USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 14
USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 14
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TILLIAM M. WILSON, farmer, re- sides on section 13, Spaulding Town- ship, where he owns 160 acres of well-cultivated land. Ile was born in Eng- land, February 19, 1843, the son of John and Sarah (Merritt) Wilson, natives also of that country. The father at present resides in Denver, and the mother died in England. Mr. Wilson immigrated to America in 1850, in company with a sister, and settled for a short time in Canada: from 1552 to 1572 he resided in La Salle County, Illinois, and finally came
to Union County. IIere he stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens, having served as justice of the peace several terms. In re- ligious belief he is a Unitarian, and he seems to be a gentleman well informed on general subjeets. In the late war he enlisted, in Angust, 1862, in Company E, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Infantry Volunteers, and served two years and seven months, partici- pating in the battle of Hartsville, Tennessee, and was taken a prisoner by Morgan's men, being held by thein three weeks. He took part also in all the engagements from Mur- freesboro to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and also at Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Dal- las, Kenesaw Mountain, Resaca and Peach Tree Creek. July 20, 1864, he received a wound through the left shoulder, requiring the re- moval of the entire joint. But eighteen sur- vived a similar operation during the war. Mr. Wilson was married in La Salle County, Illinois, in 1869, to Minerva R. Grier, who was born in that county, in 1850, of parents who were pioneers there. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson's children are five in number-Lavina E., Minerva E., Walter R., William and Raymond A.
ESLEY J. STALCUP, one of the ' active and enterprising citizens of Dodge Township, residing on section 24, was born near Terre Haute, Indiana, July 20, 1830, a son of Stephen Stalcup, who was a native of East Tennessee. Wesley J. grew to manhood on a farm, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. He received his education in a subscription school, and helped draw the logs to build the log-cabin in which school was held. He left his native State in 1859, going to Davis Connty, Mis- souri, and in the fall of 1860 removed to Clarke County, Iowa, thence to Madison County, lowa, in May, 1861. October 5, 1861, he was married to Miss Mary E.
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
Spurgin, a daughter of Philip Spargin. Nine children have been born to this union, of whom eight are still living-Maggie, Emma, Philip and Stephen (twins), Lillie, John, Lemon and James. Both Mr. and Mrs. Staleup are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Staleup came to Union County, Iowa, with his family, in April, 1866, settling on his present farm, where he has 218 aeres of valuable land. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of graded cattle, and is also paying some attention to dairying, and in his farming pursuits is meet- ing with success. The father of our subject left his native State when a young man and located at Bloomfield, Greene County, Indi- ana. Ile was at one time a noted detective. During the war he was an enrolling officer. The Copperheads tried to compel him to promise not to vote for Lincoln's second elec- tion, but he vowed to vote for Lincoln if he lived to go to the polls. The Copperheads then burned his barns and fences, killed his hogs, and finally beat him nearly to death, from the effects of which he died, but not until he had east his vote for Abraham Lincoln.
ARON LEE, farmer, apiarist and horti- culturist, on section 35, Jones Town- ship, postoffice Thayer, was born October S, 1832, in Massachusetts. His par- ents were James and Betsy Lee, natives of Massachusetts and England respectively. His father was a noted hortienlturist and farmer, and his grandfather participated in the battle of Lexington, and served as a privateersman along the Eastern coast, engaged in the capture of several British vessels and cargoes, which were shared among the captors. He once visited his home, near the coast, during the winter months, taking with him sugar, mo- lasses and rum, of each one hogshead, which were freely used to entertain visitors. Was afterward captured and sent to Canada as a
prisoner of war, where he remained until its close. While there, in drinking from a spring, he took some insects into his stomach, which caused his death after several years. A post mortem examination revealed the fact that over a quart of these insects were inelosed in a membrane within the stomach. Mr. Lee, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood by the seashore, and began the battle of life empty-handed. Possessing naturally a high am- bition, and having but limited opportunity for educational and financial advancement, he energetically applied the physical forces of his nature to the attainment of success. When twenty-two years old he went to Southern Minnesota, where he tried fruit-raising, which proved to be not a very successful venture. In 1864 he entered Company C, First Minnesota Infantry, and was with the regiment that was in the last battles of the Rebellion, participat- ing in the engagements at Fort Rice, in front of Petersburg and Richmond, and others of less note. He stood on guard between the oppos- ing armies the night after the surrender at Appomattox. Subsequent to the close of the war, he clerked in a wholesale and general store in Boston for six months. In 1876 he came to Union County, locating on the section above named, where he owns forty acres of land, the greater part of which is used as a nursery for all kinds of fruit trees. Of bees he has eighty stands, one-half of which are the pure Italian breed. Mr. Lec has taught five terms of school, and continues his unabated interest in educational, charitable and publie enterprises; is social, genial, and never too proud to notice the needs of the poor and oppressed. As a neighbor and friend he is held in particularly high estima- tion. His political affiliations are with the Anti-Monopoly party. He married Miss Louisa Boyer in 1858. She was born in New York State in 1832, her parents being John L., a innsician in the war of 1812, and Eliza- beth Boyer. Of Mr. and Mrs. Lee's cight children seven are living, namely: James
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W., who married Alice Medley and has one child, Louisa; John, now a school-teacher. who married Angeline Groves ; Edward, Mary E., Otis, Samnel L, and AAda R. Otis is a prominent and well qualified young teacher, having taught several terms.
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S. GROVES, M. D., one of the lead- ing physicians and surgeons of Southern
0 Iowa, was born in Perry County, Ohio, February 20, 1834, son of Frederick and Har- riet (Selby) Groves. His paternal grandfather emigrated from Virginia to Perry County when Frederick was about fifteen years of age. Our subject worked upon his father's farm in the summer and attended the district school during the winter until he was fourteen years old, when he commenced to learn the carpen- ter's trade of an elder brother who resided in a neighboring village. He also attended school during most of the winter months, dividing his time between books and the jack-plane. A few years later he taught school, and subsequently attended the University of Ohio at Athens. Ile taught school and worked at his trade to pay for his tuition and board during the first two years at the University. The last two years in school were passed at the University at Delaware, Ohio, assuming the duties of janitor and otherwise assisting the faculty to pay his expenses. He kept up with his classes all through, but failing health prevented his graduation and he left the University for recuperation. His necessities soon compelled him to seck employment, and he opened a select sehool at Deavertown, Ohio. At the same time he commenced to read medicine with Dr. Kennedy at that place. One year later he entered the office of Dr. W. II. Holden, at Millerstown, Ohio, and subso- quently attended a course of lectures at the Starring Medical College at Columbus. He graduated at the Medical College of Ohio at Cinelunati in March, 1855. He then located 1
at Duncan's Falls and engaged in the practice of his profession. During the first year of his medieal college course he married Miss Mary E. Cherry, of Deavertown, a very intelligent and highly cultured lady, the oldest daughter of Judge I. N. Cherry, now of Afton. He continued his praetice until 1864, when he was appointed by Governor Stone to the position of army surgeon, where he served until the elose of the war. When he came to Aftou he united the drug business with his practice, which he continued several years, but now devotes his time exclusively to his profession. Ilis practice is large and lucrative and he has won an enviable reputation both as a physi- cian and as a surgeon. He has not engaged in public affairs to any great extent, but has always manifested a great interest in the cause of education, and was long an active member of the School Board, serving as its president and otherwise. He is a member of the Blue Lodge of Masons, and politically is a zealous Democrat. Ile has been a member of the Methodist church since he was seventeen years old. Dr. Groves is a man of domestic habits, and is never so happy as when sur- rounded by his family. Ile has a beautiful home in the outskirts of Afton, with cultivated grounds, while within are those evidences that ever characterize the man and woman of re- finement. He has a fine library of first-class literature, and many treasures of art are among the attractions of his home. The first board of pensions organized at Creston was in July, 1882, and the dortor was made its pros- ident, serving three years, when he was removed, and in December following was re- appointed and placed on the Chariton board as secretary, a position which he still holds. Doctor and Mrs. Groves have had seven chil- dren --- four daughters and three sons. William C. died at the age of four years, and L. F. died in infancy. The ellest daughter, Allie II., is a graduate of the lowa Wesleyan Uni- versity, having taken the classical course. Since that time she has been engaged as teacher in
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
one of the schools at Creston. She is also a graduate in music and a teacher of that art. She has recently been appointed postmistress at Afton, vice C. K. Ingham, removed. Their second daughter, Mattie, is a graduate of the high school at Afton, and is a teacher in the schools at Creston. The eldest sou, Arthur, is a graduate of the Afton high school, and is now assistant postmaster at Af- ton. Mollie graduated at Afton, and was a student of Simpson College at Indianola, and is now teaching in public schools of this place. Lottie is the youngest child. All have re- ceived superior advantages for education and culture, and are being well litted to take any position in life they desire.
ENRY MURPHY, general merchant, Cromwell, is a native of County Down, Ireland, born April 4, 1847. His father. Patrick Murphy, was also born in County Down, Ireland, and in 1854 immigrated with his family to America, and settled in Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania. He was a day laborer in limited circumstances, and died when our subject was very young. After his father's death Ilenry was sent to the sisters of charity, remaining there till about eight years of age, when he commenced blacking boots and sell- ing newspapers which he followed for some- time. the latter part of this time being on a boat as bootblack and newsboy. He was soon after employed by the engineer to grease the engine. He was subsequently promoted to engineer, which position he held several years, and when twenty-three years old was receiving $21 a week for his services. lle , country there possessed no attractions for followed engineering till within the last thir- teen years, most of the time being employed in a rolling mill near Cincinnati, where he re- ceived a certificate to the effect that he was a first-class engineer. lle came to Union County, Iowa, July 24, 1872, locating at . Cromwell, after which he followed farming
for three years, and in 1981 he engaged in his present business, carrying a stock of dry- goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hats and caps, queensware and glassware, valued at. 84,500, his annual sales amounting to $13,000.
LBERT C. WILITE, the present deputy sheritl' of Union County, is a son of Stephen White, an early settler of Union County, who was born in New Hampshire in 1810. and, when a child, removed with his parents to Vermont, near Montpelier, where he was reared. He was married in Nashna, New Hampshire, to Matilda Cheney, a native of Vermont. Ilis occupation was that of a railroad-bridge builder, an occupation which he followed until he came West. In 1836 he removed to Union County, Iowa, and located on a farm on section S, Jones Township, known as the Pisgah farm. He purchased 300 acres, 100 of which had been broken and a small frame house had been crected. Ile lived upon this farm until his decease, which occurred November 20, 1872. His wife died October 10, 1878. He was a man highly re- spected in the community in which he lived, and made the Golden Rule the measure of his life. He was a consistent and life-long member of the Universalist church. Quite early in life Stephen White took a tour through the West, stopping in Chicago when that great and thriving city was but a hamlet. It was before the days of railroads, when the Erie Canal and the great lakes afforded the - means of emigration for the New-Englander. He also visited Kankakee, Illinois, but the him, and he returned the same year. Mr. and Mrs. White had five children, four of whom grew to maturity, and three are now living-Albert C., Ida, wife of Theodore Depue, and Fred. The last two named are t residents of Montana. The deceased are Clarence and Frank; the former enlisted in
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Company Il. Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and died at Island No. 10, at the age of sixteen years, and the latter died when ten years of age. Albert C .. the subject of this notice, is the only representative of his father's family now living in Union County. He was born in Washington County, Vermont, March 17, 1844. He has lived in Union County ever since he came with his father in 1856. ITis general occupation is farming and stock-rais- ing. Ile owns the Pisgah farm, which con- tains 207 aeres, and he also owns ninety aeres near by. He is engaged in feeding Holstein cattle. In 1882 he purchased a pair of this famous breed of cattle, and from these sprung all the eattle of that blood in Union County. IIe has about 100 grades of this breed. The Pisgah farm has a history. It was the seat of Mormon settlement. These people were attracted to the place by a fine spring. The name Pisgah was given to the settlement, and the name is still applied to the farm and spring. Mr. White married Miss Ellen Burd, daughter of Isaac Burd. of Jones Township. who came in 1856. Mrs. White was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania. They have two children-Gertie and Bertie.
AMES M. THORNTON, deceased, late of section 12, Lincoln Township, was born in Louisa County, Iowa, March 8, 1845, and died March 16. 1SS5. When he was mite young his parents, Lot and Frankie (Long) Thornton, died, and he was reared by his uncle, Amaziah Thornton, of Rock Island County, Illinois. Ile was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, serving for one year in Company I, Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry. September 2, 1509, he was united in marriage to Miss Viola Sciver, who was born in Rock Island County, a daughter of Jacob 1. and Clarissa (Reynolds) Seiver. the father still li ing in Rock Island County, and the moth- er deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Thornton
were born two children-Ivo Estella, who died December 17. 1885, aged fourteen years. and Francis Glenn, aged twelve years, who lives with his widowed mother on the old homestead on section 12. Lincoln Township. Mr. Thornton came to Union County, Iowa. in 1869, and made his home in Lincoln Town- ship till his death. He was an active and en- terprising citizen and gave both time and means to the support of all charitable enter- prises and benevolent institutions. He served as township trustee a few years, besides hold- ing other local offices of trust. He was a quiet, industrions citizen, strictly honorable in all his dealings, and during his residence in this county gained the confidence and respect of all who knew him. He left at his death a good farm containing 200 acres, which is now owned and occupied by his widow.
HARLES BAXTER & BROTHER are the leading farmers and stock-raisers in Grant Township, where they have lived since 1880. They came West in 1865, settling first in Illinois, where they followed stock- raising until they settled in Union County, Iowa, in 1SS0. They are active and enter- prising business men, and by their good busi- ness management and persevering energy have met with excellent success in their busi- ness. They at present own 711 aeres of choice land, all of which is under cultivation. They have on their farm a large number of fine cattle and horses, and are devoting consider- able attention to the raising of stock. The BaxterBrothers are much respected through- ont the county, where they have made many warm friends. They were born in Muskingum County, Ohio-Charles. born May 3, 1537. and Joshna. the junior of the firm, born May 11, 1845. Their parents, Samnel and Actus Baxter, were natives of Virginia and Mary- land respectively, living most of their lives in Ohio, where the father followed farming and
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
stock-raising. They subsequently removed to Knox County, Ilinois, where they lived till their death. Charles Baxter was united in marriage, in 1877, to Miss A. Martin, daughter of William and Drusilla (Pope) Martin, natives of Pennsylvania and Vir- ginia, now living in Illinois. They have one child, Ethiel, born October 13, 1880. Mrs. Charles Baxter is a native of Pennsyl- vania, born March 30, 1546. Charles Baxter has one of the best residences in his neighbor- hood, being large, comfortable and convenient. His commodious barn, 80x44 feet, and his other farm buildings are among the best in the county. Both brothers, in their political views, affiliate with the Republican party.
ONATHIAN F. ICKIS, the present county treasurer, came to Union County, in 1854. He was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, June 11, 1824. His parents are John and Rachel Ickis, of Afton. He lived upon his father's farm until about thirteen years of age, when the latter sold and engaged in the mer- cantile business, with his son, Jonathan, as elerk. In 1852 the family immigrated to Lee County, Iowa, and settled upon a farm. In April, 1854, our subject and George Christie came together from Lee County to Union County. Mr. Ickis made a location on sec- tion 26, proceeded to Chariton, and made his entry, then, with his companion, returned to Lee County to make preparation for locating upon the land. Ile returned in June of that year, and found that one John D. Wright, who afterward became a prominent citizen of the county and its first surveyor, had made a claim of his land, and had already located on the place, having built a log cabin and had broken about forty acres. In the fall of 1854 Mr. Ickis pre-empted a quarter-section of land on section 31, and also purchased eighty acres of thinber on section 7, Union Township. Timber land was then regarded as a necessity
by the settlers, and the prairie land was not fully appreciated. A log house had been built on the eighty aeres. Soon after making this location Mr. Iekis returned to Lee County, and in November of that year returned, ac- companied by his parents and brother, Alonzo F. They came to make a home on the land Mr. Ickis had located. They removed the log cabin to the land on section 31, and this was the first home of the family in Union County. In Jannary following the father and mother returned to Lee County, and Mr. Iekis' daughter, a girl seven years of age, and his sister Catherine, carne to his home. Indians were then numerous; about 300 were near them engaged in hunting and trapping during that winter. The settlers who had preceded Mr. Ickis in Union Township, and those that came the same year he did were Wright, Hus- band, John Smith, George Smith, Nathaniel Thompson and Joseph Peek. Cyrus Temple was also located on the present site of Afton. Of these pioneers, all that remain besides the Ickis family are Mis. Husband and a son of Nathaniel Thompson. In 1857 Mr. Ickis located in Pleasant Township where he oper- ated a saw-mill. In 1865 he settled upon a farm in that township which is still his home, his residence at Afton being temporary, or during his official term. He has been con- nected with the official business of Union County ever since he came. In the spring of 1855 he was appointed to the office of school- fund commissioner, and at the same time he acted as deputy county elerk. He also served as county surveyor, and has twice been on the Board of Supervisors. He is now serving his second term as county treasurer, his first elec- tion having been in the fall of 18$3. Politi- cally Mr. Ickis is a Democrat. He cast his first presidential vote for General Lewis Cass, in 1845. Ilis first vote was for Governor David Tod, of Ohio, in 1846. He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Mary Osborn, daughter of Elijah Osborn, of Ohio. She died in Lee County, in 1852, the same
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year the family came to lowa. In 1859 he was married to Mariom Rumey, a native of Ohio, born in 1841, and came to Jowa with her parents in 1845. By his first marriage he had three children-Elmedorus U., David, in Nebraska, and Fiori J., who marriel J. M. Mehamn. of Des Moines. By the second marriage Mr. Ickis has three children-Ettie D., wife of Joseph Allen, Nettie and John S.
HOMAS CORT, son of John and Mary A. (Carter) Cort, is a native of England, horn Angust 7, 1837. He spent the first ten years of his life in his native country, and in July, 1848, in company with his par- . ents, boarded the ship, Wyoming, at Liver- pool, and August 22, following, landed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ile remained in that State until 1856, when he went to Illinois, where he lived on a farm till 1857. He then immigrated to Iowa, remaining in this State but a short time, when he returned to Illinois. In 1864 onr subject enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, and after serving one year received an honorable discharge, at Leavenworth, Kansas, in Octo- ber, 1865. After the war he returned to Illinois, where he lived till 1869, when he came to Union County, Iowa, and has since resided on his present farm where he now has 120 acres under the best of cultivation, and his residence and farm buildings are comfort- able and convenient. Mr. Cort was united in marriage to Miss Anna Borland. a daughter of James and Margaret (Adams) . Borland, natives of Pennsylvania. To this union have been born nine children-Florence M., born October 9, 1867; Myrta M., born May 4, 1569, died April 16, 1871; James R .. born December 31, 1870; Mary A., born January 6, 1873; Margaret E., born December 15, , clerk and hospital steward in Hospital No. 1, 1874; Charles HI., born March 9, 1877; Thomas G., born June 20, 1879, and Alma and Laura (twins), born Angust 13, 1883. In
polities Mr. Cort easts his suffrage with the Republican party. Since coming here he has served acceptably as township assessor and school director, and is at present holding the office of county supervisor, in which he is giv- ing the best of satisfaction to his constituents.
OBERT MAXWELL, an enterprising farmer of Lincoln Township, living on section 10, was born in Harrison County, Indiana. August 14, 1825, a son of Joseph II. Maxwell, deceased, who was a native of South Carolina, and a pioneer settler of Indiana. IJe was a wheelwright by occupation and followed his trade for many years. Our snb- ject, Robert Maxwell, received good educa- tional advantages in the common schools and seminaries. In 1842 he accompanied his parents to Clay County, Illinois, removing to Knox County, Illinois, in 1848, where he made his home until 1875. He learned surveying and navigation, and also studied medicine. which he practiced during the war. He was married August 13, 1846, in Clay County, Ili- nois, to Sarah Maxwell, a daughter of William Maxwell, and of the six children born to this union, five are yet living -- Eva, Joseph, Josephine, Mande and William A. Joseph married Eliza Duval and lives in Knox County, Illinois. They have four children. Josephine married J. A. Rusk, of Washing- ton Territory, and has two children. Maude married J. M. Dillow. of Union County, Lin- coln Township, and has one child, and Will- iam A., living in Lincoln Township, married Lois Smelser, and they are the parents of one son --- Seth. Mr. Maxwellenlisted, August 14. 1862, in Company B, One Hundred and Second Illinois Infantry, being in the service until May 19, 1865. He was dispensing Gallatin, Tennessee, from the fall of 1862 until the last of June. 1863, when he Was sent back to his regiment and was on guard
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