USA > Iowa > Cherokee County > Biographical history of Cherokoe County, Iowa : Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each ; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state ; engravings of prominent citizens in Cherokee County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the county, the cities, and townships > Part 66
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three years there. His next move was to Lake County, Colorado, where he took up his old business; he drifted about through the West, went to Leadville, where he resided four years, and finally came to Cherokee, Iowa. Mr. Morrison was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hobart, a native of the State of New York, in 1872. They are the parents of five children: Edward W., Dana H., Hal- lie, Gertie and Durant. Mr. Morrison is a member of Speculative Lodge, No. 307, A. F. & A. M .; of Burning Bush Chapter, No. 90, R. A. M., and of Crusade Commandery, No. 39, K. T., of which he is junior warden. In politics he is a Republican, taking an active part in local as well as national campaigns. He has been a very successful man in his business operations, and now owns 234 acres of good land, most of which is well tilled, and stocked with cattle and hogs. Mr. Morrison has had a very eventful career, has seen mnelı of this great country, and has learned much of human nature in his extended travels.
E. HOBART, a leading agriculturist of Pilot Township, has been a resi- dent of Cherokee County since 1879. He was born in Orange County, Vermont, April 11, 1825. His parents, Caleb and Lydia (Packard) Hobart, were natives of the State of Massachusetts. The father was en- gaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, and naturally the son spent his early years at work in the mills; the educational advantages lie re ceived were afforded by the common schools. Not content with the limited business op- portunities offered in New England, Mr. Hobart emigrated to Wisconsin, settling in. Winnebago County, where he remained two years; he then removed to Waupaca County, Wisconsin, being one of the pioneers of that 1
county. In 1876 he went to Outagamie County, Wisconsin, and lived there three years engaged in the lumber trade. In 1879 he came to Cherokee County and purchased eighty acres of land; he was prosperous in this undertaking, and later added forty acres to the land first bought; he has placed it nn- der good cultivation and has added many im- provements in the way of buildings and planting trees. The farmn is divided into fields for convenience in raising cattle. There is a marked air of thrift and prosperity abont the Hobart farin which betokens the ability of the owner to follow agricultural pursuits snc. cessfully. Mr. Hobart was married February 3, 1850, at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to Miss Jane Augusta Parker, the daughter of Ira and Leticia (Millen) Parker. The parents were natives of New Hampshire, but removed to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where they were among the pio- neers; they lived in Oshkosh from 1848 until deatlı. Mrs. Hobart is a woman of unusual intelligence, and was a successful teacher; she received her education at Keeseville, New York. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hobart are worthy members of the Episcopal Church at Chero. kee, and have the confidence and respect of all who know them.
ILLIAM BRUCE, proprietor of Maple Grove farm, is one of the leading cit- izens of Pilot Township. He was born in Huntingdonshire, England, Decem- ber 30, 1854, and is a son of George and Catherine (Bull) Brnce. In his infancy his parents emigrated to America, settling in Clinton County, Iowa. There they lived twelve years, and then removed to Jones County, Iowa, remaining there until 1871, when they came to Cherokee County. Will- iam was educated in the common schools,
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
and received the training of a farmer's son. Having confidence in his ability to manage a farm of his own he made a pur- chase of land in Marcus Township, Cherokee County, which he placed under cultivation and improved in other ways. In 1884 he sold this place and bought 160 acres of Henry Davis, which he has made his home; later he made an additional purchase of 160 acres, and has placed the whole 320 acres in an advanced state of cultivation. Maple Grove is consid- ered one of the best farms in the county; tlie residence, built in modern style, was erected in 1888 at a cost of $1,000; it is surrounded by shade and ornanamental trees and is a most attractive home. There are substantial buildings for the care and protection of live- stock, four acres of fine maple trees, and an orchard, the two latter being most desira- ble improvements. Mr. Bruce was married March 27, 1884, to Miss Jennie C. Hartley, daughter of G. W. Hartley, of Marcus Town- ship; her mother was Mary Hankerson; she was born in Illinois, but was reared and educated near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bruce; Rodger W., Roy W. and Harvey HI. Mr. Bruce's political opinions find ex- pression in the principles of the Republi- can party. He and his wife are honored members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are among the mnost worthy residents of tlie township.
SAPH PINGREY, deceased, had the honor to be one of the early settlers of Silver Township, Cherokee Connty, having located there in 1869. He was born July 21, 1799, and was a son of Nathaniel and Anna (Robbins) Pingrey. He was mar- ried March 9, 1841, to Miss H. C. Johnson,
a daughter of Jonathan and Hannah (Cenedy) Johnson, natives of Salem, Massachusetts. For many years Asaph Pingrey lived in Rut- land County, Vermont. In 1855 he removed to Shiawassee County, Michigan, and lived there until 1869, when he came to Cherokee County, as before stated. He and his wife reared three children; Miss L. R. Pingrey, who resides on the homestead; W. M., of Woodson County, Kansas, and A. W. Pin- grey. Asaph Pingrey died June 26, 1880. His wife resides on the homestead in Pilot Township. A. W. Pingrey was born in Rut- land County, Vermont, August 11, 1849. He is a son of Asaph and H. C. (John- son) Pingrey; when six years of age his parents removed to Shiawassee County, Mich- igan, where he spent his youth; his time was divided between attending the graded schools and attending to the duties usually devolving upon a farmer's son. In 1869 he came with his father to Cherokee Connty; they im- proved 700 acres of land in Silver Township. In 1883, after the death of the father, the family purchased their present farin in Pilot Township. Mr. Pingrey casts his suffrage with the Republican party.
W. BURDGE .- One of the honored and early settlers of Pilot Township was S. W. Burdge, a son of English parents, William and Ann (Clapp) Burdge. Onr subject was born in Onondaga County, New York, November 2, 1836, and at the age of ten years reinoved with his parents to Washington, now Ozaukee County, Wiscon- sin, where he grew to manhood. His father was a blacksmith, and at an early age he had received an excellent training in this busi- ness; he received his education in the com- inon schools. In 1858 he went to Ohio, re-
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maining there two years; desirous of seeing inore of the great West, he pushed on to the coast in 1860; he resided in California six years, and then returned to Wisconsin, stop- ping at Madison for eighteen months. Not yet satisfied with what he had seen of this country he took a trip through Missouri and Kansas, returning to Marshalltown, Iowa, where he resided until 1869. In that year he took a homestead of eighty acres which is now his home; as settlers were few, and tlie trades not crowded, Mr. Burdge made use of his early occupation, and also improved his farm. He now owns 117 acres of Cherokee County's best land; there are good buildings, a grove, and an orchard of four acres. Mr. Burdge was nnited in marriage in 1872 to Miss Malinda Bickford, who died in six years. He was married to his present wife, who was Miss Minerva Jones, in October, 1879. Tliree children have been born of this union: Willie F., Ann Eliza and Charles Arthur. Mr. Bnrdge casts his suffrage with the Republi- can party. His honorable dealings, and his frank and cordial manners have won for him inany friends.
M. MAPES, deceased, was one of the favorably known and lrighly esteemed citizens of Pilot Township. He was born in Orange County, New York, April 1, 1816, and is a son of Partial and Maria Mapes. When a lad seven years of age liis parents removed to Bradford County, Penn- sylvania, where he was reared to farm life, attending the district school during the win- ter season. He was married July 4, 1845, at Elmira, New York, to Eleanor Baker. By this marriage one daughter was born, Mary E., wife of Jesse McCurry, of Silver Town- ship. After his marriage Mr. Mapes resided 42
in Chemung County, New York. Mrs. Elea- nor Mapes died February 16, 1848. Mr. Mapes was married December 9, 1849, to Miss Ann F. Miller, of Chemung County, New York, a daughter of Hiram B. and Mary Ann (Russell) Miller. Hiram B. Mil- ler came to this county in 1867, and lived here several years; he then removed to Ne- braska, and died there July 12, 1881. His widow died July 5, 1882, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Mapes. A. M. Mapes removed from Chemung Connty, New York, to Allegany County, New York, and in 1863 he went to Rush County, Indiana; at the end of two years he went to Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and in 1867 he came to Chero- kee County and took a homestead of eighty acres, which he improved and made his home until his death, which occurred July 26, 1883. He left a widow and one son to mourn his loss. Politically he affiliated with the Republican party. He was a faithful mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church for twenty-nine years, serving as steward, class- leader, and as trustee. He was a man of strong integrity of character, and had the con- fidence of a wide circle of friends. His wife still resides on the place, which has been her home for twenty-one years. E. L. Mapes, a leading agricnlturist of Pilot Township, has been a resident of Cherokee County since his fifteenth year. He was born in Che- mung County, New York, August 12, 1853, and is a son of A. M. and Ann E. (Miller) Mapes. He grew to manhood as Iowa was developing from a wild Territory to a cultivated and prosperous State. January 1, 1879, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Hutchins, of Cherokee Connty. She was born in Winnebago County, Illinois, and is a daughter of Henry and Sarah Hutchins. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mapes: Lewis C .. Law-
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rence E. and Minnie E. The Mapes farm contains 120 acres of land in a high state of cultivation; there is a comfortable honse, good buildings for the protection of live- stock and grain, and two acres of fine grove. Mr. Mapes affiliates with the Republican party.
C. GILMORE is a Pennsylvanian by birth, as are many thrifty citizens of Cherokee County. He was born March 25, 1833, and is the son of John and Esther (Criss) Gilmore, natives of Pennsyl- vania. A. C. was two years old when his parents removed to Meigs County, Ohio, where his mother died. In 1861 the father moved to Johnson County, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his days. Until eighteen years of age our subject was trained to agricultural pursuits; he then learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed with some interruption for twenty-five years. At the age of twenty-two years Vie determined to see the western borders of this great con- tinent, and so went to California by water. He remained npon the Pacific Coast for six years, working at his trade, and holding some interest in mines. In 1860 he returned to the States, voting for Lincoln while on ship- board. He returned to Middleport, Meigs County, Ohio, and in 1861 lie came to Linn County, Iowa, locating eight miles southeast of Cedar Rapids; he bought the land where Ely's Station now stands; he resided there and at Western College, Linn County, until 1876, with the exception of one year, 1863, which he spent in California, making the trip overland. In 1876 Mr. Gilmore came to Cherokee County, and purchased wild land which he has brought to an advanced state of cultivation; the place contains 240 acres, lias
a good story and a half house, pleasantly situ- ated, and all the buildings necessary to gen- eral farming and stock-raising. Mr. Gilmore was married in Meigs County, Ohio, Novem- ber 18, 1854, to Miss Hattie Ault, who was born at New Albany, Indiana. She was three years old when her parents, Frederick and Mary (Wheeler) Ault, removed to Meigs County, Ohio. Her father died in the East, and her mother died at her (Mrs. Gilmore's) home. Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore have had born to them two children: Charles II., a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, who was educated at Western College, and now resides at Elmwood, Nebraska, and Daisy E., resid- ing at home. Charles H. Gilmore married Miss Rosa A. Wills, of this county, and three children have been born to them: Frederick J., Edith May and Lillie Belle. Mr. Gil- more is a man who has traveled mnch, and with wide-open eyes; he is well informed upon general topics, and is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Pilot Township.
V. GROVES is one of the early set- tlers of Pilot Township, having settled there in 1869. He was born in Delaware County, Ohio, August 13, 1836, and is the son of Adam and Catherine Groves, natives of Pennsylvania, of German ancestry. M. V. passed his yonth in his na- tive county, assisting to clear the heavily tim- bered lands of which his father's farm was composed. In 1855 he came to Clinton County, Iowa, and engaged in farming. At the breaking out of the late Civil War he was not slow to respond to the call for men ; he enlisted in April, 1861, in the Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Company I, and served his country faithfully. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Iuka, Corinth, and
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
several other engagements. He was honora- bly discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Pulaski, Tennessee. He then re- turned to Clinton County, Iowa. January 9, 1865, he was married to Miss Mary Ann Mc- Laughlin, a native of Lowell, Massachusetts. In 1867 Mr. Groves removed to Jackson County, Iowa, remaining there one year; then he went to Scott County, Iowa, and spent one year there. He then came to Cherokee County and took a homestead of eighty acres in Pilot Township, being one of the first settlers in that neighborhood. His success in cultivating the first tract of land encouraged him to in- vest his surplus funds in other lands, and he now owns 280 acres in a high state of culti- vation, with many modern improvements; he has planted two acres of grove, which adds very largely to the comfort and beauty of the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Groves are the parents of four children: John Emmet, a graduate of the Cherokee High School, now finishing his education at the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois; Ida M., Florence and Agnes Laura. Mr. Groves is a Democrat, having left the Republican ranks some time ago, being a firm believer in free trade. He is a member of the G. A. R., and assisted in the organization of the General Custer Post, No. 25, at Cherokee. He is a man plain of speech, of a keen sense of right and wrong, a highly respected citizen of the county.
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OHN FAIRWEATHER, an enterprising farmer of Pilot Township, was born in Scotland, in June, 1835. He is a son of W. and Susan (Carnegie) Fairweather, also natives of Scotland; the father was a miller by trade. John spent his boyhood in attend- ing school and in assisting his father in the mill. He remained at home until he was
nineteen years old, when he took a position as attendant in a lunatic asylum. Desiring to see America, and try what fortune there might be for him in the New World, he sailed from his native land in 1855, and after landing pursued his journey to Washington County, New York, where he remained one year. Thence he went to Chicago and worked there two years, principally at boiler- making. He then went to Will County, Illinois, and engaged in farm work until 1862, when he volunteered to defend the flag of his adopted country. He enlisted in September, 1862, in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company E, under Cap- tain Siegley. He was sent to Springfield, Illinois, and thence to the South. While at Lake Providence, Louisiana, he received an appointment as Second Lieutenant of the First Mississippi Heavy Artillery, garrisoned at Vicksburg, and while at that place he was stricken with heart disease, and was sent to a hospital; there he was confined between three and four months, and in October, 1863, he was discharged. He returned to his home in Will County, Illinois, and it was some time before he was strong enough to resmine his accustomed duties. In 1885 Mr. Fairweather removed to Cherokee County, and purchased 160 acres of land in Pilot Township, on which he is making his ho ne. The farm is well improved, and everything indicates the thrift and prosperity of the owner. Mr. Fair- weather was married in 1859, to Miss Jane Hall, and by this union eight children have been born: Mungo, William, David, Agnes, Elizabeth, Susan, Matilda and John. In January, 1876, Mrs. Fairweather died, deeply mourned by her sorrowing family. Mr. Fair- weather was again married in 1879, to Miss Ellen Scarriet, a danghter of Perry and Nel- lie (Boardman) Scarriet. Two children have been born of this marriage: Thomas and
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
Hazel. The parents are most worthy and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church.
OHN RIDDLE has for the past twenty years been an honored member of the farming community of Pilot Township. He was born in Holmes County, Ohio, May 29, 1842. His father was Matthew B. Rid- dle, a native of Ohio, of English ancestry; his mother was Eleanor (Underhill) Riddle, a native of the State of Pennsylvania. Her parents were married in Pennsylvania, and removed to Holmes County when she was but two years of age. Caught in the tide of Western emigration his parents drifted to Iowa, and settled in Story County; afterward the father removed to Crawford County, and died there. The mother died in Monona County, Iowa. John Riddle was bronght up on his father's farm, and received a common- school education. During the late Rebellion he enlisted in the Twenty-third Iowa In- fantry, in June, 1861, but being under age his father took him out of the service. He again enlisted November 10, 1865, in the Nineteenth United States Infantry, Company B. and served three years. He was in the battle of Knoxville, and was under General Steel's command in 1865; he was honorably discharged October 6. 1868. at Fort Union, New Mexico, and returned to Crawford County, Iowa, his father having settled there during the war. There he lived until 1869, when he took a Government homestead of eighty acres of land. He has been very suc- cessful in placing this land under cultivation, and has reaped abundant harvests; he has added to his first purchase of land, and now owns 160 acres of superior land; it is well fenced, has a comfortable residence, a good
barn, an orchard and a grove; the place is well watered by a natural stream, rendering it very desirable as a stock farm. Mr. Rid- dle was married November 4, 1869, in Craw- ford County, Iowa, to Miss Nancy Randall, a daughter of Peter and Margaret (Tyra) Ran. dall. Three children have been born of this marriage: Mary Margaret Eleanor, Rose Alma, and Effie May, who died at the age of fourteen months. Mr. Riddle stanchly sup- ports the issues of the Democratic party. By a long residence in the county, and a life of unquestionable integrity, he has won the re- spect of all who know him.
H. GILLETT, a farmer well known in Sheridan Township, was born July 10, 1848, in La Salle County, Illinois. His father, D. S. Gillett, was born in Con- necticut, in 1820; his mother was Susan Worsley; she was born in Ohio in 1823. The boyhood and youth of our subject was passed in the borders of his native county; there he received the advantages afforded by the public schools of that time. Following his first impulse to rely upon his own resonr- ces, he left home at an early age and went to Mendota, Illinois, and resided there until his twenty-second year. He then came to Chero- kee County and entered eighty acres of land in section 28, Sheridan Township. There he spent twelve years in advancing this land to a high state of cultivation, and in making numerous improvements. His next inove was to Sioux Falls, Dakota; thence he went to Meriden, Iowa, and resided there three years. At the present time he has under his care and direction the farm of Mr. Beal. Mr. Gillett was married March 10, 1870, to Miss Lydia M. Quinn, daughter of H. S. and Ah- bie L. (Myers) Quinn, who was born June
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30, 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Quinn are natives of the State of Vermont, and removed to Bn- rean County, Illinois, when Mrs. Gillett was two years old. There she was reared and re- ceived her education. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gillett: Louis M., Fred II. and Nellie M. Mr. Gillett is a stanch adherent to the principles of the Re- publican party. The people of his township have called upon him to serve thein as trus- tee, which office he has held for three years; he has served as road supervisor one terin. He and his wife are worthy and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are ever ready to support any measures that will better the community.
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MCKINNEY is one of the prominent members of the farming community of Liberty Township. He is a native of Highland County, Ohio, born November 10, 1845. His parents, Jesse and Rebecca A. (Crone) Mckinney, were also natives of the Buckeye State. Until twenty-four years of age he engaged in agricultural pursuits, re- ceiving a liberal education in the common schools, and at Central University, Pella, Iowa. He abandoned farmning entirely, and for several years taught school. He then in- vested in a farm in Polk County, and from 1872 until 1876 he devoted himself to its cultivation. He then removed to Cherokee County, purchasing a farm in Marcus Town. ship, on which he lived until 1882. He then bought 240 acres in Liberty Township which he is now making his home. Mr. Mckinney was married March 14, 1872, to Miss Jane Prunty, daughter of Elias and Harriett (Cas- sel) Prunty; she was born in Jasper County, Iowa, November 3, 1849. Four children have been born of this union: Virgil Irving,
Clarence Roy, Robert Francis and Anna Ur- ville. In politics Mr. Mckinney adheres to the principles of the Greenback party, but casts an independent suffrage; lie has served as county supervisor three years, as township clerk, and is the present trustee of Liberty Township. Both Mr. and Mr. McKin - ney are worthy members of the Christian Church, Mr. Mckinney being an elder of the same. Mr. Mckinney has made excellent improvenients on his farin in Liberty Town- ship; he has erected a residence at a cost of $1,500, and two good barns; he lias planted eleven acres of grove which adds very much to the value of the farm. He devotes himn- self to general farming and stock-raising, and has done his part in building up that portion of the county in which he lives. He is frank and cordial in manner, honest and upright in all his dealings, and has the confidence and respect of all who know hin.
R. CHARLTON, a representative and intelligent farmer of Liberty Township, is a native of Belfast, Ireland,born Feb- ruary 10, 1857. His parents are natives of the beautiful Emerald Isle, and there he passed his yonth until thirteen years of age, when the family bade farewell to their old home, and sailed to America, " the land of the free and the home of the brave." After landing in this country they proceeded to Illi- nois, and settled in Jo Daviess County, re- inaining there one year; then they removed to La Fayette County, Wisconsin, where our subject resided until 1881. He then came to Cherokee County, Iowa, and bought a farm of eighty acres in Liberty Township which he is still making his home. Mr. Charlton was united in marriage January 29, 1884, to Miss Sadie Anderson, daughter of John and
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Jane (Burroughs) Anderson. Mrs. Charlton was born in La Fayette County, Wisconsin, September 11, 1858, and received her educa- tion in the Plattsville State Normal School of Wisconsin. Her father is a native of Scot- land, and has served a term in the Legisla- ture of Wisconsin, taking an active interest in local politics. Mr. and Mrs. Charlton have been blessed with two children: Edith Blanche and Aruba Belle. Mr. Charlton is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He has served as a member of the School Board. and is the present clerk of the township. Both he and his wife are worthy and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and are numbered among the lead- ing people of Liberty Township.
AMES HENRY TEMPLEMAN. This gentleman, who is one of the progressive spirits of Pitcher Township, has many of the qualities that go to make up a successful man. An active brain to plan and execute witli good judgment and discrimination, he has made a comfortable fortune where many men less vigorous have merely held their own. Methodical in his every transaction, he has surrounded himself with the con- veniences that make a home enjoyable. His house is roomy and comfortable, and taken in connection with his large and convenient barn, sets off to good advantage the broad and beautiful acres surrounding the home. The residence is but a few minutes' drive from Aurelia, the road lying through a fer- tile and well-cultivated region. Mr. Temple- man was born in Henry County, Indiana, December 4, 1839, and is a son of Joseph and Lodema A. (Hammersley) Templeman. Henry Temple:nan, the grandfather of J. H., came from North Carolina, and the Ham-
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