Benjamin Stambaugh

As printed in 1887

BENJAMIN K. STAMBAUGH. As a representative of the agricultural class, and one who has met with ordinary success in the prosecution of his independent calling, we take pleasure in mentioning the name of the gentleman whose biography we write. He is pleasantly located on his fine and productive farm on section 3, Bowlder Township, where he may be found almost any day, engaged in the general routine of a farmer's life. The father of our subject was Daniel, and the mother Margaret (Kastor) Stambaugh, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father was of German and the mother of English ancestry. After their marriage they settled in Mercer County, Pa., where they are yet living, the father engaged as a farmer, having followed that calling the major portion of his life. Their family of eleven children comprised seven sens and four daughters, and the subject of this notice is the third in order of birth.

Benjamin Stambaugh was born in Mercer County, Pa., June 27, 1840. What education he possesses he received in the common schools, and lived and labored on the old homestead until he was twenty-three years old. The following three or four years were spent in traveling in California, Nevada,

Oregon and Washington Territory, where he also worked in the mines. He was unsuccessful in his search after the hidden treasure, and returning to his old home in Pennsylvania, he remained there about seven months, and during that time made cpiite an extensive trip throughout the Southern States.

In 1807 Mr. Stambaugh came to Iowa, locating in Jones County, and purchased a saw and grist mill, together with a farm, in company with his brothers. He continued to live in that county until the spring of 1869, when he came to Linn County and settled on section 3, Bowlder Township. He has erected a fine set of buildings on his farm, and is now the owner of 280 acres in that township, and also twenty acres in Jones County. His buildings are among the finest in the township. Mr. Stambaugh was married on the 2d day of March, 1869, at Anamosa, Iowa, to Tabitha Stambaugh, daughter of Israel and Sarah (Stillings) Stambaugh, natives of Pennsylvania. She was born in Mercer County, Pa., Feb. 1, 1844, and has borne our subject six children: Myra, Florence (deceased), Cora, Bertha A., a son who died in infancy, and Lester H.

In politics Mr. S. is a Republican. Mrs. Stambaugh is a member of the Baptist Church.

A lithographic view of the handsome residence, out-buildings and stock farm of Mr. Stambaugh, together with his thoroughbred Short-horns, is shown on another page of this work.

VJ. KENDALL is one of the prominent business men of Marion, and a dealer in general hardware, stoves and tinware. He is a native of this city, was born May 19, 1851, and is the son of Albert and Sarah ('. (Higley) Kendall. He received his primary education and completed his studies in Marion Academy. He was a youth of quick intelligence and excellent memory, ami improved the advantages which he enjoyed.

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T4iH fl ticeship at the tinner's trade, in his father's shop, and three years later was admitted as a partner in the business, and the firm was known as A. Kendall & Son. The admirable example of this young man is one which the youth of the present day might generally follow with great credit to themselves. The best j'ears of many a young man are wasted in various pursuits, with no settled aim in view, and nothing to show for the time they have aimlessly labored. Mr. Kendall gained sufficient insight into the business to carry it on after his father had ceased his labors and passed beyond the bounds of life. The death of this gentleman occurred in 1877, after which the son became sole proprietor, and has since then conducted the business alone and with entire success. He has carried out the principles of the founder of the business, has dealt in a straightforward business manner, and secured the confidence of the community, which lias resulted in an extensive and increasing pat n mage.

Four years prior to the decease of his father, Mr. W. J. Kendall was united in marriage with Miss Emma R., daughter of Eli Braucht. Their union was celebrated at Findlay. Hancock Co., Ohio, on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1873. Mrs. Kendall was a native of the State and county in which she was reared and married. Of her union with our subject two children have been born, a daughter and a son — Alberta, aged nine years, and Carl W., aged five years.

Mr. Kendall and wife are prominent members of the Congregational Church of Marion. Politically Mr. K. is a Democrat, upholding the principles of that party uniformly and conscientiously. He is a member of Osceola Lodge No. 18, I. O. O. F., of which he has filled all the chairs, and lie is a member of the Centennial Encampment of Marion, No. 91, and is Chief Patriarch.

We subjoin the following brief account of Albert Kendall, the father of our subject. He was one of the early pioneers of.Marion, and after coming into the county was recognized at once as a man possessing those qualities which would entitle him to rank among its best citizens. He was born in West Granby, Conn., July ' 1815, and was of an old New England family of English descent. He married Miss Sarah C. Iligley, also of West

Granby. She survives him and is a resident of Marion. Albert Kendall removed from Connecticut to Illinois in 1842, locating in Bloomington, but three years later turned his face farther West, crossed the Mississippi, and sought a home in the Hawkeye.state, lie was a wagon-maker by trade, and a skilled mechanic, and after his arrival here opened a shop, and pursued his former occupation for a number of year-. In 1869 he established the business which is now conducted by his son. and was interested in this until his death, which occurred.fan. IK. Is77. He was an uncompromising Democrat politically, and by his voice and vote uniformly upheld the principles of the party of his choice. He was highly respected, and a man whose opinions were sought and referred to with deference. During a residence of more than forty years he established a record within the memory of his fellow-citizens which stands to his great credit and honor, as a truly honest man and a good citizen in every sense these terms imply.

"JW7 EYI G. BOOTH is one of the most suc- I () cessful farmers and stock-growers of Cot Jl'-vs lege Township, where he makes his home on section 10. He occupies the homestead of his father, where he was born April 12, 1853. His father, Rev. Isaiah Booth, was a native of New York State, born in Madison County. Oct. 19, 1816. Ezra Booth, the father of Isaiah, was a SOB of Isaiah Booth, Sr., a native of Madison County, a farmer, and a pioneer settler of York State. This gentleman was the son of John Booth, a Captain in the Revolutionary War. He came from England to Connecticut, and in-early life was there engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was i companied by his brother in his journey from his native land, and these two were the progenitors of the Booth family in the United States. He made a brilliant military record, survived the vicissitudes of war, and received fatal injuries by being thrown from a horse while lighting on Long Island. It is supposed that he was married in Connecticut. where his son Isaiah was also married, the latter going to Madison County. N. Y.. in 1800. He became a successful farmer in that State, and lived to the good old age of eighty years. His son, Ezra, the only child of whom the family have preserved any account, and the grandfather of our subject, was a young man twenty-one years of age at the time of the removal of his parents from Connecticut. He followed in the footsteps of his father, and was content with agricultural pursuits. He was married near his own home to Miss Clarrissa Madison, a native of the same State and county, where she and her husband spent their lives, and died at a good old age, after rearing a family of six sons and two daughters.

The father of our subject, Isaiah Booth, was the; third son and child of his parents, and was most; carefully trained in those moral and religions prin- ' ciples which combine to make the upright man and good citizen. He remained under the parental roof until he was eighteen years old, and two years: later, in 1836, turned his footsteps westward, went into Illinois, and remained one winter, roaming: over the country at will, and traveling much of the time with a hunter and trapper. That same winter I he also crossed the Mississippi River and went over: into Iowa. He was delighted with the appearance: of the country, and determined to establish there his future home. He had already been married, although so young, his bride being Miss Wealthy

: Taylor, a lady living near his old home in New York. Of her he was soon bereft, as she only lived 5 a few months, dying of consumption before her young husband started for the West.

On his first trip to Iowa he only remained fur a short time. Wishing to supplement a somewhat: limited education, he returned to Hillsboro, Ill.,; and attended for a short time the Academy there. I He fitted himself for a teacher in the meanwhile, and proceeded to the city of Springfield, where he j was employed at this profession for two seasons. r This city was then an humble hamlet, and the disease called "milk sickness" was prevailing to a [ great extent. Of so little value was the land then considered, that he was proffered the whole block on which the State House now stands, in exchange for his watch, which was worth about $11. After bhis experience, Mr. Booth, still intent upon re- '. ceiving all the advantages which he could secure by way of education, entered the college at Granville, Ohio, where he paid for his tuition and supported himself by doing "odd jobs" as he could obtain them. He here completed a regular collegiate course, having in view his preparation for a minister of the Baptist Church, of which denomination his parents were earnest and active members. He completed his ministerial studies, and entered upon the duties of a clergyman, which position he occupied for a space of ten or twelve years.

While in Granville, Ohio, Mr. Booth contracted a matrimonial alliance with Miss Phoebe H. Jones, their marriage occurring June 23, 1843. This lady was the daughter of David R. and Susan (Thomas) Jones, natives of Wales, from which country they emigrated previous to their marriage, which occurred in Oneida County, N. Y., where the mother of our subject was born July 23, 1820. The family were of pure Welsh desert, and for several generations back were engaged in the honorable and peaceful occupation of farming. The parents of Mrs. B. entered the State of Ohio in 1830, first settling in Licking County, where the parents died, the father at the age of fifty-six, and the mother at seventy'-four. Mr. Isaiah Booth and wife had a family of seven children, whose record is as follows: Addison J. married Miss Anne Coulson; she is now deceased; he is a resident of the Lone Star State; Hiram J. wedded Miss Rhoda Nelson; he is a farmer, and they reside in Fayette Township; William II. lives in Dakota; his wife was Miss Mary Munger, a native of Flint, Mich.; Levi G. is the next child; Richard II. is a farmer and mechanic; he was united in marriage with Miss Alma Fales. and they live in Red Willow County, Neb.; David E. is a farmer and stock-grower of Spink County, Dak.; he married Miss Catharine Shurtlet'f; Johanna died in infancy. The family came from Granville in 1851, and settled in College Township, purchasing from the Government a tract of land, 320 acres in extent.

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As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Linn County, Iowa (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.