Biography of James R. Strong

James Russell Strong, judge of the probate court of Latah County, was born in Sullivan, Ashland County, Ohio, September 24, 1849. His great-grandfather, Russell Strong, was a resident of Vermont and participated in the events which go to form the early history of the Green Mountain state. His son, Alvah Strong, grandfather of our subject, was a participant in the war of 1812 when but a boy, and for one year served in the Union army during the civil war as a member of Company F, First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battle of Fort Donelson and after … Read more

Biography of Charles Wesley Foster

Charles Wesley Foster, deceased, who was one of the public-spirited citizens of Page county, honored and respected wherever known but most of all where best known, was born May 19, 1833, in Canton, Fulton county, Illinois, where he acquired his education in the public schools. At the age of fifteen years he went to Peoria to learn the tinner’s trade and there remained for four years. When nineteen years of age he went to Abingdon, Illinois, and conducted the first hardware and tin store in that place. Four years later he removed to Bushnell, Illinois, where he also became the … Read more

Biography of Earl R. Ferguson

Earl R. Ferguson, a man of purpose whose plans are well formulated and who accomplishes what lie plans, is a native son of Shenandoah, his birth having here occurred April 30, 1876. He is a son of judge W. P. Ferguson, mentioned elsewhere in this volume, and his work has been in accordance with the example set by his honored father, who from the earliest days of Shenandoah’s development has been a most important factor in its growth and upbuilding. At the usual age he was sent to the public schools and passing through the consecutive grades was graduated from … Read more

Biography of Thomas Henderson Read

With no special training for the conduct of important financial interests Thomas Henderson Read is now acting as president of the First National Bank of Shenandoah and has been since its organization and in the control of its affairs he has given proof of his ability to solve the more difficult financial and economical problems. The subjective and objective forces of life are in him well balanced, making him cognizant of his own capabilities and powers, while at the same time he thoroughly understands his opportunities and his obligations. He was born in Huntsville, Schuyler county, Illinois, March 3, 1841, … Read more

History of Page County Iowa

Emigrants coming to Iowa

The following 25 biographies have been extracted from the History of Page County Iowa. Biography of Beal, Alfred Franklin Biography of Burwell, Joseph Biography of C. N. Crain Biography of Damewood, N.P. Biography of Edwin Carlos Lane Biography of Elrick, S.M., JR. Biography of Ferguson, Earl R. Biography of Ferguson, W.P. Biography of Fleenor, Ezra M. Biography of Foster, Charles Wesley Biography of Foster, Joseph C Biography of Frink, O.H., Hon Biographical Sketch of Kampe, C.A. Biography of Kimball, O. A. Biography of Linderman, Charles E. Hon. Biography of Morris. Mont Biography of Parslow, Harry Edmond Biography of Powers, Jacob … Read more

Biography of Shepard Keene Linscott

Shepard Keene Linscott. The late Shepard Keene Linscott, who was born March 6, 1887, and died December 11, 1905, represented in the best sense the highest type of American manhood. A farm near Chesterville, Maine, was the place of his nativity and he was the only son of Shepard and Esther (Keene) Linscott. The house in which he was born was built by his grandfather, Samuel Linscott, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. When but sixteen years of age, Shepard Keene Linscott left the parental roof and became a pioneer farmer of Henry County, Indiana. Realizing the importance … Read more

Biography of S. M. Elrick, Jr.

S. M. Elrick, Jr., owning and operating a valuable and productive farm of seventy-seven acres in Valley township, was born in Henry county, Illinois, on the 18th of February, 1864, his parents being S. M. and Margaret (Ferlhing) Elrick, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The year 1868 witnessed their arrival in Page county, Iowa, and here they subsequently purchased a tract of land. Both the father and mother still survive, being now residents of Minnesota. Of their family of eleven children, the following are yet living: S. M., of this review :H. C., of New Mexico; F. P., … Read more

Biography of Hon. Charles E. Linderman

Not the good that comes to us but the good that comes to the world through us is the measure of our success, and judged by this standard as well as by the ratings of the business world Hon. Charles E. Linderman was a most successful man. He was numbered among the prominent, valued, honored and respected citizens of southwestern Iowa and left the impress of his individuality for good on its substantial development and improvement. He stood for high ideals in citizenship, in business affairs and in private life, and the nobility of his manhood made him most honored … Read more

Biography of D. D. Ross Turner Campbell

Ross Turner Campbell, D. D., who had been president of Cooper College at Sterling since 1910, had given the best years of his life to the ministry and teachers, affiliated for generations with the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Campbell was born at Clifton in Greene County, Ohio, December 1, 1863. His great-grandfather was Alexander Campbell, who was born in the Highlands of Scotland, went from there to County Derry, Ireland, and in 1790 arrived in the United States, locating on a farm in Bart Township of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was a substantial farmer, and died at Newcastle, Pennsylvania, in … Read more

Biography of Harry Edmond Parslow

Harry Edmond Parslow, a leading attorney of Clarinda, who has practiced continuously since 1879, is a native of Canada, his birth having occurred in Middlesex county, on the 15th of April, 1855. He is the son of Abraham and Hannah (Mahon) Parslow, the former a farmer by occupation. His youthful days were spent in his parents’ home, during which time he pursued his education in the public schools and also took a preparatory course. For a year and a half he engaged in teaching school and then came to Iowa, arriving in Clarinda on the 3rd of September 1875. To … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Albert Henry Fiebach

Fiebach, Albert Henry; lawyer; born, Brownhelm, Lorain County, O., Aug. 28. 1876: son of Peter and Sarah Leuszler Fiebach; educated, district schools, Oberlin Academy and Oberlin College; studied two years in the University of Michigan; returned to Oberlin for senior year, graduating in 1899; received degree of A. B.; received LL. B. degree from Harvard in 1902; married, Shenandoah, Ia., Nov. 30, 1905, Miss Louise June Bogart; admitted to the bar in December of 1902; since that time engaged in general law practice in Cleveland; member Chamber of Commerce; member of the benevolence committee of the Chamber; member executive committee … Read more

Biography of Jacob Holland Powers

In the period which marked the pioneer development of Page county and witnessed the laying of the foundation upon which has been built its present prosperity and progress, Jacob Holland Powers was a prominent factor in the district. He came here in the early days and for many years figured prominently in connection with its agricultural interests and also as the owner of a large amount of real estate. He is well remembered, too, as a man of kindly spirit and generous civility as manifested in his liberal aid to those who needed assistance. He was born near Morgantown in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. A. Kampe

C. A. Kampe is one of Fremont township’s enterprising young farmers who is not only progressive in business but also active in community affairs, his aid and influence being always given on the side of progress and improvement. He was born June 19, 1878, in the township in which he still makes his home, his parents being Charles J. and Mathilda (Grundberg) Kampe. They came to the United States before their marriage, sailing from Sweden, their native country. After reaching the shores of the new world they proceeded to the Mississippi valley and established their home in Page county, where … Read more

Iowa Death Records by County

Many experts recommend starting your research with the death records first. The death record is the most recent record, so it will more likely be available to you. Death records are kept in the state where your ancestor died, not where they were buried. However these records can provide a burial location. Death records are especially helpful because they may provide important information on a person’s birth, spouse, and parents. Some researchers look first for death records because there are often death records for persons who have no birth or marriage records. Early death records, like cemetery records, generally give … Read more

Biography of William Hartford, D. O.

William Hartford, D. O. The science of osteopathy, which has its fundamental principle in the theory that most diseases of humanity are traceable to malformation of some part of the skeleton, long since has passed the experimental stage and has become a widely recognized and sane factor in the alleviation of the suffering of mankind. A capable and enthusiastic promoter of this method of cure is found in Dr. William Hartford of Champaign, who has been engaged in practice here since 1899, and whose professional career has been one characterized by remarkably successful results. He is a native of Henderson … Read more

Biography of Hon. John G. Slate

Hon. John G. Slate, of Jefferson City, who since 1912 has served on the bench of the circuit court of Missouri, his record reflecting credit and honor upon the judicial history of the state, was born January 26, 1860, in Cole county, about eight miles west of Jefferson City, his parents being Robert T. and Isabella D. (Jones) Slate, the former a native of Tennessee, while the latter was born in Kentucky. The father was a farmer, who in antebellum days owned a large number of slaves, having a plantation on the river. He also conducted a wood yard and … Read more

Biography of George W. Scholes

George W. Scholes is a well known and worthy representative of the farming interests of Harlan township, now busily engaged in the cultivation and improvement of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 26. Nearly every state in the Union has furnished its quota of citizens to Iowa and among those sent by Ohio is Mr. Scholes, whose birth occurred near Loudonville, on the 7th of July1840. He was one of five children born unto Elijah and Caroline (Tracy) Scholes, who were also natives of Ohio. The mother died in that state in 1850 and the father was … Read more

Biography of W. P. Ferguson

It is not the distinctive and specific purpose of biography to give expression of a man’s modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave the record establishing his position by the consensus of public opinion. Judged in this manner W. P. Ferguson is numbered among the eminent representatives of the Iowa bar and for many years has been termed “the first citizen of Shenandoah,” not only in the fact that he was the first to establish himself in business here, but also because he has ever stood as a leader in the work of public progress and … Read more

Iowa Atlases, Farm Directories, and Plat Books

1859 Map of Washington County Iowa

This collection contains digital atlases, farm directories, and plat books for all 99 Iowa counties. We have collated these from a variety of online sources, and provide them here as a single source for all online Iowa County Atlases, Farm Directories, and Plat Books.