R., Terry J. and Isom M. are now substantial
representatives of farming interests. As the family lived on the
frontier the educational opportunities which the children received were
somewhat limited but the father tried to make up to them for this lack
and few did more under like circumstances for their intellectual
advancement. In the training of his family he was watchful, consistent
and firm. He was a kind but just father, ever regardful of the welfare
and happiness of his family, yet he believed in implicit obedience of
the child to the parent. A man of excellent judgment in all things, he
displayed wisdom in the control of his farming interests and became a
successful and substantial agriculturist.
In 1893 Mr. Toliver was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who
died on the 14th of January. They had long traveled life’s journey
together and her loss to him was a very great one, yet he put forth the
utmost effort to respond to the efforts of his children and friends to
make his life pleasant and comfortable. While visiting in Illinois he
received a severe hurt while riding in a buggy that necessitated his
remaining in bed for two or three weeks. His son, Doctor R. Toliver,
went to look after him and when he became a little better brought him
home. For a time he seemed to rally but gradually his health failed him
and he passed away September 13, 1893, at the age of seventy-nine years.
Soon
after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Toliver became members of the
United Brethren in Christ and were identified with that church
throughout their remaining days. During the greater part of his life
Mr. Toliver was a constant student of the Bible, reading it in
preference to any other book and following closely its injunctions. He
was well versed in the Old Testament as well as in the New and was
never more at home in conversation than when discussing the history and
teachings of the Bible. One of the local newspapers, in commenting on
his death, said: “Isom Toliver was a good citizen and an honest man,
thoroughly upright in his dealings, charitable to the needy and
hospitable to strangers, friends and neighbors. He was a generous man
in the days when the country was new, was ready to lend a helping hand
to those who needed assistance. He was jovial even in his old age and
had a kind word and pleasant welcome for every one. To all who knew him
his name will be his epitaph and will have the power to call up the
recollections of his friendship and virtues."
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