Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Part 21

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 828

USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 21

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).

The subject of this sketch was but seven years of age when his parents moved to Pe- oria County, Illinois, where he remained until he was eighteen, engaged in farm work. Dur- ing the war he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Illinois Infantry, Company

I, under Colonel Dean, and later was a mem- ber of Company B, Twenty-second Regiment United States Infantry, and served on the frontier for three years after the war. He was then engaged in freighting and teaming in Colorado and Wyoming for two years. He next went to Missouri, and from there eame to Pottawattamie County in 1871, first settling in Silver Creek Township. He then removed to Mills County, where he remained for a time, and in 1881 bought his present farm of 340 acres in Washington Township. He has improved this place until he now owns one of the finest farms in Pottawatta- mie County.

Mr. MeMullen was married in Mills Coun- ty, December 21, 1875, to Sarah E. Ellis, who was born in Orange County, Indiana, a daughter of Jesse and Rachel (Frazier) Ellis, both natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Me- Mullen was eleven years of age when her parents settled near Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa. Her father died in 1856, in Illinois, on the way to Iowa. The mother died in this county at the age of seventy four years. Religiously they were Quakers, or Friends. Mrs. McMullen received a good education at New Sharon, Iowa, and at the age of seventeen years was engaged in teach- ing, which occupation she continued for thir- ty-two terms. In 1871 she went to Kansas and took up a Government homestead, after which she returned to Mahaska County. In 1875 she came to Mills County, where she was married. Mr. and Mrs. McMullen have six children: Byron G., Herman Ray and

Normon Fay, twins; Herbert A., Laura, Grace and Blanche. Mr. McMullen is a strong believer in the principles of the Demo- cratie party, and has served as Township Trustee and in other minor offices in his township. He is a member of the Masonie order, No. 400, of Silver City, and also of

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the G. A. R., Bradford Post, No. 471. Mrs. McMullen was reared a Quaker, and is now a member of the Evangelical Church.

HOMAS H. JEFFERSON, a promi- nent farmer of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, is a son of William Jefferson, who was born in 1801, and was married to Elizabeth Hewett, daughter of John Hewett, a native of England. Mr. Jefferson came to America in 1823, and settled in Trumbull County, Ohio, where he was among the early settlers. He was the only member of his family that ever came to this country. He was engaged first in driving a stage for the Ohio Stage Company for sixteen years, and next in clearing a farm from heavy timber. The country at that time was covered with giant beech, oaks, walnut, maple, hickory and almost all kinds of timber native to that State, and wild beasts were also plentiful. To Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson were born five children: William, Mary, Thomas, Edward, and one who died when young. The father lived on his farm for many years, where he was a well-known and prominent man, and both he and his wife were members of the Church of England. In 1863 he went to Black Hawk County, Iowa, where he lived theremainder of his days, dying at the age of seventy-six years. Ile was a hard-working and upright man.

Thomas H. Jefferson, our subject, was born February 23, 1839, and after his mar- riage was engaged in the oil country in Warren and Erie connties, Pennsylvania, for three years. In 1867 he came to Iowa, set- tling in Black Hawk County, where he re- mained two years; he next lived on the Mis- sonri line in Polk and Cedar counties, and in 1872 he came to Belknap Township, Pot- tawattamie County, settling on wild land.

There was but one house between him and Big Grove, now Oakland, which then con- tained a store, blacksmith shop, a saw-mill and three small cabins. In 1881 he came to his present fine farm of 320 acres, one-half of which is in Belknap Township. Politi- cally he is a Democrat, and stands deservedly high asa straightforward and honorable man.

Mr. Jefferson was married in 1863, in Pennsylvania, to Rose Stewart, daughter of Simeon and Hannah (Blakesley) Stewart, and they have three children: Stewart, Charles C. and Tommy. Simeon Stewart was born in New York State, and was the father of five children: Tryphenia, Calphurnia, Perry, Rose and Dora. He was a carpenter by trade, but owned a farm in the woods of Erie County, Pennsylvania, where he lived for many years, and where he was a pioncer settler. Ile went thirty-two miles to Erie on horseback for his flour. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and lived to the age of eighty-two, dying on his farın. He was a member of the Masonic order, and a man well known and respected in his county. He kept a hotel on the road from Oil City to Corry, Pennsylvania, and during the oil exitement did an immense business, accumul- lating a handsome property.

OHN BLAKELY is one of the enter- prising and well-known citizens of Wright Township. He came here in the spring of 1877, and has since made this place his home. He was born in Perry County, Ohio, February 13, 1842, a son oť Andrew Blakely. His great-grandfather Blakely was a native of the Emerald Isle. Andrew Blakely was a stone-cutter by trade, which he followed the most of his life. His political views were those of the Democratic

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party. He married Catherine Gilehriest, a native of Pennsylvania and a lady of German ancestry. They reared a family of six chil- dren, five of whom are living, John being the fifth born. Mrs. Blakely was born in 1807, and is now eighty-three years of age. She resides in Pennsylvania, near the old Gil- ehriest homestead.

John was principally brought up in West- moreland County, Pennsylvania, where he learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed for many years in that State and in Ohio. In 1868 he came West, and worked in different parts of Missouri, and finally in Maryville, Nodaway County. In 1871 he came to Cass County, Iowa, and bought eighty aeres of land, six miles sontheast of Lewis, which he improved. February 5, 1874, he married Miss Lucina Ingraham, a native of New York State and a daughter of Clark and Electa Lucina (Grinnell) Ingra- ham, both natives of the East. When a child she came with her parents to Illinois, and later to Cass County, lowa. Her father is now a resident of Griswold.

In 1877 Mr. Blakely sold his farm in Cass County and bought his present farm of eighty acres, upon which he has since made many improvements. Hle erected a two-story frame house and surrounded it with shade and ornamental trees; and his barn, other out- buildings and improvements on the premises all show thrift and enterprise. Mr. and Mrs. Blakely have five children: Etta Belle, Lenora, Elizabeth Jane, John Sherman and Electa Lucina.

In polities Mr. Blakely is a Republican. IIe has served the publie as a member of the School Board. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Gris- wold. He is associated with Lewis Lodge, No. 140, I. O. O. F. Mr. Blakely is a man yet in the prime of life; has traveled extell-

sively, and is well-informed on all general topics. He takes an active interest in edu- cational and religious matters, and any move- ment that has for its object the upbuilding or advancement of the community where he resides, finds in him an earnest supporter.

OSHUA M. CROGHAN, one of the rep- resentative farmer citizens of Wright Township, is a native of the Buckeye State. He was born in Perry County, Ohio, April 12, 1846, a son of James Croghan, also a native of Ohio. The Croghans are of Irish descent. The mother of our subject was nee Catherine Munson. She was born in Ger- many, a daughter of Thomas Munson. Her education was obtained in her native land, and she came to the United States at the age of fourteen. She was a woman of much in- telligence and refinement, and after coming to this country was engaged in teaching the German language in the schools. Her hus- band, James Croghan, was also a successful teacher for many years. In 1853 they moved to Rochester, Cedar County, Iowa, becoming early pioneers of that connty. Her death occurred that same year. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Cro- ghan spent the residue of his life in Cedar County, and died September 18, 1870, in his seventieth year. He was a mason by trade, but for many years had followed the profes- sion of teaching. In politics he was a Re- publican. He was a member of the Gray beard Regiment of Iowa, and served in his regiment two years and seven months as Second Lieutenant. While in Ohio he was a member of the " Hardshell " Baptist Church, but after coming to Iowa he united with the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Croghan were the parents of fourteen children. Bon-

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jamin, their first born, is a resident of Allen County, Kansas.

Joshua was reared in Cedar County, Iowa, on a farm, and when he grew up learned the harness-maker's trade at Wilton Junction, Muscatine County, same State. During the great Rebellion he enlisted, in 1864, in Com- pany B, Second Iowa Infantry. The regi- ment was on its noted march to the sea under General Sherman. Mr. Croghan joined them at Atlanta, Georgia, and from there marched with them to Savannah, then up through the Carolinas and to Richmond. After the sur- render of General Lee's army they marched on to Washington, and were present at the grand review. He was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, and at Davenport, Iowa, received his final discharge and was paid off.

The war over, Mr. Croghan returned to Cedar County, Iowa, where he resided six years. Ile then removed to Clinten County, same State, and after remaining three years returned to Cedar County. Five years later, in 1879, he came to Pottawattamie County. In 1880 he purchased forty acres of wild land, which he has since improved and brought under a high state of cultivation. He has a comfortable home, a good barn, modern wind pump, a grove and orchard of four acres, and other substantial improvements. Everything about the Croghan farm shows thrift and enterprise. At present Mr. Croglian is cul- tivating 240 acres of land, and is fecding twenty-eighty head of cattle and a large number of hogs.

February 25, 1868, and Clinton County, Iowa, are the date and place of Mr. Cro- ghan's marriage to Miss Mary Jane Dale, a native of Crawford County, Ohio, danghter of Samuel and Mary Dale. Her father died in 1864, and her mother is a resident of Muscatine, Iowa, where she has three sons.

Mr. Croghan and his wife have seven chil- dren: Mary C., the oldest, died in 1870; James F., Phillip, Sina A., Charles, Colbert and Sherwood M. Mr. Croghan is a charter member of Washington Post, G. A. R., No. 9. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Protestant Methodist Church.

ARWELL MERRIAM, a farmer of Lewis Township, is a native of Wor- cester County, Massachusetts, born Jan- nary 14, 1833, the son of Asa and Saralı (Warren) Merriam, natives of Westminster, Massachusetts, and of French extraction. The parents were both deceased in Massachu- setts, the father dying May 19, 1886, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, ten months and eleven days, and the mother in 1859; she was born about the beginning of the nineteenth century. The father was a farmer, and also owned and operated a mill in Princeton, Worcester County, Massachusetts.

Farwell Merriam was the fifth child in a family of ten children, was reared to farmi life, and received his education in the district schools. When he was twenty years of age he entered a wood shop, engaged in getting ont chair material, and also learned wood- turning for abont one year. February 6, 1854, he embarked for California on board the steamship Georgia; ticket, $115; March 13, 1854, arrived at San Francisco. H there took steamboat Pawnee up the river to Marysville, and then walked twenty- eight miles te Swedish Flat, Butte County, where he engaged in gold-mining for over three years, when he returned to his native State, remaining until the spring of 1858. At Worcester, Massachusetts, April 6, 1858, he purchased a ticket for $32 to St. Louis,

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Missouri, via Chicago, which was at that time a small place. From St. Louis he came by boat to Council Bluffs, where he re- mained over night, and the next morning started out afoot for Onawa, Iowa, a distance of some sixty miles. IIere he engaged at work for Judge Whitney, in Monona Conn- ty, where he remained for two or three weeks, Mr. Merriam then purchased a piece of land, all of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 5, on the west side of the Sioux River, comprising 114 acres. This was a tract of unenltivated land, which he slightly im- proved, and remained one year. Hle then re- turned to Onawa, where he erected a home, and resided there until May 6, 1861, when he started with a wagon and two yoke of cattle for Denver, Colorado, arriving at Den- ver June 15, 1861. From there he went to Golden Gate, and over the divide to Black Hawk Point and Central City, where he took up a elaim between Central and Ne- vada City, which he worked for several months. On October 6 he sold ont and re- turned overland to Conneil Bluffs, and thenee to Onawa, where he remained until April, 1862. Mr. Merriam then returned to Coun- eil Bluffs, en route for Denver; but when he arrived here he changed his mind, and on May 15, 1862, opened a small grocery, notion and fruit store at No. 187 Broadway. Dnr- ing his stay in Conneil Bluffs he increased his stock, and controlled the whole fruit market. In 1881 be turned his entire atten- tion to his farm, which is located on section 17, Lewis Township, where he has lived since the spring of 1875, having purchased the same in 1874. This farm consists of forty acres, for which he paid $2,000, and which he has turned into a vegetable garden and fruit farm; but for a number of years he fol- lowed stoek-raising. Mr. Merriam has made many improvements, and now has one of the

best located farms in this part of the county; everything denotes thrift, energy and pros- perity. He is a stanch Republican, and takes an active part in all political issues of the day, and strives to promote the best interests of his party.

Mr. Merriam was married September 4, 1867, in Sparta, Wisconsin, to Miss Sarah E. Jones, aged thirty-nine years, the daughter of G. H. and Adaline Jones, of Council Bluffs. Mr. and Mrs. Merriam have six children, viz .: George N., of Council Bluffs, aged twenty-two years and four months; Grace E., nineteen years and nine months, and the wife of W. W. Biddleston, of Council Bluffs; Charles F., deceased March 15, 1889, aged fifteen years, three months and twenty-two days; Walter, deceased in 1882, at the age of three years, eleven months and twenty-five days; Leonard A., at home, aged seven years and six months, and Harrold, four years and six months old. Mr. Merriam is a member of the Pioneer Association of Monona Coun- ty, lowa.

ILLIAM GARNER, one of the early pioneers of Pottawattamie County, was born in Davidson Connty, North Carolina, June 22, 1817, a son of David and Sarah (Stevens) Garner, also natives of North Carolina. The father lived to the age of 104 years, and the mother died at the age of ninety years. Our subject was but seven- teen years of age when his parents moved to Quiney, Illinois, where he remained eleven years. He was married in 1846 to Sarah Workman, and they then joined the Mormons at Nauvoo, Illinois, and some years later came with that colony to Pottawattamie County, lowa. Mr. Garner was one of the first settlers in this county, and Garner Town-

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

ship was named in his honor. He served in the Mexican war, and marched through to Mexico, thence to Lower California, after which he returned home. He now owns 350 acres of fine land in Garner Township, and has also given each of his eleven children a good farm. He has lived to see his children grow to maturity, and is a well-to-do and honorable citizen of Pottawattamie County. He built the woolen mill on Mosquito Creek, and has been an important factor in many other improvements.

ILLIAM C. LONG, a snecessful farmer ot Wright Township and an ex-soldier of the late war, came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in 1876, and has since resided liere.

lle was born in Somerset County, Penn- sylvania, February 11, 1847. His father and grandfather, Jacob H. and Henry Long, were both natives of Somerset County. IIis mother was Mary E. Baker, also a native of that county, a daughter of Josiah Baker, a native of Pennsylvania. Both the Longs and Bakers are of German extraction. When William C. was six years old his parents moved to IIoward County, Indiana. There he worked on the farm in summer and at- tended school during the winter months. In the fall of 1863 he enlisted in Company E, Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, and took an active part in the war until its elose. Ile partiei- pated in the battles of Huntsville and Athens, Alabama; Columbia, Tennessee; was on the march against General Hood's forces, and was at Franklin, Spring Hill and Nashville, Tennessee. The war over, Mr. Long received an honorable discharge at Indianapolis, Indi- ana, and from there went to Lee County, Illinois, whither his father had moved during

the war. His mother had died in Howard County, Indiana, in 1863, leaving twelve chil- dren, as follows: Lydia Susana, Lucinda, William C., Rebecca, J. W., Matilda E., Martin Luther, Mary Ellen, Rosyanna: Franklin and a babe unnamed are deceased. IIenry, another son, was drowned. He was a member of the same company in which his brother served, was taken prisoner at Colum- bia, 'Tennessee, and confined at Anderson- ville for four months. At the end of that time he was paroled, put on board the Old Sul- tana, a condemned vessel, which went to the bottom of the river with all on board, near Memphis.

Mr. Long resided in Lee County, Illinois, until 1876, when he came to Iowa. He spent one year in Boone County before com- ing to Pottawattamie County. In Center Township he purchased and improved a farm of eighty acres, which, in 1883, he sold to Jack Evans. Then he bought his present farm of 120 acres. This place is one of the best farms in the township, everything about the premises indicating industry and prosper- ity. Mr. Long has a story and a half frame house, which is built in modern style and which is surrounded with a grove and orchard. He has a good barn 24 x26 feet with sixteen-feet posts, and a corn-crib 24 x 32 x 12 feet, with a capacity of 3,000 bushels. He has a long cattle shed, a cow stable, a wind pump, and everything convenient for carrying on general farming and stock-rais- ing to the best advantage.

July 3, 1867, Mr. Long was married, in Howard County, Indiana, to Miss Lavina Darby, a lady of much intelligence and a na- tive of Clinton County, that State. She is a daughter of John and Rachel Darby. Mr. and Mrs. Long have three children: Laura Etta, Lilly Dale and Lucy Ellen. They lost their first-born, an infant son. Mr. Long is

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Republican, and, like the representative a citizens of his county, is well posted on gen- eral topics and current events.

OLOMON ERNEST, one of the enter- prising and successful citizens of Wash- ington Township, came to Pottawattamie Connty in 1873, and to his present farm in 1881, where he has since resided and made his home. He was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1832, the son of William Ernest, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, and was a son of William Er- nest, Sr., who were of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. The mother of our subject was Mary (Wagamon) Ernest, also of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. Solomon Ernest was seven years of age when, in 1839, his parents re- moved to Fayette County, Illinois, where they resided until their death, the father dy- ing in 1872, at the age of over sixty years; and the mother in 1855. The father was a farmer all his life; politically he was a Dem- ocrat. Both parents were members of the Christian Church. They reared three sons and four daughters.

Solomon, the second son and third child, was reared on a farm, and received his edn- cation in the Fayette County public schools. He resided in that county seven years, and then removed to Olmsted County, Minne- sota, settling near Rochester. He resided in that State eleven years, and in 1873 came to Pottawattamie County, first settling in Washington Township, and afterward re- moved to Silver Creek Township, where he resided four years. In 1880 he bought wild land where he now resides, and the next year improved it. Mr. Ernest now owns 200 acres in Washington Township and seventy- three acres in Belknap Township, which is

just across the highway. He has a com- fortable frame residence, 16 x 24 feet and one and a half stories high, situated on a natural building site, and surrounded by a grove and orchard of two acres.

Mr. Ernest was married April 6, 1856, in Fayette County, Illinois, to Miss Isabelle E. Lee, a woman of intelligence and education, who was born in that county April 17, 1839, and was a danghter of Harvey Lec, a native of New York State, and a son of Abijah Lee. They were of a patriotic family, several members of the family having fought in the Revolutionary war. The mother of Mrs. Ernest was Elizebeth (Nesbitt) Lee, a native of Dixon County, Tennessee, and a danghter of Joseph and Isabelle (Harper) Nesbitt. The parents were married in Fayette County, near Vandalia, Illinois, where the mother was reared and educated. The father died when Mrs. Ernest was nine years of age, and the mother died in 1878, at the age of sixty- six years. She was a member of the Chris- tian Church. The father was a carpenter by trade, although he was engaged in farming for many years; in politics he was a Whig. They had a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Er- nest have four children, viz .: Henrietta, wife of George Darrymple, of Washington Town- ship, and they are the parents of four chil- dren; Marilla, wife of Simon Finley, of Fillmore County, Minnesota, and they are the parents of five children; Abijah B., at home; Florence, wife of George W. Killion, of Washington Township, and they have two children. They have lost two by death,- Abner, a young man of twenty-eight years; and Ella, wife of John M. Killion, at the age of nineteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest are members of the Christian Church; they were reared that way and have not departed from the teachings of their youth. Two of their

D & Bloomer

Amelia Bloomer

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

daughters have been workers in the Sabbath- school. In polities Mr. Ernest is a Democrat. He was roeked in a Democratic eradle, and has always stood by that party. He is well- known in the community where he resides, is honorable in all his dealings, and is num- bered among the solid men of the township.

EXTER CHAMBERLAIN BLOOM- ER, attorney at law and one of the most prominent and respected citizens of Council Bluffs, was born in Scipio, Cayuga County, New York, July 4, 1816, and was reared under the influence of Quakers. His father, John Bloomer, was a native of West- chester County, New York, and of English deseent, and his mother, Tamma Chamber- lain, was a native of Massachusetts and also of English ancestry. On receiving his edu- eation, Mr. Bloomer exhibited a decided taste for literary and professional pursuits. In 1837 he began the study of law, and soon afterward politieal affairs. Later he became editor of the Seneca County Courier, a Whig paper, at Seneca Falls, New York, and filled that position for fifteen years. In 1843 he was admitted to practice in the several courts of New York. During his residence there he held several offiees, among them that of Postmaster during the last four years, under the Taylor-Fillmore adminstration. In 1853 he removed to Mount Vernon, Ohio, and became the editor of the Western Home Visitor, Mrs. Bloomer continuing the pub- lication of the Lily at the same place. With the view of still bettering his situation, he visited Council Bluffs in October, 1854, and decided to make this point his future home, and the next year he moved thither, arriving April 15, and immediately established him- self in the practice of law and in the real-

estate business. At that time the county was strongly Democratic, and Mr. Bloomer, in company with John T. Baldwin, C. E. Stone and others, led in the organization of the new Republican party in Western Iowa. The interest which he manifested in political movements and the able manner in which he performed the duties imposed upon him caused his fellow citizens to bestow upon him many trusts, and he was frequently presented as a candidate for the offices of Judge, Rep- resentative to the Legislature, ete. For eleven years he was a member of the Board of Education, for a time serving as its l'resi- dent. Within this period seven fine school- houses were erected, one of the number, the Bloomer School, being named in his honor. HIe was a member of the State Board of Edu- cation until that office was abolished; was largely influential in procuring the establish- ment of the Council Bluffs Free Publie Libra- ry, of which he has been an honored trustee from its foundation. For twelve years, and until the office was abolished, he was Receiver of the Publie Moneys at this point; was Alderman in 1856, and Mayor of the city two years, 1869-'71. In all these official capacities he was honest and efficient, render- ing satisfaction to the publie. During the war he rendered efficient service to the cause of the Union, and was a member of the Union League. In 1872-'73 he was editor of the Council Bluffs Republican, and for a time was editor also of the Northwestern Odd Fellow. He also compiled a history of Pot- tawattamie County, under the title of " Notes on the Early History of Pottawattamie Coun- ty," which was published in a magazine called the Annals of Iowa. As an evidence that he has a fine, large brain, it can be said that he has been as efficient in his business relations as in the legal and literary. As a politieian his record is unblemished. In

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Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Part 21

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 828

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 828