History of Warren County, Iowa - 1908 - M

Warren County >> 1908 Index

History of Warren County, Iowa... to 1908
by Rev. W. C. Martin, D. D. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1908.

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

Robert B. McClelland, whose well formulated plans are leading him to the goal of success, is numbered among the enterprising and successful merchants of Milo. In his veins are the mingled streams of Scotch, Irish and German blood. His grandfather, Jack McClelland, was long a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, and Robert B. McClelland was born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1849. His parents, James and Phoebe (Bottomfield) McClelland, were both natives of Pennsylvania and at an early day went to Ohio, settling in Iowa in the spring of 1853. The father was born in

1821 and died in 1881, while the mother passed away at the age of eighty-two. Their family numbered eight children, of whom Robert B., was the third in order of birth. The others are: John W., who resided in Lebanon, Kansas, but is now in Breckenridge, Colorado; Clarinda, the wife of William R. Williams, now living in Breckenridge, Colorado; Sarah E., the wife of James M. Barnes, who resides at Hot Springs, South Dakota; Emma J., the wife of Joseph L. Stites, living in Holdridge, Nebraska; James L., who died at Greeley, Colorado; Barbara, the wife of Charles Wood, also living in Greeley, and Mary E., who married John M. Allen and resides at Lebanon, Kansas.

Robert B. McClelland attended the common schools and remained at home until 1872, after which he spent some time in Kansas, where he secured a government land claim. In the fall of 1876 he secured a clerkship in a general store at Hammondsburg, Iowa, owned by John A. Overday, and continued in his employ there and at Milo until February, 1888, as a most trusted employe. He gained, too, broad business experience which well qualified him to engage in merchandizing on his own account, which he did in 1888 as senior partner of the firm of McClelland & De Vore. About six months later Mr. De Vore sold out to Frank P. Runyan and after a few months Mr. Runyan disposed of his interest to Silas Westerfield. The firm of McClelland & Westerfield then continued business until 1900, when Mr. Westerfield was succeeded by L. B. Bloom. Two months later Mr. McClelland became sole proprietor, purchasing the interest of his partner and not long after the firm name was changed to McClelland & Sons and so continued to the first of August, 1908, when he sold to A. S. White, of Grinnell, Iowa, who has continued the business. This store has been longer established than any other mercantile enterprise and their stock is also the largest.

Mr. McClelland was married April 21, 1878, to Miss Martha J. Coulter, a daughter of James N. and Louisa (Gill) Coulter, who were natives of Ohio but came to Iowa at an early epoch in the development of this state and here lived until called to their final rest. The children of Mr. and Mrs. McClelland are: Edward C., who married Molly Pebler and was in business with his father; James, who was also a partner in the firm of McClelland & Sons; Ada M., the wife of Earnest Trueblood, a resident of Milo; Grace, Carl, Robert B., Jr., and Paul Roger, all at home; and one who died in infancy.

Mr. McClelland is a member of Milo Lodge, No. 409, A. F. & A. M.; Milo Lodge, No. 413, I. O. O. F.; Milo Lodge, No. 160, K. P.; Milo Camp, No. 617, M. W. A., and the Yeoman Lodge, No. 476, of Milo. He has been a representative of the craft for a quarter of a century and at one time he was treasurer of all these different fraternal organizations. He has likewise served as treasurer of the school district and has been a member of the city council. No trust reposed in him is ever betrayed in the slightest degree and his devotion to the public interests of the community is proverbial. He gives his political allegiance to the democracy and is a most loyal and helpful member of the Presbyterian church. His entire career has been marked by steady progress. He has always made good use of his opportunities and thus has advanced from year to year, while at the same time he has maintained an unassailable reputation for the integrity of his business methods.

John McCuddin

For many years John McCuddin was actively identified with the farming  interests of this county and after a useful and well spent life is now  living retired in New Virginia, enjoying the fruits of former toil.  He  was born in Connecticut, on the 19th of December, 1843, a son of John  and Jennie (Rowley) McCuddin, who were natives of Ireland and Scotland  respectively.  They were married before their emigration to America and  both died when our subject was about three years old.  

After the death of his parents John McCuddin made his home with an older  sister in Chicago until thirteen years of age, when he ran away, his  only possessions at that time being an overcoat and a pair of overalls.   Since then he has been dependent entirely upon his own exertions.  He  spent six years in Davenport, Iowa, taking care of race horses, and in  1860 went to Wheatland, Clinton county, where he worked on a farm until  after the outbreak of the civil war.  Feeling that his country needed  his services he enlisted in 1862 in Company I, Twenty-sixth Iowa  Volunteer Infantry and served for one year and ten months, when he was  discharged on account of disability caused from sickness.  He  participated in the following engagements: Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas  Post, Champion Hills, Jackson, Mississippi, and the siege of Vicksburg.   At the last named place the flag of the regiment was left on the field  after the first fight and Mr. McCuddin displayed his bravery in going  after it and bringing it in.  He then served as color bearer until the  surrender of Vicksburg.  

On leaving the army he returned to Clinton county, Iowa, but for a year  was unable to work.  He then resumed farming and continued to make that  his occupation until he retired from active labor.  In 1871 he came to  Warren county and purchased forty acres of land in Virginia township, to  the cultivation of which he at once turned his attention.  He improved  several tracts of land in the same township and in his chosen field of  labor met with excellent success.  He still owns seventy-nine acres in  Clarke county.  Five years ago he retired to a pleasant home west of the  village, but when his wife died soon afterward he sold that place and   bought his present home in New Virginia.  

While still a resident of Clinton county, Mr. McCuddin married Miss  Frances E. Rundell, a native of Ohio, who passed away in Virginia  township, in March, 1903, leaving the following children, namely:   Charles, who is married and has a family living in Nebraska;  Lola, the  wife of Jesse Brewer, a farmer of Virginia township;  Orville, a farmer  of Madison county, Iowa;  William, who is single and resided in Sioux  City, Iowa;  Rhoda, the wife of Marshall Howlette, a farmer of Virginia  township;  Abe, a business man of Des Moines; and John, who is married  and follows farming in Virginia township.  

Mr. McCuddin and all of his sons support the republican party and he is  an earnest and faithful member of the Christian church, to which his  wife also belonged.  He is a man honored and respected wherever known  and he is a true and loyal citizen of the Union for which he fought  during the dark days of the rebellion.

Elias Mills, who has large landed holdings in this state and is also extensively engaged in the stock business, makes his home on section 33, Liberty township. He was born at or near Lafayette, Warren county, Indiana, March 26, 1839, his parents being Peter and Mary (Stanley) Mills. The latter was called to her final rest in 1847, while Peter Mills, who was a hatter by trade, survived his wife for about twenty years. The last three years of his life were spent at the home of his son Elias, in Lucas county, Iowa, where he passed away in 1868 at the age of seventy-two and a half years.

When ten years of age Elias Mills was "bound out" to a Quaker named Joel Paxton, in Jefferson county, Iowa, to which place the family had removed in 1847. He remained with Mr. Paxton until he had attained his majority and then received two suits of jean clothing, a mare worth eighty dollars and fourteen dollars in money. Subsequently, in 1860, he operated a farm on shares in Jefferson county, receiving a third share.  In December, 1860, he removed to Lucas county, Iowa, locating on the farm of his brother, Isaac Mills, which lay partly in Warren county.  There he remained throughout the following spring and summer, raising a crop on a neighboring farm.

In the fall of 1861, at Chariton, Iowa, Mr. Mills enlisted as a member of Company C, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Seventeenth Army Corps. He participated in many important engagements of the war, including the first battle of Shiloh and the engagement at Atlanta. He was also with Sherman on his famous march to the sea and took part in the grand review at Washington at the close of hostilities. He was three times wounded and at one time his injuries were so serious that he was compelled to spend four months in a hospital at Rome, Georgia. In 1864 he returned to Lucas county, Iowa, on a furlough and was married, but subsequently again joined his comrades on the battlefields of the south, serving in the army until July 31, 1865. Thus for four years he loyally defended the interests of the Union, having reenlisted at the end of his three years' term.

On once more taking up the pursuits of civil life Mr. Mills settled on a farm of eighty acres which he had purchased in Lucas county, Iowa, being engaged in its operation until 1872, when he came to Liberty township, Warren county, and has here been successfully and extensively engaged as a farmer and stockman to the present time. He owns and operates his home farm of about seven hundred acres in Warren and Lucas counties, while his holdings also comprise two hundred and eighty acres in Virginia township, a tract of land in Missouri and an entire section of solid timber in Dallas county. In addition to his agricultural interests he has also largely engaged in buying, raising, feeding and shipping cattle, hogs and horses, meeting with a most gratifying and enviable measure of success in his undertakings. Since the reorganization of the Bank of Lacona he has served as president of that institution, and is widely recognized as one of Warren county's most influential, prominent and prosperous citizens.

Mr. Mills was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Edwards, who was born in Indiana in 1844, a daughter of Abel and Clarissa (Bennett) Edwards, who resided on the farm on sections 33 and 34, Liberty township, Warren county, which is now the home of our subject. The Edwards family were comparatively early residents of this county, but the father and mother of Mrs. Mills are both deceased, the former passing away in Lucas county in 1895 and the latter in Warren county about 1875. Mrs. Mills was about fifteen years of age when she accompanied her parents on their removal to this county and she acquired her education in the old district school. By her marriage she became the mother of eleven children, namely: William, of Lincoln township, a teacher and coal miner, who is married and has six children; Lucy, who died about 1898, leaving her husband, Ira Sones, and two children to mourn her loss;  Eli, who passed away at the age of ten months; Charles L., who was a farmer of Liberty township and died about 1900, leaving a wife and two children; Laura, who resides at New Virginia, this county, and is the wife of Alva Gripp, by whom she has four children: two who died in infancy; Abel E., of Liberty township, who is married and has three children; N. R., an agriculturalist of White Breast township, who is likewise married and has three children; Herman, who follows farming near New Virginia and is married and has one child; and Jesse I., of Liberty Center, who is cashier of the Farmers Savings Bank. Mrs. Elizabeth Mills passed away November 8, 1889, when forty-four years of age, her demise being deeply regretted by many who had come to know and esteem her. After losing his first wife Mr. Mills was again married, his second union being with Mary J. Breece, of Lucas county. They had seven children, of whom three died in infancy, while those who still survive are Lowell, Zella, Orle and Raymond, aged respectively twelve, ten, eight and six years. Mr. Mills has given each of this older children eighteen hundred dollars, thus enabling them to make a good start in life.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Mills has given stalwart allegiance to the men and measures of the republican party, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has served as township trustee and in other positions of public trust and responsibility, ever discharging his duties in a manner entirely satisfactory to his constituents. He is a charter member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Liberty Center, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church of Liberty township. Brooking no obstacles that honest effort can overcome, he has steadily worked his way upward until, having long since left the ranks of the many, he today stands among the successful few.

JOSEPH P. MOSHER, who is now living on his farm of one hundred and forty acres on section 22, Liberty township, was born in Morrow county, Ohio, October 5, 1836, his parents being Asa and Sarah P. (Bunker) Mosher. The father was born in Washington county, New York, in 1802, and when about sixteen years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio, both his father and mother passing away in that state. He was reared in the Buckeye state and throughout his entire life followed agricultural pursuits. He owned a farm in Morrow county, which he sold on his removal to Iowa in June, 1853, locating in Liberty township, one mile south of what is now Liberty Center, where he made his home until his death. He entered seven hundred acres of land from the government, improved his home place and divided the remainder among his children. His was the seventh family to locate here, but the first to operate and improve a farm on the prairie. Many wolves and deer roamed at will and wild game of all kinds was plentiful. Groceries and provisions were hauled from the Mississippi river, and in the winter of 1853-54 Mr. Mosher bought corn at ten cents per bushel, hauling it from beyond Palmyra. Hay was easily procurable on the prairie. Mr. Mosher was one of the first trustees when the township was organized and served in various other township offices. He was originally a Quaker and in the early days religious services were often held at his home, but later he joined the New Light church. In political allegiance he was an old-line abolitionist. He passed away December 20, 1886, when almost eighty-four years of age, and Warren county mourned the loss of one of its most worthy and honored pioneer settlers. His wife, who was born on Nantucket island in 1804, passed away here in 1887. She was also identified with the New Light church. They were the parents of the following children, seven of whom accompanied them to Iowa: Stephen, who makes his home near Motor in Belmont township; Jonathan, a resident of Cloud county, Kansas; Susan B., the wife of Enos Crumerine, living at Jewell, Kansas; Joseph P., of this review; Elijah, of Cromanton, Florida; Angeline, the wife of Jesse Johnson, who resides south of Liberty Center on a part of the old home; Mary Ann, wife of Lemuel Griggs, who makes his home near Grimes, Dallas county, Iowa; and Obadiah, a resident of Liberty township, who passed away in 1904.

Joseph P. Mosher accompanied his parents on their removal to this county in June, 1853. He had begun his education in the schools of his native state and after coming to this county attended a subscription school which was erected by his father and some of the neighbors and of which his sister Susan, was the first teacher. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, when he was married and settled on his present farm on section 22, Liberty township, the land having been entered by his father. When our subject took possession of the tract it was all wild prairie but as the years have passed he has brought it under a high state of cultivation. The many fine improvements which are now seen on the place were all made by him and he likewise planted and set out all the trees. In addition to this farm, which comprises one hundred and forty acres, he also owns pasture and timber land along Otter Creek. Having gained a comfortable competence through the careful management of his agricultural interests, he is now living retired, enjoying in well earned ease the fruits of his former toil.

Mr. Mosher was united in marriage to Miss Angeline James, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, December 25, 1841, a daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Hartley) James. The parents came to eastern Iowa in 1849 and the following year came to Warren county, locating on Otter Creek in what is now Liberty township. Both the Hartley and the James families were old settlers in Ohio. Mrs. Mosher was one of the family of ten children. Those still living are as follows: Mrs. Mosher, who was the oldest; Rachel, the wife of Foster Griffith, of Buena Vista county, Iowa; Libbie, the wife of Rev. W. A. Shannon, living in Minneapolis, Minnesota; John, who wedded Lucretia Bird and resides in Harrison county, Iowa; Phoebe, the wife of George Phillips, living at Lewiston, Idaho; Amy, who became the wife of Reed Randalman and makes her home in Missouri, and Samuel, who lives near Carlisle, this county.

In his political views Mr. Mosher is a stanch republican and has served in all township offices except that of assessor. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Liberty Center, while his wife is a member of the Rebekahs. She is a Quaker in religious belief and is identified with the Friends church at Liberty Center. She and her husband will celebrate their golden wedding on the 7th of November, 1908. They are highly esteemed pioneer settlers of this county, receiving the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded those who have traveled thus far on life's journey.