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 ALMON RALPH DEWEY, attorney, residing at Washington, is well known as a lawyer and as a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was born in Mantua, Portage Co., Ohio, Oct. 1, 1845. HIs parents, Richard and Jane (Baldwin) Dewey, were of German and Irish extraction. When our subject was two years of age the family moved to Solon, Cuyahoga County, in the same State, where he grew to manhood, beginning his literary education in the common schools of Solon, then attending the High School at Willoughby, and finishing at Hiram College. During a part of the time spent at Hiram, James A. Garfield was President of the college, and with him and his family Mr. Dewey became intimately acquainted. The friendship formed with that illustrious man remained unbroken until his death.
In August, 1862, before reaching his seventeenth year, Mr. Dewey enlisted in the 103d Ohio Infantry, but was discharged for disability in the following October. During the greater part of the next eighteen months he attended school, but his mind was as much upon the struggle then going on for the Union, as upon his books, and when the call came for 100-day men, he concluded once more to enter the service, and therefore enlisted for that period in the 150th Ohio Infantry, served his time out, and was discharged with the regiment in August, 1864. The 100-day service did not dampen his ardor, as it did many others, but only intensified his desire to continue until the close of the war. We therefore find him again enlisting in Company B, of his old regiment, the 103d, in the fall of 1864, and serving until the end.
On the 1st of January, 1868, Mr. Dewey arrived in Washington, this State, where he commenced the study of law with Gen. Hiram Scofield, and in September, 1869, passed a creditable examination and was admitted to the bar. Soon after this he opened an office, since which time he has been in the active practice of his profession. He now practices in all of the State courts and in the federal courts as well, and for many years has had a large and lucrative business. Mr. Dewey was united in marriage in Washington, May 20, 1873, with Miss Sarah Rosseau, a daughter of W. H. H. Rosseau. their union has been blessed with two children—Mabel C. and Charles A. Mrs. Dewey is a lady of refinement, and enjoys the friendship and esteem of a very large circle of acquaintances.
Almon R. Dewey was made a Mason May 5, 1871, being initiated in Washington Lodge No. 26, A. F. & A.M. He was made a Master Mason July 7 following, and in 1882 was Worshipful Master of the lodge. In February, 1872, he was made a Royal Arch Mason, becoming a member of Cyrus Chapter No. 13, and Nov. 16, 1874, was created a Knight Templar in Palestine Commandery No. 2, at Iowa City. In the Chapter he was appointed to office in October, 1872, and in 1873, he was elected High Priest, which office he held for some years. He was chosen Deputy Grand High Priest in October, 1877, and Grand High Priest in 1880 and 1881, filling the latter position with signal ability. In March, 1872, he was made a Royal and Select Master, and in September following was elect Right Illustrious Master of Washington Council No. 4, and in September, 1874, was called to preside over the Council, a position he filled until 1878, when the Council organization was dispensed with in Iowa, being merged into the Chapter. At the grand conclave in 1882, he was appointed Grand Warder of the Grand Commandery. In 1884 he was elected Grand Captain General, in 1885, Deputy Grand Commander, and in 1886, Grand Commander of the Knights Templars of Iowa, which office he now holds.
Mr. Dewey is connected with several other benevolent organizations, giving to each such time and attention as he can spare from his legal and other duties. Every department of work which is calculated to better his fellow-men, and bind them together in the strongest ties of universal brotherhood, finds in him a sympathiser and helper. As an attorney, he has been quite successful at the bar. He is full of energy, a fluent and ready debator, a rapid thinker, with good personal appearance and of persevering and untiring zeal. As a citizen, he stands well among his fellow-men, whether or not of his religious or political belief.
Politically, Mr. Dewey is an uncompromising Republican, and in the coucils of his party, is one of its most trusted advisors. For many years he has regularly been a delegate to county, district and State conventions, and in the various campaigns has stumped district and State. He neither seeks nor asks office for himself, preferring to be free to work as pleases him best. Religiously, Mr. Dewey is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which body Mrs. Dewey is also a member.
In connection with this sketch will be found a fine portrait of Mr. Dewey, which will be appreciated by his many friends.
JOHN McKEE, farmer, section 32, Crawford Township, Washington County. The McKee family were originally from the North of Ireland, of Scotch descent. His maternal grandparents were both born in Ireland, and after the marriage of John McKee to Margaret Reed, they reared a family of six children. The four sons, James, William, John and Samuel, came to America, James coming in 1839, and the others 1840, settling in this county, within one mile of each other. the sisters, Eliza, who married George McAdam, and Margaret, who died when eight years of age, remained in Ireland, where Eliza also died later.
The parents were past the prime of life when they bade adieu to their native land, and as the shores of "green Erin" faded from their sight they formed plans for the future, and eagerly longed for a safe voyage and speedy location in some favored spot where the free air of heaven and the wealth of nature could be turned into profit and a home secured for their declining years. The party located at Greencastle, Ind., in August, 1840. The fame of Iowa reached them form sketches of the country written by Newhall, and in 1841 the family decided to seek a permanent home on the broad and fertile soil of Southeastern Iowa. The father made a purchase of land, and three sons resided with and aided him in its improvement until his death, which occurred in 1850. William remained in Mt. Pleasant, working at his trade of boot and shoemaking until 1846, when he purchased eighty acres of land and became a resident. He has made other additions to this, and after selling a nice farm, yet owns 120 acres.
The first house erected by the McKee family was built of logs, one mile east of the residence of our subject. There the parents lived and died. The old log structure has been pulled down, and in its stead a frame house stands. Every log and chink of the old house had a history. In it the family made their first home in the new country. Under its hallowed roof the son of praise nd the prayer of faith was heard, and from its portals were borne the remains of loving parents. William McKee wedded Nancy J. Kingen, eleven days before they started for America. She reared five children: John A. married Mary Calhoun; William is unmarried; Samuel is the husband of Eva Caldwell; Mary wedded Elder Andrew J. Mitchell; Eliza died unmarried, Nov. 4, 1866, aged twenty-one; the wife of William died in January, 1871. James McKee married Jane Reed, returning for that purpose to Indiana, in 1852. He went to Pittsburgh, Pa., and died about 1863. Samuel wedded Eliza Stafford, who died, leaving two children, Ralph and Sarah, the latter deceased; he subsequently married Elizabeth Buffington, and now resides in Taylor County, this State.
Our subject, John McKee, married in the autumn of 1850, Miss Margaret Holmes, who has borne him eleven children, ten living: Thomas, the husband of Annie Gormley, the parent of six children, five living—Minnie, Frank, Harry, Bert and William; John wedded Sarah J. Skinner, now deceased, who was the mother of Maude M. and Annie L.; Nancy wedded David Cummins; she is the mother of four children—Edward, Frederick, Charles and Eva. Margaret A. wedded Harry Smith, and is the mother of one daughter, Ethel A.; Robert R., Mary B., Eliza E., Eva, Rebecca H. and Rhoda are single, and remain with their parents. The children who are married are well settled in life, and the parents although past middle age are hale and enjoy a vigorous old age. Successful in life, and firm in the religious faith of their ancestors, John and Margaret (Holmes) McKee have reason to be proud of their offspring, who are numerous, and in the business and social world are highly esteemed. Secure against want, and with a delightful home where the prattle of children and grandchildren is often heard, their last days should be their happiest ones.
GABRIEL BRADY, retired farmer, section 7, Jackson Township, was born near Connersville, Ind., in 1808. His father, Joseph Brady, and his mother, Rachel (Jones) Brady, were both born in Culpeper County, Va., in which county they were married, and from which they crossed the mountains on pack-horses, settling in Kentucky, in which State two daughters and two sons were born, two of whom died, Lucy and John survived, and went with their parents to Indiana in about 1807. The family moved to Springfield, Sangamon Co., Ill., when there were but two stores in that city. There the mother died, and also the son John. She had a large family, there being besides those already mentioned, Betsey, Wilson, Robert, Fanny, and one unnamed, who died in infancy. The father moved back to Indiana after the death of his wife, and died there later.
Our subject had to make a living the best way he could, and worked by the month until he could buy a few acres of land in Mercer County, Ill., which he sold in 1856, and in the winter of that year he came to his county and purchased 120 acres upon which he yet resides. He was always a hard worker, and after he came here he improved his land, of which only ten acres had been broken. He never married, and is perhaps the oldest bachelor in this county. He kept bachelor's hall for years,
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and hired men to aid in improving his land, and it is well known that Gabriel is a first-class cook, and he indulged in that occupation,providing for several men and doing his share of farm work besides.
Mr. Brady has accumulated a nice fortune through the advance in real estate, and when actively engaged in farming raised considerable stock. This has all been disposed of, and he now lives a retired life upon his farm, which brings him an assured income. Fond of children, and social in his nature, Mr. Brady passes his leisure hours in visiting his neighbors. Isaac Hartman attends to the farm, and with him Mr. Brady finds a pleasant home. He ranks among the oldest settlers, and is in every way worthy of a place in this history.
ROBERT SHELLADAY was born in the County of Armagh, Ireland, in the year 1820, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Barber) Shelladay, who had three children born to them in Ireland, Alexander, William and Robert, who came with their parents to America in 1833. The family first located in Chilkington, and later in Addison County, Vt. In 1838 they removed to Elkhart County, Ind., about two miles from Goshen William and Robert having previously made the journey. Alexander had married in the old country, Nancy A. Shattuck, and William married Catharine Sweeney in Vermont, the latter being a resident of Buffalo, N.Y. Alexander was also a resident of the same State, engaged as an engineer on the "Oliver Newberry" and "Daniel Webster," both boats running on Lake Erie between Buffalo and Detroit, the former packet carrying the United States mails.
When the father decided to come to Iowa, the married sons, with their families, concluded also to emigrate, and they all came together to Johnson County in 1841, the father settling in Iowa City, where he purchased several lots, a part of the property now used by C., R.I. & R. Ry. Co. as depot grounds. William bought a farm six miles west of Iowa City, and was afterward part of the time engaged at farming, and part of the time in partnership with Robert in the packing business at Iowa City, the two managing the packing-house of Gower & Holt for seven years, William having charge of the lard and Robert of the cutting department. The death of William occurred abut 1857, and his wife's death followed abut six hours later, both dying of cholera. They left one daughter, now the wife of Dennis Hogan, a farmer residing on her father's farm. At the time of his death William was also engaged in the mercantile business, and his daughter was left quite wealthy. Alexander lost his life in consequence of pneumonia, brought on in rescuing from Cedar River the body of one Mr. Berryhill, who was accidentally drowned in that stream. Alexander was the best man, physically, at that time living in Iowa City, and his death was a shock and surprise to everyone. He left four children: Samuel, May, John and Alexander, all dead except the eldest, who is the husband of Elizabeth Hankins, and a resident of Montana. The widow of Alexander married John Connelly.
Our subject was married in 1849, to Isabel Russell, daughter of Arthur and Catherine (Robinson) Russell, who came from Cincinnati the same year the Shelladays came to Iowa. Mrs. Shelladay was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1829. Her father was a farmer of Johnson County in his lifetime, and also entered his land there. They brought to Iowa six children, and a seventh was born in Johnson County. Their names are: Elizabeth and Catherine, deceased; George, a bachelor residing on a farm in Jewell County, Kan., and Mary A., deceased. The parents are both dead, and their patrimony has been divided among the surviving children.
In 1864 Robert Shelladay became a resident of Washington County, where he had purchased 279 acres of land, since increased to 376 acres. Mr. S. has improved this farm finely, but his orchard of twenty acres, then the largest in the county, which once promised so finely, has been a complete failure, thereby entailing a great loss to the property. From an agricultural point of view, Mr. S. has made a great success, and by his meritorious conduct has won the esteem of all who know him. Seven children have been born in the family:
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George A., married first to Norah Scott, of the same township, and after her death to Jennie Early, is now a resident of Jewell County, Kan.; Sarah J. married Irvin Scott; Samuel A., who became the husband of Elizabeth Gibson, is now a resident of Johnson County; Catharine C., the wife of Neal McCune, is also of Jewell County, Kan.; Robert R., residing on the paternal farm, married Bertie G. McLaughlin, a well-educated and highly accomplished lady; Charles B. is the husband of Mary A. Walker, and resides in Johnson County, and Isabel E. is the wife of John Wallace, a farmer of Johnson County.
Robert's mother died while the family lived in Iowa City. After her death, Samuel Shelladay made his home with Robert, and died later at the house of his son, who is in every way an honored resident of the county, and of whom we are pleased to give this sketch the place which it deserves. Ireland has furnished many good citizens of this State, but none of them have found a warmer welcome than Robert and Isabel Shelladay.
RICHARD H. MARSH, deceased, was born in Bracken County, Ky., Aug. 2, 1814, and was the son of Joseph and Ann (Hutchinson) Marsh. In an early day he removed to Rush County, Ind., where he became acquainted with, and in 1834, married, Miss Mercy S. Talbot. In the fall of 1845 they came to Washington County, soon after which Mr. Marsh was elected Probate Judge of the county, serving one term. He then became engaged in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Marsh & Lee, afterward Marsh & Holden, the latter being a young man reared by Mr. Marsh. Soon after the close of the war he engaged in the real-estate business, which he carried on for some years.
Mr. Marsh died in Washington, D. C., in May, 1880. HIs remains were brought back and buried in Washington, Iowa. Judge Marsh was a man of more than ordinary ability, well educated and well posted in all matters pertaining to the history of his country. In early life he was a Whig, and afterward a stanch Republican. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a sincere Christian, and very benevolent, giving much of his means to the care of the poor. Mrs. Marsh is still living in Washington, and is highly respected by all. She has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than fifty years.
ANTHONY MOODY resides on section 16, Seventy-Six Township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is a native of German, and is the son of Joseph and Annie Moody, both of whom were also natives of that country. His father was a State Commander in the German army, and died in 1861, at the age of seventy-five years. His mother died in 1862, at the age of sixty-five years. They were members of the Catholic Church, and both died in Germany. In his youth Anthony learned the trade of a shoemaker in his native country, which occupation he followed while he remained in his native land.
In 1849 our subject came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where he lived two years engaged in a stone-quarry. He then went to New York, where he lived two years, engaged at his old trade of shoe-making. At the expiration of this time, he went to the interior of the State, and engaged in railroading on the New York & Erie Railroad, for one year. Believing the opportunity for acquiring a competency was better in the West than in the East, he went to Marshall County, Ill., and there remained ten years engaged in farming. On the 16th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. D, 47th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served two years, participating in the battles of Island No. 10, Farmington, first and second Corinth, Iuka, Vicksburg and Black River. He was mustered out in 1864, an returned to Marshall County, Ill., and was there married in 1866, to Amanda Black, a native of Illinois. Three children were born to them, Alexander, Antoinette and Walter, the latter dying in 1880, aged seven years; the others remain at home.
In 1865, Mr. Moody came to Washington County, and settled on section 16, of Seventy-six Township,
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where he bought eighty acres of improved land, and where he has since continued to reside. When Mr. Moody came to the United States he was a young man full of energy and vigor, but without other means of obtaining a livelihood, and is now enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. He is a man who has the confidence and respect of those who know him. Politically, he is a Republican, and religiously, he and his wife are identified with the United Brethren in Christ.
JOHN J. DIHEL, liveryman, Washington, was born in Fountain County, Ind., Nov. 26, 1841. His father, John W. Dihel, was a native of Virginia, while his mother, Nancy (Miller)Dihel, was a native of Ohio. They were married in Indiana, and were the parents of fourteen children, eleven of whom lived to be adults, and ten of whom are yet living: Robert M. and William L., of this county; John J., of Washington; Thomas E., of Union County, Ill.; Nancy J., the wife of Robert D. Speer, of Mercer County,Ill., Mary, the wife of John W. Ashenbursh, of Cass County, Mo.; Margaret, the wife of Curtis M. Lamar, of Saunders County, Neb.; Sarah, the wife of Erwin Lamar, also of Saunders County, Neb.; Dolly A., the wife of Albert Vance, of Platte County, Neb.; Lillie B., the wife of R.M. George, of Washington County.
In 1847, the family moved to Mercer County, Ill., and were among the early settlers of that county, John W. Dihel, the father of our subject, was a man well posted in political affairs; he was a strong anti-slavery man, and cast the first abolitionist vote in Mercer County. On the organization of the Republican part, believing it better calculated to carry out free-soil principles, Mr. Dihel became identified with it, advocating its principles till his death. In 1880, he moved to Washington County, where he died in September, 1885. Mrs. Dihel died in 1881. They were both members of the United Presbyterian Church.
John J. Dihel, of whom we now write, was reared in Mercer County, Ill., and was educated in the common schools, going a distance of two miles from his home. In 1861, he enlisted under the call for 300,000 men, in Co. 1, 30th Ill. Vol. Inf. He was mustered into the service with the regiment at Springfield, Ill., and participated in the battles of Belmont, Ft. Donelson and Ft. Henry. On account of physical disability, he was soon afterward discharged, and returned home. Recovering his health, in 1864, he again enlisted in the same company and regiment, and was sent to Rome, Ga., the regiment forming one of that grand army that marched with Sherman to the sea, and was with the regiment at Durham Station at the surrender of Johnston, and was also in the grand review at Washington, D.C. He was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 17, 1865, and on the 28th of the same month, was paid off and discharged at Springfield, Ill. Again returning to his home in Mercer County, Ill., he remained there until 1872, when he came to Washington County, and engaged in farming, continuing in that vocation for a number of years. In the spring of 1886, he embarked in his present business, and is now successfully following it.
Mr. Dihil was married in Mercer County, Ill., July 10, 1867, to Miss May J. Unangst, a native of New Jersey, born in 1842. By this union there are four children—George E., Francis L., Effie I. and Allie E. Mr. and Mrs.Dihel are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the G.A.R.
HENRY DIEDRICH, a farmer and stock-raiser, resides upon section 8, Franklin Township, where he is the owner of 100 acres of fine land, well improved in every respect. He was born in Germany, July 9, 1826, and is the son of John and Sophia Diedrich, also natives of that country. Henry Diedrich was raised to the occupation of a farmer, and has followed that vocation thus far through life. He emigrated to America in 1854, settling first in New York, where he remained six months, and then went to Upper Canada.
In 1857, Mr. Diedrich came to Iowa and located in Jefferson County, where he remained one year,
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and then moved to Keokuk county, remaining there until 1875, when he located upon the far where he now resides. Just before leaving Germany, in 1854, he was united in marriage with Louisa Frohlich, who was also a native of that country. They have had seven children, six now living—John, Morris, emma, Henry, Mary and Christina; William is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs Diedrich are members of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat.
When Mr. Diedrich and his wife landed at Buffalo, N.Y., they had but five cents left, but being possessed of the thrifty and economical habits of the German race, they began work and the saving of their means, until to-day they are comfortably situated on one of the finest farms in Franklin Township. Mr. Diedrich has a reputation for being strictly honest in all things, and it is said of him that his word is as good as his bond.
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