Appanoose County, Iowa
Biographies
C. L. Beatty C. L. Beatty, banker, real estate and loan broker; pres. Pine Bluffs State Bank; (Rep); b. Aug. 11, 1869, Appanoose county, Iowa, s. of James and Mary (Coe) Beatty; educ. Pub. Schls. Moravia, Iowa Bloomfield (Iowa) Normal school; engaged in fire insurance business as trav. Agent of Anchor and Century Fire Insurance companies, with headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, 1891-1906; located in Wyoming, Aug. 1906, and engaged in colonizing business, with headquarters in Pine Bluffs; since that time he has located over 1,000 families; organized and became pres. Pine Bluffs State Bank, Jan.1908; pres. Frontier Milling & Elevator Co., Pine Bluffs; pres. And organizer of The Peoples Telephone Co., Pine Bluffs; mayor Pine Bluffs, 1910-15; mem. Wyo. H. of Rep., 1915-17;;mem. 32 deg. Mason, York Rite, Shriner, Knight Templar. Address. Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. [Men of Wyoming, By C. S. Peterson, Publ 1915, Transcribed by Richard Ramos]
Amon K. Biddison This enterprising and well known gentleman is one of the leading vine dressers in this section, having a vineyard of two and one half acres, besides considerable more that is being started. He dwells in the village of, Juliaetta, owning a block upon which is a fine residence, also has another block that is not improved and twenty acres of fine vineyard land that adjoins the town. Mr. Biddison is a native of Ohio, being born near Wilmington, in Clinton county, on September 18, 1852, the son of John and Nancy (Martin) Biddison. His parents removed him to Iowa when he was two years old and settlement was made in Appanoose county, near Centerville, where he remained with them until his twentieth year. In 1874 he went to Kansas and settled in Coffey county, near Neosho Falls, and there he remained until 1882, when he sold his property interests there and came to Idaho. He located two miles north from where Troy now stands and in partnership with his brother purchased a sawmill that had just been built there. It was the second mill erected in that section. For four years we find him there in the manufacture of timber products and then he went to farming on Big Bear creek. He remained there until 1897, when he again sold out and went to Columbia county, Washington. He devoted his attention to raising stock there until very recently, when he sold his entire interests there and came to Juliaetta, where he purchased the property above mentioned. In addition to handling his vineyard, he devotes much time and attention to raising vegetables for the market and he is one of the prosperous men of this section. Mr. Biddison has always taken a lively interest in political matters, and while on Big Bear creek he served as deputy assessor for the years 1895-6-7. Fraternally he is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., at Pomeroy, Washington. Mr. Biddison married Miss Nevada, daughter of William and Nevada Fowler, at Centerville, Iowa, on December 24, 1882, and they have the following children: Crayton S., Elmer F., Noyes A. and Olive. Mr. Biddison is one of the men of vigor and thrift who have done much in the real building of our county and he is deserving of great credit for his wise and vigorous efforts in this line, while he has also exemplified in his life those rare virtues of worth and quality that characterize the real man of principle and the patriotic citizen. [An Illustrated History Of North Idaho Embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai, Shoshone Counties, State Of Idaho, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903, submitted by Barb Z.]
Harry Sturgeon Crossen CROSSEN, Harry Sturgeon, surgeon; born in Appanoose Co., Ia., Feb. 2, 1869: son of James and Affinity (Sturgeon) Crossen; educated Siloam Springs (Ark.) Academy, 1885-88; Medical Department of Washington University, 1889-92, M.D., 1892; married, Oberlin, O., Mar. 28, 1895, Mary Frances Wright; children: Theodore W., Ruth V., Robert J., Virginia M., David F. Appointed junior assistant City Hospital, 1892, senior assistant, 1893, and six months later assistant superintendent City Hospital, which held until appointed by Mayor Walbridge, superintendent St. Louis Female Hospital; since 1899 engaged in private practice. Clinical professor of gynecology Washington University; gynecologist to Washington University Hospital, Bethesda Hospital, Mullanphy Hospital and Missouri Baptist Sanitarium. Member American Gynecological Society, American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, St. Louis Medical Society, Medical Society of City Hospital Alumni. Republican. Methodist. Extensive contributor to medical literature of articles pertaining to gynecology and obstetrics. Recreation: hunting. Office: Metropolitan Bldg., Grand Ave. and Olive St. Residence: 5423 Bartmer Ave. [The Book of St. Louisans, Publ. 1912, Transcribed by Charlotte Slater]
Reed W. Dodd One of the oldest settlers of Taylor Township, Appanoose County, was born near Jacksonville, in what was then Montgomery County, now Floyd County, Virginia, the date of his birth being April 6, 1807. His parents, John P. and Sarah (Dickerson) Dodd, were born, reared and married in the State of Virginia, the father being a native of Franklin County. Their family consisted of four sons and three daughters, our subject being the eldest child, and of this family Reed W. and three daughters are now living. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Elijah Dickerson, was born in Halifax County, Virginia, and was of English descent. Reed W. Dodd passed his youth on a farm, for a short time attending a private school, living with his parents till reaching maturity. At the age of twenty-two years he married Irene Montgomery, of Grayson County, Virginia, the fourth daughter of William and Martha (Hiatt) Montgomery. Of the ten children born to this union eight are living — Eli; Sarah, wife of William Thrift; Lydia J. Russel, of Lucas County; Clementina, wife of Seaton Taylor; Martha E. married E. Burnett, of Clarke County; Leah Moore, of Creston, Iowa, and Frank M. Mr. Dodd has thirty-eight grandchildren, and twenty-four great-grandchildren. In the spring of 1831 Mr. Dodd removed with his family to Hendricks County, Indiana, settling among the timber, where he cleared a farm on which he lived till the fall of 1850. He then came with his family to Appanoose County, Iowa, locating on his present farm, entering 200 acres of unbroken prairie land from the Government. Here he built a small log cabin, and commenced the improvement of his farm the following season. He has devoted considerable attention to the raising of stock, principally cattle and horses, for many years, and still makes a specialty of horses. His farm now contains 204 acres of choice land under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Dodd have lived together for fifty-six years, and bid fair to live for years, both being hale and hearty. They have been members of the regular Baptist church for many years. Politically Mr. Dodd was formerly an old line Whig, casting his first vote for General Jackson, but has voted the Republican ticket since the organization of that party. [Submitted by Kim T.]
Mrs. Thomas Goss Mrs. Frances Cornelia Lanius Goss was born Jany. 28, 1874, in Trenton, Mo. Her father’s name was Henry Clay Lanius, a native of Ohio. Her mother’s name was Hester Anne Fouts, whose forbears were among the prominent families of Virginia, and was the daughter of Elizabeth Perry, who was an own cousin of Commodore Hazard Perry, of Lake Erie fame. Mrs. Goss was educated in the public schools of Trenton, Mo., and in Hardin College, Mexico, Mo., where she specialized in music. She was married in September, 1893, to Rev. Wilbur M. Jones, a Baptist minister of Fairmount, Ill., where her work in the church resulted in much lasting good. Their one son, Thaddeus C. Jones, is now a student in Drake University, doing work preparatory to a Harvard University Law course. She was married to Mr. Thomas Goss, a prominent business man, and a member of one of Iowa's oldest and most highly respected families, in February, 1903, and went to live in Centerville, Iowa, where they now reside. To this marriage have been born two children, Frances Ima, age nine, and Henry Clay Goss, age six. Mrs. Goss is a member of the P. E. O. sisterhood, of the Ladies Civic Improvement Club and of the M. X. L., a social organization. She has the honor to be a member of the Board of Education which position she fills with dignity and intelligence on matters relating to the welfare of the schools. She is a woman who has traveled widely and reads a great deal and is a delightful conversationalist. She is possessed of an abundance of good cheer and sees life through optimistic eyes, making her always a delightful companion. [The Blue book of Iowa Women, by Winona Evans Reeves, Publ. 1914, Transcribed by Dana Kraft]
Mrs. George W. Needles Mrs. Margaret Crosby Needles was born June 19, 1861, in Columbus, Ohio. She is the daughter of Amasa Jones and Ellen Crosby. Her great grandfather, Dr. Samuel Crosby, was a surgeon in the army under Gen. Washington during the War of the Revolution. In his honor the Centerville chapter, D. A. R., is named Dr. Samuel Crosby Chapter. Her paternal great-grandfather was also a Revolutionary soldier. On Aug. 29, 1883 she was married in Centerville to George W. Needles, editor and publisher of the Centerville Daily Citizen, which was established in 1864. For ten years Mrs. Needles has been on the staff of her husband’s paper of which her son is the business manager. She is the mother of three children—Otis Crosby Needles, Eleanor Colby and Lyman C, who died several years ago. In religious faith she is a Unitarian and is active in all the interests of the church. She is a member of the M. X. L. Club, a prominent social organization, of the O. E. S., the P. E. O. sisterhood, and of the D. A. R. She was instrumental in organizing the chapter in 1910 and has been for several years its regent. She is a charter member of the Ladies’ Cemetery Association, which has a membership of fifteen. It was organized by Mrs. Geo. W. Merrett in 1898, and in that tune beautiful drives have been laid out, a pergola built in the center of Bradley Memorial Park, a superintendent's home built and a white stone chapel erected. Mrs. Needles is vice-president of the association. She has served the State Society of D. A. R. two years as organizing regent and has served on state and national D A. R. committees. She enjoys society and leads a busy life in her home and in her interest in public welfare work. [The Blue book of Iowa Women, by Winona Evans Reeves, Publ. 1914, Transcribed by Dana Kraft]
Mrs. George W. Randle Mrs. Ella Williams Randle, is a member of a family very well known in the activities of the Methodist church in Iowa and connected with musical interests. She was born in Centerville, Feby. 8, 1859, the daughter of John W. Williams and Mary Elizabeth Bradley, names well known in the history of that town. Mr. Williams was of German descent, born in Freeport, Penn. He introduced the round note system of musical notation into this section of the state; thus doing away with the earlier system of square and three cornered notes or the ”buckwheat notes” as they were called. He was church chorister for many years. He was a manufacturer of pianos and his sons, H. B. and Carl S. Williams, own one of the large piano and organ factories in Chicago. Mrs. Randle’s mother, Mary Elizabeth Bradley, was born in Belfast, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. On Sept. 22, 1880, Ella Williams was married in Centerville to George W. Randle, a prominent business man. They have six children: Lulu Virginia, Ruby Mary, Bess Margaret, Albert Williams, Roy Waldo and Ralph George. She is a member of the Methodist church of which she was organist for eight years, and a member of the official board. For ten years she was president of the Ladies’ Aid, and has been active in missionary society and local charity work. She is a member of the M. X. L., Club, and of the P. E. O. sisterhood since 1882. She is a trustee of the Drake Free Library Board. She is a woman who helps along every good work, which is characteristic of the Williams family. She is a prominent woman socially and enjoys that phase of life also. [The Blue book of Iowa Women, by Winona Evans Reeves, Publ. 1914, Transcribed by Sally Masteller]
Loren P. Rucker Loren P. Rucker, who continues his practice as veterinarian in addition to carrying on dairy farming in the Cary Bluff community, was born June 2, 1878, in Appanoose County, Iowa, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rucker. He received an elementary education in the Button School, and later took up the study of veterinary science. He began practicing his profession in Appanoose County and continued until April 1915, when he brought his family to Wood County and settled on an undeveloped 80-acre tract of land in the town of Wood, which has since been transformed into a fine modern dairy farm. He has a fine herd of Holstein cattle, two horses and a large flock of White Leghorn chickens. He was married April 15, 1897, to Miss Senia Bryant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Bryant of Appanoose County, by the Reverend Mr. Baker, pastor of the Mt. Arai Baptist Church. Their children are: Mrs. George Phlanzer (Verda), Ashland; Fay, Rockford, Illinois; Mrs. Paul Minor (Erma), Cary Bluff; and Glen, at home. While in Iowa, he was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, known also as the Richwood Church. He is a deacon in the church, and superintendent of the Sunday school. His hobbies are church work and home grounds beautification. [Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) 20 June 1930; transcribed by Marla Zwakman]
Mrs. G. W. Sturdivant Mrs. Mary Lord Drake Sturdivant, during her father’s term of office as Governor of Iowa, assumed the social duties devolving upon the first lady of the commonwealth, with charm and dignity, making her one of the most popular Iowa women who have had that honor. She was born at Centerville, Iowa, the youngest of six children, and to her was given her mother’s maiden name, Mary Lord. She attended the Centerville schools in her childhood, later attending the Grant Collegiate Institute at Chicago, and finishing at Miss Reed’s school in New York City. Her education has been supplemented by travel in many lands. On March 28, 1896, she had the honor of Christening of the U. S. Battleship, “Iowa,” at Cramp’s ship yard, Philadelphia. She was one of the charter members of the Society of Sponsors of the U. S. Navy, and served on the Board of Control. She is a P. E. O. and is a member of the Central Church of Christ in Centerville, of which denomination her father was one of the most liberal supporters. His gifts to the various denominational schools and colleges, and to the advancement of Christian civilization, through its mission boards won for him the title of “first philanthropist among a million disciples.” He gave most generously to philanthropies and charities of many kinds. For more than twenty years he made a gift to the building fund of every church of his denomination in Iowa. Drake University is named in his honor. To this institution alone he gave more than a hundred thousand dollars. On Oct. 28, 1896, Mary Lord Drake was married to George Wood Sturdivant, a prominent merchant of Centerville. They have one daughter, Mary Drake Sturdivant. [The Blue book of Iowa Women, by Winona Evans Reeves, Publ. 1914, Transcribed by Brenda Shaffer]
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