Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa
New York, Chicago: Lewis publishing Co., S. Thompson Lewis, editor. 1903
Transcribed by Renee Rimmert. A complete copy of this book is available on-line at archive.org.
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CLYDE E. SAWYERS, M. D. - Above is the name and title of a rising young physician at Centerville, who has only been in practice there a few years, but has already obtained a hold that is a guarantee of future success. Dr. Sawyers may be said to have inherited his right to adopt the medical profession, as his father was for years a distinguished physician of Appanoose county, whose fame and acquaintance extended all over the state.
Clyde E., son of the late Dr. Sylvester H. and Mary F. (Miller) Sawyers, was born at Unionville, Iowa, July 3, 1868, and grew up in the atmosphere characteristic of the office and surroundings of a busy physician. After attending school in his native town several years he took a course in Parsons College at Fairfield, Iowa, where he was graduated in the class of 1889. Shortly afterward he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, Missouri, where he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1891. Not satisfied with this, however, the ambitious aspirant for distinction in medical science matriculated at the famous Rush Medical College of Chicago and received his diploma there with the class of 1894. In the following year he opened an office for practice at Centerville, subsequent to a short experience at Moravia, and since then his progress towards his ultimate goal has been steady and flattering.
Dr. Sawyers is a member of the Appanoose and Wayne Counties Medical Society and the Iowa State Medical Association. He is prominent in Masonry, having reached the Knight Templar degree in that ancient order, and in politics he is an earnest though conservative advocate of Republican principles of government. Dr. Sawyers is equally attractive on the social as on the professional side of life, and his marriage in 1902 with Miss Katherine Lockman was one of the interesting events in Centerville society circles.
JOHN LAZELLE SAWYERS, M. D. - This name has been made familiar to every inhabitant of Appanoose county by the long continued prominence of father and son in the medical profession. It seems to be a case of heredity, but at any rate the father's great and widespread celebrity has been equaled if not surpassed by his talented son. The two lives together cover a period of one-half a century, during which there never was a time when "Dr. Sawyers" was not a familiar sound to every citizen of the county. This family, now so well known, had its beginning with a poor boy of Tennessee, who was buffeted by all the waves of "outrageous fortune" in youth and early manhood, but eventually triumphed after a series of struggles that challenged the highest powers of manhood to cope with them successfully.
Elisha Sawyers was born near Nashville, and being left an orphan was forced to undergo the hardships as well as humiliations usually connected with the conditions described as "bound out." During this period he mastered the tailor's trade, married after he regained his business freedom and came with his family to Iowa about 1850. For awhile he kept a hotel at Centerville and later one at Unionville, to which place he had removed for the prosecution of his trade. He lost his wife by death in 1854, but lived himself to the extreme age of ninety-five years and closed his arduous but blameless career at Unionville in 1901. His children, in order of birth, are thus recorded in the family register: Sylvester H., deceased; Lizzie, deceased; Eugene, Iona, David, Allen and Mattie J.
It was Sylvester Hartwell Sawyers, the oldest of the above mentioned children, who became the famous physician and father of physicians. He was born during the hard years before his parents left Tennessee, but despite narrow circumstances the father managed to give his promising boy a fair literary education. He early developed an ardent ambition to become a doctor and was still a boy when he took up the study of medicine. After his parents came to Appanoose county he entered vigorously into the practice and soon acquired a local, followed by a state reputation, in the profession. This distinguished physician married Mary F. Miller, by whom he had ten children: John Lazelle, Mary Lillian, Kate C., deceased; Sylvester H., Ralph, deceased; Clyde E., Emma, Ada, Zelma and Frank. The father died in 1890, but the mother still presides over the hospitable home in Unionville, an object of devoted affection from her loving children and esteem from her numerous friends.
John Lazelle Sawyers, oldest of the children and destined successor of his father in medical fame, was born at the ancestral home in Unionville, July 18, 1856. His early education was obtained in the local schools and under a private tutor, with which groundwork he began the study of medicine in his father's office when eighteen years old. It is needless to say that he made rapid progress under such able preceptorship and was soon qualified to grapple with the higher branches taught only at the special schools for this purpose. He first went to the Chicago Medical College, but in 1876 entered the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, where he obtained a degree in the following June, and received the prize for surgery and a gold medal for general proficiency in all the branches of medicine. After his graduation he practiced in partnership with his father at Unionville until the fall of 1877, when he returned to the Chicago Medical College and was graduated in that institution in the class of 1878. During the winter preceding his graduation he had been appointed physician at the Cook County Hospital, where he remained for twenty-two months and derived much advantage from the medical training to be derived from such a position.
In 1879 Dr. Sawyers returned to his old home at Unionville, where he resumed and continued practice for about one year. In 1880 he went abroad and spent nearly two years in the old world, most of his time being occupied in attending clinical lectures at the various hospitals of Vienna, Austria. During his absence Dr. Sawyers visited many parts of France and Germany and spent some time also at the most celebrated resorts in Italy and Switzerland. His tour was suddenly interrupted and he called home by the severe illness of his father, which was at first thought to be fatal. But he recovered and in partnership with his son, after the latter's return from Europe, practiced medicine until 1883. In that year the younger Dr. Sawyers separated from his father and located at Centerville, where he soon gained a large and lucrative practice and rose rapidly to prominence in his profession. In fact, his fame soon spread beyond the confines of his native county, his skill as a physician and surgeon attracting many patients from a distance, and he has often been called into consultation in important cases over a wide territory, both in Iowa and Missouri. The Doctor is a member of the Des Moines Valley Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
In 1883 Dr. Sawyers was united in marriage with Miss Jennie, daughter of Ex-Governor F. M. Drake, of Centerville, and to this union three children have been born. The parents are members of the Christian church and the Doctor is prominent in Masonry, having reached the Knight Templar degree. After the foregoing details it is hardly necessary to add that Dr. Sawyers and his family enjoy a warm welcome in the best social circles at Centerville and other cities of the state.
ARLINGTON M. SAYRES , a general merchant of Cincinnati, was born in Drakesville, Iowa, June 6, 1854, and is a son of the late Dr. William Sayres, who is represented above in this work. During his infancy he was brought to Cincinnati by his parents and was here reared and educated. Early in life he received his business training as a clerk in his father's general store and in 1880 he was admitted to a partnership in the business in which his brother Oscar H. Sayres had become a partner three years before. Under the firm name of Sayres & Sons the business was conducted until the father's death in 1897. Not long after this our subject sold out to his brother and turned his attention to the hardware trade, but later disposed of his stock of goods in that line and was out of business for two years. On the 1st of August, 1901, however, he again became a potent factor in trade circles of Cincinnati by opening a general mercantile establishment, which he has since conducted. He is today enjoying a large and growing patronage, his well selected stock finding favor with the public, so that his sales are quite extensive, and thereby a good profit accrues.
In 1883 Mr. Sayres wedded Miss Clara Orr, of Davis county, Iowa, and two children have blessed this marriage, Byron and Lela, aged respectively seventeen and thirteen years. The son is associated with his father in mercantile pursuits. The family are all members of the Congregational church. Their home is celebrated for its gracious hospitality, which is enjoyed by a large circle of acquaintances, who are many in the community. Mr. Sayres' study of the political issues and questions of the day has made him an ardent Republican. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. As a representative business man of his community Mr. Sayres is widely respected and honored by those who know him.
OSCAR H. SAYRES - Throughout his entire business career O. H. Sayres has been connected with the mercantile interests of Cincinnati and throughout the greater part of his life he has lived in this place. Not to know O. H. Sayres is to argue one's self unknown, for through the long years of his residence here, because of his prominence in public affairs, his activity in business and his social nature, his acquaintance has constantly widened. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, August 5, 1847, and was only four years of age when brought to Iowa by his parents, Dr. William and Mary Hannah (Winders) Sayres. He was not yet eight years of age when the family came to Cincinnati. Here he acquired his education in the common schools and in early life entered upon his business career as a clerk in his father's store. In 1877 he was admitted to a partnership in the business, and in 1880 his brother, A. M. Sayres, also became a partner, this relation being maintained until the death of the father in 1897. At that time the younger brother withdrew and Oscar H. Sayres has since been sole proprietor. Since 1901 he has been engaged in the hardware trade, carrying a complete stock of the best goods in his line. He has a well arranged and handsome store and his is an active and successful business career. When associated with his father he was engaged in general merchandising.
In 1878 occurred the marriage of Oscar H. Sayres and Miss Lizzie Johns, a native of Ohio. Two children graced this marriage: Lois E. and George C., both of whom are still with their parents. The latter was born in Cincinnati, August 8, 1880, and was provided with a high school education; he is now associated with his father in business, and is a Master Mason. Mr. Sayres is also identified with the Masonic order, having taken the degrees of the blue lodge. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church, to which their children also belong. The family is an influential and leading one in the community. Mr. Sayres exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business, which has been attended by gratifying success.
WILLIAM SAYRES, M. D. , now deceased, has left behind him the memory of an upright life as well as one of professional skill and ability. He was the loved physician in many a household in Appanoose county and enjoyed the warm regard of those with whom he came in contact both professionally and socially. He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, December 24, 1818, and passed away in Cincinnati, Iowa, March 14, 1897. He was reared upon the farm belonging to his father, Ephriam Sayres, of Harrison county, and was given a common school education. Later he was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade, and after the expiration of his term of service followed that pursuit for a few years, but a natural predilection for the study of medicine led him to prepare for the practice, and he began his leading toward that end in Freeport, Ohio. For two years he continued his reading under a practicing physician who acted as his preceptor, and then began the practice of medicine in Westchester, Ohio, where he remained for a year. He also practiced for a similar period at Marietta, that state, and in 1851 came to the west, locating in Drakesville, Iowa, whence he came to Cincinnati in 1855. Here he practiced for about six years and then on account of failing health abandoned the practice of medicine and on a very limited capital engaged in the grocery business. In the new undertaking, however, he prospered, and soon had a general store, doing a large volume of business. He was assisted by his sons, O. H. and A. M. Sayres, the former becoming his partner in 1877 and the latter in 1880, after which the firm was known as Sayres & Sons, general merchants. At the time of the father's death in 1897 O. H. Sayres became sole proprietor of the store.
In politics Doctor Sayres was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. He served as a delegate to the first Republican state convention of Iowa, held at Iowa City, traveling on horseback to take part in the deliberations of the new political organization. In July, 1861, he was appointed by President Lincoln to the position of postmaster of Cincinnati and continuously thereafter held the office up to the time of the first administration of President Cleveland, discharging his duties in a most capable manner, which won for him the high commendation of all concerned. In 1876 he visited the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia and there saw many things of interest giving evidence of the world's progress, he was always public spirited, and his nature was never narrow or restricted, rejoicing only in the advancement of his local community.
In December 1841, Dr. Sayres was united in marriage in Ohio to Miss Mary Hannah Winders, a native of Harrison county, Ohio, born August 20, 1822. She still survives him and is now one of the oldest residents of the county, making her home in Cincinnati. Of the children born of this marriage, four died in early life while the following reached years of maturity: John D., born in Ohio, in 1843, was a hardware merchant of Cincinnati, and died September 24, 1895; Oscar H. and Arlington M. are both mentioned on another page of this work; Mary C. is the only surviving daughter of the family. For many years the Doctor and his wife were members of the Congregational church, to the support of which he contributed liberally, while in its work he took an active part and zealously promoted its efforts in behalf of mankind. He served at one time as mayor and was one of the influential and honored members of the community. Those qualities which ever command respect and regard were his; he was kind, a quality which tempered his inflexible love of justice; he was ever true to what he believed to be right and neither fear nor favor could swerve him in defending his honest convictions, yet he was always lenient in passing judgment upon others and was ever ready to assist those in need. Well known in Cincinnati, no man enjoyed the respect and good will of his fellow citizens more than did Dr. Sayres.
ALBERT ROBB SCOTT - Owing to the fact that he has held the office of justice of the peace for many years Mr. Scott has naturally become a prominent and well known personage at Mystic. In addition to his judicial position, however, he has been connected with the town almost from its birth in the shoe-repairing business or as real estate dealer. In these various capacities, which have brought him in constant contact with the public, Mr. Scott has become acquainted with almost everybody for miles around and he has many friends who entertain for him a warm personal regard. He is the son of John Scott, who came from Indiana in the spring of 1851 and located on a farm in Appanoose county, a part of which was later used as the site of Walnut City. He arrived in Iowa with limited means, but managed to buy a small body of land, which he improved, and eventually placed himself in comfortable circumstances. Aside from farming he did some promoting and was the builder of the Christian church at Walnut City. By his first marriage in Indiana he had five children, all daughters, and by a second union, with Mary Robb, he had six sons and three daughters. He and his wife were members of the Christian church, which they joined in Indiana under the ministrations of the celebrated Alexander Campbell. Mr. Scott continued to farm with success until his death in 1860 at the comparatively early age of fifty-six years.
Albert Robb Scott, one of the children by his father's second marriage, was born in Morgan county, Indiana, November 8, 1848, and was consequently but three years old when brought to Iowa by his parents. He grew up on the farm, was trained to its work, and during the first forty years of his life knew no other occupation except that connected with agriculture. In 1882 he went to South Dakota, but after trying the opportunities of that new state for six years concluded to return to Appanoose county, which has since remained his constant place of residence. In 1888 he located at Mystic and opened a shoe-repairing shop, which he conducted until October, 1901, and then engaged in the real estate business. Considering that he began business on his own account in the sixteenth year of his age, without any special advantages, Mr. Scott may look complacently over his career as one of comparative success, as he now owns considerable real estate, all accumulated in the last fifteen years. In 1889 he was appointed justice of the peace and by subsequent elections has held the office ten years, though not continuously. and has made a good record as a dispenser of justice and dispatcher of business.
On February 18, 1869, Mr. Scott was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Long of Appanoose county, and of the eleven children born to this union there are ten living, seven sons and three daughters. Mr. Scott's political predilections have always been decidedly Republican, and his fraternal connections have been confined to membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America.
JAMES A. SEDDON - In the multiplicity of modern industrial interests the one factor that must everywhere be reckoned with is "King Coal." Without this universal article of fuel the great industries of this, the greatest commercial country on the globe would be completely paralyzed, the busy marts of trade, transportation and all the activities that make up the civilization of modern times would receive the check that nothing else could effect. Therefore we must duly respect one who is instrumental in bringing to the market this important product; and in Mr. James A. Seddon we have a man who has been engaged in coal mining in its different phases ever since he was a child, and one who now occupies a foremost place in the business interests of Appanoose county.
Ralph and Mary (Armstrong) Seddon were both natives of England and were married in the county of Lancashire, about 1831. The former was born September 26, 1807, and died September 24, 1859. The latter was born in October, 1810, and died in the month of July, 1874. They spent their entire lives in the country of their birth, and Mr. Seddon was employed as a coal digger up to his twenty-second year, when he became a manager of mines and continued in this till his death. They were the parents of fifteen children, the only three survivors making their home in America: John Seddon, of Mystic, Iowa; Mrs. Margaret Newman, of Hines, Iowa; and James A., the subject of this sketch.
In Lancashire, England, on the 12th of May, 1851, James A. Seddon was born, and at the age of eight years began working in the mines. In 1869 he left England, and, coming to the United States, located in Boone county, Iowa, where he obtained employment as a coal miner. In 1870 he went to Wyoming and followed mining one year. The next year he returned to Iowa and from there went to Monongahela, Washington county, Pennsylvania: from there, in 1872, to Tioga county, that state, always engaged in mining. He soon returned to his old home in England, intending to remain there, but in July, 1874, he again set out for the new world, and this time located in Jefferson county, Iowa, where he remained till 1876; he then followed his calling for three months in Marion county, and for fifteen months in Monroe county. In 1877 he became a mine operator, but disposed of his interests the next year and came to Whatcheer, Keokuk county, Iowa. Shortly afterward he made a second trip to his old home, but after a visit of nine weeks returned to Whatcheer, where he stayed four months. He then took charge of a mine in Wyoming, but in the latter part of 1878 he resumed the operation of mines in Monroe county, Iowa. In 1880 he spent six months in Whatcheer, and then for the third time went to Wyoming, where he was manager of the coal mines of the Union Pacific Railroad, but he continued this only fourteen months, when he again came to Whatcheer and was employed for fifteen months in weighing coal. In 1884, again taking up his residence in Monroe county, he remained until 1886, when he came to Mystic, Appanoose county, where he has since made his home.
Mr. Seddon and his brother Thomas opened the second mine in Mystic, which was known as the Seddon Brothers Coal Company. They disposed of this mine to the Centerville Block Coal Company. They then purchased the Mystic Block, which they sold to the Peerless Coal Company. They then opened up the Bran and Bower mine, and three others west of Mystic. Mr. Seddon is now the owner of the Iowa and Missouri mine and the Klondyke, and holds controlling interest in the Mystic Fuel Company's mine. For a number of years Mr. Seddon has been engaged in building houses for the miners and selling them on the installment plan. There are about two hundred and twenty-five men in his employ. In October, 1899, he opened a general store in the west end of town, and on the 1st of January, 1901, he established a store in a central part of the town, which is owned by a joint stock company, but all the stock is owned by Mr. Seddon except five shares. Mr. Seddon built and now owns the store building occupied by the Bain Brothers' general store.
When Mr. Seddon returned to England for the first time he was married to Anna Morris, a native of England, as were her parents. She died August 22, 1892, at the age of thirty-seven years, leaving four children: Margaret Elizabeth. James Samuel, Winfield Scott and Peter Henry. In January, 1893, Mr. Seddon married Miss Hannah E. Hughes, who is a native of Des Moines, Iowa. They have two children, Hazel and Beatrice.
MOSES Y. SELLERS, M. D. - The medical corps at Moulton includes the above named physician, who has been practicing there over thirty-three years and has become thoroughly identified with the growth and progress of the place. Though a native of Indiana Dr. Sellers has been a resident of Iowa nearly half a century and has done his share as a citizen to help forward the marvelous development which has characterized this state during that eventful period. The family is of Kentucky origin, his father, Nathan Sellers, having been born on a farm near Lexington in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. He married Mary Yowell, also a member of a Kentucky household, and with her moved to Indiana at an early period in the history of that state. He settled on a farm in Putnam county and in after years rose to a position of prominence in that community, being elected treasurer of the county and otherwise honored by his political associates. In 1854 he removed with his family to Iowa and located near Albia, county seat of Monroe, and there resumed his old occupation of tilling the soil.
Moses Y. Sellers, next to the youngest of his father's eight children, was born near Greencastle, Indiana, August 5, 1839, and was a boy almost fifteen years old when the migration was made to Iowa. He assisted his father on the farm and attended school until he reached his majority, when he engaged in teaching, and followed that occupation for five years. During the year 1864 he spent some time at the Keokuk Medical College and after leaving that was engaged for four and a half years in the practice of medicine at Iconium. Afterward he returned to the same institution at Keokuk, where he took a thorough course and was graduated in the class of 1880. Immediately thereafter he returned to his office at Moulton, and that town has ever since been the central point from which he prosecutes his professional labors. The Doctor is a member of the Des Moines Medical Association and the Medical Society of Wayne and Appanoose Counties. His religious affiliations are with the Christian church and his fraternal connections are confined to membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
May 14, 1867, Dr. Sellers was united in marriage with Sarah Cassie Stauber, who died in October, 1870, leaving two children, whose married names are Mrs. Lillie May Brunk and Mrs. Flora Effie Bradley. August 30, 1877, Dr. Sellers contracted a second marriage, his bride being Elizabeth C. Tipton, who died leaving three children: Mrs. Jennie Bell Brunk, Maggie, and Earl D. Sellers, who is a medical student in the Louisville Medical College. Dr. Sellers contracted his third matrimonial alliance with Mrs. Ann Primm, a native of Virginia, who came west with her parents in 1853. Mrs. Sellers is the daughter of Samuel Peek, who married Mary Hildreth, with whom he had ten children: Elizabeth, Amelia, Aaron. Eli, Gustavus, Alfred, Ann, Mack, Christopher Columbus, and Casandra. Of these children Christopher C. and Mrs. Sellers are the only ones living. Mrs. Sellers was married in Virginia to A. P. Primm and lived with him a few years near Lafayette, Indiana, after which they came to Greene county, Iowa. Mrs. Primm's marriage to Dr. Sellers occurred at Lancaster, Missouri, in 1890, since which time she has presided over the household at Moulton with the dignity and grace of the experienced housekeeper.