Biographical history of Page 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 of Page County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families; and a concise history of the county, the cities, and the townships, Part 99

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar
Number of Pages: 946

USA > Iowa > Page County > Biographical history of Page 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 of Page County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families; and a concise history of the county, the cities, and the townships > Part 99

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ILLIAM JOHNSTON is descended from an old family of Scotch-Irish extraction. Samuel Johnston, his grandfather, emigrated from Ireland and set- tled in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution; the fife lie played on and the sword he used are both preserved by the present generation;

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

the sword shows him to have been an officer, but the rank is not known. After the war he was a farmer in Mercer County, and there he married Ruth Alexander, and to them were born twelve children: Jane, Elizabeth, Annie, Ruth, Charlotte, Margaret, Susan, Lucy, Malinda, James, Samuel and William. The father was born in in 1777, and lived to the age of seventy-five years. He was the owner of considerable property, and was thoroughly repected by all who knew him. His son, Samuel Johnston, the father of William Johnston, was born in Mercer County, Penn . sylvania, in 1811, where he grew up amid scenes of pioneer life. At that time the In- dians were numerous and frequently stopped at his father's house over night. He married Eliza Page, a danghter of John B. Page, a farmer of Mercer County. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston had born to them five children who lived to inatnrity: Sarah J., Lucy M., Will- iam, Gilbert and Marshall, all born on their father's farm in Mercer County, Pennsylva- nia, near the homestead of their grandfather. Samuel Johnston, Jr., died at the early age of forty-five years from the effects of a fall.

William Johnston, son of Samnel and Eliza (Page) Johnston, was born in 1844, and early in life learned the occupation of his father, farming. At the age of twenty-one years he was employed as brakeman on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad in Missouri. After serving in this capacity eighteen montlis he was inade conductor on a freight train on the same line. He was very efficient and faith- ful, serving as a conductor on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad alone ten years. When he left the road in 1884 he received from the superintendent a very highly complimentary letter, which his mod- esty prevents our recording. After his serv- ice with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Company was closed lie engaged in the pas-

senger service under Mr. George H. Daniels at Denver, Colorado; at the end of two sea- sons he severed this connection, receiving a fine letter of endorsement from Mr. Daniels. In 1884 he purchased his present farm of 200 acres of rich, fertile land, pleasantly sit- nated near Essex; he has placed it undor ex- cellent cultivation, and has established a comfortable home for his family.

In 1865 Mr. Johnston was united in mar- riage to Sarah S. Rogers, a danghter of James and Rebecca (Quillon) Rogers of Mer- cer County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Rogers re- moved to Utica, Missouri, in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are the parents of three children: William, Mary L., and Franklin Q. The parents are making every effort to give their children a good education, a leg- acy of which no man can deprive thiem.

OSEPH BUCK, one of the heaviest stock dealers in southwestern Iowa, is justly entitled to a space in the record of the enterprising citizens of Page County. He is a son of James and Alice (Curtice) Buck, and one of a family of seven children: Charles, Clinton, Edward, Caroline, Alice, Mary and Joseph. The father was a soldier under the Duke of Wellington and was pres- ent at the battle of Waterloo; he served ten years in the British army. In 1838 he emi- grated to America and settled at Troy, New York, where lie engaged at his trade, brick- making; there he lived ten or fifteen years, and then went to Hamilton, New York, where he passed the balance of his days.

Joseph Buck, of whom this notice is writ ten, was born in England in 1835; lie was but three years old when his parents sailed to America, and therefore lias little memory of his native land. He received a common-

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

school education at Troy, New York, but earned no particular trade or profession. When quite a young man he began to trade and speculate, and at the age of twenty-one years he came as far west as Illinois. There he was united in marriage with Mary Her- ridge, a daughter of Barnerd and Mary A. (Proctor) Herridge. Four children have been born of this union: Lot, Bessie, Charles W. and Delphine. Mr. Buck lived in Stark and Peoria counties, Illinois, until 1875; he was engaged in buying and selling live-stock and in other agricultural pursuits. Deciding that there were still better facilities for carrying on the business in which he had already been so successful, he came to Iowa in 1875, and settled on his present farm; it consists of 200 acres of land, especially adapted to stock-raising. Mr. Buck feeds large numbers of cattle for the Chicago market, buying and selling the year round. His annual business at the Bank of Essex is between two and three hundred thousand dollars. He is a man well known all over Page and adjoining counties for his honorable, upright dealing and strict adherence to business principles. Politically he is independent, but on national issues he votes the Democratic ticket.

ANIEL WHITE is a member of an old family of German ancestry. Henry White, his grandfather, was born in Germany, and emigrated to America before the Revolutionary war. He was one of the first settlers in Fayette County, Pennsyl- vania, and was a large land-owner; he also owned two grist-mills and a still house. He was a very industrious and energetic man, and would have no man to work for him who could not eat his meals rapidly, for he said, "a man who eats fast works fast."

Christopher White, son of Henry White, was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He married Catherine Poe, a daughter of George Poe, who was a brother to Adam and Andrew Poe, the celebrated Indian fighters. To Mr. and Mrs. White were born ten chil- dren who lived to maturity. Mr. White was a carpenter and millwright by trade and for many years managed the mills belonging to his father. He lived to be about seventy years of age, and was honored and respected by all who knew him. His brother Daniel, from whom our subject is named, was a sol- dier in the war of the Revolution and served seven years; he suffered all the privations and hardships to which the American troops were subjected.

Daniel White, son of Christopher White, was born in Fayette County. Pennsylvania, September 25, 1816, on the old homestead. He received a very limited education, but was early trained to manual labor. At the age of twenty-two he was married to Char- lotte Anderson. She was born September 7, 1818, and is a daughter of James and Char- lotte (Lottheria) Anderson, of Scotch-Irish descent. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. White: Mary A., Elizabeth, James, Rebecca, Joseph, Margery, David H., Charlotte and Minerva.

After his marriage Mr. White settled on a small place in Fayette County and rented additional land for some years. In 1853 he removed to Illinois and bought a tract of 600 acres in Warren County. There he resided until 1877, when he came to Page County and purchased 600 acres. He has been pros- perons and successful, and has lived a life of the most strict integrity. Mr. and Mrs. White are worthy and consitent members of the Reformned Methodist Episcopal Church. Po- litically heis astanch Democrat. He is a truly self-made man, and in his old age may well be

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

proud of his record. Few men who have begun life with so little have accumulated so much property simply through honesty and industry.

ENRY C. BINNS, one of the largest land-holders in Fremont Township, is one of the early settlers of Page County. Samuel Binns, his grandfather, was an Eng- lishman from Yorkshire. His son, Jonathan Binns, was the real founder of the family in America, emigrating before his father when he was a yet young man twenty-four years of age. He located at Brownsville, Pennsylva- nia, and was engaged in various occupations. He married Hannah Morris, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Lewis) Morris, of Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania. The Morris family were of Welsh descent and settled in Pennsylvania long before the Revolutionary

war. All the brothers of Isaac Morris were officers in that struggle for liberty, and they also participated in the Indian wars and the war of 1812. The Lewis family originally settled in Virginia and belonged to the So- ciety of Friends or Quakers. Benjamin West, the celebrated portrait painter, was connected with this family. Isaac Morris was a sub- stantial fariner in Washington County, Penn- sylvania, and lived to the advanced age of eighty years. Jonathan Binns and wife reared a family of eleven children: Henry C., Isaac N., Robert, Elizabeth, Rebecca, George, Charles, Mary and Margaret. In early times the parents were Friends but afterward united with the Baptist Church. In 1855 Mr. Binns removed to Iowa, settling in Montgomery County, and finally removing to Page County. Ile was a man who made and spent a con- siderable amount of money. He was active, energetic and successful in business.

Henry C. Binns, the subject of this notice, 58

was born in Uniontown, Fayette Connty, Pennsylvania, and during his infancy was taken by his parents to Brownsville, Penn- sylvania. He obtained a good education in the common schools, and began life as a clerk in a store at Brownsville. When he was seventeen years old he secured employment as clerk on a steamboat, and for several years he was on the Monongahela, Ohio and Mis- sissippi Rivers, which position he gave up in 1861 on account of ill health and took up a farın in Wapello County, where lie regained his former strengtlı; he returned to the river and in 1854 again abandoned it to come to Iowa; he settled the second time in Page County on his present farmn, which con- sists of 160 acres. There were then but two families in the township, that of Aaron Staf- ford and a man by the name of Martindale. The following year Mr. Binns' father, brothers and sisters came to Iowa, and they all lived in a log house which occupied the site of the inore modern residence.

Mr. Binns was married in 1858 to Miss Elizabetlı Davis, a daughter of Robert Davis, one of the pioneers of Montgomery County, Iowa. Three children have been born of this union: Hester, William and Charles. The mother died in 1868, and in 1871 Mr. Binns was married to Miss Mariette Weidman, daughter of Philip Weidman.

In his political opinion Mr. Binn is a Re- publican. In 1856, during the Fremont campaign, he and his father and three brothers were the only men in Fremont and Pierce Townships who voted for John C. Fremont for President. The family were stanch abo- litionists. Jonathan Binns had assisted the slaves to escape to Canada when he lived in Pennsylvania, and took an active interest in the cause of freedom. He had the lionor of naming Fremont Township, which ranks among the best in the county.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Henry C. Binns, our worthy subject, has been a prosperous farmer, and by industry and wise management has added to his origi- nal homestead until he owns 420 acres in Page County; he owns about 440 acres in Montgomery County, Iowa, and both farms are under good cultivation. He has never accepted any political office, preferring to lead a private life. For twenty years he has served as school director, and has lent a help- ing hand to the cause of education wherever opportunity has presented itself, He is well informed on the leading questions of the day, and is highly esteemed in the community where he has so long resided.

OHN QUIST was born in Smoland, Swe- den, June 12, 1828, and is one of the prominent Swedish farmers of Page County. His father's name was John Hak- ason, and according to Swedish customn he took the Christian name of his father with the addition of son for a surname, thus John, John's son, Johnson; but there being so many Johnsons in Sweden, when he entered the army he was enrolled as John Quist, and on reaching this country lie retained the name, which he has given to his children. His father was a farmer by occupation; lie mar- ried Johanna Anderson, who died when our subject was but three years of age; he was her only child. The father afterward mar- ried Lena Anderson, and to them were born four children who grew to maturity: Frank, Swan, Charles and Anna M. They all emi- grated to America and took the name of Quist, and all settled in Montgomery County, Iowa. The father came over in 1862 and lived with his children until his death, which occurred in 1880, at the age of eighty years.

He was a member of the Lutheran Church and a devoted Christian.

John Quist, the subject of this biographi- cal notice, was reared to farm life, but at the age of twenty-one years he joined the army. In 1852 he bade farewell to his native land and sailed away to America, locating in Henry County, Illinois. He began life here as do nearly all of his countrymen, by hiring out to farm labor; this practice has been of incal- culable benefit both to the foreigner and the American, as we have as a result a large population of intelligent and prosperous farmers. In 1855 Mr. Quist was married to Magdalena Johnson, daughter of John and Berta (Peterson) Johnson. He then settled on a farm in Henry County, Illinois, and re- mained there until his removal to Page County in 1875. He purchased a farm of 320 acres of as fine land as can be found in all the county, and he has placed it under excellent cultivation.

Mr. and Mrs. Quist are the parents of nine children: Peter J., William, Amanda C., Eliza- beth, Mollie, Minnie, Carl E., Julia E. and Anna B These children are all receiving advantages in acquiring an education, and will be fitted to enter upon an active life much better than were their parents when they left their native land. Mr. Quist has been an industrious and frugal man and is deserving of much credit for the position hie now occu- pies in the business circles of Page County. When he came to this country be had no capital but willing hands and a determination to succeed in his undertaking. He lias been a liberal donor to the church, and has con- tributed largely to the Orphans' Home at Stanton, Iowa, and at Andover, Illinois, both Swedish institutions; he has also given gen- erously to the Seminary at Rock Island, Illi- nois, which is also under the management of his countrymen. He has always been public-

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

spirited and ready to aid any enterprise liaving for its object the advancement of the commu- nity or his own nationality. He is kind to the poor and has encouraged high moral prin- ciples in his neighborhood, where he is re- garded as a valuable citizen.

EORGE W. MOORE, a leading agricult- urist of Page County, was born in county Monaghan, Ireland, and hence is an American by adoption. His father, John Moore, was a native of county Mon- aghan, and a fariner by occupation. He emi- grated to Canada when a young man of twenty-one years, and remained there until he was injured by an accident, when he re- turned to his native land. He was there united in marriage to Jane Ross, a daugliter of George Ross, of county Monaghan, and to them were born eight sons: William, Robert, Charles, Samuel R., George W., Thomas E., Jaines and Jonah, all of whom are living excepting Jonalı, who died in the army. Mr. Moore emigrated to America the second time about 1845, and settled in Jo Daviess Coun ty, Illinois, where he bought a farm and spent the remainder of his days. He died at the age of sixty-five years, respected and honored by all who knew him. Five of his sons served in the civil war, a good record for one family.

George W. Moore, the subject of this sketch, was born in county Monaghan, Ire- land, November, 1835, and received a common- school education in the United States, as he was a mere lad when his parents emigrated to America. He learned farming in early life, but wlien Abraham Lincoln made his second call for 300,000 more men, he left the plow and enlisted in Company I, Ninety- sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served his country faithfully for three years. He

was twenty-seven years of age and in the full vigor and strength of his manhood. One of his brothers was in the same company and never lost a day from his Regiment for any cause. George W. participated in the battle of Chickamagna and Lookont Mountain, where he was wounded in the leg, which dis- abled him for four months. He entered as a private but was immediately promoted to the position of Second Lieutenant, and after the battle of Chickamauga he was made First Lieutenant. At Lookout Mountain he was in command of his company. After lie was wounded he was quartermaster of his regi- ment, serving in this capacity to the end of the war. He was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, January 21, 1865. He then returned to Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and in 1868 he came to Page County, Iowa. He purchased a farm in Fremont Township, where he resided until the spring of 1875, when he sold out and bonght his present farm, which consists of 340 acres of fine farin- ing land, pleasantly located near Essex.

In November, 1875, Mr. Moore was mar- ried to Miss Harriet J. Price, daughter of the Rev. William and Lydia A. (Smith) Price, and of this nnion were born five children: Samuel R., William F., Clarence, Georgie and Alice J.

Mr. Moore has represented the people of his township in the office of trustee for three terms, assessor two terms, and in 1881 he was school treasurer of Pierce Township. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and in his political opinions he is a stanch Republican. He stands high in the business circles of the county as a man of reliability and strict integrity. The Rev. William Price was born in western Maryland in 1827, and was of German descent. He was married in Wheel- ing, West Virginia, to Lydia A. Smith, and to them were born nine children all of whom

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

are now living. Mr. Price was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than a quarter of a century. In 1857 he re- inoved to Iowa, and he with four other min- isters organized the Protestant Methodist Church in Iowa, in which society he has always been a powerful factor.

HARLES A. JOHNSON .- In the sub- ject of this sketch we have another example of the superior benefits and privilege of a free government, and also of the success which usually attends a deter- inined will, an honest purpose, and indus- trious habits. Mr. Johnson is one of tlie prominent farmers in the county. He was born in Smoland, Sweden, June 22, 1834, and is a son of Jonas Neilson. Mr. Neilson was a farmer by occupation, and the father of ten children. He died in 1868, at the age of sixty eight years. He was a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church and took an active interest in religion.

Charles A. Johnson, son of the above, emi- grated to America in 1852, at the age of eighteen years. He landed at New York, and came to Andover, Henry County, Illi- nois, where he hired out at farm labor. He was united in marriage to Hannah S. Lund- berg, February 6, 1858, and to thein were born nine children, eight of whom are living: Edna, August, Albert, Hilda, deceased, Liz- zie, Eddie, Emma, Joseph and Anna. By industry and economy Mr. Johnson saved enough money to bny a farm of 120 acres, and he lived in Henry County until 1871, when he came to Page County, Iowa. He has prospered since coming to America be- yond many native born citizens who have had mnuch less with which to contend than a man of foreign birth, in a strange land in the

midst of a strange tongue. He has raised a large family of children and has accumulated a handsome property. He has been very liberal in assisting his own countrymen in America, and has made generous donations to the Swedish Orphans' Home at Stanton, Iowa. He has assisted in building and maintaining four churches. He has served his township as trustee for nine years and as county Super- visor six years; he has taken an active inter- est in the public schools and has been school director fifteen years. He and his wife are worthy members of the Swedish Lutheran Church, of which he is also a trustee. Polit- ically he is identified with the Republican party.

Whatever success Mr. Johnson has achieved in life has been through his own efforts. He enjoys the confidence and respect of the entire community and is an honor to his country- men and his family. His daughter Edna married Lemuel Hugner, a farmer in Illinois, and manager of the Orphans' Home in Henry County; they have three children. August married Ida Peters, and they are the parents of two children; their home is in Nebraska.

AMES HUTSON, Siam, Taylor County, Iowa, is a descendant of one of the old pioneer families of Kentucky. His grandfather participated in the Indian wars of the early days of that State, when the settlers were constantly exposed to the attacks of the stealthy " Red Skins." Joseph Hnt- son, the fatlier of James, was born and reared amid the wild scenes and dangers that sur- rounded the lives of the pioneers of Kentucky, and became accustomed to the hardships to which the carly settlers were subjected. He married Margaret Bowlin, a daughter of James Bowlin, and seven children were born

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IIISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

of this nnion: John, Keziah, William, Sally, Lucinda, George, and James. Mr. Hutson owned a farm in Clay County, Kentucky, where he lived several years after his mar- riage. Abont 1840 he removed to Missouri, and settled on a tract of wild land, being the very first settler in Nodaway County. He is still living on this farm, at the age of eighty- two years. He is a member of the Baptist Church and stands high in the community. During the late war he suffered from the depredations of the bushwhackers, and at one time he was arrested and taken to St Joe, Missouri, but as no charge could be found against him he was set free.

James Hutson, son of Joseph Hutson, was born in Clay County, Kentucky, on his ta- ther's farm, and at the age of two years was bronght by his parents to Missouri; there he grew up in the wildnerness without any op- portunities for acquiring an education, At the age of fourteen years he went with his uncle, Franklin Hutson, as a teamster on a freight train for the Government; two years later he joined a company and drove a herd of cattle across the plains to California. The train consisted of fourteen wagons, twenty- eight men, and 370 head of cattle. Five and six yoke of oxen were driven to a wagon, and thus they were broken on the way, command- ing ready sale as work-cattle, when they reached California. The journey consumed six months and six days, and was made in safety. After his arrival in California young James engaged in gold mining, in which he continned two years; he then engaged in teaming until 1862, when he went to Salmon River, Oregon, during the great gold excite- ment at that place; there he lost his entire stake of four mules and $700. He spent one season in the Umpqua Valley, Donglas County, Oregon, where he was engaged in farming and teaming. He then returned to

California, and at the end of one year he came back to his father's home, having been absent seventeen years. He remained under the parental roof two years, and was then married to Miss Mary Parker, a daughter of Frank and Rebecca Parker. Mr. Parker was a farmer by occupation and a native of Clay County, Kentucky. He was one of the early settlers of Taylor County, Iowa: To Mr. and Mrs. Hutson were born three children: Rentilla, William A. and Ira C.

Mr. Hutson lived on a farm in Nodaway County, Missouri, eight years after his mar- riage, and then came to Siam, Taylor Coun- ty, Iowa, where he has since resided. Like his father before him, he has always been a stanch Democrat. He is a man of determi- nation and perseverance, and has had an hon- orable career. His children may take an honest pride in both their maternal and pa- ternal ancestors, as descendents of good old pioneer stock, from which was sprung the men and women who have conquered the wilderness, making homes for themselves and leaving to their children the inheritance of noble and untarnished names.

DEN F. LARGE, M. D., Braddyville, Iowa, is one of the prominent phy- sicians of Page Connty, where he has been engaged in a successful practice for eight years. His great-grandfather, Ebenezer Large, was a native of New Jersey, and he married Annie Freeman. Their son, John Large, was also a native of New Jersey, and he married Elizabeth Fletcher, a native of Ireland; to thein were born nine children, one of whom was William Large, the father of Dr. Large, the subject of this notice. He first saw the light of day at Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and was a brick and stone

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

mason by trade. He married Levina Hank- ins, and they were the parents of seven chil- dren: Aden F., Mary E., Sarah A., John W., Missouri, deceased; Stephen D., and Alma J. The father of Mrs. William Large was David Hankins, a native of Virginia, and his wife was Jane Clevenger; they were the parents of eleven children, all of whoin lived to ina- turity. In 1856 William Large removed to Taylor Connty, Iowa, where he engaged in the mercantile trade; he afterward purchased a farm in Taylor County and has been uni- formly successful in all his business under- takings; he now owns 1,400 acres of land in Taylor County, Iowa, and Worth County, Missouri. He has all his life been a hard- working man; he has avoided debt and has kept his honor unspotted; he furnishes an example of what a inan can accomplish who relies upon his own efforts and observes the laws of industry, economy, and integrity.

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Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar Number of Pages: 946

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar
Number of Pages: 946