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.
Di - Dr
 David Dinning |
DAVID DINNING - Connected with the development of the rich coal deposits of Iowa, David Dinning is now accounted one of the most prosperous business men of Cincinnati, Iowa. At the age of fourteen years he started out in life for himself, and though but a boy from that time forward he earned his own living, and whatever success he has since achieved is a direct result of his own labors. He was born in Ayreshire, Scotland, on the 27th of April, 1859, and is a son of Matthew and Martha (Nicol) Dinning, who were also natives of Scotland. His paternal grandfather, Hugh Dinning, was a son of Matthew Dinning, who was a sexton, or Scottish beagle. His marked characteristics made him the subject of many anecdotes which are told in Dean Ramsey's "Anecdotes of the Scottish Worthies." The parents of our subject had ten children, of whom five are now living and are residents of Cincinnati. The father and mother came to the United States in 1884, taking up their abode in Cincinnati, Iowa, where Mr. Dinning is still living at the ripe old age of seventy-six years. His wife, however, passed away in 1890 at the age of fifty-nine years. |
David Dinning was the first of the family to come to America. He crossed the Atlantic in 1880 when twenty-one years of age, believing that he might better his financial condition in the new world with its broader business opportunities. He had gained a fair education in the schools of Scotland, and at the age of eleven years had begun to mine coal. After a short duration following his arrival in the United States, he came to Appanoose county, Iowa, where he has since lived. For two years he was employed as a coal miner at Centerville, and in August, 1883, he came to Cincinnati, where he obtained similar work, but his ability soon won him promotion and he was made manager of the Cincinnati Joint Stock Company in control of the Appanoose mine, which position he continued to fill until 1888. In that year, with three of his brothers and two of his brothers-in-law, he formed a partnership under the name of the Thistle Coal Company, and they began the development of the Thistle coal mine, sinking a shaft and carrying on the work with energy. In 1892 Mr. Dinning, associated with David Steel, purchased the interest of all the other partners and now these two gentlemen are in control of three paying mines, the second one being known as the Thistle Mine No. 2, and the third, The Merchants mine, known as Thistle Mine No. 3. Annually under their supervision a large amount of coal is taken from the earth and placed upon the markets, where it commands a good price, and brings to the mine operators a desirable financial return for their labor.
In 1881 Mr. Dinning was united in marriage to Miss Jane Ross, also a native of Scotland, and to them were born four children: Mary Belle, now the wife of J. A. Cochrane, doctor of dental surgery at Cincinnati, Iowa; Matthew and Martha, both of whom are deceased; and George, who completes the family. The parents are zealous members of the Congregational church, and Mr. Dinning is a Royal Arch Mason. In his political views he is a Republican, but the demands of his business give him no time for seeking public office. His career proves that the only true success in life is that which is accomplished by personal effort and consecutive industry. It proves that the road to success is open to all young men who have the courage to tread its pathway, and the life record of such a man should serve as an inspiration to the young of this and future generations, and teach by incontrovertible facts that success is ambition's answer.
ROBERT W. DINNING - Among the young business men of Cincinnati is numbered Robert W. Dinning, the senior member of the firm of Dinning & Mitchell, general merchants. He is a member of a prominent Scotch family of this county and his birth occurred in Ayrshire, Scotland, on the 9th of July, 1868, his parents being Matthew and Martha (Nicol) Dinning. Reared and educated in Scotland, he came to the United States in 1886 with his parents and has since lived in this place. He was only twelve years of age when he began earning his own living in Scotland by working in the coal mines and after coming to America he followed the same occupation in this county for ten years. For five years he was a partner of the Thistle Coal Company, but sold his interest therein in 1892. In 1895 he began merchandising here and has since conducted his store with excellent success. In 1897 he admitted W. L. Mitchell to a partnership, and they have since enjoyed a good and constantly growing trade. They do not find it difficult to retain patrons whose support has once been secured, and this is due, doubtless, to their honorable business methods, their promptness and their earnest desire to please. Mr. Dinning possesses the qualities which make a popular merchant. He is genial and approachable, and has the tact to know how to meet the varied natures which one continually sees when engaged in any mercantile enterprise.
In 1895 occurred the marriage of Mr. Dinning and Miss Agnes Bowie, of Cincinnati, and they now have two children, Ellen and Matthew. The parents hold membership in the Congregational church and Mr. Dinning is a Master Mason, while in his political views he is a Republican, unswerving in his support of the principles of the party. In his life he exemplifies many of the strongest and most commendable elements of the Scottish nation, including thrift, business sagacity, strong purpose and absolute justice.
J. R. DOGGETT , whose fine farm of three hundred and forty acres is pleasantly located on section 15, Douglass township, Appanoose county, not far from Centerville, is a self-made man, who, through untiring industry and unfaltering honesty and good management has worked his way upward to a position of affluence. His residence in the county covers almost thirty-eight years, and he is one of Iowa's native sons, for his birth occurred in Wapello county, near Ottumwa, on the 17th of December, 1848. His father, Silas Doggett, came to Appanoose county in 1865 and died ten years later at the age of fifty-four years. He was born in Indiana and was reared in that state, and when a young man cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Wapello county, living there when it was possible to hunt wild game, for so desolate was the region that the animals had not been driven west by the approach of the white man. Mr. Doggett was a good hunter and trapper and secured the animals for their furs, which brought a fair price. In those early days it required two weeks to go from his home to mill, and the family endured many hardships and privations incident to life on the frontier. He married Martha Redish, who was born in Indiana and died in 1848, leaving a family of ten children, namely: Thomas Dudley, who is now deceased; Mary A.; Catherine, who has also passed away; Absolom, who died in 1902; John; Dudley; Daniel P.; Nancy J.; Moses, who was a soldier of the Civil war; and J. R., of this review. In the year 1849, soon after the discovery of gold in California, the father crossed the plains with an ox team, being five months upon the way. There were few good roads, and as the rivers were unbridged they had to be forded. The party with which he traveled had several encounters with the Indians and on more than one occasion Mr. Doggett narrowly escaped death. For three or four years he engaged in mining in California, and then returned to Wapello county, Iowa, and later went to Appanoose county, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until his demise. For his second wife he chose Harriet (Derby) Bouren, and they had four children: Gilmore, Martha, Milton, and Harriet. The last named is now deceased. The father voted with the Democracy and was a zealous and active member of the Hardshell Baptist church, in which he was an exhorter, proclaiming the gospel tidings for many years.
J. R. Doggett was reared in Wapello county until fifteen years of age, and in early life began work in the fields, following the plow almost from the time that he was old enough to reach its handles. He obtained his education in subscription schools, which were held in different houses in the neighborhood, and remained at home until nineteen years of age, when he went west, being employed in freighting across the plains. He afterward engaged in mining coal in Wyoming and in driving freight trains. He was also a cowboy upon the plains and in the winter months mined coal at Bitter Creek, Wyoming. He experienced many hardships and saw some of the wild and exciting times which form a part of the early history of the west. After two years, however, he returned to Appanoose county, Iowa, and began farming here.
At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Doggett was united in marriage in Douglass township to Miss Ellen Rebecca Ullem, who has indeed been to him a faithful companion and helpmate on the journey of life. She is a lady who possesses many excellent characteristics and is highly esteemed for her good qualities of heart and mind. She was born in Monroe county, but was reared and educated in Appanoose county, and is a daughter of John Ullem, whose birth occurred in Indiana, March 13, 1826. He was one of the four children of Jacob Ullem, a native of Germany, and the latter had a brother Josiah, who served in the Mexican war. Jacob Ullem was united in marriage to Jerusha A. Stewart, and their son John was reared after his thirteenth year by Harley Greenwood, a prominent man. In 1848 John Ullem came to Iowa and two years later made the overland trip to California with ox teams, being upon the road for five months, during which time he met the usual experiences incident to traveling across the plains in those days. At length he reached his destination in safety, and after two years spent in the mines of California he returned to Iowa by way of the Isthmus, bringing with him a good sum of money which he had secured in the far west. In 1850 he came to Monroe, later moving to Appanoose county. In Van Buren county he had married Phebe M. Cook, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Jacob Cook. She died at the age of forty years. At her death Mrs. Ullem left the following children: Mrs. Lydia C. Morrison, now deceased: Mrs. Doggett; Hannah Jane White, living in Centerville; Jerusha Ann; Phebe Darthuley, the wife of Gilmore Doggett; Oliver Cook; Mary Gertrude; Lewis Harley; and Leila Addie, all of the last six being deceased; John Josiah, of Appanoose county; Frances Matilda, who has also passed away; and Benjamin Richard. For his second wife the father of these children chose Susan Hockett, and by this marriage there was one son, James N. His third wife bore the maiden name of Harriet Vought, and they had no children. The father was a successful man and good manager and became the possessor of a fine farm and excellent property. His life was ever upright and honorable, and he therefore won the confidence and unqualified esteem of those with whom he came in contact.
To Mr. and Mrs. Doggett were born seven children: Charles Edward; James Harley; Leonard Ullem; Nellie Jane, the wife of F. W. Hollingsworth, of Putnam county, Missouri; Darthuley May; Daisy Ellen; and Farrie Myrtle. The children have all been provided with good educational privileges, fitting them for life's practical duties.
Mr. Doggett's landed possessions now aggregate four hundred and sixty-five acres, and his place is one of the finest farms of the county. In boring a well on Mr. Doggett's farm five veins of coal were passed through, one six-foot vein, one five-foot and two three-foot and one of twelve inches, all at a depth of less than two hundred feet. The large and well built residence is tastefully furnished, and in the rear stands a big barn and other substantial outbuildings. In the orchard are annually gathered fine varieties of apples and other fruits and the meadows and pasture lands furnish feed for the stock through the months of summer and through the winter season. There is also a wood lot upon the farm and rich fields of grain, from which Mr. Doggett annually harvests good crops. He started out in life on his own account with a cash capital of but thirty dollars, and to-day is numbered among the substantial residents of his community, owing to his unfaltering energy and the capable assistance of his estimable wife. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and both Mr. and Mrs. Doggett are loyal members of the Christian church.
WILLIAM L. DOWNING, M. D. - The last century, which is justly regarded as the greatest in the history of mankind, is not only remarkable for its wonderful inventions in the things that go to make up material progress and increase the luxuries of living until the poor man is now the peer of the prince of several centuries back, but along with the wonderful advance in science have come discoveries which tend to revolutionize the science of medicine and surgery and raise the profession to one of the grandest pursuits that can occupy the attention of man. And a man who earnestly strives to keep in touch with the progress of science and has won an enviable reputation as a physician and surgeon of no mean ability, is William L. Downing of Moulton, Appanoose county, Iowa. His paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland and of pure Irish stock. His father, Samuel B. Downing, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and came to Davis county, Iowa, where he married Miss Telitha Stark, a native of Indiana; they still reside in Davis county, where he carries on farming pursuits.
William is one of ten children and was born in Fox River township, Davis county, Iowa, March 11, 1862. After a youth spent on the farm and in the country school he devoted himself to teaching, which he followed for four years; he received his normal instruction in the Southern Iowa Normal and Commercial Institute of Bloomfield, Iowa. He began his study of medicine at Unionville, Iowa, under the Doctors Sawyers and then entered Rush Medical College at Chicago, where he graduated in February, 1886. For a time he engaged in practice at Unionville, Putnam county, Missouri, but in 1890 came to Moulton, Iowa. He has a fine practice and is especially noted for his skill in surgery. He has been a self-made man and his success is the reward of his own efforts. To show that he follows the most progressive methods we have only to mention that in 1896 he took a post- graduate course in the Post-Graduate school of New York city and in 1901 took a similar course in the Chicago Polyclinic.
Dr. Downing holds membership in the American Medical Association, the Iowa State Medical Society, the Tri-State (Iowa, Illinois, Missouri) Medical Society, the Western Association of Surgeons and Gynecologists, the Northeastern Missouri Medical Society, the Appanoose and Wayne Counties Medical Society, and the Des Moines Valley Medical Society; he is also the local surgeon of the Wabash and the Burlington railroads. He is a Master Mason. In 1887 the Doctor married Miss Martha A. Coons of Davis county, Iowa, and they have had three children: Inez, born June 13, 1889; Helen, died aged eight years; and Wendell, born on the 28th of July, 1894. They are members of the Christian church and hold a highly respected place in the social circles of the city.
 Francis Marion Drake |
FRANCIS MARION DRAKE - It is a great truth that some must follow and some command. But the pages of history must ever be filled with the achievements and character of those who command, who are able to direct the power of the hosts and bring victory to the cause of progress. And it is here fitting, in a work purporting to give an account of the lives of those who have aided in making the state of Iowa one of the banner states of the Union, to give a prominent place to the life and career of ex-Governor Drake. No fulsome tributes of praise will be here attempted, and none are needed; his deeds speak for themselves. As a business man, as a soldier, as a statesman, as the highest executive officer of his state, as the founder of a great university, and, above all, as the exponent of true, noble Christian manhood, he deserves to take rank among the leaders of men and makers of history. |
Going back to the early forefathers of the subject of this biography, we find that the great-grandfather was James Drake, a native of the colony of Virginia, who afterwards settled in Swift Creek, Nash county, North Carolina, where he accumulated a large amount of property, and died in the year 1790. He was the father of Benjamin, who married Celia Thayer and became the parents of John Adams Drake. John Adams Drake was born on the homestead which his grandfather had established in North Carolina, on October 21, 1802. He was one of eight children, of English ancestry, and early manifested his heritage of noble ancestral qualities. After receiving a fair education in the primitive school of the time and growing up to manhood under the care of his excellent parents, he married, on June 12, 1826, Harriet Jane O'Neal, a native of Franklin county, that state, and the daughter of sturdy Irish parents; fourteen children were born of this union. In 1829 they left the Old North state and moved to Wilson county, Tennessee, and in October,1830, became pioneer settlers of Rushville, Illinois. In this latter place he engaged in mercantile pursuits and prospered. In 1837 the family moved to Fort Madison, which was then in the territory of Wisconsin, as the territory of Iowa had not yet been organized. Here he resided nine years, and during nearly all the time held the office of justice of the peace and county probate judge. In March,1846, he took up his residence in Davis county, Iowa, where he founded the town of Drakeville, and later engaged in agricultural pursuits; he also established a bank in Drakeville, which he conducted for several years. He was then induced by his son, the subject of this sketch, to move to Centerville and become the president of the Appanoose County State Bank, which the latter had organized there, and for the last few years of his life he held this position. His long and useful life came to an end in 1880, and five years later his wife passed away. Their wedded life covered a period of nearly fifty-four years and was one of happiness and fruitfulness. They were earnest and consistent members of the Christian church. He was a pioneer in the history of that church body and was a personal friend of Alexander Campbell.
With such a parental heritage and in such surroundings was the son Francis Marion reared. He was early taught the lessons of moral worth and integrity and industry and Christian duty which have characterized his whole life. Born in the village of Rushville, Schuyler county, Illinois, December 30, 1830, he received such education as could be obtained in the public schools of Fort Madison and Drakeville, obtaining the greater portion at the former place. Caught by the "gold fever" of the early fifties, he organized a train to cross the plains to the new Eldorado. In the company were six wagons, each drawn by six oxen, and sixteen men and one boy. They crossed the Missouri river at Council Bluffs on May 1, 1852, and at Horseshoe Bend, near the Platte river, they were attacked by about three hundred Pawnee Indians. In the conflict young Drake singled out the chief of the band and killed him with a blow of his musket, which so demoralized the rest that they retreated, leaving nine of their number dead on the field. On reaching Sacramento, Mr. Drake engaged in the stock business, but the next year returned to the States by sea. In 1854 he set out across the plains with a drove of one hundred milch cows and arrived at his destination with ninety-seven of them. On the return trip he took passage on the Yankee Blade, and the vessel was wrecked off Point Aquilla, Mexico, resulting in the loss of eight hundred lives. Securing a small boat, Mr. Drake made two trips to the shore with fellow passengers. On the last trip he was in some way thrown into the sea and was at first refused passage in the crowded boat, but, on being recognized as the one who had furnished the boat, he was taken on board, half dead from exhaustion and struggling with the waves. For several days the survivors crouched on the barren shore, living on raw meat, but were finally rescued by the steamer Goliah and carried to San Francisco. From here he took passage on the Golden Gate, and another chapter of adventure was added to his eventful history. A fire broke out in the kitchen of the vessel, but by the prompt action of Mr. Drake was extinguished without permitting the alarm to be spread to the rest of the ship, thus averting what might have been a disastrous panic. Upon his return to Iowa he engaged in business with his father and brothers at Drakeville, and in 1859 removed to Unionville, Appanoose county, where he went into the mercantile business.
When the Civil war cloud broke and threatened all interests, Mr. Drake raised a company for the Second Iowa Infantry, but was too late. As the company had been furnished with arms, however, he continued to drill it during the summer, and in the fall of 1861, when the Confederate General Patton drove a regiment of loyal Union troops out of Missouri and threatened lower Iowa, Captain Drake's company was made part of an independent regiment, of which John Edwards, then speaker of the House of Representatives of Iowa, was made colonel. After being made major, Mr. Drake started for Albany and drove General Patton across the Platte river near St. Joseph, Missouri, but was hindered from further pursuit by the burning of the bridge. Major Drake then reported to General Prentiss, who placed him in command of the garrison at St. Joseph, which consisted of half of his own regiment, some Kansas cavalry and a battalion of Ohio infantry. After the fall of Lexington Price's army advanced westward, but was met with such vigorous resistance from Major Drake, who had anticipated an attack on St. Joseph and had gone forth to meet him, that he believed there was a large Union force in the neighborhood and withdrew. Returning home, the Major was not in active service until August of 1862, when he was commissioned by Governor Kirkwood lieutenant colonel of the Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, four companies of which regiment were raised in Appanoose county. He served in the Army of the Tennessee and later with the troops in Arkansas. At the battle of Elkin's Ford in April,1864, he commanded a detachment of three companies of his own regiment, three of an Indiana regiment, four of the First Iowa Cavalry and two pieces of light artillery, and repulsed and inflicted fearful slaughter upon Marmaduke's division, three thousand strong. A few weeks later, with a brigade consisting of three regiments of twelve hundred men and two sections of a battery, he fought at Mark's Mills a force of six times that number, commanded by Fagan. From early morn till noon the conflict went on, and at last the Union forces were compelled to surrender. Lieutenant Colonel Drake was severely and, it was supposed, mortally wounded, and was left on the field by the enemy. As the enemy believed he would not recover, he was paroled, and six months later rejoined his regiment, although he was compelled to use crutches. Before leaving the service he was honored with the brevet commission of brigadier general.
A short time after the close of the war Mr. Drake entered upon the practice of law at Centerville, Iowa, and continued it with very gratifying success for several years. With his progressive business insight, he realized the necessity for railroads to develop the resources of the country, and, organizing a company, he built what is now the Keokuk and Western from Keokuk, Iowa, via Alexandria, Missouri, to Centerville, in 1872, and in 1880 extended the line to Van Wert. He also built the Albia and Centerville road, several branches of the Iowa Central, and the Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, familiarly known as the "Three I" road. Of the latter he remained president until 1898, when he sold his interest and retired. Not only in his railroad enterprises but in everything he has undertaken Mr. Drake has met with unqualified success. He is president of the Centerville National Bank, the First National Bank and the Farmers' and Miners' Savings Bank of Albia, Iowa. He still retains the presidency of the Centerville and Albia Railroad, which, however, does not operate its road, but leases it to another company.
In public life Mr. Drake has a brilliant record, and he has conducted the affairs of state with the same fearlessness and integrity that have characterized his other actions. In 1893 he was persuaded to go before the Republican state convention as a candidate for nomination to the office of governor. He was not nominated, but two years later the convention tendered him the nomination, and in the fall of 1895 he was elected by a large majority. He entered upon the duties of that office in January 1896, and discharged them in a manner consistent with his high character and independence. Soon after his entrance to the office a report was presented to the general assembly from a commission which had been appointed to revise the state laws. Upon due consideration, it appeared that the regular session of the legislature did not afford a favorable opportunity for the revision, and, upon his suggestion, which was approved by a majority of both houses, Governor Drake called a special session of the assembly to revise the state statutes. This he did in the face of considerable opposition, but he remained firm in his convictions. The superior code of laws adopted and put in operation gave general satisfaction to the people and fully justified his decisive action. Governor Drake also tried, unsuccessfully, to introduce the wise and businesslike practice of insuring the public property of the state. Since then the heavy losses caused by fire in the public buildings have amply justified his policy. His was throughout a business administration, and it is now so appreciated by the people. In the summer of 1897 Mr. Drake sustained a severe injury from a fall, which threatened to open anew his old battle wounds, and this, together with a chronic ailment which had impaired his health for years, determined him to lay down the duties of his high office and care for his failing strength. He accordingly declined to be his party's candidate for a second term, and retired from office in January 1898. He first presented to the assembly, as was his duty, an able and exhaustive message, which was marked for its many statesmanlike recommendations as to the affairs of the state.
After retiring from the office of governor, Mr. Drake returned to his home in Centerville, and has since lived in the quiet and restfulness of private life, surrounded by his loving family and by his hosts of devoted friends. His marriage had occurred in 1855 to Mary Jane Lord, and six children have been reared by them to manhood and womanhood: Frank Ellsworth, of Chicago; John Adams, of Chicago; Amelia, now Mrs. Theodore P. Shouts, of Chicago; Eva, who is Mrs. Henry Goss, of Centerville: Jennie, the wife of John L. Sawyers, of Centerville: and Mary, Mrs. George W. Sturdivant, of Centerville.
Of late years Mr. Drake has devoted much of his time and means to the promotion of the cause of education and the upbuilding of institutions of learning. He is especially interested in the university at Des Moines which bears his name, of which he was the founder and its most liberal supporter. He has also been very generous in his contributions to other schools and churches. He has done much to build up the Christian denomination, although he is liberal in his donations to other faiths. Only recently he was most generous in his gifts for the erection of a beautiful edifice of his denomination in Centerville, and it was through his munificence that the Drake Free Public Library was built in Centerville, an imposing and modern structure, which is an ornament to the city.
Such is a very brief outline of the life of a soldier, statesman and public-spirited citizen, who does not need the annals of history to record his good works, for his deeds have found a permanent abiding place in the memories of those whom he has helped by his example, influence and efforts to higher and nobler living.