Marion County >> 1915 Index

The History of Marion County, Iowa
John W. Wright and W. A. Young, supervising eds. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1915.

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S. L. Leiby - page 253

A valuable farm of two hundred and forty-seven acres situated near Hamilton in Liberty township is the property of S. L. Leiby and returns to him a gratifying annual income as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields. He was born in Pennsylvania on the 9th of January, 1854, and has long made his home in this county. His parents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Ritze) Leiby, were both natives of the Keystone state and came to Iowa in 1857, settling in Marion county, where they became identified with the early development and progress of this section of the state. Their remaining days were here passed and upon their farm they reared their family of eleven children, five of whom are yet living.

S. L. Leiby spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof and at the usual age began attending the district schools. He was but three years of age when brought by his parents to Iowa, since which time he has lived in Marion county. When not busy with his text-books he worked in the fields and continued to assist his father until after he had attained his majority. He was then married and started out in life on his own account. He wedded Miss Sarah Bachman, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Joel and Caroline (Neifert) Bachman, both of whom were born in the Keystone state, where they lived until 1879 and then came to Marion county, Iowa, settling upon a farm. The father is still living and yet devotes his attention to general agricultural pursuits, but the mother has passed away. In their family were seven children, all of whom survive.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Leiby began their domestic life upon the home farm where they now reside, situated in Liberty township, not far from Hamilton. The place is a valuable property, comprising two hundred and forty-seven acres of rich and productive land, on which he has placed many improvements and he has added thereto many of the modern equipments and accessories of the model farm of the twentieth century. The buildings are large and substantial and the barns and sheds furnish ample shelter to grain and stock. The latest improved machinery is used to facilitate the work of the fields and each year Mr. Leiby gathers good harvests, the golden grain rewarding him for the labor he has spent in cultivation.

To Mr. and Mrs. Leiby have been born four children, but two of the number have passed away. Those still living are Daisy and Fred, the former now the wife of James Reding. Mr. Leiby gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but has never been desirous of holding office. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge at Marysville and his wife is identified with the Rebekahs. Both are consistent and faithful members of the Lutheran church and have guided their lives according to its teachings, so they naturally have the respect, confidence and good-will of all who know them. Mr. Leiby has resided in the county for fifty-seven years and has been a witness of many of the events which have left their impress upon the history of this section of the state. He has lived to see remarkable changes, for the work of transformation has done away with all of the evidences of pioneer life seen in the early days and has brought about the conditions and advantages of modern civilization.

W. H. Lowman, cashier of the Bussey Savings Bank, has made good use of his time, talents and opportunities and has thereby steadily advanced since starting out in business life on his own account. He was born in Knox county, Illinois, near Galesburg, on the 17th of April, 1864, and is a son of William and Martha (Rolfe) Lowman. In the spring of 1875 the family arrived in Iowa, settling first in Mahaska county, where the mother passed away about twenty years ago. The father, however, still survives.

W. H. Lowman was reared in that county and is indebted to its public-school system for the educational advantages which he enjoyed. In 1908 he came to Marion county to assume his present position as cashier of the Bussey Savings Bank and has here since remained, covering a period of six years. This bank was organized on the 7th of October, 1907, its founders and original stockholders being H. P. Way, R. M. Boyer, James A. Bussey, W. H. Lowman and Dr. J. W. Anderson. The bank was capitalized for twenty thousand dollars and the first officers were: James A. Bussey, president; R. M. Boyer, vice president; and W. H. Lowman, cashier. No change has been made on the official board since. The present bank building was completed in the fall of 1914, on the same site as the original home of the institution, and it is one of the finest bank buildings to be seen in any of the smaller towns of the state, being well appointed and thoroughly equipped. Mr. Lowman, like his fellow officers, has made a study of banking conditions and he is thoroughly familiar with every phase of the business, his efforts contributing largely to the success of the institution.

In December, 1884, Mr. Lowman was united in marriage to Miss Belle Havener, a daughter of John and Harriett Havener, who took up their abode among the pioneer settlers of Mahaska county in 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Lowman have four children, namely: Fred, Frank, Nellie and Floyd.

Mr. Lowman is in no sense a politician but gives his political support to the democratic party and takes a general interest in public affairs, cooperating heartily in many plans and movements which have resulted beneficially to the community. He is a Mason, belonging to the lodge and to the Eastern Star, and he also has membership with the Woodmen of the World. During the period of his residence in Bussey he has become widely and favorably known, and the circle of his friends is constantly broadening as the circle of his acquaintance increases.

In the death of Edward Loynachan, Marion county lost a representative citizen who for a long period had been ranked with the prominent and successful farmers and business men of Clay township. He passed away at his home there on the 3d of September, 1906, when he had reached the age of seventy-two years, five months and twenty-two days. He was a native of Argyleshire, Scotland, and during his childhood was brought to the new world, the family home being established in Washington county, Ohio. There he remained throughout the period of his minority and on the 14th of April, 1857, he came to Marion county, his destination being Bellefontaine, near the present town of Tracy. He made his way up the Des Moines river and joined his brother, David, who had preceded him to this state.

The brothers had previously worked on and along the Ohio river and had saved their money with the hope of ultimately investing in property, and after reaching this county they purchased a tract of between two and three hundred acres of government land in the vicinity of the present village of Durham. They lived in a log cabin on the land belonging to the brother, making their home together for some years, but ultimately Edward Loynachan built a house on his own land and kept bachelor's hall for six or seven years. Together the brothers broke the sod with ox teams and made rails from which they built a fence. They added other improvements from time to time as opportunity permitted and in the course of years the once wild prairie which came into their possession was transformed into a valuable farm property supplied with all modern equipments and conveniences in the way of buildings and machinery, while the land was brought to a high state of cultivation. That success in large measure crowned the intelligently directed labors of Edward Loynachan is indicated in the fact that he was at one time the owner of seven hundred and seventy-one and a half acres in Clay and Knoxville township and was thus numbered among the large landowners of Marion county.

On the 27th of February, 1873, Mr. Loynachan was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Spohn, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, January 3, 1854, but lost her parents in early girlhood and was reared by an aunt. She came to Marion county just prior to the outbreak of the Civil war and since 1907 has resided in Knoxville, owning and occupying a fine home at No. 1414 Montgomery street. She is still the owner of valuable farming property and her farm is operated by a son. Mrs. Loynachan is a member of the Presbyterian church, which her husband attended and supported, and she also has membership with the Rebekahs of Knoxville.

To Mr. and Mrs. Loynachan were born three children: Oda May, now the wife of J. A. Hammond, mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Clark C., who was born in1879 and married Bertha Rouze, by whom he has four children; and David H., who was born December 14, 1890, and married Ethel Whitlatch. They have one child, a daughter. Mr. Loynachan exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day but was not an aspirant for office. He felt that the pursuits of private life were in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts and he concentrated his energies upon his farming with the result that he won a creditable place among the substantial citizens of Clay township and by his honorable business methods gained the respect and good-will of all.

J. B. Lyman, vice president of the Iowa Savings Bank and thus prominently associated with financial interests in Marion county, was born in Liberty township, near Bussey, November, 21, 1865, his parents being John Brown and Elizabeth A. (Munsell) Lyman, in whose family were seven children. The father came to this county in 1853 and laid out a part of the town of Hamilton, where he afterward conducted business as a proprietor of a hotel. In the early '60s he turned his attention to farming, in which he continued until his death in 1883. His wife survived him for about sixteen years, passing away in 1899, and both were laid to rest in the cemetery at Marysville. Mr. Lyman was active in local politics and was greatly interested in public affairs. He was a delegate to various county conventions of the republican party and held a number of local offices, in which he discharged his duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He made a most creditable record as an official, was a helpful pioneer settler and a progressive and valuable citizen.

J. B. Lyman, reared in this county, attended the public schools and in the year 1883, when eighteen years of age, went to Tracy. He worked in a general store and in 1887 he formed a partnership with Henry Munsell for the establishment of a general mercantile business, his mother also becoming a partner therein. The business was continued by them until L. T. Marsh succeeded Mr. Munsell. He was then a partner of Mr. Lyman for twelve years, at the end of which time the firm became Lyman & Rouze, so continuing until 1906, when Mr. Lyman sold out. The Iowa Savings Bank was organized in 1903 with a capital of twelve thousand dollars, Mr. Lyman being cashier until 1912, when he became a vice president. The original directors were O. L. Wright; W. T. Smith and Samuel H. Doughman, both now deceased; J. B. Lyman; S. S. Hogate, now deceased; E. E. Rouze; and R. I. Garden. The first officers were: W. T. Smith, president; O. L. Wright, vice president; J. B. Lyman, cashier; and F. W. Lyman, assistant cashier. Owing to the death of the president in December, 1905, Samuel H. Doughman became the head of the institution and so continued until his death in October, 1911. Soon thereafter O. L. Wright became president and Mr. Lyman succeeded him in the vice presidency, while F. W. Lyman has become the cashier. The bank occupied a small building until 1912 and then removed to its present commodious quarters. The business has grown and prospered under safe management and as cashier and vice president Mr. Lyman has contributed in no small measure to its success. Mr. Lyman is a member of the firm of Hogate & Lyman, real-estate and grain dealers, owning and operating elevators and scales at Tracy and several other nearby points. J. B. and son, F. W. Lyman, also conduct a general insurance business, handling a large volume of business in that line. Associated with two other gentlemen, E. C. Hogate and E. E. Rouze, Mr. Lyman is owner of some twelve hundred acres of improved land, mainly in Iowa.

On the 13th of March, 1890, Mr. Lyman was united in marriage to Mrs. Anna (Hogate) Moore, and to them have been born two sons, while there is one son by a former marriage. The three sons are: Mark Moore, living at Moberly, Missouri; F. W., in the bank; and Harold, who is in the Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri. Mrs. Lyman was born in Clay township, this county, November 16, 1864, a daughter of S. S. and Melissa (Rouze) Hogate, who came to Iowa in 1863 from Decatur county, Indiana. Mr. Hogate was a prominent farmer, buyer, shipper and raiser of stock. His wife having died April 29, 1898, at the age of sixty-three years, he removed from the farm to Tracy in 1903 and there passed away on the 27th of December, 1910, at the age of seventy-seven years. Both were prominent Methodists and took a very active part in church work. For some years he was interested in the grain business in Tracy, being associated with his son-in-law, Mr. Lyman. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hogate were nine children, namely: Powers K, born July 25, 1855, is now successfully engaged in the livery business in Tracy and also owns a farm in this county. William W., born September 17, 1857, died June 12, 1878. Lewis K., born April 23, 1859, makes his home in Monte Vista, Colorado, being a grain dealer in the San Luis Valley. Ella, born June 3, 1861, is the wife of W. E. Sherwood, a stock dealer of Knoxville, Iowa. Anna, now Mrs. Lyman, is the next in order of birth. Mary, born February 5, 1867, died February 18, 1887. Edward Clark is mentioned on another page of this volume. Myrtle, born July 21, 1870, died July 22, 1871. Eva, born October 8, 1872, is the wife of James M. Brubaker, of Blue Springs, Nebraska. Mrs. Lyman was first married May 7, 1885, becoming the wife of Dr. Mark Brock Moore, who died September 30, 1887. By that union there was one son, Mark Hogate, who was born December 20, 1887. Dr. Moore was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, August 19, 1859, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Marion county, Iowa, in 1864. He was educated at Central University in Pella and attended medical lectures at Drake University, Des Moines, being graduated from the latter institution February 25, 1885. He practiced for a short time at Gosport, Iowa, and then removed to Greeley county, Kansas, where his death occurred. Mrs. Lyman is a very prominent and active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church and Sabbath school and also in the Eastern Star and temperance organizations, being a leader in whatever she becomes interested.

Mr. Lyman is a prominent Mason in Iowa, serving as an officer of the grand lodge in 1913. He is also connected with the Eastern Star, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors and his religious faith is evidenced by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. His well spent life has ever commended him to the confidence and good-will of his fellow citizens and all with whom he has come in contact. He possesses many sterling traits of character and his career measures up to high standards of manhood and citizenship.

Willard H. Lyon, of Knoxville, is numbered among those attorneys who scrupulously uphold the honor and dignity of their profession and he has won the respect of his colleagues and of the general public alike. He was born in Dallas county, Iowa, on the 16th of February, 1877, a son of Charles H. and Sarah J. (Tiffy) Lyon, both natives of Van Buren county, this state. The paternal grandfather was John Lyon, who was born in Rochester, New York, but in 1840 removed to Van Buren county, this state. He was a wagon maker by trade; opened at Cantril, Iowa, the first wagon shop in this state and made the first iron mold board for plows made in Iowa. Charles H. Lyon, father of the subject of this review, was a farmer and also conducted a creamery at Dexter, Iowa. He passed away on the 24th of June, 1900, and is survived by his widow, who resides in Des Moines. He was a republican in his political belief and was a member of the Christian church, as is his widow. He was a veteran of the Civil war, serving as a member of Company A, First Iowa Cavalry, for four years.

Willard H. Lyon was one of a family of five sons and two daughters and was reared under the parental roof. His early education was acquired in the public schools and he subsequently attended the Dexter Normal College. Still later he was a student in the Iowa State Teacher's College at Cedar Falls and in 1896 went to Pella as principal of the high school and was made superintendent of schools there some time later, in which capacity he served for four years, proving a competent administrator of school affairs. He then began the study of law, entering the law department of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1902. He returned to Pella and for two and a half years was associated with T. H. Bousquet in the practice of his profession. In 1904 he was elected county attorney, taking office on the 1st of January the year following and continuing therein until the 1st of January, 1909. He then came to Knoxville and in the intervening five years has built up a large and lucrative practice here, being recognized as one of the leading attorneys of the city. His excellent general education has proved almost as much a factor in his success as his thorough legal training and these coupled with his logical mind and power of effective speaking have enabled him to succeed in a profession where advancement must be won by real ability.

Mr. Lyon was married on the 29th of June, 1905, to Miss Edith Hamilton, of Joliet, Illinois. He and his wife both attend the Congregational church and can be depended upon to aid any worthy cause. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which he is past chancellor; Oriental Lodge, No. 64, A. F. & A. M.; Tadmor Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M.; Melita Commandery, K. T.; Des Moines Consistory, No. 3, A. & A. S. R.; and Za-Ga-Zig Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Des Moines. He is a republican in political affairs and supports the candidates and measures of that party at the polls. His achievements are all the more notable when it is remembered that he has had to depend upon his own resources since starting out in life for himself, even working his own way through college. His determination and energy have conquered the obstacles that hindered his progress and he is now one of the most respected and most successful attorneys of Knoxville.