USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 21
USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 21
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
State of New York. Our subject was reared to the occupation of a farmer. His school- days ended at Onondaga Academy, which he left to enlist in August, 1862, as a member of Company E, Forty-fourth New York Infant- ry, and served about one year, when he was discharged for disability. In 1865 he, with his friend J. D. Spaulding, went to the oil regions of West Virginia, where he remained about one year, then returned to Syracuse, New York, and was for a time engaged in bookkeeping for I. A. Thurber & Co., in that city. He eame West in 1867, accompanied by J. D. Spaulding. They made settlements in the northwest part of the county, and were the first settlers in what is now Spaulding Township, which received its name from Mr. Spanlding. Mr. Emmons still owns the farm upon which they first settled. He now owns 520 acres of land in the county. In the fall of 1879 he was elected clerk of the court, and in January, 1873, he removed to Afton. He held the office eight years and made a very competent and popular clerk. He married Miss Lillie Hays, a daughter of Dr. Thomas Ilays, and they have two children-Dena and Blanche.
P HIILIP L. HARSH, section 35, Highland Township, is one of the enterprising farmers of Union County. He was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 16, 1836. Ilis father, Daniel Harsh, was a native of the same county. and in 1837 re- moved with his family to Clinton County, Ohio, and thence, in 1819, to Bureau County, Illinois. Our subject was reared a farmer, receiving a common-school education. He remained at home until manhood, and in April, 1861, came to Iowa, and lived in Davis County until the following September, when he came to Union County, and located where he now lives, in Highland Township. His land was entirely unimproved, but he went to work, and now has his 220 acres under
fine cultivation, with good buildings, groves, fences, etc., and well stocked. For seven years he bought and shipped stock to Chicago, in connection with attending to his farm. IIc was married in October, 1871, to Belle Oliver, daughter of Simon Oliver, of Carl, Adams County, Iowa. To them were born threc children-Francis D., Mary B. and Julius H. Mrs. Harsh died June 29, 1879, and June 16, 1SS1, Mr. Harsh married Mary D. Campbell, daughter of Griffith Campbell. Mr. Harsh twice offered his services to his country during the war of the Rebellion, but was re- jected on account of physical disability. He has served his township eight years as justice of the peace, and two and a half years as clerk. Ile is a member of the Congregational, and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal church.
EVI T. DEAVER, retired farmer, resid. ing on section 16, postoffice Thayer, is an old and eminently-esteemed pioneer citizen of Union County. He was born July 18, 1817, in Morgan County, Ohio. Ilis par- ents, Levi and Nancy (Hause) Deaver, were natives of Maryland, who lived and died in Morgan County. Mr. Deaver, whose name heads this notice, passed his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm, following the independent vocition of agriculture. In 1864 he came to Union County, where he has been successful in the pursuits of life. Ile commencel in life without any means, and but a limited education, but, being a man of sterling worth and irreproachable char- aeter, he has succeeded well, besides forin'ng a large circle of appreciative acquaintances; is prominently identified with the Christian church, as is also his wife, and takes a deep interest in all religious and educational enter- prises. Politically, he is a Democrat. For forty years he has been practicing as a veter- inary physician and surgeon. In 1540, in Ohio, Mr. Deaver married Miss Catharine,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
daughter of William and Sallie Foraker, the latter a relative of Governor Poraker, of Ohio. Three children have been born by this marriage -- Levi J., who married Martha Leach, and has three children-Charles, Al- mer and Dora; William J., who married Laura Andrews, and has two children-Ida and Pearly; and Clara M., now the wife of Walter Babbs, and has one child-S. Clark.
UDGE JAMES W. M.DILL, one of the well-known pioneers of Union County, came to Afton, April 16, 1857, having been identified with the county about thirty years. He was born in Butler County, Ohio, March 4, 1834. When he was quite young his father, Rev. John McDill, removed with his family to Hanover, Jefferson County, In- diana, where he became the settled pastor of a church, and died in 1840. ite commenced his preparatory studies at Hanover College, and in 1845 returned to Ohio and continued his studies at Salem Academy, South Salem, Ross County. In 1851 he entered the junior class of Miami University and graduated in 1853. After this event he taught school one year in Kossuth, lowa, then returned to Ohio and began the study of law at Columbus with Messrs. Galloway & Mathews. He was ad- mitted to the. bar at Akron, September 30, 1856. In October following he came to Iowa, spending the winter at Burlington, coming to Afton the following spring. In Angust, 1857, he was married to Mi's Narcissa Fulenwider, daughter of Samuel Fullenwider, who emi- grated from Kentucky to Iowa in 1837. He was one of the well-known pioneers of Jowa, and a member of the first State Senate. ITo now lives with his son-in-law, Judge MeDill, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Upon locating at Afton he at onee formed a partner- ship with Reuben Riggs, Esg., in the firm mune of Riggs & MeDill. In 1839 Mr. Riggs went to l'ike's Peak, and several years later
was frozen to death in Kansas. In the fall of 1858 Mr. MeDill was elected county judge of Union County, and in 1859 he was elected county superintendent of schools, the first one elected to that position in Union County. In November, 1861, Governor Grimes, who had then became United States Senator, ap- pointed Judge MeDill clerk of the Senate committee on the District of Columbia, of which committee Governor Grimes was chair- man. This position he filled until February, 1862, when he was appointed by Governor Chase, then Secretary of the" Treasury, to a clerkship in the Third Auditor's office at Washington, serving a part of the time as chief of the division of war claims. In May, 1865, he opened an office in Washington and entered into a partnership in the prosecution of war claims. In October, 1866, he returned to Afton and formed a law partnership with N. W. Rowell. In the fall of 1868 he was elected judge of the Circuit Court, assuming the duties of that office Jannary 1, 1869, being the first circuit judge of his district. Two years later he was appointed district judge to fill the office made vacant by the ele- vation of Judge Day to the Supreme Bench, and was afterward elected by the people. In August, 1972, Judge MeDill was the Rc- publican nominee for Congress for the Eighth District. He accordingly resigned the oflice of judge, and was elected and re-elected in 1874, serving in the Forty-third and Forty- fourth Congress. In the foriner he was a member of the committee on the Pacific Rail- road, and in the latter on public lands; and when the difficulty attending the Presidential clection of 1876 occurred he was a member of the committee appointed to inquire into the privileges of the House as to the clectoral con. t. He declined a third terin in Congress, and resume! the practice of his profession. In 1881 President Garfield, having appointed Samuel Kirkwood, then United States Sena- for, to the office of Secretary of the Interior, Governor Gear appointed Judge MeDill
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
United States Senator to fill the vaeaney made by the promotion of Kirkwood. He took his seat March 8, 1881. Upon the convening of the Iowa State legislature the following winter he was elected to serve the nnexpired term, which extended to March 4, 1883. At the close of his service as United States Senator he again resumed the practice of law. April 4, 1884, he became a railroad commissioner by the ap- pointment of Governor Sherman, a position he still holds. No higher compliment to Judge MeDill can be given than to say that. the numerous high positions to which he has been called have been entirely unsolicited by him. The ability and integrity that have at- tended the discharge of the duties and respon- sibilities that have devolved upon him is evidenced by his many calls to positions of public trust. It may be truly said that his professional and official career is withont a blemish. It is unnecessary to say that he is a Republican, and ever a warm advocate of the principles of the great party with which he is identined. In 1885 he removed with his family to Crestou, and is now of the law firm of MeDill & Sullivan. Judge MeDill and wife have five children, four daughters and one son-Edith L., wife of Samuel Light, of Barber County, Kansas; Kate IJ., Blanche, Madge and Wilson F.
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WATTHOMAS G. SNAIR, sheriff of Union County, residing at Creston, is a native of Hancock County. Illinois, born No- vember 12. 1851. He was elected to his present office on the Democratic ticket in 1885, his opponent being R. J. McKee, of Afton. Ilis popularity is attested by the fact that, although Union County is largely Re- publican, he was elected by a majority of 485; succeeding Mark Blanchard, of Creston. Previous to his election as sheriff he had been engaged in railoading since the age of seven- teen years, beginning his career as brakeman
on the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad. In 1876 he engaged with the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quiney Railroad Company as freight conduetor, and was promoted to conductor of the fast-mail train, running that train the three years prior to his election to the office of sheriff. He has lived in Creston since 1876. His general popularity and fitness for his position were the motives that seeured his nomination and election by the large majority mentioned. Mr. Snair was married, in Car- thage, Illinois, to Miss Emma Hoppe, a native of Germany. They have one son -- Joseph II. A.
R. WOODS, one of Union County's pioneers, and a successful farmer 9 living on section 32, Platte Town- chip, is a native of Iowa, born September 29, 1849, a son of Michael and Polly (MeVey) Woods, his father being a native of Tennessee and his mother of Ohio. At an early age hie left his native county, Jefferson, in company with his parents, who settled in Ringgold County, where they remained but a short time, removing in 1857 to Union County where our subject has since lived. He expe- rienced many of the privations as well as the pleasures of pioneer life in his youth, coming to Union County when wild animals were numerous, and before the Indians had left the surrounding country. Ilis educational advan tages were limited, his only opportunities for obtaining an education being the rude log- cabin schools of pioncer days. At the age of twenty-one years he began life on his own ac- count, engaging in farming pursuits. March 3, 1870, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Page, born in Ohio, March 28, 1851, a dangh- ter of Edward and Rachel (Caldwell) Page who were also nativos of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Woods have had three children-Edward M., born January 28, 1871; Alice M., born July 21, 1872, died August 7, 1872, and Osben,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
333
born November 9, 1878. Mr. Woods has been prosperous in his agricultural pursuits, and now owns 160 acres of valuable land where he resides, and by his honorable and upright dealings has won the respect of the entire community. In politics Mr. Woods casts his suffrage with the Republican party.
ARRY R. STALKER, farmer and stock- raiser, resides on section 3, Douglas Township, where he is the proprietor of a quarter-section of well-improved land. He was born on the Isle of Man, in 1850, the son of Edward and Jane (Kneale) Stalker, natives also of that island. During the year of his birth he was brought to this country by his parents, who located at Rochester, New York. In that city Mr. Stalker grew to man- hood, learning the blacksmith's trade, as well as farming. After working at the trade four years, he returned to farming. He came to Union County in 1876, settling on the farm which he had purchased in 1874, perfectly wild, but which he has brought up to a high state of improvement, and now occupies. IIc commenced in life with no means but an intelligent design and willing hands; now he is well-to-do in the world, in this respect following the example of his father, who, when he landed in America had but six shillings, but is now wealthy and influential. Postoffice, Croston.
A. LEENS, head clerk of the locomotive department of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, at Creston, las long been in the employ of this company. His services began in 1871, as telegraph mes- senger boy, and in the the meantime he learned telegraphy. In the fall of 1873 he engaged with the Northwestern Railroad
Company, being at Marshalltown, Iowa, Chi- cago and De Kalb, Illinois. He returned to Creston, and renewed his connection with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in 1874, as telegraph operator, and later, left that position to take charge of the time books, occupying the position of time-keeper. In July, 1883, be assumed the duties of his present position. Mr. Leens was born in Kane County, Illinois, in 1856. His father, Andrew Leens, removed with his family to Burlington, Iowa, in 1870. Mr. Leens is a man of much public enterprise, and is very highly esteemed as a citizen. He is at pres- ent a member of the city council; has served two terms as city clerk, and was one of the founders of the newspaper, Every Sunday Morning, still owning a half-interest in the paper. Politically he affiliates with the Re- publican party.
D J. GUTHRIDGE, one of the early business men of Afton, was born in ยบ Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, in 1811. He was reared to mercantile pursuits, and served an apprenticeship to the business in Xenia, Ohio. He was a merchant nearly all of his business life. Hle was married in his native State, to Mary Heston, born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, in 1821. In 1851 Mr. Guthridge removed with his family to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he lived three years, and came to Atton in 1855, entering at once into business here, shipping his stock of goods from Oskaloosa. At one time he had a store in Murray, and one at Quincy, Adams Conty, his residence being at Afton, where he carried on his main business. He died at Afton of paralysis. April 30, 1890. Mrs Gnthridge resides at Afton. They were the parents of seven children, two sons and five daughters, six are now living-Mrs. Eliza- beth Sullivan, Mrs. Margueretta Davis, Adol- phus, an attorney, residing on a farm near
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
Creston; Mrs. Belle Himmelrich, Mrs. Kate Van Patten and Darins . A daughter, Emma Alice, died at the age of seven years. Mr. Gnthridge was a man very highly respected in bis community, and contributed a great deal to the advancement of the town.
AVID ARNOLD, one of the prosperous agriculturists of Dodge Township, re- siding on section 26, is a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, born near Zanes- ville, August 6, 1828, a son of David Arnold who was a native of Little Falls, Ilerkimer County, New York. The father was a sol- dier in the war of 1812. He settled in Mus- kingum County, Ohio, in 1815, when Indians and wild animals were the principal inhabi- tants. He was a millwright by trade, and built many mills in Ohio. Our subject learned the same trade when a boy, working at it from the time he was large enough to handle tools, till within the last four or five years, and often operated mills which he had built. Hle worked on the first mill in Gales- burg, Illinois, in 1850 and '51, and helped build mills in varions places in Illinois and Iowa, in California and Arizona and some of the Territories. He has been in twenty-one States and nine Territories in the Union, and has visited all the leading cities. He was mar- ried December 20, 1933, in Chandlersville, Ohio, to Hettie MI. Pierce. a daughter of the late Jonathan Pierce, who was an early settler of Zinesville, Ohio. To this union were born five children-Edward O., Minerva, Floretta, David P. and Lanra B. Mr. Arnold came to Towa, January 29, 1:50, and worked on mills two years; then returned to Ohio and spent two years building mills. October 20. 1854, moved to Jowe, and to Union County, Mareb 5, 1855, and in the spring of 1:56 settled one half mile west of his procent farin, where he has since made his home. Ile was in the employ of the United
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States Government during the late war as detective, being Captain of a company of de- tectives. His wife died Angust 14, 1867, and November 14, of the same year, he was married to Miss Margaret M. Veith, a dangh- ter of Frederick Veith, and of the six children born to them four are living -- Mary A., Will- iam F., Nora M. and Grace M. Two sons, Frank and Charles, are deceased. Mr. Arnold has been prosperous in his farming pursuits, and has acquired a fine property, being the owner of 342 acres of choice land. He takes a deep interest in the Masonic fraternity, of which he has been a member for thirty-seven years.
H. OURS, farmer and stock-raiser, on section 36, Donglas Township, is the unuer of a quarter-section of well- improved land. Ile was born in Pennsyl- vania, in 1839, the son of Joseph and Catherine (Newhart) Ours, natives also of the Keystone State, and of Pennsylvania ancestry. There Mr. Ours, whose name heads this sketch, was brought up at farming, which calling he has since pursued excepting the time he was in the army. In 1862 he en- listed in Company G, Thirty-fifth Iowa In- fantry, and was in the service three years; was in charge of the Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi. Red River, Guntown, Rich- mnoud, Tennessee, with Hood; was detailed on the ambulance corps; went to New Orleans, then to Mobile. and was finally mustered out at Davenport, Jowa. In Muscatine, Iowa, in 1866, he was married to Miss Amma R., daughter of George and Juda Hartman, natives of Pennsylvania. She also was born in that State, in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Ours have had four children-Luella, Charles E., George W. and Edith V. Mr. Ours began in life with a fair education, but with no enpital, and he has placed his land, which was perfectly wild when he purchased it, in a
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
fine state of cultivation. He has served his township as school director. In his political views he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Ours and Lnella, Charles E. and George W. are members of the Presbyterian church. Postoffice, Cresion.
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B ARNARD SHERIDAN, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 14, Spaulding Township, where he is the owner of 240 acres of land, in a high state of cultivation. He was born in Will County, Illinois, October 11, 1851, and is a son of Barnard and Anna (Lynch) Sheridan, both na- tives of Ireland, and at present residing at Cres- ton. Mr. Sheridan, the subject of our sketch, grew to manhood in his native county, trained to agricultural parsuits, which he has ever since successfully followed; has had a fair education, and taught school several terms; has held the office of commissioner of high- ways, and assessor of his township, and is at present the clerk of his township. Com- meneing in life with no means but his inherited abilities, he has succeeded in establishing a comfortable home. Of his wages as teacher he saved $1,200, which he in- vested in land that has risen in valne. He was married in 1879, in Council Bluff's, Iowa, to Miss Anna, daughter of Patrick and Anna (Martin) MeMenomy, natives of Ireland, who immigrated to America in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan have one child-Michael by name. They are both members of the Cath- olie church. Postoffice, Creston.
OBERT BISSET, foreman of locomotive repairs for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, Creston, is one of the veteran employes of this company. Having occupied his present position since 1871. Mr. Bisset was born in Dunfermline.
Fifeshire, Scotland, mn 1834. His parents were Lawrence and Elizabeth Bisset. His mother died when he was hut eleven years of age, and his father two years later. They left six children. Robert came to America with an elder sister and two brothers when he was fonrteen years of age. He learned the trade of machinist in the Niles Locomotive Works, at Cincinnati, Ohio, then went to North Carolina, and worked at his trade until. the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when he returned to Ohio, living at Sandusky four years prior to coming to Crest m. Ile has been a member of the School Board of Creston sinee 1874, and is now serving his second year as president of that body. Ile has twice been a member of the common council. Politically he is a Democrat. Mr. Bisset was married in Cincinnati, to Miss Margaret Smith, who died in Creston, in October, 1879. His present wife was Eliza- beth Johnson. By his first marriage he has seven children-fonr sons and three dangh- ters: by his second marriage he has two sons and a danghter.
AN V. GROESBECK, farmer and stock- raiser of Dodge Township, living on section 24, is a native of Iowa, born in Lee County, November 19, 1842. Ilis father, Garrett L. Groesbeck, was a native of the State of New York, and in early life learned the millwright's trade, which he followed the greater part of his life. He attended the first land sale in Iowa, in 1836, but did not make his home in this State till two years later. He came to Union County, Iowa, in the spring of 1851, settling in New Hope Township, where he lived till his death, which occurred in 1876. Dan V., our subject, re- ceived his education principally in the select school at Ottumwa, Wapello County. He was reared a farmer, and has always followed that avocation, and in connection with hi:
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
farming pursuits he is devoting some time to raising stock. Ile was married in the spring of 1868, to Miss Sarah Fenner, a danghter of Joseph Fenner, who is deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Groesbeck have been born four children-Louise J., Herman F., Ben. jamin S., and Arthur H. In their religions faith they believe in the doctrines of the Baptist church. Mrs. Groesbeck is the owner of a good farm containing 220 acres of land.
RANK II. BRUNING, Union County's oldest settler, and a successful farmer of Platte Township, living on seetion 34, is a native of Germany, born January 25, 1822, a son of William and Catherine Broning, who were natives of the same country. He grew to manhood in his native land, being reared to the avecation of a farmer. At the age of twenty years he sailed from Bremen, Germany, landing at New Orleans, in Octo- ber, 1842. A few days after his arrival he proceeded to St. Louis, Missouri, remaining there two years, when he went to St. Joseph, Missouri. He lived at St. Joseph nutil 1846, when he removed to Gentry County, Missouri, where he made his home till 1852. lle was united in marriage to Miss Anna Veser, a native of Tennessee, born in Octo- ber, 1829. To this union have been born eleven children-W. II., Caroline, Kittie, Louisa (deceased), J. L., J. D. (deceased), Naucy E., Thomas F., I. E. , E. J. and Albert P. Early in the year 1852, in company with his friend, Mr. Bruning went up Grand River on a hunting and trapping expedition, and being much pleased with that part of the country determined to settle there with his family. While en route for that place they were obliged to turn from the regular road on account of high water, and after traveling several days and not finding the place where he intended to locate, Mr. Bruning left his family in camp, and with Mr. Amnes pro- | his widow followed him to the unseen world
ceeded to look for a home. He finally reached his present farm, and returning for his family brought them to this spot, settling here May 25, 1852, entering his land two years later. Here they experienced all the phases of pio- neer life, bravely enduring the many priva- tions, and by industry and good management have become well-to-do citizens, Mr. Bruning owning 240 acres of good land. He followed farming till within the past few years, since which he has been engaged most of his time in the nursery business. Twelve acres of his farm are devoted to orchard, and he has two acres of grape vines. He also devotes some time to bee culture, and has at present fifty stands of bees. In his political views Mr. Bruning is a Democrat. Ile is a member of the German Lutheran church. In the early history of Union County, a man was found dead on Grand River, and as he was thought to have been killed by Indians, strong threats were made against them. The Indians, being innocent of the decd, came to Mr. Bruning to consult with him what was best to do. Hc told them he would go to the settlement for them and explain the facts of the case, which he accordingly did, and for this he gained the good will of the Indians, they agreeing not to hunt within two miles of his dwelling, so that he might have wild game as well as they. They were ever his friends, and were always ready to do him a favor if it was in their power.
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