Biographical Sketches.

"Human greatness is neither a mystery nor an accident. There is a class of minds, envious or ignorant, which insists that the greatness of men is without reference to any well settled orders of merit; that it is often the fruit of chance; that it is subject to no well defined rule or analysis, and that fame is a lawless and irregular thing. We dissent from this view and disclaim any share in its self-complacency. We believe that human greatness, as interpreted by intelligent fame among mankind, is regulated by well-known laws, is subject to a clear analysis, and is capable of a precise definition, especially in modern civilized society, with its multitude of concers, its intricate organization, and its constant and characteristic multiplication of restraints and difficulties upon the self-assertion of the individual, it is impossible for a man to obtain anything like permanent fame without the possession of some substantial and well-defined merit or some extraordinary quality. To be sure, in the experience of every people there are hasty judgments of the mob, fits of fickle admira tion, short triumphs of charlatanism, ephemera of the newspaper. But equally certain it is that no man succeeds to real and lasting fame, and obtains a permanent place in the regard of his fellows, unless he has some visible mark upon him, some true excellence, and only after a severe test and a precise measure have been applied to those qualities in which he asserts an extraordinary character. Thus character may be one of great virtues or of brilliant vices. We do not discuss the moral question here; we only insist that the man designated for historical reputation and the fee of fame must have something that really distinguishes him from his fellows. Affectation and pretension can never accomplished a permenant name. There is no such thing as being great by accident, and enjoying fame without good reason therefor. Weak men may sometimes make undue noise, and occupy for a little while eminences to which they do not belong; but the sober judgment of mankind soon passes upon the pretender, and reduces him to his proper position. It is the certain and inevitable law of history. Mind, like water, will find its level. We may appear to live in a great confusion of names, amid disordered currents of popular fame, in storms of unjust and turbulent opinion; but, after all, we may be sure that there is an ultimate order, that the reputation of men will be finally assigned them by extact rules, and that they only will

enter the temple of history, who have real titles, by extraordinary virtues, or by extraordinary vices, to its places.'

Thus writes one whose reputation as a biographer cannot be excelled. His reflections lead to many suggestive thoughts, sure to arise in the minds of all who follow his remarks. All men cannot be great; each has his own sphere, and the success of his life is to be measured by the manner in which he fills it. But men may be both trne and good, may be morally great, for in true living there are no degrees, there is no respect of persons. The word sketch, as here used, implies an outline or delineation of anything, giving broad touches by which only an imperfect idea, at the best, can be conveyed. It is not designed to include all the several and separate acts of a man's life, important or otherwise, for that would necessarily be both comprenensive and minute; nor is any single sketch purely biographical, which would imply a review of the life and character of each person. The design is to give the merest outline, with particular reference, however, to the public life of the persons named. To go into each man's private life, or into his home life, would be both unwarranted and valueless. Few care to know these facts, and many of them, perhaps, had best be forgotten. As a rule one's neighbors know full enough about him, and to afford them correct data for information may deprive them of the topic of quondum conversations.

Here will be found few, if any, who are not entitled to a place in public confidence. The names are, in great part, those of men who have been closely and for a long time identified with the interests of the county and their respective townships. If in their lives no mention appears of the hardships they endured in the early days of the county's history it is because these are the common experiences of pioneer life, were not exceptional in their character, and have already been referred to in other pages of this volume. A repetition here of individual experiences would by absolutely devoid of both interest and aim. To the residents of the county the names of none of its earliest settlers are without interest. So far as they could be gathered they illustrate quite fully the character of the early settlers; if the names of any such do not appear in these pages it is because facts were not accessible, or that an inauspicious destiny had arrested their career. Their place was already marked To have obtained sketches of their lives, at first-hand, would have been, next to the consciousness of duty fulfilled, the highest of gratifications. Their lives would obtain, and justify all sympathy, and even their names recall heroic examples of which the men of to-day, with better fortunes, though with less daring, are neither the companions, the rivals nor the masters. In the great majority of instances the battles in which many persons named have been engaged are suppressed, not because they are valueless, but because the engagements of the several Iowa regiments may be found in another por

tion of the volume. This has not been generally the case with regiments outside of the state, except in an occasional instance when some one, ambitious to share the glory of war, represented himself in remarkable battles in different and widely removed states, but occurring the same date. Each one of this class selects for himself the place of glory, and makes of his own person the pivot on which the fortunes of battle revolved. It has, in a word, been a paramount object that men should be sketched as they are, rather than as they think they are, or wish, perhaps, to be.

BENTON TOWNSHIP.

BEALS, A. S., dairyman, post-office, Russell. Born in Orleans county, New York, September 2, 1836, where he lived until grown, obtaining his education in the common schools. Moved to Noble county, Indiana, in 1853, and in autumn of 1863, came to his present home. Was married, January, 1858, to Miss Ella Armstrong, of Richland county, Ohio. Of this union were three children: Charles A., Harry C., and Laura C. Mrs. Beals died January, 1866. He was married again, January 1870, to Mary C. Douglas, of Orleans county, New York, by whom he has also had three children: Albert D., Laura G., and Mary H. He owns a first rate farm of 183 acres, well improved, good dwelling, barn, and orchard. Mr. Beals is a member of the Baptist Church, and a man of straight republican politics.

HOUSTON, S. D., post-office, Chariton. One of the pioneers of Benton township, and commands the respect of his neighbors. Born in Green county, Tennessee, November, 1826. When four years of age his parents moved to Hendrix, Indiana, where he resided until 1849, on a farm, being educated in the common schools, and also attending Danville Academy. Came to Iowa in the spring of 1849, and entered 120 acres of land in this township. Returned to Indiana, and came again to Monroe county, Iowa, making the trip on horseback. He remained there two years, teaching in winter and farming in summer. In August, 1851, he moved to his present location, being the third settler in the township. He was married April 10, 1851, to Miss Marrena J. McKinley, whose parents were the first settlers of Washington township. Are the parents of ten children, Melissa J., Charles T., Ellen E., Tillman H., (deceased) Lucy B., Samuel W., Anna F., Walter G., Ethel F. and Carrie L. Mr. Houston owns a fine farm of 230 acres, well improved, and adorned with ornamental trees; good barn and all the necessary facilities for stock-raising. Has filled various township offices, and been county clerk. Is a member

of the M. E. Church.

LEWIS, DAVID, post-office, Chariton. Born June 13, 1819, in Montgomery county, New York. In 1830, his parents moved to Lucas county, Ohio, where he grew to man's estate, on a farm, receiving a common school education. Married in the state of Missouri, October 30, 1842, to Miss Lorilla, daughter of Archibald and Betsey Whitten. She was born October 9, 1824, in Orleans county, New York. Came to Monroe county, Iowa, in 1855, and in 1856 to where he now resides. Enlisted in 1862 in company C, eighteenth Iowa infantry, remained with his regiment until it reached Springfield, Missouri, where he was discharged for disability, having served about eight months. A few days after his arrival at home, he was taken with varioloid, and gave four of the children smallpox, which created quite a scare in the neighborhood. They all recovered. Mrs. Lewis exhibited to the writer, a petrified turtle shell, found sixteen feet under ground, in a well dug on their farm. Its shape is still retained, showing the neck and feet. Mr. Lewis has never regained his health. They have eleven children, seven of whom are living: Frances C., married to G. W. Redlingshafer, Sanford G., Jane A., married to James Herby, Franklin D., Mentha M., married to Michael Knight, Weltha L., married to John P. Setters, Lillian B., Alice M., Milton A., Lucy E., and Kate J., deceased.

MARSH, MRS. MARTHA, farmer, section eight. Born February 4, 1822, in Harrison county, Ohio. Raised on a farm, and educated in the common schools. In 1829, her parents moved to Guernsey county, Ohio, and in 1840, to Grant county, Indiana, where she married Isaac Marsh, November 9, 1843. He was born August 19, 1821, in Guernsey county, Ohio. His parents moved to Grant county, Indiana, when he was but a youth. He was raised on a farm, receiving a liberal common school education. In 1858, he came to Lucas county, Iowa. Enlisted, 1862, in company K, 34th Iowa infantry. Was in the attack on Vicksburg, and at the taking of Arkansas Post. Went with rebel prisoners to Chicago. Returned to St. Louis, and from there went to Pilot Knobb, where he was taken sick, and returned home. He died June 17, 1863, having been at home only seventeen days. They had six children; four are living, and two are dead: Telitha, married to James T. Riggle; Anne E., married to Joseph Hall; James C., Sarepta B., married to John O. Fent. Mrs. Marsh is the daughter of Joshua and Anne Thompson.

MERRILL, J. E., farmer and stock-raiser, post-office, Milan.· Born October 17, 1856, in Peoria county, Illinois. His parents moved to Wayne county, Iowa, in 1862, and, in 1868, came to Lucas county, where he resided on a farm until he attained his manhood, receiving a common school education. Married November 4, 1880, to Miss H. Almeda, daughter of Samuel and Eliza A. Scales, a native of Steuben county Indiana. He is the only living son of James G. Merrill, who owns a large

farm, which they work jointly. He is a young man of much promise, and, like his father, bids fair to be a man of use and influence in his neighborhood.

MERRILL, JAMES G., farmer and stock-raiser, post-office, Milan. Born October 13, 1810, in Penobscot county, Maine, where he attained his majority. His father was a carpenter, at which he assisted, meanwhile attending the common schools. Started in business with a peddling wagon for two years. Married in Bangor, Maine, January, 1835, to Miss Sarah M. Thompson. In 1837, he moved to Fulton county, Illinois, where he carried on a cabinet shop. In 1841, he moved to Peoria county, where he carried on the cabinet business for a time, after which he kept hotel. Was postmaster four years at his home in Illinois. Changed from that to farming, which he has followed since that time. Came to Wayne county in 1863, and in 1870, came to where he now resides. Has 660 acres of land in a body, on which he has a model farm. He has held the office of justice of the peace in this state, and is now postmaster at Milan, keeping the office in his dwelling since 1870. His wife died February 22, 1873. She was the mother of seven children, five of whom are dead. M. Ida, married to C. H. Clark, residing in Wayne county, and J. Everett, are the only survivors. Helen A., Wm. H., Sarah E., Ella Z., and Seth G. are deceased. Married to his second wife, Miss Polly Chatterton, of New York.

MORRIS, WM. farmer, section 12, post-office, Russell. Is a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, was born October 29, 1829; spent the early part of his life in farming the soil of the "Keystone,” receiving the advantages of common schools. He came with the early pioneers to Iowa, in the fall of 1856. Was married in February, 1854, to Miss Margaret Miller. His wife was also born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. She is the mother of one child, Wm. McCague, born September 28, 1855. Mr. Morris is proprietor of seventy-six acres of good land, with a nicely located and handsomely built residence, and fine, large orchard. He is a member of the U. P. Church, and a respected and honored citizen. REDLINGSHAFER, JOHN G., farmer and stock-raiser, post-office, Chariton. Born, May 8th, 1828, in Bavaria, Germany; raised on a farm, and attended common schools from six to fourteen years of age. In 1848, he came to America with his parents, who located in Washington county, Pennsylvavia, where he remained until November 30, 1855, when he married Miss Isabel S., daughter of William R. and Mary Graer. She was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1830; raised on a farm; educated in the common schools; taught school five years. By his labor Mr. R. accumulated a small sum of money, and in 1857, moved to Lucas county, purchasing forty acres of land, where he now resides. He has since made an addition of 160 acres, where he now has a good farm and substantial buildings. They have five children, all living: Cora,