ROSS BIOGRAPHIES (cont.)
L-W
707
| LEEKA, JOHN, farmer, section 31, P.O. Plum Hollow;
born in Buchanan county, Virginia, February 22, 1802.
Came to Iowa locating in Van Buren county in 183H,
but removed to Illinois, Hancock county, 1844; came
to Fremont county in 1848. Mr. Leeka built the first
mill in Fremont county. He was married January 17,
1828, to Miss Sarah Carter, by whom he has two children:
David--an invalid, and William. |
| LADD B. F., farmer,
P.O. Tabor; born in Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio, August
18, 1823. Was educated in
the common school and Western Reserve Teacher’s
Seminary. Resided in Lake county until 1854, when he
came to Washington county, Iowa. In 1857 came to Tabor,
Fremont county. In 1864 enlisted in the federal army,
serving until the close of the war. He was married
November 27, 1854, to Miss Mary E. Wells, of Kirtland,
Ohio. They are the parents of four children, three
now living: Frank L., May and Henry W. |
| LEEKA, WILLIAM,
farmer, section 31, P. O. Plum Hollow; born in Clinton
county, Ohio, June 14, 1830. In 1839
moved with his parents to Van Buren county, Iowa, and
in 1844 to Hancock county, Illinois; in 1846 to Holt
county, Missouri, and in 1848 to Fremont county, Iowa.
He has held various township offices, testifying to
his ability and high standing in the community. He
is an elder in the Church of Latter Day Saints. Was
married May 28, 1873, to Miss Rachel S. Seward, of
Van Buren county, by whom he has three children: Bismarck,
William M., and Clarence O. |
| LONG, JAMES,
farmer, section 16, P.O. Tabor; born in Cork, Ireland,
August 8, 1840. In 1860 he came to
the United States and located in Fremont county, Iowa.
He enlisted August 15, 1862, in company E, 29th Iowa
infantry. Was in the battles of Helena, Little Rock,
and all the other engagements in which his regiment
participated. He was married in 1867, to Miss Mary
E. Wilson, They have six children: Hannah L., Rachel
E., Nettie F., Bertha, Robert E., and Tampa A. |
| McCORMICK, S. P., carpenter, P.O. Tabor; born in
Centre county, Pennsylvania, August 30, 1832, where
he remained until 1840. Began to learn his trade when
eighteen years of age. Mr. McCormick came to Fremont
county in the spring of 1857. He enlisted in the Fourth
Iowa cavalry, September 1, 1861; was honorably discharged
January 19, 18fi3. Married Miss Harriet Rhodes, February
16, 1864. They are the parents of seven children; five
living: Mary, Ira, Inez, Mable and an infant. |
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size)
 OTIS, MERRILL,
physician and surgeon, P. O. Tabor; born in (p. 708)
Holmes county, Ohio, May 16, 1830. When
seven years of age moved with his father’s family
to Henry county, Illinois, where he was educated in
the common school and at Oxford Academy. At the age
of nineteen years he entered Rush Medical College,
Chicago, and read medicine under the celebrated English
physician, Thomas Hall. He graduated from the St. Joseph
College of Physician and Surgeons, and commenced the
practice of medicine in Henry county, Iowa, in 1852.
At the commencement of the war with the confederacy,
he offered his services in the volunteer corps, but
was rejected because the quota had been filled. He
remained at home and filled the offices of county supervisor,
and filled the office of a member pf the state board
of the registration, and had charge of the distribution
of the funds to the county—an office filled with
entire satisfaction to all parties concerned. Dr. Otis
came to Tabor in the year 1866, and entered at once
upon the practice of medicine. He has been eminently
successful as a practitioner, and owns some of the
most valuable sites in the city. Without ostentation,
he has planted himself firmly in this community. His
skill as a physician is widely recognized, and his
ability and reliability have alone contributed to this
result. His portrait, which appears in this volume,
knows him to be a man of strict integrity, and one
who will not compromise the right. |
708
| ROSSITER, SAMUEL, retired farmer, P.O., Tabor; born
in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, March 9, 1804.
He was raised on a farm and educated in the common
school. At the age of eighteen, Mr. Rossiter began
teaching school, an occupation he followed more or
less continuously for twelve years. In the fall of
1835 he went to Loraine county, Ohio, where he resided
for thirty years, following the occupation of a farmer.
In the fall of 1871 he came to Fremont county, and
selected Tabor as his place of residence. He was married
February 24, 1835, to Miss Maria Gaston, of Oberlin,
Ohio, formerly of the state of New York. They are the
parents of eleven children, ten of whom are living;
some married and living in other states: Samuel G.,
Henry J., Charles W., Mary L., Fred C., Sarah B., Frank
N., William H., Edwin J. and Emily F. Mr. Rossiter
has been an active member of the church for forty-four,
and his wife for fifty-one years. |
| ROBERTS, JAMES V.,
farmer, section 20, P.O., Plum Hollow; born in Logan
county, Ohio, February 6, 1832.
His education was received in the common school. Came
to Fremont county in 1855. In 1858 moved to Mills county
to remain until 1860, when he again moved, going to
Pottawattomie [Pottawatomie] county. 1866 found him
again in Fremont county. During his residence in the
other counties he was engaged in farming and preaching,
in which last occupation he was instrumental in organizing
several (p. 709) churches of the faith of the Disciples
of Christ. He subsequently changed his faith and is
now an ordained elder of the Latter Day Saints. Mr.
Roberts was married January 12, 1851, to Miss Eleanor
W. Laport, of Logan county, Ohio. They are the parents
of fifteen children, twelve of whom are living: Eliza
J., William D., Flora B., Annie W., Walter S. Charles
M., Samuel J., Charlotta, James V., Sally M., Josiah
and Paul. |
709
| RHODE, JOSEPH, farmer, section 5, P. O. Tabor; born
in Wayne county, March 9, 1819. In 1829 he moved with
his father’s family to Warren county, Ohio, and
two years later, 1831, to Warren county, Indiana. Mr.
Rhode came to Fremont county in 1851, and located near
where he now resides. He has been married three times.
In 18B9, July 11, to Miss Elizabeth Gray, who died
in 1863, November 20, having been the mother of seven
children, six now living: Harriet, Dorothea, Kettie,
Sarah G., Charles, Bessie and Lucy. He was again married
February 1, 1866, to Mrs. Mary J. West; who died of
apoplexy April 14, 1872, leaving two children: Edith
and Lucy A. His last marriage was to Mrs. Alice Snow,
September 3, 1879. They have one child: Oliver R. Mr.
Rhode has filled various county offices, and in 1877-78
was a member of the State legislature. |
| ROBERTS, A. S.,
farmer, section 30, P. O. Plum Hollow; born in Clinton
county, Ohio, February 13, 1821. Removed
to Ohio in 1833, where he resided until 1849, when
he came to Fremont county, locating near Hamburg. Was
married September 1, 1842, to Miss Sarah Gordor, of
Delaware county, Indiana. They are the parents of ten
children, five living: Alexander C., John M., Lewis
c., Phebe E. and Jessie H. Mr. Roberts has held many
township offices, and among them that of justice of
the peace for eleven consecutive years, during all
of which time he has never had a judgment reversed. |
| RHODE, D. A., farmer, section 5, P. O. Tabor; born
in Wayne county, Indiana, June 2, 1814. In 1826 moved
to Warren county, Ohio, and in the following year back
to Indiana. In 1839 moved to Arkansas, and four years
later again returned to the Hoosier State. Came to
Fremont county in 1847, locating near Hamburg. In 1850
he found a suitable location in Ross township, where
he has since resided. He was married April 7, 1837,
to Miss Mary McCord. She died in 1858. They were the
parents of seven children: Jonathan, (killed by lightning),
Harriet A., Joseph, (killed by the Indians in May,
1879, on Powder River, Black Hills), Demarius, David,
Ellen, (deceased) and Henry W. He was married in 1860
to Eliza Patent, of Fremont county, who died in 1874.
Married the third time September 30, 1876. |
710
| RHODE, JOHN, farmer, section 9,P. O. Tabor; born
in Wayne county, Indiana, September 12, 1817. In 1825,
moved to Warren county, Ohio, remaining until 1839,
when he went to Arkansas, and to Indiana in 1843. Came
to Fremont county, Iowa, in 1850. Was married April
5, 1838, to Miss Mary Cobb, who died in August, 1846,
leaving three children: D. T., Judith, and Hannah.
Was married to Miss Martha Scott, March 9,1848, by
whom he has eight children: William H., Charlotta A.,
Jonathan C., John D., Harriet M., Eliza J., Walter,
and one deceased. |
| RUSSEL, J. D., farmer, section 24, P. O. Plum Hollow:
was born in Monroe county, Indiana, August 26, 1816.
In 1824, went to Tirpecanoe county, same state; in
1839 to St. Joseph, Missouri; in 1850, to Atchinson
county, and in 1865, to this county. He was married
September 3, 1837, to Miss Lucy A. Montague; they are
the parents of thirteen children, nine of whom are
now living: Jerusha L., Sarah E., Mary J., George W.,
Lucy A., Martha E., John R., Tabitha E., and Catherine
E. |
| SMITH, J. W., farmer, P. O. Tabor; born in Chemung
county, New York, June 19, 1799. In 1835, he moved
to Madison county, Ohio, engaging in the milling business.
In 1850 came to Fremont county, residing near Percival
until 1874, when he removed to Tabor, where he died
December 19, 1874. He was married August 30, 1836,
to Miss Lucretia Woodworth, of Goshen, Connecticut.
She died at Tabor, October 19, 1879, at the advanced
age of 79 years. They had three children: Lucius, died
while a babe; Annette, drowned in the Missouri; and
Belle E., now a successful teacher in the schools of
Tabor. |
| SAVAGE, SAMUEL, farmer, section 15, P. O. Tabor;
born in Fulbeck, Lincolnshire, England, August 15,1835.
In 1855, came to America and located at Pittsfield,
Loraine county, Ohio. In the fall of 1860 he came to
Fremont county, and located near Tabor. Enlisted. in
company B, twenty-ninth Iowa infantry, August 19, 1862,
and participated in the numerous battles in which that
regiment was engaged. Was married to Martha F. Frederickson,
of Fremont county, November 30, 1865. They have five
children: Edward W., Elmira W., Almetia R., Charles
F., and Raymond D. |
| SMITH, JAMES L., farmer, P. O. Tabor; born in Herkimer
county, New York, October Hi, 1817. Educated at Oberlin
College, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1838; Resided
in Herkimer and Oneida counties until 1852, when he
came to Fremont county, Iowa. He was a member of the
underground railway, and a firm friend of John Brown.
Was married in 1842, to Miss Cordelia Goodrich, of
Oneida county, New (p. 711) York. His children are Harriet
and William. Was married again June 27, 1866, to Miss
Julia Case, of Washington, D. C. His farm comprises
200 acres. |
711
| SMITH, JOHN R.,
blacksmith, P. O. Tabor; born in Rising Sun, Indiana,
November 26, 1835. After various
removals and residences in several states, he located
in Fremont county in 1858. Enlisted in company A, Fourth
Iowa cavalry, August 28, 1861, and was mustered out
September 15, 1865. Was marriedOctober 21, 1858, to
Miss Sarah McGuire, of Warren county, Illinois, who
died March 18, 1861. They were the parents of two children,
one, Henry W., now living. Married Miss Jane Newton,
of Fremont county, Iowa, November 22, 186b. They have
three children, two living: William E. and Newton M. |
| TODD, JAMES EDWARD,
who has held the position of professor of natural sciences
in Tabor College for
the last ten years, was born at Clarksfield, Huron
county, Ohio, February 11, 1846. He was so young when
his father, Rev. Jno. Todd, emigrated to Fremont county,
that he grew up thoroughly in sympathy with the great
and growing west. The isolation of his childhood, and
his acquaintance with the changes attending the settlement
of a wild country, early aroused in him an interest
in the study of nature. Habits of thoughtfulness and
study were further fostered by the educational advantages
of his home, his father’s library and his mother’s
teaching. He even began the study of Greek under her
instruction, before he was eight years of age. He was
one of the regular students in Tabor Literary Institute,
which in time became Tabor College. His first experience
in teaching common school was at Manti, then a flourishing
Mormon settlement in the eastern part of Fremont county.
He had before, however, taught classes in botany in
Tabor Literary Institute. The next spring (1863) he
went to Oberlin, Ohio, to continue his education, relying
mainly upon his own exertions for support, by teaching
school vacations, and classes in the preparatory department
of the college. During the latter part of his course
he was able to pursue his studies uninterruptedly.
In the spring and summer of 1864 he served with a company
of his fellow students in the “Hundred Days Service,” and
took part in the defense of Washington, when it was
attacked by Gen. Early. After graduating at Oberlin
in .1867, he went to Union Theological Seminary at
New York city, where he spent two years of study. The
vacation of 1868 he spent in Clinton county, New York,
under the direction of the Presbyterian Home Missionary
Committee; the next he spent in studies of the middle
year of the theological course at Oberlin. He graduated
from the Theological Seminary there in 1870. During
his senior year, in addition to his studies, he supplied
the churches at North (p. 712) and South Amherst,
Ohio. It has never been, however, his distinct purpose
to enter the ministry. One object in taking the theological
course was to become thoroughly posted in theology in
order to consider fairly certain vexed questions regarding
science and religion. An opportunity was now given to
pursue more exclusively scientific studies, by a call
to the professorship of natural sciences in Tabor College.
To prepare himself for this with greater thoroughness
he spent a year in the Sheffield Scientific School at
New Haven, Connecticut. At the close of the year he continued
his Zoological studies with the United States fish commission,
under Profs. Venill and Smith, who had been his instructors
at New Haven. He entered upon his active duties as Professor
at Tabor in the fall of 1871, returning, however, to
spend his summers with the United States fish commission
on the sea shore, in 1872 and 1873. The summer of 1875
he spent at the Harvard Summer School of Geology at Cumberland
Gap, Tennessee. His papers presented before the meeting
of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
and the Iowa Academy of Sciences, of which societies
he has been a member for several years, have been mainly
upon quaternary geology. He has published a few also
on botany which have been well received. |
712
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for larger size)
 TODD,
REV. JOHN, P. O. Tabor; born in West
Hanover, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, November
10, 1818. He
was the second son and fifth child of Capt. James Todd
and Sallie Ainsworth. Of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian
ancestry, he was reared under the ministry of Rev.
James Snodgrass, who served as pastor of West Hanover
Presbyterian Church fifty-eight years. In September,
1835, then in his seventeenth year he left the labors
of the farm and repaired to Oberlin to obtain the educational
advantages of that young institution, which was then
rapidly rising among the stumps and forests of northern
Ohio. Graduating from Oberlin College in 1841, and
from the Theological Seminary three years later, he
was soon after united in marriage to Miss Martha Atkins,
a native of Jefferson, Ashtabula county, but then a
resident of Cleveland, Ohio. In the autumn of 1844
he formally entered upon the work of the ministry in
Clarksfield, Huron county, Ohio, where he continued
until the spring of 1850. Taking a short vacation in
the fall of 1848, he, Deacon Josiah B. Hall and Darius
P. Matthews, accompanied George B. Gaston and Samuel
H. Adams and their families, in their removal to Fremont
county. After a few weeks exploring in south-western
Iowa, in the interests of education and religion, and
attending a mass meeting at the former cabin of the
Indian chief on Wabousa creek, now in Mills county,
for the purpose of obtaining a county organization,
he, in company with Deacon Hall, returned to Ohio on
horseback and resumed his charge in Clarksfield. In
1850 he moved with his family to Fremont county, landing
on (p. 713) the first day of July at Lambert’s
landing. His first public service, after his arrival,
was a Fourth of July address to the Sunday-school in
the boiler-shed of a projected steam saw-mill. In April,
1852, he, with others, removed from Civil Bend or Percival,
to the vicinity of Tabor, where has been his residence
ever since. A Congregational Church of eight members
was formed in October, 1852, to which, although time
has brought great changes, he still ministers. |
713
| VANATTO, BENJ. M., farmer, section 29, P. O. Tabor;
born in Alleghany county, Pennsylvania, August 16,
1813, where he received his education in the common
school. In 1835 he moved to Guernsey county, Ohio,
and in 1841 to Hocking county, same state. In 1865
he moved to Worth county Missouri, and in the following
year to Fremont county, Iowa. He was married November
24, 1840, to Miss Jane McDonald, of Washington county,
Pennsylvania. They are the parents of five children:
Benjamin and William M., both of whom died in the army;
Elizabeth E., Hugh C. and John M. |
| WOODRUM, WESLEY, farmer, section 18, P. O. Plum Hollow;
born in Putnam county, Indiana, September 2, 1841.
When he was a small child parents moved to New Carthage,
Missouri. In 1855, he came with his parents to Fremont
county, and located near Fremont City. He was married
October 22, 1863, to Miss Prudence Baxter, of Fremont
county, formerly of Holt county, Missouri. They are
the parents of two children: Envrista E. and Estella
O. Mr. Woodrum commanded the respect of all who knew
him. He was a member of the Christian church for eleven
years, and an elder for six. He died October 7, 1878. |
| WEST, ARTHUR T.,
merchant, P. O. Tabor; born in Pittsfield, Loraine
county, Ohio, June 24, 1853. Came with his
parents to Tabor in 1855. His mother died when he
was two years of age, and when young West had become
nine years of age he lost his father by death. He was
educated at Tabor and Oberlin Colleges, leaving Oberlin
in 1871. He then went to Canada and entered the engineer
corps of the Canada Southern R. R., a position he
held for one year. On the death of his stepmother,
in 1872, he returned to Tabor, and engaged on a farm
and as a clerk until 1875. In 1876, he engaged on his
own responsibility in the mercantile business. Mr.
West was married April 22, 1878, to Miss Sarah Savage,
of Fremont county, Iowa. By this union they have one
child: Alice L. |
| WEBB, L. E., farmer, section 2, P. O. Tabor; born
in Columbia, county, Ohio, January 25, 1833. In 1847,
he moved to Huron county, where he (p. 714) was educated
in Norwalk Academy. Came to Tabor in 1855. He has held
the offices of justice of the peace and township clerk
for five years. Married December 25, 1856, to Miss
Elizabeth Hill, of Tabor. They are the parents of six
children; three living: Edgar H., Adella M. and Bertha
E. |
714
| WOODS, H. T., farmer, section 3, P. O. Tabor; born
in Winnebago county, Illinois, July 18, 1848. In 1857,
came to Iowa, being then nine years of age. He was
educated at Tabor College. In 1874, he removed to Weeping
Water to engage in business, but returned in 1877.
He was married November 25, 1874, to Miss Annie Glover. |
| WOODS, DANIEL E., farmer, P. O. Tabor; born in Glover,
Orleans county, Vermont, February 5, 1817. Raised as
a farmer and educated in the common school. Moved to
Winnebago county in 1846, and resided there until 1857,
when he moved to Tabor, Iowa. Married December 15,
1840, to Miss Hannah H. Tyler, of Orleans county, Vermont.
They have five children: Marvine E., Mary E., Herbert
T., Eva L., and Katie M. Mr. Woods died July 4, 1878,
and ended a life of usefulness and humanity. |
| WILL, CHARLES P., harness maker, P. O. Tabor; was
born in Peoria county, Illinois, May 29, 1847. His
father died when young Will was but two years of age.
At the age of sixteen he enlisted in company M, 11th
Illinois cavalry, and remained until the close of the
war. After numerous changes in his residence he came
to Tabor in 1876. Was married December 17, 1874, to
Miss America L. Templeton, of Glenwood. They are the
parents of three children: Roy T., Carl M. and Jessie
L. Mr. Will is clerk of Ross township, and a member
of the city council of Tabor. |
| WEMPLE, E. S.,
farmer, P. O. Tabor; born in New York City, December
25, 1841. His mother died when he was
but a babe. When twelve years old he came to Bureau
county, Illinois. In 1855 came to Iowa, locating in
Grand Mound, Clinton county, and was railroad agent,
express agent, and postmaster, at that place. He enlisted
in 26th Iowa infantry, August 12, 1862. Was appointed
captain of the company on the 26th of the following
month. For a history of the battles in which he was
engaged, see account of the 26th Iowa. Came to Tabor
in 1874. He was married February 19, 1875, to Miss
C. A. Floyd of Tabor. They are the parents of two children:
George S. and Herbert. They have one adopted child.
Mr. Wemple holds the office of justice of the peace. |
| WILLIAMS, D. M., druggist, P. O. Tabor; born in Cedar
county, (p. 715) Missouri, August 8, 1851. In 1853 his
parents moved to Mills county, where the youth of Mr.
Williams was spent. He was educated at Tabor College,
and at Bryant’s Commercial College, from which
he graduated in 1872. Came to Tabor in 1876, and entered
upon his present occupation. Was married to Miss Elizabeth
Caft, of Warren county, Indiana, March 2, 1879. They
have one child: Fern. |
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