USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 30
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OHN E. WILLIAMS, a farmer and stock-raiser of Hazel Dell Township. was born in South Wales, October 22, 1841, the son of Daniel and Margaret (Evans) Will- iams, of Welsh extraction. The parents, natives of Wales, came to America in 1856, sailing from Liverpool February 14, and lo- cating in Luzern County, Pennsylvania, at Pittston, and four years afterward they re- moved to Utali, but remained there only one year; then they located in Audubon County, lowa, for one year, and finally, in 1863, they settled in Pottawattamie County. The father died in September, 1862, at the age of forty- eight years, in Audubon County. The widow and her children then moved to this county, locating near the Bluffs, in Kane Township, where they spent a year, and then moved to what is now Garner Township and resided there four years. During this latter period Mr. Williams married Elizabeth Peterson, a native of Sweden, who was but four years of age when bronght to America. His mother now resides in Merrick County, Nebraska.
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and is now seventy-four years of age. In her family were eleven children; five died in Wales, and six eame to this country, namely: Daniel J., a resident of IIazel Dell Township; John E. was the next; Ruth, a resident of the Pacific slope; Margaret, wife of David Nixon; Samuel, now residing at Grand Island, Ne- braska; Annie, now Mrs. John Robinson, of Clarkesville, Nebraska. Their. father was a stone and brick mason by trade, but turned his attention to various occupations.
Mr. Williams, our subject, remained but a short time in Garner Township, when he came to Hazel Dell Township, April 18, 1867, and purchased 120 acres on sections 7 and 18, then absolutely wild land Upon this place he moved a small dwelling about 14 x 16 feet in dimensions and occupied it one sum- mer. In the fall he erectel a residence 14 x 15, in which, with some additions, he resided until he erected his present dwelling, in 1884, a two-story frame 16 x 28 and 18 x 15, on a modern plan. It is one of the nicest residences in that part of the country. Good barns and other neat enclosures orna- ment and add value to the place. There is also an orchard of about 150 good trees, besides shade and ornamental trees. Mr. Williams now owns 200 acres of fine land, all in one body, which he has been enabled to purchase by his own industrious efforts. By his first marriage he had five children: Mary, now the wife of Jacob Konkler, and residing at Conn- cil Bluffs; Samuel E., a resident of Garner Township; Josephine, wife of Edward Jones, of Council Bluffs; George, residing in Garner Township; and Daniel, residing in Boomer Township. Mr. Williams lost his first wife in May 18, 1872, and he was married a third time January 23, 1887, to Mrs. Rachel How- land, widow of H. H. Howland and daughter of John and Cincinnati (Dunkerson) Ballew, natives of Kentucky and of French and Ger-
man origin. Her father died April 7, 1882, at the age of sixty-two years, and her mother is still living near Kansas City, Missouri. Mrs. Williams was born in Mercer County, Missouri, December 18, 1848. By her first marriage she was the mother of two children: Hattie, wife of C. C. Greene, of Council Bluffs; and Frank, at home. By the present inarriage of Mr. Williams there is one child, John A., who was born September 16, 1888.
Mr. Williams is a Democrat, and he has served as a member of the School Board.
LAY D. REEL, a miller on Pigeon Creek, Pottawattamie County, was born in Crescent Township, this county, July 21, 1867. His grandparents came from Vir- ginia to Indiana in 1822, were farmers by occupation and remained resident in Indiana the rest of their days. Mr. Perry Reel, Clay's father, was born in Putman County, that State, July 9, 1839, and came to Potta- wattamie County with his parents in 1852, they having taken up claims which they afterward bought. Mr. Reel remained here until his death, leaving seven children, viz .: Mary, Martha, Ella, Nancy (deceased), Sarah, Perry and William, who resides in Montana. Mr. Reel was married in 1862, to Miss Mil- lie, daughter of Jonathan Branson; she was born in 1846. Leaving home, Mr. Reel bought a grist-mill an Pigeon Creek, whichi he ran in connection with his farm. The old home place he brought to its present perfec- tion. He held all the offices of the township with satisfaction to his fellow-citizens, was a straight Democrat, was elected Sheriff and re-elected in 1869. His term expiring in 1872 he returned to his farm, and in 1873 was elected County Treasurer, and re-elected once. In 1877 he was again elected Sheriff,
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and re-elected to this office again. He was without exception the most prominent man in the county, upright in his dealings and liberal, and too much cannot be said in his praise. He had a fine farin, well stocked. He died in political life, December 10, 1889, having had five children : Dora, Einma, Clay, Rose and Perry.
Mr. Clay D. Reel completed his school course in Conneill Bluffs. At the age of twenty-two years, April 1, 1890, he mar- ried Miss Annie, daughter of William L. Walker, a native of Pennsylvania, who ulti- mately removed to Iowa. He had eight children: Annie, John, Harry, Maria, Effie, Orval, Bessie and Kittie; the last mentioned is deceased. Mrs. Reel was born August 15, 1869, finished her education in the high school at Des Moines and taught school three years. After his marriage, Mr. Reel rented a house in Crescent Township near the old home place, where he now lives. He is ell- gaged in running a flouring-mill on Pigeon Creek, which now has the roller process and all the latest improvements. At the time of his father's deatlı he was enjoying a private retired life where there was a fine orchard of four acres. Lately a postoffice named Reel has been established at that point. Mr. Reel is a high-minded and popular citizen.
W. BORUFF is one of the leading citizens of Macedonia Township, Pot- tawattamie County. Ile was born near Bloomington, in Monroe County, Indi- ana, April 18, 1845. Ilis father, Samuel Boruff, was of German extraction and a na- tive of Tennessee. He married Elizabeth Buteher, also a native of Tennessee, and soon after his marriage eame with his wife to Monroe County, Indiana. In the midst of
the forest he cleared and improved a farm, on which he and his wife reared a large family of children and on which they spent the re- mainder of their days, his wife dying at the age of fifty-four years and he at the ripe old age of eighty-five. In politics he was a Jack- son Democrat, and he and his wife were con- sistent members of the Christian Church. Of the sixteen children born to this worthy couple the subject of this sketeli is the young- est of the fifteen who grew to adult age.
He was reared on the farm and received his education in the public schools of Mon- roe County. At the age of eighteen he went to Logan County, Illinois, where he worked at farm work. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-Third Illinois Infantry, and served about four months, the regiment being stationed at Roek Island, guarding rebel prisoners. After his discharge he returned to Logan County, where he remained until 1876. In that year he came to this eonnty and bought eighty acres of wild land, where he now lives, pay- ing $12.50 per acre. Here he built a good one-story-and-a-half house, surrounded it with pines and other evergreens; planted a grove and orehard; built a barn 30 x 40 feet; has a modern wind pump; in fact, everything about the place indicates the good taste, the thrift and the enterprise of the owner. Mr. Boruff owns 120 acres of land located a half mile from the village of Macedonia. Among lis eattle are some fine Holsteins and Jerseys. IIe also has some graded logs.
Mr. Boruff was married in Logan County, Illinois, Jannary 16, 1873, to Miss Josie Hoblit, a lady of intelligence and refinement, who was born, reared and educated in that place. Her parents, L. M. and Eveline (Haughey) Holbit, came from Ohio to Illi- nois and settled in Logan County previous to her birth. Mr. and Mrs. Boruff have one
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child, Otis D., born March 2, 1887. Mr. Boruff is a Democrat, and is one of the lead- ing members of that party in his township. He has served the public as Township Trus- tee. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, associated with Ruby Lodge, No. 415, of Macedonia; and Chapter No. 159, of Glenwood. Ile is also a member of the An- cient and Accepted Scottish Rite for U. S. of A. T. T. and D. thirty-second degree.
RVING M. TREYNOR, the present Postmaster of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was born in this city, on the 26th day of November, 1857, and is the second son of Thomas P. Treynor, now a prominent and snceessful farmer of Pottawattamie County. Mr. Treynor's earlier years were spent in the old log cabin where he was born, his father having moved to this county at an early date, in fact, when the now thriving city of Council Bluff's was only a straggling village, known as Kanesville.
At the age of four years the subject of this sketch began his educational career in the publie schools of this city, and remained until he had attained the age of fourteen, when he entered the Iowa State University, at Iowa City. There he remained for three years, and, returning home, assumed the position of assistant to his father, who was postmaster of Council Bluffs, from March, 1869 to May, 1877. Here he remained for two years, when, having received a flat- tering offer from the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, he entered the service of that company as freight clerk. His reeog- nized ability brought him rapidly to the front, and in a comparatively short space of time he had reached the responsible position of cashier and chief clerk at this point.
In 1884, desiring to embark in business for himself, he severed his connection with the railroad company, and with Messrs. Or- entt and French, organized the Conucil Bluffs Carpet Company. By common con- sent, he was made the financial manager of the concern, and the successful building up of a large and well-established business at- tests the wisdom of the choice which the members of the firm made in this direction.
Mr. Treynor has always taken a lively in- terest in musical matters, and the reputation which Council Bluffs now enjoys in this line is in no small measure due to his untiring energy and unselfish devotion, as well as to his generous contributions of time and money toward the development of a high order of musical culture. He has given much of his leisure time to the study of vocal music, and his voice (a robusto tener), has been heard quite frequently, in church, on the stage, and in varions gatherings in this and other places. He has sung the leading tenor roles in a number of light operas and oratorios. At the present time, he is a member of the Apollo Club of Omaha, Nebraska; is a trustee of that organization, and holds the responsible position of chairman of the musical committee of that society.
Mr. Treynor is a prominent member of the Royal Areanum; one of the founders and a trustee of the Council Bluffs and Omaha Chautauqua; an active member of the Rowing Association, and one of the leaders of the Board of Trade. Religiously he believes in the doctrines of the Episcopal Church, is a member of St. Paul's, and has served in the vestry of that religions organ- ization. Politically he is a Republican of the stalwart type, and has been a delegate to nearly every Republican State, Congressional and Judicial convention which has been held during the past twelve years
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In Sptember, 1889, he was appointed Postmaster of Council Bluffs by President Harrison, succeeding Hon. Thomas Bowman.
Mr. Treynor was married on the 4th day of November, 1880, to Miss Kittie E. Ob- linger, daughter of Captain H. G. P. Oblin- ger, of this city. Albert McKune Treynor, is the only issue of this union.
AMES KILLPACK, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Neola Township, was born in Leicestershire, England, Sep- tember 6, 1830. His father, John Killpack, was a wheelwright and marble-cutter, and had a brother and sister, Martha and Fannie, who are now deceased. On attaining man- hood Mr. John Killpack established himself in the mercantile business, including drugs, and continued therein ten or twelve years, and then was in the marble trade the remain- der of his days. His wife, whose maiden naine was Elizabeth Day, died some ten years previously, in 1841, leaving twelve children, as follows: John, born, October 2, 1824, died August 2, 1851; Mary Ann, born August 29, 1826, died October 21, 1847; Elizabeth, born November 6, 1828, resides in England; James, our subject, is the next; William J., born February 6, 1832, resides in Utah; Jonathan, born October 2, 1833, died July 1, 1890, in California: Charles, born February 7, 1835, died March 16, 1836; Rachel, born August 16, 1836, lives in England; David, born October 25, 1838, resides also in Eng- land; Emina and Edward are deceased.
James, the subject of this sketch, was brought up to the profession of his father. At the age of twenty-three years he left home and sailed on the International from Liverpool to New Orleans, being ten weeks on the voyage. Landing soon at Keokuk, he
came thence by ox teams to Council Bluffs and went on to Utah, being eleven weeks in crossing the plains to that Territory. In Manti City, Utah, he was engaged in farm- ing, but, the grasshoppers destroying his crops, he entered the Government Survey in 1855-'56. Angust 15, 1855, he married Miss Salina, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Harcott, natives of England, and Born re- spectively in 1801 and 1806. They had seven children: Mary, Lucy, Rosa, Sarah, Louisa, William and Salina. The last men- tioned was born December 15, 1839. Their father, a fashionable dyer, died at the age of forty-six years. Their mother afterward married Jacob Pochin, a native of England and a carpenter by trade, who came to Amer- ica in 1851, to New Orleans, and thence to St. Louis and to Utah in 1851, and died there in August, 1854. The widow then returned to this county, and remained with her daughter in Hazel Dell Township until her death, March 19, 1870.
After his marriage Mr. Killpack returned to Council Bluffs in June, 1857, clerked in a grocery store, then followed the same busi- ness in St. Louis; afterward was engaged in a furniture and wagon establishment; next he moved to Maries County, Missouri, took up eighty acres of land; but the bushwackers were so bad that he returned again to Coun- eil Bluffs, by means of ox teams. Here he was in the employ of a grocery firm. April 7, 1864, lie moved upon his farm in Boomer Township. A year afterward he purchased forty acres in the same township, where there were but few improvements. Ile added by further purchases until he had a total of 220 acres of good land, most of which was in meadow and pasture, and the premises were equipped with a good outfit of the usual ap- purtenances. Desiring to increase his facili- ties for raising live stock, he sold this place
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and purchased 320 acres of rough, unimproved land, prairie and hazel brush, and be- gan anew. He put up a fine two-story frame house 18 x36, with kitchen 16 x 15, porches, etc. In orchard and ornamental trees he has a total of about ten acres. Among his cattle the choice breeds are the Jersey and Red Poll. He has now 200 acres of fine land, mostly in Neola Township; eighty acres are in Boomer Township.
Mr. Killpack is a thorough-going Repub- lican. Was once elected a Justice of the Peace, but would not serve, lest he might make an enemy. He has been a School Di- rector.
His children are: Emma E. born in Salt Lake, December 23, 1856, and now the wife of Moulder Clark, in Boomer Township; Rachel Alice, born in St. Louis, January 5, 1859, died December 2, 1863; Mary Ann, born September 7. 1861, died September 28 following; John James, born in Council Bluffs, May 20, 1863; William Henry, born in Boomer Township, July 9, 1865; Lucy Ann, born November 17, 1867, died April 3, 1874; Charles, born January, 1870, died in infancy; Lonisa Alice, born in Boomer Town- ship, May 17, 1871; Grace May, born also in Boomer, May 9, 1873; David Marion, born in Boomer, July 18, 1876, and George Frank- lin, born also in Boomer, January 27, 1880.
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HARLES M. HARL, of the law firm of Harl & McCabe, of Council Bluffs, was admitted to the bar of Pottawatta- mnie County in 1876. Hr. Harl was born in Sandusky City. Ohio, November 13, 1856, the son of Jolin W. and Margaret (Smith) Harl. The former was born in Virginia, and the latter was a native of Ohio. The Harl family were early Virginians, having settled in that
then British colony prior to the Revolutionary war. The family is of Irish origin. The maternal ancestry of the subject of this sketch removed from the State of New York to Ohio during the early settlement of the latter State, but previous to their residence in New York they had resided in Canada. John W. Harl went to Ohio from his native State when a young man, and after marriage settled at Mt. Vernon, where the family of his wife had lived for many years. Later Mr. Harl removed with his family to Sandusky. In 1858 they went to Council Bluffs, where the father died April 6, 1881. Ilis wife survived until February 6, 1886. The subject of this sketch is the only survivor of five children; three died in childhood, a son and two daugli- ters. Edward, the second of the family in order of birth, enlisted early in the war of the Rebellion in an Iowa battery; after serv- ing for a time and becoming brokon in health, he was discharged for disability; but recovering his health he again enlisted in the service of his country, becoming a member of Company A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and was killed at Helena, Arkansas, July 4, 1863.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Council Bluffs, gradu- ating in the high school of this city in the class of 1874. He began studying law im- mediately after leaving school, with Judge Caleb Baldwin, and was admitted February 18, 1876. In June following he formed a partnership with Smith & Carson, which con- tinued until 1886, when Carson was elected District Judge, and the firm became Smith & Harl, which continued for two years, when Mr. Smith retired to become President of the State Board of Railroad Commissioners, and was succeeded by James McCabe.
Mr. Harl was married in Council Bluffs, to Miss Lottie Oblinger, a native of Indiana.
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They have two daughters: Nellie and Ruth. They lost their eldest daughter, Margaret. Mr. Harl is a Republican in politics. He has a fine practice and is recognized as one of the leading members of the bar of Potta- wattamie County.
Mr. Harl was for five years, 1882 to 1887, Secretary of the Board of Education, of Coun- eil Bluffs. In 1888 he was presented to the Republican Congressional Convention of the Ninth Congressional District as a candidate of Pottawattamie County for Congress, de- feating Mr. Lyman, the then Congressman, in the Pottawattamie convention. A number of candidates were presented by other coun- ties, and as a result and compromise Judge J. R. Reed was nominated, he being sup- ported by Mr. Harl and friends when the nomination of the latter was found to be im- possible.
Mr. Harl is the Past Master of Excelsior Lodge, No. 259, A. F. &. A. M .; First High Priest of Star Chapter, No. 47, R. A. M .; and the present Eminent Commander of Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 17, K. T., all of Conneil Bluffs; also First Vice President of League and delegate to the last National Convention of said clubs at Nashville, of Re- publican clubs of Iowa; and member of the board of trustees of the Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church.
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OSEPH P. BOULDEN, a farmer of Hazel Dell Township, was born in Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, August 11, 1819, the son of William L. and Naney (Patterson) Boulden, natives of Delaware and of Scotch and Irish extraction. He was the third in order of birth in a family of seven children, only three of whom are still living. The other two are John R., of Rockford Town .
ship, and Mary J., widow of Levi G. Bran- don, living in Des Moines.
On attaining his majority Mr. Boulden married, in November, 1839, Susan Lee, who was born in Lieking County, Ohio, in 1822. They had two children: John W., now re- siding in California, and Mary E., residing in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Boulden was mar- ried again in 1848, to Mary Lee, who was born in Lieking County, Ohio, August 13, 1826, and died February 25, 1887. There were two children by this marriage also, namely: Joseph P., a resident of Hazel Dell Township, and Benjamin F., deceased. Mr. Bonlden made his home in Ohio until 1849. The first business in which he was engaged after he arrived at the age of twenty-one years was that of boating on the Miami Canal, for some five years. In 1849 he came to Illinois, where he was a miller for three years. May 14, 1853, he arrived here in Pottawatta- mie, loeating first at Council Bluffs, where he engaged as a mill-sawyer, manufacturing the first lumber that was ever turned out at this point, as he operated the first saw-mill here. At the end of about two years he went to Omaha and engaged in saw-mnilling there a year, turning out also the first Inmber at that point. Returning to this side of the river he operated a mill for the Jeffrey Brothers, northwest of Council Bluffs, for about half a year, when he located upon his present farm. He first purchased 200 acres of imimproved land on section 32 of what is now Hazel Dell Township; and here he has since resided with the exception of two years in Utah and Nevada. He was one of the first settlers in that part of the county, and suffered the usual privations and hardships of pioneer life. Courage, guided by cool judgment, has guided him on in the improvement of his place until he now has a comfortable home, where he ean spend the remainder of
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his life in contentment. His first dwelling was a structure 16 x 22 feet; and his present residence, also a frame, 18 x 24 and 16 x 20, was erected in the midst of a natural grove. General farming and stock-raising are Mr. Boulden's specialties. He takes pride in the rearing of the better grades of live-stock. He now possesses one of the finest horses in the county, a Morgan. He has also done much for the material interest of his com- munity, and his dealings ever command the highest respect. He has disposed of his real- estate by a distribution to his children, and he now makes his home with his son J. P. on the old home place.
Politically Mr. Boulden is a decided Re- publiean, ever taking a leading part in the political affairs of the county. He was Coroner four years, member of the Board of County Supervisors three years, Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee, member of the School Board, etc. In his manner he is cor- dial and affable, in disposition kind.
His son, J. P., was married to Miss Mag- gie Dial, and they had two children: Ida M., deceased, and Benjamin F., a resident of Cali- fornia. He was again married March 10, 1887, to Anna Anderson, who was born in Sweden in 1870, and they have one child, Mary G.
HARCOURT is the proprietor of the Harcourt Nursery, which is becoming well known, reliable and popular. It is located in Grove Township, in the eastern part of Pottawattamie County, and was start- ed in 1885. At present twenty acres are de- voted to nursery stock and small fruits. By care, observation, experiments and the ex- penditure of much time and money, Mr. Har- court has been successful in placing before
the people of this county hardy and product- ive nursery stock, which is well adapted for the soil and climate of southwestern Iowa. For the earnest efforts put forth in this di- rection he is entitled not only to a large patronage but also to the grateful thanks of all who are interested in fruit culture in this part of the State. Mr. Harcourt has 10,000 trees of the best and most popular varieties ready for spring trade. The fact is an assured one that southwestern Iowa for fruit is not excelled in the West.
Mr. Harcourt was born in Green County, Wisconsin, April 2, 1846, the son of Daniel and Margaret (Conner) Harcourt, both na- tives of Indiana. In 1850, when he was four years old, the family moved to Jasper County, lowa, and were early settlers there. At that place he was reared on a farm, and received his education in the public schools. In 1871 Mr, Harcourt removed from Jasper County to Pottawattamie County, and set- tled in Grove Township, where he has sinee resided, He had bought the land on which he resides in 1870. At that time there were but two houses between this point and Wal- nnt, and to the north but one house could be seen for miles. Mr. Harcourt owns eighty acres, a fourth of which is devoted to his nursery. It is his intention to increase the size of his nursery and give his whole atten- tion to it. Ifis farm is well improved. Io has a comfortable cottage home, a barn, good fences, etc.
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