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Mrs. Sarah J. Price, well known in Pottawattamie
county, resides on a farm of one hundred and sixty
acres in Hazel Dell township. She was born in
Hancock county, Illinois, in 1840, and is a daughter
of William Garner. She was with the family during
the terrible experiences at Florence, Nebraska,
while that state was a territory. The family endured
hardships and privations, and faced dangers while
the father was serving in the Mexican war. Her
girlhood days were spent on a farm in Garner township,
this county, and her education was acquired in
the country schools. In early womanhood she became
the wife of Jacob Groves and unto them were born
eight children, namely: Ella, the wife of John
Gunnette, of Neola, Iowa; William, a resident
of Villa Grove, Colorado; Etta, the wife of Lawrence
Goodwin, of Rantoul, Kansas; Nora, the wife of
Dick Ely, a resident of Wyoming; John, of New
Mexico; Lewis D., who follows farming in Hazel
Dell township; Anna, the wife of Sidney Downs,
a resident of Neola, Iowa; and Edward, the twin
brother of Anna, who resides with his mother.
Thorn Price, the present husband of Mrs. Sarah
J. Price, was born in Ohio, December 1, 1840.
He served for three years in the regular army
during the Civil war as a valiant advocate of
the Union cause. He afterward came
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to Pottawattamie county and here wedded Mrs.
Groves. He and his wife own one hundred and sixty
acres of well improved land, which was a part
of the William Garner estate and was inherited
by Mrs. Price. They are well known in the community
and have the warm regard of many friends. They
are also worthy representatives of farming interests
here and have a good place which is kept under
a high state of cultivation and presents an attractive
appearance.
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Dr. Grant Augustine is one of the well known
members of the medical profession, actively engaged
in practice at Minden for the past eight years.
He was born in Wapello county, Iowa, December
7, 1872, and was there reared to manhood. His
early educational privileges were supplemented
by study in the State Normal School. He took a
four year course in medicine at the State University
of Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1900.
Since entering upon the active work of the profession
he has taken a number of supplemental courses
and by study, investigation and reading keeps
abreast with the best thinking members of the
medical fraternity. While he does not make a specialty
of surgery he is particularly efficient in that
line and has successfully performed a number of
very difficult operations, his skill and ability
in that direction being widely recognized.
In 1900 he located at Malcom, Iowa, and began
practice there. In 1901 he removed to Minden,
where he has continued to the present time and
has here built up a good and constantly increasing
business. His practice in surgery extends to Council
Bluffs and to Nebraska, while he is the loved
family physician in many a household. He belongs
to that class of representative practitioners
of the present day who work both for better methods
of cure and for the .adoption of preventive measures.
He is a member of the Pottawattamie County Medical
Society and for several years has been secretary
and treasurer of the Botna Valley Medical Society.
He also belongs to the State and to the American
Medical Associations and through the interchange
of thought and experience in these organizations
keeps in touch with those who stand foremost in
the profession. He is not unknown as the author
of various valuable articles touching upon different
phases of professional work, writing papers for
and addressing the different medical societies
upon many questions. He has a wide acquaintance
in the profession throughout the state, while
the confidence reposed in him by the laity is
indicated by the large patronage accorded him.
He was recently appointed chief medical director
for the Western Mutual Life Insurance Company,
is medical examiner for the New York Life, the
Mutual Life and the Equitable Life Insurance Companies.
Dr. Augustine was united in marriage in Omaha
on the 21st of June, 1904, to Miss Ida Belle Gates,
a native of Iowa, born in Hamburg. She was largely
educated in Missouri V alley and afterward pursued
a course as
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surgical nurse in Chicago. There are two children
by this marriage: Grant Augustine, Jr., and Margaret
Augustine.
Politically the Doctor has been a life-long republican
and while he has neither sought nor desired office
his fellow townsmen elected him city councilman
and in that position he discharged his duties
with promptness and fidelity. He belongs to the
Masonic fraternity, affiliating with the lodge
at Neola and with Avoca chapter, R. A. M. In his
profession he has ample opportunity to put into
practical use the beneficent principles of the
order, which is based upon mutual helpfulness
and brotherly kindness. There is probably no profession
or trade as little commercialized as is that of
the physician, who necessarily does much work
for which he receives nor expects any compensation
and yet there is no man more worthy of his hire.
Dr. Augustine has spared no pains to perfect himself
in his chosen calling and is justly regarded as
an able and learned physician, whose solution
of the complex problems of the medical fraternity
is usually correct.
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OBADIAH H.
DUTROW.
Obadiah H. Dutrow, a resident farmer of Crescent
township, living on section 14, was born in Carroll
county, Maryland, January 2, 1835. His father,
Andrew Dutrow, was a native of that state and
a mason and plasterer, who learned his trade in
Baltimore and followed that pursuit in Maryland
for many years. He died in Frederick county, Maryland,
while his wife passed away in Ohio. She bore the
maiden name of Lydia Yingling and was also a native
of Maryland. In the family were four children,
of whom one son is now living in Colorado.
In April, 1856, Obadiah H. Dutrow and his grandfather,
David Yingling, left Ohio and proceeded down the
Ohio river and up the Mississippi to St. Louis,
Missouri, and on by way of the Missouri river
to St. Joseph. By stage they continued the journey
to Council Bluffs. Mr. Dutrow, then a young man
of twenty-one years, walked nearly all the way,
carrying a rail to assist him in digging the wheels
out of the mud when their wagon should be stuck
in the soft earth. They arrived at their destination
on the 1st of May, 1856, and Mr. Dutrow purchased
a third interest in eighty acres of land on which
the village of Crescent City was laid out. This
tract cost him one hundred and sixty-six dollars
and later he sold lots to the value of four thousand
dollars. He assisted in laying out the village
and for two years was engaged in general merchandising,
being one of the first business men of the place.
Meeting with financial reverses at a later date,
he then turned his attention to farming and in
the fall of 1865 bought two hundred and three
acres of land on section 14, Crescent township,
upon which he has since made his home. All of
the improvements upon the place stand as monuments
t6 his thrift and enterprise and the farm is now
a well developed property, neat in appearance
and productive to the extent of returning rich
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harvests to the owner in reward for the care
and labor which he has bestowed upon the fields.
On the 10th of December, 1857, Mr. Dutrow was
married to Miss Martha McMullen, who was born
in Ohio, July 17, 1836, and is a sister of Solomon
McMullen, mentioned, elsewhere in this volume.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dutrow were born four children,
of whom Orin, the second, died at the age of three
years. The others are: Elizabeth, the widow of
Ewing Hall and a resident of Colorado; William
H., who married a Miss Manery and lives on his
father's farm; and Charles B., who wedded Lulu
McGinnis and also lives on the old homestead.
The sons reside upon the farm, Charles and his
wife living with his parents, while William H.
has another set of buildings on the farm.
Mr. Dutrow has been a democrat throughout his
entire life and has served as assessor, as township
clerk and school director. More than a half century
has come and gone since he cast in his lot with
the pioneers of Pottawattamie county and he and
his wife have almost reached the fiftieth anniversary
of their marriage. People of the present period
can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers
which attended the early settlers, the heroism
and self-sacrifice of lives passed upon the borders
of civilization, the hardships endured, the difficulties
overcome. These tales of the early days read almost
like a romance to those who have known only the
modern prosperity and conveniences. To the pioneer
of the early days, far removed from the privileges
and conveniences of the older east, the struggle
for existence was a stern and often a hard one,
but the early settlers possessed indomitable energy
and sterling worth of character as well as marked
physical courage, and they laid the foundation
upon which has been built the present progress
and prosperity of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Dutrow
are numbered among the early settlers here and
they relate many interesting incidents of pioneer
times, their lives forming a connecting link between
the primitive past and the progressive present.
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Frank G. Schofield, now in charge of a rural
free delivery mail route and also deriving a fair
income from his farming property in the county,
makes his home at Carson. He is one of Iowa's
native sons, born February 11, 1867, his parents
being William and Mary (Bulles) Schofield. The
father was a native of England and with his parents
crossed the Atlantic and located in Wisconsin
when a small boy. Later becoming a resident of
Iowa, he here devoted his time and energies to
farming and through this means provided for the
wants of his family. He died upon a farm near
Griswold, this county, in 1888 at the age of fifty-six
years. His widow, a native of New Jersey, is now
living on the home place with her son. The family
numbered a daughter and three sons: Ella, the
wife of George
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Rarey, of Griswold; Elsworth, who is residing
upon the home farm; Frank G., of this review ;
and William, also of Griswold.
It was in 1869 that the family removed from Atlantic,
Iowa, to the farm near Griswold, Frank G. Schofield
being then only two years of age. He has since
resided in this county, being reared to general
agricultural pursuits, in which he continued until
about seven years ago, when he came to Carson.
In 1905 he built his present fine residence in
the village. He continued to engage in active
agricultural pursuits until about a year ago,
when he took charge of rural route No.1 out of
Carson. He still owns a farm in Wright township
comprising two hundred acres of rich and productive
land, and he has twenty acres within the corporation
limits of the village. He gives personal supervision
to the management of the farm but the arduous
work of the fields is now performed by others.
In 1890 Mr. Schofield was married to Miss Nellie
Storrs, a native of Illinois, who came to Iowa
when six years of age with her father, H. R. Storrs.
This marriage has been blessed with one daughter,
Vera. In Carson and throughout the community the
parents have many warm friends and Mr. Schofield
is a worthy representative of one of the old families,
having for almost four decades made his home in
this county. He is a republican in politics and
though he has never been an office seeker he has
always been loyal to the best interests of the
community and has withheld his support from no
measure for the public good. His genial qualities,
his deference for the opinions of others and his
upright manhood have made him popular with his
fellow townsmen.
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Sievert Rief, who is now successfully carrying
on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising
on section 36, Rockford township, belongs to that
class of men who owe their prosperity entirely
to their capable planning and their untiring diligence
in carrying out their plans. He may justly be
called a self-made man and deserves all the praise
which that term implies. He was born in Schieswig-Hoistein,
Germany, May 29, 1840, his parents, Sievert and
Phoebe (Schrum) Rief, being also natives of Germany
where they died many years ago. In their family
were seven children, of whom five brothers came
to the United States and three are now living:
Sievert; John, a resident of Crescent, Iowa; and
Peter, whose home is in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Sievert Rief was reared in his native province,
which at that time belonged to Denmark, and in
1862 he served for nine months in the Danish army
during the Danish and Prussian war. The opportunities
of the new world attracted him and with the hope
of bettering his financial condition he came to
the United States in 1864, arriving in Chicago
with but six dollars in his pocket. For nearly
a year he worked in a bakery in that city
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and then came to Pottawattamie county, where
he invested his little capital in sixteen acres
of land in Hazel Dell township. Upon that place
he built a little shanty and he spent his last
emit for an ax, with which he went to work chopping
wood for a living. His neighbors were good to
him, seeing his willingness to work, and gave
him plenty to do. He was soon able to buy an old
team and with this he hauled wood to Council Bluffs.
He and his brother Peter, securing a government
license, also sold beer for many years. In those
days when families were widely scattered and roads
were not very good, when one neighbor went to
Council Bluffs, the others would send by him for
groceries and this led Mr. Rief to the belief
that a country store would pay. With the money
he received for a load of wood he brought home
five dollars' worth of groceries. In three days
his little stock was sold out. The sale of another
load of wood combined with the original five dollars
enabled him this time to buy ten dollars' worth
of groceries. By the time he again went to the
city to purchase goods a neighbor there named
Perry Reel had spoken a favorable word for him,
so that a credit had been established with the
wholesale house of Kirscht & Groneweg in Council
Bluffs. This time his stock of groceries amounted
to twenty-five dollars; which were unpaid for.
Mr. Rief and his wife, however, were so worried
about the possibility of sale and the payment
for the goods in Council Bluffs that they hesitated
about unloading the supplies. However, they decided
to do so and the neighbors soon showed their appreciation
of a store so convenient. This larger supply of
groceries was soon sold out and for twenty-five
years Mr. Rief continued to conduct a general
store at what is known as Reel's Postoffice. Twenty
years ago he erected a two-story frame building,
forty-six by sixty feet with additions. The second
floor is a large hall used for public gatherings.
The building was put up at a cost of six thousand
dollars but it could not be built for twice that
sum now. A year ago he disposed of the store and
his stock and removed to one of his farms. As
time has passed he has labored diligently and
lived economically, carefully watching his expenditures
and as carefully conducting his business affairs
with the result that he has from time to time
been enabled to make judicious investments in
property until he is now the owner of several
improved farms, aggregating nine hundred acres,
and is today one of the largest landholders of
the county. He also owns one thousand two hundred
and eighty acres in Nebraska near Crawford devoted
to farming and stock-raising. He is now fitting
up a home in modern style and intends to retire
from active business life, spending his remaining
days in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former
toil.
Mr. Rief has been twice married. His first wife
was Miss Lena Witt, who was born in Schleswig-Holstein
and died twenty years ago, at the age of forty.
By that marriage there were nine children, of
whom one is now deceased. The others are: Phoebe,
the wife of Lars Jensen, of Boomer township; Dora,
the wife of Charles Olsen, also of Boomer township;
Margaret, the wife of William Southern, who resides
in that township; Lena, the wife of Alfred Page
living in Boomer township; Sievert, Jr., who is
fore-
1078
man for the telephone company at Council Bluffs;
Perry and George, who follow farming in Nebraska;
and Johan. For his second wife Mr. Rief chose
his cousin, Emma Rief, who was born at Grand Island,
Nebraska. She is still living and they have five
children, Henry, Mary, Olga, Minnie and Effie,
all yet under the parental roof.
Mr. Rief was reared in the Lutheran faith but
has not become a member of any church in this
country. In politics he is independent, voting
for men and measures rather than party nor has
he aspired to public office. He was, however,
postmaster at Reel's Postoffice for two years
before the rural route was established. His business
record seems almost phenomenal when we measure
the distance between the starting point and his
present position in financial circles. By fair
and honest dealing and by carrying a line of goods
which the families needed, he soon built up a
good business and as the years have passed he
has acquired considerable wealth. He has every
reason to be proud of his success and deserves
much credit for what he has accomplished. His
life record should serve to prove to others what
may be gained if one has determination, energy
and strong purpose. His realty interests are now
extensive, returning him a very gratifying income,
so that he may well retire from active life, knowing
that his annual revenue is sufficient to supply
him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries
which go to make life worth living.
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W. E. Bunnell, who is now operating a part of
the old homestead farm and is also engaged in
stock-raising, was born in Knox township, November
18, 1866, his parents being Joseph A. and Sarah
J. (Headley) Bunnell, who were of English descent.
The father was born January 10, 1836, in Portage
county, Ohio, and acquired a common-school education
there. When sixteen years of age he accompanied
his parents on their removal to Clinton county,
Iowa, where his father took up government land,
and he assisted in the improvement and cultivation
of the farm for some time. He next went to Shelby
county, this state, where he lived with his uncle,
Truman R. Barlow, who was blind but had an excellent
education, and he remained with him until the
uncle's death.
Joseph A. Bunnell made claim to a tract of wild
land in Shelby county before it came into market.
He was married August 14, 1856, to Miss Sarah
J. Headley and the following spring removed to
Nebraska, where he engaged in breaking prairie
with ox teams throughout the summer, while he
spent the winter in Omaha hauling cord wood and
brick. That city was then a small village, the
Indians being still there, and Mr. Bunnell and
his wife lived in a log house. In the spring of
186:3 they returned to his claim in Shelby county
and he began the improvement of his place. On
the 14th of October, 1863, in response to the
country's call for aid, he offered his services
to the government, enlisting as a member of Company
M, Ninth Regiment
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of Iowa V olunteers, and he was in battle under
General Shelby at Duvalls Bluff. The regiment
was engaged in guarding the Memphis & Little
Rock Railroad--a very dangerous service. Mr. Bunnell
participated in other skirmishes, battles and
military duties, serving until almost the close
of the war but escaped without a scratch. He was
honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, in February,
1865.
While in the army his wife lived at Newton, Pottawattamie
county, and when his military experience was over
he settled on a farm in Knox township, where he
first purchased eighty acres. As a result of his
energy and perseverance he was enabled to add
to this from time to time until he became the
owner of six hundred acres of as fine bottom land
as can be found in Pottawattamie county. He also
had thirty-two hundred acres in the Alberta district
of Canada, besides other real estate. All of this
property he acquired through his own well directed
efforts for he was a self-made man, industrious,
enterprising and progressive. After a well spent
life he died November 29, 1906, in the faith of
the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was
a member. Having accumulated extensive holdings
he left his family in very comfortable circumstances
but the estate is not yet settled.
In his political views Joseph A. Bunnell was
a stanch republican, having firm faith in the
principles and ultimate triumph of the party.
He affiliated with U. S. Grant post, No. 123,
G. A. R, at Avoca, and held several of the minor
offices of the township, being regarded in the
community as one of its leading and influential
citizens. He possessed superior business ability,
displayed keen discernment in placing his investments
and in the management of his property as well.
Whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful
completion and as the years passed by won a place
among the prosperous residents of the county.
On August 14, 1856, he married Miss Sarah J. Headley
and unto them were born nine children: Amanda
J., George E., Annis D., Walter E., Albert E.,
Charles S., Ola G., Emma V. and one who died in
infancy.
W. E. Bunnell has spent his entire life in Knox
township and is now operating a part of the old
homestead farm. He was educated in the public
schools, his time being divided between the duties
of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground
and the work of the fields. When he had attained
his majority he resolved to engage in the occupation
to which he had been reared and is now accounted
one of the enterprising agriculturists of the
community. In addition to tilling the soil he
is now raising cattle, horses and hogs and his
live-stock interests are an important branch of
his business, bringing to him a very gratifying
income.
In 1893 Mr. Bunnell was married to Miss Lulu
Bunnell, a cousin, who was born in Shelby county,
Iowa, in 1877. She was one of a family of ten
children and her parents are now living east of
Des Moines. Unto our subject and his wife have
been born five children: Lela Beth, Joseph Albert,
Eugene, Ruth and Grace Cathryne. Mr. Bunnell is
an advocate of the republican party and his wife
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He has served as school director and school trustee
for three years and both
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he and his wife are held in high esteem, being
accorded a position of prominence in public regard
in Knox township. Mr. Bunnell is a representative
of one of the old pioneer families here and the
work which was instituted by his grandfather and
carried on by his father is being continued by
him, for he is known as one of the leading, alert
and enterprising agriculturists of his community.
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Henry J. F. Klahn, who since 1883 has made his
home in this county, residing upon his present
farm since 1892, now owns two hundred and eighty
acres of rich and productive land. His home place
is on section 4, Keg Creek township, and the farm
is the visible evidence of his life of thrift,
industry and well directed energy. Mr. Klahn was
born in Holstein, Germany, April 8; 1856, his
parents being Claus and Gusta (Wilkins) Klahn,
both of whom were natives of Germany, where their
entire lives were passed, the father dying in
1878 at the age of seventy-five years, while the
mother passed away in 1884 at the age of sixty-five
years. They were farming people and much respected
in the community where they made their home. Unto
Mr. and Mrs. Klahn were born seven children, of
whom six are yet living: Anna, John, Dora, Johanna
and Gusta, all of whom are residents of the fatherland
save the subject of this review.
The boyhood of Henry J. F. Klahn was passed in
Germany, where he acquired a common-school education.
At twenty-one years of age he joined the German
army, with which he served for three years, and
afterward followed the wagonmaker's trade until
1882. In that year he came to Davenport, Iowa,
where he resided for one year. In 1883 he came
to Pottawattamie county and worked for two years
on a farm, but desiring that his labors should
more directly benefit himself he then rented land
for four years in Keg Creek township. He afterward
cultivated a rented farm in Greene county, Nebraska,
for two years, and in 1892 he bought his present
place of two hundred acres on section 4, Keg Creek
township. The tract was at that time but slightly
improved, but the labors he has placed upon it
have wrought a marked transformation in the farm.
He now owns together two hundred and eighty acres
and the various accessories and conveniences of
the model farm are here found, all being the indication
of the progressive spirit and the untiring labor
of Mr. Klahn. In addition to the cultivation of
crops he engaged in the raising, feeding and fattening
of stock, annually shipping from five to six carloads
of cattle and about one hundred and fifty hogs.
What he undertakes he carries forward to successful
completion and his efforts have been so discerningly
directed along well defined lines of labor that
he has accomplished a very gratifying measure
of success.
In Council Bluffs, on the 2d of July, 1886, Mr.
Klahn was married to Miss Eureka Bebensee, a daughter
of Henry O. and Dorothea (Koch)
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Bebensee, in whose family were eleven children.
Five are now living: Fred R., a resident of Hardin
township; Dora, whose home is in Montana; Mrs.
Mary Husc, of Council Bluffs; Mrs. Klahn, of this
review; and Henry, who is located in Keg Creek
township. The parents have both passed away, the
father having died February 1, 1907, at the age
of seventy-seven years, while the mother's death
occurred in 1872. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Klahn have
been born the following children: William, Augusta,
Rosa, August, Powell, Dora, Ella, Anna, Hannah
and Herman.
Mr. and Mrs. Klahn are devoted members of the
German Lutheran church and in politics he is a
republican. He has been both the architect and
builder of his own fortune and has justly won
the proud, though somewhat hackneyed, American
title of self-made man. His finances were at low
ebb when he came to America, but untiring labor
and good management have gained him very gratifying
success. Moreover, the business policy that he
has always followed and the cordial feeling that
he has ever manifested in social circles have
gained him a host of warm friends in the neighborhood.
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Thomas Leonard is a retired farmer residing with
his son on section 15, Hazel Dell township. In
former years he was closely associated with agricultural
interests and developed in this county one of
its fine and well improved farms, his life being
a busy, active and useful one. He was born in
the county of Roscommon, Ireland, about seventy-seven
years ago and spent the first seventeen years
of his life on the Emerald isle, after which he
came to America; attracted by the broader business
opportunities of the new world, hoping that he
might acquire a competence more readily in this
country than in the land of his birth. He resided
in Boston for fifteen years and was there engaged
in working in a brickyard.
His arrival in Iowa dates from 1867, at which
time he took up his abode in Jackson county, where
he engaged in farming until 1875. He then removed
to Silver City in Mills county, and two years
later came to Pottawattamie county. Here he purchased
two hundred and forty acres of land partially
improved, on section 15, Hazel Dell township,
and has made this one of the most productive farms
of the county. His life, has been marked by untiring
activity and industry and as the years have passed
by good results have attended his labors, enabling
him to rise from a humble financial position to
one of affluence. He has now divided his property
between his two sons, James Leonard, near Neola,
having a fine farm of over one hundred and sixty
acres, while Thomas has the old home place of
four hundred and forty acres.
Mr. Leonard was married in Boston to Miss Catherine
Hoer, who died in 1864. They were the parents
of six children but only the two mentioned are
now living. In 1867 Mr. Leonard was again married,
his second
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union being with Mrs. Margaret Turner, the widow
of Edward Turner, by whom she had three children:
John, deceased; Patrick, living in Harrison county,
Iowa; and Anna, the wife of Thomas W. Leonard,
a son of our subject. He now owns and carries
on the old homestead farm and by his marriage
there were born six children: Mamie, at home;
James L., who died at the age of thirteen years;
Edward T., William J. and Francis M., all at home;
and John P., who died at the age of five months.
The family are members of the Catholic church.
In politics Mr. Leonard has always been a stalwart
democrat, keeping well informed on the questions
and issues of the day and giving loyal support
to the party. He has served as township trustee
and as school director. Mr. Leonard is still a
well preserved old man, enjoying excellent health
for one of his years and yet doing no little work
about the farm. He made no mistake in coming to
America but on the contrary here found the opportunities
which he sought and which he has improved until
he is today one of the substantial residents of
the county. In the course of years he became the
owner of extensive and valuable farming interests
and with generous spirit he has divided with his
sons, giving to each a valuable and extensive
farm. His life has at all times been honorable
and upright, and good qualities have gained for
him the warm regard of many friends.
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SOLOMON
McMULLEN.
Solomon McMullen, who is engaged in general farming
and stockraising in Hazel Dell township, is one
of the worthy citizens that Ohio has furnished
to western Iowa. He was born in Fayette county
in the former state, June, 6, 1832, his parents
being William and Catherine (Myers) McMullen.
The father, who was born in Virginia, March 15,
1783, died on the 8th of October, 1878, when he
had reached the very venerable age of ninety-five
years. His wife, whose birth occurred in Ohio,
February 10, 1776, passed away near Springfield,
Missouri, November 10, 1848. Their children were
eleven in number but only two are now living,
the elder being Mrs. Martha Dutrow of Crescent
township.
Solomon McMullen, when a lad of nine years, accompanied
his parents as they left Fayette county, Ohio,
and made their way to Lawrence county, Missouri,
driving across the country. For eleven years they
lived in that state and the mother died during
that period. In 1852 the father and his children
came to Pottawattamie county and here established
their home. He owned land in Missouri, which he
sold on coming to Iowa, and here he invested in
property which he retained in his possession up
to the time of his death.
Solomon McMullen was married on the 2d of December,
1852, in Iowa, to Miss Ellen Dunkle, who was born
in Ohio, March 10, 1835, and died in Crescent,
Iowa, in 1901, being then about sixty-six years
of age. She was a daughter of William and Mary
(McMillen) Dunkle. The father's birth
1085
occurred in Virginia, January 10, 1781, and he
reached the advanced age of ninety-two years,
passing' away December 30, 1873. His wife, who
was born in Ohio, January 20, 1777, died September
20, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. McMullen have became the
parents of six children: Mrs. Catherine Butler,
living in Hazel Dell township; Manda, John W.
and Daniel, all deceased; Lee, who married Maude
Camp and lives on the farm with his father; and
Annie, who has departed this life.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McMullen was celebrated
the year in which they came to Pottawattamie county.
At that time he started out upon an independent
business career and for two years cultivated a
rented farm, in the meantime carefully saving
his earnings until he was enabled to buy fifty-five
acres of land. This he improved to some extent
and then sold. After a residence of six years
in the county he bought his present home farm
of one hundred and ninety acres in Hazel Dell
township. This does not embrace his total landed
interests, however, for he owns altogether three
hundred and eighty acres in the county. His home
place is nicely improved with modern equipments
and accessories. The buildings are substantial,
the fences kept in a state of good repair and
the fields under a high state of cultivation.
He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate
the work of plowing, planting and harvesting and
the results attained thereby are of a most desirable
character. The home is now surrounded by a beautiful
grove of trees, which have grown from mere saplings
to their present fine proportions since Mr. McMullen
came to the farm. They constitute an attractive
feature of the landscape and add not a little
to the value of the place. Mr. McMullen belongs
to the Church of the Latter Day Saints and gives
his political allegiance to the democratic party.
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