Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Part 22

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 22

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).

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BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY

religions matters he is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which he has been Senior Warden for thelast thirty years.

He was married April 15, 1840, to Miss Amelia Jenks, a lady of culture, and in hearty sympathy with every movement of reform. Her first national notoriety was occasioned by her introduction of what was known as the " Bloomer costume," which called the attention of the publie to an urgent reform in dress, and has led to important modifica- tions of the old and nnhealthful fashion, and secondly, and more lastingly, as a prominent and efficient advocate of the cause of woman suffrage. (A biographical account of her is given in connection herewith.) She and her husband first arrived in Council Bluff's on the 15th day of April, 1855, and immedi- ately took up their residence in their present pleasant home. That day was the fifteenth anniversary of their marriage, and April 15, 1890, they celebrated both that event and their marriage by a " Golden Wedding." It was a grand occasion. A large number of magnificent presents were made to them, and letters of congratulation from eminent co- workers in the canse of reform throughout the United States were received,-among thein Miss Susan B. Anthony and Mrs. ex- Governor Hale, of Wyoming. A splendid poem was composed for the occasion by Rev. G. W. Crofts, and illustrated on its presenta- tion by Miss S. D. Rhese.

M RS. AMELIA BLOOMER. - Inas- much as the name of this lady has become prominent over the conntry, it seems proper that it should appear in this history, more especially as she is now one of the oldest settlers.

Mrs. Bloomer was born in Cortland Conn-

ty, New York, in the year 1818. Her maiden name was Amelia Jenks. She received a fair education in the common schools of the State, and after arriving at suitable age she engaged in teaching, at first in the publie schools and afterward as a private tutor. She was married in 1840 to Dexter C. Bloomer, of Seneca Falls, New York, where she resided with her husband until the fall or winter of 1853. Mr. Bloomer was an attorney, and also, at the time of their mar- riage and for some years after, editor and one of the publishers of a county newspaper. Mrs. Bloomer early began to write for the paper, confining her articles mainly to the advocacy of temperance, of which she has always been an ardent defender. She was one of the editors of the Water Bucket, a temperance paper published during the Washingtonian revival, and she early con- neeted herself with the order of Good Tem- plars. In 1849 a temperanee paper called the Lily was commenced in Seneca Falls, and it very soon fell entirely into the hands of Mrs. Bloomer, both as editor and publisher. It was continued by her for six years in New York, and one year in Ohio. It was devoted to the "interests of woman," and ardently advocated the cause of temperanee and wo- man's enfranchisement, and attained a wide eireulation. In 1851 Mrs. Bloomer first ap- peared on the platform as a public speaker, and she, in company with other advocates of temperance and Woman's Rights, in the winter of that year addressed large and atten- tive andiences in all large cities of the State. Mrs. Bloomer continued, during her residence in New York and Ohio, to speak frequently on the question so near her heart, visiting and speaking in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Louis; and wherever she went she always was favored with full houses. In 1850 Mrs. Bloomer's attention was called

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

to the short dresses and trowsers which a few ladies abont that time began to don. She was pleased with it, adopted it in place of the long, heavy skirt that ladies were accus- tomed to wear, and advocated in the Lily its adoption by others. It soon excited great interest, and her name soon became connected with it the world over. Mrs. Bloomer con- tinued to wear it for some six years; and she is still a firm believer that its general nse would tend to promote the comfort and health of her sex. She, however, never pub- liely advocated it other than in the columns of her paper, and never in any way alluded to it in her publie addresses. Her main theme and the work of her life has been the enfranchisement of woman, alike in industrial employments, in educational privileges, and in political rights; and in all these respects she has been spared to witness most wonder- ful progress; but the hour of complete triumph is yet delayed.

In 1854 Mrs. Bloomer removed with her husband to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where, dur- ing that year, she continued the publication of her paper, acting also as associate editor of the Western Home Visitor. She made many addresses during the year in that State, and organized a number of lodges of Good Templars. In 1855 she became a resident of Council Bluffs, where she has since resided. She has spoken often and written a great deal on her favorite subject of Woman's Rights, as well as upon temperar.ce and other prominent questions before the public. She was the first president of the Iowa Woman Suffrage Society, and her residence has always been open to the advocates of her favorite ideas, as they stopped or passed through the city. But advancing years has limited her activities, and she has been compelled to to leave to others the carrying on the battle for equal justice for her sex.

In 1842 she became a member of the Epis- copal Church, and she has continued hier connections with it through all the subsequent years, and aided in its work in many ways in the city of her adoption. She has taken a deep interest in whatever tends to ameliorate all suffering and promote the happiness of the poor and the unfortunate, as well as the rich. In the spring of 1890 she celebrated, in connection with her husband, their Golden Wedding, in the pleasant cottage in which they have resided for thirty-five years. It was thronged with their friends, who joyfully seized the occasion to express their high regards for the venerable pair, and the pres- ents which they received were alike numer- ons, beautiful and spontaneous.

USTIN J. OLNEY, of Belknap Town- ship, was born in Kirtland, Lake County, Ohio, February 8, 1838, a son of Oliver and Alice (Johnson) Olney, the former a na- tive of New England, and the latter of the State of Vermont. The father, reared and educated in New England, followed his pro- fession as cloth manufacturer, in the land of his birth, and emigrated to Ohio in an early day, locating first in Portage County, thenee removing to Lake County. He emigrated thence to Nauvoo, Illinois, and a few years later removed to the State of Missouri, where his wife died, in 1842. Soon afterward he moved back to Illinois, where he married again, and remained until the date of his death. He was the father of eleven children, namely: Newton, who died about the year 1841; Milton, now residing in Ohio; Emily. who resides in Oregon, having emigrated there about the year 1846 or 1847; Mary, who went to Oregon in 1852, and died in

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November, 1855; Rosetta, who died about the year 1842; Oliver, who died in Belknap Township, Pottawattamie County, lowa, in 1875, at the age of forty-two years; Laura, still living in Kirtland, Ohio; Caroline A., who died in 1858; Cornelia, who died about the year 1841; Justin J., the subject of this sketch; and Albert, who died in infancy, in 1842.

Mr. Olney, the subject of this sketch, and his sister Mary, after the death of their mother, were taken by an uncle, John John- son, living at Hiram, Ohio, who brought them up. Laura was brought up by Mrs. Emily Quiun, an aunt, who lived at Kirtland, Ohio. Caroline was brought up by Mrs. Jason Ry- der, an annt, of Hiram, Ohio. In the year 1855 Mr. Johnson came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and located on a farm near Council Bluffs, where young Justin J. worked for him by the month for about one year. He then rented a part of Mr. Johnson's farm, and worked for him until 1862, when he made three trips across the plains to Denver. Angust 9, 1865, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Edwin S. and Eveline (Morris) Morrison.

Mr. Morrison was reared in his native State, Missouri. December 8, 1836, he mar- ried his wife in Virginia, her native State. Ilis first ancestors in America settled in this country in early times. His father was a Presbyterian minister. After his marriage Mr. Morrison visited Cincinnati, Ohio, re- sided for a time at Madison, Indiana, and then returned to Cincinnati, where his wife died in 1847, leaving five children, namely: Monteville, now a resident of Kansas City, Missouri; Sarah E., deceased; Mary E., wife of Mr. Olney; Catherine and Elizabeth, both deceased. Mrs. Olney was born in Indiana, November 27, 1842. ller mother having died when she was quite young, she was

taken care of by her grandmother for one year; then her father married Margaret Den- ton September 14, 1849, and she was taken to his home in Cincinnati, where she was brought up. At the age of eighteen years she came to Sonth English, Iowa, to reside with her brother, where she made her home until her marriage.

In 1866 Mr. Olney purchased 240 acres of land on the west side of the Nishnabotna River, near his present home. Since that time he purchased forty acres more, all of which he occupied and improved until 1880, when he rented his farm and removed to Oakland, and engaged in the trade in agri- cultural implements; but a year afterward he moved upon a farm in the vicinity of Oak- land. In 1883 he exchanged his farm for an undivided one-half interest in a tract of 560 acres. When the division was made he ob- tained 320 acres of fine land in sections 23 and 24, where improvements had been made. His principal business is agriculture. He has 140 acres in cultivation, and the rest in pas- ture and meadow. He also has an orchard of one and a half acres of apples and small fruit. There is a fine spring of water upon his land, furnishing a good supply of pure water for all purposes.

Politically Mr. Olney is a Republican, and a zealous advocate of Republican principles. He has been a prominent member of the Board of Education in his township, and has held many of the township offices, which he lias filled to the satisfaction of the people.

His family are members of the Christian, or Disciples' Church, of Oakland. His two children are: Caroline Alice, the wife of D. S. Pleak, who now resides in Macedonia Township, this county; and Wayne, living at home with his parents. Mrs. Olney's father resides in Springfield, Ohio, and by his second wife has six children, to wit: Marion E.,

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Belle, Sarah, Lonisa, Margaret and George. Marion E. now resides in Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisa is the wife of a Mr. McConnell, in Illinois; and the others are at home.

AMUEL BARSTOW is a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, born Au- gust 18, 1829, five miles north of Zanesville, the son of Samnel and Alvira (Woodruff) Barstow, natives of Maine and Ohio respectively. The mother died May 5, 1840, and the father died at Farmington, Illinois, in 1867. They had a family of seven children, of whom only five still sur- vive: Warren H., deceased in Illinois; George W., of Licking County, Ohio; Wil- lis, of Cleveland, Ohio; Samuel, our subject; Anthony II .. deceased; Martha, wife of M. W. Spaulding, residing in Tecumseh, Ne- braska; Stephen, of Farmington, Illinois; and Sarah A., deceased in infancy. Mr. Bar- stow was again married, this time to Mary L. Jet, of Ohio, who died in 1889, at Farm- ington, Illinois. By this marriage there were seven children, namely: Judson, who died in Andersonville prison after having been wounded at the battle of Chickahominy Swamps. He was first taken to Libby prison, thence to Andersonville, where he died of abuse and neglect; Elvira, deceased, wife of M. W. Spaulding, of Tecumseh, Nebraska; Henry, deceased in Illinois; Eliza, a resi- dent of Farmington, Illinois; Ann, deceased; Milton, deceased; Ross, a resident of Farm- ington.

Samuel Barstow, Jr., our subject, was reared in his native county, and remained at home until he had attained his majority. He was brought up to farm life, and received his education in the old log school-house of

those days. September 19, 1853, he re- moved to Fulton County, Illinois, where he remained a short time, and then removed to Peoria County, working at whatever pre- sented itself, farming being his principal oc- cupation. He was married November 24, 1853, to Miss Eleanor A. Caulson, daughter of William S. and Hephzibah (Eno) Caulson, natives of England and New York respect- ively. The mother, born in Michigan in 1804, still resides in the State of Washington, near Olympia. The father died in 1844, at the age of forty-three years. They had a family of ten children, of whom seven still survive: Hannah T., wife of Ambrose Clark, of Union County Oregon; Sarah Ann, widow of J. W. Clark, residing in Mills County, Iowa; William P., deceased in Mexico; Mary O., deceased, was the wife of Charles Davis, of Exeter, Nebraska; Eleanor A., the wife of the subject of this sketch; Jakie, a resident of California; Imle E., of Cordelan Mines, Idaho; Emeline, widow of J. S. Sherwood, of the State of Washington; Henry S., also of Washington. Eleanor, the wife of our subject, was born in Peoria County, Illinois, near Peoria city, January 29, 1832, where she was reared and married. In the fall of 1855 they came to Iowa, and located in Mills County, where Mr. Barstow purchased a pre-emption right of raw prairie, with no improvements whatever. Here they made their home for eight years, and im- proved eighty acres. In 1863 they returned to Illinois, where they spent one year, and then returned to lowa, spending four years in Mills County; returned to Peoria and spent one year, and again returned to Mills County. In April, 1872, they located on their present farm of forty acres, on the southwest quarter of section 31, Lewis Township, Pottawat- tamie County. Here they at once com- meneed improvements, erected a small resi-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

dence, 16 x 21, and one and a half stories high. They made their home here for sev- eral years, when they removed to their pres- ent residence. Mr. Barstow has added to his first purchase until he now has 160 acres of finely improved land, the most of which he has done himself. When they landed in Iowa they had nothing but pluck and energy, but by close application they have seenred for themselves a comfortable home. He de- votes himself principally to farming and stock-raising. Politically he is a stanch Re- publican, taking an active part in all of the political work of the county. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace and Road Supervisor, and while in Mills County he was chosen as Supervisor of the county two terms. Mr. and Mrs. Barstow are members of the Christian Church, of which he is an ordained elder.

They have five children: James M., born September, 1854, a practicing physician of Council Bluffs; Roseltha, wife of Joseph Stoker, residing in Mills County; Alice J., born January 20, 1858, the wife of Edward P. Mcintyre, of Harrison County, Iowa; Ilepsie E., born September 16, 1865, is a teacher in the public sehools of Council Bluffs; Elvira, deceased; Guy E., born July 28, 1873, is at home.

EORGE PLUMB, a popular citizen of Belknap Township, was born in Lin- colnshire, England, May 20, 1842, a son of William and Sarah (Grey) Plumb, who were also natives of England. The father was born in February, 1811, and died in his native country May 12, 1884; the mother was born February 25, 1821. They reared a family of six children, five sons and one danghter.

George Plumb, our subjeet, was reared on a farm in England, and also for three years worked in the dock-yard at Chatham. In 1871 he sailed from Liverpool to New York, and then went to Mills County, Iowa, where his two brothers, Valentine and Frank, then resided. He remained in that county until 1881, when he came to his present farm in Pottawattamie County. Politically Mr. PInmb is a Republican, and he has also served three years as a member of the School Board. Ile and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ile was mar- ried in Lincolnshire, England, May 14, 1867, to Miss Ann Coy, who was born in that conntry, and the daughter of Thomas and Ann (Thurby) Coy, both natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Plumb have four sons: Thomas William, who was born in England, is now farming for himself; Henry Reloy, Arthur Wesley and Walter Howard.

AMES P. ALLENSWORTHI is one of the prominent citizens of Silver Creek Township. He came to Pottawattamie County in 1882, and has since made this place his home. Mr. Allensworth was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, November 15, 1835. His father, John Allensworth, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, was a son of Emmanuel Allensworth. John Allensworth was married in Jefferson County, Ohio, to Miss Lydia Bartholomew, who died when James P'. was a small child, in 1841. The family subse- quently removed to Muskingum County, Ohio, where they resided several years. The father came to Mills County, Iowa, and died in 1874. He was by trade a cabinet-maker and wood-turner, and was a good mechanic in his younger days, but in later life turned

BO. MeMenomy

RECTOR, ST. FRANCIS CHURCH.

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his attention to agricultural pursuits. Polit- ically he was a Democrat.

The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm in Jefferson County, received his education in a log school-house, and, at the age of twenty-one years, went to Mus- kinguin County, Ohio. Four years later he moved to Morgan County, same State, where he lived until 1872. In that year he came to Iowa and settled in Mills County. Upou his arrival there he had but little money, but had great faith in Iowa, and with a willing hand he went to work. Ile bought 120 acres of land, which he improved and which he sold in the fall of 1881. He then purchased 240 acres of prairie land where he now resides, to which he afterward added five acres of tim- ber land. The soil had been broken and the land fenced, but no buildings had been erected. Mr. Allensworth has improved this property and it is now considered one of the best farms in the township. He put up a good frame house on a natural building site and surrounded it with a grove and orchard of four acres, and built a barn 34 x 48 x 16 feet. He also has a granary, cribs, cattle yards, sheds for stock, and a modern wind- mill. In short, every thing about the farm indicates thrift and prosperity. He is ex- tensively engaged in stock-raising, in which he has met with eminent success.

Mr. Allensworth was married in Morgan County, Ohio, February 26, 1860, to Miss Malinda Sowers, a lady of intelligence and refinement, who was reared and educated in that county. Her father, William Sowers, was a native of Maryland, and her mother, nee Mary Ann Thursh, was born in Ohio. They lived in the latter State until their death, the mother dying when Mrs. Allens- worth was fifteen years old. IIer father died in September, 1889, at the age of eighty-five years. He was an active member of the 21

Methodist Church, and for many years was a class-leader and exhorter. Mr. and Mrs. Allensworth have four children, viz .: Alle- thea, wife of J. P. Boyleau, Belknap Town- ship, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; George C. married Cora Tipton, and resides on a farm adjoining his father's; William, at home; Edith, a successful and popular teacher. In his political views Mr. Allensworth is independent, casting his vote for whom he considers the best man for the position. He is a worthy member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, a steward and a liberal sup- porter of the same. During the civil war he served 100 days in the National Home Guards of Ohio. He has always been inter- ested in educational matters, and has given his children the benefit of good schooling and fitted them for respectable positions in life. He is ranked among the enterprising, suc- cessful and popular citizens of his community.

HE ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATH- OLIC CHURCH, of Council Bluffs, was one of the first societies formed in this part of the conutry, even so far in the past as when the Indians had full sway here; and the first priest or pastor was Father De Smet, the great missionary. His people erected a small log church on the bluffs, where the first priest in charge was Father James Powers. Father Doxacher succeeded him. They resided at Omaha, to which dio- cese the congregation at the Bluffs belonged. The first Iowa resident priest at Council Bluffs was Rev. Bernard P. McMenomy, who came in November, 1869, from George- town, Monroe County, Iowa, but previously from Missouri. He is a native of County Donegal, Ireland, born in August, 1830; was educated at St. Columb's College. at London-

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BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY

derry, Ireland, which institution he entered at the age of fifteen years, continuing there until within a short time before he emigrated to America in 1849. Ile first settled at St. Louis, and continued his studies there for four years in a seminary under Archbishop Peter R. Kenrick. Then, February 24, 1854, he was ordained and sent to North Santa Fe, in northeast Missouri, where he took charge of a parish. Ile laid out the town of St. Marysville, and by his own efforts obtained the establishment of a postoffice there, which he named St. Patrick. After an engagement there of four years he was removed to Edina, Knox County, Missouri, where he had charge of a parish for seven and a half years. Then he came to Georgetown, this State, and from there, in 1869, to Conneil Bluffs, as before stated. While at Georgetown he erected some tonr or five churches, the principal one being the Georgetown church, a large stone building. The others were at Melrose, Chari- ton (Lueas County), Woodburn (Clark Coun- ty), and one near Leon in Decatur County: and along the line of the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy Railroad for some 200 miles he erected many churches.

He has been very zealous in church work. Since his residenee in Council Bluffs he has erected the St. Francis Xavier Church, at the corner of Sixth street and Fifth avenue, a large and handsome edifice 60 x 120 feet in dimen- sions, completing it in 1888, at a cost of over $50.000. Also he built the St. Francis Xavier Academy, in the rear of the church, where there are twenty-five Sisters in charge of a large number of pupils,-about sixty-five boarding pupils and 250 day pupils. He also erected the St. Joseph Academy, for boys, a good brick building opposite the church. The St. Bernard's Hospital, con- dueted by the Sisters of Mercy, is a large. substantial brick building, where the sick

and infirm are received withont distinction of creed or color. The priest's residence is a handsome brick structure erected also by him, between the church and the Sisters' Academy. Under Father McMenomy's ad- ministration here the membership of the par- ish has increased from abont 500 to over 2,000. His assistant in parish work is Rev. T. A. Maloy.

Q. ROLLINS, section 21, Center Town- ship, Pottawattamie County, is one of the early settlers and well-known citi- zens of the township. He came here in 1865, and has since made this place his home.

He was born twenty miles from Augusta, Maine, in Kennebee County, February 10, 1838, a son of Levi Rollins, a native of Maine. His grandfather, Mark Rollins, was born in New Hampshire, July 4, 1776. He was a carpenter by trade, at which he was still able to work when he was eighty years old. He lived to be ninety-nine. The Rol- lins family trace their ancestry to three brothers who came from England to America and settled in the New England States. The mother of our subject was nee Julia Ann Smart. The Smarts were descendants of an old New England family. Levi Rollins and his wife reared a family of eight children, as follows: Sarah, deceased; James, at Grin- nell, a soldier of the Twenty-fourth Iowa In- fantry in the late war; J. Q., our subject; Mary Hussey, a resident of Maine; Calvin, who resides in New Hampshire. He was in the Seventh Maine Infantry, but was transferred to the Thirteenth Maine Infantry. He was in the battle of Cedar Creek, where General Sheridan made his famous ride. Calvin was wounded in that battle. Osear was also in

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

the Seventh Maine Infantry, and died of dis- ease in the army; Harriet, deceased; Edward resides in Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Rollins lived in Maine until their death. The mother was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Iler death occurred when J. Q. was twelve years old. The father died at the age of seventy-three years. IIe was a farmer all his hfe. Politically he was formerly a Democrat, but later a Republican.

Mr. Rollins was reared on a farm and re- ceived a common-school education in Maine. In 1860 he came to Iowa and settled in Cedar County, where he lived until he came to Pottawattamie Connty. He was married in Cedar County, December 2, 1863, to Miss Mary Viena Fuller, daughter of Ezra and Arloa (Turner) Fuller. A sketch of her father appears on another page of this work. She was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and lived there until she was thirteen years of age, when she came with her parents to Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Rollins have eight chil- dren living, viz .: Mary Ellen, wife of J. B. Wills, of Butler County, Nebraska, has fonr children; Edward Elsworth and James Levi, both of Belknap Township, this county; Julia Eva, Herbert Henry, Arthur Garfield, Olive Pearl, Benjamin Harrison - all at home. Jessie Mary died in her seventh year.

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Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Part 22

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