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HERMAN M. SARR.
Herman M. Sarr, deceased, was for many years
an honored resident of Pottawattamie county, his
home being in Garner township. He was born in
Fallsburg, Sullivan county, New York, August 11,
1824. His father was a native of Germany, while
his mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Hall,
was also born in Sullivan county, New York, and
was a daughter of John Hall, a native of Connecticut.
Mr. Sarr passed his boyhood and youth upon a
farm and on reaching man's estate was married
in Wawarsing, Ulster county, New York, September
25, 1852, to Miss Lorinda Childs, who was a well
educated young lady and had successfully engaged
in teaching in the public schools. She was born
in Rockland, Sullivan county, New York, November
19, 1825, and is a daughter of Obadiah and Charity
(Thompson) Childs, the former a native of Connecticut
and the latter of Sullivan county. Mr. and Mrs.
Sarr became the parents
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of two daughters still living: Viola, who was
born in Sullivan county, New York, and is now
the wife of J. B. Mathews of Washington township,
this county; and Ellen, who was born in Polk county,
Iowa, and is the wife of Fred S. Childs, whose
sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Two children
died in infancy: Mary Alice, the oldest, was born
July 19, 1854, and died September 21, 1855; and
John, the youngest child and only son, was born
March 28, 1866, and died December 7, 1866.
Mr. Sarr always followed farming, renting land
in the state of New York after his marriage until
1856, when he removed with his family to Illinois.
A few months later he took up his abode in Polk
county, Iowa, which was then the western terminus
of the railroad, and there he bought a partially
improved farm, adding other improvements and modern
equipments. Some years later he sold that property
and in 1869 located in Hardin township, Pottawattamie
county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty
acres of wild land, which he improved, erecting
good buildings thereon and bringing the fields
to a rich state of fertility. He did not sell
the place when, in 1876, he removed to Garner
township and purchased the one hundred and sixty
acre farm on which his son-in-law, Fred S. Childs,
now resides. It was at that time a tract of wild
land but his labors transformed it into productive
fields, while the improvements he made upon it
converted it into a good farm on which he resided
until his death. After his removal to Garner township
he bought an additional tract of one hundred and
twenty acres, so that at the time of his death
he owned two hundred and eighty acres in Garner
township and one hundred and sixty acres in Hardin
township, his possessions therefore aggregating
four hundred and forty acres.
After a useful and well spent life Mr. Sarr passed
away in Garner township, June 16, 1891, and his
widow now makes her home with her daughter Mrs.
Childs at the age of eighty-two years. She is
an earnest and consistent member of the Baptist
church and a most estimable lady. In politics
Mr. Sarr was a republican and in 1888 was a delegate
to the state convention of his party in Des Moines.
He served for two terms as township trustee and
for several years as justice of the peace.
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Hon. George M. Putnam, residing on section 3,
Grove township, is one of the prominent, leading
and influential residents of the county. Three
times has he been called to represent his district
in the state legislature and in all matters of
citizenship he is progressive and public-spirited.
Moreover, he is a veteran of the Civil war, his
record in this regard being in harmony with the
example of his paternal great-grandfather, Thomas
Putnam, who served in the Revolutionary war, being
a stalwart champion of the colonial cause.
The birth of Mr. Putnam occurred in Jefferson,
Coos county, New Hampshire, August 22, 1836, he
being the third in a family of nine children whose
parents were George and Elizabeth (Perkins) Putnam,
of New Hampshire.
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Both died here at the home of their son L. R.
Putnam. They came to Pottawattamie county in 1871
with him, and the father, who devoted his entire
life to general agricultural pursuits, died in
1872 at the age of seventy-three years, his birth
having occurred in 1799. His wife, who was born
in 1808, departed this life at the age of eighty-five
years. Their children were as follows: Augustus
D., now deceased, who served for about four years
in the Civil war as a member of Company D, Third
Missouri Cavalry; Mrs. Mary E. Storrs, deceased;
George M.; Mrs. Jane Naigle, deceased; Lucius
R. and Mrs. Sarah Morris, who have both passed
away; Mrs. Ellen Morris, of Carson; Belle, of
Center township; and Charles W., of Oklahoma.
During the first ten years of his life George
M. Putnam was a resident of the old Granite state
and then went with his parents to Orange county,
Vermont, where they lived for six years. Their
next removal took them to Dixon, Lee county, Illinois,
where Mr. Putnam continued until August, 1862.
He then offered his services to the government,
believing firmly in the justice of the Union cause
and joining Company A, Seventy-fifth Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Ryan. The regiment
was assigned to the Department of the Cumberland,
Army of the West, and he took part in the battles
of Perryville, Stone River, Chattanooga, Chickamauga,
Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, all of the
movements, and engagements of the Atlanta campaign
and the battles of Franklin, and Nashville, Tennessee.
He was present at every engagement in which the
regiment took part and in fact was never off duty
for a day during his three years' service, which
continued until the close of the war, when he
was mustered out with the rank of first sergeant
and honorably discharged. His valor and loyalty
were never called into question and he is now
numbered among the honored veterans to whom the
country owes a debt of gratitude that can never
be repaid.
Mr. Putnam returned to Illinois, his parents
having in the meantime located in Ogle county,
where he remained until the spring of 1873, when
he came to his present farm on section 3, Grove
township, where he has since resided. He began
here with the northwest quarter of the section--a
tract of raw prairie which sketched for miles
around him, there being few homes or other indications
of modern improvement. Adding to his farm as opportunity
has offered, Mr. Putnam has become the owner of
three hundred and thirty acres of rich and productive
land in his home place, together with valuable
farming property on section 27, Center township.
All of the improvements upon his farm have been
placed there by himself and there are now good
buildings, fine shade trees and all of the modern
accessories of a model farm property. He raises
both stock and grain but feeds all of his grain
and buys more in order to be used in his stock-feeding
interests. Throughout his business career he has
carried on general agricultural pursuits and has
so directed his labors and energies that prosperity
has followed.
In politics Mr. Putnam has been a life-long republican,
and his position upon the questions and issues
of the day is never an equivocal one. He cast
his first presidential ballot for, Abraham Lincoln
in 1860 and since that time he has been loyal
to the interests of the party. His fellow townsmen,
recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently
called him to public office. He
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has held all of the township and school offices
and has been school treasurer of Grove township
for twenty-nine years. He was also township trustee
for a number of terms and has frequently been
sent as a delegate to the state conventions. Higher
honors, however, awaited him, for in 1895 he was
elected to the state legislature and that he discharged
his duties with promptness and fidelity and to
the general satisfaction of his constituents is
indicated by the fact that he was twice re-elected,
serving for three consecutive terms. He left the
impress of his individuality upon legislation
enacted during those sessions and was recognized
as an active working member, connected with much
of the important constructive work that is accomplished
in committee rooms. He belongs to Carson post,
G. A. R., of which he is a charter member and
he also affiliates with the Masonic lodge of Carson.
It was not long after his return from the war
that Mr. Putnam was married, Miss Emily Jackson
becoming his wife in 1868. She was born in Daysville,
Ogle county, Illinois, December 16, 1841, and
died upon the home farm in Grove township, July
26, 1905. Her parents were William and Mary (Moulton)
Jackson, natives of Massachusetts, who spent their
last years in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Putnam became
the parents of seven children: Fred E., of Grove
township; Mrs. Edith M. Killinger of Center township;
William G., at home; Myrtle E.; Blanche, the wife
of L. N. Cleveland, of Clarinda, Iowa; Frances,
the wife of Henry W. Lehmann, living at home;
and Edna, who completes the family.
Such in brief is the life history of George M.
Putnam and over the record there falls no shadow
of wrong or suspicion of evil, for in business
life he has been diligent, persevering and upright,
in political circles has been loyal to his party,
yet never forgetting that he owes a still higher
allegiance to his country. He is well known throughout
the state and everywhere commands respect, while
in his home locality he has gained that warm personal
regard which arises from geniality, deference
for the opinions of others and genuine personal
worth.
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Fred E. Putnam, the eldest son of Hon. George
M. Putnam, was born near Oregon, Illinois, December
26, 1868, and was but five years of age when brought
by his parents to Pottawattamie county, since
which time he has lived in Grove township, while
from the time he attained his majority to the
present he has carried on general agricultural
pursuits. Seven years ago he bought his present
farm and during this period it has continuously
been his home. He has one hundred acres on section
4, Grove township, constituting a well improved
tract of land. The fields bring forth rich harvests
of grain best adapted to soil and climate, while
high grades of stock are found in the pastures
and indicate the progressive spirit which actuates
Mr. Putnam in all of his business undertakings.
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In January, 1901, occurred the marriage of Fred
Putnam and Miss Carrie J. Wilson, who was born
in Glenwood, Iowa, November 15, 1869, a daughter
of H. E. and Mary E. (Otis) Wilson, both now deceased.
The union of the young couple has been blessed
with two children, Helen D. and George M.
The parents are well known socially, the hospitality
of many of the best homes being cordially extended
them. Mr. Putnam is a republican, well informed
concerning the questions and issues of the day
and for three years he has served as township
trustee. His membership with the Sons of Veterans
indicates that he has reason to be proud of the
record of the father, who loyally defended the
interests of the Union in the dark days of the
Civil war.
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George Carson is numbered among the earnest men
of his time who adhere to the principles they
believe to be right. A review of his life work
indicates as among his most salient characteristics
a loyalty to country and a fidelity in public
service that have made his name honored throughout
the county of his adoption, and elsewhere has
gained him the respect of those who know aught
of his career. He was born near Scipio in Jennings
county, Indiana, on the 5th of February, 1841.
His great-great-grandfather, Robert Carson, crossed
the Atlantic from Ireland to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
at the age of seventeen years and located upon
and cleared a farm near the Horseshoe Tavern in
Chester county, Pennsylvania, about 1740. His
great-grandfather, David Carson, was born on that
farm about 1741; the grandfather, Hiram Carson,
was born there on the 24th day of February, 1785;
and his father, David Carson, was born in Chester
county, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1819. In 1838
Hiram and David Carson located on a farm near
Scipio, Indiana, and engaged in general agricultural
pursuits. The wife of the former was in her maidenhood
Miss Hess and was of Welsh and German parentage.
David Carson married Hannah Bennett, who was the
first white child born in Jennings county, Indiana,
her natal day being June 9, 1822. In 1817 her
parents came to America from Derbyshire, England,
where the birth of her father, Samuel Bennett,
occurred July 8, 1776. He served the crown for
ten years as exciseman and ten years as supervisor
of excisemen. His wife, Mrs. Sarah Bennett, who
was some years his junior, courageously took up
the work of pioneer life and in addition to her
household cares made all the clothing for her
family during the twenty years following their
settlemwt in Jennings county, Indiana. The marriage
of David Carson and Hannah Bennett was celebrated
on the 8th of August, 1839, at the old Bennett
homestead.
Their son, George Carson, in his boyhood days,
attended school during the three months of winter,
and throughout the remainder of the year worked
on the farm. In 1859, however, further educational
advantages were afforded him when he became a
student in an academy at Sardinia, Indiana. In
1860
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he attended an academy at Milford, Indiana, conducted
by Professor Powner, and during the winter of
1860 he taught a district school near Scipio,
Indiana.
When Fort Sumter was fired upon Mr. Carson enlisted
in a company in the Indiana Legion, at Scipio,
Indiana, worked on the farm and drilled on Saturday
afternoons and at noon hours studied Hardie's
Tactics. In September, 1861, he commenced school
teaching in his home district and continued until
an alarm on the border caused his command to be
called into, active service. While this alarm
was unfounded, he had determined that the time
had come when it was the duty of every able bodied
young man to go into active service. On the 7th
day of October, 1861, he enlisted as a recruit
in Company K, Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
then on duty at Dam No.4, about four miles from
Sharpsburg, Maryland. He joined his company there
about November 1, 1861, when he found drill with
the militia and his study of tactics very helpful
in the ranks with veterans of six months drill.
Soon after he joined his company he was greatly
surprised to hear his name announced one Sunday
evening at dress parade, making his corporal.
This assignment made him first man on the right
of his company, height taking precedence over
seniority. During that winter he was on duty nearly
every other night, picketing along the Potomac
river, and with a detachment of his company was
engaged on the 27th day of November, 1861, with
Ashby's men near the canal lock, while the enemies
musket balls whizzed close to their ears. They
were soon silenced by the Yankee Springfield rifles.
Again on the 11th day of December, 1861, he was
on duty with his squad of three pickets at the
lock. They were attacked by Captain Burke with
twenty-five men, and he fired about twenty-five
rounds before the enemy was driven off and had
a number of close calls while exposed to the firing.
His company and regiment joined the army at Martinsburg,
Virginia, in its advance upon Jackson's army at
Winchester, Virginia, and on the 11th day of March,
1862, his command attacked Jackson's lines and
during the night Jackson retreated south, and
the following morning his command was in line
at daylight and advanced, capturing a few stragglers.
His regiment was first in the city of Winchester,
and stood for about two hours at "present
arms," receiving the army as it marched through
the city. His command remained there until about
March 18, 1862, when General Abercrombie's brigade,
composed of the Twelfth and Sixteenth Indiana,
Twelfth and Thirteenth Massachusetts and Ninth
New York Regiments, was detached and ordered to
Warrenton Junction, Virginia, and, arrived at
the Bull Run battle ground on the 1st day of April,
1862, reaching their destination, Warrenton Junction,
about April 4,1862, and remaining there until
about May 10, when they were ordered to Washington,
D. C., and discharged on the 20th of the same
month.
Mr. Carson then returned home and worked on the
farm until August 10, 1862, when he re-enlisted
for service in Company I, Sixty-eighth Indiana
Infantry, then being organized by his former teacher,
Rev. R. F. Patterson, at Sardinia, Indiana, by
whom he was appointed first sergeant of the company,
after sharp competition with Frank Showalter,
in preparation of report to Governor Morton or
the election of company officers and roll of the
company. He drilled the company both in evolutions
and manual of arms for.
960
some time after organization. Second Lieutenant
William Breheny resigned in March, 18'63, on account
of failing health, and Orderly Carson was elected
to succeed him. In April, 1863, his regiment was
assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division,
Fourteenth Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland,
and continued to serve with that command until
October, 1863, when his regiment was assigned
to the First Brigade, Third Division, Fourth Corps.
The Chattanooga campaign commenced June 24, 1863,
and made a forced march of eighteen miles by four
o'clock in the afternoon and went under fire,
supporting the battery at the battle of Hoover's
Gap, and were also under fire the following day,
when Russell Swope of his company was wounded.
Mr. Carson was in the two days battle of Chickamauga,
Georgia, and had many narrow escapes. On the 19th
of September a ball passed through the hair of
his head and on the following day a cannon ball
passed over his left shoulder so close that he
was stricken to his knees. His command was at
Chattanooga, Tennessee, from September 22, until
November 28, 1863, and had the usual routine of
picket and other duties, on half rations, until
November 23, when his command was ordered to attack
the enemy's lines at Orchard Knob, and was under
fire until the night of November 25. He was severely
wounded in the charge upon Mission Ridge by a
fragment of a shell, being felled to the ground
and his lower extremities were paralyzed for some
time. As soon as he recovered, he overtook his
command, and, being at that time the only man
of his command on that part of the field that
was on his feet, became a target for the enemy's
rifles, and many shots were fired at him, one
of which tore the end of his rubber blanket in
ribbons between his left arm and side.
Soon thereafter a general shout of "forward"
was given and they scaled the enemy's rifle pits.
As he was in the act of swinging over their works
a ball from the left cut off a snag on the head
log which struck him over the left side of the
face, the blow nearly felling him. He gained the
summit with his comrades and directed the fire
into the enemy's lines on the left, and he formed
a company of about eighty men of those near him,
of whom only one belonged to his company or regiment.
He commanded his company from that time until
about February, 1864. On the 28th of November
his command was ordered to Knoxville, Tennessee,
and made a forced march. The head of the column
broke camp before daylight and the rear of the
column went into bivouac long after dark. They
had no tents until about January 20, 1864, and
during that winter campaign they at times bivouaced
on the snow.
In April, 1864, General Thomas, through respect
for Colonel E. A. King, who was killed at the
battle of Chickamauga, while colonel. of the regiment
and commanding the brigade, ordered the Sixty-eighth
Indiana to report at Chattanooga, Tennessee, for
duty, where they were assigned to General Steadman's
first brigade, separate division of the Etowah,
and continued with that command until the end
of the war, with many short campaigns to protect
the communications with the army at the front.
Mr. Carson was promoted to the rank of first
lieutenant, July 1, 1864, and during that summer
commanded Company G of his regiment and in
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battle with General Wheeler's Calvary, August
15, near Dalton, Georgia, lost one man who was
mortally wounded. In March, 1865, he was appointed
acting regimental quartermaster by Major Finn,
in which capacity he served until he was mustered
out June 20 of that year, at Nashville, Tennessee.
Returning home, Mr. Carson entered Hartsville
University, at Hartsville, Indiana, where he remained
until the 1st of January, 1866, when he began
reading law in the office of John S. Scoby, at
one time colonel of the regiment to which Mr.
Carson belonged. In September, 1866, he matriculated
in the law department of the University of Michigan
and was graduated with his class in March, 1868.
He then returned home and as a republican took
part in the campaign work of that year and was
nominated for representative in the Indiana legislature.
While Bartholomew county had always been a democratic
stronghold he assisted in winning a victory for
the state and national tickets.
In 1869 he followed Horace Greeley's advice and
came west, settling at Council Bluffs on the 24th
of February of that year. On the 4th of March
following he was admitted to the bar and at once
engaged in regular practice. In October, 1870,
he formed a partnership with the Hon. Spencer
Smith, and in 1883 Charles M. Harl was admitted
to the firm. For almost four decades Judge Carson
has been a prominent representative of the legal
fraternity and of the judiciary of western Iowa.
He never fails to give a thorough and careful
preparation, and in argument is logical and convincing.
His statements are clear and concise and his application
of the law accurate. The public offices that he
has filled have always been in the line of law-making
or in the interpretation of the law. In 1877 he
was elected by the republicans to the house of
representatives in the Iowa state legislature,
and two years later was re-elected by an increased
majority. He then declined to become a nominee
for a third term and retired from the office as
he had entered it-with the confidence and support
of his constituents. In 1883 he was chosen to
represent his district in the Iowa senate, and
in 1886 was nominated and elected to the bench
of the fifteenth judicial district, whereon he
served for four years. His decisions were fair
and impartial. His decrees were either affirmed
or modified and then affirmed. Impaired health
caused him to decline to serve for a longer period
than the four years' term. He then resumed the
practice of law and was not again in office until
1896, when he was elected mayor of Council Bluffs.
He gave to the city a businesslike and public-spirited
administration, characterized by needed reform
and improvement in municipal lines.
On the 5th of October, 1871, Judge Carson was
married in Ypsilanti, Michigan, to Miss Rachel
Leslie Boyce, a daughter of John and Priscilla
(Vining) Boyce. Her father is of Irish and her
mother of English descent, the ancestors of both
possessing strong character, in which their religious
sentiment predominated, coming from the Scotch-Irish
Protestants and the Pilgrims of New England. Her
grandfather, Scott Vining, was a descendant of
John Alden, who came over in the Mayflower, while
her great-grandfather, Benjamin Burton, on the
maternal side, did service in the war of the Revolution.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Carson was blessed
with seven children:
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Hannah L.; Mary P., deceased; Rachel B., the
deceased wife of Louis Blum of St. Joseph, Missouri;
George D.; Grace S., the wife of Samuel L. Irvine,
of Omaha, Nebraska; Jeannette R.; and Hiram J.
Such in brief is the life history of Judge George
Carson. In. whatever relation we find him-in government
service, in political circles, in business or
in social relations-he is always the same honorable
and honored gentleman, whose worth well merits
the high regard which is uniformly given him.
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JOSEPH D.
JOHNSON.
Among the men of sterling worth who have been
called from this life and yet have left the impress
of their individuality upon the community in which
they have lived is numbered Joseph D. Johnson,
who for a considerable period was connected with
the agricultural interests of Waveland township.
He was born in Kentucky, March 30, 1834, a son
of Evander Johnson, who removed to Warren county,
Illinois, when Joseph was three years of age.
There he was reared to farm work and in the public
schools he mastered the common branches of English
learning.
Having arrived at adult age he made preparations
for having a home of his own by his marriage March
17, 1867, to Miss Eunice Bushnell, who was born
in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, December 22; 1844,
a daughter of Elijah and Ruth (Axtell) Bushnell.
In the paternal line she is descended from an
old New England family and one which numbers many
prominent public and professional men. Her father
was born in Connecticut and removed to Mercer
county, Pennsylvania, in early manhood. There
he learned carpentering and later engaged in the
sawmill business, with which he was identified
for many years. In later life he removed to Warren
county, Illinois, where he carried on farming,
making his home there up to the time of his death,
which occurred when he had reached the advanced
age of eighty-six years. His wife was a native
of New Jersey and when a child removed with her
parents to Pennsylvania, where she gave her hand
in marriage to Mr. Bushnell. She passed away in
1870 at the age of fifty-one years. Unto Mr. and
Mrs. Johnson were born six children but only two
are living: . Willis, the eldest, who operates
the home farm; and Ernest, who is the youngest
and is attending commercial college in Omaha,
Nebraska. The other children, Ida, James, Cora
and Albert, are all now deceased.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Johnson located
on an eighty-acre farm in Warren county, which
he had purchased the year previous. There he devoted
his time to the tilling of the soil until 1878,
when he came to Iowa and invested in eighty acres
on section 30, Waveland township, Pottawattamie
county, which remained his place of residence
until his death, June 13, 1897. Just prior to
his demise he purchased one hundred and sixty
acres on section 7, Waveland township, to which
his widow has since removed and there she still
lives.
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In politics Mr. Johnson was a democrat but not
radical or aggressive. He was a successful man
and wielded considerable influence in the community
in which he lived, being respected by all who
knew him because of his fidelity to his honest
belief and his justice and integrity in all the
affairs of life. He passed away June 13, 1897,
and his loss was deeply regretted by many friends.
1Irs. Johnson is a lady of pleasing manner, cordial
and hospitable to her many friends and loved by
those who come within the closer circle of her
acquaintance.
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Reuben H. Woodmancy is now practically living
retired, yet resides on his farm near the village
of Macedonia, which indeed was built upon part
of his farm. His residence in Pottawattamie county
dates from the 24th of March, 1866, at which time
he settled in the township of Macedonia and in
the following spring he purchased his land. Since
that time he has been closely associated with
the substantial development of this part of the
county and was widely known and recognized as
an enterprising and successful business man. A
native of New Jersey, he was born at Long Branch,
in what is now Ocean county, January 24, 1839,
his parents being John and Harriet (Platt) Woodmancy,
who in 1844 removed to Ohio. In the paternal line
Reuben H. Woodmancy is a representative of an
old Jersey family, his grandfather there locating
when he crossed the Atlantic from Scotland. The
father was a sailor for thirty-six years, becoming
captain of a coast vessel. Removing to the Buckeye
state he bought a farm in Shelby county, Ohio,
where he resided until his death, which occurred
in 1887, when he had reached the venerable age
of eighty-three years. His wife died in 1897,
when more than eighty years of age. In their family
were six children: Louisa E., who died in Ohio;
Martha E., a resident of Piqua, Ohio; Nelson,
also of Piqua; Lydia, whose home is in Sidney,
Ohio; L. D., of this county; and Reuben H.
The last named was reared in the Buckeye state.
His educational advantages were somewhat limited
for he has provided for his own support since
attaining the age of fourteen years, and whatever
success he has achieved or enjoyed is attributable
to his own labors and capable management. The
only interruption to his continuous business career
came when he served his country as a soldier in
the Civil war. Soon after the outbreak of hostilities
he enlisted in Ohio as a member of Company F,
Fifteenth Ohio Regiment, in response to a call
for troops for three months. On the expiration
of that period he re-enlisted in September, 1861,
becoming a member of Company F, Twentieth Ohio
Infantry. He was promoted at Shiloh and was commissioned
as an officer in that company. Later he served
as a lieutenant and subsequently became captain
of Company E, of the Twentieth Ohio Infantry.
At Atlanta, July 22, 1864, he was wounded by a
gunshot in the right foot and was in the hospital
for a time. Later he succeeded in making his way
to Louisville, Kentucky, but was again in the
hospital there and again in Cin-
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cinnati. Being unfitted for further service he
was honorably discharged November 5, 1864, with
the rank of captain, and for two years was obliged
to use crutches and a cane. When convalescing
he went to Vicksburg, where he was engaged in
government and other work for a, year. Returning
to the north, he soon afterward came to Pottawattamie
county.
Mr. Woodmancy had saved some money while in the
army and on reaching this county he established
his home in Macedonia township, where in the spring
of 1867 he purchased his present farm. Since that
time he has been closely associated with the business
development and substantial improvement of his
locality. For many years he was engaged in merchandising
in the village of Macedonia and during the past
ten years he has devoted his attention to western
lands, making judicious and extensive investments
in Colorado and Nebraska. He now owns five farms
in Phelps county, Colorado. He is, moreover, vice
president of the Macedonia Implement Company.
His former stone or "grant" house was
for many years a landmark of this part of the
country but at a recent date it was torn down,
Mr. Woodmancy erecting a fine home on his farm
which he now occupies. In all of his business
opportunities he has been watchful of indications
pointing to success and has so utilized the means
at hand that he has become one of the representative
residents of Macedonia township, contributing
in large measure to its .growth and development
as well as to individual prosperity.
While in Ohio Mr. Woodmancy was married to Miss
Jennie E. Robinson, of that state, and they now
have four sons and two daughters, all born in
Pottawattamie county with but one exception. There
children are: Frank E., who is engaged in mining
in Montana; Harry L, who follows merchandising
in Vermilion, South Dakota; Minnie E., a teacher
in the schools at Council Bluffs; John H., who
is now operating the home farm and who served
for three years in the Philippines in the Thirtieth
United States Regulars; Stella M., the wife of
Ernest Jones; and Henry, of Montana, who is engaged
in mining there. He served in the navy as a youth
and won more than local reputation as an athlete.
He was a gunner on the Pensacola and the Wyoming,
having charge of one of the guns, and he took
the prize of the fleet at target practice.
In his political views Reuben H. Woodmancy is
a republican, having supported the party since
age conferred upon him the right of franchise.
He has filled various township offices and at
an early date was county commissioner. Socially
he is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic
and with the Benevolent & Protective Order
of Elks. He has led an active and useful life
and is now deriving his income from good investments,
including an excellent farm of one hundred and
eighty-one acres in Macedonia township, upon which
he resides.
John H. Woodmancy, who is operating the homestead
farm for his father, was born upon this place,
December 24, 1876, and was here reared and educated.
He has always engaged in general agricultural
pursuits, save like his father he displayed a
spirit of patriotism when his country became engaged
in warfare. On the 1st of February, 1901, he enlisted
at Pueblo, Colorado as a member of Company G,
Thirtieth Infantry Regiment of the
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United States Army, and served for three years,
being honorably discharged February 1, 1904: With
his command he went to the Philippines, where
he spent two years and nine months, and was there
promoted, being discharged with the rank of corporal.
He served under Colonel O'Connell and participated
in several engagements, including the Mindora
expedition against the insurgents in 1901 and
1902. He was also at Paete Laguna, April 21, 1901.
After being mustered out of the army he returned
to Macedonia and resumed farming, operating the
old homestead place. In his political views he
is like his father, a stalwart republican. He
married Miss Ruth Grantham, of Holdrege, Nebraska,
who was a native of Missouri, and they now have
one son, Virgil, about a year old.
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In a history of the agricultural development
of the county mention should be made of D. W.
McKee, a farmer and stock-raiser on section 6,
Grove township, where he is now operating a part
of the Bolton estate. His residence in this county
covers a period of almost a quarter of a century.
Prior to his removal to Iowa he had lived in Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, his native city, where he was born
on the 16th of February, 1861. His father, David
S. McKee, was a native of the north of Ireland
and came to America in the early '40s. He spent
the greater part of his life in Pennsylvania but
passed away in this county in March, 1899, at
the age of seventy-five years. His wife, who in
her maidenhood was Sarah Ann Savage, was also
born in the north of Ireland and on the Emerald
isle gave her hand in marriage to Mr. McKee. Her
death occurred in Carson in 1905, when she had
reached the age of sixty-five years. The members
of the family, in addition to D. W. McKee of this
review, are: James S., living in Eskridge, Kansas;
Aleck, whose home is in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania,
Robert W., located in Carson; William S., of Banner
county, Nebraska; and Mrs. Jennie Van Pelt, also
living in Nebraska.
D. W. McKee, whose name introduces this record,
was reared in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he
learned and. followed the carpenter's trade. Upon
his removal to the west he established his home
in Banner county, Nebraska, and became prominent
and influential in that locality. He was well
known as a leader in republican circles and for
one term served as sheriff of the county, to which
office he was elected on the republican ticket.
Coming to Pottawattamie county in 1883, he has
here since made his home and is now engaged in
farming and stock-raising on section 6, Grove
township, operating a part of the Bolton estate.
In his work he is practical, methodical and systematic
and also keeps in touch with the trend of progressive
agriculture.
Mr. McKee was united in marriage to Miss Ida
M. Bolton, a daughter of George and Anna M. (Pearce)
Bolton. Six children graced this union but Bessie
died in June, 1906, when about thirteen years
of age. The others
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are George, James, Hattie, Alexander Donald and
Frank, all yet under the parental roof. Mr. McKee
is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
and of the Modern Woodmen camp at Carson. He remains
equally loyal to the republican party and its
principles but has always refused to hold office
in this county, preferring to give his undivided
attention to his business interests. He is not
remiss in the duties of citizenship, however,
and on the contrary gives loyal support to many
movements and plans for the public good.
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