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ELIAS PARK, one of the prominent farmers of Washington County, Iowa, resides upon section 23, Brighton Township. He was born near Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 16, 1831, and came with his parents, George and Ann (Harder) Park, to Washington County, in 1837. He received but a limited education in youth. At that time there were no free schools, and, in fact, for some years after their settlement in Washington County there were no public schools. His primary education was obtained from a private teacher hired by his father. Mr. Park now says his education was obtained at the expense of a business transaction. Notwithstanding the poor advantages of his youth, he is yet a well-read man, and well posted in public affairs.
In 1857, Mr. Park was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Nichols, of Marion Township, and daughter of Edward Nichols. By this union there are seven children living: Mary A., the wife of Leroy Prestley, of Frontier County, Neb.; Laura E., the wife of William E. Barton, of Jasper County, Neb.; Lorinda, a teacher in the public schools of Washington County; Laura E., the wife of William E. Barton, of Jasper County, Neb.; Lorinda, a teacher in the public schools of Washington County; George E., Azubah, Jasper W. and Bessie F., at home. Mr. Park was but six years of age when he came to Washington County, where he has now lived one-half a century. As may be inferred, he has endured all the trials of pioneer life, and has witnessed every change that has taken place in the transformation of the wilderness into a most productive country filled with a prosperous and happy people. In the work that has been done he has borne his part, although a quiet and unassuming man. He is now the owner of 200 acres of land, all under cultivation with the exception of forty acres of timber. In politics, he is liberal, voting for the best man. Mr. and Mrs. Park are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
S. P. COE, farmer and stock-raiser, on section 32, Oregon Township, was born in the city of Brooklyn, N.Y., Jan. 9, 1834, and is the son of William and Ann Coe, who were natives of England, but came to America in 1832, and settled in Brooklyn, N.Y. They remained there a few years, and then removed to Ohio, where they remained seventeen years, and then came to Washington County, Iowa. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Ohio, and in 1852 came to this county, where he has since continued to reside.
In 1862 Mr. Coe enlisted in Co. I, 25th Iowa Vol. Inf., and served till the close of the war. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, the Atlanta campaign, and with Sherman in his famous march to the sea.
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After passing through nearly three years' hard service, and engaging in all the battles participated in by his regiment, in the last battle of the war, at Bentonville, N.C., he received a gunshot wound in the left thigh. He was honorably discharged at Troy, N.Y., in the summer of 1865, returned to his home in Washington County, and at once resumed the peaceful vocation of a farmer, in which he had previously been engaged, and which he has since made his life work.
In 1873 our subject was united in marriage, in Crawfordsville, Iowa, with Miss Nancy Campbell, the daughter of James and Sarah (Giddings) Campbell, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Scotch, and the latter of German descent. They now reside in their neat home on section 32, Oregon Township. This farm Mr. Coe has brought under a high state of cultivation, the improvements being of the better class. Commencing life without a dollar, inheriting no property, that which he now has has been acquired through his own individual efforts, assisted by those of his wife. Politically, he is a Republican, and as a citizen enjoys the respect and esteem of all.
MAJ. LABAN B. FLEAK, of Brighton, is one of the early settlers of Washington County. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, where the present city of Cincinnati now stands, Jan. 27, 1808. His father, Peter Fleak was born in Redstone, Pa., in 1784, and in early life followed the river, shipping produce to New Orleans. He was there during the battle in New Orleans, and participated in the same. He married Lavina Bramble, in Hamilton County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Capt. Elon Bramble, who served under Gen. Washington. They settled in Hamilton County, Ohio, where they reared three children, Maj. Fleak being the only surviving one. His father dying, his mother subsequently married Andrew Whetsel, of Pennsylvania, by whom she had three children: Andrew, of Indiana; Henry of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Mary, of Southern Illinois. She died in Illinois, in her eighty-eighth year. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for over sixty years.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the High School and Academy of Cincinnati, receiving a liberal education. When about twenty-one years of age he went to Canada, and there engaged in the grain business. He subsequently went to Allegany County, N.Y. and was there married to Miss Julia Pennock, a native of Genessee County, the same State, born in 1819. In October, 1835, he turned his face toward the setting sun and came west on horseback to Indianapolis, Ind., and then by stage and river to St. Louis, Mo., where he intended to engage in the jewelry business, but finding that branch of trade overdone, went to Richmond, Mo., and there established himself in that line of trade. After remaining in Richmond a few months he returned East and brought out his wife. In 1838, he went to Burlington, Iowa, and there attended the first territorial convention of the newly formed Territory. When returning home by boat, he got left at Keokuk, and while looking around for a place to stop, encountered Lieut. Lee, afterward the celebrated Gen. Lee of the rebel army, and occupied his bed. Through the influence of Lieut. Lee he determined to settle in Keokuk. On returning to Buffalo City he found the people of Missouri considerably excited over Mormon question, the Mormons having settled in that State, and becoming quite obnoxious. He raised a company for the purpose of forcing them out of the county.
In March, 1840, our subject settled at Keokuk, of which place he was the first Postmaster, the first commissioned Justice of the Peace, the first hotel-keeper and the first merchant. There he remained for ten years, and then went to Jefferson County, and engaged in farming near Fairfield. In 1854 he traded his farm for the Eagle Hotel, at Brighton, to which place he removed, and where he has since resided. In 1854, he was appointed private secretary to Gen. Curtis, and was given the rank of Major. Reporting to Gen. Curtis at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., he remained one year. The command was then ordered to Minnesota, and while en route to that place was ordered to halt at Milwaukee, Wis., word
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having been received that the Indians had stopped committing their depredations. While in the service, Maj. Fleak wrote the life of Gen. Curtis. In 1846 he was made a Mason, and was quite active in that fraternity up to 1860, being Deputy Grand Master and Lecturer. He was instrumental in the organization of several lodges. He organized the lodge at Brighton in 1865, and was its first Master, and continued in that office for many years. He represented the lodge in the grand Lodge for several years. In 1852 and 1853 he was elected Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge.
Politically, Maj. Fleak was a Whig in early life, and cast his first Republican vote for Abraham Lincoln; he has since been identified with that party. Maj. and Mrs. Fleak are the parents of five living children: Martha, the wife of B. Tracy; Zachary T., George, Laban, and Julia, the wife of Milton Swisher. Henry C. enlisted in the 2d Iowa Infantry, and died from the effect of disease contracted while in the service; Valencourt V. enlisted in the 17th Iowa Infantry, was captured and sent to Andersonville Prison, where he remained until the close of the war. Returning home he died from the effects of disease contracted while in that loathsome prison. Few men in Washington or Jefferson Counties have more friends than Maj. L. B. Fleak. Of a jovial disposition, he manages to keep every one around him in good humor. He is a man of more than ordinary ability, and knows well how to express himself upon every subject of general interest. For more than half a century Maj. and Mrs. Fleak have lived together as husband and wife. That they may live to celebrate their diamond wedding is the most sincere desire of every friend.
J. H. PEARSON, Postmaster of Ainsworth, and editor of the Ainsworth Clipper, printed by steam, is a native of Allegheny County, Pa., born March 31, 1849, and is the son of Jesse and Mary J. Pearson, a sketch of whom will be found in this work. He was brought by his parents to this county in 1856, and was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools. On the 27th of December, 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy E. Utterback, a daughter of Benjamin and Eleanor (Bryan) Utterback. She was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1852. They have six children—Charles S., William P., Mary J., John H., Emma J. and Margaret E.
Mr. Pearson continued in general farming until 1874, when he built a greenhouse near Ainsworth, and has since been engaged in floriculture and vegetable seed-growing. He is now the owner of a fine farm on section 32, consisting of 120 acres of land, all under a high state of cultivation, and on which he now resides. In 1874 he commenced, and still continues, to publish the Western Farmer and Horticulturist, which has a large circulation throughout the United States. He also edits and publishes the Clipper, which was commenced in 1883. Politically Mr. Pearson is a Democrat, and in 1887 was appointed Postmaster of Ainsworth by President Cleveland. He is a member of Orient Lodge No. 365, A.F. & A.M. Religiously he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopaly church. As may be inferred from what has been written, Mr. Pearson is an energetic man, and in the various lines of business which he has followed he has been fairly successful.
F. E. CORNISH, editor of the Riverside Leader, was born in Manchester, Delaware Co., Iowa, Nov. 4, 1860. He is the son of Horace M. and Effie (Post) Cornish. Both were natives of and were married in Wyoming County, N.Y. The father came from New York about 1858, and established himself in Manchester, Iowa, in the mercantile business, returned to his native county, and was wedded to Miss Effie Post, and the young couple at once became identified with the business interests of the new Northwest. Horace Cornish might properly be termed a "Yankee," his father, Lemuel Cornish, being denominated such, but was of Welsh decent. He was both a farmer and miller, operating at Perry, N.Y., for many years. He wedded Miss Jackson. Both lived and died at Perry, N.Y., but left a large family of children, of whom Horace was the second son, and with his brother, Hilliard P. Cornish, a commercial
salesman, of Cherokee, Iowa, were the only members of the family that came West to stay.
Horace Cornish remained in business during his lifetime in this State, and was a very successful merchant. He was also Postmaster at Manchester for several years. His death occurred Dec. 25, 1883, aged fifty-one years. HIs wife still resides at Manchester. The Post (formerly Van Post) ancestry were of Holland-Dutch origin. The grandfather of our subject, Christopher Post, was born and married in New Jersey. After the celebration of that event he removed to Wyoming County, N.Y., where the family was among the first settlers. Christopher Post was one of the thrifty pioneers, and cleared up a nice farm upon which he reared a family consisting of ten daughters and two sons. Of the daughters, Effie, the mother of our subject, was the youngest. The aged parents left the farm and purchased property in Gainesville, N.Y., where both died at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
Mr. and Mrs. Horace Cornish were the parents of two children, our subject and Katie. The latter died when only two years of age, consequently the sole heir to the name and fortune of Horace N. Cornish, is Fred E., his son. He was educated in his native town, and early evinced a taste for newspaper work. When nineteen years of age he entered the office of the Manchester Democrat and learned the printer's trade. One year from that time, in company with L. P. Hunt, he went to Lanesboro, Minn., and purchased the Lanesboro Journal, which after being successfully conducted was sold later. From Lanesboro Mr. Cornish went to Mitchell, Dak., and became foreman of the daily Republican, and eighteen months later purchased the Jesup (Iowa) Critic, which he subsequently sold, and later came to Riverside, purchasing the Riverside Leader, established by Wheeler & Cartwright, the first issue being made Aug. 14, 1883. Several unsuccessful attempts had previously been made to make a self-sustaining paper in the new town, but most efforts had proved failures until Mr. Cornish assumed the management. The News was the first title, but later the Leader was the name adopted, and under this fitting cognomen it makes weekly visits to hundreds of families throughout Southeastern Iowa. It is purely local and has no political views, although its editor and proprietor is a Republican. We can only do the Leader justice by saying that it contains a volume of interesting locals each week, which are carefully written, and no local paper could desire a better circulation, and surely the people of this neighborhood, and the residents of Riverside in particular, have every reason to be proud of its newsy pages.
JOHN WOLFE resides upon section 21, Marion Township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He was born in Montgomrery County, Ohio, in 1844, and is the son of Lewis and Catherine (Riley) Wolfe, the former a native of Germany, and the latter of Pennsylvania. When John was but five years of age, his parents left Montgomery County and went to Miami County, in that State, where they lived until 1856, when they emigrated to Washington County, Iowa, and settled in Brighton Township, where his father rented a farm. His father yet lives in this county on a farm in Franklin Township, which he has rented for twenty years.
The subject of this sketch enlisted Aug. 20, 1862, in Co. A, 25th Iowa Vol. Inf., and served two years and ten months, participating in all the battles and campaigns in which the regiment was engaged. It was in the siege of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Taylor Ridge, near Ringgold, Ga., Resaca, the Atlanta campaign, Dallas, Kennesaw, Lost Mountain, Chattahoochee River, Decatur, Ga., Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lone Joy. While on his way from Chattanoooga to Nashville, Tenn., the train was wrecked near Whiteside, Tenn., Mr. Wolfe having his left arm broken and shoulder dislocated. He was sent to the Cumberland Hospital, at Nashiville, Tenn., and was disabled for active duties on account of his injuries, and was mustered out June 6, 1865, at Washington, D.C. On being discharged from the service, he returned to this county and engaged in farming.
Mr. Wolfe was first married, Aug. 10, 1866, to Jane, the daughter of Solomon Tucker. She was a native of Indiana. By this union there were four
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children: Mary Catherine, now in Kansas City, Mo.; John Edward, residing in this county; William Lewis died at the age of three years, and Ella when twelve months old. Mrs. Lewis died Aug. 10, 1873, at the age of thirty years. She was born Feb. 23,1843. She was a member of the Christian Church and highly regarded by all. Mr. Wolfe's second marriage occurred May 10, 1874, when he married Elizabeth Marshal, a native of Newton County, Mo., and daughter of Elias Marshal. By this union there have been six children: Franklin died in infancy; Sherman, Joseph, Minnie, Thomas and Charles, are all at home.
In the fall of 1867, Mr. Wolfe moved to Newton County, Mo., where he lived five years, engaged in farming. He then moved to Jasper County, the same State, where he was engaged in the lead mines. In 1875 he returned to this county and rented a farm in Marion Township, where he remained until 1882, where he bought eight-five acres on sections 21 1n 16, Marion Township, where he has since continued to reside. Commencing life a poor boy, he has through his own industry, acquired his present property. The life struggle, though hard, now seems to be crowned with success. Mr. Wolfe is a man who is well respected by all who know him. Of the various local offices of the township, he has filled that of Constable for some years, and is at present School Director. He is a member of Post No. 108. G.A.R. Mrs. Wolfe is a member of the Christian Church.
B. F. ALLEN, M.D. This well-known and progressive young physician of Kalona, is a native of Iowa, born in Lime Creek Township, Washington County, Dec. 8, 1857, and is a son of William and Perlina S. (Wait) Allen. After leaving the district school he completed his literary education at the Washington Academy. He received his medical education at the State University, at Iowa City, graduating in the medical department of that institution March 7, 1883. He began the practice of his profession at Alexandria, Dak., where he remained for about eight months, when he removed to Morse, Iowa, and thence, in September, 1885, to Kalona, where he is building up a lucrative practice, and acquiring the reputation of a careful and skillful physician, who keeps abreast of the most modern developments in the science of medicine. To supply the needs of the people of Kalona and vicinity Dr. Allen in April, 1886, opened a drug-store there, the only one in the place, in which he keeps a full supply of drugs, chemicals, and other articles usually found in such establishments.
Dr. Allen was married, Dec. 16, 1885, at Morse, Iowa, to Rhoda M. Gardner, a native of Lake County, Ohio, and a daughter of J. W. and Sarah (Brewster) Gardner. The Doctor is justly regarded as a rising man. He is a member of the Iowa Legion of Honor and in politics is a Republican.
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