USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 27
USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 27
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MANUEL W. LUSTER, of the firm of Luster, Farley & Hardenbrook, real estate dealers. Creston, was born at St. Thomas Lower Canada, in 1824. His father, Samuel Luster, was a native of Rutland, Vermont, and his mother, Susan (Winters) Luster, was a na- tiveof Pennsylvania. His father was left an orphan at an early age, and when he had grown to maturity he went to Pennsylvania, and there met the lady who afterward became his wife. Soon after marriage they removed to Canada. When Emanuel W. was a year and a half old the family removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where the parents passed the remainder of their days. The father was a tanner and currier by trade, and followed that business many years. At his death his son Samuel succeeded to the business, which he still con- tinnes. The parents had nine children-six sons and three daughters, all but two grew to maturity, and are still living. The names of the children are -- Samuel, Emanuel W. , John, who died at the age of ten years; Catherine, widow of A. Adams, of Cleveland; Welling- ton, died at two years of age; George is a resident of East Cleveland, and a harness- maker by trade; he was a soldier in an Ohio regiment in the war of the Rebellion ; Eliza- beth, wife of a Mr. Watson; Sanfor, a resi- dent of Cleveland, who has been for many years engaged in the drug business in that city, and Harriet, wife of C. Crosby, of Cleve- land. All are residents of Cleveland, except the subject of this notice, and his early life was spent in that city. He served an ap-
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
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prenticeship with his father in learning the tanner's and currier's trade, and worked at the business with his brother-in-law, Thomas T. White, for a time. Ile then engaged in the same business at Painesville, Ohio, where he remained two years, then sold out and went to Sandwich, Canada West, near Detroit. where he took charge of a tammery owned by James Woodbridge. IIe remained at this place two years, then removed to Kingsville, Canada, and kept a hotel two years. He then purchased a hotel at Unionville, Essex County, Canada, which he fitted up and con- dneted three years and exchanged it for a farm. A year later he sold his farm and rented a large hotel at Windsor, and in an- other returned to Ohio. He purchased a farm in Cuyahoga County, near Cleveland, where he lived for a time, then sold out and lived in North Amherst two years. In 1864 Mr. Luster immigrated with his family to Codar County, Iowa, where he purchased a farm and was also engaged in buying and shipping stock. Ile lived there until he came to Creston in 1875. Ile was married in Ohio to Ellen C. White, a native of Erie County, New York, born July 17, 1824. Her father, Thomas White, died before his daughter was born. Mr. and Mrs. Luster have two chil- dren-Emanuel T. and Ellen C. Mr. Luster is the street commissioner of Creston, and is now serving his sixth term in that capacity. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Luster's mother never married after the death of her husband, and lived in Ohio until her death. She had seven children and all but one are living.
K. BOUSLOUGH, proprietor of a liv- ery, feed and transfer stable, south @ side of Adams street, Creston, keeps a full stock of horses and buggies. and waits upon his customers with a great deal of pleas- ure. IIe was born in Biair County, Penn-
sylvania, in 1852, and the family moved, with him, when he was young, to La Salle County, Illinois, where he remained until 1881, when he came to Creston. He opened his present business in 1SS3.
C. WALLACE, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 26, Douglas Township, where he owns 160 well-cultivated acres, a fine residence, a barn, ete. He was born in Philadelphia on Aug- nst. 3, 1836. His parents, William B. and Charlotte (Wunder) Wallace, were also na- tives of that eity. The former died in 1864, at the age of sixty-five years, and the latter is still living at Sandwich, Illinois. In his boy- hood and youth Mr. Wallace worked with his father in Philadelphia, at the stone- potter's trade. IIis father was in early life a farmer, and afterward a potter. He was the first steel-crucible maker in America. Going to England he started a plumbago- erneible, which met with great success, it being the first of the kind in Europe. Al. thongh inducements were offered him to remain there, he, having filled his contract, returned to Jersey City two years, then to Philadelphia, where he became a partner with Hussey & Co., the largest steel firm in the United States. Our subject subsequently took his father's place, followed the business for six years, then, after being out of business a year, he came West. in 1877, locating upon his present farm, which at that time had bat little improvement upon it. The same year le built a honse, at a cost of $3,000, besides a barn, costing $300, and other structures. Mr. Wallace was married in 1859, in Illinois, to Amanda C. Waterman, who was born in LaSalle County, that State, in 1841. By that marriage there were three children-Frederick G., James L. and Lovina A. Mrs. Wallace died October 3, 1865, and Mr. Wallace was again married in Pittsburg, in 1866, to Miss Isa-
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bella W., a daughter of Samuel and Jane Baird; she was born in that city in 141. The children by this marriage are two in number -Samuel E. and Lottie L. Mr. Wallace has been township trustee, and in politics he is a Republican. His father had eight children, six of whom are living. His grand- father Wallace was a soldier in the war of 1812. Postoffice, Creston.
A. JOHNSON, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on the northwest quarter of sec-
0 tion 1, Spaulding Township, where he owns 160 acres of land in good cultivation. He was born in Sweden, in 1843, son of Alex- ander and Sarah Johnson, natives also of that country, and still living with the subject of this sketch. They immigrated to this country in 1849, settling in Andover, Henry County, Illinois; from there, in 1852, they removed to Burlington, Iowa. In 1855, J. A. Johnson, the subject of this notice, went to Minnesota, entered and improved a piece of land, remain- ing upon it eight years. In 1862 he enlisted in Company HI, Ninth Minnesota Infantry, and served three years, participating in battles in defense of his own State against the Indians one year. Then he went down the river to Memphis, and was engaged in the battles of Guntown and Tupelo, and from there to New Orleans, Mobile, Blakely, Spanish Fort, Montgomery, etc., an l " bush- whacking" and foraging through Missouri, and finally to St. Anthony, Minnesota, where he was mustered out. At that time his father was living in Galesburg, Illinois, Mr. John-
copal church, being one of the trustees, and also one of the principal men to establish the society here in Spanlding Township; is active in religious and benevolent enterprises.
ILLIAM FLOHRA, farmer and stock- raiser, resides on section 14, Pleasant Township, where he owns 400 acres of land, constituting a valuable farm. IIe is well and comfortably settled in life, and considered one of the most enterprising agri- culturists of the township, possessing the con- fidence of the people. In his political views he is a Democrat. He is the son of Frank and Mary Flohra, was born in Germany, in 1828, immigrated to California in 1855, lived there ten years, then was a resident nine and a half years in the State of New York, when he came to Union County and purchased land where he now resides. He was married in 1868, to Louisa Dvehrt, also a native of Ger- many, who died the next year, leaving one child --- Samnel. In 1871 Mr. Flohra married Sarah Walters, a native of Pennsylvania, and by this marriage there are seven children --- Anna, Louisa, William, Cora, Albert, Edward and Laura. Mr. Flohra remained at home with his parents till of age, learning the prin- ciples of farming, which has been the ocen- pation of his life.
JALMA DAVENPORT, a prominent member of the Union County bar, has been a resident of Afton since 1875. son was married in 1568, in Jefferson County, , He was born in De Witt County, Illinois, Iowa, to Lonisi Munson. who was born in , July 23, 1853. His father, Levi Davenport, Sweden, in 1843. They have had five chil- : was born in Albany, New York, in 1812. dren, three of whom are living-Minnie S., Charles A. and Sarah E. Mr. Johnson has
le was a minister of the Gospel, and for sev- eral years traveled in the South in that capac- been school director, supervisor, school trus- ity. About 1845 he located in De Witt tee, etc. Politically, a Republican, and County. His mother, Mary F. (Hutchins) religiously, a member of the Methodist Epis- . Davenport. was born in Butler County, Ohio.
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
in 1S18. He was educated at the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Iowa, and was engaged in teaching for some time, beginning at the age of sixteen years. Ile studied law and was admitted to the bar at Ottawa, Illi- nois, February 25, 1875, coming to Afton soon after, and entering the office of McDill and Sullivan. He attended to the collections of this firm, an experience which has proved of great value to him. He has been in inde- pendent practice since 1880, and has a good, lucrative practice. Ilis office is in the bank building at Afton. He has a complete set of abstract books, and is president of the Union County Abstract Incorporation. In politics he a Democrat, and he has held the office of justice of the peace six years. Mr. Davenport was married in 1879, to Miss Belle Howard, a native of Illinois, and they have three chil- dren-Carl, Kenneth and Ora.
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RANKLIN ARMSTRONG, one of the practical farmers of Dodge Township, living on section 23, is a native of Augusta County, born July 4, 1830, a son of William Armstrong who is now living in Kansas. Our subject accompanied his par- ents to Morgan County, Indiana, in 1842, and there he attended school in the rude log- cabin school-house of his neighborhood with its slab seats, stick and inud chimney and pancheon four, and in this building he re- ceived the rudiments of an education. Ile was married in 1851, to Miss Mary A. 1
Bowles, a daughter of John Bowles, deceased, and of the ten children born to them six are still living -- William, Frank, Harvey, An- gusta, Hullah and Flora. They have a grand- child named Maggie living with them, whom they haveadopted. In the spring of 1855 Mr. Armstrong removed from Indiana with his family to Madison County, Jowa. In 1958 he . licon. In March, 1985, he came to Creston, went to Arkansas, returning to lowa a year and ; where he has since filled the position of busi-
a half later, and in 1865 came to Union County. He went to Texas in the fall of 1875, return- ing to Union County in the spring of IS78, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was reared a farmer and has always followed that avocation, in which he has met with good success, and is now the owner of 240 acres of choice land where he resides. Ile is one of the public- spirited citizens of Dodge Township, and served his township efficiently as trustee and school treasurer. IIe is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
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AENRY W. LEWIS, business manager of the Creston daily and weekly Gazette, is a native of Muscatine County, Iowa. He is the son of Clark and Rachel (Wright) Lawie, who were Ohioans by birth, and came in an early day to Muscatine County, where their parents were pioneers. They were mar- ried, and still live in that county near West Liberty. Mr. Lewis has at different times farmed and kept hotel, and is now retired. Their family includes four children-Belle, now Mrs. J. W. MeElravy, of West Liberty; Nellie, now Mrs. F. W. Halderman, of Avoca; .Henry W., subject of this sketch, and Fannie, now Mrs. Charles Keith, of Des Moines. Henry W. was born on the farm near West Liberty, March 7. 1857, and resided with his parents until nineteen years old, attending school the greater part of the time. Ile studied for some years in the city schools of West Liberty. In 1576 he entered the Enter- prise office in that city, where he served an apprenticeship of three years at the printer's trade. He remained in that office altogether six years. the latter portion of the time as manager of the office. In 1883 he went to Iowa City, and was employed as telegraph editor and foreman of the Iowa City Repub-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
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ness manager of the Gazette. He was married October 27, 1880, near Atalissa, Muscatine County, to Miss Ida L. Rowe, daughter of Dr. D. L. Rowe. They have two children-Leigh R. and Alta B. Mr. Lewis is politically a Republican. He is active and careful in business matters, and has a genial manner and sunny disposition that ensure him a host of friends.
BARK BLANCHARD, formerly a sheriff of Union County, is one of the carly settlers of Creston, coming to this place early in March, 1875. He was born in Peacham, Caledonia County, Ver- mont, in 1821. Ilis parents, Hazen and Sarah Blanchard, were also natives of the Green Mountain State, and lived in Caledonia County until their decease. They had seven children-two sons and five daughters, all of whom are still living except Eliza. Mercy and Harriet reside in Peacham, Vermont; Sarah, in Rome. New York; Chandler E., in Lincoln, Nebraska; Isabelle, in Malcom, Iowa. The subject of this sketch was the elder son and third child of his parents. He remained at home until twenty-two years of age, when he engaged in railroading on the Vermont Central & Passumpsie Railroad, where he continued four years. In 1850 he went to California, cie Vanderbilt line, where he was engaged in mining. In 1854 here- turned to Vermont, and soon afterward came West, settling at Osceola, Stark County, Illi- nois, where he was engaged in farming. In 1875 he came to Creston and purchased 240 acres of land in Spaulding Township, and the same amount in Douglas Township, all of which he improved. He also obtained 160 acres in Guthrie. He still owns the land above mentioned, but his residence has been in Creston ever since he came to this county. Ilis fine residence on Syemmore street he built in 1876, being the third house erected in
Devoe's first addition. In the autumn of 1SS1 Mr. Blanchard was elected sheriff of Union County, and served in that capacity two terms, four years. Ile was the first Democrat ever elected to a county office in this county. He was married in Vermont to Harriet Partridge, a native also of Peacham. IIis family consists of five children, four of whom are living. The eldest son, Mellen F., married Jennie Davis, of Bradford, Illinois. HIis family consists of three children-two sons and a daughter. He resides in St. Paul, Nebraska; is engaged in stock-raising. J. Burton, the second son, married Mary Booth (now deceased), in Stuart, Iowa. His family consists of three daughters. He is a resident of Omaha, Nebraska, engaged in stock com- mission business. Allie K. was married in Osccola, Illinois, to A. B. Hall, now a stock- shipper of Creston, Iowa. They have three daughters. Eugene II., died in Stuart, Iowa, August 18, 1883, twenty-five years of age, un- married. Onie B. was married to Craig Arm- strong, a machinist, and resides in Creston, lowa. They have had one son, deceased.
AMES H. WALLACE resides on the "South Hill" addition to Creston, where he located in July, 1882. At that time le built his residence and commenced plant- ing a nursery. He now has sixty-three aeres included in his nursery grounds, the whole of which he intends to keep occupied with a general nursery stock. Forty acres are now occupied and the remainder is being pre- pared for that purpose. A full description of the grounds and stock would be impossible: but a brief mention is here given: Ile has one block of 65.000 of the various kinds of apple trees two years old, which were planted in the spring of 1885; also another block of 4,000 apple trees of three years' growth, this block having been planted in 1883. This block also contains a large number of box-
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
older, white ash, evergreens, etc. Ile has another block of 65,000 yearlings. and a block of six acres of ground that contains 115,000 trees planted in 1885. His nursery contains a great variety of small fruits of the most ap- proved kinds. His stock is in a remarkably fine condition, and his grounds everywhere indicate taste and, industry in their culture. Mr. Wallace was born in Canada, in Septem- ber, 1839. At the age of twenty years he went to the State of Illinois, and five years later returned to Canada and engaged as a traveling salesman for Thomas McCormick, of London, Canada, in the sale of sugar and confectionery. He then returned to Illinois, and three years later came to Union County, where he purchased a farm in Douglas Town- ship, which he still owns. He was a suc- cessful farmer, and is well adapted to the enterprise in which he is engaged. He was married in Illinois to Miss Mary A. Compton, a native of Kendall County, and they have one daughter-Ada May.
ENRY VINCENT, section 35, High- land Township, is a native of England, born in Lincolnshire, August 19, 1819, a son of John Vincent, a native of Norfolk- shire. He was reared in his native country, and came to the United States in 184S. He lived in Franklin County, Ohio, until 1850, when he moved to St. Joseph County, Indiana, and in 1859 came to Jowa, and located in Un- ion County, on the land which is now his farm. It was then wholly unimproved, but he has planted groves, erected fine buildings. and in other ways improved it until he now has one of the pleasantest homes in the county. Ile has been a hard-working man, and has acquired his property by economy and good management. ITis farm contains 220 acres of choice land, and in addition to this he has given his son 120 acres. Mr. Vincent was married in Indiana, in 1554, to Anna Wray. ;
To them have been born two children-George II. and Edla M. George married Ida Leech, and lives in Grant Township. He has two children-Earl and Glee. Mr. Vincent is a public-spirited, influential citizen of the county, and is always among the first to give assistance to any enterprise of benefit to cither the social or material welfare of his township. Mrs. Vincent is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
M. NORTON, M. D., proprietor of the drug store at Kent, and also engaged in dealing in grain, is one of the active and enterprising men of Union County, with whose interests he has been identified since 1873. He is a native of Ohio, born Decem- ber 12, 1833, a son of Edwin and Louisa (Wehs) Norton, who were born in Connecti- eut, both being now deceased. He was reared at his birthplace till seventeen years of age, and the two years following he was employed on a sailing vessel. He then began learning engineering, which he followed for three years, by which time, 1855, he had saved enough money to enable him to attend med- ical lectures. In 1862 he located in Illinois, remaining there two years, when he came to Iowa, and a year later returned to Illinois. Ile remained in that State till 1873, when he again came to Iowa, locating at Creston, Union County, where he was engaged in practicing medicine. After Kent becaine in- corporated as a town he came to this place, where he established the pioneer drug store, and at the same time engaged in the grain business. Ile still practices medicine, and during his residence here has built up a large and lucrative practice, being well skilled in his chosen profession. Dr. Norton has been twice married, taking for his first wife Miss Sela Benton, by whom he had two children- Luella and Charles. He was married a second time to Miss Belle Pauers, a native of Kon-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
tucky, and to this union has been born one child. The doctor has filled the office of county supervisor, in which he has served with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents.
QUIRE OLINGER, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 3 of Pleasant Township, where he owns 525 acres of well-cultivated land. was born in Henry County, Indiana, in 1842. His par- ents, Phillip and Mariah (Feltenbarger) Olinger, were from Pennsylvania. He was brought up to manhood on a farm in his native county, and has ever since followed his inherited calling. ILis farm is one of the best in the county. He stands high in his eominn- nity, having been elected to the office of county supervisor three years, justice of the peace, township assessor, township clerk, etc., and is a member of Concordia Lodge, No. 215, A. F. & A. M. and Hopeville Lodge, No. 306, I. O. O. F. Postoffice, Thayer. He was married in Indiana to Susan Reasoner, a native of that State, and they became the parents of four children-Charles, John, William and Ben- ton. Mrs. Olinger died in 1879, and Mr. Olinger, for a second wife, married Caroline MeKimpson. They are the parents of one child-Clarence. Squire Olinger has resided in Union County for fifteen years.
ENRY C. NEIS, farmer and stock-raiser, Dodge Township, residing on section 19, is a native of Hesse- Darmstadt, Ger- many, born March 13, 1844. His father, Simon Ncis, who was also a native of the same place, brought his family to America in 1851, and first located in Burean County, Illinois. In 1854 he removed to La Salle County, Illinois, remaining there till 1856. He then went to Lee County, Illinois, and in 1866 removed to; Livingston County, Mis-
souri, where he lived till his death, in 1879. Henry C. Neis grew to manhood in Lee County, remaining there till Mareb, 1581. He was married in June, 1565, to Miss Eliza- beth Weber, a daughter of Adam Weber, who is deceased. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Neis, of whom eight still survive-Philip, Henry, Katie, John, Lena, George, Theresa and Dora. In March, 1584, Mr. Neis eame to Union County, Iowa, and soon after settled on his present farm, where he has 320 aeres of choice land. He has an imported thoroughbred Norman horse weigh- ing 1,800 lbs., whose sire took the first medal at the Paris Centennial Exposition in 1878, and also the first prize at St. Lonis in 1SS0. In his religious faith Mr. Neis is a Roman Catholic.
K. BALL, architect, was born in Chantanqua County, New York, May 10, 1830, of parents who were natives of New Hampshire. His life up to the age of seventeen years was passed on the home farm and at school, after which he learned the trade of house carpenter, and for several years followed this ocenpation. He moved to Rockford, Illinois, in 1855, where, by an unfortunate fall from a building, he was seriously injured and crippled, and after a partial recovery he entered the architectural office of Stroup & House, where he developed a taste for drawing and planning, and for many years was ocenpied in contracting and building at various towns in Northern Illi- nois. In 1869, having planned a prominent building for Selina, Alabama, he went there to superintend its construction, and finding a demand for architectural work remained South until 1575, and was occupied in re- building Sehmna and other adjoining towns which were destroyed during the war; the last building upon which he was engaged there being the court-house and jail, at Bir-
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
mingham, Alabama. The panic of 1878 having paralyzed the iron interest, and building im- provements not being in demand, he came to lowa, and located in Creston, in 1875, where he has planned and superintended the build- ing of most of the prominent buildings in Creston and adjoining towns in this section of Iowa. Ile was married in March, 1860, to Miss Emily C. Lane, of Bristol, Illinois. They have two children-Frank D., who is cashier of the First National Bank of Creston, and Fred E., who is an employe of the same institution.
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EORGE W. HART, farmer and stock- raiser, section 8, Dodge Township, was born in Cumberland County, Illinois, December 31, 1544, a son of William Hart, who was a native of Pennsylvania. The par- unto came with their family in Iowa in ious, and settled in] Wapello County, where the father died in the fall of 1855. The mother came to Union County in 1860, making her home in New Hope Township. George W. Hart was a mere boy when he was brought by his parents to Iowa, and in this State he was reared on a farm, receiving his education in the common and graded schools of Ottumwa, Wapello County. He enlisted in the late war of the Rebellion in Company I, Fourth lowa Cavalry, and participated in a number of en- gagements, including battles of Vicksburg, Selina, Ebenezer Church and Columbus, re- maining in the service three years and nine months. He was married December 31, 1808, to Miss Rebecca E. Tresler, a daughter ! of James Tresler, who is deceased. Six of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hart are living, their names being-John M .. Charles E., Alice A., Ella J., George W., and Ruth. Mr. Hurt came to Dodge Township in the spring of 1570, where he has since made his home, having now a fine farin containing 375 seres of well-cultivated land. Since coming
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