USA > Iowa > Wayne County > Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose counties, Iowa, containing a condensed history of the state of Iowa; portraits and biographies of the governors of the territory and state; engravings of prominent citizens in Wayne and Appanoose counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of Wayne and Appanoose counties > Part 24
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose counties, Iowa, containing a condensed history of the state of Iowa; portraits and biographies of the governors of the territory and state; engravings of prominent citizens in Wayne and Appanoose counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of Wayne and Appanoose counties > Part 24
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
riage. Her parents removed from their native State to Louisa County, Iowa. about the year 1842. Both parents are now de- ceased.
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G. MAY, one of the old pioneers of Wayne County, engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 14, Wright Township, is a native of Putnam . County, Indiana, born April 21, 1828, a son of John and Nancy (Hight) May, the father be- ing a native of Virginia. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was one of the pioneers of Putnam County, settling there in 1824. In 1852 he removed to Lucas County, Iowa, and after living there several years came to Wayne County, locating in Wright Town- ship, where he died in 1873. His wife was a daughter of Thomas and Priscilla Hight, her father being a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. John May were the parents of eight children-W. T., T. R., A. H., H. G., J. W., S. L., P. E. and S. A. H. G., our subject, was reared on a farm in his native county, receiving his educa- tion in the subscription and district schools, and by study at home. During the Mexi- can war he enlisted in Company A, First Indiana Infantry, and served twelve months when he received an honorable discharge. He then returned to his home in Putnam County where he was married December 5, 1850, to Julia A. McCarty, a daughter of William and Anna (Landham) McCarty, the former a native of Virginia and the lat- ter of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. McCarty were among the first pioneers of Putnam County, Indiana. They had a family of eleven children, three sons and eight daughters. Mr. and Mrs. May have two children living-J. W. and Lillie. In the fall of 1852 Mr. May came with his family to Wayne County, lowa, locating in Wright Township, where he now makes his home. His farm contains 195 acres of
well-improved land, with a substantial resi- dence, well furnished, and a large and com- modious barn, and other farm buildings. August 9, 1862, Mr. May enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, in Company F, Thir- ty-sixth Iowa Infantry, serving as First Lieutenant of his company, and was honor- ably discharged January 16, 1863. In the fall of 1863 he was elected county treasurer, but on account of poor health resigned his office in the following June. Mr. May is a comrade of J. W. May Post, No. 405, of Confidence, Wayne County, the post being so named in honor of J. W. May, who was killed at Marks Mill during the war. Mr. and Mrs. May are earnest members of the Baptist church. In politics Mr. May is a staunch Republican.
LLEN D. GARTON, section 29, Washington Township, is one of the pioneer farmers, who has for thirty- five years watched with interest the growth and prosperity of Wayne County, and has been one of the chief factors in advancing in value and beauty the agricultural sec- tions of the county. He is a native of Putnam County, Virginia, born September 17, 1817, a son of Thomas and Martha (Gillespie) Garton, and grandson of Thomas Garton, Sr., a native of Virginia, of Scotch- Irish ancestry, and a soldier in the war of the Revolution. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was wounded, carry- ing British lead in his body thirty years. Allen D. Garton remained in his native county until thirty-four years of age. He was reared a farmer, receiving but limited educational advantages, but being anxious to improve his mind he studied during his leisure time at home, and thus became fit- ted to teach, a vocation he followed several terms. In the spring of 1851 he left old Virginia and came to the State of Iowa,
respectfully of Garton
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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and first lived in Jefferson County, locat- ing in Wayne County, October 10, 1851. He had but limited means at the time, but came West for the purpose of making for himself and family a home, and accord- ingly made the best use of what he had as far as he was able to judge, and with a zeal that sets at naught all trivial obstacles he went to work, and soon, in place of a wild prairie covered with grass, we find fields of waving grain, a fine residence surrounded with shadeand ornamental trees, an orchard of the choicest varieties of fruit, and all other necessary adjuncts to a thrifty and well-appointed farm. His farm contains 280 acres of valuable land, well situated in one of the most productive sections of the county. He has served his township in several local positions, his innate honesty and strict attention to any duties imposed on him fitting him to perform his work to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was county assessor in 1857 and 1858, and for ten years served as a justice of the peace. He has taken an especial interest in all public affairs, whether of material, educational or of religious interest, and the good roads, bridges, school-houses and churches of Washington Township are in great part due to his enterprise and public spiritedness, his voice and money being al- ways freely given to aid in promoting such worthy objects. He has many friends among the noble pioneers of the county, and to their kindness and sympathy he ascribes much of his success in life, and his gratitude to them often finds expression in words which emanate from an overflowing heart. In 1837 he united with the Method ist Episcopal church, and was a faithful member over twenty-five years. In 1878 he transferred his allegiance to the Baptist church, and is now connected with that denomination. Mr. Garton has been twice married : First, October 3, 1843, to Miss Caroline Kimberling, of Putnam County,
Virginia, who died May 31, 1860. To them were born eight children-George W., J. M., Henry B., F. M., Thomas E., N. H., Elizabeth J. and C. A. October 31, 1861, Mr. Garton married Mary Rains, daughter of John and Ellen (Cooper) Rains. They have had seven children-William A., Mary A., Charles W., Maria F., Lewis M., Emma May and Willis L.
HARLES A. CONGER is the senior member of the general mercantile firm of Conger & Michael. This business was first established at Genoa in 1869, under the firm name of Conger, Michael & Con- ger, the father of C. A. Conger being for a short time associated in the business. In 1872 the business was removed to Seymour, where it has since been carried on under the present firm name. Their store is lo- cated on Main street, opposite the Rock Island depot, and is one of the oldest business houses in the town. Charles A. Conger, whose name heads this sketch, is a native of Ohio, born in Monroe County in 1836. In the fall of 1860 he engaged in the general mercantile business as junior part- ner of the firm of Harvey & Conger, in the town of Bellair, Appanoose County, Iowa. During the summer of 1861 E. E. Harvey, his partner, raised a company and entered the service as its Captain, leaving the business entirely in charge of Mr. Conger, which he continued for a short time and then closed up its affairs and was soon after appointed Sutler of the Sixth Regiment Kansas Cav- alry, which position he resigned, and re- turning home in the spring of 1864 he assisted in raising Company B, Forty- seventh Iowa Infantry, and on the organi- zation of the company he was made Second Lieutenant. He served six months, and much of the time had charge of the com- pany, owing to the illness of the Captain
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and First Lieutenant. In 1866 he was married to Margaret L. Ow, who died in 1874, leaving four children-Olive, John, George and Albert, the latter being the first child born in Seymour. One son, Walden, died in infancy. Mr. Conger married for his present wife Mrs. Alice Shedd, youngest daughter of J. T. McVay. She was reared in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, graduated from Pleasant Hill Seminary, West Virginia, in 1861, adopted teaching as her profession, and had charge as princi- pal of one of the Indianapolis public schools for several years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Con- ger are members of the Christian church. In his political views Mr. Conger affiliates with the Republican party. His father, John Conger, was a native of Greene County, Pennsylvania, born June 8, 1808, and when quite young he removed with his father to Monroe County, Ohio, where he was reared. He was married in that county to Elizabeth Atkinson. To this union were born eight children, of whom four are liv- ing-Elizabeth, wife of Ichabod Henkle, an early settler of Appanoose County, Iowa, but now living in Benton County, Oregon, where he settled in 1852; Charles A., our subject; Nancy J., wife of Wallace M. Harvey, of Appanoose County, and Lydia, wife of Newton C. Michael, of the firm of Conger & Michael; Julia died in Ohio, in childhood. Mary died in Appanoose County, after reaching her majority ; William was a member of Company I, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and died in the service at Benton Barracks, at St. Louis, December 12, 1862, and Abel died in Ap- panoose County, aged about sixteen months. John Conger removed with his family to lowa in April, 1849, remaining till the fall of the same year in Lee County. He then removed to Appanoose County, and settled on a farm about five miles south of Center- ville. In the spring of 1864 he removed to Centerville, remaining there several years,
when he returned to his farm for a short time. In 1869 he engaged in business at Genoa, as before stated. He came to Seymour when his son settled here, living here till his death, which occurred August 8, 1883. His widow is still living in Sey- mour with her daughter, Mrs. Michael.
HARLES C. JACKSON is one of the pioneers of Wayne County, lowa, having been a resident of Corydon Township since April 14, 1852, and is now the oldest living settler in the township. Mr. Jackson was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1824, a son of Thomas and Catherine Jackson, the father a native of Washington County, Pennsyl- vania, and the mother born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, in August, 1797. Both parents are now deceased, the father dying when our subject was twelve years of age, and the mother living till the ad- vanced age of eighty-four years. The great-grandfather of our subject served in the Revolutionary war, during which time he was attacked with tomahawks in the hands of Indians, though not fatally wounded. The Jackson family were of English descent, but our subject's mother was of Scotch origin. Charles C. Jackson was reared in his native county. He came to Wayne County a few months later than his brother, William Jackson, the present county recorder, and the township of Jack- son, where the Jackson brothers first settled, was named in honor of them, they being the first settlers of that township. Charles C. Jackson is now engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 5, Corydon Township, locating on his present farm in 1868. He has been twice married, his first marriage with Rachel Greenman, in September, 1853, being the first in Corydon Township. His wife died about eighteen months after their
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marriage, leaving one daughter-Nettie, who was the first female child born in Corydon Township. Mr. Jackson was again married December 25, 1855, to Sarah Marberry, a native of Tennessee, who came with her parents to Illinois, where they lived till their death. To this union were born six children-Mary H., Robert S. and Thomas F., and three who are deceased. Mr. Jackson served in the late war, enlist- ing in August, 1863, in Company L, Eighth Iowa Cavalry, and served till September, 1865. He participated in the Atlanta and Nashville campaigns, under the command of Colonel Joseph B. Dorr, when his regi- ment was transferred South and placed in Wilson's command. Mr. Jackson still feels the effect of his army experience. In poli- tics Mr. Jackson has always affiliated with the Democratic party.
OHN LEWIS, of Walnut Township, Wayne County, residing on section 4, is a native of England, having been born near Leeds, in 1847. When he was but one year old his father, William Lewis, immigrated to America, the father being drowned at Long Island soon after reach- ing this country. John Lewis was reared in Iowa, his mother having come to this State after the death of his father. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in the Forty-fifth lowa Infantry, at that time being but sev- enteen years of age, serving till the close of the war. Since the war he has been suc- cessfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, and now owns about 160 acres of valuable land, comprising the northwest quarter of section 4. He has been a resident or Wayne County since 1878, locating on his present farm in 1882, his land showing thorough and careful culture, and his farm buildings being noticeably good. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan McMillan,
is a daughter of Amos McMillan, who was one of the pioneers of Lee County, lowa, but is at present a resident of Henry County, this State. Mrs. Lewis is a native of Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been born three children-Annie, wife of W. S. Evans; Jay and John I. In poli- tics Mr. Lewis casts his suffrage with the Republican party. He is at present serv- ing his second year as township assessor. He is a comrade of William Kellogg Post, of Seymour.
minel
HARLES R. NOBLE, one of the prominent and successful citizens of South Fork Township, Wayne County, residing on section 35, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, in 1846, a son of Zenos Noble, a native of Connecticut, and now a resident of Indiana. Mr. Noble was reared to the occupation of farming, which he has followed successfully the greater part of his life. Before coming to Iowa he was engaged in saw-milling for four years. He came to Iowa in 1870, and set- tled on the farm where he has since made his home, he having owned a quarter-sec- tion two years before he settled here, his land being entirely unimproved. By in- dustry and good management he has added to his original 160 acres till his farm con- tains 400 acres. He is engaged quite ex- tensively in buying and feeding stock, of which he ships annually about two car- loads. Mr. Noble has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Eliza Elder, who died in Wayne County in December, 1883, and for his second wife he married Miss Rebecca Scott, a native of Ohio. He had six sons and two daughters by his first wife, all but the first three being born in South Fork Township. Their names are- Orpha, Emry (who died in infancy), Al- bertus, Glen, Glyde, Dempsey, Victor and
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Clayton. Mr. Noble's farm comprises the south half of section 35, the remainder of his land being on section 34 of South Fork Township.
UGENE W. THORN, farmer and stock-raiser, section 30, Clay Town- ship, was born in Hillsdale County, Michigan, July 21, 1842, a son of James H. and Mary (Monroe) Thorn, the father being a native of Dutchess County, New York. The genealogy of our subject's maternal ancestors is as follows: In the year 1620 one Elizabeth Pattengill landed at Ply- mouth, Massachusetts, she being a maid of all work in the employ of one of the Puri- tan fathers. She married a man named Oscar Clark, and settled at Pollet, Vermont. A daughter was born to them, named Al- thea, who married Isaac Fitch, and their daughter Betsy married Asa Andrews, an Englishman, and to this union was born a daughter named Anna. Anna married David Monroe, and their daughter Mary was the mother of our subject, her father having been a soldier in the war of 1812. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Samuel Thorn, was a man in very limited circum- stances, and his son James, who was our subject's father, was bound out but ran away when about eighteen years old. He then came to Michigan and spent the first winter with the Ottawa Indians. He often slept in the woods alone, making a swing- ing hammock out of his blanket by hang- ing it to trees out of the reach of the wolves. His land entry was the first made in Jefferson Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan, and after paying for his land had but 10 cents left, which he invested in cheese and crackers. He returned on foot from the land office at Monroe to his home, a distance of seventy miles, where he lived almost fifty years, and died on the land which he entered from the Government.
He left an estate valued at $11,000. Our subject's parents had a family of six chil- dren, of whom four are yet living-Wray, of Minden, Nebraska, being the founder of that place ; Eugene W., our subject; Mrs. Josephine E. Snow, of Humeston, and James B., of Hudson, Michigan. After the mother's death the father was again mar- ried to Sarah A. Dillon, by whom he had three children- Henry, of Coldwater, Michigan; Mrs. Mary Tuck, of Green- ville, Michigan, and Waldo, of Sweetwater, Nebraska. Eugene W. Thorn, whose name heads this sketch, attended the common- schools of his native county, completing his education at Hillsdale College, Michi- gan, after which he taught school for twelve years. He was married in Hillsdale County, December 25, 1868, to Mary J. Kilborn, daughter of Luther C. and Chloe P. (Parker) Kilborn. Mr. Thorn came to Wayne County, Iowa, in March, 1870, locating in Clay Township, which has since been his home. He commenced life here on a capi- tal of $100, and to-day, as we are informed by the assessor of the township, his per- sonal taxes are higher than any man's in Clay Township. He has always been an honest, hard-working man, and for his up- right dealings is respected throughout the township. He is now the owner of a valuable farm of 160 acres where he re- sides, which is under high cultivation. He has served his township as justice of the peace for six years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
DWARD FERREL, deceased, a son of John Ferrel, was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1800. He became a resident of the State of Ohio in 1830, locating first in Trumbull County, where he remained several years, when he removed to Athens County, of the same
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
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State. He settled in Indiana in the fall of 1851, and in the year 1854 came to Wayne County, Iowa, where he lived in Corydon Township two years. He moved to Ben- ton Township in 1856, making his home here till his death. which occurred February 15, 1864. For his wife he married Rosella Fish, and to them were born eleven chil- dren, nine of whom are yet living-Seth, Mary, Brewster, Hannah, Bethuel, Caro- line, Lucretia, Lizzie and Lydia. One son died in his thirtieth year. In religious faith Mr. Ferrel believed in the doctrines of the Baptist denomination, and as a citizen he was held in high esteem by all who knew him.
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ALTER HARTSOUGH, mer- chant, Genoa, is a native of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, born Octo- ber 22, 1836, a son of Benjamin Hartsough, a native of Delaware, his mother being born in the State of Pennsylvania. He was reared in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Columbiana County, Ohio, where he lived till twenty-one years of age, his early life being spent in assisting with the work of the farm, and in attending school. In 1857 he went to Scott County, Missouri, where he was engaged clerking in a store until 1861, when he went to Cairo, Illinois, where he was employed in the Commissary Department for some time. December 28, 1862, he enlisted in the Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry, a member of Company K, and par- ticipated in several engagements. He was taken prisoner at Jonesville, Virginia, and was confined in Richmond, Belle Island, Andersonville, Savannah, Lawton and Thomasville, where he made his escape, and taking to the swamps, arrived in Jack- sonville, Florida, where he was welcomed by Union troops. He was then ordered to New York, thence to Annapolis, Maryland. He returned to his regiment at Pulaski,
Tennessee, and was honorably discharged at Franklin, Tennessee. He then returned to his home in Columbiana County, Ohio, where he remained till the spring of 1866, when he removed to Lewis County, Mis- souri, and engaged in farming in that coun- ty for two years. He then came to Wayne County, Iowa, and engaged in farming for two seasons, when he bought one-half the stock of merchandise of L. S. Hopkins, of Genoa, and formed a partnership with J. W. Miller, since which they have carried on a successful business, being noted for their fair and honest dealing. Mr. Hart- sough was married June 12, 1870, to Miss M. Miller, a daughter of Edwin and Nellie Miller, residents of Wayne County. They have two children-Nellie and Estella. Mr. Hartsough is a comrade of William Kell- ogg Post, No. 186, G. A. R. He is the present postmaster of Genoa, which office he has filled since 1870.
M ONROE W. HUMESTON, a son of Alva and Mary (Northrup) Humeston, who were among the pioneers of this part of Wayne County, was born at Fowler, Trumbull County, Ohio, November 20, 1850. When a child his parents moved to Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, and there he attended school. He removed to Garden Grove,. Decatur County, Iowa, with his parents in the spring of 1864, attending school until in 1866, when he returned to his native State, and began life for himself as clerk in his brother's store. Continued clerking in Ohio and Pennsylvania until the fall of 1872. Return- ing to Humeston the same fall he, with his father, and brother, Litchfield H., estab- lished the firm of A. Humeston & Sons, dealing extensively in grain. The 25th of April, 1873, the firm opened a general store on the corner of Front and Broad streets, being the first business house in
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Humeston. Litchfield H. retired from the firm soon after, leaving the name A. Hume- ston & Son. In the spring of 1874 he re- moved to Cedar Lake, Cerro Gordo County, lowa, and became a member of the firm of WV. A. Moore & Co., hardware and grocer- ies. He was married to Miss Sarah H. Bruck, daughter of Edwin and Lizzie Bruck. This union has been blessed with three children, two of whom are living-Clara L. and Ray Leeds; Roy Edwin is deceased. Returning to Humeston in January, 1875, he was engaged in closing out a stock of goods in Derby, Lucas County, Iowa, until fall, when he became a member of the firm of A. Humeston & Co. Most of the time since 1882 he has been engaged in the lum- ber trade, having lived one year during the time at Marysville, Kansas, and where he owns a half interest in the lumber business of Moore & Humeston. Mr. Humeston is one of the prominent and reliable business men of Humeston.
ANIEL FISK, farmer, section 1, Wash- ington Township, is one of the pio- neers of Wayne County. He is a na- tive of Fayette County, Ohio, born January 20, 1827, a son of Jesse and Regana (Hinkle) Fisk, natives of Virginia, the former of Norfolk, born in 1803, of German descent, and the latter of Randolph County. Of a family of thirteen children, nine lived till maturity-Elizabeth, Daniel, Melinda, Sampson, Christian, Jesse, Susan, Mary and Ephraim. Our subject was the second child, and being the eldest son his assistance was early required on the farm, receiving but limited educational advantages. In Octo- ber, 1843, the family started for Iowa, mak- ing the journey with teams, and first set- tled in Van Buren County. Daniel learned the trade of a carpenter, at which he worked about twelve years. In July, 1855, he moved
to Wayne County, and made his home in Washington Township, moving to the farm where he now lives in 1867. He owns 250 acres of good land, a comfortable residence, and other farm buildings, and has one of the best orchards in the township. He is a thrifty, energetic farmer and an honor- able, upright business man, whose word with all who know him is as good as his bond. Mr. Fisk was married in March, 1861, to Martha Jane Miller, who was born in Fayette County, Ohio, a daughter of Hiram and Nancy (Fanshier) Miller, who came to Iowa and located in Jefferson County in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Fisk are the parents of four children-David Milton, Anna Regana, Floyd H. and Nancy M. They are earnest members of the Christian church.
UMPHREY WEST, one of the most prominent and successful stock-raisers of Wayne County, was born in Knox County, Illinois, in 1840, a son of Marcus West, who is now a resident of Corydon. Humphrey West was reared on a farm, and has made agricultural pursuits his princi- pal avocation through life. He enlisted in Company L, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, in August, 1862, and served till the close of the war. October 11, 1863, he was severely wounded in the left foot at the battle of Colliersville, Tennessee, when he fell into the hands of the enemy. His wound being a very serious one he was not detained as a prisoner, but was taken to Adams Hos- pital, Memphis, where he remained till the close of the war; to the present time his wound still troubles him. He was married in Illinois in 1866 to Climena A. Moler, a native of that State. Six children have been born to this union-Ada Estella, Lewis E., Clark M., Jesse (died in his third year), Walter E. and Kate Selby. Mr. West came to Wayne County, Iowa, in 1871, and re-
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