Page 557

 

WILLIS E. OXFORD

 

A valuable farming property of one hundred and forty acres in Mason township has been in possession of Willis E. Oxford since January, 1906, and in its further development and improvement he is displaying a spirit of marked enterprise combined with practical and progressive methods.  He was born in Butler county, Iowa, January 17, 1878, and is a son of John W. and Alice Rose (Aman) Oxford.  The former was a son of Elias and Ruth Oxford, and the family is one that has long been represented in America.  The children of Elias Oxford were: Harrison, now deceased; Mrs. Sarah Reeves; Mrs. Phebe Nichols; Mrs. Mary Bird, deceased; Mrs. Jane Bird; Mrs. Caroline Randolph, deceased; and Mrs. Elizabeth A. Benham.

 

The maternal grandfather of Willis E. Oxford was Walter G. Aman, a brother of John R. Aman.  His children were:  William L., Elmer E., Charles W., Bert R., Mrs. Alice Rose Oxford, Mrs. Ella Whiteman, Mrs. Effie Brewer, Mrs. Minnie Wolf and Mrs. Emma Brennen.  The brothers and sisters of Willis E. Oxford are: Reuben M., John Logan, Orville W., George Francis and Mrs. Carrie Wolf.

 

(Page 558) Willis E. Oxford began his education in the public schools of Butler county, Iowa, but after attending for one year accompanied his parents on their removal to Nebraska in 1885.  The father died and the son assisted the mother in carrying on her business interests for a number of years.  He also attended school in Nebraska until his sixteenth year, after which his undivided time and attention were given to the business interests of his mother.  At length he determined to establish a home in his native state and, returning to Iowa, settled in Taylor county, purchasing his present farm in January, 1906.  He now has an excellent tract of land of one hundred and forty acres, which is naturally rich and productive and responds readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon it.  It is now most thrifty and attractive in appearance and he carries on general farming and also raises all kinds of stock.  He has divided the place into fields of convenient size by well kept fences, has sunk wells and has kept the buildings in good repair, so that the farm presents a pleasing appearance.

 

On the 3rd of October, 1901, Mr. Oxford was united in marriage at Bedford, Iowa, to Miss Minnie M. Raynor, a native of Taylor county and a daughter of Marquis de Lafayette and Alelia Raynor.  Her father, who was a prominent farmer at New Market, Iowa, became one of the early settlers of this county, arriving in 1854 when few homes had been established within its borders.  He was thereafter closely associated with the pioneer development of the community.  He had seven brothers: William, Lewis, Ferd, Parker, Harvey, Austin and Ulysses.  Having arrived at years of maturity, Mr. Raynor wedded Alelia Jay, a daughter of Mrs. Margaret Head and a sister of John Jay, Mrs. Mary Adams, Mrs. Kate Pace, Sime, Mrs. Mabel Tyree and Mrs. Edna Tyree.  The last three were half brothers and sisters.  The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Raynor: Mrs. Emma Teeters, Mrs. Oxford, Mrs. Beniah Green, Mrs. Meadie, Holland and Mrs. Addie Adams.  The home of Mr. and Mrs. Oxford has been blessed with four children: Lester Young, Carrie Emma, Vera Maud and Goldie Agatha.

 

In his political views Mr. Oxford is a democrat but while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, he does not seek or desire office as a reward for his party fealty.  His life has been a busy and useful one and his activity has brought him the success which he now enjoys, making him one of the substantial farmers of the county.

 

 

 

Page 355

 

MARTIN V. PACE

 

Martin V. Pace, a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Mason township, is the owner of a rich and productive tract of land of eighty acres, which has been in his possession since 1884.  He was born in Dubois, Indiana, on the 8th of October, 1855, a son of Richard Foster and Nancy Jane (Wininger) Pace.  The family is an old one in this country, having been represented in the United States for several centuries.  Richard F. Pace, the father of our subject, is a native of Virginia and came to Taylor county, Iowa, in the year 1857, as one of its pioneer settlers.  He has now attained the venerable age of eighty-eight years and is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community as a most worthy and respected citizen.  His brothers, William, Charles Wesley, Elisha Center, Lewis Clark and Edward Melbourn, all participated in the Civil war with the exception of Elisha Center.  Edward Melbourn was killed while in the service, thus laying down his life on the altar of his country.

 

Martin V. Pace, who was but two years of age when brought by his parents to this county, obtained his education in the public schools of Mason township.  When not busy with his text-books he assisted in the work of the old home farm, and after leaving school at the age of nineteen years, he gave his father the benefit of his services as a farm hand until he had attained his majority.  He then started out as an agriculturist on his own account by renting a tract of land of eighty acres and, by dint of untiring industry and good management, at length accumulated sufficient capital with which to purchase the property.  It has since remained in his possession and he has placed many substantial improvements thereon, so that his place is now lacking in none of the equipments and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century.  He built a new barn and fences, and the general air of neatness and thrift which pervades the place indicates the supervision of a practical and progressive owner.  In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, he also gives much of his time to the raising of stock and this branch of his business is proving a profitable source of revenue to him.

 

On the 13th of September, 1881, in Page county, Mr. Pace was united in marriage to Miss Clara Eliza Holton, a daughter of D. B. and Margaret Holton.  Her father is a prominent hardware merchant of Bradleyville, Iowa.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pace have been born three daughters, namely: Nellie May, now (page 356) the wife of Clarence E. Mason, who follows farming and makes his home with his father; Shirley Clara; and Vera Maud, who died at the age of two years.

 

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Pace has cast his ballot in support of the men and measures of the republican party.  He is a valued member of the Baptist church at New Market, in which he served as deacon for some years.  He has spent practically his entire life in this county and the friends of his boyhood have remained the friends of his manhood -- a fact which indicates that his life has been at all times upright and honorable.

 

 

Page 427

 

GEORGE W. PAGE

 

 

Thirty-six years have come and gone since George W. Page arrived in Taylor county after a residence of eight years in Warren county, this state.  He has been closely associated with agricultural interests and the promoter of various other enterprises, which have been direct forces in the development and improvement of this section of the state.  He has always been diligent and persevering in his business career, utilizing advantages which others have passed by heedlessly, and the course which he has pursued in his business career is one which at all times will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.  One of Ohio's native (page 428) sons, Mr. Page was born in Brown county, December 31, 1835, and there the days of his boyhood and youth were passed upon a farm in the midst of the green forests.  He remained with his father until seventeen years of age and then started out in business life for himself, working as a farm hand by the day and month.  In the year 1857 he removed to Livingston county, Illinois, where he worked on farms for a time, after which he rented land and so carried on general agricultural pursuits for nine years.

 

While in Livingston county, in 1859, Mr. Page was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Livingston, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, In 1865 they removed to Iowa, driving across the country with teams to Warren county, Mr. Page trading for property in Indianola.  They afterward spent one winter at Hartford, Iowa, and afterward took up their abode on the Des Moines river, where Mr. Page owned forty acres of land.  There he engaged in logging and in manufacturing lumber, devoting three years to that business.  His labors brought him a substantial prosperity, after which he purchased another forty acres south of Sandyville, Iowa.  With characteristic energy he began its cultivation and development, making his home thereon until 1873, when he sold out and removed to Lenox.  About the same time he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Ringgold county.  He spent one summer on that land but could get no perfect title, after which he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 12, Platte township.  He then engaged in farming that property from 1875 until the spring of 1888, when he sold out and removed to Lenox.  He had purchased three hundred acres, constituting the south half of section 8, Platte township, erected buildings thereon and cultivated his fields.  He afterward bought forty acres adjoining the town and later laid out an addition to the town, selling part of his land in town lots.  On his place he erected two large barns and four residences.  He has a cement house, which is the only cement residence in Lenox.  It is built in neat and attractive style of architecture and has but recently been completed.  He also has a cement garage and factory and has been manufacturing cement blocks, sewer pipe, drain tile and burial vaults, carrying on an extensive business in this field of labor.  He is a man of deep business discernment and unfaltering enterprise and probably no one has done more toward the upbuilding and improvement of the city of Lenox than Mr. Page.  Although he is now seventy-four years of age, he is still very active from daylight to dark and is yet numbered among the most progressive men of the community.

 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Page was blessed with one son and five daughters.  Abraham, who is married and is operating the home farm, is also engaged in raising live stock and is the owner of a large automobile.  Betsy Ann is the wife of William Stancamp of Lenox.  Alta is the wife of Fred Worm.  Etta is the wife of Arthur Nichols of Cass County, Iowa.  Jennie Paul is living in Omaha.  Emma is the wife of Mart Hayes, who is living upon a part of her father's farm.

 

Politically Mr. Page is a democrat.  He cast his first presidential vote, however, for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and in 1864 voted for General McClellan.  He has since supported every presidential nominee of the democratic party with two exceptions, but has never sought or held office.  His wife is a member of the (page 429) Christian church and he is a Master Mason, having been identified with the fraternity since 1869.  In his life he has exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft, which is based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness.  His intense and well-directed activity throughout his long and useful career has constituted the basis of his success and has won him a prominent pace among the most honored citizens of the county.  

 

Page 534

 

CLAYTON M. PASCHAL, M. D.

 

The medical profession of Taylor county finds a worthy and competent representative in Dr. Clayton M. Paschal, a physician and surgeon of Bedford.  He was born in Louisa county, Iowa, September 13, 1854, and is one of the five children of Albert G. and Mary Jane (Getts) Paschal, both of whom were natives of Ohio.  The former was a son of Joseph Paschal, who was likewise born in the Buckeye State and was of Scotch-Irish descent.  He was one of the pioneer Methodist ministers of Iowa and for a considerable period devoted his life to the work of the ministry, doing everything in his power to advance the cause of the church during the period when Iowa was in its primitive development.  He was also a member of the famous Graybeard Regiment at the time of the Civil war, acting as its chaplain.  He died soon after the close of hostilities between the north and the south and his wife's death resulted from typhoid fever when she was about forty-five years of age.  They had quite a large family, including Albert G. Paschal, who was reared in Ohio and followed farming in young manhood.  He came to Iowa in 1834 and located first near Burlington.  In 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he crossed the plains to that state in search of the precious metal and went through many of the experiences common to the miner in that formative period of western history.  In 1853 he returned to Iowa and took up a claim in Monroe and Lucas counties.  There he was married and resided until 1871, when he removed to Melrose, where he engaged in banking and general merchandising, being thus connected with the financial and commercial interests of the town until his death, which occurred in 1900 when he was seventy-two years of age.  He was a member of the board of supervisors and a man of considerable local influence and prominence.  He wedded Mary Jane Getts, a daughter of Jacob Getts, who was a native of Pennsylvania and was of German lineage.  Her father became one of the early settlers of Ohio and subsequently was a pioneer in the eastern part of Iowa.  He was an (page 537) expert blacksmith and lived in Columbus City, Iowa, where he conducted a smithy for a long period  He died there when more than eighty years of age, while his wife was about eighty-two years of age at the time of her demise.  They had a large family, including four or five sons who were soldiers of the Civil war.  Their daughter, Mary J., became the wife of Albert G. Paschal and, surviving her husband for three years, passed away when about seventy-one years of age.  Both were members of the Methodist church.  Their family included two sons and three daughters, as follows:  Clayton M., of this review; Anna, the wife of James A. Payne, of Lacona, Iowa; Getts A., a resident of Melrose; Lois M., who died in young womanhood; and Pink, who is the widow of J. E. Vanwinkle and makes her home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

 

Dr. Paschal spent his boyhood days in Monroe county and began teaching school at the age of sixteen, following that profession for five years.  Not content with the educational opportunities which he had hitherto received, he attended Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant.  He never regarded teaching as his permanent life work but merely as an initial step to other professional labor and as soon as opportunity offered he matriculated in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, from which he was graduated with the class of 1875.  He afterward pursued a special course in the Chicago Medical School in 1882.  He began practicing medicine in 1875 at old Hawleyville, Page county, Iowa, where he remained for about eight years and in 1890 he came to Taylor county, practicing at New Market until 1893.  In that year he arrived in Bedford, where he has since successfully followed his profession, receiving recognition of his ability in the liberal patronage which is accorded him.  He keeps abreast with the trend of modern thought regarding professional problems and is interested in everything which tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life.  Aside from his profession he has a gratifying source of revenue in two fine farms in Taylor county, one of eighty acres and the other of one hundred and sixty acres.  He also owns an interest in a ranch of fourteen hundred acres near Fort Morgan, Colorado.

 

In 1876 Dr. Paschal was married to Miss Mabel Bean, a daughter of Joel and Cecelia Bean.  Mrs. Paschal was born in Montgomery county, Iowa, while her father was a native of New Hampshire and her mother of New York.  Removing westward, they became early settlers of Montgomery county.  Unto Dr. and Mrs. Paschal have been born two sons: Beryl E., a merchant of Ingersoll, Oklahoma, who married Edna Evans and has two sons, George Albert and Robert George; and Karl B., who married Dorothy Bedell, and has a daughter, Marian, and who is a dentist of Bedford.

 

Dr. and Mrs. C. M. Paschal are members of the Baptist church and are prominent socially in the community.  The Doctor belongs to Taylor Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Triangle Chapter, No. 68, R. A. M.; Bedford Lodge, No. 91, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the chairs; the Knights of Pythias lodge; and Modern Woodmen camp.  His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he served as county coroner for a number of years, while in 1888 he was elected to the Iowa legislature and served for two terms.  Professionally he is connected with the Taylor County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.  He is a man whose interests (page 538) constitute well-balanced forces in his life, making his a well-rounded character.  He has sought his success not by any devious methods but by close adherence to the profession which he has chosen as a life work and his determination and energy have gained him a place among the substantial residents of the county. 

 

Page 464

 

JOSEPH W. PAUL

 

Joseph W. Paul, now living retired in Bedford, has passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey.  He was for a considerable period closely associated with agricultural interests and is still the owner of a good farm which returns to him a gratifying annual revenue.  However, since 1894 he has made his home in Bedford.  He was born in Jefferson county, New York, July 15, 1833, (page 465) his parents being Jeremiah and Polly (Parker) Paul, who were natives of Vermont.  The father was a school teacher and farmer and removed from the Green Mountain State to Jefferson county, New York, where he carried on the work of tilling the soil.  He died in June, 1853, at the age of fifty-seven years, having for ten years survived his wife, who passed away when about forty-five years of age.  Their Christian faith was indicated in their membership in the Methodist church and in their close conformity to its teachings.  They were the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, but Joseph W., of this review is now the only one living and his brothers lie buried in six different states.  The members of the household were: Melzor C.; William A.; Allen R.; Eli R.; Sallie C., who was the wife of Timothy Martin; Samuel N.; Emily S., who gave her hand in marriage to Jacob Springer; James E.; Joseph W.; Mary M.; and Merritt Wilbur.  Judge Alton B. Parker, who was candidate for president on the democratic ticket in 1904, is a second cousin of Mr. Paul, while John Jacob Astor's wife, who bore the maiden name of Jane Paul, was a sister of Jeremiah Paul, the father of our subject.

 

Joseph W. Paul was reared to manhood on the old home farm in New York, dividing his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement of an education in the district schools.  His mother died when he was but ten years of age and he went to live with a family of strangers.  He worked at farm labor, driving oxen, breaking prairie and performing all the tasks incident to the cultivation and development of a farm.  In the year 1854 he came west to Illinois but in the spring of 1855 returned to New York.  In the fall of that year, however, he located in Henderson county, Illinois, where he lived until 1862, when he enlisted as a member of Company B, Ninety-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years lacking ten days.  He was on guard duty in Texas much of the time and in 1862 he was captured with his regiment by the guerrilla band under Morgan.  He was then paroled for five months and afterward exchanged, joining his regiment again in the parole camp at St. Louis.  He participated in a number of minor battles and was engaged in building a fort on the Tombigbee River above Mobile when the war closed.

 

After the cessation of hostilities Mr. Paul returned to his home in Henderson county, Illinois, and began farming, which pursuit he followed until 1869.  He then came to Taylor county, Iowa, with his family and purchased a farm of two hundred and thirty-seven acres lying principally in Washington township.  With characteristic energy he began its development, bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation, so that in course of time he gathered rich crops which found a ready and profitable sale upon the market.  He continued to make his home upon his first farm until 1894, after which he bought another farm of one hundred and forty-six acres adjoining in Benton township.  This second farm he still owns but has disposed of his original property.

 

On the 6th of March, 1861, Mr. Paul was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane Chandler, a daughter of Jesse and Rachel (Wright) Chandler.  She was born near Newtown, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1837, and her parents were also natives of the Keystone state.  Her paternal grandfather was Whitfield Chandler a native of Virginia and of Scotch-Irish descent.  He devoted his life to the occupation of farming and died at the very venerable age of ninety-three years. (Page 466) His first wife passed away August 14, 1837, and he afterward married a Mrs. Hoskinson, who had three children by her former marriage but none by the second marriage.  The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Paul was Justus Wright, a native of Indiana and a farmer by occupation.  His wife, Mrs. Rachel Wright, died in early womanhood when Mrs. Paul's mother was nine days old.  Mr. Wright, however, lived to be ninety years of age.  Jesse and Rachel (Wright) Chandler, the parents of Mrs. Paul, removed to Illinois in 1844 and after residing for two years in McDonough county took up their abode in Hancock county, where they remained for a similar period.  Subsequently they went to Henderson county, Illinois, where Mrs. Chandler passed away in 1859, at the age of forty-five years and eight months.  Fourteen years afterward Mr. Chandler was again married, his second union being with Lucinda Evans, whose demise occurred at their home in Abingdon eleven years later.  Mr. Chandler then made his home with his children, passing away on the farm of his daughter, Mrs. Paul, in 1893, when he had attained the age of seventy-nine years and eight months.  He had done active duty in the Mormon war.

 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Paul has been blessed with four children.  Willis A., who is engaged in the timber business at Felsenthal, Arkansas, wedded Miss Hannah Igo, by whom he has a daughter, Helen.  Rachel Olive, residing near Gravity in Washington township, is the wife of Jesse Lovett and has three sons, Glenn, Paul and Jay.  Osa Edna, who gave her hand in marriage to C. F. Martin, lives in Wellington, Kansas.  Clark E., is still under the parental roof.

 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Paul are members of the Methodist church, are loyal to its teachings and liberal in its support.  Mr. Paul belongs to Sedgwick Post, No. 10, G. A. R., while his wife is a member of the Women's Relief Corps.  Politically he is a republican and has served as township trustee for eight or ten years, also acting at different times as school director and road commissioner.  He has a fine home in Bedford, where he is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil.  As the years have passed by he has made steady progress in his business and his unfaltering diligence, perseverance and capable management have brought to him the success which now numbers him among the men of affluence in the county.  He has always been straightforward and reliable in every relation of life and his good qualities have won him a host of warm friends.