USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 26
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Donald Macron
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
Miss Nannie Cahoon, an intelligent and re- fined lady and a native of Gallia County, Ohio. Her father, William C. Cahoon, was born in New Jersey, and her mother, Eveline Wood, in · Virginia.
Mr. Edie is one of the leading Republicans in the county. At present he is serving as Township Trustee of Center Township. He is a charter member of Robert Provard Post, No. 414, of Carson. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, No. 444, of Carson. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Edie is a gentleman well informed on all general topics, and takes a deep interest in educational and religions matters.
ONALD MACRAE, one of the oldest practicing physicians and surgeons of Council Bluffs, -his professional labor dating from 1861,-is a native of Scotland, born in Rosshire, October 3, 1839, a son of Rev. Donald Maerae, of the Free Church of Scotland. His mother was Jessie Russell, a daughter of the Rev. James Russell, of Gair- loch, Rosshire, Scotland. Dr. Macrae's edu- cation was received at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated from the medical department, in August, 1861. Hc practiced in the Edinburgh Royal Infirm- ary for a year and a half, after which he ac- · cepted a position as surgeon for the Cunard Steamship Company, and during his four years' service he crossed the Atlantic Ocean seventy five times! Ilis last trip landed him in New York city, where he was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte, daughter of the late Joseph Douchette, Surveyor General of Canada, who died in 1881, at the age of eighty-six years. Mrs. Macrae is a native of Canada, as above stated.
Dr. Macrae came to Council Bluffs in March, 1867, and engaged in the practice of his profession, and soon built up a successful and Incrative practice, and has won the con- fidence of all who know him. In connection with his extensive practice he has been iden- tified with the Omaha Medical College since 1881, where he is Professor of the Principles and Practice of Medicine, and also Dean of the faculty. In 1887-'88 he was President of the Iowa State Medical Society and of the Medical Society of the Missouri Valley as well. At the inceting of the International Medical Congress held at Washington, Dis- triet of Columbia, he was Vice-President of the surgical section. IIc is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Council Bluffs Lodge, and is Past Master of the A. O. U. W., and a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Mac- rae is a member of the Episcopal Church. Dr. and Mrs. Macrae are the parents of one son, Donald, born January 24, 1870, who is now studying medicine at the University of Michigan. Dr. Macrae is a Democrat, but has had little time to attend to political issues. He served as a member of the School Board for two years, and in 1890 was elected on the citizens' non-partisan ticket as Mayor of Council Bluffs, by a large majority.
ACOB ZAHNER, a prosperous farmer of Rockford Township, was born in Switzerland, October 2, 1819, the son of Jacob and Mary Ann (Kane) Zahner, natives also of that country. The father was a lum- ber merchant, and died in 1828. His wife, also a native of Switzerland, was the dang liter of a blacksmith who died shortly after Napo- leon passed with his army through that country. In their family were six children: Casper Joseph, Josephine and Hersence, born
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in Switzerland; Jacob, our subject, besides a son and a daughter deceased. Jacob, the eldest, was brought up to the trade of his father. At the age of twenty-nine years he sailed from the port of Havre de Grace for America, landing in New York in 1847, and visited or resided for a short time at the fel- lowing points: Sandusky, Ohio, until the next spring; in Michigan, in the pineries, one year; New Orleans a short time; Vieks- burg, Mississippi, until March; Sandusky again a short time; Michigan again, working for the same Inmber company as before, for five years; and while there, September, 1849, he married Catharine Mondinger, a daughter of Jacob and Catharine Mondinger, natives of Wirtemburg, Germany. She was but a child when her parents died. She was born October 29, 1820, and came to America in 1848, -- residing in New York for a time, and then in Sandusky, and then in Michigan until she was married. A year afterward Mr. Zahner moved to Dubuque, Iowa, bought a tract of land and resided upon it three years; selling out he came to Pottawattamie County, crossing the State by ox teams, and, after remaining in Council Bluffs a few weeks in order to look around, on both sides of the Missouri, he finally selected his present locality on section 1, Rockford Township, bnying eighty acres of wild prairie, covered in a great part with plum brush. Here he passed through the almost uniform experi- ences of pioneer life,-dwelling in a log house, cutting off the brush, breaking the prairie with oxen and suffering all the priva- tions and tedious monotonies of the frontiers- man in establishing a comfortable home for himself and family, and he has been thus led to witness all the changes in which he nas been an actor, and in which his neighbors have also participated in developing the country to its present high standing. He
now has a fine residence, barns and out-build- ings, orchards and shade trees, etc. But in order to produce these grand results he has had to exercise his pluck and energy, with at least fair health.
He is a Republican on national issues, but of course in the local elections he votes in- dependently. He has been School Director for a number of years. Ile and his family are members of the Catholic Church of Honey Creek, being zealous in the cause of religion, morality and education. His children are: Josephine, wife of Thomas Wilson, of Rock- ford Township; Frances, residing in Harrison County ; Catharine, wife of Themas Kinyon, and residing in Harrison County; Elizabeth, at home; Mary, Mrs. Ed Ryne, residing in Boomer Township, and John, a resident of Rockford County.
HARLES II. PINNEY, M. D., of Coun- cil Bluffs, first established his practice in Omaha, March, 1866, and in Conncil Bluffs in 1875. He was born in Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio, August 30, 1842. His father, Hurlbert Pinney, was born near Hartford, Connectiont, January 19, 1807. Originally three brothers came from Scotland long before the Revolution, and participated in our war for independence. One of them, John Pinney, was the great-grandfather of our subject. The Doctor's grandfather was also named John Pinney. There are numerous descend- ants of this name, many of whom reside at Farmington, and Windser. Connecticut. Ilurlbert H. Pinney married Malina Abbey, a native of Herkimer, Herkimer County, New York. In April, 1832, he went te Lo- rain County, Ohio, when that State was still a part of the Northwest Territory, in com- pany with his younger and only brother, Al-
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bert, their father having died from the effects of a horse falling upon him while they were small boys. Three married sisters remained in Connectient. Mr. H. H. Pinney married his wife, who had moved to Lorain County, Ohio, from the State of New York with her parents. They had six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living, namely: Carrie M., wife of Hon. R. G. IIorr, a prominent statesman of Michigan, was born December 7, 1834; Laura M., born Septem- ber 3, 1837, is the wife of Rev. Samuel L. Alexander, now of Conneil Blutf's; Allen W., a fruit-grower near Council Bluffs, was born August 21, 1839; the next in order of birth was Charles HI., whose name heads this bio- graphical sketeh, born Angust 30, 1842; An- son E., born November 4, 1847, is a hardware merchant in Ithaca, Michigan; John H., born January 26, 1850, now resides near Akron, Nebraska, engaged in farming and stock-raising. The Doctor's parents are now living at East Saginaw, Michigan.
Dr. Pinney was brought up on the home farm until the age of fourteen, when he en- tered the Clarkson (Michigan) Academy, and afterward entered the scientific department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, having in view ultimately a medical educa- tion at that university; and on graduating in the medical department, in March, 1864, and, satisfying his first ambition, he entered the armny as a Surgeon in the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, joining his regiment at Decatur, Alabama, and serving until the close of the war. That regiment participated in the en- gagement at Decatur with Chalmers and Wheeler's Cavalry; then it did sconting duty until July 10, 1864; next it was transferred to the army of General Rousseau and was taken on a raid through central Alabama, cut- ting railroads, ete., and then to Rome and Marietta, Georgia, and then took part in the
siege of Atlanta, and marched to the sea in Sherman's army, in the Third Cavalry Divis- ion, Third Brigade, under Kilpatrick. It returned with Sherman through the Caro- linas, driving Wheeler and Hampton from Bentonville to Raleigh. The regiment was engaged in many hard fights, both on the march to the sea and through the Carolinas. It particpated in the very last battle of the war east of the Mississippi, which was after the surrender of Joseph E. Johnston, and on New Hope Creek, near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In that engagement Adjutant Gen- eral Jenkins was mortally wounded. Dr. Pinney's regiment was retained in the South to aid in the reconstruction of the State, and assisted the Provisional Governor of North Carolina in this work, rendezvousing at Con- eord. Ile was mustered out in September, 1865, at Camp Dennison, Ohio.
After visiting his old home in Ohio and also his uncle in Michigan, with whom he had studied medicine, he went, in the fall of 1865, to Philadelphia, and continued his studies in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating there the next spring. He then came West to locate in Omaha and « grow up with the town." In compliance with his wife's de- sire, he afterward transferred his residence to Council Bluffs, where he also has a fine prac- tiec. He was married September 15, 1870, to Miss Ella O. Pusey, a danghter of the Hon. William H. M. Pusey, born in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, and they have had three sons and a daughter: Hurlbert H., Lucile and Frank L. Their eldest child, William Heury, died at the age of four years.
On account of his superior qualifications, which he acquired by his surgical practice in the army, he has been very successful as a practitioner. lle has been medical exam- i iner and medieal referee for the Mutual Life
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Insurance Company of New York, since 1880. Hle is a member of the Council BInffs Medical Society, of which he has been President, and is a member of the State Medical Society, and the Medical Society of Missouri Valley, and is the local surgeon for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company. He is one of the leading physi- cians and surgeons of western Iowa.
URMAN MORRIS, a popular and pros- perous citizen of Center Township, Pot- tawattamie County, Iowa, came to his present location in 1872, when this part of the country was thinly settled. A sketch of his life will be found of interest and is as follows:
Mr. Morris was born in Middlesex County, New Jersey, October 3. 1837. His father, Aaron Morris, a native of the same vicinity, was a son of David Morris, who was also a native of New Jersey and who served in the Revolutionary war as a drummer boy. He was a son of Reno Morris, who was killed on the old Morris homestead by a falling trec. They were of Scotch extraction. Onr sub- ject's mother, nee Sarah Randolph, was born in Middlesex County, New Jersey, the daugh- ter of Richard Randolph, also a native of that State. Her grandfather Randolph was born in Virginia, a descendant of the well- known Randolph family of the Old Dominion.
Aaron Morris and Sarah, his wife, emi- grated to Lee County, Illinois, in 1855, where they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in June, 1889, at the age of eighty-two years. The Morrises are a long- lived people, though the Randolphs usually clied in middle life. Aaron Morris was a Democrat before the war. He voted for General Fremont, and was a strong Union
man. He was a member of the Baptist Church. By his first wife the following children were born to him: Joel W., a resi- dent of Franklin County, Kansas; Richard R., and Furman, both of the same township; Aaron F., who died in infancy; Sarah, widow of H. A. Jeffs, a Lieutenant of the Thirty- fourth Illinois Infantry. She resides at El- dena, Lee County, Illinois; Rachel J., wife of Jerry Mostellar, a grain merchant of El- dena. Some time after the death of his first wife Mr. Morris married Alvira Smith, a na- tive of Massachusetts, and by her liad one daughter, Amanda Morris. This daughter resides with her mother at Dixon.
Furman Morris was reared on a New Jer- sey farm and received his education in the publie schools of his native State. He was eighteen years of age when he went to Illi- nois and settled in Lee County. In 1861, in answer to President Lincoln's call for volun- teers, he enlisted in Company D, Thirty- fourth Illinois Infantry. He was in the battles of Shilolı, Stone River, : Perryville, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Ringgold, Georgia. Mr. Morris was taken ill with a chronic disease which disabled him from active duty in the field, and he was sent to Nashville, where he was honorably dis- charged. From there he returned to his home in Illinois. Ile bought a farm near Dixon, which he cultivated until 1872, in which year he came to his present location. He bought 160 acres of wild land and after- ward acquired more, now being the owner of 240 acres. It is well improved and is de- voted to general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Morris has a comfortable frame house, a good barn and all necessary farm equipments.
He has been twice married, first, Febru- ary 20, 1866, in Ogle County, Illinois, to Miss Sarah Putnam, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Perkins) Putnam. The Put-
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nams are relatives of old Israel Putnam of Revolutionary fame. The family came from Vermont when Mrs. Morris was eight or nine years old and settled in Illinois. She died January 26, 1868. Mr. Morris subsequently wedded her sister, Miss Ellen R. Putnam, who, previous to her marriage, was a popular and successful teacher. Nine children have been born to them, viz .: Charles L., Louie B., Winnie R., Jennie M., Roy F., Clara Vio- let, and Ada Pearl. Two are deceased- Mabel and Ida.
Mr. Morris, bis wife and two of their chil- dren are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a steward of the church and his family are workers in the Sunday-school. Mr. Morris is a member of Robert Provard Post, No. 414, of Carson.
X. RISS, contractor and builder, No. 410 North Sixth street, Council Bluffs, is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was born April 14, 1850, the son of An- thony and Anna Riss, who were of German descent. Mr. Riss remained in his native city until he was twelve years old. At that time, having lost his parents when he was quite young, he quitted Milwaukee and came to Council Bluffs with his uncle, Josephi Probstle, a harness-maker. With this uncle young Riss learned the trade of harness- making, and worked at it three years. Then he turned his attention to the carpenter's trade, which was more congenial to his taste, and which he has since followed. He has assisted in the erection of many of the houses of Council Bluffs, and, in 1881, he com- menced contracting and building for himself. He has owned several pieces of property, buying and selling as opportunity offered.
His annual business averages $5,000. Mr. Riss is a Republican.
In 1881 Mr. Riss wedded Mary Ryan, who was born March 13, 1859. By his second marriage he has theee children, Nellie, Ed- ward and Florence. The family are mem- bers of the Catholic Church. He is also a member of the Catholic Knights.
TACY EWINGS BEVAN was born in Belmont County, Ohio, January 19, 1834. His father, Stacy Bevan, and his grandfather, Samuel Bevan, were both natives of Virginia and descendants of an old Virginia family. Mr. Bevan's mother, nee Jane Robberts, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Her father, Aaron Robberts, also a native of Pennsylvania, was a merchant during the war of 1812. He was of English extraction. His ancestors eame to America with William Penn and were a prominent family in early days. Stacy Bevan was twice married. His first wife was nee Eunice Fosset, a native of Ohio. By his subsequent marriage, in Belmont County, Ohio, to Jane Roberts, he had seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters, Stacy E. being the oldest. The father was a brick- layer by trade, but mueh of his life was passed on a farm. He was a Whig during the balmy days of that party, and he and his family were Friends. Ile died in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1842, at the age of fifty years. His widow is now a resident of Argo- nia, Sumner County, Kansas. She is eighty- three years old and is very active for one of her age.
Stacy E. lived in his native county until he reached his twelfth year, when he went to Logan County, Ohio, and remained there till he was twenty years old. Ile was reared on
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a farm and attended the common schools, finishing his education at Ilarkness Semi- nary, after which he was engaged in teaching for a time. In 1854 he came to Marshall County, Iowa, where he farmed in summer and taught school in winter. He was mar- ried in Jasper County, Iowa, November 7, 1856, to Miss Sarah Beals, a lady of intelli- gence and refinement, who has proved her- self a faithful helpmate. She was born and reared in Tennessee, the daughter of David and Rachel (Ilammer) Beals, both natives of east Tennessee. The family came to Iowa in 1854 and located in Jefferson County. The next year they moved to Jasper County. Her mother died in this county August 20, 1870 Her father is still living here, and, at this writing, is in his eighty-seventh year. Stacy E. and Sarah Bevan have had ten chil- dren, namely: Arwilda C. and Lindley O., residents of Kiowa County, Kansas; Joseph Addison and James E., at home; Elma J., a successful and popular teacher; Aaron L. and Arthur B., at home. Three of their children are deceased: David W., a young man in the prime of lite, left a widow and one child; Charles, at the age of ten years, and Julia Ann, a babe of six months.
Our subject lived in Marshall County until 1869, when he removed to Clay Coun- ty, this State, and bonght a large tract of prairie and timber land at Gillett's Grove. He improved the farm and lived on it for seven years; but blizzards in winter, mosqui- tos in summer, and the rainy seasons so com- mon there were great drawbacks to the land, and he sold out and came to his present loca- tion. Here he bought 160 acres of land and has since added to it 160 acres more, now having a fine farm of 320 acres of rich land, well watered and well adapted for both stock and grain. lfe has good farm buildings, an orchard and grove and other improvements,
everything about the place indicating the prosperity of the owner. Mr. Bevan also owns 640 acres of valuable land in Kiowa County, Kansas, and eighty acres in Sumner County, that State, which is well adapted for wheat.
Like his worthy ancestors, Stacy Bevan is a Friend, and a minister of the gospel in that church, both he and his daughter, Elma J., having been authorized by the Haviland Church of Kansas to preach and explain the word of God, and also to do missionary work, not only in Kansas but also in Missouri and Iowa. They are active workers in the cause of the Master and have done much toward the advancement of his kingdom here. Mr. Bevan has had many years of experience in lowa, is well informed on all general topics, and is broad and progressive in his views. Financially, socially and religiously, he is numbered among the first citizens of Potta- wattamie County.
REDERICK FORD, a native of Cam- bridgeshire, England, was born Angust 23, 1836; the son of James and Eliza- beth (Chandler) Ford, both natives of Eng- land, who came to America in 1855, landing in New York city December 31, 1855. They immediately started for the West, by rail, via Cleveland and Chicago to St. Louis, where Mr. Ford, Sr., died, January 17, 1856, at the age of forty-five years. The care of the family then tell upon the eldest child, Frederick, the subject of this sketch. They remained in St. Louis until May, when they came north to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where Frederick Ford rented a small farm on the Little Mosquito, in what is now Garner Township. Here he left the family while he went to Omaha, Nebraska, and engaged to
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
work by the month in a saw-mill. The fam- ily consisted of the mother and four children, only two of whom survive. The mother and danghter died in Utah, where they removed in 1860, the former in 1875, and the latter, who was the wife of Peter Lowe, the year previous. Thomas, the second child, died about 1874, in Utah. The two remaining children are Frederick. our subject, and Joseph, who resides in Boomer Township on a farm.
Frederick worked in Omaha about six months, when he returned to this tide of the river and rented a farm for six years. Ile then purchased a tract of eighty acres in Missouri, in Crescent Township, where he remained one year, but on account of sickness he disposed of this farm and rented for two years. He then purchased 120 acres on see- tions 28 and 27, Hazel Dell Township. This was a wild tract of land, with no improve- ments, and only two families within neigh- boring distance; but he went to work to make a home, and in 1865 erected a small frame house, 14 x 18 feet, which did duty for a home until he could ereet a larger one. In a couple of years he made an addition to his house, and in 1878 ereeted his present home, a fine frame building 14 x 24 and 16 x 20, with a good briek cellar. His home is sur- rounded with shade and ornamental trees, and he also has two aeres in orchard. He has good barns for stock and grain, and one of the best stock-yards, being well shedded, in this part of the county. Mr. Ford has added to his first purchase of land, and now possesses 350 acres, on sections 21, 22, 27 and 28, llazel Dell Township, all of which he has improved through his own efforts. He has undergone the hardships of pioneer life, and has seen the growth and develop- ment of Pottawattamie County from a wild and nneultivated state to one of the best in
the United States. He has notonly stood by and witnessed it, but has put his shoulder to the wheel and assisted largely by his honesty and integrity in its development. He is a self-made man, and was left with a family to eare for when he was only nineteen years of age, but he had the pluek and energy to carry him through.
Mr. Ford was married October 23, 1861, to Rebecca B. Horn, who was born in Eng- land, and came to this country with her par- ents. She was killed August 10, 1878, by a team running away. They had a family of seven children, viz .: Hester E., deceased; Fannie E., the wife of Frost Nusum, of Boomer Township; John J .; Joseph W., deceased; Amy E., deceased; Bertha H. and George T., at home. Mr. Ford was married the second time in 1879, to Hannah M. Gra- ham, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Hayes. She was born in England, and came to this country when small with her parents.
Mr. Ford has always supported the Re- publiean party, and has represented his town- ship as School Director, etc. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance.
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D. PUTNAM, Commander of Robert Provard Post, No. 414, G. A. R., of Carson, is one of the early settlers and representative citizens of Center Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa.
He was born in New Hampshire, August 19, 1834, a great nephew of the illustrious Israel Putnam of Revolutionary fame. Ifis par- ents, George Putnam and nee Elizabeth Per- kins, the former a native of ffaverhill, Mass- achusetts, and the latter of New Hamshire, reared nine children, the subject of this sketeh being the oldest. When he was eleven years old the family removed to Vermont,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
where he lived on a farin and grew to man- hood. He received his education in the pub- lic schools. Later, he engaged in teaching and became a prominent and successful edu- cator. In 1852 he came West and settled in Lee County, Illinois, where he remained until the war broke out.
In September, 1861, at the time President Lincolu called for " 300,000 more," he en- listed in Fremont's Rangers, or body guards for General Fremont. But when General Fremont was removed from his command the men were assigned to the Third Missouri Cavalry. This was one of the noted Missouri cavalry regiments, and the record it made was an honorable one. Mr. Putnam partici- pated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; Hlartsville, Missouri; Cotton Plant, White River Junction, Little Rock and Camden, Arkansas; and went up the Red River ,with General Banks. He also participated in many minor engagements and skirmishes. He was captured three times, but always, like his noted kinsman, made his escape. IIe was honorably discharged June 22, 1865, at Little Rock. Arkansas, as Second Lieuten- ant. He then returned to his home in Illinois.
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