Dallas County >> 1907 Index

Past and Present of Dallas County, Iowa
Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

L

William Lackie 

Well may America boast of her citizenship, for great have been the accomplishments of her sons in all lines of endeavor which contribute to the sum of the world's progress.   In this land where every man is born equal before the law, where the road to public usefulness and public honor is open to all, it is a fact worthy of note when an individual by his merit and ability is enabled to pass others on the highway of life and reach the goal of prosperity. Occupying an enviable position in public regard by reason of what he has accomplished is William Lackie, the president of the Citizens Savings Bank of Dallas Center and one of the leading farmers of the county, owning a neat and well improved tract of land of two hundred acres on section 3, Walnut township. Almost forty years have come and gone since he took up his abode in Dallas county and throughout this period he has borne an active and helpful part in the work of general improvement and upbuilding. 

He was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, on the 24th of September, 1837. His father, Andrew Lackie, was a native of the same county, born in 1786. There he was reared and married, the lady of his choice being Elizabeth Waddell, who was a native of the same locality. Andrew Lackie began farming in Caledonia county, where he continued to make his home until called to his final rest in 1853. His wife survived him for several years. In their family were four sons and seven daughters, all of whom reached years of maturity. The living members of the family are: William Lackie, of this review; Robert Lackie, of Orange county Vermont; Mrs. Eliza McClearren, of Caledonia county, Vermont; Mrs. Margaret Weeks,  of Knox county, Missouri; and Mary, who resides with her sister Eliza. 

William Lackie was reared in the county of his nativity and was a pupil in the public schools in his boyhood.  He came west in February, 1866, settling first in Osceola township, Stark county, Illinois, where he worked by the month for two years. In the spring of 1868 he came to Iowa, driving a team across the country to Dallas county, and here he invested in fifty-two acres of land in Walnut township. This was the first farm that he ever owned. For several years he continued its cultivation and improvement, after which he sold the property and bought one hundred and sixty acres. He moved onto that place and with characteristic energy began its transformation and improvement. He carried on farming there for several years with excellent success but in 1900 rented the farm and came to Dallas Center.  Here he purchased a residence and is now pleasantly located in this city. He afterward bought thirty acres adjoining his farm and today the place which he purchased at ten dollars per acre is now worth one hundred dollars per acre.  Through the tilling of the soil and the feeding of stock of high grades he has been enabled to advance from a humble financial position to one of affluence. He started out in life without financial assistance and has made what he possesses through his own labor and enterprise. 

In the spring of 1868, in Stark county, Illinois, Mr. Lackie was married to Miss Cynthia Wood, who was born in Ohio but was reared in Illinois.  Her father, Benjamin Wood, a native of the Buckeye state, removed to Illinois in the '40s, settling in Peoria county and later in Stark county. At length he determined to make a home in Iowa and started for this state but died while en route. In 1888 Mr. Lackie lost his first wife, who passed away on the 22d of April of that year.  They had no children of their own but reared an adopted daughter, Ida (Smith) Lackie, who is now the wife of Milton Crisbin, of Des Moines.  Mr. Lackie was again married in 1897, in Dallas county, his second union being with Miss Lizzie Blood, who was born in Wisconsin.  She was reared in Polk county, Iowa, and was a daughter of Squire Blood, who removed from Wisconsin to Dallas county and cast in his lot with the early settlers in 1865.  Both he and his wife were natives of Maine. 

Mr. Lackie gives his political endorsement to the republican party and while on the farm he served as township trustee, road supervisor and justice of the peace, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. Since taking up his abode in Dallas Center he has been elected and served as alderman for six years and he exercises his official prerogatives in support of many progressive movements. At all times he stands for reform and improvement and his labors have been directly beneficial.  In 1903 he aided in the organization of the Citizens Savings Bank, of which he is now president, and has made this a safe financial institution, which now receives liberal patronage. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, in which he is serving as one of the elders. He also belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge, having joined the organization at Grimes, while his present affiliation is with Dallas Center lodge, in which he is now treasurer. He has made steady advancement in his life, not only in its successful accomplishment but also in matters of citizenship, gaining at the same time the favorable regard of all who know him. He is a man of marked strength of character, genial disposition and genuine worth and has the unqualified respect and good-will of his fellowmen.

William Lamb is numbered among the native sons of Dallas county, his birth having occurred in Union township in pioneer times, his natal day being June 7, 1868. He now follows farming on section 31, Colfax township, and throughout his entire life has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. His father, Charles B. Lamb, was born in Virginia, August 9, 1830, and in early manhood wedded Miss Susan Spilers. For many years he was a resident of this county. He came from Indiana to Iowa in 1854 and settled in Union township on six hundred acres of wild land. All around stretched the unbroken prairie covered with its native grasses. There were few evidences of modern civilization here, the work of improvement and development lying largely in the future. Mr. Lamb was a harness maker by trade and followed that pursuit up to about five years prior to his death. He made the first set of harness in Dallas county. After living for a time in Union township he removed to Redfield, where he opened a harness shop and regularly carried on the business. His diligence and enterprise brought him a measure of success

which in the course of years made him a prosperous man and at his death he left a very comfortable estate, including much town property in Redfield. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for troops and enlisted for three years as a member of Company H, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry. Though he participated in many battles he was never wounded and proved a most valorous and loyal soldier. Returning to his home he continued in the harnessmaking business for many years in Redfield, where he died on the 1st of July, 1906. His death was deeply regretted, for all who knew him esteemed and honored him. His widow still survives and is yet living in Redfield. They were the parents of three children: Mrs. Lizzie Cain, who is living on the old homestead in Union township; William; and Mrs. Clara Smith, who resides in Redfield.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for William Lamb in his boyhood and youth. His first seven years were spent upon the home farm and then he accompanied his parents on their removal to Redfield, acquiring his education in the schools of that town and in Panora, Iowa. At the age of twenty-two years he began farming on his own account and has carried on agricultural pursuits as his life work. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land, well improved, one hundred and twenty acres in his home place, and a glance at his farm indicates to the passer-by the careful supervision and practical methods of the owner, who is now classed with the enterprising and successful farmers of the county.

Mr. Lamb was married on the 18th of March, 1891, to Miss Carrie Mohr, who was born in this county, October 5, 1872, her parents being Samuel and Margaret (Culp) Mohr, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. They came to Dallas county at an early period in its development and settled near Redfield, where Mr. Mohr carried on general farming. They lived upon the old homestead up to the time of the death of Mrs. Mohr, after which the husband and father removed to Redfield, where his remaining days were spent. Mrs. Mohr's father married Hannah Lincoln, a relative of Abraham Lincoln.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mohr were born seven children, of whom two died in infancy, while those still living are: Mrs. Hannah Miller, a resident of Iowa; Mrs. Lottie Harper, who is living in Dallas township; Mrs. Flora Lower, of Guthrie county, Iowa; Mrs. Ella Lower, of Stuart, Iowa; and Mrs. Lamb. Our subject and his wife have five children, namely: Virgil, Charles, Le Roy, Lorena and Willie.

Mr. Lamb has served for three years on the board of trustees and is now serving a second term as township clerk. His political allegiance is given the republican party and he is unswerving in his advocacy of its principles. He is ever loyal to the interests of the community and is a progressive citizen and public-spirited man as well as an enterprising farmer. All who know him esteem and respect him and his circle of friends in his native county is an extensive one.

Edward F. Lee, residing on a well improved farm of one hundred acres in Dallas township, is numbered among the honored veterans of the Civil war and is one of the oldest settlers of Dallas county, having resided here for almost a half century, during which time he has given valuable aid in the development and improvement that has been made in this section of the state.

Mr. Lee was born in Elyria, Lorain county, Ohio, February 26, 1834, a son of George R. and Sarah (Dunn) Lee, the former a native of St. Catharines, Canada, while the latter was a native of New York state and bore the maiden name of Rose, being a widow at the time of her marriage to Mr. Lee. The father was reared in his native city and there followed the mason's trade for a time, but later removed to New York, being married at Painted Post, that state. He subsequently settled in Lorain county, Ohio, where he continued to work at his trade and had the contract to build the courthouse at Elyria. Subsequently he removed to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and built the courthouse and jail in that city. They reared a family of seventeen children, of whom our subject is now the only survivor.

The educational advantages of Mr. Lee were somewhat limited, for at that early day the schools were in a primitive condition. He was reared in Lorain county to the age of fourteen years, when he went upon the lakes, being thus engaged for seven years, and during the last year of his engagement he was captain of a vessel. For three seasons his vessel carried grain from Chicago to Oswego.

It was in October, 1856, in Lorain county, Ohio, that Mr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Maria Kelsey, who was born and reared there, and two years later they removed to Dallas county, Iowa, Mr. Lee purchasing one hundred acres of land on section 9, Dallas township, and another tract of twenty acres covered with timber. He broke the wild land and in course of time placed the land under a good state of cultivation. He lived in a log house, which was on the place until after the Civil war.

The business interests of Mr. Lee were interrupted by the hostilities which existed between the north and the south, when, loyal to his country's interests, he enlisted as a member of Company B, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, joining August 9, 1862. He went with his regiment to Davenport and was in camp there until the following December. From that city they marched to Cairo and on to Columbus, Kentucky, thence to Jackson, Tennessee, their first engagement being at Parker's Crossroads on the 31st of December, 1862. Becoming ill from a fever, Mr. Lee spent seven or eight weeks in a hospital at Corinth, Mississippi, and after his recovery went again to the front, serving until the close of the war. He spent some time in Georgia and was with Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea, later marched to Richmond and on to Washington, where he participated in the Grand Review and was mustered out of service January 5, 1865.

Following the close of hostilities, Mr. Lee returned to his home and family in Dallas county, and resumed his work on the farm. He has built a good country residence and many substantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, has set out a grove, drained his land, and now has a valuable property, from which he derives a good income. He has always followed farming pursuits and in his business affairs has met with very gratifying success.

Mr. and Mrs. Lee have become the parents of six children: Walter, a resident of Prairie City, Illinois; William E., who lives in Perry, Iowa; Homer W., who is a conductor on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and makes his home in Perry; Charles A., who is railroad agent at Yorkshire, Iowa; and Ella, the widow of H. B. Brown, of Perry. They lost one son, Milo A. Lee, who died in 1905, leaving a family of three children.

In politics Mr. Lee is a republican and cast his first presidential ballot in 1856 for John C. Fremont, while in 1860 he voted for Stephen A. Douglas, and in 1864 cast his ballot in support of Abraham Lincoln, having supported each republican candidate since that time. He has taken an active interest in political affairs, having prior to the war served as township clerk and has since acted as assessor. He has also served on the township board and as trustee of the township, and has filled the office of constable. Mr. Lee took the United States census for Lincoln township in 1880 and Dallas township in 1890. He has acted as a delegate to various county and congressional conventions and has been a member of the school board, the cause of education ever finding in him a warm friend. He is a charter member of Redfield post, G. A. R., at Perry, and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades.

Mr. Lee has resided in Dallas county for almost a half century and during that time, with the exception of his absence during the war he has been closely allied with its agricultural interests. He has seen the county developed into an excellent district, with thriving towns and villages and in the work of development and improvement which has here been carried on much is due to the efforts of Mr. Lee. His record as a soldier, as an official and as a business man has been so honorable that he has gained the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact, while as a pioneer of the county he deserves prominent mention in a volume of this character.

Henry Lisle, who won a gratifying measure of success as a farmer and stock-raiser, in which connection he became widely known, is now living retired in Perry. He was born in Monroe county, Ohio, October 3, 1847, and his education was acquired in the public schools of Belmont county, that state, while he was spending his boyhood days in the home of his parents, John and Anne (Kinney) Lisle. The father, who was born in Belmont county, died near Perry, Iowa, in his eighty-seventh year, while his wife passed away in Ohio in 1876, at the age of fifty-four years. They mere married in Belmont county, Ohio, and the father followed farming in that state until his removal to Iowa in 1879, at which time he took up his abode in Dallas township, Dallas county. Here he purchased a farm and at one time owned five hundred and sixty acres of rich and valuable land. He also bred many hogs, making a specialty of the Poland China, and he also bought and raised many colts. He carried on general farming and the feeding and raising of stock until seventy-five years of age, when he sold his interests in Dallas township and purchased a home near Perry of forty acres. There he spent his remaining days. While living in Belmont county, Ohio, he served as township treasurer for fourteen years. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his early political support was given to the whig party. Upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the new republican party. He was always interested in the work of public progress and improvement and kept in touch with the trend of modern thought. At the time of his death he was the oldest subscriber of the Belmont Chronicle, of which he had been a reader for more than sixty-six years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lisle were born five sons and four daughters and six of the number are yet living: Sarah, who is the wife of Isaac Tolbert, a resident of Perry; Henry, of this review; J. D., who married Malinda Hicks and is now living in Dallas township; George H., who married Mattie Blood; James, who wedded Jane Kinney, now deceased, and makes his home in North Dakota; and Emmet, who married Lula Ridgway and is living in Boone county, Iowa.

Henry Lisle was reared in Ohio and in the summer months worked upon the home farm, while in the winter seasons he attended the public schools until the 4th of July, 1863. Two days before he had offered his services to the government in defense of the Union, although not yet sixteen years of age, and on Independence day of that year, while raking wheat in the field, he was called for active duty with the army. He dropped his rake to support his country, becoming a member of Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he participated in the battle of Cumberland Gap, where General Frazer surrendered twenty-two hundred prisoners. Mr. Lisle acted as one of the escort of these prisoners to Lexington, Kentucky, and then returned to Tennessee, being quartered at Cumberland Gap. On the 4th of March, 1865, he was mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, after which he returned to the home farm.

On the 3d of October, 1867, Mr. Lisle was married to Miss Elizabeth E. Turner, whose birth occurred in Belmont county, Ohio, July 28, 1867. She was a daughter of William and Becky (Vernon) Turner, the former born in Maryland and the latter in Ohio. Her father died in 1890, at the age of seventy-seven years, while the mother passed away in March, 1868. In their family were twelve children, of whom nine are now living: Martha, the wife of Phineus Campbell; William, who married Isabelle Wilson; Becky, the wife of Malin Wood; Richard, who married Miss Campbell and after her death wedded Jane Linard; Hendley, who married Laura McMullen; John, who wedded Minerva Bishop; Embree, who married Martha Cothran; Tacey, the wife of Eli Doudney; and Allamander, who married Adeline Harris. The father of this family was a farmer in Ohio and resided there until his death. At one time he entered two hundred acres of government land in Linn county, Iowa. The land office was at that time at Des Moines. He took part in the early development of the locality and to some extent engaged in the raising of tobacco. His early youth had been passed in Maryland, whence he removed to Ohio when a lad of thirteen years. He had no chance to attend school but became well posted on the Bible and was a consistent member of the Christian church.  In politics he was a republican.

Following his marriage Mr. Lisle engaged in farming in Belmont county, Ohio, until March, 1872. He then started for Iowa, reaching Perry on the 17th of that month. He located in Dallas township, where he followed farming until the 20th of February, 1905, when he purchased a home in Perry, where he has since lived retired. He engaged in the raising of high grade Hereford cattle and also bred some fine horses, two of which were the grandsons of Donald Dania, which took first prize at the Des Moines fair at Perry in 1892. In his business life Mr. Lisle was very active and progressive and made good use of his opportunities, with the result that he acquired a gratifying measure of success and is now comfortably situated in life.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lisle were born five children: Orean; Effie, the wife of Henry Murphy; Frank, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Elbert, at home; and John W., who married Lottie Robinson, by whom he has two sons, Forest E. and Frank U.

Mr. Lisle was one of the trustees of Dallas township for twelve years, his long continuance in office being proof of his capability and trustworthiness. In 1906 he was elected county commissioner for a term of two years and since age conferred upon him the right of franchise he has been a stalwart champion of the republican party. He now belongs to Horeb lodge, No. 408, I. O. O. F., and to Redfield post, No. 26, G. A. R., while both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah lodge, No. 263. He manifests the same loyalty in citizenship that he displayed when on southern battlefields he followed the old flag in defense of the stars and stripes.

Joel D. Lisle

A well developed and highly improved farm of two hundred and forty-five acres, situated on section 19, Dallas township, is the property of Joel D. Lisle, who came here in 1871. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising, feeding and fattening several carloads of stock for the market each year. Mr. Lisle was born in Belmont county, Ohio, May 14, 1852, a son of John Lisle, who was likewise born in that county, and is mentioned in the sketch of George Lisle, elsewhere in this work.

Joel D. Lisle was reared and educated in the county of his nativity and upon starting out upon an independent business venture he came to Dallas county in 1871, locating on a tract of land belonging to his father, who owned one thousand acres in this county. He operated that tract until 1877 and then located on the farm which is today his home. He, however, began here with one hundred and sixty-five acres, but has since added to his original holdings until he now has two hundred and forty-five acres. He has laid many rods of tiling, has fenced the land, erected a modern and up-to-date two-story country residence, has built two large barns and set out fruit and shade trees. Altogether his is one of the most valuable and well kept farms of this section of the county. He engages in raising the various cereals adapted to the soil and climate and also raises stock for the market, feeding from one to two carloads of hogs and three carloads of cattle annually. Both branches of his business are proving a profitable source of revenue to him and he is thus numbered among the progressive and enterprising citizens of his section of the county.

Mr. Lisle further established a home of his own by his marriage, on the 27th of September, 1877, to Miss Malinda Hicks, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio, and with her father, James Hicks, removed to a farm near Knoxville, Iowa, about 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Lisle have a daughter, Ina P., who is a young lady at home, and they also lost a son, Roy, who died at the age of two years.

Mr. Lisle gives his political support to the republican party and is now serving as township trustee. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Lisle is well and favorably known in various sections of the county and as one of its pioneer settlers deserves mention in this volume, for his life has been passed in conformity with the most honorable principles and his success has been so worthily won and is so richly merited that all rejoice with him in what he has accomplished.

George Lowis

It is impossible to keep a man of merit in the background, although his early surroundings are those of poverty, where rigid economy and self-denial must be practiced and where few indeed are the advantages enjoyed. A progressive spirit knows no bounds and ability has no limitations of time, place or space. The fellow citizens of George Lowis acknowledge that he is in every sense a man of this character. He was born in Wisconsin, July 14, 1851, and was the son of John and Ann Lowis, both natives of England, where the father was born in 1823 and the mother in 1827. They were the parents of ten children: George, John, Isabella, Alice, Mary J., William, Christopher, Elizabeth, J. D. and Charles D.

Mr. Lowis received but meagre educational advantages; in fact he had only ten months of schooling when he was obliged to go to work upon the farm. He appreciates now that the practical training he then received was worth more to him than any theoretical education might have been. He was industrious, frugal and persevering and in 1895 had accumulated capital sufficient to purchase a farm in Dallas county, Iowa. Little by little he has been able to add to this until he is now the owner of five hundred and fourteen acres of land on sections 27 and 28 of Union township. This land he has greatly improved. He has added many substantial buildings to its equipment and, has brought the soil to a condition where it yields him abundant returns in crops. In addition he has been a large stock feeder in the county, feeding and shipping stock to the value of twenty thousand dollars a year.

Mr. Lowis has been three times married. His first wife was Elizabeth Baker, a native of England, where she was born in 1852. To this union was born one son who is now Dr. W. J. Lowis, of Colba, Kansas. His second wife bore the maiden name of Lucy Pickett, who was born in New Jersey in 1852. Her sister, Ella Pickett, became the third wife of Mr. Lowis. He is a strong republican and is now township trustee and has also been a school director. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are always ready to help along any meritorious cause which makes for the welfare of humanity. They live conscientious, Christian lives, having made practical use of their Christianity in everyday affairs. They are honorable and upright in all their dealings with their fellowmen, who in consequence honor and respect them. Mr. Lowis has thoroughly mastered the necessary details of his business which has brought him large returns. By close application to' work he has accumulated a competence, The consciousness of having won it all by an honest business to which he has given his undivided attention is a great satisfaction to him, for it is only by wise management that he has attained to his present position.

Alfred N. Ludington, who since 1887 has lived retired in Adel, prior to which time he engaged actively in farming for a number of years, was born in Petersburg, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1836. His mother died when he was only four years of age, after which he lived with his uncle, Jacob Hoover, until the year 1844. He then accompanied his father on the removal to Fayette, Pennsylvania, where he worked in a tanyard until 1846, thus beginning to earn his own living when a lad of but eight years. In 1846 the family took up their abode upon a farm, where Alfred N. Ludington remained until March, 1852, when he accompanied the family to Dallas county, Iowa. He continued at home until 1857, when, having attained his majority, he started out in life on his own account. During the summer he worked for Dr. Barick Mitchner and in the winter seasons attended school until 1859.

Attracted by the gold excitement at Pike's Peak, he and thirteen companions, all from this locality, formed a company to go to the gold diggings. They hired a man by the name of Eggleston to go with an ox team and haul their provisions. Mr. Ludington remained with the company until they were at a point twenty-five miles west of Omaha, Nebraska, which at that time was an Indian district. They felt that they were meeting the entire number of emigrants upon a return trip, so that the company broke up and all returned with the exception of Mr. Ludington. Not content to go back home without experiences in the gold fields of the west, he joined a company bound for Washington territory, making arrangements with one of the party to haul his provisions to Fort Walla Walla. While on the plains water was very scarce and at times hard to get. On one such occasion Mr. Ludington noticed a small bunch of willows and, thinking he would find water there, he started with his canteen for the clump of trees. He found no water but did find Indians on looking among the willows. He thought the red men wanted his scalp but what drew their attention was a good eight inch heavy revolver which he carried in his belt. To keep them from taking the revolver he made the Indians march in front of him until they reached the wagons, showing them by motions and signs what would happen to them if they refused, for the red men were armed only with bows and arrows. His next unusual adventure was with a bear in the Cascade mountains. Mr. Ludington and three other boys were out hunting when they discovered a grizzly about one hundred and fifty yards above them on a nearly perpendicular ledge of rock. They all considered themselves expert shots, but knowing something of the habits of the wounded grizzly they decided to be careful. All taking a favorable position, they fired at the same time and when the report of the guns was heard the grizzly came rolling and tumbling down the rocky side too fast to suit them, so they ran. When they had gone a mile or more they began thinking the matter over and concluded it would not do to go to camp with that kind of a report, so they turned and cautiously picked their way back to the place where they had last seen their bear. There lay Bruin on the ledge of rocks with four bullet holes through his body. The bear proved to be a large one, weighing fourteen or fifteen hundred pounds.

The party met with no further adventures except the loss of a number of their cattle by drinking alkali water. At length they reached Fort Hall, an old evacuated fort in Utah. By this time their ox teams had become so weakened that Mr. Ludington and three other young men were persuaded to start out on foot by an old Californian who was with the crowd and had been across the plains before. He told them that by following the Snake river they would strike settlements in Washington territory in five or six days and that they could get plenty of meat by hunting along the way. So they started with flour enough to last six or seven days but they saw no white people for five weeks. The flour lasted about ten days and the rest of the time they lived on meat without salt. They cut their meat in strips and dried it by the fire during the night. They made their camp always with the Indians so as to keep on good terms with them and were not molested by the savages, who, however, would have stolen their guns and ammunition had they not prevented this by one of them always remaining on the watch. The first settlement they found was at Fort Walla Walla in Washington. The fort was occupied by troops and Mr. Ludington and his companions secured work at driving government teams. After remaining there for two weeks he received eighteen dollars in money, and with this he took a boat down the Columbia river to Portland, Oregon, where he arrived in September, 1859. He remained in and about Portland until January, but as there was little work there and he got an opportunity to work his passage on a steamship bound for San Francisco he proceeded to the Golden Gate. After two or three days he got a chance to work his passage on a boat to Sacramento and thence made his way to Hangtown, now Marysville, California, where he worked in the mines until March, 1860.

Mr. Ludington then returned to San Francisco and thence went twelve miles across the bay to Oakland, in which locality he got work on a farm at twenty-five dollars per month, remaining there until February, 1861. He then returned to San Francisco and took passage on a steamship for New York, paying two hundred dollars for his ticket. The meals furnished were extremely poor but Mr. Ludington managed to get into the good graces of the steward, who on the second day came on deck to grind his knives. Mr. Ludington offered to work the grindstone and while so doing got into conversation with the steward. He told him that he would be glad to help at anything about the cooking that would give him better meals and when asked if he knew how to wash dishes said he had had some experience in that work. From that time on to Panama he had splendid fare and helped about the culinary department as opportunity offered. With the other travelers he crossed the Panama by rail, a distance of sixty miles, to Acapulco in South America, where they boarded a steamer bound for New York city, arriving after a voyage of twenty-five days.

Mr. Ludington remained in New York two days and then took the train to Iowa City, the terminus of the road, where he arrived with a capital of but a dollar and a half. He then started on foot for home, reaching his destination three days later with seventy-five cents in his pocket, but with broad experiences and an intimate knowledge of the western mining country in its pioneer times.

In April, 1861, Mr. Ludington rented land from Benjamin Green, which he farmed that summer, and on the 9th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, after selling his crop to Mr. Green for five cents per bushel in the field. In September, 1862, the company went from Adel to Des Moines and spent the time in camp and drill until about the 1st of November, the barracks and camp being about twenty rods east of the capitol building. Thence they were sent to Indianola, where they took the cars for Davenport and camped and drilled there until about the 1st of December. The regiment was then put on boats and started south, landing at Columbus, Kentucky, about the 12th of December. Two days later they were ordered to Corinth, Mississippi, but the rebels blocked their advance at Jackson, Tennessee. There they joined two Indiana regiments and a day or two later started out after the rebel cavalry commanded by General Forest. After two or three days hard marching they overtook the enemy at a place called Parkers Crossroads. They arrived at Corinth about the 6th or 7th of January, where they were quartered in large Sibley tents, having iron rods that passed up from the ground through the center of the tent and on which kettles could be hung in which they could do their cooking. The rebels having captured their provisions on taking the railroad, the supplies of the men became very scarce. At that time every colonel had a camp guard at his tent and Mr. Ludington was assigned to duty there. He was particularly hungry one evening when he was summoned by the colonel's darky cook to eat supper with his commander. When he was relieved from guard duty he accepted the invitation and made a very hearty meal. As his eyes wandered around the tent he saw a quarter of a beef rolled up in a piece of canvass lying under the colonel's bunk. He says now that he feels that his subsequent action displayed little gratitude for the meal he was then enjoying, but that night when he was off duty he waked two or three of his mess and set them to digging a hole right under the camp kettle that hung on a chain from the center of the tent. Mr. Ludington then went back to the colonel's headquarters, cut a.hole in his tent so he could reach under the bunk and thus obtained the beef. When he returned he found his messmates had finished the hole and wrapping the beef in paper they lowered it into the hole, replaced the dirt upon it and covered it all over again with ashes so that there was no trace of what had been hidden there. Early the next morning the colonel had a detail looking over the camp for his beef but did not find it. For fear of discovery Mr. Ludington and his mates had to use the beef at night. Such were some of the escapades in which the soldiers indulged.

They remained in camp at Corinth until about the middle of April. when they were ordered to Tuscumbia, Alabama. At Bear Creek, Alabama, quite a battle was fought, after which they proceeded to Tuscumbia, remaining there three or four days and then returning to Corinth, where they continued until the 1st of November, 1863. Thence they marched to Pulaski, Tennessee, where they guarded the railroad until the 1st of March and then continued on to Athens, Alabama. From that point they started with Sherman's march on the Atlanta campaign, stopping first on the battlefield of Chickamauga and proceeding two days later to Buzzards Roost, where occurred a very hotly contested engagement.. The Union troops were victorious, however, and afterward proceeded to Snake Creek Gap, where another battle occurred; then on to Resaca and to Rome, Georgia, where they were in camp for two months. At that point Mr. Ludington had quite an adventure when out with a foraging squad about two miles from camp. He found a nice fat hog in a pen about five rods from a house situated in a garden. He knew that he could not capture the hog at that time, else the whole regiment would have an interest in the porker, but when evening came on he told eight or ten of the boys about his find and they started for the pen, agreeing with a picket to give him part of the meat if he would let them pass. The boys were all well mounted and everything proceeded nicely for some time but is was extremely dark and as Mr. Ludington was the only one who knew anything about the location of the pen it fell to his lot to go in and kill the pig. He had done some of that kind of work before and managed to reach the pen and stick his bayonet into the pig, killing him with a single stroke. The animal just gave one squeal but it was enough to bring twenty or thirty rebels to the scene. Mr. Ludington's companions had the start of him and, mounting their horses made their escape. Before Mr. Ludington could leave the pen, however, the enemy were around him in every direction. His only chance was to lie flat on his stomach in a cabbage patch. The rebels kept up the hunt for him for what seemed to him a very long time. At length they found his horse and again started on the search. They stepped over and around him in the garden but owing to the darkness of the night they at length gave up the search and he lost no time in getting out of the place. From Rome the regiment to which he belonged proceeded to Altoona Pass, where they had a hard battle against overwhelming numbers, the regiment losing heavily in killed, wounded and prisoners. Later they proceeded with Sherman on the march to the sea and on to Washington, where with his comrades Mr. Ludington was honorably discharged June 5, 1885.

After returning from the war Mr. Ludington purchased forty acres of land in Colfax township and later added a tract of eighty acres. He engaged in farming for more than twenty years thereafter but in 1887 retired to Adel, where he has since lived. A few years later he sold his farm in Colfax township and bought one hundred and sixty acres in Nebraska. In early manhood he married Sarepta Hooks, who was born in Ohio, February 14, 1848. They became the parents of a daughter and son: Lottie, the wife of Charles Fike, who is living on a farm near Jamaica, Iowa; and John A., a merchant of Bemidji, Beltrami county, Minnesota.

Since 1866 Mr. Ludington has been a faithful and devoted member of the Methodist church. His political allegiance has been given to the republican party since its organization and for eighteen years he has been constable, while for three years he has been delinquent tax collector. He also served as deputy under Sheriff Payne and for two years was deputy sheriff under J. N. Hanes. He belongs to the Grand Army post and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. His has been in many respects and interesting and unusual history owing to his experiences in the far west and in the south during the Civil War. He relates many interesting tales of those days and also of pioneer life in Iowa. He has witnessed almost the entire growth and development of this county and is one of its honored pioneer settlers.

Clyde R. Lyon

Clyde R. Lyon has since 1905 been general superintendent and manager for the Perry Electric Light, Power & Heat Company, previous to which time he had served for four successive terms as county auditor with a record for fidelity and capability that was unassailable. His life history began in Stark county, Illinois, on the 19th of September, 1858, and he acquired his education in the public schools there, while spending his boyhood days in the home of his parents, Caleb M. S. and Eliza (Rhodes) Lyon, both of whom were natives of the state of New York. The father died January 20, 1892, at the age of eighty-two years, while his wife passed away December 17, 1902, at the age of seventy-three years. They were married in Illinois. Mr. Lyon was a blacksmith by trade and in 1837 removed westward to the Mississippi valley, settling in Stark county, Illinois, where he followed farming in connection with blacksmithing. He gave evidence of his worth and capability there and gained the recognition of his fellow townsmen in election to the office of treasurer of Stark county in 1864. He served in that capacity for four years. He had become a pioneer settler of his community and as the years passed by he was recognized as one of its leading and influential citizens. As opportunity offered he invested in property and eventually became owner of considerable land. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and also to the Congregational church of Toulon, which church was organized in the home of his father-in-law, Mr. Rhodes, and his wife, Mrs. Eliza Lyon, was the last living charter member of the church. Mr. Lyon gave his political allegiance to the whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the new republican party, with which he affiliated until his death, which occurred in Toulon. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lyon were born twelve children but only five are now living: Effie, Frank, Clyde R., Martin and Maud.

In early life Clyde R. Lyon became familiar with the work of the farm and began farming on his own account in Dallas township in 1882. In November, 1896, he was elected county auditor and by re-election was continued in office for four terms or for eight consecutive years -- an honor that has been conferred upon no other incumbent in that position. It stands as incontrovertible proof of his fidelity and trustworthiness in office and of the capable manner in which he discharged his duties. In March, 1905, he came to Perry and has made his home here since that time. He is general superintendent and manager of the Perry Electric Light, Power & Heat Company and as such is a valued resident of the town.

On the 10th of September, 1884, Mr. Lyon was married to Miss Clara Grist, who was born in East Troy, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1864, a daughter of John and Sarah (Setzer) Grist. The father was born in County Kent, England, in 1828, and died March 9, 1877, at the age of forty-nine years. Mrs. Grist was born in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, October 11, 1831, and died February 18, 1904. They were married in West Burlington, Pennsylvania, and unto them were born four children, of whom two survive: Thomas, who is conducting an electric light plant at Knox, Indiana; and Mrs. Lyon. The father was a merchant of Troy, Pennsylvania, for many years. He held membership in the Episcopal church throughout his entire life and in politics was a straight republican.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Lyon has been blessed with two children: Morton G., who is attending the Armour School of Technology in Chicago, pursuing a special course in electrical engineering; and Ruth R. Mr. Lyon belongs to the Masonic lodge at Adel and has attained high rank in Masonry, being a member of the consistory at Des Moines and also of Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the capital city. He and his wife are members of Lady Washington chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, and Mr. Lyon belongs to Adel lodge, K. P., to the Odd Fellows lodge at Adel and to Perry encampment, No. 115, I. O. O. F. In agricultural circles, in public life and in his present business connection Mr. Lyon has manifested sterling traits which have made him valuable as a citizen and caused him to be classed with the representative residents of this part of Iowa.

James Lyon is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war and a pioneer settler of Dallas county, dating his residence here from 1870. He now owns and operates a well improved farm of one hundred acres, situated on section 20, Beaver township, and in addition to carrying on the work of the fields is also engaged to some extent in stock-raising. Mr. Lyon was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, February 2, 1846, a son of James Lyon, who on his emigration from Ireland to the new world, settled first in the east and later removed to Wisconsin. His death there occurred and his wife survived and reared their family of children. After the death of the father, the mother removed with her family to Jackson county, Iowa, in 1854, but later she took up her abode in Clinton county, this state.

It was in Clinton county that James Lyon was reared and educated. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in that county for a time. In 1870 he came to Dallas county and in Minburn opened a blacksmith shop, which he conducted with success for several years. In 1876, however, he decided to change his business and located on a farm in Beaver township which has been his place of residence to the present time. He cleared and developed the farm, built a good two-story house, two barns, a granary, sheds, etc., for the shelter of grain and stock, drained his land by the use of seven thousand tile and also planted fruit and shade trees. He now has a well improved property of one hundred acres, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, and here in addition to raising the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, he is also engaged in raising stock, making a specialty of Chester White hogs, feeding from one to two carloads for the market each year.

It was during his residence in Clinton county, however, that the Civil war broke out, and, loyal to the best interests of his country, Mr. Lyon enlisted at Dixon, Illinois, in January, 1863, as a member of Company A, Nineteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He went south to Tennessee. Later he was transferred to Company D, Sixtieth Illinois Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He participated in the Atlanta campaign and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. He took part in the last battle that was fought, marched to Richmond and on to Washington, D. C., participating in the grand review. He then went to Louisville, Kentucky, and from there to Springfield, Illinois, where he received an honorable discharge August 9, 186,5. During his service he was incapacitated for duty but two weeks, being in the hospital at Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Mr. Lyon was married in Minburn, Iowa, to Miss Margaret E. Gannon, in 1873. She was born in Scott county, Iowa, a daughter of Marcus Gannon, an early settler of Scott county but now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lyon have no children of their own but out of the kindness of their hearts have adopted a son and daughter, Ray and June Lyon, whom they have reared and educated as their own.

Politically Mr. Lyon is a democrat and cast his first presidential ballot in 1872 in support of Horace Greeley. He has never aspired to public office but has served on the school hoard, and as highway commissioner, and for sixteen years acted as township trustee. He has also been sent as a delegate to several county conventions. Mr. Lyon has been a resident of Dallas county for more than thirty-seven years, and during this long period has witnessed much of the growth and development of the district from a wild region into one of rich fertility, while thriving towns and villages have sprung up and the county has been placed in the front rank among the counties of the state. The success which he now enjoys is well merited, for he has ever followed the most honorable business methods in his dealings with his fellowmen and therefore enjoys the high regard of all with whom he is brought in contact.