USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 23
USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 23
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
lle was engaged in farming for several years, and established his present business in 1881. He has been twice married. His first mar- riage was in Wisconsin, with Miss Mary E. Randall, a native of the State of New York, who died in Afton, August 11, 1882. His present wife was formerly Mrs. Mary E. Guthrie, widow of Doctor J. B. Guthrie. By his first marriage were four children- Charles E., George A., Anna Laura and IIu- bert W. Of the seven children in the family of Mr. Ketchum's father five are still living, four sons and one daughter. The second son, George P., enlisted in the Forty-sixth Wis- consin Infantry, and died February 22, 1865, at Madison, Wisconsin. The youngest son was murdered by cowboys in Nebraska, in December, 187S.
OBERT COLBERT, farmer and stock- raiser, section 5, Douglas Township, has 240 acres of highly-cultivated land. He was born in Ireland, in 1842, son of John and Mary Colbert, also natives of that country; mother is deceased, but father is still living, at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. Colbert was reared on a farm; came to Canada in 1861, and to the United States in 1864. Forthe first two years in this country he followed the manufacture of lead, in Philadelphia; next was engaged in the nursery business, in Heury County, Illinois, three years, and in Grinnell, Iowa, three years, and finally, in 1871, he came to Union County, settling upon his present farm, which was then raw prairie. Ile started out in life with no capital but his personal qualifications, working by the month, at $10 a month, from sixteen to cighteen hours a day. Ile has put his present place under fine improvements, and established a substantial and comfortable home. He has held the office of school director, township assessor, two terms, and is a member of the Congregational church. He was married in !
Henry County, Illinois, December 31, 1868, to Miss Ellen, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Olrien) Moore, natives of Ireland. She was born in Canada, in 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Col- bert are the parents of four children-Will- iam J., Emma W., Mary E., and Frank R. Postoffice, Cromwell.
E. FRENCH, principal of Creston high school, was born in Jackson, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1846. Ile began his career as a teacher in December, 1863, and with the ex- ception of two years has been actively em- ployed in public school work every year from that time until the present. He has taught in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Nebraska and Iowa. From 1878 to 1881 he served as county superintendent of his native county, and successfully supervised 300 schools taught by 350 teachers. He is now teaching on his third year in Creston, and his efficiency and popularity are evinced by the enviable reputation accorded to Creston high school, and by an increase of salary at each annual election. Mr. French is a fine dieci- plinarian, a thorough seholar, a respected and honored eitizen.
L. BAYLES, of Afton, is a son of James Bayles, who was born in 1795. He was reared and married in Ohio, to Miss Jane Wright. They resided in Ohio until about 1856, when they removed to Henry County, Illinois, and lived there until the spring of 1 SGT, then removed to Union County, and settled on a farm on section 14, Union Township. The mother lived but two or three years after coming to lowa. They had four children -- Mary Jane, wife of W. C. Demint, of Kansas; Cynthia Ann, wife of Levi Plummer, residing in Adams County, Ohio; J. L. and S. J., living in Cromwell,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Union County. J. L. Bayles was born in Ohio, in 1847, and came to Iowa with his parents. He lives in Afton and owns a part of the old home farm. Ile married Miss Annie Ingham, of Afton, and they have two children-Charles T. and Arthur L. Their second child, Ada, died in infancy.
ARVEY FARLEY, of the firm of Farley, Luster & Hardenbrook, dealers in West- ern lands, has been engaged in the real- estate business in Union County since 1870, and at Creston since July, 1872. At that time the only real-estate dealers in the city were J. B. Harsh and W. O. Carpenter, of the firm name of Harsh & Carpenter. Mr. Farley was born in Monroe County, Virginia, in 1832. When a child he removed with his parents to Indiana, thence to Warren County, Iowa, in 1849, where the father died the fol- lowing winter. Warren County has been the home of the family since they first came to the State. In April, 1869, Mr. Farley came to the castern part of Adams County, where he owned land, and soon after removed to Cromwell. He was married in Indiana to Ellen Weaver, of Rush County, who died in 1874. Mr. Farley has two children-a son and a daughter.
OSEPII F. SYP came to Union County in the fall of 1855, and Afton has been his home since that time. He was born in Miami County, Ohio, June 6, 1832. IIc was reared at home on his father's farm. In October, 1850, the family came to Iowa, first settling in Henry County. In the fall of 1855 Joseph F. came to Afton accompanied by his brother, W. K. Syp. He made a lock- tion, then returned to Henry County, and came back the following spring and engaged in the furniture business. That same season
he erceted a dwelling, the first permanent resi- dence of Afton, though several temporary houses were put up about the same time. This house is still in good condition, and is owned and occupied by Jolin Bargee. He continued in the furniture business two years, hauling all his stock from Mt. Pleasant by team. Ile was the pioneer furniture-dealer of Union County. In January, 1858, Mr. Syp closed out his furniture business and engaged in contracting and building, in company with his brother, W. K. Syp. This he followed until the spring of 1862, when he enlisted in Company HI, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry. The regiment rendezvoused at Council Bluff's, Iowa, where they were sworn into the United States service. In the fall they went South, to St. Louis, thence to Columbus, Kentucky, in pursuit of Beauregard, thence to Helena, Arkansas, where he remained with his regi- ment, at headquarters, until the spring of 1866. During that time he was in the White River expedition. The Union forces captured Duval's Bluffs, and ronted General Price's army. The regiment suffered very much from exposure to the cold and wet. At the elose of this expedition they returned to Helena. They took part in the Yazoo Pass expedition, and the siege of Fort Pemberton, then re- turned to Helena, and took a very important part in the battle of that place, July 4, 1863. On the 11th of August following, the regiment left Helena, and took an active part in the ex- pedition against Little Rock, commanded by General Steele, which took place September 10. In December Mr. Syp was detailed with thirty-one others to raise a colored regiment in Arkansas. Abont three months later the regiment was organized, and Mr. Syp was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company G, One Hundred and Thirteenth United States Colored Infantry. In May, 1864, he was promoted to First Lieutenant, where he served until the close of the war. Ile was mustered out for disability April 8, 1805. Mr. Syp was a brave and efficient soldier, and
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
did good service in the cause of his country. During the first part of his service with the Twenty-ninth he was Commissary of the Com- pany; afterward he was appointed Color Bearer, and carried the colors for several months; then served as regimental drill-master for the recruits that joined the regiment. He has been physically unable to do any work since he left the army. For several years he had spells of being totally blind, and is now en- tirely blind in his left eye, and sees but feebly with the other. Ile has a pleasant home in Afton, and is thankful for the blessings he still enjoys. He was married October 10, 1856, to Margaret J. Gray, a native of Alle- gheny County, Pennsylvania. They have seven children-Alice I., Charles N., Horace G., Florence E., Ernest L., William Ward and Pearl.
OHIN ICKIS, of Afton, is one of the pioneers of Union County. Ile was born in Taneytown, Carroll County, Maryland, in October, 1801, his native town being that of Chief Justice Taney. In May, 1802, his parents removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he lived till fifty years of age. August 28, 1823, he was married to Rachel Hamilton, a native of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, born December 5, 1802. In 1852 Mr. Ickis removed with his family to Lee County, Iowa, and in the fall of 1854 to Union County, and settled on section 31, Union Township. He entered 160 acres of land, and the same year bought eighty acres on section 7. His family consisted of six children-five sons and one daughter; and one son, Jonathan, was a widower with three children. He was by trade a blacksmith, and for twenty-five years after coming to the county worked at his trade, bis sous having charge of the farm. In ISSO he'left the farm and its many cares, and moved to Afton, where he has a pleasant home. Mr. and Mrs. Ickis are the oldest
couple in the township, having for a period of sixty-three years traveled together the journey of life. They have had a family of ten chil- dren, six of whom, five sons and one daughter, are living-Jonathan F. is the treasurer of Union County; Thomas HI. lives in Jefferson County, Ohio; Alenzo F. and George O. are farmers of Highland Township; Orlando M. is at home, and their daughter, Mrs. Catherine Motherspangh, lives in Defiance, Ohio, Two sons, Alonzo F. and George O., were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion, serving gal- lantly to defend their country in her hour of peril.
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P. SAWYER, conductor on the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quiney Railroad, has held his present position since 1872. He at present has charge of trains 71 and 72, on North Branch, to Cumberland. ins residence is at Creston. He began rail- roading with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. l'anl Company in 1865, as brakeman, on the Prairie du Chien division. Mr. Sawyer is a native of the Green Mountain State, having been born in Orange County, in June, 1841 In early manhood he removed with his par- ents, D. M. and Sally C. Sawyer, to Wiscon- sin. The family consisted of father, mother, two daughters and Il. P. All became resi- dents of Creston, and the parents lived in that city until their decease. Mr. Sawyer was married January 2, 1887, in Wyoming, Wis- consin. to Miss Sarah E. Joiner, daughter of Ilon. L. W. Joiner, a prominent carly settler of Iowa County, that State, and one year was a member of the Legislature of Wisconsin, and of the State Senate, six years. Mrs. Sawyer was born in Indiana, and is a lady of rare cult- ure and education, having attended the State University at Madison for some time. She has been a successful teacher for many years: was principal of the high school at Mazo Manie, Wisconsin, when but twenty years of age, and was for eight years principal of the high
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
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school at Creston, during which time the . Baxter not coreurring. disposed of his inter- school attained high reputation for its excel- lence. The labors of her position finally be- came too great for her strength, and, by her request, she was made assistant principal, a position she now holds. Mr. and Mrs. Saw- yer have two sons-Frank M., an apprentice to the carriage-making business, at Hastings, Nebraska, and Eugene L. Wilbur J. died at the age of six years.
HOMPSON A. HARDENBROOK was born in Mercer County, Illinois, in 1847, where he grew to manhood. In. Sep- tember, 1861, he enlisted in the Seventh Kan- sas Cavalry, and served three years with the Western army. After the war he returned to Illinois, and soon after came to Iowa. In 1876 he went to Kansas, where he lived until 1882, then went to Winterset, Madison Coun- ty, thence to Creston. He was married at Winterset, to Annie Shepherd, a native of Pennsylvania. She removed to Illinois with her parents, and died at Winterset, February 27. 1882. Mr. Hardenbrook has three chil- dren -- two sons and a danghter. The firm of Farley, Luster & Hardenbrook deal very largely in Western lands. They are men of experience, and are thoroughly responsible.
FROHN J. BAXTER was born in Cam- bridge, Ohio, in 1-46, and came to Iowa in the winter of 1571. lle and his brother, Isaac, both practical printers, pur- chased the Afton News, a paper which had been issued about four months by Moorehead Brothers. Isaac sold his interest to George P. Wilson, who, with John J., then rau the paper for a time. Wilson then sold to J. F. Bishop. The firm of Bishop & Baxter ex- isted until 1875, when Mr. Bi-hop desired to support Tilden for the presidency, and Mr. 30
i est to Bishop. He went to Creston, worked a short time, and then returned and assisted Tra Seeley in running the Tribune, a Repub- liean paper. This was sold to W. H. Robb, who converted it into a Greenback paper. and removed it to Creston. Mr. Baxter was for a time with the Tribune- News, under Mr. Bishop, and then worked on Mr. Robb's In- dependent, until 1880, when the Enterprise was started at Afton. Of this paper he has sinee been the senior proprietor. For the past six years he has been the reeorder of Afton. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Claussen. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter are members of the Presbyterian church.
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KLINGENSMITII, engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in Piatte Township, is @ one of the active and enterprising citizens of Union County, always taking an interest in every enterprise which he deems for the benefit of the county or township where he makes his home. His parents, William and Mary Klingensmith, were na- tives of Pennsylvania, in which State he was born, the date of his birth being March 10, 1930. He was reared to the occupation of a farmer, which he has followed through life. He has always been used to hard work, having been bound out at the early age of six years, remaining with the same party till he arrived at maturity. He has been twice married, taking for his first wife Miss Hannah Allen, who was born in Pennsylvania, May 2, 1830, her parents, Lorenzo and Agnes Allen, baing natives of the same State. To this union were born four children-M. R .. born March 29, 1851; S. W., born April 17, 1854; N. WV., born February 15. 1856, and F. A., born July 24, 1563. Mrs. Klingensmith died De- cember 5. 1865, and Mr. Klingensmith was again married, to Miss Nancy J. Agler, by whom he has had two children-Keziah E.,
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
born July 22, 1867, died March 7, 1868; and Flora J., born August 4, 1870. Mr. Klingen- smith began life a penniless boy, and at the time of his marriage had but $2. Hle is now classed among Union County's prosperous agriculturists, he having by his persevering industry and excellent business management, become the owner of 574 acres of choice land. He has a fine, substantial residence on section 34, Platte Township, surrounded with beanti- ful shade trees, a fine orchard, and his farm buildings are among the best in Platte Town- ship, his large barn being 36 x 40 feet in size, with good basement. He is now devoting his entire attention to farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of Clydesdale horses. He keeps an imported horse for his own use.
F. WALTMAN, & prosperone farmer and stock-raiser, living on section 2, Platte Township, where he has a fine farm of 120 acres, is a native of Pennsylvania. born June 25, 1836, a son of Michael and Julia Anna (Wilson) Waltman, who were natives of the summe State. B. F. grew to manhood on the home farm, and began as- sisting his father with the farm work when but a boy, thus carly in life learning habits of industry and perseverance which have been of lasting benefit to him. He served three years in the late war, enlisting in Com- pany D, Seventeenth Illinois Infantry-his home being in Illinois at that time. Ile par- tieipated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, and several other engage- ments of minor importance, and at the expira- tion of his term of service was honorably discharged, at Chattanooga, Tennessee. The maiden name of his wife was Martha Snively, she being a daughter of Samnel and Eliza Snively, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Waltman was born in the State of Ohio, September 23, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Waltman are the parents of seven children -- Maud,
born September 2, 1867; Cora, born October 20, 1868; Vietor L., born May 18, 1870; Guys II., born Jannary 17, 1872; Mabel, born January 31, 1876; Lloyd G., born May 9. ISSO, and Wayne E., March 26, 1885. Mr. Waltman began working as a farm laborer, and after he had saved sufficient money to buy a span of horses he rented a small piece of land and commenced farming for himself. lle continued to farm on rented land till he came to Union County, Iowa, when he bought his present place, in Platte Township, where he has since carried on farming with good success, and has brought his land under a fine state of cultivation, and is now classed among the well-to-do farmers of Piatte Town- ship, as well as a much-respected citizen. Both Mr. and Mrs. Waltman, in their relig- jous faith, are Presbyterians. In politics he is a Republican. He is a comrade of John 1. Rowling Post, No. 61, G. A. R., of Creston.
HARLES HI. FULLER, insurance agent and keeper of abstract of titles, at Creston, has resided in Union County since 1SGS. IIe first located on a farm in New Hope Township. section 12, and con- tinucd farming until he was elected county auditor, in 1881. He served two years sue- ceeding F. M. Emerson, now deceased. At the expiration of his term of office he re- moved to Creston, and has since been engaged in his present business. Mr. Fuller is a member of the Union County Abstract In- corporation, of which he is the general man- ager. lle was born in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1847. His father, H. C. Fuller, also a native of Delaware County, was a member of Company I, Thirty-second Ohio Infantry, and was mortally wounded at Harper's Ferry in September, 1862. He died of lock- jaw the following October, at his home. Charles II. Fuller was the oldest of five chil dren. In 1868 the mother and children came
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
to Iowa, settling in Union County, upon a farm of 240 acres, which the husband and father had previously entered from the Goy- ernment. Mr. Fuller and his oldest brother improved this farm, and Mr. Fuller still owns eighty acres of it and forty aeres adjoining. In 1SSO his brother sold out, and removed to Kansas. The mother, Zelia Fuller, resides with her daughter, Mrs. Addie White, in San Joaquin County, California. The names of the children who came in 1868 are -- Charles HI., William H., Mrs. Addie White and Hiram C. The latter died soon after their arrival in Union County. Charles H. married Miss Lou Reasoner, a native of Illinois. They have four children-Chester A., Myette A., C. W. Harcourt and Maud.
DGAR HUNT, section 31, Spaulding Township, postoffice, Cromwell, is en- gaged in agriculture and the raising of live stock. His parents were Jesper and Lavilla (Sherman) Hunt, natives of Chantau- qua County, New York, in which county he was born, in 1847, and grew to manhood on his father's farm, enjoying the benefit of a fair education. In 1870 he came West, with no means but his capital of energy and wit, trained by economical skill, which he has practiced through life, resulting in making him a well-to-do and worthy citizen. For five years he worked by the month, at the rate of $30 a month: during one year of that time he was overseer of the county farm. Ilis present farm comprises 240 acres of good land, well improved, and his live stock in- eludes fine cattle, hogs and horses, among the latter being several fine brood mares and one stallion. In Pennsylvania, in 1869. Mr. Hunt was married to Miss Harriet, daughter of David and Anna Mariah (Reed) Wright. She ; was born in that State, in 1816. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have had three children, two of whom
are living -- Lilla and Jesper. Mr. Hunt has been elceted to the offices of township trustee, school director and other local offices. He and his estimable wife were among the pioneers of Spaulding Township, and it is needless to say that his life has been a successful one, for the broad aeres which he owns attest the in- dustry and wise management of their proprie -. tor; and his faithful wife has shared with him the vicissitudes of life, intermingled with sunshine and storms.
OSEPH YEAGER, merchant, Afton, Iowa, was born in Clarke County, Ohio, in 1838. In 1846 his parents moved to lowa, and settled in Henry County, where the father bought a new farm, and there our sub- ject was reared and educated. In August, 1861, ho enlisted in the defense of the Union, and was assigned to Company G, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, and served three years. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, battle at Inka. second battle at Cor- inth, siege of Vicksburg, and after the sur- render of Vicksburg was stationed there nine months on garrison duty. He was in the siege of Atlanta, and the battles preceding it, and on July 22, 1864, was wounded in the left shoulder by a fragment of shell. After the war he returned home, and for two and a half years was employed in the capacity of clerk, in Mt. Pleasant. In 1868 he located in Atton, where he has since lived. He married Louisa Rose, a daughter of J. Rose. of Salem, lowa. They have three children-Orville. Jacob B. and Rilla.
- TEPHIEN IL SHAW was born in Sara- toga County, New York, October 23, 1826, and died at his home, in Lincoln Township, Union County, October 20, 1852. Hle grew to manbool in his native State, and there received the benefit of a common-sehoo!
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
education. He went to Kansas in the year 1857, and subsequently removed to Adams County, Iowa, and while in that county was Captain of the llome Guards, during the war of the Rebellion. He was married. February 9, 1865, to Miss Lamira Moore, a daughter of Samnel Moore. Her father came to Iowa from Morgan County, Illinois, abont 1852, when he located in Montgomery County. He is now a resident of Fremont County, lowa. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have had eight children born to them, seven of whom still survive- Verna, Truman, Marion, Stella and Sterling (twins), Effer and Gertrian. Mr. Shaw re- mained in Adams County until the spring of 1876, when he located in Harrison County, Missouri, and in the fall of 1877 came to Union County, when he settled on the farm on section 16, which is still occupied by his family, and there he was engaged in farming till his death Ho had eighty theme arroz of choice land. He was a quiet, industrious citizen, and was highly respected by all who knew him.
OHN S. VAN DOREN, one of the enter- prising business men of Cromwell, was born in Warren County, New Jersey, June 2, 1845, a son of Aaron J. Van Doren, of Fredon, Sussex County, New Jersey, who was born in Somerset County, of the same State. John S. Van Doren, our subject, was reared to manhood on a farm, and was edu- cated in the common schools of New York City. He came West in 1564, and located in Muscatine County, Iowa, where he was cm- ployed on the farm of W. H. Roy, for one year, then followed farming on his own ac- count in that county for several years. He was united in marriage, December 11, 1866, to Miss Phobe M. Kanoff, a daughter of William Kanoff, who is now deceased. They are the parents of three children, two daugh- ters and one son-Anna M., Alice A. and
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Aaron J. Mr. Van Doren came to Union County with his family in May, 1875, when he settled in Spaukling Township, remaining there till 1SS4. In October of that year he came to Cromwell, where he still makes his home, and since coming here he has been successfully engaged in buying grain. Both Mr. and Mrs. Van Doren are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Van Doren is a member of the Odd Fellows order.
L ANIEL SHANNON, section 4, Platte Township, was born in the State of New Jersey, January 19, 1814, a son of A. and Mary (Barber) Shannon, natives of New Jersey. Our subject was brought up to the avocation of a farmer, which he has al- ways followed, with the exception of one year " Hile in the service of his country. He en- listed in Company G, Thirty-first New Jersey Infantry, being mustered in at Flemington, New Jersey, September 3, 1862, and took part in the battles of Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. May 31, 1863, he was mar- ried to Miss Sarah E. Raupe, who was born in Warren County, New Jersey, March 9, 1548, a daughter of George and Melinda (Hay) Raupe, who were also natives of New Jersey. To Mr. and Mrs. Shannon have been born four children-George A., born Novem- ber 30, 1869; Olive B., born February 20; 1876; Clifton B., September 3, 1877, and Zettie D., born Jannary 24, 1880. Besides their own family they have taken two children to bring up-IIngh M. Craig, born May 17, 1885, and Mattie A. Craig, born October 17, 1854. Mr. Shannon his met with success in his farming purenits since coming to Platte Township, and has now his 120-acre farm on section 4, and eighty acres on section 2 under good improvement. JIc is one of the public- spirited citizens, and during his residence in the township has held the office of school director, and has also served as road supervi-
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