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 38
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 38
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
BENJAMIN WASSON, farmer and stock-raiser, section 31, Jeffer- son Township, was born in Mor- gan County, Illinois, May 20, 1848, a son of J. D. and Mary E. (Castle) Wasson, promi- nent citizens of Lineville. He was but a child when his parents moved to Decatur County, Iowa, and in this State he was reared and educated. When his parents came to Iowa the country was an unbroken 36
prairie, and he has witnessed the change from a wilderness to a country of thriving villages and productive farms. He was reared a farmer, and being naturally of an industrious, energetic disposition he has assisted to a large extent in the transfor- mation above referred to. He now has a fine farm of 220 acres, which comprises one of the best homes in Jefferson Township. Mr. Wasson enlisted in the war of the Rebell- ion in Company D, Fifty-first Iowa In- fantry, and served his country as a brave and gallant soldier. He was married De- cember 17, 1874, to Miss Alice Elson, daughter of N. O. Elson. They have had five children, but three of whom are living -Mary O., Eliza L. and Jettie. Mr. and Mrs. Wasson are members of the Method- ist Episcopal church South.
AMES ALEXANDER, section 29, South Fork Township, has a fine farm of 240 acres on which he has lived since 1874. It was entered by John Dowell, a pioneer of Wayne County, but was very little improved when purchased by Mr. Alexander. His buildings, which are large and convenient, were erected by him, and his valuable orchard, which is a great addition to his farm, was set out un- der his supervision. Mr. Alexander is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born in 1834, and in 1836 his parents removed to Jefferson County, the same State, where he was reared. He remained in his native. State until 1861, when he came to Iowa and located in Lee County. The same year he enlisted in the war of the Rebell- ion, in the Third Iowa Cavalry, but at the expiration of about a year was dis- charged on account of disease of the eyes, brought on by exposure. A year later his eyes had so far recovered as to enable him to again enlist and he went out with the
382
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Fourth Iowa Battery, light artillery, and served until the close of the war. The greater part of his second term was passed at New Orleans and vicinity. His eyes have never fully recovered from the effects of his army life. Mr. Alexander was mar- ried in Lee County, Iowa, to Mattie An- derson, a native of Pennsylvania. They have four children-Ella, Willie, Mamie and Carl. Two children are deceased. John died aged eleven years, and Mattie aged three years. In politics Mr. Alexander is a Republican. He is a member of the Board of Commissioners of Wayne County, having been elected in the fall of 1885 for a term of three years. Mr. Alexander's father, John Alexander, removed to Wayne County in 1876 and settled two miles east of Corydon. His family consisted of ten children, nine of whom are living, our sub- ject being the second son.
OHN LAING, deceased, was born in Virginia in 1800, and there married Elizabeth Buzzard, a native of the same State, born in 1801. In 1849 they left Virginia, going to Wheeling with teams and there taking a steamer to Keokuk, Iowa. Mr. Laing bought a small farm in Keokuk County and began making improvements, but died in 1851, his wife surviving him only a year. They left a family of five children, of whom Robert and Mary were the eldest, and on them devolved the care of the family. In 1855 they came to Wayne County, and settled in Union Township, where they now live. Robert entered 120 acres of land on section 13, and at once be- gan to improve it, the family living in an old log school-house while their own log house was being built. This old structure is still standing, a monument of the past, and of the enterprise and perseverance of this family of pioneer children. The lumber
for the roof and floor was cut at Parr's saw- mill in Bethlehem, where was also a hotel, kept by P. P. Black, and a store, kept by Mr. Barker. The Laing family remained united until 1859, when Susan was married to William Buswell, now of Oregon. Un- der the wise management of Robert and Mary the fortunes of the family brightened and they became financially prosperous. Neither of them married but have devoted their lives to their younger brothers and sister. The farm now contains 400 acres of well-improved land, with two residences and other farm buildings. In one lives Robert and Mary, and in the other G. J. Laing, who married Harriet, daughter of Hon. D. M. Clark, and has six children. The other brother, Theodore, is now a farm- er in Cloud County, Kansas. Robert en- listed in August, 1861, in Company I, Fourth Iowa Infantry, and a year later G. J. enlisted in the same company. Robert was at the battle of Pea Ridge, and both were at Chickasaw Bayou, siege of Vicks- burg, Arkansas Post, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and with Sherman on his march, and in all the battles to Atlanta. In the meantime G. J. was sick, and for three months was disabled for service, but joined the regiment at Jonesboro. To- gether the brothers marched through Geor- gia and the Carolinas, and took part in the grand review at Washington, in June, 1865, and since then have dwelt fraternally on the same farm. Robert and Theodore are members of the Masonic fraternity.
CORNELIUS NIDAY, section 11, Ben- ton Township, was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, March 10, 1834, a son of John Niday, a native of Virginia, and an early settler of Lawrence County. He ac- companied his parents to Mahaska County, Iowa, in 1845, and to Wayne County in
383
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
1849. He has always followed agricultural pursuits and now owns a good farm of 290 acres. He was married in January, 1856, to Mary, daughter of Jonathan Emrett. They have had eight children, seven of whom are living-Sidney F., Rosetta E., Mary C., Sarah D., Nora M., Minnie M. and Everett E. Mr. Niday enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry and served three years, par- ticipating in the battles at Vicksburg, Ar- kansas Post, Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines, Fort Blakely, and all the engagements of the Red River expedition.
receção
ANIEL ALLMAN, farmer, section 14, Union Township, postoffice New York, Iowa, was born in Stark Coun- ty, Ohio, August 25, 1818, son of George and Phœbe (Otis) Allman. George Allman was born in Washington County, Pennsyl- vania, and when a young man went to Ohio, and in the war of 1812 was in an Ohio bat- talion. The mother was a native of Mas- sachusetts. Daniel Allman came to Iowa in 1841, with his brother William, and lived in Van Buren County two years. Re- turning to Ohio he was married April 5, 1843, to Deborah Williamson, who was born in Bethlehem, Stark County, Decem- ber 3, 1823, a daughter of James and Mar- garet L. (Robinson) Williamson, natives of Pennsylvania. The following month they located in Keosauqua, Iowa. Mr. All- man paid $150 for 320 acres of land, and a rude log cabin, sixteen feet square. They started in life poor, financially, but rich in energy and ambition, and by combining their forces they were successful. The next year, 1844, they moved to Marion County, and paid $400 for 160 acres of land, where they lived three years, when they sold out and spent two years in Portage County, Ohio. In 1850 they returned to
Iowa, and settled in Wapello County, again starting on new land. Mr. Allman cut the logs for his cabin one day, hauled them to the site chosen the next day, raised his cabin the third day, and the fourth day moved into it. It was fourteen feet square, with a puncheon roof and floor, but was comfortable, and served them until a bet- ter one could be built. He made a good farm of his land and erected good buildings, living there until the spring of 1864, when he moved to Union Township, Wayne County, and bought the farm where he now lives, of John Steck. In politics Mr. Allman isa Democrat, voting now with the Greenback party. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. They have seven children-Eliza, wife of W. H. Brown, of Pottawattomie County, Iowa ; Emeline M., wife of L Croxile, of Holt County, Nebraska ; Lucinda M., wife of Jacob S. Morrett, of Union Township ; Winfield Scott, a farmer in Cowley Coun- ty, Kansas ; George W., at home; Olney B., wife of W. H. Davis, of Cowley Coun- ty, Kansas, and Ella J., wife of J. O. Snell, of Union Township. One daughter-Eliza- beth A., married Oliver Barker, of Cory- don, and died January 8, 1872, leaving three children-Eva, Albert and Edward.
ILLIAM ALLEN, one of the early settlers of Warren Township, lo- cated on the northwest quarter of section 20, in 1856, buying his land of the Government. He left his home in Indiana in the spring of 1856, with the intention of settling in Nebraska. His family at that time consisted of his wife and three chil- dren. They put what household goods they could on their wagon, and with a team of horses and one of oxen started on their journey. After traveling twenty- three days they reached their present home,
384
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
and liking the country concluded to go no farther, and have since lived on the land first entered. Mr. Allen was born in Tazewell County, Virginia, May 18, 1822, a son of David and Margaret Allen. In 1836 his parents moved to Greene County, Indiana, and there he grew to manhood, and mar- ried Lucinda Woodsworth. They have had thirteen children, all of whom are liv- ing-Josephine, Hugh, Samuel D., Fran- ces, Robert, Lucinda, Margaret, John L., Walter, George, Henson, Lulu and Flor- ence.
neever
B YARD HICKMAN, one of the pros- perous agriculturists of Wayne Coun- ty, residing on section 24, South Fork Township, was born in Wetzel County, Virginia, January 4, 1841, his parents, Jacob and Nancy (Byard) Hickman, being natives of Chester County, Pennsylvania and Mary- land, respectively. They were married in Wetzel County, Virginia, and to them were born six children-George, Christian, Han- nah, Elizabeth, Mary and Byard. When our subject was but three months old his father died. He remained in his native county till sixteen years of age, when he left his home and commenced the battle of life on his own account, living the follow- ing five years in Brooks County, Virginia. He was married July 22, 1860, to Eleanor J. Johnson, a daughter of William and Margaret (Evans) Johnson, of Venango County, Pennsylvania. They are the par- ents of eight children-Andrew, William, Ed, Margaret, Susan, Coral, Ziza and Nel- lie. Mr. Hickman left Brooks County in 1862, removing to McDonough County, Illinois, where he resided about three years. February 15, 1865, he enlisted in the late war in Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-first Illinois Infantry. He served as a faithful soldier, and received an honorable discharge in August, 1865, when he re-
turned to his home in Illinois. The follow- ing October he came to Wayne County, Iowa, and bought forty acres of land in Wright Township, on which he lived four years, when he sold his farm, buying 160 acres in South Fork Township, where he has since made his home, adding to his orig- inal purchase till his home-farm now con- tains 560 acres, all under good cultivation. He is successfully engaged in raising and feeding stock for market. He has a fine two-story residence which he erected in 1883, with all modern improvements, and furnished in good style, making it one of the most comfortable and commodious houses in the township, and his barn and out-buildings are well fitted for his stock. His residence is nicely located, surrounded with shade and ornamental trees. Al- though thrown on his own resources at an early age, Mr. Hickman has met with much success through life, and by his own in- dustry and persevering habits has acquired a competence. He is one of the enterpris- ing citizens of South Fork Township, and since coming here he has filled most of the township offices. He is a comrade of Sey- mour Post, G. A. R. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Missionary Baptist church.
ILLIAM SHRIVER, farmer, sec- tion 15, Jackson Township, is one of the successful and influential citizens of his township. He was born in Monroe County, Ohio, November 19, 1844, a son of Abraham and Ruth Shriver. When he was twelve years old his parents moved to Wayne County, Iowa, and set- tled in Grand River Township, where he lived until manhood. In 1876 he located on the farm where he now lives, which con- tains 240 acres of valuable land, all under cultivation, and his improvements are
385
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
among the best in the township. His resi- dence is a two-story frame, finished and furnished in modern style, and his barn and other buildings are models of convenience and comfort. His farm is well stocked with the best grades, and his surroundings de- note a thrifty and energetic farmer. He was married February 13, 1868, to Miss Hannah J. Thomas They are the parents of eight children-Sarah L., George A., Millard F., John A., Guy Leslie, Everett, Irvin and Olin.
OSHUA O. HAYS, grocer, Lineville, Iowa, was born in Whitley County, Kentucky, November 24, 1840, a son of Jesse Hays, a native of the same county. He was reared a farmer, receiving but a limited education. He remained in his na- tive State until 1877, and then went to Ten- nessee, where he lived six years. From there he went to Arkansas and thence, in October, 1885, to Lineville, Iowa. He has a good store, carrying a full stock of provisions and groceries, and has built up a paying business, having in the short time he has been a resident of Lineville gained the con- fidence and esteem of his patrons. Mr. Hays was married April 23, 1868, to Sarah E. Renfro, a native of Kentucky, daughter of James Renfro. Of the nine children born to them but six are living-James H., Mary F., William T., John W., Anna Belle and Matthew M.
ORENZO D. MASSEY, farmer and stock-raiser, section 19, Jefferson Township, was born in Wilson Coun- ty, Tennessee, November 22, 1839, a son of Henderson Massey, a native of North Caro- lina. His father was a man of limited circumstances, and in his youth he was obliged to assist in the work on the farm, thus having but meager educational ad-
vantages, attending the subscription schools a few weeks in the winter when his services were not required at home. In 1842 his parents moved to Byron County, Ken- tucky, where he grew to manhood. In 1867 he went to Dakota County, Minnesota, and from there in 1875 came to Iowa and located in Wayne County. He has a fine farm of 160 acres all under cultivation, and his farm buildings are all in good repair. Mr. Massey learned the blacksmith's trade in his youth at which he has worked about fifteen years. He now has a shop at Big Springs, where he works at his trade in addition to carrying on his farm. Mr. Massey was married January 26, 1860, to Melissa Satterfield, a native of Kentucky, daughter of Henry Satterfield. They have had seven children-Anthony L., George R., Annie, Lillie, William, Samuel and Henry. Mr. Massey has served his town- ship as trustee two years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
ROF. W. R. CHILES is a native of Pendleton County, Kentucky, born January II, 1852, a son of William and Jane (McCandless) Chiles, natives also of Kentucky, the former of Pendleton County and the latter of Jefferson County. He was the sixth of a family of nine chil- dren and was given a good education, at- tending the select school of W. P. Jones, at Independence, and Lebanon College, Ohio. He early exhibited a gift as a penman which was developed at P. R. Spencer's Business College, Cleveland, and when nineteen years old he began teaching penmanship. He was employed in several colleges and also traveled extensively, teaching in the towns and villages. He followed this vo- cation until 1882, when he located in Clin- ton Township and has since devoted hisat- tention to agricultural pursuits. He has a
386
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
fine farm of 320 acres and his residence and farm buildings are noticeably good. He has been successful in his pursuits and is now occupying a position, both socially and fi- nancially, such as few young men of his age attain. He was married in 1882 to Mrs. Huldah E. Dowden, widow of Major Dow- den, of Lexington, Kentucky.
ENRY FERREL, son of John and Rebecca (Reece) Ferrel, is a native of Athens County, Ohio, where he was born April 24, 1853. His parents removed to Wayne County, Iowa, in the fall of 1855, and here he was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his neighborhood. October 22, 1876, he was married to Miss Kate Harden, daugh- ter of E. S. and Elizabeth Harden, and to this union have been born three children -Otis W., John C. and Vesta W. Mr. Ferrel has always followed farming pursuits and has met with good success, having now a good farm of 124 acres on section 34, Ben- ton Township, where he is engaged in farm- ing and raising stock.
HOMAS M. LAUGHLIN is a native Whitley County, Kentucky, born February 13, 1835. In 1844 his father moved to Wayne County, Iowa, and a few years later moved to the Missouri side of the State line, settling in Mercer County, a half mile south of Lineville, where he died in 1865. In 1853 our sub- ject became established in the mercantile business in Lineville where he remained until 1857, when he returned to Mercer County, and engaged in farming until the spring of 1877. He then again located in Lineville, where he has since lived. He engaged in the grocery business about a year and a half and in the hardware busi-
ness about the same length of time, but since 1880 has lived retired from active business. He has sold the greater part of his property and loans his money, but still owns a fine farm of 120 acres. November 9, 1857, he was married to Naomi Hampton, and to them was born one child-Mary, now deceased. His wife died in 1860, and September 19, 1861, he married Mary J. Hickman, daughter of William Hickman, of Marion County, Iowa. They have had five children, three of whom are living- Annie, Eva and Franklin. Mr. Laughlin is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fel- lows fraternities.
W. TERRY, senior member of the firm of Terry & McKee, proprietors of livery stable at Allerton, estab- lished their present business February 3, 1886. Mr. Terry had, however, been in the livery business since 1882, he having been associated with different parties since that time. The present firm have their stable well fitted out with a number of good horses and vehicles of all kinds, and by their gentlemanly deportment and strict at- tention to their business they are working up a good business. C. W. Terry is a na- tive of Fulton County, Illinois, where he was born in 1844, and was there reared to manhood. He served three years in the Union army, enlisting as a member of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, and was in active service during the whole time of his enlist- ment. After serving two years in the army of the Potomac his regiment was transferred to the Western army, and served in that de- partment during the remainder of the war. He participated in the hard-fought bat- tles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg and was in Banks's Red River campaign, the attack on Mobile, and in many other im- portant engagements during the war. Af- ter the close of the war he returned to Illi-
387
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
nois, and later went to Kansas, where he took up a homestead. In the fall of 1873 he came to Wayne County and bought a farm in Jefferson Township which he sold, when he engaged in business in Allerten in 1882. His wife was formerly Alice Car- penter, she being a native of the same State as her husband. Her father was Captain of a company of the One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry in the war of the Rebell- ion, and died during the war.
OHN JAMISON, attorney and coun- selor at law, is a native of County Cavan, Ireland, where he was born May 30, 1834, a son of William Jamison, who is still living in Ireland. John Jami- son came alone to America at the age of seventeen years, three of his brothers, William, Robert and Edward, coming to this country some time later. William is now engaged in farming near Madison, In- diana; Robert is a lumber dealer of Vienna, Illinois, and Edward, the youngest, is liv- ing at Seymour, this county. After com- ing to America, John Jamison remained in New York State a few months. He taught school for a number of years, and later began the study of law at Ironton, Ohio, with Ralph Leet. He came to Iowa in the fall of 1865, and engaged in the mer- cantile business at Genoa, Wayne County, remaining at that place till 1871, since which he has been a resident of Seymour. He then resumed the study of law, and was admitted to the bar at Corydon, March 24, 1873, and began to practice in the United States Courts, June 23, 1881. He has followed his profession successfully since coming here in 1871, he being the first practicing lawyer of Seymour. He was elected president of the Occidental Coal Company on the organization of the company, which position he still holds, and
was elected manager in the fall of 1885, and at present is devoting most of his time to the business interests of the company. He was married in Ohio to Sarah A. Mincks, a native of that State and daughter of Hi- ram Mincks, both her parents being de- ceased. They have seven children-Will- iam O., Emma L., Cora E., John W., Gertie, Sadie and Robert Emmet. Mr. Jamison generally affiliates with the Dem ocratic party, casting his first presidential vote for Buchanan in 1856, but has recently identified himself with the Greenback party. Mrs. Jamison's brother, David Mincks, came to Iowa several years before Mr. Jamison, and settled at Centerville where he lived till the spring of 1881. Hc then came to Walnut Township and bought a farm two and a half miles west of Seymour, where he died in January, 1885, leaving a widow and eight children. Another brother of Mrs. Jamison lives at Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa.
B. PARKS, section 17, Monroe Town- ship, postoffice Genoa, is a native of Jackson County, Ohio, born Febru- ary 26, 1841, a son of Jonathan L. and Sarah (Davis) Parks, natives of Harrison County, West Virginia. His father was a farmer, and the son was reared to the same occupation, remaining at home until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. In July, 1861, he enlisted in the defense of his country, and was assigned to Company D, Thirty-sixth Ohio Infantry. He served three years as a brave and faithful soldier, and participated in many severe battles, among others being Lewisburg, Antietam, Missionary Ridge, Winchester and South Mountain. He received wounds at Lewis- burg which disabled him for a time, but with this exception was never absent when duty called. He had five brothers in the Union army, two of whom died in their
388
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
country's service and sleep in Southern graves, one suffering the torments of rebel prisons, and died at Andersonville. After his return from the war he again engaged in agricultural pursuits, remaining in his native State about two years. In 1866 he moved to Kirksville, Adair County, Mis- souri, where he lived about a year, and in the fall of 1867 moved to Putnam County, the same State, and thence in the spring of 1869 to Wayne County, Iowa, and located on the farm where he now lives. He has a pleasant home and a valuable farm, his 200 acres of land being all under cultiva- tion. Mr. Parks was married March 5, 1865, to Mary A. Keller, of Pike County, Ohio, daughter of Jacob and Susannah (Schoon- over) Keller. They have a family of seven children-Addie, W. L. Z., David E. S., Robert R., Samuel N. D., Sarah Mina Lu- etta and Gertrude Oretta Frances. Mr. Parks and his wife and three older chil- dren are members of the United Brethren in Christ and he is an active and zealous worker in the church of his choice.
-
M RS. M. J. WRIGHT, widow of Henderson Wright, has been iden- tified with Wayne County for many years, and is one of the most re- spected residents of Wright Township. Mrs. Wright was born in Putnam County, Indiana, a daughter of William and Fanny Herst, her father being a native of Vir- ginia, and her mother of Tennessee. Her parents had a family of seven children, five of whom lived to maturity-Jackson, Wash- ington, Jefferson, Levi, and M. J., our sub- ject. Mrs. Wright was reared in her na- tive county, and was there united in mar- riage, June 13, 1852, to Henderson Wright, of Putnam County. To this union were born seven children-Joseph A., Mollie E., Thomas J., William L., Luella, Arthur H.
and David R. Mr. and Mrs. Wright came to Wayne County, Iowa, in 1861, and located in Wright Township, where Mr. Wright lived till his death. In 1873 Mrs. Wright returned to Indiana where she remained till 1876, since which she has been a resident of Wright Township, where she has a fine farm containing 160 acres of well-cultivated land. Two of her children reside with her at the home farm, Luella and Arthur, the latter being manager of the farm.
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.