USA > Iowa > Monroe County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 8
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa > Part 8
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Fares Richardson, one of the children of this estimable couple, was born in McComb county, Michigan, thirty miles north of Detroit, April 22, 1839. and was consequently five years old when his parents came to Iowa. He grew up with the restless and roving disposition characteristic of the game western spirits of those days, and it was
FARES RICHARDSON.
ERY
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his fortune to have his love of adventure fully gratified. In 1859, in company with his brother Josiah, Mr. Richardson started on foot for the distant shores of California, and, after a wearisome tramp over plains and mountains, amid hardships and dangers, and undergoing many privations, arrived without serious mishaps at Sacramento. After spending three years in California without notable result, these cour- ageous young men made their way to the wilds of Oregon and found a lodgment on John Day's river, where they discovered the gold mine afterward known as Canyon City. In the spring of 1862 they pur- chased horses and mules and engaged in packing supplies to various points in the surrounding country where mining was in progress, and were themselves engaged in mining a year or two with fair success. When they first landed in Oregon the Richardson boys had only twenty .dollars, which they soon exhausted for food, and then "staked a claim." The early returns from this, however, were rather disappointing, as the first pan from their new mine netted only a half dollar's worth of gold dust. Nothing daunted, however, they secured additional claims, and their hard work was rewarded for a while by taking out gold dust at the rate of ten to fifteen dollars a day. At this juncture the two brothers formed a partnership with Bid Coons, Jerry Growdivant, Lewis Martin, Arthur Sacket, George Chamberlin and Thomas Sitton, all of whom were adventurous spirits in search of fortunes in the inines of Oregon. Shortly after this party began operating together pro- visions ran out, and four of the squad were detailed to go in search of food. Taking eight mules and all the available cash, amounting to about four hundred dollars, the four men started on the perilous trip to the distant Dalles of Oregon, not less than three hundred miles away, on the lower Columbia river, Their journey led them through
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the country of the Indians, who at that time were very hostile to the whites, and the traveling over the roadless mountains and across in- numerable streams of torrential rapidity made the trip one long to be remembered. During their absence there were hungry times in camp, the boys finding it difficult to get anything to eat, and being forced to subsist on two ounces of bread and three of meat as a daily ration. When the exploring party returned after twenty-one days, they re- ported having met many prospectors leaving the country in disgust, and declaring that no gold was to be found in that section. In reply to this Bid Coons, who had remained with the party in camp, drew out one thousand dollars in gold dust, which he exhibited to the return- ing pilgrims. This, with the newly brought food, made all hands very happy, and the next few days were spent in feasting and resting. Shortly afterward the party located what was subsequently called the Richardson claim. from which they took forty thousand dollars' worth of crude gold. It took fourteen months to do this, however, and as expenses were heavy, flour, meat, tea, coffee and tobacco selling each at the rate of one dollar per pound, not much was saved by the miners as the result of their arduous labors.
Having had enough of mining and its inevitable privations to last him a while, Mr. Richardson turned his face homeward and arrived at the house of his parents in Iowa some time during 1864. Shortly afterward he was married to Margaret Wirt, who died in 1876, leaving three children: E. J. Richardson, Mrs. Martha E. McCoy and Mrs. Jessie Haynes. The four years subsequent to his marriage Mr. Rich- ardson continued to reside in Jackson county in the vicinity of his father, and accompanied the latter on his removal to Appanoose county in 1869. In 1876 he contracted a second marriage with Miss Sarah
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Leach, by whom he has one child, now Mrs. Belle Briniger. Mr. Richardson has devoted his time of late years to the breeding of fancy poultry and Aberdeen polled cattle on his fine farm one and one-half miles north of Moulton.
SIDNEY F. TYRREL.
For sixty years Sidney F. Tyrrel has been numbered among Mon- roe county's most patriotic and honored citizens and he is still actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Mantua township. He was born in Portage county, Ohio, on the 25th of August, 1835, and was a boy of seven years when he came to the territory of Iowa with his parents, Philander Lorenzo and Sarah (Bates) Tyrrel, who were promi- nent early settlers of Monroe county. The family is of English origin and was founded in America by two brothers who came from England two hundred years ago, one settling in New York state and the other farther south. Grandfather Philander Tyrrel was born in the Empire state and became a soldier of the war of 1812, his widow afterward re- ceiving a pension until her death. Philander Lorenzo Tyrrel grew to manhood in Portage county, Ohio, and there married Sarah Bates, a native of New York and a daughter of Charles Bates, of that state. In 1841 they moved to Caldwell county, Missouri, driving the entire distance, and two years later come to Monroe county, Iowa, being among the first to locate in Mantua township, the old homestead being southwest of the present residence of our subject. Here the father died at the age of eighty years. He was born in 1812 and throughout his active business life followed farming. In politics he was a Republican. His estimable wife passed away in 1900 and her death was deeply
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mourned by many friends as well as by her immediate family. Their children were Sidney F., of this review; Mrs. Olive Morgan; I. N., a resident of Mantua township; Mrs. Mary Chidester; Benjamin; John, a resident of Ringgold county, Iowa; Perry, of Urbana township, Mon- roe county; Osman; James; and Mrs. Dorliska Miller. They are all numbered among the most worthy citizens of their respective communi- ties.
From the time he was eight years old Sidney F. Tyrrel has made his home in Monroe county, and amid pioneer scenes he grew to man- hood, his education being obtained in a primitive country schoolhouse with puncheon floor. In 1863. during the dark days of the Rebellion, he put aside all personal interests, and in response to the country's call for aid he enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, being under the command of Colonel Kittridge, Lieutenant Colonel F. M. Drake and Captain Porter. He was in the engagements at Little Mis- souri river, Grand Prairie. Camden, Arkansas, and suffered much from swollen feet while on forced marches when the army was retreat- ing to Camden. Mr. Tyrrel was honorably discharged at the close of the war.
In 1857 he was married to Miss Catherine Nolan, who was born near Hillsboro, in Highland county, Ohio, a daughter of Doster and Mary (Anderson) Nolan, also natives of the Buckeye state and early settlers of Van Buren county, Iowa, where the mother died, but the father's death occurred in Putnam county, Missouri. In their family were two sons who were soldiers of the Civil war: Albert C., now a resident of Nemaha county, Kansas, was first a member of the Second lowa Volunteer Infantry and later of an Illinois regiment; and James B. served in the Third Iowa Cavalry and is now living in Indian Terri-
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tory. To Mr. and Mrs. Tyrrel were born three children who are still living, namely : Kester L., a resident of Monroe township, this county ; Sarah, wife of James Spears, of Mantua township; and Alice, wife of Ed Larue, of Russell, Iowa. Mary A., a most estimable young lady, died at the age of eighteen years, and one child died in infancy.
In 1861 Mr. Tyrrel located upon his present farm, which consists of one hundred and nineteen acres of well improved land, on which is a good orchard and substantial buildings, that stand as monuments to the thrift and enterprise of the owner. He has ever been regarded as one of the most skillful farmers of his locality. As a Democrat, he has taken quite an active interest in public affairs, and efficiently served as township trustee for three terms. He is an honored member of J. R. Castle Post No. 113, G. A. R., of Avery, Iowa, and is also connected with the Presbyterian church, of which he is a trustee. He has always been found true to every trust reposed in him and has minifested a patriotic spirit in times of peace as well as in times of war.
W. J. LATHAN.
W. J. Lathan, one of the most enterprising and public-spirited citi- zens of Mantua township, has made his home in Monroe county for fifty-two years and has therefore witnessed almost its entire develop- ment and growth. He claims Indiana as his native state, his birth hav- ing occurred in Bloomington, June 26, 1849. His father, John Lathan, who is still living at the age of seventy-seven years, was born in South Carolina, and is a son of William Lathan, who was of Irish parentage. His ancestors belonged to an old and honored Protestant family, and their descendants have been people of prominence in the various locali- ties where they have made their homes.
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John Lathan was reared upon a farm and attended the schools of the neighborhood. When a young man he left his native state and went to Indiana, which was then a new country, and there met and mar- ried Miss Rebecca Jane Harbison, a woman of many admirable traits of character, who proved to him a most capable helpmeet as well as a loving wife. She was a daughter of William Harbison, who was also of Irish descent. In 1850 John Lathan and family left the Hoosier state and came to Iowa, crossing the Mississippi river on a ferryboat. He purchased a farm of one hundred and thirty acres in Monroe county, and subsequently bought one hundred and fifty acres more, being ex- tensively engaged in farming and stock-raising throughout his active business life. He is a worthy and zealous member of the Associated Presbyterian church, in which he has held the office of elder, and his life has ever been in harmony with his professions. His wife, who was an earnest member of the same church, died at the age of sixty- nine years, and her death was widely and deeply mourned, for she made friends of all with whom she was brought in contact. In their family were the following children: W. J .: Tillman H., a resident of Red Oak, Montgomery county, Iowa; Samuel H., whose home is in Troy township, Monroe county ; Miss Sarah C. Lathan, who lives at her father's homestead; Alexander B., who died unmarried at the age of thirty-three years; Margaret E., deceased wife of Ed G. Forsythe, of Mantua township; Stewart, who died at the age of fourteen years; and Anna, who died at the age of two years. By his ballot the father sup- ports the men and measures of the Republican party, and he has efficiently filled several township offices, being one of the most popular men of his community.
W. J. Lathan passed the days of his boyhood and youth upon
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his father's farm, and in the schools of that locality he acquired a good practical education, which enabled him to successfully engage in teach- ing for some years, entering upon that profession at the age of twenty- one years. His brother Tillman was also one of the successful and popular teachers of the county for a time. For the past twenty-three years W. J. Lathan has resided upon his present farm in Mantua town- ship, and as an agriculturist he has prospered, owning one of the best places in the community. He has a nice residence, surrounded by a beautiful lawn and orchard, and the barns, cribs and other outbuildings present a neat and thrifty appearance, showing the owner to be a man of progressive ideas and careful habits. His place is conveniently lo- cated five miles from Albia and commands a fine view of the surround- ing country. In connection with general farming, stock-raising is car- ried on quite extensively.
At the age of twenty-eight years, Mr. Lathan was united in mar- riage to Miss Melissa Forsyth, a lady of education and refinement, who attended school here and was one of the popular teachers of the county prior to her marriage. Her father, David Forsyth, was a native of Ohio, and a son of Elijah Forsyth, who was also born in that state. David Forsyth married M. Elizabeth Haugh, who was born in Virginia and belonged to an old Virginia family of German descent. On com- ing to Iowa they spent a short time in Davis and Van Buren counties, but finally, in 1850, located in Monroe county, where the father followed farming until called to his final rest at the age of seventy-nine years. He was an elder in the United Presbyterian church for many years and was a most exemplary man. His political support was given the Re- publican party. His widow still survives him, being now seventy- eight years of age, and continues to reside on the old homestead. Their
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children were Mrs. Mary S. Burlingame, of Troy township; Mrs. Fidelia Chisman, who was formerly a teacher and is now living in Wapello county, Iowa; Erastus, a resident of Mantua township; Melissa, wife of our subject ; Mrs. Emma Chisman, of Ottumwa, Iowa; Lodema, who married James Lathan and died at the age of thirty-two years; and Harvey and Elmer, who died in childhood. Five children bless the union of our subject and his wife: Anna May, Mary E., wife of Elmer Gray, of Troy township; Arthur B., Iva J., and Ralph E.
Mr. Lathan uses his right of franchise in support of men and meas- ures irrespective of party, but usually supports the Democratic party in national politics, and besides holding township offices he served as county supervisor, being a valued and influential member of the board. He is firm in his convictions of right and wrong and has displayed good judg- ment in his management of public affairs as well as private interests. For some years he filled the office of justice of the peace and was a member of the school board. Religiously both he and his wife are mem- bers and he has been an elder of the Associated Presbyterian church, and are among the most highly esteemed citizens of the county. Physi- cally he is a man six feet in height, and socially is very popular.
LAWSON B. CARLTON.
Among the brave men who devoted the opening years of their man- hood to the defense of our country from the internal foes who sought her dismemberment was Lawson B. Carlton, who for half a century has been among the honored residents of Monroe county, Iowa, his home being in Mantua township. A native of Ohio, he was born in Geauga county on the 15th of September, 1841, and is a son of Marion Carlton,
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who was born in Connecticut and belonged to an old family of that state, which was of English descent. Going to Ohio, the father there married Philosha Bradley, a native of that state and a daughter of Selah Brad- ley, who was also born in Connecticut. In 1850 Marion Carlton brought his family to Iowa, making the journey by the lakes to Chicago, by rail- road to Burlington, and on by stage to his destination in Wapello county. By occupation he was a farmer, but when the country became involved in civil war he laid aside the plow and entered the service as a member of the Thirty-third Iowa Infantry. He never lived to return home, but died at Milliken's Bend, Mississippi, at the age of forty-six years. In politics he was a Republican. His wife died at the age of fifty-eight years. They were the parents of five children, namely: Lawson B., of this review; Angie M .; Adolph, who was a soldier of the Third Iowa Cavalry during the Civil war, and is now a resident of Oregon; Mrs. Cora Stanley, who also makes her home in that state; and Harley H., of Sheridan county, Kansas. In connection with farming the father also worked at the carpenter's and wheelwright's trades and was a good me- chanic.
Lawson B. Carlton was a lad of nine years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to the Hawkeye state, where he grew to manhood. During his youth he learned the blacksmith's trade and be- came a good workman, continuing to follow that occupation until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when, feeling that his country needed his aid, he enlisted in 1862 in Company H, First Iowa Cavalry, under Captain Westcott and Colonel Anderson. He remained in the service until hostilities ceased and at different times was under the command of Generals Custer, Steele and Davison. His services being no longer
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needed, he was honorably discharged at Austin, Texas, and returned home with a war record of which he may be justly proud.
Before entering the army Mr. Carlton was married, in February, 1861, to Miss Eliza A. Miller, whose brother, James M. Miller, was also in the service, being a member of Company K, Third Iowa Cavalry. He was killed in battle on the 16th of April, 1865, at the age of twenty- four years, thus laying down his life on the altar of his country. Mrs. Carlton was born in Portage county, Ohio, and is a daughter of A. F. Miller, also a native of that state, who came to Iowa in 1846, being the first to settle on Miller's Ridge, in Mantua township, Monroe county. Here he died at the ripe old age of eighty-six years, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Clarissa Morgan and was a native of Ohio, died at the age of seventy-two. Both were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he was a Republican in politics and by occupation a farmer. Their children were Eliza A., wife of our subject ; Mrs. Harriet Riddle; Albert; D. R .; Mrs. Florence Ames, of Mantua township, and Washburn, a resident of Decatur county, Kansas.
The following named children have been born to our subject and his wife: D. C., who is married and is now engaged in the operation of his fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres; Mrs. Ada Hinton, a resident of Cass County, Iowa; and A. F., who married Elsie Macy and lives with his father on the home farm, has three children-Leslie, Forest and Verne. Mr. Carlton and his son own a well improved and highly cultivated farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres, on which is a good house and substantial outbuildings. Besides the cultivated fields there are pasture, meadow and woodlands, and the farm is a very productive and valuable one. The family hold membership in the Methodist Epis- copal church, and Mr. Carlton is identified with J. R. Castle Post No.
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313, G. A. R., of Avery, Iowa. Both he and his sons vote the Repub- lican ticket and take quite an active and commendable interest in public affairs.
JACOB G. LONG.
Jacob Grimes Long is numbered among the native sons of Iowa, his birth having occurred November 5, 1860, in Albia, whence the family soon moved to the old family homestead near his present farm in Mantua township. Throughout his entire life he has resided in this locality, in- terested in the work of progress and doing all hie could for the promotion of the best interests of his county. His father, William Long, now de- ceased, came to the territory of Iowa in the year 1844. He was born in county Antrim, Ireland, in 1808, of Scotch-Irish parentage. The family was of Protestant faith and noted for industry and honesty. In his youth William Long was trained to farm work, and he obtained his education in his native country, but when a young man left the Emerald Isle and crossed the Atlantic to the new world. He first wedded Mary Hebrew, who died leaving one child, Alexander Long, who is engaged in the bus and transfer business in Albia, Iowa. For his second wife the father chose Mary J. Elder, who was born in Ireland, and she, too, was of Scotch-Irish ancestry and of the Protestant religion. During her girlhood she came to the United States with her father, Thomas Elder, who died in this country. Mrs. Long was a devoted wife and mother, a kind neighbor and a faithful friend and was beloved by all who knew her. She was a Presbyterian in religious belief and died in February, 1897, at the age of sixty-five years. William Long was also a member of the Presbyterian church, and his life was in harmony with
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its teachings and principles. His political support was given to the Re- publican party and in matters of business he was known to be reliable and trustworthy, never taking advantage of the necessities of his fellow- men in the slightest degree. To this worthy couple were born seven children : Jolin W., who resides on the old home farm in Mantua township; Jacob G., of this review; Mrs. Jennie Warner, of Monroe county ; Thomas, who is in the far west; Mrs. Mary Turner, who is deceased; Mrs. Belle Hawthorn, of Monroe county; and Charles, who is living in Albia.
Jacob G. Long was early trained to the work of the farm and be- came a hand in the fields, where he was employed from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the autumn. A few months each year he pursued his education in a little schoolhouse built of oak boards. During a portion of his youth he worked out by the month as a farmhand, and thus gained a start in the business world. When twenty-eight years of age he was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Sinclair, with whom he has since traveled life's journey. She is a daughter of John Sinclair, who was a leading farmer and prominent early settler of this portion of the state, and upon his farm in Mantua township she was born and spent her girlhood days.
Mr. and Mrs. Long have two children: John, who is now twelve years of age, and Rettie Pearl, nine years of age. They also lost a little daughter in infancy. The home farm of Mr. Long comprises a quarter section of Iowa's rich and productive land. It is equipped with all of the improvements usually found upon a good farm, and annually his fields return to him rich harvests. He also has good returns from his orchard, and in his pastures and feed lots are seen high grades of cattle, horses and hogs. To the Republican party he gives his earnest support,
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and he has served as a member of the school board, the cause of educa- tion finding in him a warm friend. He belongs to the Methodist Epis- copal church and his life exemplifies the spirit of religion which causes one to look upon the bright side, to make the most of opportunities and to advance steadily in those walks of life leading to the development of an upright character.
ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR.
Ireland has furnished to Monroe county a number of its citizens of worth, intelligence and business ability, and among this number is Archibald Sinclair, who rendered to his adopted country faithful service in the Civil war. He came to Monroe county in 1856, his birth having occurred in county Tyrone, Ireland, on the 2d of February, 1847. His father, John Sinclair, was born in the same country and there obtained a good education. He belonged to a Protestant family whose worth was widely acknowledged, and after arriving at years of maturity he was married in his native country to Miss Mary Moore, who was also born and reared on the Emerald Isle. Crossing the Atlantic to the United States with their family, they took up their abode in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, in 1853. The father, however, had made the trip to America two years prior to this time, and in 1856 he brought his wife and chil- dren to Monroe county, Iowa, settling in Mantua township. He was a dyer by trade and while living in Philadelphia worked in a carpet factory. Coming to the west, he devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits and was recognized in time as one of the leading farmers of his locality. In politics an earnest Republican, he never wavered in his allegiance to that party, and for it cast his first presidential vote after becoming a natural-
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ized American citizen. He was reared in the Covenanter faith, and both he and his wife were Presbyterians. A man of broad general informa- tion, he was especially well informed concerning history, and after com- ing to the United States he kept in touch with topics of general interest in America. He and his wife were laid to rest in the cemetery of Pleas- ant township. Their children were as follows: Mrs. Belle Henderson, of Mantua township; Archibald; Mrs. J. G. Long, who is also living in Mantua township; and Anna and Margaret, both of whom are de- ceased.
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