1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa

Page Index:

Fisher | Wyland | Madsen | Crandall | McCoid | Hoover | McDonald | Slates | Fay | Crouch | Bell

AZARIAH FISHER

AZARIAH FISHER was born September 9, 1827, in Clinton County, Ohio. At an early age he moved to Tazewell County, Illinois. His immediate ancestors were Quakers, and came from Guilford County, North Carolina. His early life was passed on a farm in the neighborhood of Dillon. On the 6th day of November, 1851, he was married to Malinda Stanley. For a time they lived in Tazewell County, but afterward moved to Whiteside County, Illinois, and lived a few miles south of Coleta. During the late war they moved to Pleasant Plain, near the line of Jefferson and Washington counties, in Iowa. In 1870 they moved to Shelby County, and in 1871 to Harlan, the county seat. April 20, 1874, Mr. Fisher was killed by the caving-in of a well from which he was removing the curbing. lie was buried in the cemetery at Harlan. Until his removal to Harlan Mr. Fisher was engaged in farming, but after this he was chiefly engaged in well-digging. He was a man of more than usual intelligence. He and his wife were members of the church of the Disciples. Mrs. Fisher was born in Highland County, Ohio, September 28, 1834. Her father is Thomas Stanley, a native of Virginia, and her mother is Rachel (Hoskins) Stanley, born in Clinton County, Ohio. The Stanleys are of English and the Hoskins of Welsh descent. Both of Mrs. Fisher's parents reside at present in Shelby County, Iowa. While a young girl her father moved to Tazewell County, Illinois. He remained there but a short time, however, going to Louisa County, Iowa. He attended the first land sale in the State of Iowa, at Burlington. At that time the Indians were numerous, and would frequently come into Mr. Stanley's cabin to smoke. After several years' residence in Louisa County Mr. Stanley moved to Whiteside County, Illinois, in the Rock River country. To Mr. and Mrs. Fisher were born four children who reached maturity. The first three were born in Whiteside County, Illinois, and the youngest in Jefferson County, Iowa. Their names and the times of their birth are as follows: Ellen, born November 1, 1857; Ellis, born March 9, 1860; Joel Melvin, born August 18, 1862; William Robert, born July 13, 1865. The oldest was married in 1875, and has four children living - Frank, Mabel, Thomas and Edna Hurless. Bessie and Katy are dead. Mrs. Hurless resides at present in Long Pine, Nebraska. Ellis Fisher is a farmer in Brown County, Nebraska; he is also a brickmason and plasterer, and aided in the construction of most of the brick buildings in Harlan. He was married in December, 1888, to Miss Emma Barr, of Keya Paha County, Nebraska. Joel M. is at this writing a student of Drake University, at Des Moines; he is unmarried. William R. is a resident of Douglas Township; he was married March 9, 1887, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Dotson, who was born in Clarke County, Iowa, May 12, 1870. Her father is Pleasant Dotson, born in Tennessee, near the Holston River; his mother belonged to the Shelton family, prominent in that region. The wife of Pleasant Dotson was Mary Campbell, a native of Kentucky. Mr. Dotson owns a large farm near Kirkman. Ellis Harl, the one child of Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, was born February 29, 1888. Mr. Fisher is at present engaged in teaching school; he has taught two terms at Kimballton, Audubon County, Iowa; three terms in Jackson Township, Shelby County; a part of one term near Bowman's Grove, which he was prevented from finishing by sickness; one term at Mount Zion, Audubon County; one term in Brown County, Nebraska; he is now teaching his fourth term at Hillside, Shelby County. Mr. Fisher was for some time a compositor in the office of the Harlan Hub, and of the Shelby County Republican. He spent some time at Eureka College in Illinois, also at Drake University, Des Moines. At the age of eighteen be published a small volume of poems. He has contributed some to literary papers, and is now engaged in writing a book of poems, of which, at this date, December, 1888, 9,000 lines are completed. The work will consist of original poems and translations from the German and Danish-Norwegian languages. Malinda Fisher was married February 28, 1875, to William Porter. Mr. Porter is now deceased. Dulciabel Porter was born April 1, 1876; Eleanora Porter was born September 23, 1877. Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 326-327. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs

JONATHAN WYLAND

JONATHAN WYLAND was born in Pennsylvania, January 1, 1797. His father was Christian Wyland, whose ancestors came from Switzerland. When our subject was a boy his parents moved to Greene County, Ohio, where they followed farming, having cleared a farm from out the dense forests, a task that would now seem too great to be undertaken by any one. Jonathan learned the cooper's trade and worked at that as well as farming. His first wife was Catherine Plum, by whom one child was born, named Washington. His second wife was Elizabeth Van Ausdell, a native of Ohio; her parents moved from New Jersey to Ohio and were from Holland originally. After his second marriage Mr. Wyland moved to Mercer County, Ohio, where he remained until 1832 and then moved to Goshen, Elkhart County, Indiana, where his wife died in 1858. They reared a large family of sons and daughters, named as follows - Catherine (deceased), Rachel (deceased), William, Isaac P., Mary (deceased), Christian J., Lovina, Barbara, Jasper Newton, who was a soldier from Shelby County, Iowa, member of Company I, Ninth Iowa Cavalry, and who died from wounds received July, 1864, at Duval's Bluff; the other children are - David M., Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth. In Indiana Mr. Wyland followed farming and milling, owning a woolen-mill, flouring mill and saw-mill and carrying on an extensive business in both. He first came to Shelby County in 1855 with his oldest son, William, and at that time entered a large tract of land, including a half section in Shelby County and a full section in Pottawattamie County; he afterward purchased 200 acres in that county and a good sized tract in what is now Shelby County, in addition to that entered there. After entering this land he returned to Indiana and remained until May, 1861, when he moved to Shelby County, coming overland, bringing his effects in three two-horse wagons and driving several cows. The journey consumed three weeks, and, like all journeys of that day, was very tedious as there were no bridges and very little improvement along the way. They crossed the Mississippi at Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Wyland furnished the means with which to build the first saw-mill in the eastern part of the county, the same being erected at Bowman's Grove. It was put into operation in 1857, the machinery being hauled by team from Iowa City. While on his first trip to Iowa our subject received a paralytic stroke from which he had much trouble and which finally caused his death, May 28, 1864, while stopping with one of his daughters on a farm four miles from Goshen, Indiana. He was a man of rugged constitution and full of energy, having always been a hard-worker at what- ever he undertook to accomplish. He was a faithful member of the Dunkard or German Baptist church. He never sought public office, but was one of the Elkhart County, Indiana, commissioners for a term of fourteen years. A number of his children are among the most highly esteemed and public-spirited men of Shelby County at the present time; sketches of them will be found elsewhere in this volume. Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 327-328. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs

JOHN MADSEN

JOHN MADSEN, the senior member of the firm of Madsen & Christensen, dealers in clothing and gents' furnishing goods, Harlan, Iowa, was born in Denmark, January 7, 1863. He remained in his native country until he grew to manhood, attending school until the age of fifteen years. He determined to seek what fortune the new world might hold for him, and so sailed from Copenhagen for the United States, March 16, 188~7. He landed in the city of New York, and went directly to Chicago, Illinois. There he finished his education in the Chicago Athenaeum, and then engaged in the clothing business until the spring of 1889, when he came to Harlan. He had not long been a resident of that place before he made many friends, being of a genial disposition, and strictly honorable in all his business transactions. Carl Christensen, of the firm of Madsen & Christensen, was born in Denmark, January 24, 1861. He attended school until he was twenty-two years of age, when his native country lost her hold upon him, and he sailed from Copenhagen in 1883, having graduated from the university of that city in September of that year. After landing in the city of New York he proceeded to Clinton, Iowa, and for three years was engaged there in the clothing business. He then removed to Chicago, and resumed the same business, in which he continued until he came to Harlan in 1889. Mr. Christensen became a member of Western Star Lodge, No. 100, A. F. &. A. M., of Clinton, Iowa, in 1885. He is now a member of Parian Lodge, No. 321, A. F. & A. M. Madsen & Christensen established themselves in business in Harlan in March, 1889. They keep a large and well-selected stock of goods belonging to their line, and by upright dealing and frank and gentlemanly manners have won a large share of patronage. Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 582. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.

GEORGE CRANDALL

GEORGE CRANDALL, farmer and stockraiser, section 26,Washington Township, has been identified with the interests of Shelby County since 1852. He is a native of Illinois, born in Hancock County, September 9, 1843, and is the elder son of Benjamin and Rebecca (Lemons) Crandall. Benjamin Crandall was a native of Ontario County, New York, of English and German ancestry. His parents, John and Magdalene (Wood) Crandall, were both natives of the United States. When he was a child his parents emigrated to Ohio, and there he grew to manhood. They afterward followed the frontier, and went to Missouri first, and then to Hancock County, Illinois; thence they came to Iowa. After his marriage Benjamin Crandall settled in Shelby County, having entered a tract of government land, upon which he passed the remainder of his days. He and his wife had born to them seven children, five of whom lived to be grown, and three of whom survive - George, Daniel and John. Benjamin Crandall died March 27, 1872, and his wife, Rebecca Crandall, passed away January 9, 1884. George Crandall was reared to farm life and obtained his education in the subscription and district schools of that day. He lived with his parents until he reached his majority, when he worked at various occupations until lie purchased his present farm in 1870. He improved the land and made additions to it until he now owns 430 acres in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Crandall was married December 12, 1874, to Miss Jenette Martin, a daughter of James and Alvira (Spencer) Martin, early settlers of Illinois, who were natives of the State of New York. Mrs. Crandall was born in Whiteside County, Illinois. By this marriage four children were born.-Maud (deceased), Lulu, Ada (deceased), and Eugene. Mr. Crandall is a member of Parian Lodge, No. 321, A. F. & A. M. He has served as township clerk and trustee, amid as a member of the school board. He casts his vote with the Democratic party. Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 597-598. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.

GEORGE W. McCOID

GEORGE W. McCOID, dealer in general merchandise and agricultural implements, Panama, Iowa, was born January 12, 1861. He is the son of Thomas and Lorinda (McIntosh) McCoid, who are the parents of two children - James (deceased), and the subject of this notice. George remained under the parental roof until he was twenty years of age. He attended school in Logan for five years before he was twenty years old, after which he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits for two years. He then entered Miller's Mercantile College, which he attended six months, being graduated from that institution in the spring of 1882. The school is now known as Pierce's Business College. While in Logan Mr. McCoid learned the miller's trade. After leaving school he returned to the farm for one summer, and then purchased the interest of Mr. Wheeler in the firm of Wheeler & Kleeb, Panama. This business was established in 1882 by Wheeler & Kleeb. Mr. McCoid sold his interest to Williams & Company in 1884, and in 1885 he bought the entire business. He carries a stock of $12,500, and does a thriving business. Mr. McCoid was married to Miss Emma J. Purdon, May 19, 1885. She was born in Athens County, Ohio, July 8, 1861, and received a very liberal education. Mr. and Mrs. McCoid are the parents of two children - Lorinda, born March 23, 1886, and Tressy G., born February 2, 1888. Mrs. Emma J. McCoid is a member of the Christian church, having joined at Nelsonville, Ohio, in 1876. Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 597. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.

ELI E. HOOVER

ELI E. HOOVER began his residence in Shelby County in 1878. He was born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1848, and is a son of David and Sarah (Alloway) Hoover, natives of Pennsylvania. He was a babe of eleven months when his parents pushed to the frontier and settled in Johnson County, Iowa. There he grew to manhood, being trained to the duties of a farmer's son, and receiving the limited advantages offered by the pioneer schools. December 7, 1871, he was married to Miss Mattie A. Green, a native of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. She was an infant when her parents, David and Rachel (Peffer) Green, removed to Johnson County, Iowa. The year of his marriage Mr. Hoover removed to Cass County, Iowa, and remained there six years; in 1878 he came to Shelby County and settled on 160 acres, which form a part of his present farm. He has made additions to his first purchase until he now owns 240 acres, in an advanced state of cultivation. He has a fine house, and has planted a grove and an orchard; his barn is one of the largest and most substantial in the township. He devotes himself exclusively to farming and stock-raising, and has been very successful. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover are the parents of five children - Irvin, Elbert, Clinton, Ross and Walter. Mr. Hoover is inclined to the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the Evangelical church, and of the Pioneer Class of the township, being steward of the same. He is strictly honorable in business, and has the confidence of all with whom he has any dealings. Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 598. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.

THOMAS McDONALD

Foreign countries have bequeathed to America some of her best and most brilliant citizens, and the Emerald Isle has not been behind in the quality of her contribution to the strong and vigorous growth of this country. To her Shelby County is indebted for her greatest benefactor and best beloved citizen, Thomas McDonald, now at rest, the rest won by a life of tireless activity in the interests and welfare of those whose lives touched his; and these were not few, as will be attested by numbers of citizens of western Iowa. Thomas McDonald was a most remarkable man; to meet him was to be attracted to him; to know him was to be won as a fast friend, and hearty admirer. He was kind and obliging, and possessed the faculty of adapting himself to all sorts and conditions of men, who always found in him the satisfaction of their pressing needs. He had within him a strong public spirit, ever willing to sacrifice his own interests to those of the majority, in his home he was all that a wife and children could desire, and only those who have been blessed by the association of such a beautifully rounded and perfect character can know the loss of the family in his death. Thomas McDonald was born in Bandon, twenty miles southwest of the city of Cork, Ireland, July 20, 1843. His parents came to America when he was four years old. They settled in Massachusetts, but remained there only a year; they then went to LaSalle, Illinois, where Thomas resided with his parents until he was nineteen years old, when he enlisted in the army, pledged to defend the flag of his adopted country; he joined the Ninetieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, of which he was Sergeant Major. He served through the entire war and was honorably discharged at its close. After the close of the war he joined the famous detective service of Allen Pinkerton, of Chicago; he spent most of his time when in Pinkerton's employ in eastern cities, and gave eminent satisfaction. He quit the service upon his marriage, April 24, 1867, in Chicago, to Miss Mary T. Corley, of Arlington, Bureau County, Illinois. He then came to Iowa and settled in Dunlap, Harrison County, where he resided six years; he then settled on his farm of 600 acres, six miles south of Harlan, and lived there until his death. During his residence in the county he filled various offices of honor and trust. He was elected county treasurer in 1875, and re-elected in 1877. It was due to his untiring energy and good management that the A.H. & N. R. R. was secured to Harlan; he was president of the company. He laid out the village of Corley, his wife's maiden name, in 1873. His death occurred at his residence in Corley, December 16, 1881. Mrs. McDonald was born in Rochester, New York, and educated in St. Vincent's Academy, La Salle, Illinois. She is a daughter of Martin and Sarah (Bigelow) Corley. She and four children survive Mr. McDonald. The children are - Agnes D. Brewer, wife of George D. Brewer; Martin E., Thomas C., and Martina V. Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 308-309. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.

SAMUEL SLATES

SAMUEL SLATES, a native of Carroll County, Ohio, born November 12, 1826, is the son of Conrad and Hannah (Funk) Slates, both natives of Virginia. He was reared on a farm and was educated in the common schools of the day, school then being held in an old-fashioned school-house, built of logs; the educators corresponded with the house, being of the crudest sort. When he had attained his majority he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed in connection with farming and carpentering for about eighteen years in Ohio and Indiana. He was married December 2, 1847, to Miss Mary Long, who died April 24,1856; by this union four children were born - Jeremiah, Franklin, William P. (deceased), and Mary. He remained in Carroll County about seven years after his first marriage, when he removed to Putnam County, Ohio, and then returned to Carroll County; from there he went to Union County, thence to Martin County, Indiana. While in Indiana he met and married Lucretia Summers; she was born March 12, 1830, and died November 15, 1881. Seven children resulted from this marriage-Sarah A., John, Hannah, Alice, Samuel and Edward; one died in infancy. In 1866 he came to Shelby County, Iowa, with his family, and settled in section 18, Douglas Township, on an eighty-acre tract of wild land; he has gradually increased his estate until lie owns 800 acres of Shelby County's land. He has made many improvements and has made a success finan cially. He was married for the third time June 8, 1882, to Sarah Thomas. He is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Methodist Episcopal church. Jeremiah Slates, the oldest son of Samuel and Mary Slates, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, October 7, 1848; when he was ten years old his father moved to Indiana, and afterward to Iowa. They settled on a wild piece of prairie land, and have done much to improve and cultivate it. Mr. Slates was reared to farm life and has always followed it. When a young man he learned the cooper's trade under his father, but never followed it; he is also a practical carpenter, having erected all of his own buildings, which are neat and substantial. He has a pleasant home, a fine farm house, and barns for stock and grain; lie has planted a grove and an orchard. He has 320 acres of good land in sections 9 and 10, which has been improved mostly by himself. He is one of the pioneer farmers of the county, and has undergone most of the hardships incident to pioneer life. He devotes himself to farming and stock-raising, and his surroundings indicate that he is a man of push and ambition. He was married March 5, 1876, to Ida Baker, daughter of B. E. and Almira Baker; Mrs. Baker's maiden name was Riddle. Mrs. Slates was born in Starke County, Illinois, February 4, 1858. They have four children- George R., Richard A., Harry H. and Pluma E. Mr. Slates has held the office of road supervisor and has served on the school board. He takes an active interest in educational affairs, and everything tending to the advancement of the county. He is a Republican. Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 458-459. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.

R. G. FAY

R. G. FAY was born April 24, 1853, in Tama County, Iowa. He is a son of John and Ann (Dearborn) Fay, who were pioneers of Tama County, there being only nine white settlers in the county when they came there. John Fay was a native of Pennsylvania, and his wife was born in Indiana. When R. G. Fay was five years old he was taken to Indiana for a time, and afterward to Missouri. He lived in Clark County, Missouri, for several years, being reared to the occupation of a farmer, and attending the public schools. Not being satisfied with a farmer's calling he went to Mechanicsville, Iowa, and there learned the carpenter's trade. In 1882 Mr. Fay came to Harlan, and engaged in contracting and building, employing several workmen in the business. At the present time he is dealing in coal, agricultural implements, wagons and road-carts; he sells over 150 car loads of coal annually, and transacts a large business in the other lines of his trade. He is a live, energetic man, and is one of the pushing citizens of Harlan. Mr. Fay was married in 1882 to Miss Catharine Miller. Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 458. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.

FRANK CROUCH

FRANK CROUCH has been a resident of the State of Iowa since 1871, with the exception of three years spent in Nebraska. He was born in Saratoga County, New York, August 18, 1845, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah Crouch. He was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and received the advantage of a common-school education. When there was a call for men to defend the flag of this nation, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-second Infantry, Company G, and served his country faithfully for one year, when he was honorably discharged. He lived in Carroll County, Illinois, until 1869, when he removed to Eldora, Iowa. He remained there one year and then went to Tama City, Iowa, making that place his home until 1871. He then came to Shelby County, and engaged in farming until 1884. It was at this time that he went to Burt County, Nebraska, and resided three years. Upon his return to Harlan he became the proprietor of the livery, feed and sale stables one block east of the southeast corner of the square. This livery barn was built in 1880 by Swain & Brazee, and has room for 120 head of horses. Mr. Crouch keeps a good supply of horses and carriages, and is deserving of the popularity he has won. He was married November 27, 1872, to Addie Turpin, of Shelby County; the result of this union is three children - Jessie, Earl and Pardon. Politically Mr. Crouch affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of the G. A. R., Harlan Post, and is a member of the Baptist church. Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 459. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.

G. H. BELL

G. H. BELL is one of the intelligent, wide-awake and well-known citizens of Fairview Township. He came to Shelby County, October 1, 1873. He is a native of Illinois, born in Menard County, February 14, 1846. He is a son of Robert and Lydia (Davis) Bell, both natives of Kentucky. Robert Bell was but six years of age when he was taken to Illinois, where he was reared and lived until his death, which occurred March 15, 1880. His wife still resides in Menard County. By this union seven children were born, of whom G. H. was the second and the oldest son. The father was a farmer, and our subject spent his youth at farm work on the homestead and in attending the common schools. He was afterward engaged in agricultural pursuits in his native county until 1873, when he decided to cast his lot in western Iowa. He came from Illinois to Iowa with a team and located on wild prairie land in Pottawattamie County; in 1875 he moved to Shelby County, and was one of the first settlers in the neighborhood where he has since lived, and unproved his farm until it is now under a good state of cultivation. He has a good frame house, situated on a natural building site overlooking the surrounding country. There are good stables and barns for stock and grain; there is also an orchard and grove. Everything bespeaks the thrift and prosperity of the owner. Mr. Bell has also improved another farm in Shelby County. Mr. Bell was married April 2, 1874, to Miss Ellen Abernathey, of Putnam County, Missouri. She came to Shelby County when she was two years old; she is a daughter of Kellom and Elizabeth (Penner) Abernathey. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have two children - Corda A., born April 17, 1875, and Ely F., born April 1, 1879. Mr. Bell is a Democrat and has ever taken an active interest in his party. He has been called to serve as a member of the school board, and was elected assessor in the fall of 1888. He is a member of the Anti-horse-thief Association, No. 35, and is also vice-president. Mr. Bell is a member of the Evangelical Association of Harlan, as are also his wife and daughter. Religion and educational enterprises have always found a liberal supporter in Mr. Bell. He is still in the prime of life; he is genial in his disposition, honest and upright in business, amid has the respect and confidence of all who know him. Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 445-446. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.

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