Page 291

 

LEW W. SPENCER

 

There is no richer agricultural district in all the world than the broad prairies of Iowa and the state is accorded leadership in the production of corn and holds hardly a secondary place in the production of other cereals.  Lew W. Spencer is among the number whose labors have contributed to the reputation which the state bears in this connection.  He is one of the progressive farmers of Ross township, living on section 14.  His landed possessions are extensive, comprising four hundred acres of valuable land on which he raises extensive crops and also raises and feeds stock.

 

His record is altogether a creditable one and Iowa is glad to number him among her native sons.  He was born near Des Moines county, October 10, 1865, and is a son of David Andrew Spencer, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1825.  The father remained in the Keystone state to the age of seventeen years when he removed westward.  He married Elmira Bishop and for a time they resided in Nodaway county, Missouri, but subsequently established their home in Taylor county, Iowa, where Mr. Spencer bought and owned seven hundred acres of land.  Nearly all of this was wild when it came into his possession but with characteristic energy he turned the sod and in course of time transformed the land into productive fields, thus opening up a farm upon which his son Lew now resides.  Year by year he carefully carried on his agricultural pursuits until 1905 when he put aside the cares of active business life and removed to Bedford where he is now living. 

 

(Page 292) Lew W. Spencer was reared to manhood on the old home farm and attended the country schools but is largely self-educated.  By reading and study and also in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons and his views are now practical and his judgment sound and reliable.  He remained with his father until twenty-four years of age when he was married and established a home of his own.

 

It was on the 31st of January, 1889, in Ross township that Mr. Spencer was joined in wedlock to Miss Alice Cobb, a daughter of Ambrose Cobb, of Bedford.  Following their marriage they began their domestic life on the farm adjoining the property on which they now reside, and in 1890 took up their abode upon their present place.  Mr. Spencer began here with one hundred and twenty acres of land and bent every energy to the cultivation and development of the place.  As the years passed he made many modern improvements, added to it and remodeled the house, built a good barn and double crib, enclosed his fields with barbed and woven wire fencing and as he prospered in his undertakings as the years passed he added to his property from time to time until he now has three hundred and twenty acres in the home place and eighty acres in another tract.  He annually gathers large crops of corn and other grains and he likewise raises and feeds cattle and hogs, his live-stock interests being an important branch of his business.

 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have been born two sons, Troy and Clark R.  The former is now a young man who is ably assisting his father in carrying on the home farm.  Mr. Spencer is politically independent nor would he ever hold office.  He is a man of high principle who never falters in his allegiance to a course which he believe to be right.  His success, his business integrity and his many substantial traits of character place him in a prominent position in the community.

 

 

 

 

Page 248

 

JOSEPH P. STANDLEY, M. D.

 

Dr. Joseph P. Standley, one of the most capable and successful physicians and surgeons of Taylor county, now living in Bedford, is, as it were, to the manner born, for he is the son of a physician and the experiences and interests of his early life connected him in a degree with the profession which he afterward chose as a life work.  In the field of business, however, he has won success equal to that which he has attained in professional lines and is recognized as a dynamic force in the community, possessing the unfaltering purpose and firm determination that enables him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.  He was born in Platteville, Taylor county, Iowa, October 30, 1869, a son of Dr. Joseph R. and Rachel (Hornback) Standley, natives of Indiana and of Kentucky respectively.  The ancestral history of the family gives account of three brothers of the name who came to this country about the time when the Pilgrim fathers landed on the shores of New England.  The name was originally spelled Stanley but during the colonial wars some of the family remained loyal to the crown, while others gave their aid to the cause of liberty and inserted the "d" in their names to distinguish them from those who sympathized with the English in their endeavor to retain control of America as a colonial possession.  William Standley, the grandfather of Dr. Standley, became one of the pioneer settlers of Indiana and followed farming near Greencastle.  He aided in the early development of that state and died in Davis county, Indiana, when about eighty years of age.  His wife, who bore the maiden name of Unity S. Mulnix, was a member of the Mulnix family who laid out the town of Greencastle.  She, too, passed away at an advanced age.

 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. William Stanley were born ten children, including Dr. Joseph R. Standley, who was reared a poor boy in Indiana and in his youthful days worked at odd jobs to earn money that would supply him with the necessities of life.  Saving everything possible from his earnings, he eagerly pressed forward to the goal of his ambition -- the study of medicine in preparation for the practice of the profession as a life work.  When a young man he came to Iowa and located in Platteville, Taylor county, in 1855.  There he took up a claim and while developing the property he also practiced his profession, being one of the pioneer physicians of the district.  His broad humanitarianism prompted him to respond to every call made upon him and no night was too dark and no season too cold for him to go to the aid of those who needed his professional assistance.  In time he began dealing in real estate as he saw opportunity for profitable investment and he also engaged in trading and in raising cattle on the range.  Because of the growing demands of these interests he gave up the practice of medicine but throughout his remaining days his professional opinion was respected by physicians all over the county.  As the yeas passed he accumulated considerable property and at his death left his children very comfortably situated financially.  He passed away on the 22d of April, 1907, at the age of about seventy-six years, while his wife died in 1897 at the age of sixty-three years.  She was a member of the Methodist church and, like her husband, enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew them.  Their family numbered (page 251) but two children, the elder, a daughter, being Mrs. Ida May Terrill, the wife of Asa Terrill, of Blockton, Iowa.

 

In the maternal line Dr. Standley comes of German ancestry.  His grandfather settled in Kentucky, where he lived for a time and afterward removed to Illinois, establishing his home near Barry, where he died.  His widow lived to be more than eighty years of age and died in Platteville, this county.  They were the parents of two sons and two daughters.

 

Dr. Joseph P. Stanley was born and reared in Platteville, where he attended the public schools and later became a student in the high school in Bedford, while subsequently he attended the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant and thus completed his literary course.  He was graduated from the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville in 1889 and having thus qualified for the profession, he entered upon active practice at Platteville, where he remained for thirteen years, when, seeking a broader field of labor, he removed to Bedford, where he has practiced continuously since.  Reading, investigation and research have continually broadened his knowledge and promoted his efficiency, making him one of the most capable physicians of this part of the state and at all times his professional duties are discharged with a sense of conscientious obligation.

 

On the 24th of December, 1888, Dr. Standley was married to Miss Dora E. Wakefield, a daughter of John T. Wakefield.  Her parents were early settlers of Illinois, locating near Peoria.  Her father served as a soldier of the Civil war and died a few years after its close as the result of exposure which he had endured at the front.  He had removed to Nebraska, establishing his home near Superior, on the banks of the Republican river, and there he died and was buried but his remains were afterward removed to Peoria, Illinois, and interred by the side of members of the family there.  His wife died comparatively young.  Their daughter Dora was their only child and on reaching womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Dr. Standley.  They have two children, Ida Fern and John Harlan.  Mrs. Stanley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

 

The Doctor is well known in fraternal relations, belong to Taylor Lodge, No. 59, A. F. & A. M.; Triangle Chapter, No. 68, R. A. M.; Bethany Commandery, No. 29, K. T., of Creston, Iowa, and Moila Temple of the Mystic Shrine at St. Joseph, Missouri.  He is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Maccabees.  His political allegiance is given to no party, for he prefers to vote independently, considering the capability of the candidate rather than his party allegiance.  In professional lines he is connected with the Taylor County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.  While he is known as a capable physician of wide professional learning, he is also recognized as a successful business man in other directions.  He is now a heavy stockholder in the Orogrande Smelting Company, of Orogrande, New Mexico, and he owns about a thousand acres of fine farming land in Taylor county, together with city property in Bedford, where he resides.  On his old home place at Platteville he has one of the largest herds of elk in the state.  He takes great delight in the fine appearance of his country estate and in the control of his business affairs he displays the keen judgment (page 252) and clear discernment which are ever essential to progress in business lines.  He is an alert, enterprising man -- a typical representative of the progressive spirit of the west -- and one whose appreciation of social amenities also renders him popular. 

 

 

 

 

Page 454

 

J. M. STICKELMAN

 

J. M. Stickelman, who carries on general farming on section 16, Polk township, his home being about a mile from Siam, was born in Gallia county, Ohio, February 28, 1846, and was reared at Fort Recovery, Mercer county, this state.  His youthful days were passed on his father's farm and when a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for several years in Ohio and later in Taylor county, Iowa, becoming a contractor and builder of this part of the state.  He arrived here in 1870, bought land and then returned to Ohio, after which he and his mother, three brothers and a sister drove across the country to Iowa.  Mr. Stickelman first purchased two hundred eighty-seven and a half acres and he and his brothers broke the sod, harrowed the land, sowed the seed (page 455) and in due course of time gathered good crops.  Year by year the work of general improvement and development was carried on.  The first home was a small slab house, which they occupied for a year or more but as they prospered in their undertakings more modern improvements were added to the farm and a more comfortable and commodious dwelling was erected.

 

It was on the 14th of April, 1872, that Mr. Stickelman was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Howe, who was born and reared in Taylor county, a daughter of Samuel Howe, one of the first settlers of this part of the state.  The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which Mr. Stickelman had secured but they traveled life's journey together for only a brief period, as the young wife was called to her final rest after two years.  In 1882 Mr. Stickelman was again married, his second union being with Miss Missouri Ingram, whom he wedded in Nodaway county, where she was born and reared.  There were seven children of this marriage: Arthur, who is married and carries on general agricultural pursuits on the home farm; Iva, the wife of E. J. Glover, of Siam; Nellie, the wife of Floyd Cobb, who is living in Ross township; Elma and Edna, twins, the latter the wife of Elmer Henderson, of Bedford, Iowa; Lonesa, a young lady at home; and J. Loyd, who completes the family.

 

The continuous, earnest and well-directed effort of Mr. Stickelman has transformed his wild prairie land into a fine farm and he is now the owner of one hundred and seventy acres of rich land on section 16, Polk township, within a mile of Siam.  The place is supplied with all modern equipments and accessories and from the fields he annually gathers good crops, while in the pastures are found high grades of live stock, for he is well known as a stock raiser and feeder.  He has erected a substantial residence on his place, together with a large barn and has also set out an orchard of apple, peach and other fruit trees.  He makes a specialty of feeding hogs and handles a large number each year, his financial resources being thereby materially increased.  What he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion and his business ability places him in the front rank of those who are active in promoting the agricultural progress of this part of the state.

 

Mr. Stickelman has long been recognized as a stanch and unfaltering supporter of the republican party, casting his first ballot for its candidates.  He has served for years as assessor and for nine years as trustee.  He has been identified with the schools, being director thereof and also treasurer for fifteen years and also president of the school board for several years.  The cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion, his labors being an effective force in promoting the efficiency of the schools through the adoption of progressive measures and the employment of competent teachers.  He has also served on both the petit and grand juries.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Stickelman are members of the Siam Christian church, in which he is serving as a deacon.

 

His fraternal relations are with the Masons and he has served as master of Plumb Lodge, No. 285, A. F. & A. M., for nineteen years.  Both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star and Mr. Stickelman does all in his power to advance the interests of the fraternity, his own life being through exemplification of the beneficent spirit of the craft.  He has filled all the chairs in the lodge and in the Eastern Star chapter and through his political connections has been (page 456) a delegate to both the county and state conventions.  He is well known among the old settlers of this part of the state and his memory goes back to a time when the work of improvement had been scarcely begun here.  In the passing years he has borne his full share in the task of general development and has taken great pride in whatever has been accomplished, as the wild prairie has been transformed into fine farms, while villages have become progressive and enterprising cities.  He relates many interesting incidents of the early days and has witnessed many of the important events which have left their impress upon the history of the county. 

 

 

 

 

Page 409

 

EDWARD G. STRAIGHT

 

Among the prominent and representative citizens of Taylor county who are devoting their time and attention to general farming and stock raising, is Edward G. Straight, the owner and operator of two hundred and forty acres of fine land on section 23, Jackson township.  A native of Taylor county, his entire life has been passed in this township, and he is therefore well known throughout the community.  Born on a farm adjoining the one upon which he now resides, the date of his nativity is May 3, 1868, and he is a son of Truman and Mary Straight and a brother of H. S. Straight, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume.  His father, a native of New York, was born near Oswego, that state, and late in life came west, settling in Taylor county, where he purchased a farm and was engaged in cultivating, developing and improving the same until his death.  He passed away in 1868, leaving his wife to rear their family of five sons and two daughters, of whom one son is now deceased.

 

Reared amid the scenes and environments of rural life, Edward G. Straight passed the days of his boyhood and youth on the home farm.  His educational advantages were somewhat limited, as he was compelled to depend upon his own efforts for the privileges enjoyed, but his training in farm work, however, was not meager and he early learned lessons pertaining to the value of energy, industry and perseverance.  He remained at home, assisting his mother in the work of the farm until he attained his majority, when he decided to enter business on his own account.  Wisely choosing as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared, he purchased, in 1897, eighty acres of the farm which is now his home.  It now consists of two hundred and forty acres of land situated on section 23, Jackson township, and constitutes one of the valuable and desirable properties of the township.  In its midst stands a comfortable two-story house and substantial barns and outbuildings, while all modern improvements and accessories for facilitating the work of the farm have been introduced.  His fields have been brought under a high state of cultivation and the entire place, well fenced with woven and barbed wire, presents a neat and attractive appearance that bespeaks thrift and progress on the part of the owner.  In connection with general agricultural pursuits he has devoted much time to the raising and feeding of stock, fattening a carload of hogs annually.  This branch of his business is proving a very gratifying source of profit to him.  He has also found opportunity to engage in other interests and he is now one of the stockholders in the Sheridan Bank, his connection therewith furnishing an additional source of revenue.

 

In his political relations Mr. Straight has given his support to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but he has never sought nor desired public office as a reward for party fealty, preferring to (page 410) devote his undivided time and energies to his personal interests.  He is well known and highly esteemed in Bedford and throughout Taylor county, where his entire life has been passed, and during this period has not only witnessed the development of large tracts of prairie land into rich fields but has also taken his full share in the work of cultivation and improvement, and today he stands among the prominent and representative citizens of Taylor county. 

 

 

 

 

Page 586

 

HOWARD SEYMOUR STRAIGHT

 

Howard Seymour Straight, living on section 14, Jackson township, is one of the active and progressive farmers and stock raisers of this part of the state.  His time and energies are given to the development and improvement of four hundred acres of land, constituting one of the valuable farms of the county.  Diligent and persistent, he allows no obstacle to bar his path to success, if it can be overcome by honest and persistent effort.

 

He was born in Jackson township, Taylor county, October 3, 1866, and is a son of Truman Straight, a native of New York, whose birth occurred near Oswego in 1824.  He was reared, however, in Ohio, to which state he removed with his parents during his boyhood days, the family home being established near Cleveland.  He pursued his education in the public schools there and afterward became a teacher in the schools of Ohio.  Following his removal to Lee county, Iowa, he again engaged in teaching for several years.  He was married in that county to Miss Mary Kemery, who was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1830, but was reared in Iowa.  At a later date Truman Straight removed to Taylor county, where he opened up a farm and spent his last years, his death occurring in 1868.  His wife survived him until 1896, and reared their family of children, numbering five sons and three daughters, of whom two daughters and four of the sons are yet living.

 

Howard S. Straight was reared on the home farm in this county and remained with his mother through the period of his minority, acquiring his education in the district schools and receiving thorough training in the business of a farm.  Having arrived at years of maturity he chose as a companion and helpmate of life's journey Miss Effie L. Wheat, whom he wedded in Sheridan, Missouri, on the 6th of September, 1891.  She was born in Lee county, Iowa, but was reared in Worth county, Missouri, and engaged in teaching prior to her marriage.  Unto this union were born seven children: Seymour S., who is now attending the Bedford high school; Selma M., who is also attending school in Bedford; Sola Alice, Leonard C., Iness Ethel and Clio E., all under the parental roof; and Serena, who met death by accident when only a year old.

 

Prior to his marriage Mr. Straight had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and had taken up his abode thereon.  To this farm he brought his (page 589) bride at the time of their marriage and began the cultivation and improvement of the place.  They lived in a log cabin for three years, but later this primitive home was replaced by a more commodious frame residence and the work of improvement in other lines was also continued, so that the place was transformed into a productive and substantial farm.  Mr. Straight purchased more land from time to time as his financial resources permitted until he is now the owner of four hundred acres.  In the midst of this place stands a good residence together with substantial outbuildings and upon the farm is a fine grove and also an orchard.  In the feed lots and pastures are found high-grade horses, mules, cattle and hogs and the fields through the spring and summer give promise of rich, golden harvest is the autumn.  Altogether the farm presents a most attractive appearance, constituting one of the leading features of the landscape. Politically Mr. Straight is a republican and religiously is a member of the Christian church, while his wife holds membership in the Baptist church.

 

 

Page 418

 

MRS. EMILY J. SWAIM

 

Farm work makes strenuous demands upon the time and energies of those who successfully follow it but there is no more productive district in all the United States than the rich fields of Iowa.  Taylor county has her full quota of progressive and representative agriculturists in which class Mrs. Emily J. Swaim is numbered.  She is living on section 20, Ross township, and has long made her home in Taylor county, dating her residence here from 1859.  A native of Indiana, she was born in Park county in 1852 and is a daughter of Enoch Beauchamp, who was also a native of Indiana, where he was reared and married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Remington, who was born in Ohio, but was reared in Indiana.  Mr. Beauchamp followed farming in that state for a number of years or until after the birth of three of his children when in 1859 he removed to Iowa, becoming one of the first settlers of Taylor county.  He then bought a farm in Ross township, whereon he lived until 1875, when he removed to another farm on section 20 and 29, the same township, continuing his residence there throughout the remainder of his life.  He died in 1894, having long survived his first wife, who passed away on the 9th of August, 1871.  Three of their seven children -- Emily J., James and Sarah E. -- were born in Indiana, while Samantha Ann, John C., Mary Alice and Laura A., now deceased, were born in Iowa.  Mr. Beauchamp was again married July 4, 1874, his second union being with Mrs. S. E. Bradley, a widow, by whom he had three children: Elmer, Edelbert and Grace.

 

Mrs. Swaim was reared in Taylor county and was educated in the home schools.  In her girlhood days she assisted in the work of the household so that she was well qualified to take charge of a home of her own at the time of her marriage.  On the 30th of June, 1870, she became the wife of J. R. Swaim, a native of Park county, Indiana, where he was reared.  As a young man he came to Iowa with his father, Levi Swaim, and they took up their abode in Ross township, Taylor county. 

 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Swaim also settled on a tract of land in Ross township and he engaged in farming that place for five years, on the expiration of which period, he removed to the farm where his family now resides.  He was a man of good business energy and determination and of keen foresight, who carefully conducted his farming interests and from time to time, as his financial resources increased made further investment in land until he became the owner of nearly a thousand acres.  He was one of the most active, progressive business men and prosperous farmers of the township and allowed no obstacle to brook his path which could be overcome by persistent and honorable effort.  On his place, he erected a large residence and also substantial and commodious outbuildings.  From time to time, he extended the boundaries of the home farm until it included three hundred and forty acres.  Mrs. Swaim now owns this place, while the remainder of the property of Mr. Swaim was inherited by his children. 

 

Unto Mr. and Mrs Swaim were born eight children who yet survive: Houston, a resident of Iowa; Howard, in Idaho; Glenn and Floyd, who are carrying on the home farm for their mother; Ella, now the wife of James Bishop, living near Burlington, Iowa; Mary, a young lady at home; Cora, the wife of Roy Duncan, a resident farmer of Benton township; and Ethel, who completes the family. They also lost three sons: Daniel, Irvin and Albert, all of whom died in early childhood.

 

The death of the husband and father occurred in 1896 and was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, not only to his immediate family, but to the entire community for his worth as a man and citizen were widely acknowledged.  He was a Master Mason of Siam Lodge and was buried with Masonic honors.  He had a wide acquaintance throughout this part of the state and was much (page 424)esteemed in the community for he was reliable in business, progressive in citizenship, faithful in friendship and devoted to the welfare of his wife and children.  Mrs. Swaim is a member of the Christian church of Bedford and is a most estimable lady.  She successfully manages her business affairs and is well known for her executive ability and her commendable spirit of enterprise.