USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 4
USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 2 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
A. MILLSAP, section 12, Benton Township. is one of the pioneers of Ringgold County. IIe is a native of Lawrence County, Indiana. born November 10, 1827, son of Bela and Eliza- beth (McGuire) Millsap. He was the fourth of six children. His early life was spent on the farm and attending the common schools. In 1853 he removed to Mic- W. POORE, farmer, section 23, Clin- ton Township, is one of Ringgold " County's most worthy citizens, and has been identified with its interests for many years. He was born in Washington County, Indiana, October 28, 1846, son of Alvin and Julia (DeWitt) Poore, who were the parents of nine children. In 1850 the family removed to Pike County, Indiana, thence to this county in 1856, locating in Clinton Township. They were among the first settlers of the county. Mr. Poore passed his early life on the farm and was educated in the common schools. In 1866 he removed to Worth County, where he attended school for a time at Grant City. : He was married August 15. 1869, to Cath- arine E. Williams, of Worth County, Mis- Donough County, Illinois, where he re- sided two years, and in the spring of 1855 came to Ringgold County, and settled on section 5, Rice Township, where he built a log house. This house is now used by a family for a residence. He remained on this farm four or five years, then removed to Marshalltown, in Rice Township, and resided until 1866. During the Rebellion he went forth in defense of his country, en- listing August 9, 1862, in Company G, Twenty-ninth lowa Infantry, and was in the service three years. Ile was in the battles of Helena, capture of Little Rock, and was in General Steele's Camden expe- dition, where the regiment was engaged thirty-seven days in fighting. He was honorably discharged at Davenport in souri, daughter of Harmon and Mary August, 1865, and returned to his home. (Brothers) Williams. In 1875 he removed In 1865 he removed to section 12, upon his
to Harrison County. Missouri, and in 1879 father's old homestead. where he resided : returned to Ringgold County, locating in about eight years. In 1874 he came to Clinton Township. In 1882 he engaged in his present farm in the fall of 1883. Ile owns seventy acres of land situated onc- his present home, where he has since re- ; the mercantile business until July 5, 1883, sided. His farm contains 16; acres of land , when his storehouse and most of his goods in a high state of cultivation and well im- . were destroyed by fire. He settled upon proved. He has a comfortable story-and- a-half residence, an orchard of four acres- one of the best in the township-a barn and | half mile south of Redding, and it is well
...
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
393
cultivated and well improved. April 14, 1864, he enlisted in Company A, Forty- sixth lowa Infantry, and served four months; was honorably discharged and returned to his home. Mr. and Mrs. Poore are the parents of five children-Lillie, Mary Ann, Susan Edith, Roscoe W., and Clark Stanley. Mr. Poore is a member of Post No. 51, G. A. R., Redding, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and steward of the same; is also superin- tendent of the Sabbath-school. Politically he is a Republican. Postoffice, Redding.
OIIN FOLTS is the pioneer settler of Union Township, and is still living on the same ground on which he first lo- cated in April, 1855, where he now has 150 acres of well-improved lan under fine cul- tivation. Mr. Folts is a native of Jefferson County, New York, born near Watertown, June 12, 1814, a son of John and Catharine Folts, who were also born in the State of New York, both now deceased. The father was a soldier in the war of IS12. Our subject was the second of a family of twelve child- ren. Four of the sons and two daughters are still living-John, Josiah, Isaac and Jacob, Margaret and Amy. One son was killed on the anniversary of his birthday. February 22, 1881, by the explosion of a steam boiler at Stockton, California. Jolm Folts, the subject, remained under the home roof till twenty-one years of age, when he went to Ohio, where he remained two or three years. He then lived in Michigan for a time, working on the first railroad built in that State, from Toledo, Ohio, to Adrian, Michigan. Mr. Folts is one of the pioneers of lowa, coming to this State during the Territorial days. He sct- tled in Van Buren County, Iowa, in 1839, making his home in that county until he became a resident of Ringgold County,
and there worked at his trade, that of a millwright, and helped to build several pio- neer mills. He was married in Van Buren County, August 13, 1843, to Miss Louisa Lewis, born in Trumbull County, Ohio, February 13. ISIS, a daughter of Thomas Lewis. They are the parents of three chil- dren-Elvira, Caroline and Martha, wife of Francis M. Waller, of Union Township. Mr. Folts never followed farming till he came to Ringgold County, since which he has made that his principal occupation. He is a man of industrious habits, and is strictly honorable in all his dealings, and these, with his excellent neighborly qualities, have won for him the respect of all who know him. In politics Mr. Folts affiliates with the Greenback party. He became a member of the Odd Fellows order early in life, and has passed through its degrees to the en- campment.
ARLTON SNYDER, farmer and stock-raiser, section 5, Jefferson Town- ship, was born February 10, 1841, in Platte County, Missouri, a son of Andrew Snyder, a native of Richland County, Ohio. He came with his parents to lowa in 1847 and located in Warren County, eight miles south of Des Moines. Our sub- ject was reared to agricultural pursuits, and was educated in the common school of Warren County and at the graded school at Winterset, Iowa. Ile enlisted during the late war in Company H, Thirty-fourth lowa Infantry and was with the regiment at the battles of Vicksburg or Chickasaw Bayou and Arkansas Post. He was dis- charged for disability in 1863. He went to Central City, Nebraska, in 1871, remaining there till 1875. He was married March 31, 1874, to Miss Amanda J. Shawver, a daugh- ter of George Shawver, who lives near Maxburg. Madison County, lowa. Mr. and
394
HISTORY OF RINGGOLD COUNTY.
Mrs. Snyder have had three children, two still living-George A. and Elbert. They have taken a boy to bring up named Clyde A. Hope. Mr. Snyder located in Madison County, lowa, in 1875, and in 1876 came to Ringgold County, when he settled on his present farm, which contains 125 acres of choice land. Since coming to Jefferson Township Mr. Snyder has served as trustec and school director. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
سام. ENERAL S. MOORE was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, April 10, 1830. His father, Riley Moore, was a native of Virginia, of Irish parentage, and died in 1847, while in the service dur- ing the Mexican war. His grandfather, Riley Moore, was a soldier of the Revolu- tion, and died in 1844, aged 101 years. His mother, Mary Ann (Dyer) Moore, was a native of Virginia. His parents had a family of eight children-Isaac W., Owen, Elizabeth, Andrew Jackson, General S., Sarah, John and Nancy. Mr. Moore re- sided in his native county until twelve years of age, then came. to Moultrie Coun- ty, Illinois, thence to Champaign County, where he lived about fifteen years. He was reared on a farm, and received his educa- tion in the common schools and at home. He was married April 17, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Johnson, a native of Indiana, daughter of James and Juriah Johnson. In September, 1855, Mr. Moore, with wife and one child, came to Iowa, locating in Mon- roe County, until April, 1856, when he came to Ringgold County, and settled in Lott's Creek Township, on section 5. He im- proved the land and resided upon it until August, 1862. August 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-ninth lowa In- fantry. While in the service he received a wound which fractured a knee joint, an !
.
injury from which he has never recovered. Ile was honorably discharged May 31, 1865, at Memphis, Tennessee, and returned to his home. A short time after his return he engaged in the mercantile trade at Cale- donia, starting with a capital of $450, which he conducted in such a successful manner that in a few years the annual sales of the establishment were over $20,000. In 1867 he was appointed postmaster and served until 1882, when he resigned. In ISS4 he closed out his business. He was elected county supervisor and took his seat Jan- uary 1, 1882. He was one of the board that purchased the poor farm and erected the court-house. Ile has served in several township offices. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and one of its most liberal supporters. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are the parents of six children- Mary Helen, Brewer, Owen F., Isaac W., Florence and Cordelia. James H. and Frederick A. are deceased. Mr. Moore has a valuable residence in town, a one-and-a- half-story building, surrounded with shade and ornamental trees, and well furnished. He owns 144 acres of land adjoining the town, and twenty-seven town lots. He has given his children a good education, and they are well fitted to take part in the active duties of life. He commenced life without means ; but by industry and good manage- ment he has acquired a fine property. Politically he is a Republican.
7. C. BULLARD, farmer, section 15, Monroe Township, was born in Up- per Canada, October 26, 1842. llis parents, Reuben and Caroline M. (Marvin) Bullard, reared a family of ten children, J. C. being the fifth child. When seven years of age his parents removed to Knox Coun- ty, Illinois. He was reared on a farm and his education was obtained in the common
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 1613359 395
schools. In JS50 the family came to Do- catur County, locating in Center Town. ship, near Leon. Here Mr. Bullard resided two years, then returned to Knox County, Illinois. August 6, 1862, he enlisted in Company I], One Hundred and Second Illinois Infantry, andl participated in all the battles of his regiment, from Resaca to At- lanta; attended the grand review at Wash- ington, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865, at Camp Fry, in Chicago, Illi- nois. He was married November 9, 1865, to Hannah Jennette Daniels, of Knox Coun- ty, daughter of Alexander Daniels. He then returned to Decatur County, where he resided about five years, then removed to Henry County for two years, thence to Decatur County again, where he lived until 1882, and finally came to his present home in Monroc Township. His farm contains 140 acres of well-cultivated and well-im- proved land. He has a comfortable house- shade trees, an orchard, out-buildings for stock, and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Mrs. Bullard died Scp- tember 29, 1877, leaving four children - James Reuben, Jolin C., Enos Cordell and Royal Harley. October 16, 1878, Mr, Bullard was married to Miss Sarah Ellen Butts, of Leon, daughter of John Butts. They have four children-Minnie Caroline. Frankie, Lizzie May and Elnora. Mr. Bul- lard is a member of Decatur City Lodge, No. 102, I. O. O. F., and is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Post- office, Kellerton.
V/A ILLIAM HORN, M. D., is the old- est practicing physician in Ring- gold County. He is a native of the State of Indiana, born in Switzerland Coun- ty, in December, 1843. His father, W. S. Horn, was a native of Lanarkshire, Scot- land, born in 1816, and came to America in
1833. llis mother, Mary (Gray) Horn, was also a native of Switzerland County, Indi- ana, her parents being natives of Scotland, but carly settlers of Indiana. When he was five years of age the parents of our sub- ject moved to Delavan County, Illinois, and there he was reared and educated. When nineteen years of age he began the study of medicine, with Dr. G. W. Slack, of York- town, Indiana, and subsequently entered the Chicago, Illinois, Medical College, from which he graduated in 1866. After his graduation he located in Monmouth, Illi- nois, and in February, 1865, came to and located in Mt. Ayr, where he now has a large and lucrative practice. He stands at the head of his profession in the county, where he has lived nearly a score of years. He is a close student, being deeply inter- ested in anything that pertains to his profession. Ile is a member of the South- western Medical Association and the Decatur County Medical Society. lle was married December 14, 1862, to Miss Mary Law, of Warren County, Illinois. They have two children -Minnie and James Otto.
ALAY McDONALD, retired farm- er, was born in Madison County, Ohio, May 16, 1823. His father, James C. McDonald, was a son of Thomas McDonald, a native of Scotland, and was born in Botetourt County, Virginia. He married in Tennessee, Mary Ann Melvin, also a native of Virginia, and they removed to Kentucky. About the year 1806 they removed to Ross Coun- ty, Ohio, and three or four years later to Madison County. They had a large family of children, seven of whom lived to be grown-Mary, born in 1801; George, born in 1803; Phebe, born in 1805 : Elizabeth, born in 1858; Charity,
396
HISTORY OF RINGGOLD COUNTY.
born in ISHI: John, born in 1814 :. and Malay, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Mc- Donald's early life was spent in assisting his father on the farm and in obtaining his education at the subscription schools. He was married March 9, 1843, to Miss Mary Ferguson, born in Franklin County, Ohio, November 13, 1824, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Biggert) Ferguson. He resided in Madison until 1850, which, with wife and three children he started for lowa. The first winter he spent in Muscatine, and the following spring moved on a farm five miles west of the city, where - he resided four years. May 22, 1855, he arrived in Bloomington Township, Decatur County, and bought a claim of Matthew McClain, paying $200 for the pre-emp- tion. The land is described as fol- lows: South half section 29, southwest section 28, south half northwest 28, west half southeast, south half northeast 28, township 60, range 27 west. There were living in Bloomington Township at that time about seven families : Mr. McClain, John Mercer, Aaron Myers, F. M. Scott, Widow Scott's family, W. M. McDonald, John Wion and J. K. Tapscot. Mr. McDonald commenced immediately to make permanent improvements. The first house was a log cabin, 16 x 16 feet, with sod chimney, that had been erected by Mr. McClain. He improved from time to time until the McDonald farm was known as one of the best improved farms in Decatur County. At one time he owned 1,000 acres. His house was built in 1866 and was sided with black walnut ; it was one of the best buildings in the township. He was extensively engaged in stock-raising, feeding and dealing in stock. He resided on the old homestead in Bloomington Township until October 29, 1855, when he removed to Kellerton where he has 158 acres of improved land adjoining the town plat. He has a nice residence, built in , Dora, Henry, Frank, Finn, Thomas and
modern style and well furnished. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have had four children -- Margaret Ann, of Tuskeega ; George, de- ceased ; E. W., of Tuskeega, and an infant not named. Mr. McDonald has served one term as county supervisor under the old law, and three terms as township trus- tec and assessor. Ile is a member of the Odd Fellows order of Decatur City, and politically is an independent Republican. He started in life without means, but by industry and good management has ac- quired a fine property. Among the enter- prising and successful pioneers of Decatur County, none is better known or more highly esteemed than is Mr. McDonald, and he is classed among the leading citi- zens of Ringgold County.
ILI LANDRETII, an enterprising and successful agriculturist, of Liberty Township, is a native of Indiana, born in Owen County, March 5, 1837. His par- ents, Zachariah and Elmo (Fender) Lan- dreth, were natives of Kentucky and North Carolina respectively, and were among the carly settlers of Indiana. They lived in Owen County till 1852, when they re- moved with their family to Mercer County, Illinois, where both died. They were the parents of ten children-six sons and four daughters, of whom seven still sur- vive. Two of their sons died in the late war. Eli Landreth, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, principally in Mer- cer County, Illinois, to which county he removed with his parents when fourteen years old. He was married in 1859 to Miss Mary E. Phillips, a native of Michigan, but at the time of her marriage living in Mer- cer County, Illinois. To this union were born ten children -- Fannie, Jennie, Clisby,
897
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
two who died in infancy. After his mar- " number of good animals. His farm, which riage Mr. Landreth settled on a farm in ' is well-improved and under good cultiva- Mercer County, where he resided till the fall of 1874. He then came to Ringgold County, Iowa, and settled on his farm on sections 2 and 11, Liberty Township, where he has since followed farming and stock- raising, his cattle being of a high grade. He devotes some attention to raising fine horses, and in February, 1886, he sold a . tion, contains 360 acres, and his residence and farm buildings are noticeably good. Politically Mr. Landreth formerly affiliated with the Republican party, but is now a Greenbacker. He has served his township as trustee for nine years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Landreth have been members of the Baptist church for many years.
+
-
. م.
.5.
GENERAL
جـ
AHISTORY
उच्छ
4
INTRODUCTORY.
401
INTRODUCTORY
HE fact that lowa is situated near the geo- graphical center of the United States, be- tween the two great rivers of the continent, and on the line of the great trans-continental rail- ways, presages for her a future in the development of her resources which it does not require the prevision of C a prophet to see, and will at no distant day place her in an eminent position among the States of our Union, which nature, assisted by the energy, thrift and enterprise of her citizens has so abun- dantly fitted her to occupy.
When we call to mind the fact that the present greatness of lowa is all the growth of little more than fifty years, we may well anticipate the grandeur that awaits her in the future-now that she is provided with all the means necessary for the more rapid development of her inexhaustible resources. In her healthful climate, productive soil, railroad and water-transportation facilities, and her intelligent, enterprising people, we have the best guaranty that her future progress will be unprecedented.
The pioneer work has been done in most. parts of the State, and railroads, public buildings, churches, school-houses, ctc., are provided, so that the citizens of Iowa now enjoy all the comforts, conveniences and advantages obtained in the older States, and Iowa offers to-day proportionally greater inducements to capital, enterprise and labor. Incalculable wealth lies hidden in the inexhaustible coal mines, furnishing motive-power, and the unused water-power forming natural mill-sites, in almost every county in the State for manufacturing in- dustries. lowa, for agricultural and manu- facturing resources, has no superior among all the States, while her channels of trade . radiate in all directions.
Next to the fertility of its soil, its excel- lent climate, and the energy of its industrial classes the prosperity of the State is due to wise legislation, by which its financial credit has been maintained, internal im- provements encouraged, public instruction rapidly advanced. and immigration and capital attracted. Thirty-eight years have elapsed since lowa was admitted as a State, and during that time wonderful changes have taken place. Then savage beastsand savage men contended for the supremacy in this far domain. but both have retreated before the white man, and to-day civiliza-
409
HISTORY OF RINGGOLD COUNTY.
tion has left its mark in numberless school- houses and churches, and in the prosperity and happiness which everywhere abound. Of lowa, whose name is a synonym for prosperity, an | her high rank in the sister- lood of States in respect of moral and material greatness, it is unnecessary to speak at length. Aside from the experi- ences of the civil war, in which the State furnished her full quota of men-and no braver men were sent to the front-the his- tory of Iowa is that of one uninterrupted march of progress in the paths of peace, and she has risen from the condition of a Territory to one of the principal States of the Republic, in population, wealth and moral greatness. With these elements of empire inherent in it, it is not surprising that lowa is making strides which must soon place her where she will be recog- nized as one of the foremost in manufactur- ing and other industrial pursuits, as well as in agriculture.
In order of admission into the Union, Iowa stands twenty-ninth; in number of square miles she is fifteenth ; in population tenth, while in acres of tillable land her place is first. She is the third State in the amount of corn raised, while she is second in number of hogs raised, third in cattle, fifth in wheat, sixth in oats, fifth in barley, fifth in flax, seventh in hay, third in milch cows, fifth in number of hogs packed, fifth in value of farm implements, sixth in value of farm products, fourth in extent of coal area, and fifth in number of banks and newspapers. In religious, educational, charitable and benevolent institutions Iowa stands among the foremost. In regard to healthfulness her rank is fourth, while in point of the intelligence of her people she is first, having a less percentage of illiter- acy than any other State. Twenty-one States have more persons in prison, and thirty-two States more female prisoners than Jowa. In the number of postoffices
she is seventh, and in the amount of postal receipts sixth, being one of the cight North- cin States which contribute two-thirds of the entire national revenue.
BOUNDARIES AND DIVISIONS.
This empire is composed of ninety-nine subdivisions, or little republics, called coun- ties, of which Ringgold is one. It is bounded on the north by Union County, on the cast by Decatur County, on the south by the State of Missouri, and on the west by Wayne County. It contains about fif- teen congressional townships, or, to be exact, twelve whole and four fractional townships. These are numbered from 67 to Tonorth, in ranges 28 to 31 west. The arca of the county is a little over 540 square miles. For organic purposes the county is divided into seventeen townships.
TOPOGRAPHY.
The county is well supplied with living water in every part, and admirably drained by the Platte and the several forks of Grand River and their numerous affluents. The general trend of the streams is south ward, and they flow to the Missouri River. Water is also readily obtained on the up- lands by digging. The principal streams acquire considerable volume before they leave the county, and afford good mill-sites and sufficient water power for the uses of the county. The valleys are interesting from the fact that they are the deepest and largest purely drift valleys in Iowa. They are eroded by the action of the water from a depth of 150 fcet to more than 200 fcct, and yet, except at one or two points, no rock is to be seen in their valley sides, which are drift material from top to bottom. From these and other indications the drift is estimated to reach a depth of about 200 fect. This is the deepest portion of the drift deposit in the State. The highest
INTRODUCTORY.
403
ridge of land in Southern Iowa, a branch of the great watershed that separates from it in Adair County, passes down into Missouri through this county. The highest point, which is in the northwestern part of the county, is 1,152 feet higher than Keo- kuk, and that city is 444 feet above the level of the sea. Although this county is upon the Missouri slope, the bluff deposit of Western Iowa does not extend so far eastward.
There is considerable timber in the val- leys of the streams ; elsewhere the surface of the county is almost all prairie, and its general aspect 'is peculiar and interesting. A stranger passing through the county by the ordinary routes of travel is quite un- conscious of the presence within the range of his vision of the deep valleys with their wooded banks, for the general surface upon which his eye rests is apparently all an undulating prairie. Upon approaching the streams he sees them winding through rather narrow valleys, their banks lined with a border of trees, but after crossing them they are soon lost to view again among the general undulations of the sur-
face, and not even the tops of the tallest trees appear in sight.
Only two exposures of rock are found in the county. One of them is in a deep val- ley in the extreme northeast corner of the county, and the other is near its southern boundary, consisting in each case of a few layers of limestone belonging to the up- per coal measures. It makes a good quali- ty of quick-lime, and some of it is suitable for building purposes. Good materials for the manufacture of brick are found in va- rious places.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.