Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Part 28

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 28

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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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters. The eldest in the family, Virginia, became the wife of B. C. Long, and. resides at London, Madison County, Ohio; she never removed to Iowa. Philan- der T. is a resident of Salt Lake, Utah. The subject of this sketch is the next in the order of birth. Leroy was a member of the Second Volunteer Infantry early in the war of the Rebellion, and later was transferred to the Third Iowa Cavalry, where his father was serving. In January, 1863, he was trans- ferred to the Mississippi Marine brigade, as Adjutant, with the rank of First Lieutenant. In April of the same year, while in com- mand of a flotilla and passing up the river, the boat of which he was aboard ran on an obstruction in the river, and while he was assisting to free the boat, he was thrown into the river, and, falling between two boats, which were nearly in contact, was drowned. His body was never found, or if found was never identified. Thus the father and brother of Mr. Mayne lost their lives in the service of their country. The next in the family in order of birth is Carrie, wife of J. E. Pol- loek, a well-known lawyer of Bloomington, Illinois.

The subject of this sketch received his early education in the public schools of Van Buren County, and later entered the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mt. Pleasant, where he graduated in 1856, having been the first graduate of that institution. He began the study of law under Judge C. C. Nonrse, and later with Judge G. G. Wright, now also of Des Moines. He was admitted to the bar in October, 1858. Ile began practice at Keo- sauqua, where he continued until 1872, when he located at Red Oak, where he practiced his profession until he came to Couneil Bluffs. At Red Oak he was associated with Smith MePherson. On coming to Conncil

Bluffs he became associated with George F. Wright, and subsequently was a co-partner of Marshall Key. IIe was more recently as- soeiated with the HIon. L. W. Ross, and when that gentleman was elected Chancellor, he took full charge of the legal business of the firm. Since 1884 he has been associated with F. M. Hunter, but since 1886 the firm name has been Mayne & Hazelton.

Mr. Mayne was married in Van Buren County, to Miss Ruth Ellen Mangum, daugh- ter of A. W. Mangum, who settled in Van Buren County, in 1836, where Mrs. Mayne was born in 1837. Mr. Mangum is still a resident of Van Buren County, but the mother of Mrs. Mayne diel when the latter was a child. Mr. and Mrs. Mayne have five children, three sons and two daughters. Joel II. is the eldest of the children; George HI. was born in September, 1869. He studied law with his father, and grad- uated in the law department of the Iowa State University in 1889. The younger children are Grace, Carl and Ruth. Polit- ically Mr. Mayne is a Republican, and has always affiliated with that great political or- ganization, his first presidential vote having been east for John C. Fremont in 1856. Mr. Mayne was Assistant Revenue Collector for Van Buren County from 1863 to 1866. He is by all esteemned as an able lawyer and a progressive citizen. While in Keosauqua he joined the Masons and attained to the Royal Areli degree.

C. BISBEE is one of the intelligent and enterprising citizens of Grove Township, Pottawattamie County. He was born and reared on the farm where he now lives, the date of his birth being February 8, 1867. Ile is a son of Franklin

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Elijah and Hannah P. (Winsor) Bisbee. His father came to this county in an early day and spent the remainder of his life here, his death occurring November 28, 1880, at about the age of fifty-six years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, had served as steward of the same, and was regarded by all who knew him as a man of integrity and a true Christian. Mr. Bisbee has been twice married, and had five chil- dren: Frank, the only child by his first wife, now resides in the West; Louis II., died at the age of twenty-five years at Mace- donia, Iowa; Fanny Florence, wife of H. T. Thomas, of Red Oak, Iowa; A. C., the sub- ject of this sketch; and Charles A., who lives with his mother at Macedonia, where she has a good home surrounded with all the comforts of life, and where she also owns other town property.

A. C. Bisbee was reared a farmer. Ilis education was obtained in the public schools of Grove Township and in the graded school at Macedonia. March 14, 1889, he was mar- ried, in Grove Township, to Miss Mary Chillanna Rolfe, a lady of culture and educa- tion and a successful and popular teacher of the county. She was born in Webster County, Iowa, and received her education there and at the Western Normal College at Shenandoah. Her parents, Aaron and Emily (Beem) Rolfe, are now residents of Lehigh, Iowa. Her father was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was reared in New York. Iler mother, a native of Indiana, came with her parents to Webster County, Iowa, when she was eight years old. Mr. and Mrs. Bisbee have a daughter, born August 2, 1890, named Hattie Florence. Mrs. Bisbee is a member of the Christian Church.

Our subject is engaged in agricultural pur- suits on the old home farm, which contains 200 arres, and which is well improved. Socially

and financially he is regarded as a representa- tive citizen. In politics he is a Republican.

AMUEL B. WADSWORTHI, a promi- nent business man of Council Bluffs, was born in Grand Detour Township, Ogle County, Illinois, February 22, 1851, and lived with his father, Christopher Wads- worth, on the old homestead until 1868. IIe then commenced the study of law in Dixon, Illinois, with the law firm of Eustace, Barge & Dixon, but, after two years' study, in order to earn a little money, he taught school in the country for the next three years. During the years 1873-'75 he attended the Illinois State Normal University, and at the same time acted as night tieket agent for the Illinois Central Railroad at Bloomington, Illi- nois. In this way he paid the expenses of his schooling at the university. After leaving the university ho was appointed Superintend- ent of the schools at lleyworth, Illinois, where he taught for one year, and was then elected Superintendent of the city schools of Oregon, Illinois, which position he held twelve years, and until he was elected Super- intendent of schools in Ogle County, Illinois, having defeated the Republican nominee, who had a political majority in his favor of 2,300 votes. After serving for about one year in this latter capacity he moved to Coun- cil Bluffs, Iowa, where he still resides.

Mr. Wadsworth is now acting as the gen- eral manager of the Union Abstract and Trust Company, in which capacity he has won the confidence of the business public. lle is also Secretary of the Council Bluffs Board of Trade, and one of the Park Com- missioners of the city of Council Bluff's. During the year 1883 he traveled extensively in Europe, and on his return was married to

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Anna E. Etnyre, at Oregon, Illinois, October 11, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth have two children, viz .: Mary M., born February 17, 1887, and Paul E., born November 12, 1889.

Religiously Mr. Wadsworth is a Unita rian, and in politics is a Democrat; he is the chairman of the Democratic Central Com- mittee.

HOMAS LEONARD, a farmer of Hazel Dell Township, was born and reared in County Roscommon, Ireland, upon a farm. At the age of seventeen or eighteen years he came to America, landing in Boston, where he resided fourteen or fif- teen years. In 1867 he came to Jackson County, lowa, where he remained until 1875, when he came to Pottawattamie County. While in Boston he was engaged in the manufacture of brick, and in Jackson County, Iowa, he was a farmer; and he also afterward was engaged in farming at Silver City, Mills County, lowa. On coming to this county in 1875 he purchased a tract of 240 acres. on section 15, Hazel Dell Township. It was but partially improved, and he has devoted his earnest attention to the improvement of the place until he has made it one of the finest in that part of the county. He has a good frame residence 20 x 30 and 18 x 30, also a fine barn 40 x 64, etc. Every feature of his place evinces good taste as well as a great amount of labor. In his political prin- ciples he is a thorough Democrat, casting his first vote for James Buchanan, and ever since then taking an active part in the poli- tical welfare of the county, State and nation. He has been Township Trustec, and is now chairman of the Democratic Township Com- mittee. He has made all he owns by his

industry, having had but fifty cents when he first landed on American shores.

He was first married to Catherine Hoer, who died in 1864, in Massachusetts. Of their six children two are living: Thomas W., at home, and James, a resident of Neola Township. Mr. Leonard was married, this time, to Mrs. Margaret Turner, the widow of Edward Turner and daughter of Mr. Magec, February 14, 1867; by her first marriage she was the mother of three children: John, de- ceased; Patrick, a resident of Harrison County, Iowa, and Anna, the wife of Thomas M. Leonard, and the mother of one child, Mary E., born December 24, 1889. They are members of the Catholic Church.

ILLIAM GUSTIN, one of the in . telligent and progressive citizens of Grove Township, Pottawattamie County, came to his present location in Jan- mary, 1881.

He was born in Brown County, Ohio, May 1, 1846. ITis parents are Alpheus and Polly (Edington) Gustin, both natives of Ohio. The Gnstins are of Scotch extraction, and grandfather Gustin was a soldier in the Rev- olutionary war. The Edington family trace their lineage back to Ireland, their ancestors having lived near the Rhine. Mr. and Mrs. Gustin reared eight children, five sons and three daughters, William being the fourth. Six of them are residents of Pottawattamie County, namely: Edward and A. B., Wave- land Township; A. J., Isaac, William, and Eveline, wife of Crawford Cary, Grove Town- ship. Two sisters, Sarah and Massie Ann, live in Mills County, Iowa.

When William was a lad of nine years his parents moved to Illinois, remaining in that State one year. Froin there they removed to

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what was then called the far West, Mills County, Iowa, and settled near where Emer- son is now located. The Gustins were among the early pioneers of that district. There the parents spent the remainder of their lives, the mother dying at the age of fifty-six years and the father at sixty-three. William was ten years old when the family went to Mills County, and in that frontier district he grew up, inured to hard work and received only a meagre education in the common schools. He there engaged in farming until 1881,

and died in Pottawattamie County, at the residence of his son David, in IIazel Dell Township, February 3, 1885. He was the son of Moses and Jane (Winn) Nixon, who were among the old families of Pennsylvania. He was reared to the vocation of a miller, which business he followed for a number of years, but previous to leaving Pennsylvania he engaged in farming, which he followed the remainder of his days. Ile was married March 8, 1824, to Eliza Collins, who was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, March when he came to this county and settled on | 2, 1807, and died May 20, 1878. She was 120 acres of wild prairie land. On it he built a comfortable frame house and barn -- and made other improvements, fencing, etc. He also acquired more land and now has 200 acres in one body. the daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Allen) Collins, the former of Irish and the latter of English extraction; the mother was the daughter of Colonel Ethan Allen. Mr. and Mrs. Nixon were the parents of nine children, Mr. Gustin was married March 20, 1865, to Miss Phoebe Jane Hutchings. She was born in Delaware County, Indiana, and was ten years old when she came with her parents to Mills County, Iowa. Her father and mother, William and Nancy (Ciele) Hutch- ings, both natives of Ohio, were among the first settlers of Mills County, where they still live. Mr. and Mrs. Gustin have reared six children, two sons and four daughters: Emma Olive, wife of John L. Bradley, Grove Town- ship; Rose Ann, wife of W. L. Holliday, of Montgomery County, Iowa; Nancy Eveline, Theodosia Adella, William Otis and Abra- ham Sirvetns. They lost two children by death in infancy-Edward Iven and Artie Clifford. viz .: Margaret, who died July 1, 1828; Jo- seph, who died October 2, 1828; Mary, wife of Joseph Meginess, residing in Nebraska; John, who died in prison during the war of the Rebellion: he was in Company A, Twenty- ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and died April 29, 1564; Hannah, widow of Benjamin Me- giness residing in Hazel Dell Township: he was in Company A, Twenty-ninth Jowa Vol- unteer Infantry, and served two years; Moses. deceased, who served in the same Company, and lost an arm at the battle of Ilelena, Ar- kansas, he served about one year and died November 25, 1883; Frances, who died August 23, 1883, the wife of Caleb Kimball; Sarah, wife of W. II. Meginess, residing in California; he served in Company A, Twenty- In politics Mr. Gustin is a Democrat. ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry for three years, and was discharged as Orderly Ser- geant; and David, the subject of this sketch and the youngest child.

ILLIAM NIXON, deceased, late proprietor of the Nixon farm, of Pot- tawattamie County, was born in Fay- ette County, Pennsylvania, October 20, 1802,

In 1853 William Nixon removed with his family to Pottawattamie County, locating for a few days near Council Bluffs, at what was then known as Kanesville. They had started

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for California but concluded to remain in this county. His first permanent location in the county was on sections 33 and 34, of what is now Hazel Dell Township, where he secured 120 acres, which was a claim purchased of a Mr. Scott. This land contained a log cabin and a few acres broken, but naturally was an unimproved farm. Here he lived and reared his family until 1878, when he removed to his son David's, and where the mother died, and where the father spent his remaining days. He improved some 240 acres of land in the county, and assisted largely in its de- velopment, encountering the many hardships of pioneer life. He was a stanch Repub- lican.

David Nixon, the youngest child, was born in Pennsylvania, June 22, 1848, and came to Pottawattamie County with his parents, where he has since made his home. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and received his education in the subscription schools. He remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, and was then married June 24, 1866, to Margaret J. Williams, who was born in South Wales, December 25, 1849. She was the daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Evans) Williams, natives of South Wales, who came to Pennsylvania, where they spent a few years, and then moved to Utah, remaining one winter, and then came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Mrs. Nixon was reared in Wales until she was six years of age, and then came to this country with her parents. They are the parents of four children, viz .: John, who was born Jnne 4, 1867, and died Angust August 3, 1867; Eliza J., born June 29, 1869, and was married February 6, 1887, to Alex- ander Vallier, and now resides in Hazel Dell Township; William, born October 3, 1871, is a graduate in book-keeping at the Pottawat- tamie Normal College; Ira, born March 29, 1874, is at home. After their marriage Mr.

and Mrs. Nixon located on their present farm, a tract of eighty acres of raw prairie. He first erected a stable in which they lived until they had completed their home, a neat frame residence 16 x 28 and 12 x 28 feet. Here they commenced life for themselves, after having spent some two years at the home of Mr. Nixon's parents. They have a beautiful home, surrounded by shade and ornamental trees, and with good barns for stock and grain. He also has three acres of orchard. Ile now has in Pottawattamie County 280 acres of well improved land, which he has brought to its present state of perfection through his own efforts mainly. He affiliates with the Republican party, and and takes a great interest in the welfare of his county, State and nation.

ILLIAM PETERS, a citizen of Boomer Township, was born in Prus- sia, March 15, 1818, a son of Niche- las and Hannah (Barrent) Peters, natives also of that country. Mr. Nicholas Peters was a farmer by occupation; was aid-de-camp for General Blucher in the Napoleon army dur- ing the Prussian war. There were nine sons from one family in this war, of whom five were killed. A maternal grandfather came to America and fought in the Revolutionary war under General Washington, and lived af- terward to the advanced age of 104 years. Ile was in the employ of the Government, in connection with farming, and accumulated a large fortune. On his death he left a wife and five children. The children were: Catharine, now Mrs. Frederick, residing in Prussia; Christoph, deceased; William, onr subject; and Lewie, residing in Prussia. Frederick and Lewie are officers in the army. Their grandfather served thirty-six years un-

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der Frederick the Great, and the generations following have ranked high in the esteem of the royal families.

Mr. William Peters was reared at home until he was twenty-four years of age, when he also entered the army, as Orderly, and served eight years at Berlin and Potsdam. At the age of forty years he married Marga- ret Armstrong, a native of Scotland and a danghter of William and Catharine Arın- strong, natives of England. Mr. Armstrong was a chemist by profession in England, but on coming to America he located in Utah, where he now lives, at the age of eighty- eight years. His first wife died early after her marriage, and by his second wife there are the following eight children : John, Joseph Wilhelm, James, residing in Utah; Mary, wife of Lewis Stuersbaugh, in Utah; Margaret, the next in order of birth, is the wife of Mr. Peters; Jane, now Mrs. John Williams, of Utah; and Kate, the wife of Mr. Chadwick, in Utah. Mrs. Peters was born in England, November 3, 1843, received a good ednca- tion and came to America with her parents. In November, 1849, Mr. Peters sailed from London, England, to New Orleans, went np the river to St. Louis, but in a short time, finding business dull there on account of Asiatie cholera, he returned to the ocean and was a sailor along the Atlantic coast of the Americas, until he obtained money enough to go to California. He went to the gold fields, followed mining about five years, and then was one of the first to enter Colorado as a miner, and was there three years mining and freighting. Then he spent two years in similar occupations in Montana; next he was employed for over two years freighting with provision wagons under General ----- , of the California Volunteers. He helped to build Fort Douglas, in Utah. While he was in Salt Lake, President Lincoln was assassin-

ated, and while operating in Utah he suffered many hardships and privations. He eame thenee to Council Bluff's, and four years afterward, namely, in 1870, he located upon his present farin, buying forty acres of un- broken prairie land. He built a frame house, broke and fenced the land, planted a fine or- chard of one and a half acres, set ont shade and ornamental trees, etc., and has made a comfortable residence. IIis orchard is one of the best in the township, and every feature of the premises gives evidence of good taste as well as of much labor. Mr. Peters deals in a fine grade of cattle and horses, taking special interest in the improvement of live-stock. He has added to his first purchase of land until he now has 240 acres of land of first-rate order. He has also upon his premises three running streams of water. In fact, he has one of the finest farms in the county, and in it takes great pride.

Politically Mr. Peters is a well settled Republican, taking an active interest in the principles of his party. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and of the M. P. S. He has had fifteen children, namely: William and Louis, farmers in Boomer Township; Fred, Nicholas, Bernhart, James and Charles, at home; Maggie, wife of Samuel Bateman, in Nebraska; Mary Ann, who married - Burbridge, and resides in Boomer; Jane, wife of La Fayette Hatcher, is a resident of Harrison County; Caroline, Kate and Tilda. at home; Dora May, the next, is deceased, as is also Isaac, the youngest son.

OLUMBUS REYNOLDS is another one of the enterprising and successful men of Pottawattamie County. A brief outline of his life is herewith given.

Mr. Reynolds is a native of North Caro-

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lina, born near Sparta, the county-seat of Alleghany County, November 12, 1848. Ilis father, Willson Reynolds, and his grand- father, Thomas Reynolds, were both natives of that State. His mother, nee Nancy Spur- ling, was born in North Carolina, as also was her father, William Spurling. IIer grand- father Spurling was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war. Willson and Naney Reynolds reared five children, fonr sons and one daugh- ter: Columbus is the only oue in Iowa; the oldest brother resides in Nebraska; two are in North Carolina; and the sister died in that State. Willson Reynolds was a farmer all his life, and his death occurred at the age of seventy years. ITis wife was a devoted Christian and a member of the Baptist Church. She died at the age of sixty-eight.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and in early life was taught those les- sons of honesty, industry and economy which have been so useful to him in after life. His early educational advantages were limited, but by reading, observation, and by the prae- tical knowledge learned in the school of ex- perience he has amply supplied the deficiency of an early education. At the age of nine- teen he bade adien to his native State and started out in the world to make a home and a fortune. He located in Whiteside County, Illinois, and after remaining there a year he came to Iowa, and worked on a farm in Har- din County a year. In 1868 he came to Grove Township, Pottawattamie County, and first worked by the month. Then he broke prairie for two seasons, which at that time was profitable business. In 1874 he bought eighty aeres of raw prairie land, on which he now resides. Ile broke it the same season, and has made many improvements on the place. fle built a comfortable story-and-a- half house, at a cost of $1,200; planted shade and ornamental trees, a grove and an orchard;

bnilt a good barn and fenced his land. From time to time he purchased other lands until at this writing (1890) he is the owner of 240 acres. One hundred and sixty aeres are in a body in sections 17 and 18. The other eighty aeres, which he uses as a pasture for his stock, are a half mile northwest from his home. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, feeding all the corn he raises to his stock and frequently buying more from his neighbors.

Mr. Reynolds was married, September 16, 1872, at Red Oak, Iowa, to Miss Sarah E. Wilson, a lady of culture and refinement and a successful teacher. She was born in Sulli- van County, Indiana, and was reared and educated in Lee County, Iowa. Her parents, William and Anna (Pemberton) Wilson, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Ohio, now reside in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have four children, viz .: Rosalie, Laura Jane, Anna Ethel and Isom Guy. Mr. Reynolds is a Republican and east his first vote for General Grant. HIe and his wife are worthy members of the Christian Church, and take an active part in religions and educational matters. Mr. Rey- nolds is a member of the 1. O. O. F., Lodge No. 444, Carson, Iowa. Mr. Reynolds lost a brother in the Southern army, and Mrs. Reynolds a brother in the Northern army.

PARISII, a prominent citizen of Ha- zel Dell Township, was born in Can- ada West, October 9, 1841, the sixth child of nine in the family of Iliram and Anna (Bullard) Parish, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Canada. Ile was eight years of age when his parents came with him to Lee County, Iowa, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Brought

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

up to the arts of agriculture, he was at the early age of thirteen years compelled in a great measure to look out for himself. He was in Knox County, Illinois, from the age of fifteen to twenty, when, during the war, he enlisted, in October, 1861, in Company L, Eighth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, but was soon transferred to Company I. After faith- fnl service for three years, participating in the noted battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donel- son, Shiloh, Corinth, Holly Springs, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Moun- tain, Russell House, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and a number of shirmishes, he was honorably discharged, at East Point, Georgia. He was married October 30, 1866, to Miss Jane, daughter of Josiah and Margaret Nelson, who was born in Knox County, Illinois, in No- vember, 1848. After a three years' residence in Illinois he eame to Pottawattamie County and purchased a tract of " raw " prairie on section 3, Hazel Dell Township, of forty acres. Here he erected a small frame resi- denee, 14 x 16, in which he made his home for five or six years, while he was subduing his land to cultivation. He now possesses 159 acres, all of which has been improved. He has now a neat frame residence, 26 x 24 and 16 x20, and barns, ete., in good style. He is particularly interested in improved breeds of stock, making a specialty of Dur- ham cattle. He is a self-made man, having risen by his own efforts to his present high standing, and he has also done much for the public welfare. He is a Republican in his political sympathies; he has served his town- ship as Constable and member of the School Board, Road Supervisor, and is now Town- ship Clerk.

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Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Part 28

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