USA > Iowa > Clarke County > Biographical and historical record of Clarke County, Iowa > Part 29
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John W. Hood
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years. In 1856 Mr. Hood made a perma- nent location on his land in Clarke County, and at once set about to improve it and make a home for himself and family. About the time of the breaking out of the late civil war he engaged in buying and ship- ping stock, an enterprise he pursued ex- tensively and successfully about ten years, and then gave his attention to the raising of thoroughbred sheep and cattle. He was the first man to introduce the short-horn cattle, and the first to exhibit them in Clarke County. For the past fourteen years he has given especial attention to raising Berkshire hogs, and has always kept a record of his stock. He was also the first man to make a shipment of stock from Clarke County. He is the largest landowner in the county, his estate number- ing 1,200 acres. Ile is a man of indomitable will and energy, one who is sure to make a success of any enterprise he undertakes, and is one of Clarke County's staunchest and most reliable citizens. He is public- spirited, and the success of many enter- prises is due to his liberal and earnest support. In politics he is a firm adherent to the principles of the Democratic party. Hle has a family of four sons-J. B., Mc- Henry, Weldon J. and Van A. One son, Train, is deceased.
OIIN PIPER, an active and successful agriculturist of Ward Township, was born in Frederick County, Virginia, near Winchester, the date of his birth be- ing June 10, 1820. When he was six years old he was taken by his parents, Elisha and Elizabeth Piper, to Morgan County, Ohio, who removed to Muskingum County, Ohio, four years later, the father dying in the latter county when our subject was fourteen years of age. John Piper was reared to manhood on a farm in Muskingum
County, receiving his education in the com. mon schools. After the death of his father he began working on the farm, which he followed till attaining his majority. He was then variously engaged for a time when he went to the State of Illinois, remaining there four years. In 1856 he became a resident of Clarke County, lowa. In 1854 he was married to Martha A. Mock, a resi- dent of Edgar County, Illinois, daughter of George and Lucinda Mock, from North Carolina. They have eight children-Lu- cinda E., Mary E., Elisha M., Jobn H., Mattie A., George W., lona V. and Emma V. In the fall of 1856 Mr. Piper removed to his present farm on section 15, Ward Township, Clarke County, where he has 720 acres of choice land. Since coming to Clarke County he has been successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising, mak- ing a specialty of cattle and hogs. He has some specimens of short-horn cattle on his farm, and 100 head of Poland-China hogs. He is an industrious and enterprising citi- zen, and during his long residence in the county has won the confidence of a large number of friends and acquaintances. Be- ing an early settler he was several times chased by prairie fire. The most serious one being the 5th of November, 1861. While gathering corn he saw a smoke some dis- tance west, the prairie being on fire. About Io o'clock he and neighbor Smith went out to protect themselves, and in a short time neighbor Crooks came in to assist them. After noon Mrs. Smith, thinking there was no danger, started to take them some pro- visions as they had gone without their dinner. By this time seeing they could af- fect nothing by back firing they gave it up, and all started for Mr. Crooks', which was nearly a half mile south. After traveling some distance Mr. Smith concluded he would go home, which was east one half mile, and told his wife to go to Mr. Crooks'. Before reaching Mr. Crooks' place they
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were cut off by this western fire, but seeing a place some twenty feet square where the sod had been taken off, Mr. Piper stopped there and tried to persuade the others to stop too, but they went on and were burned. Mrs. Smith was found on the ground. Mrs. Crooks died that night, and Mr. Piper was burned pretty badly.
J. ARNOLD, the third child of Bar- nard and Nancy P. (Utterback) Ar- nold, was born November 23, 1822, a native of Morgan County, Indiana. His parents were both natives of Kentucky, and were among the first settlers of Morgan County, Indiana. Ten children were born to them-Agnes, Noel, James, Elizabeth, Grandison, Willis, Eliza Jane, Nancy, Ben- jamin and Mary. J. J. Arnold was brought up on a farm and received his education in the primitive log-cabin subscription schools of that carly day. He subsequently en- gaged in building flat-boats, and carrying produce down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, which he followed for several years. He was married at the age of twenty-four years to Ellen Starks, who was born and reared in Kentucky. By this marriage he has one daughter-Melissa Jane. In the fall of 1840, his family, in company with his father's family, started for Iowa with an ox team, bringing with them some cattle and horses, but on account of sickness in his family our subject spent the winter at La- con, Illinois. He came to Clarke County, Iowa, in the spring of 1850, and located on land which his father had entered from the Government the year previous. Here he built a log house and began to improve his land on which he has since made his home. Here his wife died in 1853, and in 1856 he was again married to Louisa Orr, formerly of Knox County, Ohio, a daughter of Rev.
John Orr, a prominent minister and circuit rider of the Methodist church. They have five children living -- Francis B., Seigel, Mary, Benjamin and Nina. Mr. Arnold is a worthy and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has served his township as trustee, and has been a member of the School Board for sey- eral terms. Ile has always taken an active interest in the advancement of education or religion, and has assisted by his means and influence in building churches and school-houses. Quiet, unassuming, indus- trious and strictly honorable in all his deal- ings he has gained the confidence of all with whom he has business or social inter- course, and by his genial disposition has made many friends.
ICHARD L. CHEW, living on sec- tion 31, Doyle Township, was born in Floyd County, Indiana, March 29, 1845, a son of Richard A. and Jane (Mc- Cutchen) Chew, the father a native of Floyd County, born August 18, 1817. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom nine still survive-John W., Samnel F .. Allen W., Lawson S., George H., Hannah R., Frances S., Emma J. and Richard L., our subject. The father came with his family to Clarke County, Iowa, in the fall of 1854, and has since made his home in Doyle Township, where he has eighty-six acres of land under excellent cultivation. He has always followed agricultural pur- suits. He is a member of the United Brethren church. Richard L. Chew, whose name heads this sketch, was also reared to agricultural pursuits, which he has made his life work. He has lived in Clarke and Decatur counties with the exception of three years in St. Clair County, Missouri, and the time spent in the late war, since about nine years of age, he having come
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with his parents in 1854. He enlisted in Company I, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, being in that company's service about eleven monthis. October 26, 1865, he was married to Margaret Shoe, a daughter of Chris- topher Shoe, who is living in St. Clair County, Missouri. Of the five children born to them but two are living-Frances A. and Albert A. In connection with his general farming Mr. Chew devotes some attention to stock-raising. He is meeting with good success in his farming, and has a good farm of 130 acres, where he resides. He has served his township as trustee. He is a member of the Methodist church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Grand Army of the Republic.
PHRAIM DELONG, one of the early settlers of Clarke County, now residing in Washington Township, is a native of Ohio, born on a farm near New Philadelphia, in Tuscarawas County, July 14, 1814. His parents, Solomon and Mar- garet (Mckinney) Delong, were natives of Ohio, the mother being of German and Irish ancestry. Our subject's father was a soldier in the war of 1812. His great- grandfather, Solomon Delong, was one of UDGE JAMES RICE, the oldest mem- ber of the Clarke County bar, was born near Shelbyville, Shelby County, Kentucky, October 29, 1820. His father, Jacob Rice, was a native of Pennsylvania, and married Mary Cooper, a daughter of William Cooper, Esq., who was an early settler of Kentucky. Jacob Rice died when James was eighteen months old. The the pioneers of Ohio, removing to that State from Pennsylvania in a very early day. Ephraim Delong was reared and ed- ucated in his native State, remaining there till reaching maturity. He was married in 1836, to Hannah Engler, a native of Clarke County, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Delong have been born nine children-Fenton L., Almira J., deceased ; Margaret A., ; mother removed with her family to Indi- wife of Frederick Hunt : Mary E., wife , ana, locating in Montgomery County, of Robert Becktell, of Osceola : Ellen, wife where she remained until her death, which occurred in January, 1875. She was the mother of seven children -- four boys and three girls; two now survive. Judge Rice : passed his boyhood in Indiana, receiving of Marion Collier ; Nancy A., wife of A. C. Forney, of Osceola; Jasper N., married Rebecca J. Bradshaw ; Leonard L .. mar- ried Frances Forman, and Ephraim. M.,
died aged four years, and Ruth A., wife of Frederick Forney. After his marriage Mr. Delong leased a heavily-timbered farm which he cleared, and also cleared 100 acres for different parties. He remained on this land till the spring of 1853, when he re- moved his family to Monroe County, Iowa, living one year near Eddyville. In March, 1854, he came to Clarke County, lowa, going thence to Madison County, Iowa, where he resided till 1874. He then sold his farm in Madison County, when he re- turned to Clarke County and settled on a farm on section 13, Washington Township, containing 100 acres of prairie land. Mr. Delong has made farming the principal vo- cation of his life, although he has engaged in various enterprises. He has met with good success in his agricultural pursuits, and has his farm on section 13 under excel- lent cultivation, besides which he owns thirty acres of timber land on section 25 of the same township. In politics Mr. Delong affiliates with the Greenback party. While a resident of Madison County he held the office of justice of the peace, and served three years as township trustee.
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his education mostly in the common schools, and later attended the high school at Waveland. Ile taught school three terms, and then engaged in farming, in the meantime reading law. He entered the law department of Asbury University at Greencastle, Indiana, where he gradu- ated in 1857. He then came to Osceola and commenced the practice of his profession. In 1861 he was appointed county judge to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jerry Jenks. In 1862-'64-'66, he was re- elected to the same office ; by an act of the Legislature this office was then abolished. He then continued his law practice. In IS71 Judge Rice was elected to a seat in the Legislature, a position which he filled with satisfaction to his constituents. In 1846 he married Miss Mary G. Hufstedler, of Parke County, Indiana. Their children are-Isaac N., Thomas C., William E., James A., Julian H. and Mary M. The judge and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, of which the Judge has served as elder for twenty-eight years.
tionate, and as a neighbor, always ready to help those in need of assistance. He was one of the respected citizens of Doyle Township, having by his honest and up- right dealings won the confidence of all who knew him.
IIRISTOPHER C. PERDUE, farmer, section 22, Liberty Township, was born in West Virginia, October 11, 1841, the youngest of ten children. When he was six years old his father died, and at the age of eleven his mother died. He was then practically thrown upon his own re- sources. August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-third Regiment. His brother Daniel was in the same company. He was engaged in the third battle of Fort Donelson in February, 1863. In that battle Daniel was shot through the body, and only through the careful nursing of his brother was his recovery made possible. He was honorably discharged July 5, 1865, and returned .to Warren County, Illinois, and afterward came to this county. Isaiah, member of the Ninth lowa, died in Ar- kansas. Thomas, in Thirty-second Iowa, now lives in Nebraska. Christopher worked on rented land until he purchased his pres- ent home in the spring of 1869. August 29, 1866, he was married to Miss Nancy La Follette, daughter of William La Fol- lette, who settled in Liberty Township in 1855. Both parents are deceased, the mother dying in February, 1868, and the father in February, 1881, aged sixty-one years. Mrs. Perdue was born in Boone County, Indi- ana, September 21, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Perdue have had nine children -- James W., Francis MI., Ella May, Clarence E., Hattie V., Giles C., Susan A., Martha J. and Mary E., twins. Ella May died at the age of two years. Mr. Perdue commenced here on
OSIAH COON, one of the old and honored pioneers of Clarke County, who is now deceased, was a native of Ohio. He became a resident of Clarke County in the fall of 1854, when he settled south of Osceola, removing to Doyle Town- ship in the fall of 1856. He then settled on section 26, where he followed agricult- ural pursuits till his death, and where his widow still resides. He was united in mar- riage to Rebecca Reasoner, and of the twelve children born to this union only seven are now living-William, Garrett, Mary, Ashford R., Aaron, Ivory and Lil: lie. Mr. Coon wasa member of the United Brethren church at the time of his death, which occurred January 1, 1874 As a husband and father, he was kind and affec- , wild land. He first purchased eighty acres,
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and now owns 185, 120 under cultivation. He has held every position of public trust in the township except justice of the peace. In politics he is identified with the Green- back party.
OHN NEWSOME has been a resident of Clarke County since 1868. His home is in the northeast quarter of section 2, Franklin Ttownship. He has a fine stock-farm of 215 acres, consisting of upland, meadow and timber land, on the main branch of Whitebreast Creek. He has made nearly all of the improvements since he occupied the place. Mr. Newsome was born November 13, 1834, in West Riding, Yorkshire, England. His parents were James and Rebecca (Illingworth) Newsome, who reared a family of ten children, all of whom are living and prospering. All ex- cept the oldest, William, are living in the United States. James Newsome, in early life, was a weaver by occupation, and his son John, the subject of this sketch, was reared to the same calling. He embarked from Liverpool for the United States on the "City of Manchester," March 21, 1854, reaching Philadelphia May 10. Near this point he engaged work in a cotton mill for a short time. In June, of the same year, he went to work in a woolen mill at Rockdale, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, where he remained until he volunteered in defense of his adopted country, under the first call of President Lincoln for volunteers. He en- listed in the Anderson Guards, Philadelphia, April 16, 1861, and would have started for Washington, D. C., on the evening of the 19th, but for the attack of the Baltimore mob on the Sixth Massachusetts Volun- teers and three companies of their regi- ment, who were unarmed and got back to Philadelphia with great difficulty. They were eventually mustered into the United
States service on May 25, as Company B, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers. un- der Colonel Small, for three years or during the war. August, 1861, Company B was detached to guard Government stores, in Washington, D. C. In the spring of 1862, when General MeClellan was about to start on the Peninsula campaign, Sergant New- some wrote a petition which all the non- commissioned officers signed, asking to take the field with the regiment. The peti- tion failed, but a second petition, January, 1863, wasgranted by General Hooker, who formerly commanded their brigade, and was then commanding the Army of the Potomac. The company met its baptism of fire at Chancellorsville, losing very heavily. Sergeant Newsome was wounded in the right thigh and taken prisoner. He was exchanged and rejoined his regiment the following September. In the move- ments of the army, before the close of 1863, Mr. Newsome bore an honorable part. He re-enlisted as a veteran in January, 1864. While on furlough, March 10, 1864, he was married at Rockdale, to Miss Elizabeth Murphy, who was born in Philadelphia, December 25, 1836. She was a daughter of Moses and Elizabeth Murphy. Rejoin- ing the Army of the Potomac, he was mustered in as Lieutenant of his company, in April, 1864, and from that time until the 27th of May, took part in the battles under Grant. June IS he was honorably dis- charged at Philadelphia. During the raid of General Early on Washington, Lieuten- ani Newsome again tendered his services, but was not accepted owing to disease con- tracted in the service. Mr. and Mrs. New- some continued to live in Rockdale until 1868, and then came to Clarke County. Mr. Newsome's record has been, in all respects, an honorable one. They have four chil- dren -- Frank, Bertha, Rebecca E. and Mabel. James 1I., a twin brother, died at the age of three months. The parents of
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Mr. Newsome came to the United States in 1856. They died in Union Township, Lucas County. Of their sons and daugh- ters living in the United States, besides John, there are James, Samuel, Daniel, Mrs. Sarah Gore, Mrs. Rebecca Gore, re- side in Delaware County, Pennsylvania : Wright, Mrs. Ann Perkins and Mrs. Mary Maloney live in Lucas County.
HOMAS C. FUNSTON was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1824. His father, Andrew Funston, was born in Ireland and of Prot- estant faith. Ile came to the United States in 18os, then a young man, and settled in Pennsylvania. In Allegheny County he was married to Polly Crawford, also of Protestant-Irish birth. To them were born five children, two died young : the others are-Sarah Ann, Thomas C. and Robert, a a prominent farmer of Fremont Township, with whom his sister, Sarah Ann, resides. When Thomas C. was ten years of age the family moved to Coshocton County, Ohio, where they made a farm out of the wilder- ness. The father died in 1854. In 1853, Mr. Funston purchased 360 acres of Gov- ernment land at second hand, and com- menced improvements. He returned to Ohio in the fall of 1855, and afterward set- tled upon section 12, Fremont Township. In 1862 he married Miss Elizabeth A. Bo- den, daughter of Robert Boden, who set- tled in Fremont Township in 1857. To them were bom five children -- Emma, now the wife of Ilomer Folger ; Frank, Elsie, Rob- ert and Bessie. Mr. Funston built a fine residence on section 7. Just before its completion he met with a great affliction in the loss of his wife, who died November 9, 1884. He moved into his new house three days after his wife's death. Mr. Funston owns 1, 100 acres of land, and his
brother Soo acres. They give their entire attention to stock-raising. In 1886 their stock consisted of 220 head of cattle, 175 hogs and twenty horses. Mr. Funston has served as a member of the Board of Super- visors of this county. Politically he has been a Republican, but at the present party ties have but little hold on him. He may be classed as an Independent. He is a member of Osceola Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 77; Pintalpha Chapter, No. 63 ; Con- stantine Commandery. No. 23. He is ranked among the wealthy citizens of the county.
F. HALL, one of the prominent and successful citizens of Clarke County, residing on section 31, Green Bay Township, was born in Monroe County, Indiana, November 28, 1834, a son of War- ren Hall, a native of Kentucky, and Cyn- thia (Parks) Hall. They were the parents of nine children-Sarah Ann, B. F., W. N., John W., James M., Samuel L., Albert. T., Mary Ann and Sarah M. Our subject re- mained in his native county till seven years of age, when his parents removed to Put- nam County, Indiana, where he resided nine years. He was reared on a farm, and received a common-school education in the primitive log school-houses. In 1851 he went to Decatur County, Iowa, locating four miles southeast of the present site of Leon, where he lived until 1860. He was married December 14, 1855, to Miss Mar- tha Ann Walton, of Decatur County, she being a daughter of II. L. Walton. They have three children-Edward P., Charles E. and Della May. In 1860 Mr. Hall bought 160 acres of his present farm, which was at that time unimproved. JIe has since added to his original purchase, till his farm now contains 545 acres of choice land, with comfortable and commodious
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residence, and good barns and out-build- ings. This is one of the best stock farms in Clarke County, and is located two and a quarter miles west of Weldon. Mr. Hall is a self-made man, having by his own good management, combined with his industry and habits of economy, made his property, and has now a competency for his declining years. Ile is a consistent member of the Christian church, and a respected citizen of Green Bay Township. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Republican party.
H. STEVENS, an enterprising and successful farmer and stock- raiser of Green Bay Township, residing on section 36, is a native of Maine, born near Bangor, his parents, William and Cynthia (Oaks) Stevens, being natives of the same State. They had a family of ten children-Eunice, William, Lucy, Frances, Cynthia, Nancy, Lorenzo, AAugustus, John F. and William H., our subject, who was the youngest child. When about four years of age he was taken by his parents to Philadelphia, they residing there three years, and in IS40 the family removed to Meigs County, Ohio, where our subject was reared to manhood. His carly lile was passed on a farm, and his education was re- ceived at the public schools. He was united in marriage September 28, 1858, to Miss Martha Hogue, who was born and reared in Meigs County, Ohio, a daughter of James and Christina (Patterson) Hogue. ller parents were natives of Scotland, being born near Edinburgh. They reared a family of seven children-William, Alexan- der, Margaret, James, Jane, John and Mar- tha. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have three sons-Harvey E., Delmont D. and James F. During the late war Mr. Stevens en- listed in Company D, Fifteenth Ohio
National Guards, the date of his enlistment being June 16, 1863. He participated in the raid against Morgan in Ohio, and had a skirmish with that bold rebel leader. Jan- mary 15, 1864, he re-enlisted in the three- years' service, in Company A, Second West Virginia Cavalry, and was at the battles of Cedar Creek and Winchester. After being in the service about cighteen months he was honorably discharged at Wheeling, West Virginia, July 4, 1865. He then returned to Meigs County, Ohio, where he followed farming and carpenter- ing till 1869. He then came to Green Bay Township, Clarke County, Iowa, and lo- cated on his present farm, which at that time was entirely unimproved, where he is still engaged in general farming and stock- raising. His farin now contains 265 acres of as good land as can be found in the township, well improved and under high cultivation. Ile has a good residence, sur- rounded by shade and ornamental trees, and commodious farm buildings for his stock. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are consistent mem- bers of the Free-Will Baptist church. In politics he is a Republican. Ile is a member of Jacinth Lodge, No. 443, A. F. & A. M., and is one of the representative men of Clarke County.
EDGAR BELL, general farmer and stock-raiser, living on section 3, Knox Township, was born in Markham, Canada, June 17, 1845, the son of William and Mahala A. (Tomlinson) Bell, the former a native of Yorkshire, England, and the latter a native of Canada. They were the parents of twenty-two children, of whom our sub- ject was the fifteenth child. When he was nine years of age his parents removed with their family to Mercer County, Illinois, and there he was reared. Ilis youth was passed in working on the home farm, and
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his education was received in the common schools of his neighborhood, and at Mon- mouth Academy, Illinois. He left Mercer County in 1875, coming thence to Clarke County, Iowa, and locating on his farm in Knox Township, where he has since fol- lowed farming and stock-raising. Mr. Bell was united in marriage December 27, 1869, to Miss Alice M. Emary, a daughter of F. J. Emary, Sr., who is now deceased. Two sons, William M. and Frederick N., have been born to this union. Mr. Bell is num- bered among the successful and enterpris- ing citizens of Knox Township, and being strictly honorable in all his dealings, he has gained the confidence of all with whom he has business or social intercourse. He has served his township as assessor with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constitu- ents. He has a good residence surrounded by shade and ornamental trees, and com- modious barns and out-buildings for the accommodation of his stock. His lawn is the finest in Knox Township, and in fact the entire surroundings betoken the thrift and good management of its owner. In politics Mr. Bell affiliates with the Repub- lican party. He is a member of Osceola Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & A. M.
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