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Portrait and Biographical Album of Lee
County, Iowa N - P Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Linda Brandt. CAPT. ROBERT S. OWEN is one of the pioneer boatmen of the Mississippi, having plied the rapids between Keokuk and Montrose for the last thirty-nine years, and is part owner of the steamboat “Park Bluff,” belonging to the Des Moines Rapids Towing Company, and the steamer “Prescott.” He also has an interest in other river craft, and among the members of his calling occupies a prominent and enviable position. He is skillful and popular, and is well and favorably known for miles up and down the river. Capt. Owen is a native of Indiana, and was born at Point Commerce, Greene County, Oct. 9, 1830. He is the son of Ephraim and Mary (Kern) Owen, natives of Ohio and New Jersey respectively. Ephraim Owen removed from his native State to Iowa while it was yet a Territory, in 1839, and in that year his life terminated, at the age of fifty years. He was a farmer by occupation, and connected with the church of the Latter-Day Saints. His wife came with him to this State, and survived him until 1845 or 1846. She was reared in the faith of the Christian Church, but after her marriage went with her husband to the church of his choice. The parental family of our subject consisted of two sons and three daughters, the record of whom is as follows: Robert S., our subject; Camara O. went to Utah Territory, and died there in 1865; Fermina V. became the wife of George Powers; Persilla died in about 1840, in the spring of the year; Ephraim F., also a steamboat Captain and pilot on the lower Mississippi, was married in 1867, to Miss Mary Barnett, of Mobile, Ala.; he died in St. Louis on the 18th day of September, 1867, of yellow fever. He had started from St. Louis in command of the steamer “Bee,” belonging to the Mississippi Valley Transportation Company, made his trip in safety, and was stricken with the plague in Baton Rouge, La., and brought to St. Louis. His first trip up the river as pilot was to St. Paul in 1854, and he followed the Upper Mississippi as pilot until 1863, when he went below and followed the Lower Mississippi trade for the following two years, then purchased an interest in the steamer “War Eagle,” running her as Captain one year. He then became employed by the above-named transportation company, and secured a life insurance to the extent of $5,000, which after his death was paid to the widow. Capt. Owen of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Eliza A. Peck, Nov. 5, 1856. Mrs. Owen is a native of South Adams, Mass., born June 11, 1835. Her parents were Cyrus and Ruth T. (Hoxie) Peck, natives of New York and Massachusetts respectively, and she was their only child. Her father was born Feb. 21, 1804, and departed this life Nov. 12, 1858, in Hancock County, Ill. Mrs. Peck died Oct. 28, 1835, in Massachusetts. Besides his town property, Capt. Owen is the proprietor of 350 acres of land in Montrose Township. He is a gentleman of pleasing manners, a great favorite among river men, and highly esteemed in the town where he makes his home. He is a member in good standing of the I.O.O. F., Cascade Lodge No. 66, and also belongs to the A. F. & A.M., Joppa Lodge No. 136, at Montrose, and to Potowonok Chapter; also Damascus Commandery No. 5, at Keokuk, the Eastern Star, and the Knights of Pythias, No. 115. He casts his vote uniformly in support of the principles of the Republican party, and takes an intelligent interest in all matters of local and general importance. Capt. Owen is a thorough business man, and is President of the Des Moines Rapids Towing Company, the members of said company being, R. S. Owen and Capt. Samuel Speake, of Nauvoo, F. A. Whitney, of Sandusky, Iowa, and Thomas Peel, of Burlington. Jonathan L. Pease submitted by Greta Thompson Jonathan L. Pease, an early settler of Cedar Township, is an extensive farmer and a highly esteemed citizen, carrying on agricultural operations on section 16. He crossed the Mississippi at an early period in the history of Iowa, and since coming here has marked with undiminished interest the advance of civilization in the beautiful country west of the Mississippi. No man who has an intelligent interest in the progress and development of his surroundings can refrain from rendering his best assistance to the industrial or agricultural interests of his section, and Mr. Pease has performed his part in this line of duty in a very creditable manner, and now stands as one of the valued landmarks between the past and the present. Mr. Pease is a native of Washington County, Pa., born in the township of Norstran, Feb. 18, 1826. His father, Andrew Pease, and his grandfather, Nicholas Pease, removed to Pennsylvania from Maryland when the father of our subject was a youth fourteen years old.They were among the early settlers of that region, and purchased a tract of timber land in Washington County, and cleared a farm from the wilderness. Nicholas Pease was the father of two sons, and at his death the property was divided between them. Andrew Pease was twice married, his wife having been Miss Mary Engle, who became the mother of nine children. The maiden name of the second wife and the mother of our subject, was Mary Blakeny, a native of the north of Ireland. By her marriage with Andrew Pease she became the mother of five children, of whom the subject of our sketch was the youngest child. Jonathan L. Pease was reared on the farm of his father, and at the death of the latter, he and his brother, Boyd E., opurchased the interest of the other heirs and lived upon the homestead until 1855. Jonathan L. then sold out, and turning his face westward came into Lee County, Iowa, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 16 in Cedar Township. Only forty acres of this was broken and fenced, but a log cabin had been built upon it. He here commenced his career as a Hawkeye farmer, and since that time has added to his purchase until he is now the owner of 346 acres, all in one body and tillable. He has brought the most of it to a high state of cultivation, and it is furnished with fine buildings, costly farm implements and machinery, and all the necessary appliances for carrying on agriculture in the most modern and improved style. The marriage of Jonathan L. Pease and Miss Sarah J. Herron was celebrated in Washington County, Pa., Nov. 6, 1851. Mrs. Pease was born April 22, 1823, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of nine children, three of whom are deceased. The record is as follows: Emery H. and James M. are merchantws at Mt. Hamill, Iowa; Lizzie Ella is the wife of James P. Braiden, of Valley County, Neb.; Forest B. M., Linnie F. and Charles H. are at home. Minnie, the twin sister of Linnie F., died at the age of fourteen years. Albert died when one year old; Joseph A., the youngest child, died at the age of eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Pease and two daughters are members of the Sharon Presbyterian Church. Mr. Pease has been connected with the United Presbyterian Church and was for a time an Elder. Mr. Pease is an intelligent and observant man, well read, and possessing a valuable fund of information upon all the important matters of the day. He has been a prominent man in his township since coming here, and his councils have been sought upon matters of common interest. He has fulfilled his duties as a father and citizen creditably and conscientiously, and as a business man has been one of the valued factors of his community. He is genial and kindly in his disposition, and possesses the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends. OSCAR PROUTY, a highly respected resident of Jackson Township , is a native of the Hawkeye State , and was born in Jefferson County , Oct. 29, 1841 . His parents were Nathaniel D. and Sarah A. (Mittten) Pronty, natives respectively of Vermont and Maryland . They were married in Jefferson County , Iowa , whence they removed to Lee County to about 1845, and became residents of Jackson Township . Here Nathaniel D. Prouty engaged in farming pursuits, and also operated the ferry between Alexandria and Keokuk for a number of years. He died in Jackson Township in the spring of 1872; the mother still survives. The parental family included fourteen children, four sons and ten daughters, of whom Oscar was the second in order of birth. Only two sons and three daughters are now living. The subject of this history was a child of about three years old when his parents removed from Jefferson to Lee County . He received careful training at the hands of his parents, and was educated in the common schools. During his early years he assisted in the labors around the homestead and in running the ferry with his father. He was trained to habits of industry and economy, and at an early age began to lay his plans for the future. He finally purchased 140 acres of land in Jackson Township in 1866, which he has occupied since that time. This he has continnously cultivated and improved, and has now one of the most valuable homesteads in this section, a view of which is shown on another page. The marriage of Mr. Prouty and Miss Sarah E. Parkhurst took place Oct. 29, 1867 , in Jackson Township . Mrs. P. was born in Marietta , Ohio , Oct. 17, 1848 , and is the daughter of Moses and Sarah J. (Armstrong) Parkhurst, natives respectively of Massachusetts and Ohio . They crossed the Mississippi into the Hawkeye State in 1849, and came into Lee County , first settling in Keokuk and afterward removing to Jackson Township , where they remained the balance of their lives. To our subject and wife have been born four children—May, Harry D., Maude L. and Bertha J. Mr. Prouty has taken an intelligent interest in local matters, and held the various minor offices of his township. He is Republican in politics, liberal in his religious views, and is known throughout this vicinity as a straightforward business man and a good citizen. |