Taylor County, Iowa History 1910: page 404

In the history of the medical profession of Taylor county Dr. Franklin G. Johnson deserves mention, for his thorough preparation and native talents have made him an able physician and one who is conscientious and faithful in the performance of his professional duties. Widely known throughout Taylor, Ringgold and Worth counties, his history cannot fail to interest many of the readers of this volume.

One of Iowa's native sons, Dr. Johnson was born in Mahaska county on the 23d of December, 1874, and is a son of M. F. and Emma C. (Durham) Johnson. The father, who was a native of New York, was one of the early settlers of Mahaska county, who later moved to Adams county, where he passed away in 1876. His wife, who was also born in the Empire state, survived for some time and was again married, since which time she and her second husband have both been called to their final rest.

Dr. Johnson was but two years of age when he lost his father, and he was reared to manhood in Afton, Iowa, where he attended the common schools in the acquirement of his preliminary education, passing through consecutive grades until he was graduated from the Afton high school in 1891. After his graduation he learned telegraphy, and then, deciding to make the medical profession his life work, he began reading medicine under Dr. M. B. Coltrane, of Afton. His first course of lectures was pursued at the university at Iowa City during the scholastic year 1897-98, while later he pursued a course of study at the Kansas City Medical College, graduating from the medico-chirurgical department with the class of 1901. He immediately located for practice at Gault, Grundy county, where he remained for only a few months however, and then removed to Conception, Missouri. He followed his profession there until the spring of 1904, in which year he arrived in Athelstan, where he has since continued in the active practice of medicine. During the five years of his residence in this city he has been accorded a large and steadily increasing patronage, and he has become recognized as one of the efficient and eminent physicians of his section of the state, keeping in touch with the trend of general progress in professional lines and by his own investigation and research also adding much to his knowledge and ability. He is well fitted for his chosen calling, both by natural endowment and by thorough training, and anything that serves to bring to man the key to that mystery which we call life is of deep interest to him.

It was on the 20th of September, 1899, that Dr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Laura Burgess, a native of Union county, Iowa, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of Nathan Burgess, one of the old settlers of Union county, now engaged in agricultural pursuits on a farm near (page 405) Afton, Iowa. Unto this union have been born three children, namely, Nathan L., Hazel and Earl.

In politics Dr. Johnson is a stalwart supporter of the republican party. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church, in the work of which they are both deeply and helpfully interested, while fraternally he holds membership with the Masons, belonging to Blockton Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He likewise belongs to Athelstan Lodge, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the chairs, and is a past grand, and served as district deputy one year. He has become a very successful practitioner, for realizing fully the obligations that devolve upon him in his professional capacity, he performs all duties with a sense of conscientious obligation and has won favorable regard by reason of his skill and his personal worth. He is widely recognized as a well known physician throughout Taylor, Ringgold and Worth counties, the consensus of public opinion according him prominence, while the profession recognizes his worth in the chosen field of his practice.

Emerson J. Johnston, one of the successful farmers of Holt township, was born in Jasper county, Iowa, April 15, 1861, and is a son of Hermanus H. Johnston, whose sketch appears in another part of his volume. He received his education in the district schools, while he obtained practical instruction in the conduct of agricultural work at home under the wise guidance of his father, who had learned the road to success. At the age of twenty-four he married and engaged in the business of life for himself. Now he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. Here he follows general farming with profit to himself and to the advantage of the community, for he is progressive in his methods and unsparing in his industry.

On the 22d of February, 1885, Mr. Johnston wedded Miss Mary Richardson, who was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, and is a daughter of Benjamin F. and (page 526) Lila (Runnels) Richardson. The father was one of the early settlers of Taylor county, and when the Civil war was in progress he was one of her loyal sons who flocked to the defense of their country. He is now living in retirement in Gravity. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnston: W. F., Mattie, May, Hazel E., J. M., Emma May and Lila Winnefred, all at home. Mrs. Johnston and her two older daughters are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Johnston has always given his support politically to the republican party, in whose platform he places the greatest faith, and while not an office seeker has served as a school director for ten years. He recently resigned that position, however, and is devoting himself entirely to the cultivation of his fields. Abundant harvests tell with what return his efforts have met, for his crops are as large as any that could be reaped from the same amount of land.

Among the many men to whom the material advancement of Taylor county is to be attributed may be named Hermanus H. Johnston, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, October 30, 1835. His father, A. S. Johnston, was born in New York city, in the year 1798, and as he was left an orphan when but a few years old he had early to shift for himself. He went to Ohio and took up farming in Highland county, where he was married and lived until 1849, when he came to Iowa and settled in Jasper county. For about twenty years he remained in Jasper county and then in 1869 came to Taylor county, purchasing the old Gravity farm in Washington township. On that he lived for two years, when, owing to impaired health, he was compelled to give up the active pursuit of his calling He returned then to Jasper county, where he died at the age of eighty-seven. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Emily McClure, was a native of Virginia and died in Jasper county about eight years ago at the age of eighty-two.

Hermanus H. Johnston was twelve years of age when his parents left their Ohio home and came to this state, and he can well remember the trip across the prairies which was made by teams as the railroads had not yet reached this part of the country. Having arrived here he can remember also some of the hardships of the time, one of them being the fact that they had to go thirty miles to the nearest mill. But then this was less of a hardship than might at first seem, for it was quite an event in the little community to bring the flour to and from the mill; it broke in upon the monotony of the necessary daily toil and often exciting incidents might be met with on the route that would be accorded a flattering hearing when the boy returned. Mr. Johnston later established a sawmill in Jasper county, besides following agricultural pursuits. In 1869, when the family came to Taylor county, he it was who drove the team. As the result of his many years of toil he had two thousand dollars, with which he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land and on this he has lived ever since. He first built a modest home, from lumber hauled from Afton, Iowa, and then in 1881 erected his present residence, which is one of the finest in the township. Successful beyond the average, he has earned every cent which has (page 324) come into his possession and at one time owned over a thousand acres. Now he holds six hundred in his possession, while he has assisted one son to buy one hundred and sixty acres and another eighty.

In Jasper county, in December, 1856, Mr. Johnston was married to Miss Martha A. Cowman, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, and six children blessed this union: Lottie Marie, who is now the wife of Lewis Blakesley, of Gravity, Iowa; Emerson J., who married Miss Mary Richardson and is a farmer of Holt township; Laura A., who is the wife of Charles Morris, living in California; Minnie, who is at home; William A., also at home; and Erdine Florence, who is the wife of George Beemer, a farmer of Holt township.

Mrs. Johnston is a member of the Christian church but Mr. Johnston does not give allegiance to any religious denomination. He has always been a strong supporter of the principles of the republican party and has been very active in political matters and in local affairs. For six years he was a member of the county board of supervisors, for several years served as trustee of the township, and for six years was treasurer of the township school board. A man of proven worth and of sterling integrity, successful in his own concerns, he enjoys the good will and respect of the community in which he lives.

C. S. Jones, who is familiarly called Tip by a large circle of friends, a fact which indicates the affections and good will with which he is regarded by his fellowmen, was born in Johnson county, Iowa, on the 1st of January, 1858, and is a son of Elias U. and Ruth (Singleton) Jones, natives of Virginia and West Virginia respectively. The father went to Kentucky in early manhood, from which place he removed to Illinois and later came to Iowa, taking up his abode first in Scott county and later in Johnson county. In 1876 he came to Taylor county and was numbered among the early settlers of this district. Here he opened up a farm upon which he continued to reside until his demise, which occurred in December, 1907, when he lacked but seven days of having reached the advanced age of eighty-two years. His widow still survives and makes her home upon that farm, which is a well improved and valuable property.

(Page 687) On this father's farm in Johnson county, C. S. Jones spent the first eighteen years of his life, and in the common schools of that county acquired his education. In 1876, he came with his parents to Taylor county and remained with his father, giving him the benefit of his assistance in the operation of the home farm, until he attained man's estate, when he took up agricultural pursuits on his own account, wisely choosing as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared. On the 8th of April, 1883, he was united in marriage to Kate Rutledge, a daughter of William Rutledge, of whom extended mention is made on another page of this volume. Mrs. Jones was born in Ohio, where she was reared and educated, attending the common schools of Conway, and later was engaged in teaching school in that state.

After his marriage Mr. Jones operated the Rutledge farm for about six years, and then purchased his present farm, upon which he located in 1888. In consists of one hundred and twenty acres located on section 2, Marshall township, and under his care has been brought to a good state of cultivation. He has erected a neat and attractive house and substantial barns and outbuildings, which stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. He has also set out a good grove and orchard, and the farm is now one of the well improved properties of the township. He carries on general farming and also engages in the raising and feeding of stock, both branches of his business proving sources of gratifying remuneration.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jones was blessed with five children, who are as follows: Dessie, a graduate of Simpson College, at Indianola, Iowa, who is a teacher in the primary department of the Sharpsburg school; Clara, a teacher of music who also attended Simpson College; and Ruth, Wilma and John, students in the public schools. The parents and three daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Sharpsburg, Mr. Jones being a class teacher and active Sunday-school worker. He holds membership in the Modern Woodmen camp of Johnson county, while politically he gives his allegiance to the republican party in all matters involving national issues. In local affairs, however, he votes an independent ticket, supporting the men and measures which he deems will best conserve public welfare, regardless of party ties. He has been identified with the schools of the county for some time, having served as a director of the board for a number of years and aided in the erection of two school buildings. Of a genial and kindly disposition, he is popular among a large circle of warm friends who know him as a man of strict integrity and honorable principles. His close application to his business, his unremitting diligence and his ability in controlling agricultural interests have been elements in a success which is as honorable as it is gratifying.

It has been said that there is nothing so attractive as a nickname. It indicates good comradeship, friendly feeling and congeniality and all these are evidenced in the familiar address which has made the subject of this review known throughout his section of the country as Doc Kauble. He resides on section 28, Jefferson township, and is one of the active and prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of the locality, owning and cultivating four hundred and fifty-five acres of land, pleasantly and conveniently located within a half mile of Athelstan. For fifty-five years he has been a resident of Taylor county, arriving when a youth of thirteen. His birth had occurred at Hancock county, Indiana, on the 8th of (page 376) January, 1840, and in 1842 the family had removed westward to Andrew county, Missouri, where his parents died during his early childhood.

Mr. Kauble was then reared by his grandparents, John and Elizabeth Kauble, who in 1853 removed to Iowa, taking up their abode upon the place where their grandson now resides. Here the grandfather entered one hundred and sixty acres from the government and of this amount eighty acres was given to B. F. Kauble, in recognition of his care of his grandparents in their declining years. In his youthful days he assisted in the arduous task of breaking the sod and fencing the fields and as the years went by he continuously worked to improve and develop the property. The only interruption to his active life of farming came at the time of the Civil war when in August, 1863, he joined the Ninth Iowa Cavalry under command of Captain Flick of Bedford, thus serving until after the close of the war when he received an honorable discharge at Davenport in April, 1866. He was engaged in fighting the bushwhackers and in doing guard duty on the frontier.

Soon after his return home Mr. Kauble was married on the 17th of June, 1866, to Miss Dorothy Brown, who was born in Indiana, but was reared in Taylor county, Iowa. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which has since been their home and, laboring diligently and persistently, Mr. Kauble has been enabled to add to his holdings from time to time until he now owns four hundred and forty-five acres in one tract. On this he has erected a good residence, set out an orchard and has made the place what it is today - one of the finest farms of the county. He broke most of the prairie himself for the greater part of it was railroad land when it came into his possession. The fields now make ready response in golden harvests to the care and labor which he bestows upon them and in connection with general farming Mr. Kauble raises and feeds cattle, hogs and horses, his specialty, however, being the fattening of hogs.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kauble have been born eleven children of whom six are yet living, two sons and four daughters: Frank and William A., who assist in carrying on the home farm; Hannah, the wife of J. W. Kobbe, of Montana; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Frank Campbell, a farmer of Jefferson township; O. A., at home; and Dorothy Margaret, the wife of Charles Williamson, now living in the panhandle of Texas.

Mr. and Mrs. Kauble are members of the Baptist church of Athelstan, in which he is serving as a trustee. His political endorsement is given to the democracy and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability have called him to a number of local offices. For two years he served as township trustee and for five years was justice of the peace. He has also been a member of the school board for about thirty years and gives earnest endorsement to the cause of public education. In all matters of citizenship he is as true and loyal as when he defended the old flag on southern battlefields. He is one of the best known citizens of his part of the county, having resided on one farm for more than a half century while through the period of his residence here he has been a witness of almost the entire growth and progress of this part of the state. He remembers Bedford when it was a crossroads village with one small store, has seen the building of the railroads and the transformation of wild land into highly improved (page 377) farms, in the midst of which are good schools and churches while towns and villages have sprung up and afford to the county all the opportunities and advantages known to the civilization of the older east. Mr. Kauble has a very wide acquaintance in this part of the state and the sterling traits which he has displayed have given him firm hold on the regard of those with whom he has been associated.