USA > Iowa > Monona County > History of Monona County, Iowa; containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 1
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3 3433 08192092 2
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MAR 2 7 1964
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HISTORY
-OF --
MONONA COUNTY,
IOWA.
Containing Full-page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County.
TOGETHER WITH PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE GOVERNORS OF IOWA, AND OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
CHICAGO : NATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1890.
1201331 TO 302
reface.
N this age of culture and progress people are but just waking up to the fact that we are every day making history-working out problems of life and carving out fortunes-all to be forgotten by the next generation, unless we enter more earefully upon the task of recording and preserving the details of our local and personal history. These annals, thus written, will be duly appreciated for their truth- fulness and completeness by those who come after us, for it is well known that the lapse of time makes the best of memories imperfect, and tradition is totally unreliable.
Thus it is that in most every seetion of the Union efforts are being put forth to perpetuate local history and biography. Surely no cause can be more worthy of popular attention. In no county in Iowa should the citizens feel greater interest in recording, in some convenient form, the most important events in the history of the county and the lives of its citizens.
With the laudable purpose of gathering up the history of Monona County and its citizens this vol- ume was commeneed and carried to a finish. Our work is done; and we now present it to our patrons with the wish that it will meet the satisfaction that the care used in its preparation warrants.
Yours very truly.
THE NATIONAL PUBLISHING CO.
CERTIFICATE OF COMMITTEES.
We, the undersigned, members of the committees appointed to revise the histories of our respective town- ships or villages for the history of Monona County, now being compiled by the National Publishing Co., do hereby certify that the manuscript of the same was duly submitted to us, and that we revised and corrected the same, making such additions and corrections as we, in our judgment, deemed necessary, and as so cor- rected do approve of the same:
T. Elliott, J. K. MeCaskey, William Burton, Addison Oliver, B. D. Holbrook. Village of Onaura.
Charles I. Whiting. G. W. Carhart,
F. Griffin, .J. D. Rice, B. D. Butler,
Village of Mapleton.
E. M. Cassady,
B F. Morris, Lyman Whittier,
W. C. Whiting, Village of Whiting.
R. G. Fairchild, U. U. Comfort,
F. G. Oliver, Neal McNeill, Franklin.
John S. Eggleston. T. II. Peabody, Lincoln.
F. F. Roe, T. T. Bouslaugh, D. T. Hawthorn, Center.
Thomas Cover, Willow.
R. T. Reese, (1. W. Bisbee, S. S. Dorward, Belvidere.
George R. Outhouse, James Ballantyne, Jordan.
J. J. Peck, Siou.r.
W. G. Kennedy. W. VanDorn, Grant.
O. E. Strand,
R. R. Porter,
Engebret Evenson,
M. J. Riddle, Soldier.
Lewis Pike,
C. E. Whiting,
Peter Inman,
M. F. Brink, J. R. Folwell, West Fork.
W. W. Ordway,
J. B. P. Day,
Socrates Smith,
A. J. Lynch, Kennebec.
Peter Reily, William McFarlane, N. C. Harlow, Sherman.
(2. A. Wooster, C. H. Simmons, N. A. Willsey, J. A. Heisler. Maple.
Victor Dubois, N. B. Olson, J P. Olson, Fairview.
P' .. trick G. Dundon, .A. F. Gray, J. R. Murphy, Ashton.
Tobias Fegenbuslı, W. L. Coones, Joseph Robinson, Lake.
J. L. Bartholomew,
J. B. Moorhead,
S. M. Blackman, James Graham, Spring Valley.
S. D. Depue, A. J. Patrick, 1. L Smith, William G. Dorothy, St. Clair.
J. A. IFeisler, J. R. Homan. Cooper.
A
Adams, Almon L 475
Adams, John.
23
Adams, John Quincy 39
Adams, Joseph A
-570
Adams, Moses.
. . 528
Agens, William
581
Alexander, Peter .
572
Allen, Perry
487
Amundson, John
. 627
Anderson, William
401
Arthur, Chester A
99
Ashton, Isaac .
. 361
Atherton, Edward A
628
B
Bagby, John. .. 532 Bailey, W. R . . 415 Bakke, Edward E. . 542 Bakke, Severt E .650
Ballantyne, Andrew
.602
Ballantyne, James
.551
Ballantyne, John
.485
Barcus, John
641
Barcus, Wesley.
590
Bard, Henry E
638
Darney , Loren 647 Bartholomew, James L. 377 Bassett, William I) .646
Beers, John F.
.49S
Bearce, Lorenzo D .494
Beall, Nelson 1) .365 Bisbee, Hon. Charles C € 05 Bisbee, Charles W . . 624 Blackman, Stephen M .6og
Blanchard, John, Jr. .
. 560
Boies, Horace .159 Bouslaugh, Jasper . . 616
Bouslaugh, Joseph R . . 567
Bouslaugh, Theodore T 577
Bowers, David W
. 58.4
Bridges, John T
.637
Briggs, Ansel
111
Brink, Milan F
499
Brooks, George H ...
.. 379
Brooks, John W
. . 416
Brown, Anthony
.. 640
Bryant, Colby M.
. 552
Bryant, Capt G. H
478
Buchanan, James.
75
Burton, William
3.99
Butcher, Edmond
.563
Butcher, Frederick
. 505
Butt, Joseph D.
. . 658
Butts, Mrs. Mary A
.401
C
Caldwell, Joseph A. . 36g
Cameron, Lieut. S. T
.604
Carlson, Ole B ..
. 597
Carpenter, Cyrus Clay . .130
Carritt, John C ..
.451
Carritt, Thomas R.
445
Case, Francis C., Sr.
Case, James M . . 468
Cassady. Charles M
.588
Cassady, Edward M
.,516
Chamberlain, Eber B
597
Chapman, Edward A.
558
Chapman, Edward H
403
Christianson, Christian L
.. 532
Christie, Lawrence E
6to
Christman, David 6.0
Clark, Edward . 455
Clemon, Martin
.553
Cleveland, Grover S
. 10
Coffman, Columbus
.370
Colby, Frank E
. 596
Colby, Harry E 589
Colby, Harry E., Jr ..
.603
Collison, Edward.
633
Comfort, Uriah U ..
. 464
Comly, John B., M. D . 529
Conyers, John J . 507
Coones, William L
.522
Cook, Aaron W . . 362
Cook, David C .481
Cook, James .365
Cook, William .
.. 623
Cooper, Robert W
.433
Cope, Charles W
:64
Copeland, Elijah W. 383
Cork, George W
.421
Counts, Joseplı D. .
584
Cox, Julius Warren, M. D. 613
Crawford, Thomas M
.561
Crossley, John .. .
.461
Crow, Williard D. 645
Cummings, Albert 047
Cunningham, Henry W.
284
Cunningham, Samuel
473
Cushing, Caleb.
.. 579
Cushing, Ervin.
Cutler, David T
428
Engen, Ole
.471
Cutter, Julius T
386
D
Dailey, Andrew 1 458
Dalev, Chester W
. . 495
Daley, William H ... 450
Danforth, Benjamin F 456
Davidson, William H
. 387
Davis, Aaron A - 437
Davis, Isaac 37?
Davis, Oliver . 390
Day, Franklin Augustus. . 517
Day, Frank L
536
Day, J. B. P.
457
Day, William T. . 505
Delashmutt, E. N .4F 2
Denton, Thomas A 542
Depue, S. D
.559
De Wolf, Ezra
613
Diddy, George
Dingman, John
573
Donner. Johan
. 525
Douglas, George A. . 369
Dorothy, James R 403
Dorothy, William G 36 :
Dorward, Frank M ..
.622
Dorward, Samuel Stephens .476
Driggs, Lorenzo .511
Driggs, Lorenzo D - 500
Drummond, John R - 486
Dubois, Victor
.570
Dubois, Victor P ..
601
Duffy, Thomas. 578
Dundon, Patrick G ... . 491
Dungan, Francis
. .
. .. 643
F
East, John T . . . 521
Eggleston, Charles F 391
Eggleston, John S .. .474
Elliott, Timothy
390
Elwell, John. .fo4
English, James W
389
Erb, John George
.372
Erickson, Gilbert E
. 504
Erskine, L. D
. 651
Ertel, Wentel F.
.546
F.va, William J
644
Evanson, Engebret.
496
Evenson, Christian .
624
F
Fairchild, Robert G. .413
Fegenbush, Tobias .. . . 654
Fegenbush, William D . 397 Fessenden, Albert T .427
Fillmore, Millard 07
Fischer, George.
508
Fleming, James C 487
Folck, Mrs. Catherine . 390
Folwell, Jacob R. . ,81
Frazier, John E., M. D .. 555
Freeland, Isaac.
.510
Freeland, Maj. Martin A .. 506
G
Gard. John Brookfield 612
Garfield, James A 95
Gantz. Charles .426
Gantz, Christian .. -410
Gantz, Ernst . .
4 :8
BIOGRABRIGAL.
.558
INDEX.
I
lynch, And lydle, Hugh. .84
494
()
-
N
f ... I Taklin 41
Oliver, George \
Oliver, George W
Oliver, John F
Olsen, John .1. .6:00
Cray. A. !
Mann, Samuel i!
Mapde, Mrs, Ma
Gray, Tulu
"ları, Hervey E . M.
1
Varr, Ichn H .
Marr, Nahum ( 400
11
Grime , Jam N'
Marr, William ( *... 46n
- 1
Marr, Wil( 441
Martin, James
5*6
Otto, William H ... . . 5 .
Gullk on, GetE
Manghlin, Joseph >
Man :hlin, William
A Brath, lohn I]. .
Ni Beath, Wilan M
455
Ah Candl . . , Willim
10
-
K
M1 Caskry. Join k ..
80
M Clain, Jam & M 440
Mel leerey, Airon . . 417
Parks, William A .. 592
Ha nlon, Will.o. H
K
M .Clerrey, William 1 4 9
M. Det ald, James
Mc Farlane, William
M.Intyre, John 1:
414
Payne, William .635
Hans om, Horade 1
Keller, Ja. L.
MeMaster, Irving ( .
Peabody, Thomas H 425
Hansen, John
6,6
416
Mc Millan, Griffith W.
-
M Neill, Edwin R
Peake, Warner H
Harlow, Hiram
477
Kessler, lapis nl
Mi Neill, James. ..
154
l'eck, Jesse J 148
Hunlow, Jeime P.
,67
Resterson. - calo 1I 480
Mi Neill. Neal. 411
Harlow, N. thaniel(
477
Kilborne, R. Ht. 1:
Means, Thomas ..
V irill, Samuel .
1 5
Perkins, C'apt Charl.s ‘ 4 5
Harris, Wilham.
400
Kirkwood, Samuel J ..
1
Miller, Benjamin L.
Perrin, John. 491
llunison, Fon dam
107
Kittle, Levi l).
Viller, Chalmers 4 ..
Perrin Thomas J
Harrison, Samme
. . 410
Konkle, John W ...
Wien, Olmus () ..
Monk, Edward ..
42%
Pike, James C.
Harvy, Hen y.
Knin -, W H'am Wesley
Monroe, James.
$5
l'ike, Lewis.
Hathaway, William \ 107
Moorhead, John B
482
Pixler, Creorge W
Hatt, William ..
Kratz. Henry
Mooie, William F ..
Polk, James K . 59
Hawkins, 1 .. 1.12
Morehead Hardy
l'olly, Curtis C' .. 598
Hawthorn, David T
Murehead, John C ..
406
Folly, James W. . Eco
Hayes, R. B ...
Morris, Benjamin F
558
Polly, Samuel, M. D .614
Hazlitt, James E. 1-1
Morrison, Herbert 1. 420
Heisler, Ilenry . . .
Morrison, J. E ...
Porter, Robert R 513
Heisler, John Adams
Morrison, Jonathan F. 95
Heisler, Samuel .
I ane. J. W
Vosher, Harry C' 543
Larrabee, William
Mountain, John M $52
Henderson, Milo F.
Larson, James
Murdick, W. M 611
Hickel, Asa V. r
I.earhi. Ivory . .
Murphy, John R 450
2
Hinsdale, Samuel Dexter c
Leathers, William Hud 11
Myers, George J
.529
Hittle, Michael.
Leathers, William ML
Hoadley, Sidney C
Lee, l'rick K
1.ee, Ole Knutson
Holbr w k, Charles H . 591
1.eff, Olof ..
Holden, Francis Marion +16
Lewis, Dorman
Lincoln, Abraham
Hollister, Hiram
419
l.indley, Robert 1.
Neff. Hiram E. . . . 459
Hong, E. N
594
Howard, Seth A
102
Linville, Granville l'
Newman, Alexander. . .642
Hubbard, Pendleton 15
Lohmann. Gottlieb (
Newton, H. N tto
Rawlings, John } .. 5,0
Hudgel, William J 6.0
Huff, John .... .499
Lowe, R. Ih P.
Loyd, George l' . : 69
Norris, Charles T . 38 :
Hurst, Jaines
Loyd, John 1
Norton, George R
Reily, Peter 598
lluston, David G. 41.
I ntz, Thomas B
. ( 48
Norwood, Francis M
Patrick, Andrew J
Hamon, Henry W. C 525
l'atrick. George 405
Hanseou, Alfred I .
Patrick, Robert :80
Hans un. Ortorer ! -12
Peake, Hon. klijak 590
Han.it, Anton
Kenro 1 . Lommer
---
l'eterson, Gust 5 4
l'eterson, John .5"1
Harris, John F
754 Kimball, Parker J .
Pierce, Franklin .. 71
Harrison, William Henry . 51
Koontz, William
Onthouse, George R .. 544
Outhouse, John
648
Mobilen, John I
Madison, James
()]sen, Peder .. ( =
Olson, Hans
()]son, Hans
Green ., Win 1 .
()]- n. John l'. 6 1
Olson, Nels B
Ordway, William W., M. D) 50 ;
Groom, Charl . H!
Otto, Carl 10
II
R
Lindley, Robert, Sr .. 4
Newbolrl, Joshua (i .. . . 143
Rains, W. J ... .512
1.otspeich. David W. *45
Nodle, Jacob 360
Rawlings, William T.
Norcross, Edward J 656
Reed, John W . :35
Hull, Edwin J 61/0)
Reese, Richard T .58;
Reily, Thomas - - 555
L
Polly, William U. S. G .. 646
Prichard, Edwin 472
Pullen, Malden B. .403
Hempstead, Stephen 115
Holbroil , Bernard b) 5 9
Quatter, William ..
N
Hollandsworth, George }]. .452
-402
INDEX.
Reynolds, Joseph J. .
Skow , Arne
;66
Taylor, Zact. . ry
Templeton, John N
. 4.19
Riddle, Isaac U .... .. 526
Smith, Charles
- 45
Thomas, John . 418
Riddle, Moses Jackson .. .. 446
Smith, Edmund J
404
Thompson, Mr. Siro 484
Riley, Benjamin F. ... 578
Smith, John W .. 107
Thoreson, T hn
Riley, William . . .. 373
Rinehart, Lewis W
593
Smith, John T' ..
: " 1
Thoreson, Nels
WAnet Ma 1
Ring, William 1 .... .. 634
Smith, Seth, Jr ..
Tills mn, Esther l'
5 1
Washington, Write
Robbins, Wesley ..
419
Smith, Seth, Sr .. 511
Till.on, Hon. Surqqun 2 .5:7
Wells, Gideon M
Roberts, Freil J .. .370
Smith, Socrates
-
Till or, Stephen, 1:
Robert, William F. 527
Robinson, Stephen ... 409
Roe, Hon. Ferguson F . . . 641
Spaulding, John
Spencer, Frank 'I
Tirgo, Alexander 1
Whiting, Newell
Ross, Charles E
Stanley, William !!
1 imble, John ... 417
Tyler, John ...
Wiley, George P' 4 0
Wiley, Hon. William F .4.,4
Wiley, William Henry
Wiley. William L. 79
Wilkins, Christian
Williamson, Joshua G.
Willits, Sanford F 100
Willsey, Nelson .1
:46
Schelm, George ... .6.14
Schurdevin, Germain . . . 423
Scarle, Constant R .. . . 443
Sears, Judge Leonard . 449
Winegar, Frederick D., Jr
Sears, Leonard C ..
Sears, Stillman Foote 443
Wingate, Hans L
Severson, Cornelius S . 497
Wininger, Willian. .610
Severson, George
595
Severson, James
T
Van Buren, Martin .. 47
Woodward, Joseph I) . . . 519
Severson, Ole . 628
Van Doin, Cornelius .. 5 2
Woodward, Lewis .. 444
Sherman, Buren R .151
Van Horn, S. Livingston .534
Wonder, W. H. . .. º1
Simmons, Charles H .625
Van Dern, Virgil . 527
Skidmore, Horatio. . 415
Skidmore, Tertins t: . . 414
Taylor, John G ...
Vanduver, Grason
Wright, William T., M. D 367
Adams, John ....
22
Day. J. B P
40
Holbrook, B. D ...
Oliver, Addis n. .. 4.0
Adams, John Q
Fairchild, R. G. . ..
Jackson, Andrew 42
Arthur, Chester A
08
Fillmore, Millard ..
Jefferson, Thom . . 6
Pierce, Franklin 70
Polk, James K. 58
Sherman, B. R 150
Boies, Horace .. . . 158
Gear, J. H.
146
Larrabee, William . . 154
Stone, W. M . 130
Bouslaugh, J . R
566
Grimes, J. W
1:8
Lincoln, Abraham. 78
Taylor Zachary 62
Briggs, Ansel 110
Harrison, Benjamin
106
Lowe, R. P. .122
Tyler, John. 54
Bryant, G. W. 478
Harrison, William H ..
50
Madison, James 30
Buchanan, James. .. 74
Hayes, Rutherford l:, 00
Merrill, Samuel .134
Washington, George. 18
Carpenter, C. C. .138
Heisler, J. A ... 586
Monroe, James . 34
Wilsey, W. H .576
Cleveland, Grover S .. . . .. ] {2
Hempstead, Stephen . . 114
Newbold, J. G. . 142
10195.
Fairchild, R G ...
Moorhead, J B
Riddle, M. J ..
.393 Whiting, Charles 1
. - 447
Willsey, N. A .
: 547
Graham, James. 594
Perrin, T. J
Grant, Ulysses S. .
Ashton, Isaac ...
Bartholomew, J. L. . 376
Garfield, James A 44
Johnson, Andrew . Kirkwood, S. J . 126
Winegar, Moroni
= 7
Winegar, Edward.
Winegar, Frederick D 404
Sudduth, J. Will . 372
Swenson, Andrew 6,25
Swenson, George . 559
TTH!, Jo ch
Straub, Eli S.
. 580
Strubel, Charl - .. (14)
Townly, William, J. . 46%
Whiting, Hon. Chail-s !
Ross, George
Stapleton, Ephraim A
Stebbins, Richard, M | . 41 2
Rounds, William D. .
Rude, Andrew 422
Steel, James W 596
Stephenson, Frank C44
St. John, Louis K , M. b 473
Stone, William M
Strand, Alfred El. 015
Strand, Ole E.
Strantz, Ernst . . .. 424
Tisdale, Lovead ) :1 ⑈
Welsh, (rcorge A Wheeler, H A., M. D. : .. .
Sooy, James K . : 54
Toriison, Tor es C
Whiting, Charles I ..
18
Ross, B. F 55
Wiley, Clinton M .
W
Smith, John G . 495
Thoreson, kn .. l
Rhodes, John R ... 633
Slater, John M
5019
Talboy, J. Henry , Mi 1 . . . 400
Van horn, Washington ..
Wooster, Alfred Quincy 4,5 Worster, Quincy A .
PORTRAITS
Wood, William G 45-
Ordway, W. W , M. D -502
Van Buren, Martin 46
S
Wilsey, W. H ..
Solien, Anton ...
INDEX.
HISTORICAL
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY. . . . . . . 163
CHAPTER H.
ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT .. .166
CHAPTER III.
NATIONAL, STATE AND COUNTY REPRESENTA - TION 170
Congressional .
170
General Assembly
170
County Judge.
172
County Auditor
172
Treasurer and Recorder. . 172
County Treasurer
172
County Recorder.
173
Clerk of the Courts
173
Sheriff.
174
County Superintendent of
Common Schools. 17.4 .
County Surveyor.
171
Drainage Commissioner.
175
County Coroner
175
County Attorney .
175
CHAPTER IV.
OTHER OFFICIAL MAT-
TERS. . 176
Population .
176
Marriage Record.
176
CHAPTER V.
Political. 180
CHAPTER VI.
MISCELLANEOUS
201
Swamp Lands. 201
Homestead Cases 202 Storms and Tornadoes. .. 203 A Reminiscence of War Times. . 207
Experience of D. T. Hlaw-
thorn in the Winter of the
Deep Snow
209
The first Railroad in Mon-
ona. . 209
How we Came to Mon-
ona in 1855.
210
CHAPTER VIL.
FRANKLIN TOWNSIHP. . . 214 Early Settlement 214
First Itenis
218
Organic ..
219
CHAPTER VIH.
ASHTON TOWNSHIP
220
First Items
2:22
Village of Ashton.
222
CHAPTER IX.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP
.22.1
First Items.
227
Maple Landing
227
Organic.
228
CHAPTER X.
JORDAN TOWNSHIP
229
Organic . .
2311
First Items.
231
CHAPTER XI.
FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP. . 232
First Items
233
Organic.
234
Albaton .
234
CHAPTER XH.
WEST FORK TOWNSHIP. . 235
Historic Crumbs.
236
Organic.
237
CHAPTER XIII.
LAKE TOWNSHIP
238
Historical Items
240
Organie.
241
CHAPTER XIV.
First Events
244
Organic .
241
The Village of Belvidere. 245
Village of Turin.
245
Post-ofliee
246
Societies
.246
Religions
246
School.
217
CHAPTER XV.
SIOUX TOWNSHIP
218
Organic.
250
CHAPTER XVI.
WILLOW TOWNSHIP
251
First Items.
252
Organization
252
CHAPTER XVII.
CENTER TOWNSHIP'
.253
Early Settlement.
253
First Things.
255
CHAPTER XVIII.
GRANT TOWNSHIP
257
Tom King Hollow
260
Organic. .
260
First Items
260
Rodney
261
Ticonic.
261
Grant Center
262
CHAPTER XIX.
ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP
263
First Items.
260
l'te ..
. .
267
CHAPTER XX.
SPRING VALLEY TOWN-
SHIP
270
Preparation . 270
Other parts of the Town-
ship.
.274
Moorhead .
276
CHAPTER XXI.
BELVIDERE TOWNSHIP. . 242 SOLDIER TOWNSHIP 277
First Items.
279
INDEX.
Organic. . 279
School Matters. 280
Soldier Post-office 280
An Experience. 281
CHAPTER XXII.
KENNEBEC TOWNSHIP. . . 283
Castana Mill.
288
Old Castana
288
Castana.
289
Religious
290
Business Men's Associa-
tion.
290
Castana Creamery
. 291
CHAPTER XXIII.
SHERMAN TOWNSHIP .. .. 292
First Items
294
Educational
295
Organization
.295
Grange Hall
295
Good Templar's Hall .
295
Blencoe 295
Hotels .296
Depot.
297
Educational .
297
Churches.
297
CHAPTER XXIV.
MAPLE TOWNSHIP.
.298
Educational 301
First Items 302
Organic
302
Mapleton
303
St. George
303
CHAPTER XXV.
COOPER TOWNSHIP.
305
The Firstlings.
307
Organization
.307
CHAPTER XXVI.
ONAWA ..
.308
County Seat.
314
Early Business Houses .315
Present Business
.316
Banks
.319
Gristmill. 319
llotels .
320
Post-office
322
Press.
322
Educational
324
Municipal
327
Fire Department
328
Fires .
329
Pioneer Literary Society . 330
Old Time Militia Com-
pany .
.330
Societies
331
First Items
336
Band. .337
Creamery . .337
Railroad History
337
CHAPTER XXVII.
VILLAGE OF WHITING. .. 339
Hotels
3-10
Elevator
341
Post-office
.341
Press .
341
Educational
311
Religious .
.342
Fire Department
342
Telephone
.343
Band. .
.343
Opera Hall.
343
CHAPTER XXVIII.
EAST MAPLETON.
341
Business History. .344
The Mapleton Bank 348
Hotels.
348
Journalism
349
Post-office. 349
Incorporation
349
Societies .
350
Churches
.353
HISTORY OF THE STATE
OF IOWA.
.. 354
PORTRAITS
AND
BIOGRAPHIES
OF THE
GOVERNORS OF IOWA,
AND OF THE
PRESIDENTS
OF THE
UNITED STATES
ـر
PRESIDENTS.
THE NEW YORK HI UBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, ENOX A 'D TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
Tajhindern r
FIRST PRESIDENT.
GEORGE WASHINGTON,
i
HE Father of our Country was born in Westmorland Co., Va., Feb. 22, 1732. His parents were Augustine and Mary (Ball) Washington. The family to which he belonged has not been satisfactorily traced in England. His great-grand- father, John Washington, em- igrated to Virginia about 1657, and became a prosperous planter. He had two sons, Lawrence and John. The former married Mildred Warner and had three children, John, Augustine and Mildred. Augus- tine, the father of George, fuist married Jane Butler, who bore him four children, two of whom, Lawrence and Augustine, reached maturity. Of six children by his second marriage, George was the eldest, the others being Betty, Samuel, John Augustine, Charles and Mildred.
Augustine Washington, the father of George, died in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on the Patomae, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, and to George he left the parental residence. George received only such education as the neighborhood schools afforded, save'for a short time after he left - hool, when he received private instruction in mathematics. His spelling was rather defective.
Remarkable stories are told of his great physica. strength and development at an early age. He was an acknowledged leader among his companions, and was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- ness and veracity which characterized his whole life.
When George was 1 4 years old he had a desire to go to sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, but through the opposition of his mother the idea was abandoned. Two years later he was appointed surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In this business he spent three years in a rough frontier life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very essential to him. In 1751, though only 19 years of age, he was appointed adjutant with the rank of major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for active service against the French and Indians. Soon after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother Lawrence, who went there to restore his health They soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter who did not long survive him. On her demise the estate of Mount Vernon was given to George.
Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieuten- ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- cepted, which others had refused. This was to pro- ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand, and the journey was to be made without military escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The
20
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
trip was a perilous one, and several times he came near losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com- mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was then begun against the French and Indians, in which Washington took a most important part. In the memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad- dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock were disabled early in the action, and Washington alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter to his brother he says: "I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped unhurt, though death was leveling, my companions on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit him.
After having been five years in the military service, and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he took advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, to resign his commission. Soon after he entered the Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an active and important part. January 17, 1759, he married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy widow of John Parke Custis.
When the British Parliament had closed the port of Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila- delphia, Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, peaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash- ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con- cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and responsible office was conferred upon Washington, who was still a member of the Congress. He accepted it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he receive no salary. He would keep an exact account of expenses and expect Congress to pay them and nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the fortunes and liberties of the people of this country were so long confided. The war was conducted by him under every possible disadvantage, and while his forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 1783, Washington, in a parting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his
commission as commander-in-chief of the army to to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all connection with public life.
In February, 1789, Washington was unanimously elected President. In his presidential career he was subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new government ; trials from lack of confidence on the part of other governments; trials from want of harmony between the different sections of our own country; trials from the impoverished condition of the country, owing to the war and want of credit; trials from the beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His clear judgment could discern the golden mean; and while perhaps this alone kept our government from sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed to attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and very annoying.
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