~ Jonathan Davis Edge ~

Jonathan Davis Edge, a farmer residing in Newton Township, Jasper County, was born in Auglaize County, near Lima, Ohio, February 7,1836, and is a son of Jesse and Margaret (Looney) Edge. His father was born in Greene County, Ohio, March 7, 1811, while the paternal grandfather, whose name was George Davis Edge, was, it is supposed, a native of Tennessee, and lived in the vicinity of Knoxville for some years, removing from there to Ohio, He was a hero of the War or 1812.

Obediah Edge, our subject's great-grandfather was born in Virginia, while his father, who was born near Huddersfield, England, emigrated to this country in the old Colonial days and settled in Virginia where he followed the occupation of a fisherman While thus engaged he was drowned in Delaware Bay. Obediah Edge died in the Old Dominion but had previously gained possession of large tracts or land in Ohio, where be sent his four sons. One of them, George Davis, with his wife, journeyed on horseback from Tennessee to Ohio in 1808, crossing the Ohio River where the city of Cincinnati now stands. The family had been prominent in the south, and many of them were slave owners.

In 1852, when our subject was about sixteen year of age, the family came from Ohio to Iowa and settled in Cedar County, where his father, a man of moderate means, purchased a farm consisting of two hundred acres and resided thereon until his death in 1874. Our subject's mother was a daughter of Jonathan Looney, who was a member of a prominent Virginia family of Revolutionary fame. She was born in Virginia in 1811, and at the age of three years was taken by her parents to Ohio; she is now (1893) living at Wilton Junction, Iowa, at the advanced age of eighty-two.

Jonathan D. was the second in a family of eleven children, of whom we note the following: Mary D. died when eighteen years of age. Frank died at the age of thirty-three, leaving two children; he enlisted as a private in the Eleventh Iowa Infantry, and was wounded at Shiloh, his right arm being twice penetrated by minie balls. William H., a soldier in the war and a member of the Forty-sixth Iowa Infantry, has never married, and now lives with his mother at Wilton Junction. Jasper N., also a member of the Eleventh Iowa Infantry, now resides at Newton. Margaret L., who lives in Jasper County, Mo., married William H. Sterrett, and they have five children. The others of the family died when young.

A prominent characteristic of the Edge family is patriotism. Nine or more of that name in the different branches of the family did meritorious service in the war for the preservation of the Union, none of them being killed and none wounded but Frank, above mentioned. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood upon hi8 father's farm, and received a common-school education. At the age of twenty-three he left the parental home and commenced to work on a farm for an uncle, receiving $13 per month. At the breaking out of the Civil War, when the first call came for seventy-five thousand volunteers, in April 1861, he was one of the first to respond, and became a private in the Eleventh Ohio Infantry. September 25 of the same year he re-enlisted in the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry, and was sent to Wyoming to look after the hostile Indians. While he had little fighting to do, he endured many hardships and his service was long and arduous. October 1, 1861, he was promoted to Sergeant of Company A, of his regiment, and was the ranking Sergeant in the regiment. For a time he also served as Quartermaster-Sergeant and Sergeant Major. April 1, 1865, he was discharged at Omaha, Neb., having served within a few days of four years.

After the war Mr. Edge spent a year in Ohio and then came back to Cedar County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. In the fall of 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha J. Horn, a member of an old Pennsylvania-Dutch family. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1842, and accompanied her father, James C. Horn, from that state to Cedar County, Iowa, in 1854. Mr. Horn conducted farming pursuits there until his death at the age of seventy-one; his wife died at the age of fifty-six. They had a family of three sons and four daughters, all of whom attained years of maturity. At the present time two daughters and three sons are living, as follows: Mrs. Edge, who is the eldest, Emma, widow of G. W. Reeder, and a resident of Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa; William H., who is engaged in the real-estate business in Oklahoma; James, who is in the stock commission business at South Omaha, Neb.; and George P., who resides in Cedar Rapids, Neb., being extensively interested in land at that place.

The maternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Edge, John Filson, was shot by the Indians while standing in his door at the Ohio home. He owned a large tract of land in what is now the heart of Cincinnati, and valued at millions of dollars. This property belongs to his heirs, of whom Mrs. Edge is one, but they are yet lacking some proof to get possession of it. Mr. and Mrs. Edge are the parents of two children-bright and promising young men, Charles O. and George W. The former is a graduate of the Newton High School, where he completed the course of study in 1888; the latter is a graduate of Hazel Dell Academy, of Newton. Both reside on the farm with their parents.

In 1871 Mr. Edge removed to Nebraska, and lived in Saunders County until 1877, when he returned to Cedar County, Iowa. In 1883 he came to his present farm in Newton Township. While in Nebraska he served as Justice of the Peace for several years, and also officiated as School Director. The family of which he is an honored representative possessed decided sympathies on behalf of the old-line Whig party, and our subject has been a life-long Republican. Socially he is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic. He and his family are members of the Methodist Church, the faith of his forefathers for many generations. He is one of Newton's most prosperous farmers and highly respected citizens, and justly merits the high esteem in which he is held by his acquaintances. Page 365.

~ John Wickliff Elliott ~

Of the many prominent farmers of Jasper County, Mr. Elliott is well worthy of mention, for he has resided here for many years and has ever had its interests at heart. Like many of the representative citizens of the county, he is a Hoosier by birth, born in Owen County, December 17, 1846. His grandfather, John Elliott, who was a Virginian, was of Scotch ancestry, and at an early date moved to Kentucky, where the remainder of his days were spent. He had three sons. John S., the youngest, was a prominent merchant and grain dealer. He moved to Nebraska and there died. The second son, William M., who was a farmer, moved to Missouri, where his death occurred. The eldest child was the father of our subject, James H. Elliott.

The latter was born in Kentucky in 1820, and came to Iowa in 1851, purchasing the land on which the town of Prairie City now stands. Five years later he laid out the town, and it was at that time called Elliott. He had little means when he came to the state, but being prudent and economical, he accumulated a moderate fortune. Later he moved to Taylor County, Iowa, and there he resides at the present time. While residing in his native state he married Miss Emeline Hicks, a native of Georgia, and the daughter of one of the pioneers of the state, a man who was quite prominent in his day. To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott were born sixteen children, eight of whom died when small. Martha J. married Stephen West and lives in Taylor County; Mr. West was a soldier in the Union army during the war, and died while in service. Mary A. married Dr. Carl Kitchen, a prominent physician of Polk County, Iowa; Ellen married James Stephens, who was a soldier in the late war; she died in 1873. Sarah I. married Frank Griffin, and resides in Taylor County; James E. is a merchant and grain dealer in Taylor County; Robert E. is a farmer in Taylor County, and Etta May married Byron Marrow, who is a farmer of Taylor County.

The original of this notice was but five years of age when his parents moved to Iowa, and as a consequence all his recollections are of this state. His educational advantages were limited, and on the 29th of February 1864, before he was eighteen years of age, he enlisted in Company A, Third Iowa Cavalry. He went to the front at Little Rock, Ark., and engaged in the pursuit of Forrest in Tennessee, and Price in Missouri and Kansas, and was in the campaign through Georgia near the close of the war. He was mustered out at Atlanta, Ga., on the 9th of August 1865, and soon afterward returned to Prairie City, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. This has been his occupation ever since, with the exception of one year, when he was engaged in merchandising in Taylor County. He has met with fair success, and is considered a progressive and enterprising farmer.

Mr. Elliott has traveled quite extensively in the west, is a man of ample means, and has been taking life easy for some time. He selected his life companion in the person of Miss Anna E. Elliott, who, though bearing the same name, was not a relative. She was a native of Ohio, where her parents were early settlers. Her mother, Clara Elliott, is a widow of ample means, living on a farm near our subject. Mr. Elliott is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics is a Republican. He has held no public offices, and has not been spoiled by success.

~ Moses Elliott ~

Moses Elliott, one of the representative citizens of Jasper County, owns a valuable estate on section 7, Washington Township. This location became his home in 1878, at which time the land was in an unimproved state, its present splendid condition in every respect being a standing monument to the industry and perseverance of the owner. The acreage amounts to one hundred and fifty-nine and one-half, from the rental of which Mr. Elliott receives a fair income. It is a model farm; both from an artistic point of view as well as for the products raised thereon, and forms one of the finest rural homes in the county.

The subject of this biographical notice was born twelve miles south of Glasgow, in Barren County KY, December 13, 1819. His father, William Elliott, a native of Virginia, was reared in Kentucky where he continued to make his home until his death, at the age of ninety-six years. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Elliott, was probably of English descent. He was born in Richmond VA, and served throughout the entire period of the Revolutionary War, where he rendered valiant service on behalf of the Colonies. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Ellen Paden and was born and reared in Kentucky, where she died when our subject was a child of eight years. Her father was a native of North Carolina.

William Elliott was married three times, his first wife being our subject's mother. Four daughters and three sons were born of that union. Of his second marriage, which united him with Jane Frances, there were seven children born, six sons and one daughter. The third marriage, which united him with Betsy Britt, was childless. Moses Elliott is the third child of his father's first marriage. At the age of eighteen he left the parental home, and going to Keokuk, Iowa, worked for a time on a farm near that city. After three years thus spent be returned to Kentucky, and resided thirteen years in the Blue Grass State, coming once more to Iowa in 1854. He resided in Marion County until 1878, when he came to Jasper County and located upon his present farm.

The lady who in 1840 became the wife of Moses Elliott was formerly Miss Clarissa Underwood and was born within ten miles of our subject's native place. They were the parents of twelve children, two of whom died in infancy. Eight are now living. William A., who was born in Kentucky in 1841, is now a resident of Colorado; James A. was born in Kentucky in 1843; Nancy E. whose birth occurred in Kentucky in 1845, is the wife of John Roff, of Missouri; Thomas E. was born in Kentucky in 1847, and now makes his home in Polk County, Iowa; Mary S. was born in Kentucky in 1880, and is now deceased; John A. whose birth occurred in the Blue Grass State in 1852, is now a resident of Polk County, Iowa, his home being situated eight miles from Des Moines; Eliza Jane was born in Kentucky in 1854, and is now deceased; Joseph, who was born in Marion County, Iowa, in 1856, is now a resident of Washington Township, Jasper County, Iowa; Moses E. was born in Marion County in 1861, and lives in Nebraska; and Henry F., whose birth took place in Colorado in 1864, now lives in Mitchellville, Polk County, Iowa.

The fine property, which Mr. Elliott owns, and the comforts which surround his family, are a creditable showing for one who began in early youth penniless and without influence, and indicate the sturdy nature of the man to whose determination and unflagging industry they are due. He hauled rails at the rate of fifty cents per hundred, receiving in payment for his work the first horse that he ever owned. He also farmed fifteen acres of land in further payment therefor. His experiences have been diverse, his struggles hard and obstacles many; but undetermined by misfortunes or hardships, he worked steadily onward, until he is now in independent circumstances. In his enterprises, he has been assisted by his industrious wife, to whom he owes no small share of his success.

The record of the life of Mr. Elliott shows that he has been kind, generous and whole-souled in word and deed, and his neighbors feel that they can call upon him for sympathy and help in hours of need. In his labors as a tiller of the soil he has displayed practical common sense, discrimination and an ability to work to a good advantage, and the success that has followed his efforts proves that he was fortunate in the selection of an occupation. His forefathers for generations were Democrats, and he is equally stanch in his allegiance to that party. p. 228.

~ Perry Engle, M.D. ~

In the political circles of Jasper County, no name has gained greater prominence than that of Doctor Engle, of Newton, the present State Senator from his district. In his professional circles of the county, he is also well known and highly honored, and his abilities are of such a high order that he is doubtless the most prominent surgeon in central Iowa at the present time. A volume of this character would, therefore, be incomplete were no mention made of the life of a man so eminent and so successful.

Born in Findlay, Ohio, July 16, 1840, the Doctor was the eldest of eight sons comprising the family of Jacob Engle, a native of Somerset County, PA, who was born in 1812. The paternal grandfather was a Prussian by birth, but early in life came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where he remained until death. Jacob Engle was a mechanical genius and a man of considerable ability. Early in life he went to Maryland, where he married Miss Laura Probst, who was of French and English extraction. In 1838 he removed to Ohio and located in Findlay, where he became a prosperous and well-to-do mechanic. A man of broad views and liberal education, he gave his children the best possible educational advantages up to the time of his death, which occurred in Ohio in 1858. His widow survived him for many years, passing away in Metz in 1884. It is probable that the inventive genius of the family was inherited from him, the Doctor and two brothers now living in Newton having received letters patent on several inventions. Another brother, Theodore, is a prominent physician and surgeon at State Center, Iowa.

The subject of this sketch completed his literary education in Ohio, and in his youth decided to take for his life work the legal profession, but on account of an annoying impediment in his speech, which in his boyhood days he hoped to overcome, but which as he grew older became worse rather than better, he was compelled to abandon his first chosen profession. Then it was that he decided to take up the study of medicine and surgery, and soon afterward he entered the medical department of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor. Two years later, in 1868, he was graduated from that institution, after which he took a postgraduate course at the Long Island Medical College, from which he was graduated.

For the two years following his graduation, the young physician engaged in the practice of his profession in Brooklyn, NY. In 1872 he married Miss Katie Madison, of Ann Arbor, MI, and during the same year he came to Newton, where he at once became prominent as a surgeon and also acquired influence as a politician. He was formerly a Republican, his first vote having been cast for President Lincoln, and was a strong anti-slavery advocate. His brother Alexander gave up his life on the bloody battlefield of Shiloh, and he himself helped to nurse the wounded from that fearful engagement. In 1876 he cast in his lot with the Greenback party, and at the same time established the Newton Herald to advocate the principles of that party. For twelve years he has given this paper his personal attention. As a writer he is clear and forcible, and his editorials have attracted no small amount of attention.

On account of the pressure of other duties preventing him from giving the required attention to the paper, the Doctor in 1888 associated with himself with William Burney, who has since had the principal charge of the publication of the paper, although our subject still writes the loading editorials and political articles, he has recently become identified with the Union Labor and People's Party, and in 1889 received the nomination on the Union Labor ticket for the State Senate, and received a sufficient number of votes to elect him, although the district was strongly Republican. He is now a member of the Senate from his district, and his loyalty to his friends and party caused the recent dead lock in that body. He has served as a member of many important committees and was Chairman of one. He also has introduced many bills, nearly all being on behalf of the poor and oppressed. Probably the proudest act of his legislative career was the bill introduced in the Twenty-third General Assembly to establish an Educational Blind School for Adults to be located at Knoxville, Iowa. The bill passed, and with it an appropriation for the construction of the buildings, and the institution is now in successful operation, being the third school of the kind in the United States.

The Doctor was the founder of, and established the Industrial Union, the motto of which is "Vox Populi, Vox Dei," and in which he now holds an official position. Although at the time of this writing (1893), the order is but six months old, it has more than one hundred thousand members. Doctor Engle has ever been a friend of the poor and the unfortunate, and while his practice has been very large it has not brought him riches because he has given his attention to a large number of poor patients, from whom he never asked nor expected remuneration. As a politician and newspaperman he is aggressive and unrelenting, and has made some bitter enemies as well as a host of warm friends. In debate, although hampered by his infirmity, he has held his own against his adversary. Socially, he is prominent in the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Labor.

The union of Doctor and Mrs. Eagle has resulted in the birth of two children, both boys. The older, Harry, is now a medical student at the Iowa State University. The younger, Bert, is a boy of fourteen years, and even at this early age is taking to journalism, having established the Saturday Rumor, a small sheet, which he edits personally. p. 222.

~ Robert T. English ~

Robert T. English, who is at present holding the office of Mayor of Lynnville, Jasper County and also that of Justice of the Peace, is numbered among the self-made men of this county. He is a son of Robert and Esther (Henry) English, natives of Armstrong and Clarion Counties, PA, respectively. The father was a tanner by trade, and when but thirteen yours old was bereft of both parents, they having died on the same day. He was consequently bound out to learn the tanner's trade and followed this occupation for many years. He came to Clinton County, this state, in 1856, and starting a farm lived on it for ten years, and the remaining ten years of his life were spent in retirement in De Witt, the same county.

Our subject remained at home until eighteen years of age, when he came to Iowa, settling in Scott County, where he worked with a brother, William R., at the carpenter's trade until the spring of 1859. He concluded to go with an expedition to Pike's Peak and California, the journey consuming the time from May to September. He landed at Placerville and engaged in mining for a short time, then engaged in farming until 1865, and subsequently returned to Clinton County, this state. He here purchased eighty acres of land, remaining on the same for four years, when, selling it, he removed to Tama County and located on one hundred and twenty acres. From 1871 to 1883, the family resided on this estate, when our subject again sold and went to South Dakota. Remaining in this last-named place but eighteen months, he came to Lynnville and erected a home, where he yet resides. The furniture business had an attraction for him, and ever since arriving here he has been actively and prosperously engaged in this pursuit. He has ever been popular with the people, and his sense of honor and justice makes his counsel and advice much sought after.

Our subject had no educational advantages other than those afforded by the district schools in the vicinity of his home, but being a keen observer and of an ambitions disposition he has achieved for himself both fame and fortune. The Hon. Mr. English was clouted to the office of Justice of the Peace in 1886 and has been the efficient incumbent ever since. One year later he was nominated and elected the head of the municipal government and served his people three years. In 1893 he was again elected to the same office and is still the honored member of the council. He has been Secretary of the School Board and has held other minor offices in his township. The duties of all these he has discharged with satisfaction to the people and with credit to himself. He is in sympathy with the Republican Party and is much interested in everything that advances the welfare of the community in which he makes his home. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is, in fact, a man whose sketch will do honor to our volume and prove interesting to the many friends who hold him in the highest possible esteem. Socially Mr. English is connected with the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He formed his ideas of political life from the kind of crowds who attended the meeting and cast in his lot with the best crowd. His first vote was polled for John C. Freemont.

Robert T. English was united in marriage in the year 1869 to Cynthia A. Hutt, who was born in Scott County, Iowa. Mrs. English is a daughter of Abraham and Eliza J. (Morgan) Hutt. Her parents came to Iowa from Ohio in 1840 and settled on three hundred and twenty acres of land, there passing their last days. They had born to them five children. Mrs. English stands with her husband in the best social circles of the place and is amiable and genial at all times. They have one daughter, Grace, who is still at home. Blanche, another daughter, died aged five years. P. 239

~ William E. Ervin ~

William E. Ervin, the well known, efficient and popular Steward of the Jasper County Poor Farm, located in Buena Vista Township, is one or the worthy citizens that has been furnished this community by Highland County, Ohio. He was there born October 21, 1831, and is a son of John and Mary (Patton) Ervin, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Kentucky. In his parents' home our subject spent the days of his boyhood and youth and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He early became familiar with all the duties of farm life, and in the summer months aided in the labors of the field, while in the winter months he acquired his education in the primitive log schoolhouse. The seats in that abode of learning were made of rough slabs resting on wooden legs, and a board laid across pins inserted in the wall served as a writing desk for the older scholars.

Mr. Ervin lost his mother by death when he was a lad of eleven years, and his father died when he was eighteen years of age. He was then not only thrown upon his own resources, but as he was the eldest of the family he had to assume the management of the farm and the care of the family. These duties he faithfully performed until he had attained to man's estate. He then chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Elziar Fettro, a native of West Virginia, and a daughter of John and Rebecca Fettro. Their union was celebrated on the 25th of November 1852, and has been blessed with six children: John, Mary, wife of Robert Martin, William H., Lillie M., wife of M. B. Moberly, Charles, and Louella, wife of E. S. Donahey.

In 1874, accompanied by his family, Mr. Ervin left his native state and removed west, locating in Jasper County, Iowa. For a short time he lived in Kellogg Township, and then removed to Buena Vista Township, where he has made his home continuously since, with the exception of two years. In 1888, he was appointed Steward of the Jasper County Poor Farm, which position he has now creditably and acceptably filled for a period of five consecutive years. He is also the owner of one hundred and forty acres of good land in Buena Vista Township, and this farm adds materially to his income. In his political views, Mr. Ervin is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, in the work and advancement of which they take an active interest. He is also a stalwart advocate of the cause of temperance and a promoter of every worthy enterprise, which tends to advance the best interests of the community and aid in the up building and development of the county. His life has been well and worthily passed, and from a financial standpoint may also be said to be a success. He deserves all the more credit for his prosperity, as it has been achieved through his own unaided efforts. He may truly be called a self-made man, and he is deserving of all the praise that term implies. Page 311

~ William Estle ~

The following is a brief sketch of the career of Mr. Estle, who is a resident of Fairview Township, Jasper County. His present substantial position has been reached entirely through his own perseverance, and his life shows what can be accomplished by a person with courage and enlightened views. Not withstanding the many discouragements, he pushed ahead, and the result proves the wisdom of his course.

The father of our subject, William Estle, was a native of Pennsylvania, and when twenty-three years of age was married to Barbara, a daughter of Jacob and Susan Strong. By this union he became the father of four children, namely: Jacob, George, Zare and Eliza. The mother died when forty years old. William Estle was a second time married, taking as his wife Martha McMasters. To this union eight children came: Thomas, John, William (our subject), Enoch, Samuel, Elizabeth, Ann and Harriett. Mrs. Estle belonged to the Baptist Church, and when sixty-five years of age was called from this life. The husband and father followed some years later, when seventy years old. He was a Whig politically. The grandfather of our subject, Jacob Estle, was also born in the Keystone State and was of German descent. He followed the occupation of a farmer and died in his seventieth year.

William Estle of whom we write is a native of Greene County, Pa., and he was born December 25, 1816. When but a lad of fourteen he went to Ohio on horseback, and crossed the Allegheny Mountains more than twenty times with cattle and hogs. He never had the opportunity of attending school, but learned to read and write, however, and has always kept himself well posted on the current topics of the day. Purchasing eighty acres of land in Monroe County, Ohio, he resided thereon but a short time when he sold out and followed teaming, hauling tobacco to the Ohio River. At about this period in his life William was married to Catharine Swan, a daughter of John and Allie Swan, of Virginia. Twelve children came to bless their home, one of whom died in childhood. The living are: Sarah, Landora, Jane, Caroline, William, John, Brooks, Jessie, Elizabeth, Sarah Jane and Melinda. Mrs. Estle is now seventy-two years old, and, well and active, is a valued member of the Metl1odist Episcopal Church.

It was in 1856 that Mr. Estle came to this county and township and bought one hundred acres of wild land, on which he yet makes his home. From time to time he added to his estate until he became the owner of seven hundred acres, he estimating his wealth to be over $40,000. At present he retains but two hundred and sixty-seven acres of the original farm, which by industry and care has been made a valuable piece of property. Earlier in his life blacksmithing was his trade, and being a good-hearted man, he went security for others, losing thousands of dollars thereby. He has also lost in more ways than this, as in January 1893, his house and barn, which were valued at $6,000, were burned. He is now resting from the labors of life and is enjoying the ease and comfort of a pleasant home. He has served his township in the office of School Director for several years. Politically the Republican Party always has his stanch support. Page 609.