Page 671

 

LAMBERT ANDREW MAHAFFEY 

 

Lambert Andrew Mahaffey is one of the younger representatives of farming interests in Washington township and although he but recently purchased his farm of sixty-two acres, it already shows in its neat and attractive appearance his enterprising and progressive spirit.  He is a native of this township, born October 25, 1883, a son of Frank and Minnie (Millhone) Mahaffey, who in 1877 removed from Ohio to eastern Iowa, where the father is engaged in farming. (page 672)  The Mahaffeys came to this country from Ireland, the grandfather of our subject locating in the Buckeye state upon his arrival in the new world.  The maternal grandfather, Lambert Millhone, is now living retired in Clarinda, Page county, Iowa, at the age of seventy-five years.

 

Lambert A. Mahaffey acquired his education in the schools of Washington township, pursuing his studies therein to the age of seventeen years.  During this period he had become acquainted with the work of the home farm through the assistance which he rendered to his father.  He remained under the parental roof until his twentieth year, and then started out to make his own way in the business world.  He is now the owner of a farm of sixty-two acres in Washington township, which is well improved land.  In addition to general farming, Mr. Mahaffey also gives time and attention to breeding horses and in this connection has become one of the best known stock breeders in the state.

 

Mr. Mahaffey was married on the 20th of October, 1903, to Miss Nellie Fleming, a daughter of Frank and Mary (Garrison) Fleming.  Mrs. Fleming is a daughter of J. M. Garrison, who came to Iowa from Illinois.  Mr. Fleming is engaged in farming in Washington township and is numbered among Taylor county's substantial and highly respected citizens.  The home of Mr. and Mrs. Mahaffey has been blessed with a son and daughter, Frank and Alice.  Mr. Mahaffey is identified with the Methodist Episcopal church at Gravity, while his fraternal relations connect him with the Modern Woodmen of America.  Having spent his entire life in Taylor county, he is well known and popular with a large circle of friends and acquaintances, while his business affairs have also brought him in contact with the county's best citizens.  Mr. Mahaffey deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he started out in life empty-handed and it has been through his own efforts that he has attained his present success.

 

 

 

 

Page 519

 

GEORGE H. MATHEWS

 

George H. Mathews, who since 1894 has resided in Mason township upon a farm of one hundred and thirty-six acres, which he owns and cultivates, was born in Kentucky, October 17, 1853.  He is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Flynn) Mathews.  The paternal grandfather was James Mathews and the family originated in England, when representatives of the name came to America about a century ago.  Mrs. Elizabeth Mathews had two brothers, John and Will Flynn, who were soldiers of the Civil war, connected however with the opposing forces.

 

George H. Mathews pursued his early education in the schools of Kentucky and afterward continued his studies in Tennessee until he reached the age of eighteen years, when he permanently put aside his text-books.  In the meantime he had assisted his father in the operation of the home farm and after another year spent under the parental roof he left home and established a trading business at Raytown, Greene county, Tennessee.  In 1875, however, he began farming on his own account and through the succeeding seven years engaged in the cultivation of various rented farms.  During that period he carefully saved his earnings until the sum was sufficient to enable him to purchase land and he made investment in a farm on which he resided for eight years.  In 1891, however, he left the south and came to Iowa, where he again cultivated a rented farm for three years, on the expiration of which period, in 1894, he purchased the property upon which he now resides, comprising one hundred and thirty-six acres of rich and arable land in Mason township.  He has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and in connection with general farming he raises horses, cattle, mules and hogs, his live stock interests being important sources of revenue to him.  He has made all of the improvements upon the place, including the erection of a commodious modern residence built in an attractive style of (page 520) architecture.  He also possesses much mechanical ingenuity and is the inventor of an adjustable vehicle thills which he has patented.

 

On the 23d of July, 1875, Mr. Mathews was married in Tennessee to Miss Mary Janes McNees, a daughter of Elihu and Arie Emeline (Hayes) McNees.  Her paternal grandfather was Samuel McNees, a brother of Governor McNees.  The family originated in Great Britain but has long been represented in this country.  Jacob, Henry and Elihu McNees, sons of Samuel McNees, served in the Civil war and Henry died on the field of battle.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Mathews attend the Methodist church and are greatly esteemed because of their many excellent traits of character.  In his political allegiance Mr. Mathews is a thorough republican, doing all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of the party.  He is serving as township trustee and was school director for four years.  Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft.

 

 

 

 

Page 365

 

D. W. MILLER

 

D. W. Miller, who carries on general farming and stock raising on section 25, Ross township, where he has made his home since 1902, is a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Osage county August 2, 1857.  His father, Wesley Miller, was a native of Illinois and was married there to Miss Nancy Woodard.  He became a resident farmer of Indiana, where he remained for some years, during which time three of his children were born.  He later removed to St. Clair county, Missouri, where he also remained for a number of years, and then took up his abode in Nodaway, Missouri, about 1884.

 

D. W. Miller is one of the two children born unto his parents who are now living, his sister being Mrs. Lizzie Fitch, the wife of Carl Fitch of Ottawa, Kansas.  D. W. Miller was but a young lad when his parents removed from Indiana to Missouri and in that state he was reared, acquiring his education in the common schools, while the periods of vacation were devoted to the work of the farm.  Arriving at mature years he rented land and thus carried on farming on his own account for several years, during which time he carefully saved his earnings until his economical expenditure had enabled him to acquire a sufficient sum to purchase a farm.  He made investment in land in Nodaway county, Missouri, where he carried on farming for about six years, making substantial improvements upon his place during that period.  Later he sold the property and bought where he now resides, becoming the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 25, Ross township, Taylor county.  He has recently completed a large barn here, one of the finest in this part of the county.  He has also set out many apple, peach and cherry trees and has otherwise improved the place, adding all of the modern equipment and accessories of a model farm.  He has always engaged in raising stock and for some eight years has made a specialty of buying and dealing in mules, in which connection he has become widely known.  He is a successful farmer and business man who wisely uses his opportunities and as the result of his indefatigable energy he has gained a creditable place among the substantial agriculturists of this part of the state.

 

Mr. Miller was married in Taylor county on the 22d of February, 1893, the lady of his choice being Miss Minnie Poulton, who was born and reared in this (page 366) county and is a daughter of I. N. Poulton.  Mr. and Mrs. Miller have become the parents of five children, of whom four are yet living, Ruby, Isma, Beulah and Paul.  In his political views Mr. Miller has always been a democrat and while living in Nodaway served as road overseer.  In Ross township he has been identified with the public schools and at all times he gives earnest and loyal support to every movement calculated for the public good.  He and his wife are members of the Church of Christ and are much interested in its work and upbuilding, Mr. Miller serving as one of the elders of the Eagle congregation.  The church is located on his farm and he contributes generously to its support.  His is a well rounded character in which his interests of life constitute well balanced features.

 

 

 

 

 

Page 436

 

FREDERICK MILLER

 

A well-improved and highly cultivated farm in Mason township, Taylor county, is the property of Frederick Miller, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, December 24, 1859.  He is a son of Frederick and Margaret (Wingarth) Miller, both natives of Germany, the former coming to the United States in 1843, while the latter accompanied her parents to this country in 1853.  The father, upon his arrival in the new world, located in Ohio, where he became identified with agricultural pursuits, being thus engaged up to the time of his demise, which occurred in 1898.

 

Frederick Miller, of this review, is indebted to the public school system of Ohio for the educational advantages which he enjoyed during his early boyhood and youth, which were passed amid the scenes and environments of his father's farm.  He remained a student at school until seventeen years of age, when, laying aside his text-books, he devoted his time to assisting his father in the work of the farm, receiving under his able direction thorough and comprehensive training in the best methods of cultivating the fields.  He remained at home until twenty-one years of age, and then he entered business life on his own account as a farm hand, remaining in this capacity in Ohio for about two years, when he came to Taylor county, Iowa, where he was similarly engaged for another period of two years.  Then, feeling that his experience justified such a step, he rented a farm, which he operated for four years.  Not feeling satisfied, however, with the progress which he had already won, and desiring that his efforts should more fully benefit himself, he purchased a quarter section of land, which formed the nucleus of his present fine farm.  He later added to his original investment from time to time, until his property now consists of two hundred and sixty-nine acres, situated in Mason township.  When the property came into his (page 437) possession it was still covered with dense timber, but he possessed a determined spirit and indefatigable energy, and he at once began to clear the land, placing his fields under cultivation, and as the years passed his efforts were rewarded by rich golden harvests which were gathered each autumn.  He continued to improve his farm, erecting in its midst a beautiful modern residence and commodious and substantial barns and outbuildings, installing all of the accessories and conveniences which go to make up a model farm, so that today is is one of the valuable and desirable farming properties of the township.  Aside from carrying on general farming he devotes considerable time and attention to stock raising, being an extensive raiser of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep.  He is also the owner of a fine thoroughbred French horse, Globule.  He is enjoying a substantial income from the fact that both branches of his business -- the raising of grain and the raising of stock -- are proving profitable, and he ranks among the progressive and representative agriculturists of Taylor county.

 

It was on the 24th of December, 1884, in Mason township, that Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Sarah M. Gant, a daughter of Samuel and Almyra Gant, the former a very prominent farmer of this township, who originally came to this country from England.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born the following children:  Mary Elizabeth, deceased; Nellie A.; Frederick Gant; Maggie May and Charles Peter, who both passed away in the same year; Roy Walter, attending school; Ruth Iowa, also in school; Elbert and Albert, twins, the latter of whom is now deceased; and Wilbur and Bertha, infants.  In politics Mr. Miller gives stalwart support to the democracy, believing that the principles of that party are best adapted to conserve the public welfare, while on that ticket he has been chosen to serve as a trustee of the township, which office he is now holding.  His influence is always on the side of progress, reform and improvement, and he is a thorough going man, enterprising and energetic, reliable in business and a worthy representative of the agricultural interests of Taylor county.    

 

 

 

 

 

Page 674

 

COLONEL MARCELLUS MILLER

 

Colonel Marcellus Miller is now conducting a profitable business in Bedford as the proprietor of the Bedford Granite & Marble Works.  There are many interesting and some unusual chapters in his life record.  He has known extended military service as a member of the regular army and also as a volunteer soldier of the Spanish-American war.  He was born in Petersburg, Virginia, September 30, 1849, his parents being Josiah C. and Adaline (Freeman) Muller, both of whom were natives of Dinwiddie county, Virginia.  The former was a son of Benjamin Miller, a native of Norfolk county, Virginia, who followed farming as a life work and died at the age of forty-five years.  He had married a Miss Millar, and Josiah C. Miller was their only child.  Having lost his first wife, however, Benjamin Miller married again and had several children by the second union.  The maternal grandfather of our subject was also a native of Virginia and was a potter by trade.  He married Miss Perkins, who died in early womanhood, while his death occurred when he was forty-five years of age.  Their only daughter was Mrs. Adaline (Freeman) Miller.

 

Josiah C. Miller was born on the farm in Norfolk county and there remained until fourteen years of age, when he went to Petersburg and learned the cabinet maker's trade.  He was employed in the pattern making shops of the South Side Railroad there and devoted his entire life to mechanical pursuits.  He (page 675) belonged to the Home Guards in Petersburg and died there in 1897, when seventy-two years of age.  He had been reared in a Methodist family but later joined the Presbyterian church.  For some years he survived his wife, who passed away in 1854.  They had but two children, the daughter being Martha Elizabeth, called Patty by her family, now the wife of Irvin P. Hoag, of Petersburg, Virginia.

 

Colonel Marcellus Miller lived in Petersburg until he attained his majority and acquired his education in the academy and institute there.  He afterward went to Baltimore and joined the United States army, serving for five years in Battery H, Third United States Artillery, General Humphrey being at that time his lieutenant.  Mr. Miller was a sergeant at the time of his discharge.  On the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to his Virginia home, where he remained for a time,  and in 1875 came to Iowa, living at Des Moines with an uncle, Alexander Miller, until he removed to Leon, Iowa.  He there learned the marble cutter's trade, after which he came to Bedford in August, 1878, and opened marble works, which he has since conducted.  He has built up an extensive and gratifying business in this line because of his ability, excellent workmanship, reasonable prices and earnest effort to please his patrons.  His work is artistic, many evidences of his skill are seen in the cemeteries in this and surrounding cities.

 

Mr. Miller, however, has not confined his attention entirely to his business affairs, for he has cooperated in many movements for the general good, and in 1889 was elected county auditor on the democratic ticket.  He served for five years in that position in a most creditable and acceptable manner, and he has also served for three years as a member of the city council, exercising his official prerogatives in support of all movements for the general good.  His interest in military affairs has never abated and on the 26th of December, 1886, he enlisted in Company I of the Fifth Iowa National Guard, was elected first lieutenant the following year, captain in 1889 and lieutenant colonel in March, 1898.  At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he was mustered into service at Des Moines, the Old Third becoming the Fifty-first Iowa Volunteer Regiment in May.  He continued with that command until mustered out November 2, 1889, during which time he saw service in the Orient.  The regiment sailed from San Francisco to the Philippines, being ninety-five days on shipboard, as passengers, on the old Pennsylvania.  He was lieutenant-colonel of his regiment and was in command in the field much of the time, until June 16, 1899.  On their return the regiment was mustered out at San Francisco, and when he again reached home Colonel Miller resumed business in the marble shops at Bedford and has since concentrated his energies upon his commercial interests.

 

On the 10th of June, 1879, was celebrated the marriage of Colonel Miller and Miss Emma Gillham, of Leon, Iowa, a daughter of Charles A. and Martha M. (Hall) Gillham.  Mrs. Miller was born in Leon, Iowa, her parents having become pioneer settlers of this state.  Her father was a native of Illinois and her mother of North Carolina, but they were married in Jefferson county, Iowa, after which they removed to Taylor county.  Here her father died in 1883, from disease contracted in the Civil war, but her mother is still living in Leon.  In their family were three sons and two daughters: Addie, deceased; Mrs. Miller; (page 676) Mrs. Olive Hoover; Frank; and Lew.  The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Miller was a native of Georgia and a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit until his death, which occurred when he was well advanced in years.  His wife was of Scotch lineage.  The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Miller was a native of North Carolina and was of Scotch descent.  He married a Miss Hill and their daughter, Martha M., who became Mrs. Gillham, was an only child.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born two sons and five daughters.  Worth, the eldest, is conducting a newspaper in Minata, Nebraska.  He wedded Anna May Erb, by whom he has a daughter, Susan I.  Eva was married June 15, 1909, to J. G. When, of Bridgeport, Nebraska.  Grey is a resident of Goldfield, Iowa.  Rebecca, Dorothy, Olive and Pattie are all at home.

 

Colonel and Mrs. Miller are members of the Presbyterian church and he is affiliated with Taylor Lodge, No. 156, A. F. & A. M.; Triangle Chapter, No. 68, R. A. M.; Bethany Commandery, K. T., of Creston, Iowa; and Islam Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at San Francisco.  He also belongs to Bedford Lodge, No. 101, K. P., and to the Modern Woodmen of America.  He is now pleasantly situated in life, having his home and other city property in Bedford.  His has been a life of great activity and of wide usefulness in relation to his country and in business affairs in the community where he makes his home.  His genial worth is widely acknowledged and has won him the unqualified esteem and respect of all with whom he has come in contact.