USA > Iowa > Adams County > Biographical history of Montgomery and Adams counties, Iowa : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each ; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state, engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 36
USA > Iowa > Montgomery County > Biographical history of Montgomery and Adams counties, Iowa : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each ; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state, engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 36
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During the Rebellion when our country was in need of soldiers to protect her flag, Mr. Thouipson was not slow in answering to the call. He enlisted August 13, 1862, in Company D, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served with bravery until he was honorably discharged at New Orleans, August 10, 1865. During all that time lie was never wounded or taken prisoner, but made many narrow escapes.
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The war closing, he returned North, was paid off at Davenport, Iowa, and soon after- ward engaged in farming at his present loca- tion, section 12, Washington township. He had come from Indiana to Iowa with his par- ents in 1844, and from Wapello county to Adams county in 1857. At that time there was only one store in Quincy, its supply of goods being brought from St. Joseph, Mis- souri. Mr. Thompson now owns 300 acres of land, all under a good state of cultivation, his principal crops being wheat, oats, corn and grass. His dwelling, fronting the sec- tion road, is nicely located on an elevation which commands an imposing view of a most beautiful and fertile country. In short, he is well fixed.
Mr. Thompson was married in 1865 to Miss Martha A. Schooling, danghter of R. H. Schooling, an old and most highly re- spected settler of Adams county. Twelve children have been born to them, four of whom died in infancy. Those living are Rhoda S., who married Harrison Powell, a farmer of Adams county, and has two chil- dren living, Milla M. and Emory L .; Lowrey J., who is engaged in farming on his own account on a claim in Custer county, Ne- braska; Charles M., farming for himself on the home place; and Louis M., Almira A., Louisa W., Chester A. and Jessie Pearl. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Baptist Church. Politically he is independent, casting his vote for the man rather than the party. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and is a good example of the worthy, progressive and hospitable farmer.
In connection with the family history of Mr. Thompson it should be further stated that he had two brothers, John L. and James A., who served in the army, the former in the same company and at the same time with him. John L. was wounded in a running
fight, but is still living, aged fifty-five years. James A., a member of the same company, was mustered out after serving some time; was discharged at the hospital at Keokuk, Iowa; died in 1868, at the age of twenty- seven years, from the effects of army expo- sure.
HOMAS J. HALL, a well-known far- miner and stock-raiser of Lincoln town- ship, Adams county, Iowa, dates his birth in Shelby county, Illinois, June 17, 1863. His grandfather, Samuel Hall, Sr., a native of North Carolina, came from the South to Illinois about 1822 and settled in Shelby county, where he owned 160 acres of land. He and his wife, who before her mar- riage was Nancy Steele, had nine children, three of whom are still living. Samnel Hall, their son and the father of our subject, was born in Illinois, January 11, 1824. He mar- ried Martha Perryman, a ) ative of Tennessee, born May 31, 1826. Three of their nine children died in infancy. Those living are as follows: Joseph, who married Delia Huf- fer, resides in Shelby county, Illinois; Sarah is the wife of Jacob Wonus; Albert, who wedded Julia Moore, is dead; Anna, wife of Thomas Potts, lives in Atlantic; Wilburn, who was for many years a successful teacher and who married Allie Smith, also a teacher, is now traveling in Kansas; and Thomas J., whose name lieads this biography. The par- ents of this family are still living and are honored and respected residents of Adams county, Iowa. They moved from Illinois to this State in October, 1878, and settled on the farm where they now reside. For two years they rented and then bought the pro- perty, 120 acres. It is nicely improved and well adapted for general farming and stock- raising.
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Thomas J. Hall, while he is engaged in agricultural pursuits, gives especial attention to stock-raising. He has twenty-six jacks and jennies, the largest and best lot of this kind of stock in the State. He also raises cattle and hogs.
In Angust, 1879, Mr. Hall was united in marriage with Miss Lulu Roberts, daughter of John and Frances Roberts, of Cass connty, Iowa. Her parents have four children-Lolo, wife of Charles Stein of Cass county, and Mrs. IIall, Frank and Ralph. Mr. and Mrs." Roberts and their two daughters have been successful teachers in this State. Two chil- dren, Albert and Jessie, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hall.
Politically our subject affiliates with the Republican party, and is now serving as con- stable of Lincoln township. He is progres- sive in his views and is found well to the front in all enterprises that tend to advance the good of the community.
Mrs. Hall is a member of the United Brethren church, and completed a college course at Toledo, Iowa.
Mr. Hall has made extensive travels all over the West; was for two years engaged in real-estate business, in Monrovia, California. This, like all his pursuits, proved very suc- cessful. He had full charge of the Willshire tract of land, and was assistant postmaster. He has now formed a partnership with a well- known stock-raiser, Milton Rowdybush, of Tower Hill, Illinois. This firm will carry on the largest business of the kind in the State.
ILLIAM TRUSHEL was born in Harrison county, Ohio, April 21, 1841, son of John and Emily Trushel. At the age of sixteen he began business for himself by learning the carpenter's trade, at
which ocenpation he worked until 1886. He came to Iowa from Fulton connty, Illinois, about 1860, and for fifteen years worked with the Eagle Manufacturing Company at Daven- port. At the end of that time he came to Adams county and has since resided here. He moved to his present farm in section 17, Washington township, in 1880. Here lie owns 120 acres of fine land, all under good state of cultivation, located two miles and a half west of Mount Etna.
March 3, 1862, Mr. Trnshel married Miss Eliza Miner, by whom he had three children, viz .: James, who is engaged in farming in partnership with his father; Sarah, who has charge of the affairs at home; and Martha, also of the home circle. Mrs. Trushel de- parted this life in 1871, at the age of twenty- eight years. She was a woman of many esti- mable qualities and her untimely deathi was a sad blow to her family and many friends.
Mr. Trushel is politically a Republican.
ICHARD E. RICHARDS, a highly respected citizen of Adams county, Iowa, was born in Warwickshire, Eng- land, February 2, 1833. His parents were William and Ellen (Steward) Richards, both natives of England. His father was a farmer and leased property when first married that re- mained in the family, renting from year to year for more than seventy years. He passed his life on the farm and died there March 4, 1864, at the age of sixty-nine years. His inother departed this life January 13, 1881, at the age of eighty years. Both were mem- bers of the Established Church of England. Of their nine children Richard E. was the fifth born.
At an early age the subject of our sketch, filled with the spirit of adventure, gained his
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parents' consent to come to America, bade them good-bye, promised to return in five years, and set out alone for this country. Ar- rived here he engaged as a clerk in his uncle's wholesale notion store in New York. He clerked there for nearly five years, then in the summer of 1854 came west and worked on a farm in Illinois until his five years were up, after which he returned to England. He re- mained at home six months and during that time reached his majority. Again he em- barked for America. Each time he crossed the ocean on a sail vessel, the first voyage consuming thirty-five days, the second four weeks, and the third six weeks. His second passage was a rough one and at one time the vessel was supposed to be going under. On his last voyage they were becalmed on the banks of Newfoundland. The vessel also encountered other dangers among the ice- bergs and field ice.
On his return to America, Mr. Richards again came west to Illinois, and until the war came on was variously employed in that State. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany C, One-hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca and Kenesaw Mountain. At the last named place, June 27, 1864, he was wounded simultaneously in the left knee and the right heel, the same bullet doing the mischief in both places. He was yet able to walk to the ambulance half a mile away, and after reaching it was taken to the field hospital. He was wounded at nine o'clock in the morning, and he had noth- ing to eat or drink, nor did he receive any medical attention until the next day, on ac- count of carelessness on the part of the regi- inental doctor. When he returned to Nash- ville gangrene set in his foot. Five times it was operated on, each operation about equal to
an amputation. He was much emaciated and was thought to be near death. About this time his wife came to the hospital and was instrumental in having him removed to Louisville, and some weeks later to Chicago, arriving at the latter place in September. He remained in hospital at Chicago until March, 1865, wlien he was discharged from the ser- vice and went home on crutches. He was disabled for some time, the wound on his heel remaining a running sore for more than twenty years.
After trying several devices for making a living, serving in agencies, etc., he re- turned to farming in Peoria county, Illinois. In the fall of 1869 he came to Adams county, Iowa, and in the spring of 1870 settled where he now resides, section 14, Lincoln township. He left the farm in 1886 and moved to Corning, remaining there till the death of his wife in June, 1889. Her age was fifty-nine years. She was a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a true type of the Christian wife, mother and neighbor. In the fall after her death Mr. Richards returned to the farm. Here lie owns 200 acres, all enclosed. His residence is located on a lialf-section road. Mr. Rich- ards is a man who has made much of oppor- tunity, having started out a poor boy and now being well-to-do and surrounded with the comforts of life.
His marriage occurred March 24, 1856, Miss Sarah Walford the lady of his choice. For history of her parents see biography of Charles Walford in this work. Five chil- dren were born to them: W. F., T. E., Mary E., Fanny L. and Charles. T. E. married Susan Boswell and has five children, Walter H., Ethel E., Ellen G., Maggie D. and Ho- mer O. Mary E., wife of W. H. Boswell, died at the age of twenty-one years, leaving one child, Lloyd M. She was a member of
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thic Methodist Episcopal Clinrch. Fanny L. is the wife of George A. Tenant and has one child, Edna C. Charles, the third-born, died in infancy.
Previons to his marriage Mr. Richards was a member of the Established Church of Eng- land, and at that time united with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post of Corning. In politics he is a Republican and has held various town- ship o'lices.
HIARLES WALFORD, postmaster of Hayes, Adams county, Iowa, was born in England, September 12, 1826. His parents, Charles and Ann (Allbut) Walford, both natives of England, came with their family to America in 1849, and settled on a farm in Peoria county, Illinois. There his father died in June, 1866, at the age of seventy years. He was a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal church and while in England was a local preacher. His wife did not long survive him, her death occurring in January, 1867, at the age of sixty-six years. She, too, from her early youth was an earnest Christian and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of the eight children born to them fonr are still living.
Charles was twenty-two and a half years old when he emigrated with his parents to this country, sailing from London to New York and landing at the latter port after a pleasant voyage of thirty-five days. He was engaged in farming in Peoria county, Illinois, before coming to Iowa. In the fall of 1871 he came out here and bought eighty acres of wild land, and in May, 1873, moved his family to it. This farm is located in section 15, Lincoln township, Adams county, and here he has since resided. His property is
now well improved and he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He has a comfortable cottage home and is pleasantly situated. He was appointed postmaster of Hayes in 1878, since which time he has ac- ceptably filled the office; he has also served as secretary of the township since 1881.
Mr. Walford was married, first, in Peoria county, Illinois, to Miss Rachael Rebecca Chisman, in March, 1856, who died the death of the righteous the following August. In April, 1858 he again entered the bonds of matrimony with Miss Martha A. Gregg, of that county, by whom he had three children, Richard Henry, John A. and Charles E. Richard H. lives on a farm in Nebraska; is married to Miss Rose Allard and has two children, Roy and Mary; John A. lives on a farm in Nebraska and Charles E. is man- aging the home place. The mother of these children died at the age of forty years. She was a most estimable woman and a member of the Methodist church. March 17, 1874, Mr. Walford wedded Miss Mary A. Frederick, daughter of Abrain and Mary Frederick, who were born, lived and died in Pennsylvania, the father passing away at the age of sixty- four years, and the mother at forty-six. Both were church members. Mr. and Mrs. Wal- ford are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Politically he is an ardent Republican, always identified with the best elements of his party.
AVIOR MAUDERLY, who resides on the southwest quarter of section 3, Nodaway township, settled where he now lives in 1865, but purchased the place in 1866, the following year. The farm con- sists of 120 acres, and when purchased by Mr. Manderly it had no improvements, but
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he has since improved it, and now has a good barn and a pleasant home.
Mr. Mauderly was born in Switzerland in 1829. At the age of seventeen yesrs he en- listed in the Swiss army for services in Italy, and in his capacity as a soldier he took an active part with his command in the ex- citing times of the Revolution of Italy in 1849. He took part in the battles of Na- ples, in the exciting events at Rome and at other places in Italy. He served in the army five years. In 1853, at the expiration of his term as a soldier; he returned to Switzerland and soon afterward embarked for America. Going to Havre de Grace, France, he took passage on the ship Olivia for New Orleans, which port was reached after a long passage of fifty four days. He there engaged to drive a dray for about two months, and then worked for two weeks on the construction of a rail- road just across the Mississippi river from New Orleans. He went thence to St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked at whatever he could find to do, remaining until the fall, when he went into the country and worked on a farm two months. He went thence to Highland, Illinois, and engaged in driving teain to St. Louis with produce and returning with lumber, in which he continued two months He next worked in a brick yard a few miles from Highland, after which he went to St. Louis, and thence to Win- chester, Illinois. He was married while living at that place, December 21, 1855, to Miss Maria Romang, who was then living at St. Louis. She was born in Switzerland, No- vember 11, 1835, and came to America with her brother about two months previous to her marriage. Her parents came to this country later, and lived in Illinois for a time, where her father died. The mother, however, came to Adams county, and died in Nodaway township, in 1885. After their
marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Mauderly settled in Springfield, Illinois, where they lived nine years, and then came to this county. They have had eleven children, six sons and five danghters. Two boys and five girls are now living, namely: Mary, the wife of Wilbert Halberstadt; Lena, Levi, Josephine, Cather- ine, Joseph and Louise. Christopher was born in 1864, and died in childhood. The others died in 1882. The greatest afflic- tion of Mr. Mauderly and family was the death of the wife and mother, which occurred March 17, 1890. The five youngest chil- dren are now at home. Mr. Mauderly is an honest, upright man and possesses the con- tidence and respect of his fellow citizens.
A. BRITTAN was born near Dodge- ville, Wisconsin, April 19, 1851, the son of Francis Brittan, deceased, a prominent early settler of Adams county, Iowa. The latter was born in London, England, son of John Brittan, a merchant of that city. He was reared, received a college education and obtained a business experience in London, and was married to Louisa Gates, also a native of England. He came on a sail vessel to New York, and on the voyage en- countered numerons storms, both crew and passengers suffering much from hunger be- fore they reached port. For years Francis Brittan was employed as follows: at first ob- tained a situation in New York; with a stock of fine laces and notions as samples, he be- came the first commercial traveler in the United States; was engaged in business at Syracuse, New York; conducted a business in La Fayette, Indiana, and during the panic of 1835 failed; went to Dodge county, Wis- consin, bought 640 acres of land and engaged in agricultural pursuits, and later in a mer-
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cantile business at Dodgeville. It was while he was a resident of the latter place that the subject of our sketch was born. From Dodgeville, in 1857, the Brittan family moved to Burlington, Kansas, when there were only four houses in the town, and the father became one of the first business men of that place. They subsequently moved to Liberty, Missouri, where he engaged in the dry-goods business, and still later located in Missouri City. During the war he left that State and took up his abode in Galesburg, Illinois, where he turned his attention to the hardware business. Disposing of his inter- ests there, he moved to Warren county, Illi- nois, bought a farm and built a grist mill; tlience to Monmonth, same State, where lie did a grocery business; and thence to Mount Pleasant, Iowa. His next and last move was to Adams county. Here he bought 615 acres of land, made his home and developed a fine farm. His wife died at Riverton, Fremont county, Iowa, in 1871, aged sixty-five years. Francis Brittan died at Arlington Springs, near Topeka, Kansas, at the age of eighty- five. He was there on a visit to his daugh- ters, and with a party of friends and relatives was out in a boat. The boat upset and a nephew and niece and another young lady were drowned. The shock and exposure bronght on a nervous prostration from which the old gentleman never recovered. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and was in politics a Republican. He and his wife were the parents of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living, viz .: Arthur Brit- tan, of Beloit, Wisconsin, a commercial trav- eler; Frank, a resident of California; Hatty McClure, also of California; Edward, a com- mercial traveler; Clara, wife of James Beard, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Clifford, of Custer county, Nebraska; L. A., the subject of this
sketch; and Lanra Dix, of Colony township, Adams county, Iowa.
L. A. Brittan grew to manhood in the dif- ferent places where his father lived, assisted him in his various enterprises, and received his education in the public schools. Febru- ary 27, 1874, in Douglas township, this county, lic was united in marriage with Miss Ollie Moore, daughter of Benjamin and Mar- garet Moore, prominent mention of whom will be found on another page of this work. Nine children have been born to them, as follows: Nell E., Annis L., Clara Augusta, Ollie Rosa (who died at the age of seven ycars), Ed. F., Arthur, Carrie M., Luther Alfred and Paul H.
The Brittan farm is located on section 3, and is one of the best in Douglas township. It is well feuced, has a good two-story house, substantial barn and other improvements. Coal is found here in abundance, 50,000 bushels being taken from the place annually.
Mr. and Mrs. Brittan arc members of the Baptist Church, and are distinguished for their genial hospitality to all. Mr. Brittan is a Republican.
TOHN GOURLEY. - Few pioneers of Montgomery and Adams counties are better known than he whose name heads this sketch, and it is with pleasure that we present a biography of him on these pages.
John Gourley was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1833, the son of Thomas and Catherine (Gardiner) Gourley, both natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania. The father was of Irish an- cestry and the mother, a daughter of Henry Gardiner, wasof German extraction. Thomas Gourley and wife reared a family of eleven children, whose names are as follows: Betsey
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Zain, of Wheeling, Virginia; Peggy Russell, residing near Villisca, Montgomery county, Iowa; Robert, of Uhrichsville, Ohio; Thomas, Montgomery county, Iowa; Jane Richards, Zanesville, Chio; Rachel Stewart, Villisca, Iowa; Nancy Cooney, Montgomery county, Iowa; John, the subject of this sketch; Henry, who settled in Adams county, Iowa, in 1856, where he improved a good farm, and where.he died in July, 1890, leaving three sons and two daughters, his widow being now a resident of Villisca, Iowa; and Joseph, a resident of Montgomery county, Iowa. In 1856 the parents moved west and settled in Montgomery county, Iowa, where the father subsequently died at the age of sixty six years, and the mother at seventy-two. The former had been a farmer all his life. In politics he was an Abolitionist and later a Republican. For many years he was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church.
John was reared in his native county and received his education in an old log school- house. He was an ambitious young man of twenty-three when the family came west and settled in Iowa, and many are his pleasing reminiscences of their journey by steamboat down the Ohio and up the Missouri to St. Joseph, Missouri, thence by team to near where Villisca now stands. At that place the family had relatives, the Dunns, promi- nent early settlers of that portion of Iowa. John Gourley was an expert hunter when he came here, and brought with him from Vir- ginia a pack of hounds. Game of all kinds was abundant and the crack of his rifle seldom failed to bring down the object aimed at. He was frequently sent for far and near to go and take part in a wolf hunt ora wildcat chase, and when John Gourley and his hounds were on the scent there was lively sport. One season he killed eighteen wildcats and one season forty deer, besides a large number of
wolves. He received $70 for the pelts lie obtained one year. He paid his first taxes on personal property with the scalp of a wolf and had 15 cents left from it.
At first Mr. Gourley began his farming operations on rented land. He afterward bought swamp land in Adams county, whichi he sold before buying his present farın, in section 19, Douglas township. Only six acres of his soil had been broken at the time lie purchased it. Now he owns 520 acres, one of the best farms in Adams county. His first home here, a cotton wood log house, after being used for some time gave way to a box house, 14 x 16 feet, now utilized as a granery. His present modern residence was built in 1880, is two-stories high, and is surrounded with beautiful oaks and a fine orchard of 200 trees. This farm is supplied with windmill, stock scales, a barn, 40 x 60 feet, and other substan- tial improvements. Mr. Gourley raises more hogs than any man in Adams county, his an- nual product being three car loads. One hundred acres of his land are in timber.
Mr. Gourley has been married twice. At the age of twenty-six he married Caroline Baker, who was born in Missouri, daughter of Judge Samuel Baker, the first judge of Adams county, Iowa. She died in 1871, leaving five children, as follows: Robert, James, Emma, wife of Cordy Phillips of Montgomery county, Iowa; Ida, wife of William Harvy of Wyoming; and John, also of Wyoming. In 1885 he married Laura Baker, sister of his former companion, and by her has three sons,-Samuel, Harry and an infant.
Politicaily Mr. Gourley has been a Repub lican but is now an Independent. He has passed his sixtieth inilestone, weighs 265 pounds, and is still the same frank and cor- dial man that he was in the old pioneer days. He and his family are surrounded with all
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the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, and from their modern home the latch string hangs out as truly as it did from their cabin door.
E. PARRISII, a farmer and stock- raiser on section 5, Carl township, was born in Putnam county, Indiana, June 7, 1848, the son of Edward Parrish, deceased, one of the well known early settlers of the county. The father, born in North Carolina, was eight or nine years old when he was taken to Indiana by his parents in their re- inoval to that State. In 1840 he married Cyrilda McCall, a Kentuckian, a native ot Kentucky and a danghter of John McCall, also a Kentuckian, and afterward came to Carl township, Adams county, settling on section 5, wild land. He rcared five chil- dren, namely: Susan Ann, of St. Joseph, Mis- souri; Mary Jane, of Greencastle, Indiana; Sarah Elizabeth, of Buchanan county, Mis- souri; J. E., the subject of this sketch; Thomas O., of Nuckolls county, Nebraska. He died in January, 1883, at the age of sixty- five years; was a farmer all his life, and in politics a Democrat. His wife had died when J. E. was a youth.
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