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 42
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 42
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been conducted by our subject and his father ever since. The senior Mr. Boise was one of the old settlers of Huron county, Ohio, and knew mnuch of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life in that locality, hav- ing located there when he liad only the Indians for his neighbors. He died in 1856, aged sixty-seven years. His wife died in 1872, at the age of seventy-five. Eleven children were born to them, J. S. being the fifth in the family and one of the seven who are now living.
Mr. Boise was six months old when his parents moved to Huron county, Ohio, and on the frontier he was reared and educated. At the age of eighteen he engaged in teach- ing in Ohio, and for five years followed that profession. After that he entered the employ of David Campbell, and traveled in the in- terest of the Clarion of Sandnsky, Ohio, for three years. The following three years he was employed as chief clerk in the postoffice at Sandusky. In 1850 lie went to Mil- waukee, where for six years he was engaged in the insurance business. From there, in 1856, on account of ill health, he went back to Ohio, and turned his attention to farming, which he followed there for twenty-one years. He came to Iowa in 1878 and estab- lished a general clothing store at Villisca, and here he has since resided. In 1884 he turned the business over to his son, J. S. Boise, Jr., who is still carrying it on, keeping a full line of clothing, furnishing goods, etc. The store is nicely located, and under its effi- cient management has a thriving trade. In connection with it is a tailor shop. Mr. Boise and his youngest son engaged in the farming implement business in 1889, but soon afterward sold out to Smith & Jones. He is now practically retired from active business.
In 1850 Mr. Boise was united in marriage
with Miss Bellvidere McGee, of Sandusky, Ohio, daughter of Thomas McGee. Their nnion has been blessed with eight children, namely: Franklin C., Freeland T., J. S., Jr .; Ellen A., Bellvidere, Maud M., Seymour C. and Andalucia. Ellen A. is the wife of G. L. Smith, of the firm of Smith & Jones. Maud M., an accomplished musician, gradu- ated at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1886, and has since, with the exception of one year spent in Eu- rope, been engaged as a teacher of music in the Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. Andalucia is the wife of A. J. Sinsel. Mrs. Boise is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Politically Mr. Boise is a Republican, and is now serving his second term as Justice of the Peace. He has always been well to the front in everything of a public nature, and his position, influence and abilities have ever been at the service of the community of which he is an honored member.
HOMAS T. WATERS, who resides in section 5, Washington township, Ad- ams county, is one of the prominent farmers and business inen of this community
He was born in Peoria county, Illinois, March 1, 1859, son of Owen and Catherine (McGinnis) Waters, both natives of Ireland. Owen Waters is now engaged in farming, but was for many years employed as a shoe- maker, having learned that trade in the old country. He came to America with his wife and one child in 1846, and settled in Illinois, where he rented land until 1871. That year he came to Iowa, and settled in Poweshiek county. In 1873 he moved to Cass county, this State, where he is now a respected citizen. He and his wife are both aged people. They have had ten children,
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five of whom are now living, viz .: James, who married Mary O'Conner; Catherine, now Mrs. J. R. Eblen; T. T., the subject of this sketch; Mary, wife of Frank Curry, and John R., who married Louisa Curry. Their son Peter died at the age of twenty years, Owen at the age of sixteen, and three chil- dren in infancy.
Thomas T. launched out in business for himself at the age of twenty-four years, and has ever since been engaged in farming. He moved to his present location in 1887, and bought the farm of 160 acres in 1891. His house is nicely located on a truncated cone, and overlooks a wide range of beautiful, fer- tile country.
January 18, 1883, Mr. Waters married Miss Anna Barry, daughter of James and Catherine Barry, natives of Ireland, and honored residents of Adams county, Iowa. Their union has been blessed with five chil- dren -- Sarah C., Owen G., Mary, Anna and James. Mary Eblen, daughter of J. R. and Catherine Eblen, makes her home with them, and this arrangement is mutually pleasant to all parties concerned.
Politically Mr. Waters was forinerly a Greenbacker, but now votes the Democratic ticket. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.
OBERT TOWNSLEY, one of the aged and prominent farmers of Washington township, Adams county, Iowa, is a native of Champaign county, Iowa, born June 13, 1830. His parents were John and Han- nah (Marshall) Townsley, both natives of Ohio. The father, a miller by trade, died in 1832. His wife lived to be seventy-four years of age, dying in 1866. She was a de- voted Christian and a member of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church. Of their nine children Robert is the youngest, and he and his broth- ers, James and William, are the only ones now living.
When Mr. Townsley was twelve years old his mother broke up housekeeping and he went out to work on a farm. He was em- ployed as a farm laborer when the war broke out. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany G, One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served in a number of impor- tant engagements, always acting the part of a brave soldier. November 25, 1863, at the battle of Mission Ridge he was wounded. He was sent home on a furlough and after two months rejoined his regiment, continu- ing in the service until he was honorably discharged in June, 1865. His father had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and for services rendered his mother received a land warrant.
The war over, Mr. Townsley engaged in farming on rented land near Oxford, Benton county, Indiana. In 1868 he came from there to Page county, Iowa, where he rented land for three years. Then, in 1871, he bought the eighty acres in section 3 where he now resides. This place is well improved and devoted to general farming, his chief products being corn, oats and grass. His resi- dence is located two miles and a half north- west of Mount Etna.
In 1866 Mr. Townsley was united in mar- riage with Miss Emily Fletcher, daughter of John and Sarah A. (Wrightsel) Fletcher of Benton county, Indiana. John Fletcher was a carpenter by trade, and in his later years was engaged in farming. He was well and favorably known throughout his county. He was born March 28, 1816, and died June 11, 1885. His wife was born August 5, 1824, and died June 14, 1873. They were the parents of nine children, Mrs. Townsley be-
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ing the oldest. Mr. and Mrs. Townsly have five children,-Lulie, John, William and Lillie (twins), and Anna.
Mr. Townsley is a member of the G. A. R. post, and is Senior Vice-Commander of the same. In politics he is independent, usually, however, voting with the Republican party.
In referring to the history of Mrs. Towns- ley's parents, it should be further stated that they were married on the 11th of February, 1841.
ILLIAM FUDGE, a worthy and well- to-do farmer of Washington town- ship, Adams county, Iowa, was born in England, May 14, 1859. His parents are Benjamin and Keziah (Salvage) Fudge. His father came from England with his family in 1869 and settled on a farm in Knox county, Illinois. There his father and mother still reside, aged respectively seventy and sixty years. They have three sons and two daugh- ters, namely : William ; Benjamin Albert, who resides in Sarpy county, Nebraska, married a Scotch lady, Miss Maggie Mclain, and lias two children, Willie and May; Henry E., of Knox county, Illinois, married Miss Alice Weech; Bessie, who is married and lives in California; and Elizabeth A., a member of the home circle.
Ever since he started out in life for him- seli William Fudge has been engaged in farming. He came from Knox county, Illi- nois, to Cass county, Iowa, in 1888, and in 1889 took up his abode in Adams county. He owns 120 acres of well improved land, in- deed, a most beautiful farm capable of rais- ing all the various kinds of fruits and grains indigenous to the State. His home is located three miles and a half north of Mount Etna, and commands a view of the most beautiful and fertile country.
Mr. Fudge was married April 6, 1885, to Miss Ida Cox, daughter of Mrs. Sarah Cox of Knox county, Illinois. Her mother, a lady of much culture and refinement, now re- sides in Cass county, Iowa. She was born in England, of English parents, and came with them to this country in 1855. Her three children are Mrs. Fudge; Charles, at home carrying on the farming operations; and Oren, a business-college graduate, is em- ployed as a cashier and bookkeeper. Mr. and Mrs. Fudge have two children, Arthur and Wilbur.
Politically Mr. Fudge usually affiliates with the Republican party. He is a repre- sentative, good citizen of the county, and be- lieves in keeping pace with nineteenth century progress.
JOHN JOHNSON, a prominent citizen of Washington township, Adams county, Iowa, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1842, son of John and Mary Jolinson, both natives of Ireland. The father came alone from the Emerald Isle at the age of eighteen, and set- tled in Pennsylvania. In 1847 he moved to Butler county, Ohio, where, as in Pennsyl- vania, he worked by the day and the job, chopping, ditching, etc. He removed from the latter place to Bartholomew county, In- diana, in 1856; bouglit a team, rented land and began farming for himself. In 1866 lie moved to Iowa and settled in Adams county, living on a rented farm here until 1870. That year he moved to Cass county, where he still resides. He is now about eiglity years of age, and is highly respected by all who know him. His wife came from Ire- land with her parents when she was four years old. She and Mr. Johnson were mar-
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ried in Pennsylvania. Her death occurred at the age of fifty-seven years. The subject of our sketch was the third born of their thirteen children.
July 19, 1862, Mr. Johnson enlisted as a private and a recruit in Company D, Seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry. His first battle was the second Bull Run fight. He was in the army of the Potomac, and served two years with the Seventh Indiana. Their time expiring, the recruits and the veterans of the Seventh Indiana were consolidated with the recruits and veterans of the Fourteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Indiana regi- ments, and was afterward called the Twen- tieth Indiana Veteran Volunteers. Mr. John- son was a sergeant of the regiment wlien mustered out, his discharge being dated June 8, 1865. At the battle of Antietam he was struck once, and at the Wilderness was hit on the knee with a spent ball, these two be- ing the only times he was hurt, and then not seriously. While in the service he con- tracted chronic diarrhea, and from this dis- order has never recovered.
After the war he worked by the month as an employé until 1868, when he engaged in farmning on his own account in Adams county. He had bought ninety acres of land in Washington township. This he sold in 1870, went to Tipton county, Indiana, bought eighty acres of land, and remained there en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1878. In 1880 he came a second time to Adams county, Iowa, and the following year pur- chased the farm on which he now resides. It is located in section 12 and consists of 175 acres, 135 acres of which are improved and under a good state of cultivation. His residence is located on the section road, a mile and three-quarters froin Mount Etna.
September 1, 1867, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Catherine Harader, daughter
of Christian and Mary A. Harader, of Adams county. Mrs. Johnson was born in Pennsyl- vania, and came to Iowa with her parents in 1856. Her father is still living in Kansas, and is now sixty-five years of age. Her mother died in 1867, at the age of forty. Her father is a Dunker minister, well known throughout the State. He had seven chil- dren by his first marriage and two by the second, Mrs. Johnson being the third born in . the first family. She has been a consistent member of the Dunker church for many years.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have twelve chil- dren, namely: Martha, wife of Samuel Hin- ton; Martin, Rosella, John C., Earnest, David Waldo, Daniel, Roscoe, Bertha, Lulu and, Anda L. Mr. and Mrs. Hinton have two children: Goldie and John.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the G. A. R., the Farmers' Alliance and the Industrial Union, being treasurer of the last organ- ization. Politically he is a Democrat
RED RICHARDS was born in Peoria county, Illinois, February 22, 1857, son of R. E. and Sarah (Walford) Richards, both natives of Worcestershire, England. The father was sixteen years old when he emi_ igrated to this country and settled in Peoria county, Illinois, where, some years later, he was married. To himand his wife were born two children: Fred, Edward, Charley Mary and Fanny. Fanny is now the wife of George Tenant and lives on the old home farm. The father served three years in the late war as a member of the One Hundred and Twenty- fifth Illinois Infantry, was wounded at Look- out mountain, and now receives a pension.
Fred was thirteen years old when he came to Adams county, Iowa, and here he was
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reared and educated. In 1881 he bonghit wild land where he now resides, in Lincoln township, section 22. He at once commenced making improvements and is now comfort- ably situated. He has a cottage home, good ontbuildings, orchard, small fruit, etc., and is engaged in general farming and stock- raising.
January 19, 1881, he married Miss Lydia E. Frederick, a teacher of experience and good reputation. She was born in La Fayette county, Wisconsin, and when eight years of age came to Adams county, Iowa, finishing her education in the Corning high school. She is a daugliter of J. M. and Isabel (Roberts) Frederick, of Corning. Mr. and Mrs. Rich- ards have three children: Harvey Edward, Jolın M. and William A. Their first child, Arthur F., born October 16, 1881, was acci- dentally killed by a runaway team, June 28, 1887.
Mr. Richards is a Republican politically, and is now serving as constable of Lincoln township. Both he and his wife are mein- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the latter is associated with the W. C. T. U. of Lincoln township.
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R. AMDOR, who resides on section 25, Lincoln township, Adams county, Iowa, was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, January 1, 1849. His parents were Bennett N. and Sophronia (Manly) Amdor, the former a native of Saxony, Germany, and the latter of Ohio. Michael Amdor, father of Bennett, left Germany to prevent his old- est child and only son, then about twenty- one years of age, from entering the arıny. Bennett's two sisters accompanied them to America, and from the eastern coast they made the journey West to Indiana by wagon,
One of the sisters, Earnestine, married John Houck and after his death was married to Lotte Bohain. The other, Christiana, wedded Lawrence Steinmetz. Bothı sisters are yet living. Bennett Amdor died in Dearborn connty, Indiana, at the age of sixty-fonr years. He was a farmer all his life and an energetic and progressive inan. His wife is still living at the old homestead in Dearborn county, and at this writing is seventy-one years of age.
The subject of our sketch was the fifth born in a family of nine children. He was reared on a farm, at the age of twenty-one began operations for himself, and has ever since followed the independent life of a farmer. In February, 1871, he came to Iowa. One year he rented land and the next year came to his present location, then wild and altogether unimproved. He now owns 210 acres of highly cultivated and well improved land, all under fence and adapted to corn, oats and grass. He has an artificial grove, a good bearing orchard, and raises some small fruit. His two story residence is nicely lo- cated and before it spreads a landscape of beautiful and fertile country. He is located four miles north of Carbon and on the section road. He raises a good grade of cattle, hogs and horses, his stock consuming about all the corn, hay, etc., produced on liis place.
April 13, 1873, Mr. Amdor married Miss Sarah Frances, daughter of David and Mary J. Cochran, of Adams county. Mrs. Amdor is a lady of culture and refinement, possess- ing marked intelligence and a natural grace of manner. Her parents came from Peoria county, Illinois, in 1870. Her father was born in Scotland and her mother in France. They had a family of fifteen children, of whom nine are still living. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Andor, viz .: Sophironia, wife of James H. Billingsley ;
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Christina, Ella, Esther, Dayton, Lillie, Ever- ett, Bertha, and the following deceased: Au- gustus D., at the age of six months, and Eugene and Eunice (twins), at the age of one month and six days.
Politically Mr. Amdor is a Democrat.
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EV. R. R. WYCOFF was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, April 22, 1835. His grandparents, Nicholas and Susan Wycoff, came from Germany after their marriage and settled in Mercer county, Kentucky, at a time when they with others had to live in forts to protect themselves from the Indians. A. C. Wycoff, father of our sub- ject, was born in Kentucky, and about 1826 went to Indiana, where he followed his trade, that of cabinet-maker, for nine years. He then turned his attention to farming. He was married in Switzerland county, Indiana, in 1832, to Lydia Cainine, a native of that State. In 1840 he came to Iowa and settled in Des Moines county, where he lived for forty-six years. Having been a pioneer of botlı Indiana and Iowa, he well knew the hardships and privations incident to life on the frontier. At the time he settled in Des Moines county he was offered land where a large portion of Burlington now stands, at a less figure than he paid in one of the out townships. He died in Adams county, at the home of his daughter, Mary Latimer, March 30, 1887, aged eighty-one years. His birth- place was Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and the date, September, 24, 1806. From his six- teenth year he was a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and for many years served as class- leader and steward. His widow is still living at this writing, seventy-eight years of age. She is also a Methodist, having joined the church in her girlhood. Of the
eight children born to them seven are still living, R. R. being the oldest; Susan is the wife of Thomas Long and lives in Creston, Iowa; Fletcher was the third born; Nicho- as enlisted in the Fourteenth Iowa Regi- ment of Volunteer Infantry, August 27, 1862, and served three years; he was wounded in the charge at the battle of Vicksburg, May 22, 1863; was discharged August 25, 1865; and died several years later from the effect of said wonnd; he was a true Christian and a member of the Methodist Church; his wife was before her marriage Miss Lucretia Hall; Mary, wife of Joseph Latimer, has already been referred to; another son is named Abraham; Lydia J., a graduate of the Chi- cago Female Medical College, went to India , as a missionary and physician, and three years later went to China, where she is now engaged as a missionary; Hardee, who grad- nated at Mount Pleasant College, is now a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Nebraska; and another son is M. A.
R. R. Wycoff received his education in the public schools. He learned the harness business and followed that three years. Fail- ing health induced him to seek other employ- inent and he turned his attention to mercan- tile business in Kossuth, lowa. This he fol- lowed for about thirteen years with good suc- cess. July 5, 1872, he came to Adanis county. He settled on a farm of eighty acres of wild land. He now owns 160 acres of improved land located in section 14, Lin- coln township, and here he is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising. His two-story residence is finely situated and commands a pleasing view of beautiful farming land.
March 23, 1858, Mr. Wycoff was united in marriage with Miss Lydia S., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Husted, of Des Moines county, Iowa. Her father is still living, now aged seventy-nine years. Her
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mother was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in July, 1819, and died at the age of fifty- four years. She was a member of the Meth - odist Episcopal Church from her thirteenth year. Mrs. Wycoff was the oldest of their seven children. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wycoff, viz .: Amasy, a jeweler of Villisca, married Anna Pilking- ton, and has one child Clarence; Ellsworth D. is married and lives in Nebraska; he and his wife have two children, Fannie and Effie; John E. married Nellie Shepherd and has one child, Ray; Alonzo C. died at the age of twenty-four years; Emma O., Burkett, Nancy E., Perry S., deceased, Elmer, de- ceased, Robert R., deceased, and Sophronia. Mr. and Mrs. Wycoff and several of the cliil- dren are members of the United Brethren Church, and he is a minister in good stand- ing in the same. At present he lias no reg- ular work as minister, but has filled various appointments acceptably and preaches yet quite frequently. He is candid and cordial in his manner and is one of the deservedly popular and highly respected citizens of Lin- coln township.
LE T. LOVIG, who resides on a farm in section 31, Lincoln township, Adams county, Iowa, was born in Tellemarken, Norway, April 5, 1849. His parents were Tarje and Joraand Lovig, natives of Norway. They lived and died in that country, the father passing away in 1874, at the age of sixty years, and the mother at the age of fifty. They had a family of nine children, Ole T. being the fifth born.
Mr. Lovig emigrated to Wisconsin in 1871, coming via Christiania, Hull, Liver- pool and New York. The first summer after his arrival in that State he worked on a farm,
and the following winter attended a public school. In the spring of 1872 he came to Adams county, Iowa, and bought 160 acres of wild land. A part of this he sold and afterward bought more, now owning 140 acres of Adams connty's richest soil. His place is well improved with good buildings, etc., and all necessary conveniences for carry- ing on farming successfully. His residence is a quarter of a mile west of Strand, is nicely located on an elevation, commanding a magnificent view of beautiful and fertile country. He keeps from thirty to sixty head of cattle, from eighty to 120 hogs and about a half dozen horses. He is one of the most successful farmers of this part of the county.
In 1875 Mr. Lovig revisited the home of his childhood, and when he returned a year later brought with him to this country five persons from his old neighborhood.
In July, 1876, he was married to Gro Olsdatter Bergland, a native of Norway, and in 1877 he built the house where he now re- sides. Their union has been blessed with six children, viz .: Joraand, who died at the age of one year; Thomas, Anna, Oscar, Judith and Marie. Mr. and Mrs. Lovig are mem- bers of the Norvigen Lutheran Church. Politically he is an ardent Republican.
ATRICK EGAN .- This gentleman fur- nishes a remarkable example of what can be acomplished by an energetic, in- dustrious man with strong constitution, prop- erly tempered with will and determination, coupled with honest purpose to make a suc- cess of life.
Mr. Egan was born in county Roscommon, Ireland, March 17, 1826, son of Edward and Mary (Haley) Egan. The father was an
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enemy to English rule, and in this his children did not differ from him. Their coming to America happened in this manner: Thomas and Bridget had considered serionsly the pro- priety of emigrating to this country, and, as they were without meams, finally appro- priated a sum of money which the father had laid by with which to pay his landlord. On discovering what his children had done, he gave them the money and added more thereto. Landing liere, the two were well pleased and in dne time sent for Patrick and Margaret, the former at that time twenty- four years of age. A few years later, when the four had saved their earnings and had means enough to send for the rest of the family-the parents, Edward, Mary, William and John-they did so and all were united in this " land of the free and home of the brave." They settled in Lee county, Illinois, where the parents spent the rest of their days and are buried, the father having died Angust 6, 1881, at the age of ninety-two years, and the mother in 1872, at the age of eighty- four. Bothi were devout members of the Catholic church. Of their eight children, Edward, Mary, Thomas and Bridget are de- ceased.
Patrick Egan received his education on his native isle. He was put to work at the early age of twelve years, and lias been a hard worker ever since. As already stated, he was twenty-four when he camne to America. On his arrival here, he stopped with an uncle, who lived near Baltimore, two years and a half. He then located in Lee county, Illinois, where he made his liome for fourteen years, working for the railroad company. During this time he laid np money and speculated in town lots, and later bonght eighty acres of land from the railroad company. He subsequently sold the land, and in 1877 came to Adams county, Iowa, to the farm where he now resides, in
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