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 40
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 40
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H. HATFIELD, section 17, Union Township, postoffice New York, was born September 28, 1835, in Vinton County, Ohio, a son of Isaac and Mary (Clark) Hatfield, natives respectively of Virginia and Ohio. He was reared in his native county, living on the homestead, where he was born thirty one years ago. He was married in Vinton County, to Ma- tilda Savely, a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, born December 27, 1840, a daughter of Jeptha and Elizabeth (Eakin) Savely. In 1867 he moved to Wayne County, Iowa, and lived a year in Richman Township. In 1868 he bought eighty acres of his present farm, which at that time was raw prairie, just burned over without a shrub or tree in sight, a lonely and dismal prospect. He built a part of his present residence and broke his land, living for a year on the crops of the farm rented in 1868. He now
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
has a pleasant home, 120 acres of land, and good buildings, erected by himself, pro- tected by a fine grove of his own planting, reaping now the reward of his years of hardship and discouragement. Mr. Hat- field is in politics a Democrat. He has held the offices of township trustee and school director, serving with efficiency and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. They have two children-Lucy, born in Vinton County, Ohio, and Belle, born in Wayne County.
ILLIAM L. MOORE, section 20, Union Township, postoffice New York, was born March 11, 1849, in Bartholomew County, Indiana, a son of Burris and Julia (Gardner) Moore, the father born in Lycoming County, Pennsyl- vania, and the mother in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Burris Moore in early life learned surveying and followed it till an aged man. For twenty years he was sur- veyor of Wayne County, where he settled in 1863, coming from Indiana to Davis County, Iowa, in 1859, thence to Lucas and then to Wayne County. He bought 320 acres of land in Union Township, paying $6.25 an acre, 200 acres being under cultivation. The family lived in a log house until 1874. when the present home was built. The mother died May 1, 1879, aged sixty-two years, and is buried in the New York ceme- tery. The family consisted of five children, three daughters and two sons, viz :- Cath- crine, Rachel, Cornelia, Joshua, and Will- iam L. Joshua enlisted in January, 1864, in the Fourth lowa Cavalry, and died a month later at Vicksburg, where he is buried. William L. Moore received a fair education, attending in his early boyhood the schools of his native county, and later those of Davis and Lucas counties. , He is
a prudent and energetic farmer, and well merits the good opinion of his fellow- townsmen. He well remembers the gloomy days during the war, when the care of the farms was left to boys and old men, the young and middle aged men being at the front fighting in defense of their country's honor. Mr. Moore was married Septem- ber 4, 1879, to Maggie E. McIntyre, a na- tive of Scioto County, Ohio, daughter of Rev. Thomas and Mary McIntyre. Her mother died in Ohio, and her father and six children came to Iowa in 1867, locating in Osceola, and two years later.to Wayne County. The father died in Vandalia, Missouri, August 15, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have one daughter-Grace, born August 25, 1881.
HOMAS ELDER was born in Co- shocton County, Ohio, June 25, 1841, a son of Mathew and Jane (Levry) Elder. His father was a native of the same county, his grandfather, John Elder, having been a pioneer of Coshocton, he coming to America from Ireland in an early day. Our subject was reared a farmer, and received his education in the rude log-cabin subscrip- tion schools of his neighborhood. He has been a resident of the State of Iowa since 1850, having come in that year with his parents, who settled in Monroe County. He was a soldier in the late war, enlisting as a private in Company H, Thirteenth Iowa Infantry. He served four years, during which time he participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, siege of Vicks- burg, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and others of minor importance. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Peach Tree Creek and incarcerated in Flor- ence and Andersonville prisons. Part of the time of his service he acted as Sergeant. After his discharge he returned home, and
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in the fall of 1866 he settled on the farm where he has since resided, with the excep- tion of three years while serving as county auditor, during which time he lived at Corydon. Mr. Elder was married October 4, 1866, to Miss Nancy Thompson, daugh- ter of Samuel and Margaret (Bain) Thomp- son. Of six children born to them four are living-Clara J., William A., Maggie M. and Ernest E. Mr. Elder is classed among the substantial farmers of Clay Township, where he has 490 acres of choice land, and is engaged in stock-raising in connection with his general farming. Both his and his wife's father are deceased. His mother resides in Monroe County, while his wife's mother makes her home in Warren Town- ship, Wayne County.
HOMAS HANCOCK, one of the old pioneers of Wayne County, now liv- Ing on section 31, Wright Township, was born in Putnam County, Indiana, May 18, 1824, a son of Thomas and Nancy (Hayes) Hancock, who were both natives of Ten- nessee, the father being a son of William Hancock, a native of Virginia, and a cousin of John Hancock, who was one of the sign- ers of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas and Nancy Hancock were among the first settlers of Putnam County, Indi- ana. They had five children who grew to maturity-William, Elizabeth, Jane, Han- nah, and Thomas, our subject, who was the youngest of the family. His youth was passed in assisting his father on the pioneer farm, and in attending the subscription schools, where he received but a limited education. He served as a soldier in the Mexican war, enlisting June 20, 1846, in Company A, First Indiana Infantry, and served on guard duty with his regiment on the Rio Grande River, most of his term of service. He remained in Putnam County till 1851, when he started for Iowa, 38
coming the entire distance with an ox team. He then entered land from the Govern- ment in Wright Township, with a land war- rant which he had received for his services during the Mexican war. February 8, 1853, he was married to Nancy Torr, a daughter of Harvey and Elizabeth E. Torr, of Put- nam County, Indiana. Of the six children born to this union four are living-T. J., Emily E., Nancy J. and Hannah. W. H. and John M. are deceased. Mr. Hancock began life a poor man, but is now classed among the prosperous and influential farm- ers of Wright Township, having acquired by his own industry and good management his fine farm, which contains 553 acres of valuable land. His farm is well improved, and under a high state of cultivation, with good residence and farm buildings. He has on his land a fine grove of maples, which is five acres in extent. On first com- ing to Wayne County, Mr. Hancock found wild game in abundance, and frequently displayed his skill as a hunter, often meet- ing with droves of deer. He is noted as being the best wolf hunter in this county, where he is considered the champion. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. He has served efficiently in most of the offices of his township since locating here. Both he and his wife are earnest mem- bers of the Missionary Baptist church.
EORGE RISSLER, an old settler of Wright Township, living on section 25, is a native of Indiana, where he ivas born January 31, 1830, in Putnam County. His parents, William and Susan (Boone) Rissler, were natives of the State of Virginia, and among the first settlers of Putnam County, Indiana. They had a family of seven children-Hiram, Phœbe George, Harriet, Lewis, John and Moses George Rissler, our subject, remained in
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
his native county till twenty-one years of age, his youth being spent in assisting his father on the pioneer farm. In the fall of 1853 he came to Wayne County, Iowa, by team, in company with some ten families who made settlements in this county. He first located on section 24, Wright Town- ship, where he remained four years, and in 1858 he settled on his present farm, where he has 230 acres of highly cultivated land, and a fine residence which he built in 1879, and his farm buildings are comfortable and commodious. Mr. Rissler was first mar- ried at the age of twenty-two years to Martha Morsan, of Putnam County, Indi- ana, who died in 1863 leaving three children -Elzam, Rozilla and Barzilla. For his second wife he married Margaret Adcock, of Wayne County, February 24, 1869, by whom he had two children-Charles and James. His second wife died June 21, 1872, and March 14, 1880, he was married to his present wife, Mrs. Nancy Taylor, a daughter of James Stevens. Mr. Rissler is a consistent member of the Christian church. He is one of the self-made men of Wayne County, having commenced life without means, acquiring his present fine property by hard work and good manage- ment. He is now surrounded with all the necessary comforts of life, and has a com- petency for his declining years.
ILLIAM HUTCHINS, section 17, Jefferson Township, is a native of Yorkshire, England, a son of Rich- ard and Sarah (Stine) Hutchins, who came to America in the spring of 1831, landing at Quebec. They went thence to La Prai- rie, Lower Canada, where the mother and one son died of the cholera. The family afterward went to Oneida County, New York, where they lived on a farm seven years, and then moved to Seneca County,
where the father died in the fall of 1845. After the death of his father our subject and his brother came West as far as Han- cock County, Illinois, and soon after to Jackson County, Iowa, locating on the farm where he now lives, in Wayne County, in 1860. He owns 280 acres of choice land, his improvements being among the best in the township, which he has accumulated by industry, frugality and economy. He was married August 28, 1862, to Miss M. E. Kerr, a daughter of William Kerr, of Jack- son County, Iowa. Mrs. Hutchins died leaving two children-Richard and George W. October 6, 1868, Mr. Hutchins mar- ried Emma Williams. They have seven children-Willard A., Lanento B., Mary A., Luella M., Franklin K., Charles W. and Apollo J. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchins are members of the United Brethren church, and among the honored and influential citi- zens of Jefferson Township.
AMUEL EWING, one of the well- known and respected citizens of Wright Township, residing on sec- tion 10, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Oxford Township, Chester County, Sep- tember 20, 1816, his parents, Samuel and Martha (Carver) Ewing, being natives of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. To his par- ents were born two children, a daughter Mary, and Samuel, our subject. Samuel Ewing lived in his native county till twen- ty-five years of age when he removed to Illinois, locating in Fulton County of that State, residing there for twenty-two years. He then went to McDonough County, Illinois, and after a two years' residence in that county he came in 1865 to Wayne County, Iowa. He first located at Confi- dence, making that place his home till 1870, when he settled on his present farm in Wright Township which contains 130 acres
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of well cultivated land. Mr. Ewing was united in marriage, July 6, 1843, to Miss Eliza Ann Duffee, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ewing, of whom eight survive - Martha Ann, John, Andrew, Mary, Samuel, Frank, Melvin and Cassius. One child, Marion, is deceased. Both Mr. Ewing and his wife are earnest members of the Christian church.
AMUEL L. VEST, of Allerton, is one of Wayne County's early settlers, the year of his permanent location in the county being 1856. He is a native of Putnam County, Indiana, born in 1830. His father, Samuel Vest, was a native of Virginia, and removed with his parents to Indiana. The grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the war of 1812, and par- ticipated in the battle of Tippecanoe. Sam- uel L. Vest was reared in his native State, and in September, 1855, started with his wife for the West. His intention was to go up the Des Moines River and perhaps locate in Boone County, but afterward he decided to settle in the southern part of the State. He left his wife in Wapello County, and continued his journey on horseback, but made no location that fall, returning to Wapello County, where he spent the win- ter. In February, 1856, he returned to Wayne County, which he had visited the previous fall, and bought 125 acres of land in what is now Clinton Township, and the next month made it his home. In 1858 he sold his land, and the next year being elected county treasurer, he removed to Corydon, returning to Clinton Township in 1861 at the end of his term of office. He has been prominently identified with the history of Clinton Township since coming to the county, and was one of the board of trustees appointed to organize the town- ship, which he named for his native town- I
ship in Indiana, and has since served in nearly all its official relations. He has grad- ually increased his possessions until he now owns about 1,000 acres of valuable land. In 1875 he removed to Allerton and en- gaged in the business of a broker, and in 1882 became established in the mercantile trade. He has been numbered among the prominent business men of the town, tak- ing an active interest in all that tends to its development and improvement. Mr. Vest has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married in Indiana, was Emily Elizabeth Coffee, a native of Ken- tucky. She died in February, 1875, and he subsequently married E. L. Trumbo, a na- tive of Pennsylvania. Mr. Vest has no chil- dren, but has reared several not his own, giving them a home and a good education. In early life he was a Whig in political faith, but since 1857 has affiliated with the Democratic party, and is also a believer in free trade.
AMES L. MCCALLISTER, one of the prominent and influential citizens of Lineville, Iowa, is a native of Ken- tucky, born January 25, 1834. In 1836 his father, Merritt McCallister, moved with his family to Parke County, Indiana, and set- tled in the woods, his neighbors being In- dians and wild animals. After clearing and improving a farm in Indiana, in 1850 he moved to Monroe County, Iowa, and thence a few years later to Wapello County. James L. in his youth was obliged to assist in the work of improving the pioneer farms of his father, and his educational advant- ages were limited to what he could obtain in the schools of a new country in an early day. After reaching manhood he engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself, which he continued until 1874, when he located at Lineville, and for four years was engaged in the furniture business. He then em-
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
barked in the grocery business, which he carried on three years, and since 1881 has lived a retired life, loaning his money. He was one of the incorporators of the Line- ville Bank and is still one of its stock-hold- ers and directors. Mr. McCallister was married March 5, 1857, to Miss Sophronia Saylors, a native of Hancock County, Illinois, a daughter of William Saylors, a native of Indiana, and for many years a resident of White County, Tennessee, sub- sequently removing to Hancock County, Illinois, and in 1856 to Wapello Couuty, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. McCallister are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church South.
AMES A. GOODHART was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1834, his father, Martin Goodhart, being a native of the same county, and is now deceased. Our subject removed with his parents to Clarke County, Ohio, and there he was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He left Clarke County in the fall of 1859 when he located in Grundy County, Missouri, but in May, 1861, he was obliged to leave on account of his loyalty to the Union. He then cameto Wayne County, Iowa, where he met a rebel with whom he exchanged his property in Missouri for land here. During the late war he was a member of the Iowa State militia for a time. After coming to Iowa he experienced many hard- ships incident to a life in a new country. He has always followed agricultural pur- suits and is now engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 17, Benton Town -. ship, where he owns a well-cultivated farm of 200 acres. His land when he first set- tled on it was raw prairie, entirely unim- proved, and wolves, wild turkey and deer were then in abundance. His first barrel of salt was bought in Ottumwa at a cost of
$5, and other necessaries were proportion- ately high in those carly days. Mr. Good- hart was married in the fall of 1858 to Miss Ida A. Hook, a daughter of James A. Hook, who is now deceased. Eight of the ten children born to them are living-Mary J., Eliza, Alwilda, Mina, Ida, Martin, Iva and Fay. Dora and Fay are deceased. Mary J. married Augustus Hughes of Benton Township and has two children-Blanche and Guy. In his political views Mr. Good- hart is a Republican.
R. SLACK, section 22, Jackson Township, postoffice Harvard, is among the successful and enter- prising farmers and stock-raisers of the township. He is a native of Kentucky, born in Harden County, October 26, 1845, a son of William H. and Matilda P. (Hill) Slack. When he was six years old his par- ents moved to Davis County, Iowa, and a year later to Decatur County, where he was reared, receiving his education in the common-schools. His father was a farmer and his time was spent in assisting in the farm work until seventeen years old. When the war of the Rebellion broke out and his neighbors and friends were enlisting in de- fense of the old flag, his young heart was filled with patriotism, and October 21, 1862, he enlisted and was assigned to Company M, Third Iowa Cavalry, Colonel Bussey commanding. He served nearly three years, participating in all the engagements of his regiment, the more important being Pea Ridge, Tupelo, Arkansas Post and Guntown. He was discharged at Atlanta, Georgia, August 9, 1865, and returned to Towa, to his father's home, in Davis Coun- ty, where the latter had moved in his ab- sence. He remained in Davis County until 1876 when he moved to Wayne County and settled in Jackson Township, where he
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TI D N FOUNDATIONS.
Thomas Beal
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
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now lives. He has a fine farm of 240 acres all well improved, with a good residence and comfortable and commodious farm buildings. He is engaged in general farm- ing and stock-raising, his stock being of the best grades. Mr. Slack was married January 3, 1869, to Miss Mary Good, daughter of John and Frances (Butterman) Good, of Davis County. They are the parents of five children-William H., John L., James R., Ollie B. and Ora May. Mr. Slack is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization in which he is much interested.
HOMAS BEAL was born in Madison County, Indiana, October 15, 1830, a son of John and Rebecca Beal, who were born, reared and married in North Carolina. Soon after their marriage they settled in Madison County, Indiana, living there till their death, the father at the age of seventy-seven, and the mother at the age of seventy-four years. Thomas Beal lived in his native county till twenty-three years of age, when he was married to Mary Fer- rell, who was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, November 23, 1836, a daughter of Edward and Rozelle (Fish) Ferrell, natives · of Pennsylvania, but were married in the State of Ohio. Of the twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Beal, nine are living -Rebecca, a graduate of Burlington Com- mercial College, now the wife of George Richardson ; John E., married Mary Brace- well ; Theodocia, a graduate of the Busi- ness College at Keokuk, Iowa, now assist- ant cashier of the Wayne County Bank ; Roxy, wife of Benjamin Hughes; Mary Nevada, Seth Thomas, Hattie, Dollie and Clever. Three children died in infancy. In the fall of 1854 Mr. Beal came to Wayne County, Iowa, and bought eighty acres of land in Benton and Clay townships, the
township line running through his farm. He settled on this place in the spring of 1855, and-added to his original purchase till he owned about 2,700 acres, which he · still owns, with the exception of three quarter-sections, which he has given to his married children. In the summer of 1865 Mr. Beal substituted a fine brick residence for the dwelling which had been a shelter to his family from the time they settled in Benton Township. In February, 1880, he removed with his family to Corydon, where he has a fine brick residence, erected in 1879. Mr. Beal has long been one of the prominent stock-raisers of Wayne County, and his financial success in that pursuit has been exceptional. He is also one of the largest land-owners in the county, his success being due to his indus- try and good management. Long and continuous hard work has caused a heart trouble, which rendered it necessary for him to retire from the active duties of life. Both Mr. and Mrs. Beal and several of their children are members of the Missionary Baptist church, the parents having been connected with that religious body for thirty years. In politics Mr. Beal is a Democrat. Mrs. Beal's parents came to Wayne County in 1854, and settled on a farm in Corydon Township, where the father died February 15, 1864. The mother still lives at the homestead.
M RS. LUCY L. BYRUM, section 19, Jefferson Township, is a native of Dearborn County, Indiana, born June 28, 1846. Her father, Seth Cook, was a native of Kentucky, and by trade a saddler, but later followed agricult- ural pursuits. He came to lowa with his family in the fall of 1851, and located in Wapello County, where he died in July, 1875. Lucy L. was married March 19,
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1868, to Edmond L. Byrum, who was born in Wapello County, Iowa, July 2, 1845, a son of William Byrum. He was reared a farmer in his native county, and when his country was in danger enlisted in her de- fense in Company B, Eighth Iowa Cavalry, and served over, two years. He partici- pated in many of the severest battles of the war, the more prominent being the Atlanta campaign, Nashville, Franklin and the great Wilson raid through Tennessee, Ala- bama, Mississippi and Georgia. While in the service his health was injured by a sun- stroke, which ultimately caused his death. He left a family of six children-Nancy A., Mary R., Seth C., Edward W., James B., and Maria E. He was a man of strict in- tegrity, and left many friends, in whose memory he still remains as a type of true American manhood.
OHN M. READ, son of John Read, was born in Lake County, Illinois, in 1842, and in 1856 accompanied his parents to Iowa. He afterward went to Keokuk where he was living at the break- ing out of the war of the Rebellion. He enlisted in August, 1861, in the Third lowa Infantry, and served three years, being in active service the whole of his term of en- listment. He participated in the battle of Pea Ridge, March, 1862, being at that time in the command of General Curtis. Later he participated with General Grant in the Vicksburg campaign and after the fall of Vicksburg was in the command of General Sherman. In 1864 the command operated in the vicinity of Memphis, Tennessee. After his discharge he returned to Keokuk where he lived until 1870, when he moved to Wayne County where he has since lived. He engaged in harness making at Allerton six years, and also superintended his farm near the village. In the fall of 1881 he was
elected sheriff of Wayne County and was re-elected in 1883, holding the office four years. He now lives on his farm in Jack- son Township. He married Susanna Mor- rison, daughter of William P. and Susanna Morrison, and has two children-William and Sue. Mr. Read was reared in the Re- publican school of politics and cast his first presidential vote in 1864 for Abraham Lin- coln.
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AMUEL ELDER, section 33, Clay Township, was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, July 3, 1817, a son of John Elder, who came from Ireland to the United States about the year 1803. He first located in Virginia where he remained a year and a half, when he removed to Coshocton County. Coshocton County was mostly inhabited by Indians and wild animals when John Elder first settled there, and there he experienced all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, making his home in that county till his death. Our subject remembers well when his fa- ther had to keep the sheep in high pens at night to protect them from the wolves. He was reared in his native county, remaining there till 1846. He was married March 23, 1843, to Ann E. Baker, a daughter of George Baker. Of the nine children born to this union five survive-Mrs. Margaret E. Men- denhall, Mrs. Euphemia S. Acheson, Mrs. Martha S. Acheson, John N. and Elmer E. Mr. Elder settled in the woods of Greene County, Indiana, in 1846, where he im- proved a farm, on which he lived till the spring of 1853 when he removed to Monroe County, Michigan. He came to Wayne County, Iowa, in the year 1866, when he settled on the farm where he has since rc- sided. Mr. Elder has a fine farm contain- ing 288 acres of well cultivated land, which he has acquired by his industry and good management. He is a highly respected
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