USA > Iowa > Clarke County > Biographical and historical record of Clarke County, Iowa > Part 23
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HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY.
of a family of twelve children. He was reared in Fayette County, and in that county married Elizabeth Chambers, born in West Virginia, September 8, 1810. They have nine children, viz .: Asa, of Jackson Township ; Mrs. Mary Arnett, also of Jack- son Township; Thomas, of Osceola Town- ship; Mrs. Ellen Reese, James, Ephraim, Mrs. Nancy Johnson, also of Jackson Town- ship ; Job, at home with his parents ; Mrs. Caroline Crowl, a resident of Indiana. Mr. Carson retains eighty acres of land for his own use, and has assisted his sons with the remainder. He has a good home, all the comforts of life, and with many of his chil- dren settled around him he looks back with pride upon a well-spent life, with but few regrets. Politically he is a Republican. George Chambers of Woodburn, and Jo- seph Chambers of Jackson Township, are brothers of Mrs. Carson.
OHN C. STRAWN is a native of Greene County, Pennsylvania, born December 18, 1848, a son of Jehu Strawn, who was born in the same county, and is now a resident of Warren County, lowa. John C. was reared on a farm, his father being engaged in agricultural pur- suits, and his education was obtained in the common schools of his neighborhood. After leaving home he served an appren- ticeship of three years in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, then worked in a rolling- mill in Wheeling, West Virginia, for one year, after which he was employed in a carriage shop in North Wheeling about three months. He cameto lowa in 1871 and located in New Virginia. He was mar- ried April 22, 1873, to Adaline Crooks, a daughter of Robert Crooks, a pioneer of this county, who was burned to death in a prairie fire in an early day. They have one child-Ida May, aged eleven years. Mr.
Strawn came to Murray, Clarke County, in 1875, and engaged in blacksmithing and repairing in which he met with excellent success, his business steadily increasing until he established his present factory. Besides an immense amount of repairing he is extensively engaged in the manufact- ure of plows, the excellent quality of his work constantly bringing him new custom- ers. He has served efficiently in the town council, with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Knight of Pythias. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 1
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HAUNCEY C. HORTON was born in Susquehanna County, Pennsylva- nia, May 13, 1833. His father, Jona- than Horton was born in Southern Ver- mont. His mother, Polly E. (Wilcox) Hor- ton, was born in Connecticut. They were married in Susquehanna County, and in 1842, moved to Dubuque County, Iowa, near Ta- ble Mound, where they improved a farm upon which they lived three years, then moved to Jones County. In December, 1864, the parents, with seven children, came to this county and made their home on section 9. This homestead is now owned and occu- pied by the subject of this sketch. The father died April 17, 1870, aged sixty-eight vears; the mother died January 18, 1876, in her sixty-eighth year. The names of the children are-Chauncey C., Elias W., a resi- dent of Coffey County, Kansas; Mrs. Louisa C. Johnson, residing in Nevada County, California : Erastus B., a resident of Jackson Township ; Henry E., now living in Frank- lin Township; Jeremiah N., a resident of Pratt County, Kansas; Jonathan A., now residing in St. Paul, Minnesota. Elias and Erastus served in the war for the Union.
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Chauncey C. Horton was married to Miss Barbara E. Hines, March 17, 1869. She was a daughter of Robert and Margaret (Deeds) Hines, of Sullivan County, Mis- souri. Her father died in that county April 16, ISSI, aged sixty-eight years. He was a native of Ohio. The mother survives and lives in Sullivan County. She was born in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Horton have five children living-Edward H., Don R., Evart C., Robert J. and Jesse L. The deceased are-Lily M., Henrietta M. and three died in infancy. Mr. Horton has served as magistrate in his township for over twelve years, and about the same length of time as assessor, offices which he now holds. He owns 200 acres of land on section 9, which he has improved, and now has one of the best farms in his vicinity ; it is especially adapted to stock-raising. In politics he is a Democrat.
ICHOLAS HOFFMANN, engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 33, Madison Township, is a native of Prussia, Germany, born on a branch of the river Rhine, December S, IS40, a son of Matthias Hoffmann. Our subject came to the United States in 1853, and after living five years in Steuben County, New York, he came to Iowa, locating in Dubuque. During the war of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-first Iowa Infantry under Colonel Samuel Merrill, who after- ward became Governor of the State of Iowa. He participated with his regiment in the battles of Hartville, Missouri, Port Gibson, Mississippi, Raymond, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, and others of minor importance, and through the Mobile cam- paign, returning to his home without re- ceiving even a scratch. July 25, 1865, Mr. Hoffmann was married in New York State
to Katie Kirsch, a daughter of Michael Kirsch, deceased. Of the six children born to them five are living-Matthew, Hannah, Katie, Annie and John. Mr. Hoffmann came to Clarke County in the fall of 1865. and has since devoted his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, his home farm containing 120 acres of choice land. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In his religious views he is a Roman Catholic.
FOHN W. KELLEY, one of the promi- nent and successful business men who have assisted materially in the building up of Osceola, is a native of Monroe Coun- ty, New York, born ncar Rochester, Sep- tember S, 1832. He passed his youth on the home farm, and when he was seven years of age his parents, Libni and Deb- orah (Estes) Kelley, moved with their family to Michigan, where John W. was reared to manhood, and there began learn- ing the trade of a carpenter and joiner at the age of nineteen years, and also learned the blacksmith's trade. He left Michigan in 1864 and in August of that year located at Eddyville, Wapello County, lowa, where he remained three years. He then came to Osceola, Clarke County, and built the Ray- mond & Kelley Flouring Mills, this being the first mill of any importance in the town. This mill had a capacity of seventy-five bar- rels of flour daily, and was operated suc- cessfully until the mill and the entire ma- chinery were destroyed by fire in February, 1881. Mr. Kelley, however, had disposed of his interest in the mill before it was burned, and had engaged in the coal busi- ness, and subsequently embarked in the hardware business in which he was associ- ated with A. S. Johnson for a short time, when D. R. Raymond bought Mr. Johnson's interest. Six month later both parties sold out the hardware business, and
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HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY.
in 1879 Mr. Kelley began dealing in lum- ber, lime, paints, oils, doors, blinds, etc., which business he has since followed, and by his upright and honorable dealings and strict attention to the wants of his custom- ers he has established a large business, which is steadily increasing. Mr. Kelley was married in Michigan to Miss Sarah A. Raymond, of Adrian, that State, an old schoolmate of our subject. This union has been blessed with two sons-Elmer E. and Fred. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kelley are act- ive and earnest members of the Presbyte- rian church. Mr. Kelley is a staunch tem- perance man. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Kelley's parents were both natives of Maine, the father born near Augusta. They were early settlers of New York State where the father bought a small farm, con- taining twenty-five acres, on credit, paying for the same in work out of his shop. They removed to Michigan about 1837, where the mother died. The father is still living in that State, making his home near Adrian. He is now eighty-six years of age, and has always been a strong advocate of the cause of temperance. He had a family of six children by his first wife, and by his pres- ent wife he has three children.
AMES S. DANIEL, an active and en_ terprising agriculturist of Doyle Town- ship, living on section 9, was born in Greene County, Indiana, December 14, 1840, a son of John Daniel, a native of Shelby County, Kentucky, who immi- grated to Indiana in an early day with his wife, making the journey on horseback. James S. passed his boyhood days on the homestead farm in his native county, and there attended the rude log-cabin schools which were taught by subscription. He came to Clarke County, Iowa, in the fall of 1856 when he settled in Knox Township,
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and has since made his home in this county. He was married December 15, 1861, to Emeline Worden, a daughter of Jared Wor- den. He enlisted in the war of the Rebell- ion, in Company B, Eighteenth Iowa In- fantry to serve three years, and during his term of service participated in the battles of Poison Spring, Saline River, Springfield, besides other engagements. He was be- reaved by the death of his wife in the fall of 1866, who left two children-James and John. Mr. Daniel was again married Feb- ruary, 1868, to Jennie Rains, her father, Allen Rains, being a resident of Redding, Iowa. Of the three children born to this union two are living-Elmon and Ella. A daughter, Stella, died aged seven years. Since becoming a resident of Doyle Town- ship Mr. Daniel has devoted his attention to farming and stock-raising in which he is meeting with good success, and is the owner of a fine farm of 260 acres of land under cultivation. He is a member of the Christian church.
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RANCIS M. KYTE, auditor of Clarke County, lowa, is a native of the State. of Indiana, born in Washington Coun- ty, near Salem, March 4, 1839, a son of Lewis and Catherine (Colglazier) Kyte, natives of Ohio, and early settlers of Indi- ana, where the father died in I851. His mother is still living in Clarke County, Iowa, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. Her family consisted of eight sons and three daughters, all but one of whom lived till maturity, the eldest one now liv- ing being seventy-one years old. F. M. Kyte passed his boyhood on a farm in his native county, living there until after the death of his father, when he was thirteen years old. In the fall of 1852 his mother removed with her family to lowa, and lo- cated in Clarke County, where he passed
Mrs. Nancy L. Kyte.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
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his youth and early manhood. In July, 1861, he enlisted in the defense of the Union, and was assigned to Company F, Sixth Iowa Infantry, and served as Sergeant un- til January, 1864, when he re-enlisted and was promoted to First Lieutenant. serving as such until mustered out in July, 1865. He participated in the battle at Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, Mission Ridge, the At- lanta campaign, and in the march to Savan- nah, thence back to Rolla and Bentonville. After the war he returned to Osceola and attended Bryant & Stratton's business col- lege, and then taught school two years. He was elected auditor of Clarke County in the fall of 1869, and served until January, 1874. The next four years he engaged in the grocery business, when he was again elected county auditor, assuming the duties of his office in January, 1878, and has served to the present time, having proved himself to be a reliable and efficient public servant. Mr. Kyte was married in August, 1868, to Miss' Nancy L. Key, daughter of Nathan Key, of Clarke County. They have a family of three children-Charles, Laura and George. Mr. Kyte is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 77, Chapter No. 63, and Commandery No. 21. Also of the Knights of Pythias.
J. CREW, an old and honored pio- neer of Knox Township, was born in Northampton County, North Carolina, December 16, IS19, a son of Benjamin and Martha (Vinton) Crew. His parents were born, reared and married in Northampton County, and to them were born twelve children-Henry B., Abner J., Sarah, Rebecca, Andrew, William, Thomas J., John W. and Mary E., and three who died unnamed, and of the above-named children seven lived to maturity. Our sub- ject lived in North Carolina till twenty-two
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years of age, his early life being spent in assisting on the home farm, and his educa- tion being obtained by study at home. In 1842, in company with his parents, he went to Belmont County, Ohio, where he was married, August 15, 1844, to Elizabeth Burris, a daughter of William Burris. Mrs. Crew died January 25, 1850, leaving three children-Mary C., John Henry and Martha Ann. August 21, 1851, Mr. Crew married for his second wife Elizabeth Smith, of Bel- mont County, Ohio, a daughter of Spencer and Catharine Smith. To this union were born nine children, eight still living-Rachel J., Sarah Sabina, George W., Abner L., Amanda E., Spencer Lincoln, Ida Levisa and Isalena. One son, William T., is de- ceased. Mr. Crew came to lowa in 1854, and after looking over a large portion of this State decided to locate in Clarke Coun- ty. He made the journey down the Ohio River by boat to St. Louis, thence by boat to Keokuk, Iowa, and to Clarke County from Keokuk by team. He located in Knox Township where he entered 240 acres of land from the Government, on which he has since resided. He first built a story and a half log house, in which his family found a comfortable home till his present commodious and substantial residence was erected in 1862. Ile devotes considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock, his farm, which now contains 274 acres, being well adapted for stock-raising. He has a fine orchard on his farm, and good barn and other farm buildings. He started in life without means, but being industrious and economical he has by his own efforts become the owner of his present fine property, and is now numbered among the prosperous citizens of Knox Township. He has served his township as trustee, being chairman of the board, and has been a delegate to the State Convention at Dos Moines. Mr. Crew is one of the most act- ive members of the Methodist Episcopal
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HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY.
church, and has assisted in building three or four churches in this county. In poli- tics he was formerly a Republican, but at present affiliates with the Greenback party, he being one of the first men in Clarke County to espouse the Greenback cause.
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O. SWAN, of the firm of J. O. Swan & Co., breeders of fine stock and also " proprietor of the Farmers' Home Hotel and the livery and sale stable at Woodburn, Iowa, is a native of Rensselaer County, New York, born March 21, 1839, a son of Joseph MI. and Polly (Kittle) Swan, also natives of New York. His father died in 1852, and his mother in ISS3, the latter being at the advanced age of eighty- five years. Their family consisted of two children, our subject and a daughter- Mary S., now Mrs. Hunter of Yates City, Illinois. J. O. Swan remained at home until the death of his father and then went to live with an uncle, a noted horseman, and in his eighteenth year he began to drive a coach, thus early becoming famil- iar with the care of horses. Ile followed this about two years, and then for two years had charge of the stock farm of Bu- ren Brothers. December 25, 1860, he mar- ried Emily Graham, a daughter of one of the first settlers of Knox County, Illinois, where Mr. Swan had moved January 1, 1857. April 10, 1862, he emigrated to Oregon, accompanied by his wife and two children, making the journey with an ox team, being five months on the way, arriv- ing in Butteville, Oregon, September 15, 1862. The first winter he drove a team, and in the spring went into the Boise Mines, in Idaho, where he worked during the summers, spending the winters in Oregon, until the fall of 1865, when he started back to Illinois, where, between Scott's Bluff and Chimney Rock they
were attacked by a body of Sioux and Cheyenne Indians, and lost nearly all their stock. Mrs. Swan stood guard all night. She took a severe cold as did also their child, the latter dying, and was buried on Plum Creek. Mr. Swan lost all he had save a pony and a mule and was obliged to stop at F't. Kearney and go to work, While there he had charge of the teams of McLean & Russell, Government freight contractors. In the spring they returned to Yates City, Knox County, Illinois. In February, 1875, he moved to Clarke County, lowa, and settled on a farm he had bought the year before on section 14, Jack- son Township, where he lived until the spring of 1882, when he moved to a farm he now owns on section 26. This farm contains 120 acres of land, the greater part of which is used for pasture, Mr. Swan de- voting his attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of fine grades of both horses, cattle and hogs. In the spring of 1886 he moved his family to Woodburn and opened the hotel, building a large stable where he keeps both for sale and hire, a number of fine carriage horses. His long experience makes him a thoroughly reliable judge of horses, and his stock comprises none but the very best animals. February 16, 1872, Mr. Swan joined the Masonic fraternity at Maquon, Illinois, Lodge No. 530, from which he was demitted September 6, 1878, and united with Unity Lodge, No. 212, at Woodburn. He has filled most of the chairs in the blue lodge and has served as master two years. In ISSo he became a member of Chapter No. 63, at Osceola. Until 1876 he affiliated with the Democratic party, but in that year became allied to the Greenback party. He was a delegate to the first Iowa State Greenback convention, and has since then been a member of the State central committee the most of the time. Mr. and Mrs. Swan are the parents of four children. One, Louchila, born
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
November 9, 1863, died on the plains. Of the living, Orson, born December 9, 1861, was married March 5, 1885, to Miss Lizzie Young. daughter of William Young, a farmer of Knox County, Illinois; Stephen S. was born May 20, 1867, and Ralph was born December 18, 1879. Mr. Swan's pa- ternal great-grandfather was a native of Rhode Island, and moved with his family to New York before the war of the Revo- lution. Three of his sons were soldiers in that struggle for independence. One, the grandfather of our subject, was a drummer, one was a Captain and one a Lieutenant. The latter, Pierce Swan, was wounded at Yorktown, where Cornwallis surren- dered his forces to Washington, thus end- ing the war.
OBERT JAMISON has the honor of being the first settler of Clarke County. He still lives on section 19 of Franklin Township, at the homestead selected by him May 1, 1850. His selection was made on the " Mormon Trace," a well-traveled road which was traversed by the Mormons on their way to Salt Lake City. Later, the "trace " becoming the "California trail," emigrant trains made the first market for the pioneer settlers who had wisely made their homes by the roadside. Mr. Jamison says: " Had it not been for the emigrants to Salt Lake and California passing our doors, buying all our corn at $1.oo per bushel, I hardly know how we could have lived." Two Mormon families lived in Green Bay Township, and a man named Wilson lived in Franklin Township. When Mr. Jamison settled here the two Mormon families moved to their " promised land," and Mr. Wilson moved back to Lucas County, thus leaving Mr. Jamison the first permanent settler of this county. A few months brought him several "neighbors,"
every man living within half a score of miles being called a neighbor. Mr. Jamison was born in Logan County, Kentucky, July 11, 1816. Ilis parents, Robert and Mary (McWhorter) Jamison, were natives of North Carolina. Both were descendants of Scotch Covenanters. The families of both came to America about the middle of the last century. Robert was the youngest of seven children, his father dying before his birth. When six years of age his widowed mother, with her family, moved to Washington County, Indiana, where his mother died in 1841. There Robert grew to manhood, and in June, 1845, married Christena Kyte, born in Washington Coun- ty, November 8, 1818. Her father, Lewis Kyte, died in Indiana in 1852, and her mother, Catherine Kyte, survives, at the advanced age of ninety-three years, cared for by herself and husband. Mr. and Mrs. Jamison came to the Hawkeye State in 1848, first settling in Monroe County, on a claim near Albia. Selling that claim, he removed to his present home, and in 1850 made a claim of 160 acres, receiving a deed for the same in 1853. His farm now contains 380 acres of good land, well improved, and under a high state of cultivation. It is well stocked, and on it is a good orchard. They have passed through all the trials, hardships and privations of pioneer life, and now enjoy the fruits of a life of industry and frugality. Ile is justly proud of lowa and of Clarke County. He has assisted in building up one of the grandest States in the Union. Mr. and Mrs. Jamison have had nine chil- dren, five of whom are living-John H., a resident of Osceola, has served several years as clerk of the court; Lewis, now living in Weldon, Decatur County ; Francis M., a partner with his brother in the mercantile business at Weldon, Iowa; William died at the age of four years; Catherine, wife of James McAllister, died in 1881, leaving
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HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY.
three children ; Mary and Rebecca died in 1885; James and Thomas are still farming the homestead. Mr. Jamison was the first school commissioner elected in this county; served two years on the County Board of Supervisors, and has served as town- ship trustec. In politics, he was formerly a Whig, but is now a Republican.
TATILLIAM M. WILSON, attorney at law at Osceola, is one of the prominent members of the Clarke County bar. He was born in Guilford County, N. C., near the city of Greens- borough, April 23, 1838, his parents, R. D. and Ruhama (Spoon) Wilson, being natives of the State of North Carolina. They re- moved with their family to Iowa in the spring of 1853, locating in Mahaska County, and in 1860 settled in Warren County, this State, near New Virginia, where the parents still make their home, the father being now eighty-one years of age and the mother seventy-five. To them were born six chil- dren, five sons and one daughter, all of whom are yet living. William M. Wilson was fourteen years of age when he came with his parents to Iowa, and received his primary education in the log school-houses of Mahaska County. In the fall of 1857 he entered the high school at Oskaloosa where he pursued his studies until 1861, returning to his home in Warren County at the break- ing out of the late war. He enlisted in Company D, First Iowa Cavalry, and was immediately sent to Missouri, thence to Northern Texas, most of his term of service being spent West of the Mississippi River. He served three years and three months, during which time he participated in many severe engagements, including the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and the skir- mish at Black Water. He was honorably discharged in September, 1864, when here-
turned to his home in New Virginia. In February, 1865, he was married to Miss Martha Fleming, of Warren County, a daughter of Asa Fleming. After his mar- riage Mr. Wilson located on a farm on which was erected a steam saw-mill which he operated in connection with attending to his agricultural pursuits, until 1867. He then began reading law under Mr. Conklin, of Osceola, and also under Judge Chaney. He was admitted to the bar in 1869, at Indianola, Judge H. W. Maxwell presiding, and was admitted to practice in the supreme courts in June, 1872. He began the prac- tice of his chosen profession at Osceola in the fall of 1869, where he has since been actively engaged, and has established a large and lucrative practice. Mr. Wilson waselected a member of the State Senate, to represent Clarke, Lucas and Union counties in the State Legislature. He was elected mayor of Osceola in the spring of 1875. In 1876 he was appointed receiver of the First National Bank, of Osceola. In 1880 he was appointed one of the commissioners to appraise and lay off the Fort Ripley Mil- itary reservation, it having been, by an act of Congress, thrown open for settlers. In 1882 he was appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, one of the commissioners to estab- lish and locate the United States postoffice building, at Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1885 he was elected First Lieutenant of Company A, Fifth Regiment, Iowa National Guards, and December 14, of the same year, was pro- moted to Judge Advocate, with rank of Major, on the staff of Brigadier-General H. H. Wright, which position he still holds. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Methodist Protestant church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue- lodge, chapter and commandery. He is also a member of the Good Templars and a life member of the W. C. T. U. and State Alliance, of Iowa. He has six children liv- ing, three boys and three girls-the oldest
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