Thomas
Jefferson Simcoke
Although two and a half years have passed since
Thomas Jefferson Simcoke was called from this life, it will be long ere he will
be forgotten by his many friends and neighbors who knew him to be a man of many
sterling characteristics. Moreover, in business life he made an excellent record
as one whose success came because of close application and earnest purpose.
Thomas Jefferson Simcoke was born in Randolph
county, Indiana, June 3, 1840, his parents being John and Mary (Hodson) Simcoke.
The father was a native of Tennessee, born in 1808, and with a brother he went
to Indiana in his boyhood days, his father having preceded them to the middle
west. John Simcoke was therefore reared in Randolph county, Indiana, and after
arriving at years of maturity was married to Miss Mary Hodson. He continued to
reside in that county until 1866,when, with his family, he came to Iowa,
settling in Pottawattamie county, where he lived until 1868, when he came to
Guthrie county. He took up his abode in Stuart, where for several years he
conducted the Farmers Hotel, after which he located on a farm in Valley
township, about four miles south of Guthrie Center. Upon that place he continued
to make his home until his death, which occurred in 1887. In the family were ten
children, of whom four are yet living: Isaac A., a resident of Richmond,
Indiana; Joseph H., who is living in Dexter, Iowa; Rachel, who is the wife of
Henry Pascal, of Rochester, Indiana; and Hope Jane, the wife of John Rhodes, of
Cass county, Indiana.
Thomas Jefferson Simcoke spent the days of his
boyhood and youth in the state of his nativity and became familiar with the
various duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On the 22d
of December, 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss Lydia M. Macy, of Randolph
county, Indiana, and they began their domestic life upon a farm there, where
they lived for five years. In 1866 they arrived in Missouri and for a year lived
in Sheridan county, coming to Iowa in the spring of 1867. They settled in Dallas
county but after a year removed to Adair county and located on a farm of eighty
acres, in Lincoln township, which Mr. Simcoke had purchased the previous fall.
Two years afterward he bought an additional tract of eighty acres and three or
four years later another eighty, so that his farm comprised altogether two
hundred and forty acres, which he continued to cultivate and develop until 1890.
In that year he came to Stuart, Guthrie county, and in the years following he
acquired something more than five hundred acres of land, being one of the
wealthiest farmers in this section. His investments were carefully made and he
was seldom, if ever, at error in the matter of business judgment concerning the
value of property. His path was never strewn with the wrecks of other men's
fortunes, and in all of his dealings he was strictly fair and just, his success
resulting from his keen business sagacity, careful management and unabating
energy. In connection with his farm he was quite an extensive cattle- raiser,
and this, too, proved a profitable source of income.
Mrs. Simcoke was born in Randolph county, Indiana,
September 29, 1843, her parents being Joseph and Sarah (Hobson) Macy. Her father
was born in North Carolina and her mother in Tennessee, he removing to Indiana
in early life. They lived in Randolph county after their marriage and there
spent their remaining days. Their family numbered ten children but only three
are living: William M., a resident of Adel, Dallas county; Albert C., living at
Glen Elder, Kansas; and Lydia M. Mr. and Mrs. Simcoke had no children of their
own, but adopted a nephew, whom they reared to manhood - Joseph Oliver Simcoke -
who was graduated at Ames College in the class of 1889, and is now a veterinary
surgeon located at Davenport, Iowa. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd
Fellows lodges and is one of Davenport's well-known and successful professional
men.
The death of Mr. Simcoke occurred on the 6th of
February, 1905, and was deeply regretted by many friends, as well s by his
family, for he had come to be one of the well known and most highly appreciated
residents of Stuart. His life had been active, his actions manly and sincere.
His friends found him a genial and considerate companion, and in his home he was
a devoted husband and father, doing all in his power to promote the welfare and
happiness of his wife and son. His business record was most commendable and
praiseworthy, as it was gained by a stalwart devotion to a high standard of
honor in all commercial transactions. He held the offices of school director and
trustee in Lincoln township, Adair county, for several years, was also a trustee
in Stuart township, Guthrie county, and was a member of the city council in the
town of Stuart for several years.
Calvin Othello Sones, M. D.
Dr. Calvin Othello Sones is the oldest practicing physician at Panora and
throughout the years of his connection with the professional interests of the
county has easily maintained a foremost place among those whose skill and
ability justly entitle them to the liberal support of the public. He opened his
office in Panora in 1886 and in the intervening years he has kept abreast with
the progress made by the medical fraternity through post-graduate work in
college and through extensive private reading and research.
Dr. Sones is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in Lycoming county on
the 14th of August, 1853, of the marriage of George W. and Margaret (Lockard)
Sones, who were also natives of Pennsylvania but became residents of Iowa in
1855, settling at Anamosa. In early life the father had acquainted himself with
the carpenter's trade and followed that pursuit, but in his later years his
attention was given to general agricultural interests. At the time of the Civil
war, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations and for over
two years did active service at the front with the Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry,
which was attached to the Western Division. He and his wife have five children.
Dr. Sones was only about two years of age when brought to Iowa by his
parents, and in the public schools he acquired his preliminary education, which
was supplemented by study in Cornell College, where he was graduated with a
class of thirteen in the year 1881. In the meantime he taught school for several
terms and after his graduation devoted two years to the profession, but he
regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional labor, and with
the desire to engage in the practice of medicine and surgery he became a student
in the office and under the direction of Drs. Gowley and Packard, prominent
physicians of the state. He afterward matriculated in the medical department of
the Iowa State University at Iowa City and completed the course by graduation in
1886. Locating for practice in Panora, he has since here remained and has kept
in touch with the modern scientific development that has so greatly promoted the
efficiency of the representatives of the medical fraternity. In 1892 and again
in 1893 he pursued post-graduate work in Chicago and he has always been a
student, his private reading covering a wide range, while everything which tends
to bring to man the key to that complex mystery which we call life is of
interest to him. Though not a specialist in the sense of giving his attention
merely to one line of medical or surgical practice, he has, however, made a
special study of electrical treatment and has installed in his office in the
Roberts block some of the latest electrical appliances and machines.
On the 10th of May, 1888, in Maxwell, Iowa, was celebrated the marriage of
Dr. Sones and Miss Amy F. French, who was a graduate of Cornell College of the
class of 1885. Her father, J. O. French, a native of New Hampshire, came to Iowa
in 1872 and located in Olin, Jones county, whence he removed to Story county in
1882 and there died five years later. His wife, Mrs. Ellen (Hutchinson) French,
is a native of Vermont. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Sones were born two daughters, Helen
M. and Gertrude, but the wife and mother died as the result of an operation for
appendicitis on the 8th of may, 1907. She was a devoted member of the Methodist
Episcopal church and a lady of innate culture and refinement, who had many
friends and won the high esteem of all with whom she was brought in contact.
Dr. Sones is likewise a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his
membership relations extend to Panora lodge, No. 121, A. F. & . A. M., to
the Knights of Pythias lodge, No. 176, and to camp No. 91, of the Sons of
Veterans, while along professional lines he is connected with both the County
and State Medical Societies. He has served on the board of health in Panora and
his undivided attention is practically given to his profession, wherein he
manifests the ability of a learned follower of the calling whose technical skill
is combined with broad humanitarian principles.
Luther, Abram,
William and David Straight were the next to come to
this locality [Victory township] in search of a home. This was in the spring of 1853.
These parties came here from Marshall county, Illinois, although natives of New York
state. Luther settled upon section 27, where he followed farming until the day of his
death. He was united in wedlock with Miss Elizabeth Lot, in New York, before he left that
state, and had seven children. He was a frank, generous man, who was considered a most
excellent "yarn spinner" by his friends. His wife died in the spring of 1873,
and both are buried in the Guthrie Center cemetery.
William remained here about two years when he moved to Kickapoo,
Kansas, but afterward went to Sandy Point, on the Missouri river, where he now resides.
Abram settled on section 28, where he remained until 1858, when he
went into the grocery business in Guthrie Center. In later years he started for Oregon,
but died while on his way to that land of promise.
David remained about seven years, when he removed to Sandy Point
with his brother, where he has since died leaving a wife and six children.
John Swab
A farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 4,
Thompson township, pays tribute to John Swab. One of Iowa's native sons, he was
born in Cedar county, on Christmas day of 1855. His parents were Samuel and
Susan (Weimer) Swab, who were natives of Ohio, and whose family numbered ten
children, John being the second in order of birth. the year 1845 witnessed the
arrival of the parents in Iowa and the establishment of a home in Cedar county.
The father was a cooper by trade and followed that pursuit for a number of
years. He continued a resident of Cedar county until called to his final rest,
since which time his widow has become the wife of Donald Kellogg and is still
living.
John Swab is indebted to the public-school system of
his native county for the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his youth.
He has always followed farming and has placed his dependence upon the safe,
reliable qualities of industry and enterprise in his efforts to achieve success
and win a comfortable competence. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey
he chose Miss Eliza Delong, whom he wedded in 1874. Both her father and mother
are now deceased. By this marriage there have been born five children: A. J.,
who was born October 27, 1875, and is a druggist of Wiota, Iowa; Frank, who was
born November 2, 1877, but is now deceased; J. L., who was born January 29,
1881, and is now a resident of Utah; C. L., who was born December 23, 1886, and
is also a resident of the latter state; and Maude viola, born March 13, 1893.
The family home is pleasantly situated in the midst
of a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres of rich and arable land, for
which Guthrie county is noted. It is located on section 4, Thompson township,
not far from Casey, and upon it are found all of the accessories and
conveniences of a model farm of the twentieth century. In addition to the
tilling of the soil, Mr. Swab raises and feeds stock and this branch of his
business is proving quite remunerative. At the polls he never fails to give his
support to the democracy, and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues
of the day, but is not a politician in the sense of office-seeking. However, the
schools find in min a warm and stalwart friend, who has done effective work in
behalf of the cause of education, while serving for several terms as a school
director. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of lodge No. 283,
at Casey, and in his life exemplifies its beneficent spirit. His attention and
energies are chiefly given to his farm work, however, and for twelve years he
has lived upon the place which is now his home and which in its attractive
appearance gives evidence of his careful supervision and practical methods.
