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 25
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 25
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 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
sides at present on his forty-acre farm ad- joining the corporation of Corydon on the east. He also owns a farm of 160 acres located in Clinton Township. He has been engaged in farming and stock-raising since the war, and for the past twelve years has made a specialty of short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs, in which he has been very successful. He has at present thirty- five head of this valuable breed of cattle, being now engaged in forming a new herd, having recently disposed of his old herd. Mr. West was mainly instrumental in form- ing the present Wayne County Agricult- ural Society, of which he has been presi- dent six years. He was elected to the office of county treasurer in 1881, and served as such four years. Politically Mr. West is a Republican, casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864.
OSEPH D. WASSON, President of the Lineville Bank, is a native of North Car- olina, born in Iredell County, April 4, 1820, a son of William Wasson, also a na- tive of North Carolina. He was reared a farmer in his native State and Illinois, and had but limited educational advantages, at- tending only the log-cabin schools common in his boyhood. When he attained his ma- jority he started out to make his own fort- une having no pecuniary assistance as his father was a poor man. His father had moved to Morgan County, Illinois, in 1829, and there he lived until 1854, when he left the State of his adoption and came to Iowa and settled in Decatur County, on Grand River, just across from Grand River Township, Wayne County. He lived in Decatur County fifteen years, but was so intimately connected with Grand River Township and Lineville and their interests that his removal to the county changed his citizenship only in name. He sold his farm
in 1869 for $8,000 and then for three years followed agricultural pursuits in Wayne County. In 1872 he located in Lineville where for eighteen months he was identi- fied with the mercantile interests. He then sold out and soon after assisted in the or- ganization of the Lineville Bank, the first and only bank of the place. They have a paid-up capital stock of $75,000 and carry on a good general banking business. Mr. Wasson is a man of fine business ability and his success is due to his good manage- ment and strict business integrity. While in Decatur County he was a member of the Board of Supervisors three terms, and has served one term in Wayne County. Mr. Wasson was married September 14, 1842, to Mary E. Cassell, daughter of Benjamin Cassell. To them were born five children, three of whom are living-Mrs. Eliza Jor- dan, William Benjamin and Albert M. Wasson. Mrs. Wasson died in 1853, and in 1865 Mr. Wasson married Mary E. Gaskel, daughter of Albert Gaskel. They have four children -- Frank S., Burress E., Alice V. and Coll. D. Mr. and Mrs. Was- son are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church.
ACOB MORRETT, deceased, was born in 1818, in Cumberland County, Pennsyl- vania, a son of Jacob Morrett, a promi- nent farmer of that county. He learned the tailor's trade in his youth, at which he worked several years in Pennsylvania, and in 1839, when twenty-one years old re- moved to Stark County, Ohio, and followed his trade there and in Holmes County till ill-health and a desire to better his financial standing induced him to try the fortunes of a new country, and accordingly, in Sep- tember, 1853, he removed to Iowa, bringing all his earthly effects in a one-horse wagon. He entered forty acres of land just west of
272
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
New York, on which he built a one-story log cabin, with puncheon floor, clapboard roof, and one small window. A piece of rag carpet served for a door three years, which was an insecure protection against the wolves howling outside. The family suffered extreme hardships, subsisting for weeks on buckwheat ground in a coffee- mill, mixed with water and baked, and this was without butter, meat or milk; and often they did not know from day to day where the next scanty meal was coming from. Mr. Morrett was obliged to go eighty miles to Black Hawk to mill. Wagon roads, bridges, postoffices and school-houses were unknown in the county. In 1856 Mr. Morrett sold his first farm and built a small frame house on what is now the homestead. Here he began again with forty acres of land, for which he gave his horse and wagon. He by his industry and good management was successful and added to his land till his farm contained 160 acres, and his farm buildings were among the best in the town- ship. Mr. Morrett was married in Decem- ber, 1840, to Elizabeth Kennedy, a native of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, born in 1819. She was reared in the same neigh- borhood with her husband, but subsequent- ly.accompanied her father, George Ken- nedy, to Stark County, Ohio, where she was married. Her father afterward moved to Michigan and there died. To Mr. and Mrs. Morrett were born seven children; four came with the parents from Ohio, and three were born in Iowa-Elmira J., Jacob S., Irene E., John D., George K., James M. and Callie S., all married and settled ex- cept the two youngest sons. Mr. Morrett died November, 1881. He was an honored citizen and left a large circle of friends to mourn his death. He was in politics a strong Republican, and a Union man dur- ing the war; later affiliated with the Green- back party. For several years he was township clerk, an office now filled by his
son James. James Morrett is now success- fully managing the homestead, which is presided over by his mother, a most esti- mable and capable woman.
HOMAS RICHARDSON, the oldest citizen of Corydon, Iowa, was born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, June 15, 1801. His father, David Richardson, was a native of the State of Maryland and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and later in the Indian wars under General Anthony Wayne, and participated in the battle of the Thames, where the In- dian chief Tecumseh was killed. Later in life he removed to Missouri, where he lived until his death. Thomas Richardson was reared in Kentucky and was there married April 26, 1825, to Miss Mary Clark, who was born in Barren County, Kentucky, April 3, 1810. Her father, William Clark, was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He died near Natchez, Mississippi. Her mother died in Mercer County. After several years of married life Mr. and Mrs. Rich- ardson moved to Hamilton County, In- diana, where they lived twenty-two years. June 1, 1857, they came to Iowa, and soon after Mr. Richardson entered a tract of about 1,200 acres of land, the larger part being in Jackson Township, Wayne Coun- ty, and also bought 400 acres. He has al- ways been a large land-owner and has giv- en his children about 2,000 acres. He has retired from farming and he and his wife are passing the evening of their lives at their pleasant home in Corydon. They are not only the oldest citizens of Corydon, but have been husband and wife longer than any other couple in Wayne County. April 26, 1875, they celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding and about 150 guests were present, among them many
273
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
of the pioneers of the county. They have had fourteen children, six of whom are living-Emily Jane, wife of James T. Selby; Thomas H .; John N .; Rachel, wife of John N. Farnsworth ; Joseph and Martha. One son, James W., was killed by his brother- in-law, Benjamin Belleville, in February, 1877. He was a prominent business man, an extensive stock-dealer and a worthy citizen, and his sudden and tragic death was a severe shock to his aged parents.
G. MCCULLOUGH, farmer, section 12, Washington Township, post- office, Chariton, Lucas County, is one of the most enterprising and intelligent citizens of Wayne County. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Huntingdon County, January 23, 1831. His father, George Mc- Cullough, was a native of Beaufort, South Carolina. In 1661 his ancestors left their Scottish home to establish a Presbyterian colony in Ireland ; they located at Carrick- fergus, in Ulster, bearing with them, like Æneas of old, " their Ilium and their house- hold gods." Of this colony it is said :
"There came from Scotland's storied land To Carrick's old and fortressed town A Presbyterian band. They planted on the castle wall
The banners of the blue ; They worshiped God in simple form, As Presbyterians do."
From that country three brothers, in 1731, came to the United States. One set- tled in New York and the others in the South. Our subject's mother's maiden name was Margaret Irwin. She was a native of Blair County, Pennsylvania, of Scotch parentage. Mr. and Mrs. George McCullough had two children-N. G. and Estelle. The father was a wealthy man and fron the age of seven years, the early life of N. G. was spent in Europe. He was educated at the Presbyterian University,
at Belfast, and Trinity College, Dublin, Ire- land. He graduated in 1851, and shortly after came to the United States and located in Philadelphia, where he engaged in the manufacture of oil-cloth about six years. He then engaged in teaching school for several years, and in 1871 came to lowa and located in Washington Township, Wayne County, on what is now his valuable farm. At that time it was a tract of wild land, but he has improved it and erected his hand- some residence and other farm buildings, and planted his orchard, which is one of the best in the county. Mr. Mccullough was married November 1, 1860, to Miss Electa Hilton, who was born in Rock Island County, Illinois, daughter of Robert and Ruhamah (Pelton) Hilton, who located in that county in 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Cullough have four children-Margaret P., Mary G., Sarah C. and Georgiana. In pol- itics Mr. Mccullough is a Democrat. He is an ardent supporter of the cause of edu- cation and is giving his children the benefit of the best schools in the country, thus fitting them for useful positions in life.
MON WOODEN was born in Fair- field County, Ohio, in 1829, a son of Elijah and Nancy Wooden. His father was born and reared in Maryland, and there married to Nancy Carey, by whom he had eight children, four of whom are living-Benjamin, in Michigan ; Mary, in Jackson County, Indiana ; Jane, in Illi- nois, and Amon, of Wayne County, Iowa. After his marriage Elijah Wooden removed to Ohio, and when our subject was eight years old his parents removed to Jackson County, Indiana, where they lived till their death. Amon Wooden was reared to man- hood in Indiana, and was married in 1851 to Phobe Barnes, a native of Parke County, that State, her parents, Fielding and Eliza Barnes, being born, reared and married in
274
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Kentucky. When Mrs. Wooden was eleven years of age her parents removed from Parke County to Whitley County, Indiana, where they still reside. Eight of the four- teen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnes are living, of whom Mrs. Wooden is the only one living in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Wooden have four children-Mary Jane, wife of James Inman ; Marcia, wife of John Mckeever, of South Fork Township, Wayne County; Frank, who married Sarah Thomas, and Stella. Their third child, Fielding, died aged five years. Mr. Wood- en left Indiana with his family in 1856, locating in Monroe County, Iowa, and in 1857 went to Illinois, coming to Wayne County, Iowa, in 1873 when he settled on his present farm. He has 160 acres in his farm, eighty acres being on section 12, and the remainder on section 3. Almost all the improvements on this place have been made by Mr. Wooden, and his fine com- modious residence, which is on section 3, Walnut Township, was erected by him in 1880.
+
AMES C. DUNCAN, residing on sec_ tion 6, Warren Township, is a son of William M. and Eliza A. (Edmondson) Duncan, and a grandson of James and Mary Duncan. The parents had a family of ten children, seven of whom are living- Mrs. Janet Shaw, James C., Mrs. Mary E. Duncan, Andrew H., Mrs. Eliza A. Ed- mondson, Mrs. Martha E. Abel and George W., all being residents of Wayne County except George W., who lives in Nebraska. In 1851 the parents removed with their family, which then consisted of nine chil- dren, to Louisa County, Iowa, and in 1868 located in Wayne County, on section 6, Warren Township, where the father lived till his death in 1873. His widow still re- sides on the homestead farm. James C. Duncan, whose name heads this sketch,
was born in East Tennessee, October 13 1835, his father being a native of the same State. He came to Iowa with his parents in 1851, and September, 1861, enlisted in Company C, Eleventh Iowa Infantry. He received a severe gunshot wound in the elbow of his right arm on the first day of the battle of Shiloh, which resulted in the amputation of his arm a few days later, re- ceiving his discharge September 15 of the same year. He has made agricultural pur- suits the principal avocation of his life, and notwithstanding the misfortune which hap- pened to him while in the service of his country, he has been a successful farmer. He came to Wayne County in the fall of 1867, and has resided on his present farm since the spring of 1868, having broken the first eighty acres of his land almost entirely without assistance. Mr. Duncan was first married to Nancy J. Johnston, a daugh- ter of George B. Johnston. She died June 27, 1870, leaving two children-William F. and George A. He was again married, taking for his present wife Mary S. Johnston, a daughter of Francis H. and Jane (Ferguson) Johnston. Three children have been born to this union-Freddie H., Robert J. and Marietta. The latter died aged ten months. Politically Mr. Duncan is a Republican, casting his first presiden- tial vote for John C. Fremont in 1856. His farm now contains 160 acres of choice land, on which he has made all the improvements. Both he and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church. Mrs. Dun- can's parents were both born, reared and married in Tennessee, and in that State their eleven children were. born. They came to Iowa, locating in Louisa County, in the fall of 1856, leaving their native State and the parents of Mr. Duncan, because of the existence of slavery. They made their home in Louisa County till their death, the death of the father taking place December 24, 1882, at the age of eighty years, the
275
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
mother dying in her seventy-sixth year. Eight of their children still survive-James H., John N., Mrs. Robert Orr, Mrs. Esther McConnell, Thomas J. (who served with Mr. Duncan in the Eleventh Iowa Infantry), Mrs. Margaret L. Tedford, Mrs. Mary S. Duncan and Mrs. Sarah I. Duncan, Mrs. Mary S. Duncan being the only one now residing in Wayne County.
ILTON D. REW, section 29, Union Township, postoffice Corydon, is a son of Orris Rew, and was born in Friendship, Allegany County, New York, April 17, 1843. He remained at home un- til the breaking out of the war of the Re- bellion, when in August, 1861, he enlisted and was mustered into the Fifth New York Cavalry. His regiment was commanded by seven different Colonels, one of them, Henry Boice, distinguishing himself by es- caping from the rebels after being shot seven times. The regiment fought at Win- chester, where they covered the Union re- treat, and invaded the Shenandoah Valley under Banks. Later was under Fremont and Pope, being the escort of Pope at the second battle of Manassas, where a heavy loss was sustained. The same was true at the battle at Chantilly, where Generals Kearney and Stevenson were killed. After the second invasion of the Shenandoah Valley the regiment performed picket and guard duty until the battle at Cedar Mount- ain. At the battle of Gettysburg their brigade was ordered to charge Brecken- ridge's infantry in a strong and difficult po- sition, General Farnsworth commanding. In the fall of 1863 the regiment re-enlisted, and took part in Dahlgren's Chancellors- ville raid and opened the battle of the Wil- derness. At a bridge over the Nye River, a Sergeant was ordered to charge with six- teen men, among them Mr. Rew. The Ser-
geant was shot on the bridge and fell dead at the end of it. The men held the ground and fired briskly on a large rebel force. His regiment was a part of Wilson's com- mand sent to defend Washington against the raid of Stonewall Jackson. They then joined Sheridan's famous cavalry and fought at the battle of Winchester, Sep- tember 19, 1864, and when the regiment was retreating it was attacked at Forest- ville, October 7, by Rosseau's cavalry, and forty men were captured, among them Cor- poral Rew. At this time he fell down a rough, rocky ledge, bruising his right leg so severely that amputation afterward be- came necessary. He was confined in Libby Prison until February 15, 1865. Three hundred and seventy-five men were in one room, and their experiences were those so often told and read. Christmas day, 1864, his fare was two and a half crackers and the gristle of a hog's nose, and about the same New Year's day. He became a victim of scurvy and suffered untold tortures. After his exchange he was regimental postmaster until the close of the war. He returned to Friendship and attended the academy two terms, but his leg still troubling him, a change of climate was thought advisable, and accordingly he started West, but at Carlinville was obliged to have his leg cut off between the ankle and knee. In Octo- ber, 1867, he started for Iowa, and when at Quincy, Illinois, was robbed of all he had. He came to Wayne County and stopped with his brother, Madison, and soon after obtained a position as teacher and taught five terms. In 1868 he bought for $400 eighty acres of prairie land, which is a part of his present farm. From this beginning, in spite of being crippled, he has been suc- cessful and has now 400 acres of valuable land well improved, his fine barn being the largest in the township. 'It is 32 x 100 feet in size, with a basement, two hay carriers, and all necessary fixtures and appliances.
276
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
He is in politics a Republican. He is a charter member of Messenger Post, No. 288, G. A. R. His twin brother, Newton C., enlisted with him and served as a brave and faithful soldier until his capture at Gainesville, Virginia. He was confined at Belle Isle, later at Andersonville, where he suffered all the horrors of that infamous prison-pen and was the fortieth man to die within its accursed stockade. Mr. Rew was married in October, 1871, to Miss Phœbe L. Clark, daughter of Jabez Clark, of Union Township, an early settler and honored citizen. To them have been born four children-Gertrude E., Newton C., Frank A. and Warren E.
HILIP S. KIMPLE, section 27, Ben- ton Township, was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, June 16, 1823, a son of John and Mary (Siegler) Kimple, who were of German descent. His father is deceased, but his mother is living in In- diana County, Pennsylvania, aged eighty- three years. He was the eldest of eighteen children, and his parents being in lim- ited circumstances he was early obliged to assist in the maintenance of the family, and his educational advantages were necessari- ly meager. In 1835 his father started with his family for Ohio, but when in West- moreland County, Pennsylvania, one of his horses died and they were unable to pro- ceed farther. Philip obtained employment, working the first year for $4 a month, and the second at $6 a month, giving all his money to his parents. In the fall of 1843 he wanted to leave home and therefore bought the rest of his time (about six months) of his father for $200 which he aft- erward paid, having only $1 when he left home. He met Henry Kelts, with whom he walked to Virginia, and when they reached his uncle's, George Kimple's, he had
5 cents and Henry 10. They there took a contract of building a barn, which when completed netted them 7 cents a day a piece. They then took a contract for clear- ing some land, which netted them 16 cents a day, but in the meantime Philip cut his leg and was unable to work for four weeks. In the spring of 1844 he married Jane Smock, a daughter of Henry Smock, of Wheeling, Virginia. He had to borrow money with which to pay the minister and for the license. His grandfather had died a short time before and his grand- mother had sent him a coat, and this with a pair of corduroy pants, a borrowed vest, and a pair of worn cow-hide shoes consti- tuted his wedding suit. In 1845 he moved to Guernsey County, Ohio, where he rented land, and when not at work on it made rails and worked at grubbing at 37 cents a day. When he reached Ohio he had 87 cents with which he bought two walnut planks, making a cradle of one and a table of the other. After working a year for $120 he moved to Jackson County, Ohio, in 1849, and entered eighty acres of land and fenced forty acres of it, carrying the rails to his land on his back. In the fall of 1854 he came to Iowa and the following February settled in Benton Township, Wayne County, where he has since lived. He improved his land, adding to it from time to time till he now owns 700 acres, all well improved. His wife died in 1855. They had a family of seven children- Henry (deceased), Mary E., John (deceased), Alye A., Margaret, Charles W. and one that died in infancy. He was married in 1855 to Jane M. Beard, daughter of An- thony Beard, then of Vinton, but now of Hancock County, Illinois. To them were born nine children-Emily, Philip, Anthony L., Rebecca J., George T., Jacob O. (de- ceased), Elnora, David G. and Nellie (de- ceased). His wife died January 21, 1875, and June 28, 1875, he married Mrs. Marga-
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
Respectfully
279
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ret Hubbell, daughter of Alexander Gunn, of Morgan County, Illinois. To them were born two children-Bertha and Bertie (twins) ; the former is deceased. Mrs. Kimple has also been married three times: First to Mr. Cook, and to them seven chil- dren were born-Samuel, Mary J., John A., Hester A., Lenore C., Vincent G. and David W., of whom but Mary J. and Vin- cent are living. Her second husband, Mr. Hubbell, lived less than a year after their marriage. Their only child is James W. Hubbell. Mr. Kimple's son, Henry, at his death left a family of seven children, all of whom have good homes in the neighbor- hood, the youngest, Clyde, living with his grandfather. Mr. and Mrs. Kimple are members of the Presbyterian church at Allerton, and are among the respected and influential citizens of the township. He takes an active interest in public affairs but has no aspirations for official honors.
AMUEL H. MOORE, a prominent agriculturist of Richman Township, resides upon the southeast quarter of section 24, where he has lived since 1874, removing from Washington Township. He owns 200 acres of land well stocked with improved breeds of horses and cattle. He came to Iowa from Pennsylvania, in 1870, and located on his father's farm in Wayne County, that gentleman having come to Iowa the year before. His father died May 10, 1881, and his mother now makes his house her home. Mr. Moore was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1845, a son of John S. and Mary (Hill) Moore, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former a son of Carle and Annie ( Jen- nings) Moore and the latter a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Cathers) Hill. He remained at home until March 26, 1864, when in response to his country's call he 25
enlisted and was assigned as a recruit to the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry un- der Colonel J. B. Howell, and from there was transferred to the Eighty-eighth Penn- sylvania, the former regiment being mus- tered out before his time had expired, serv- ing until December, 1865. He participated in the seige of Petersburg, the engagement at Richmond, Ware Bottom Church and Deep Run. After his discharge he re- turned to his home in Pennsylvania, where he remained until March, 1870, engaged in farming and at that time immigrated to Iowa. Mr. Moore was married May 28, 1868, to Miss Martha Scott, a daughter of Elias and Harriet (Kent) Scott, a native of Pennsylvania. They are the parents of three children-Delbert S., born May 6, 1872; Bessie, born March 22, 1874, and William T., born October 5, 1876. Mr. Moore is a member of Wayne Post, No. 137, G. A. R., of which he is past commander. He has served his township as trustee, clerk and school director, and as a member of the County Board of Su- pervisors six years, or continuously from January 1, 1878.
S 1 LITTLER COX, son of Samuel and Hannah (Littler) Cox, is a native of Logan County, Illinois, where he was born December 20, 1849. He came with his parents to Iowa in 1852, and after spend- ing a year in Polk County, he removed with them to Wayne County, and has since lived on the farm on section 31, Clay Township, which his father entered in the year 1853. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and has always followed farming and stock-raising, in which he has met with excellent success and is now the owner of a fine farm of 340 acres. Mr. Cox was united in marriage, January 1, 1874, to Miss Martha C. Wiley, daughter of Isaac Wiley,
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.