USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 31
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In 1866, in Jasper County, Iowa, Mr. Ilar- court wedded Miss Sarah Hill, a native of Indiana. They have eight children, viz .: Frank E .; Arthur W., a successful teacher of Grove Township; Joshua J., John R., Katty, Jessie, Inez and Ward. Three of their children died in infancy.
Politically Mr. Harcourt is a Republican. IIe is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
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Church, and is an earnest and active worker in the cause of religion. It was by his efforts and labor that Spring Creek Church was organized and established in Center Township. He has served as class-leader, steward and trustee of the church. Mr. Harcourt is a man in the prime of life, is a good converser, a pleasant companion and a popular citizen.
ARRISON MONTGOMERY, section 10, Grove Township, is one of the well- known and mueh respected citizens of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He came to this place in 1870 and has since made it his home. Mr. Montgomery was born in Picka- way County, Ohio, September 27, 1839, the son of Moses and Elizabeth (Jones) Mont- gomery, the latter a native of Pennsylvania. llis father was a strong and radical Whig and a great admirer of General Harrison, and when the subject of this sketch was born he was named after the hero of Tippe- canoe. Mr. Montgomery was a babe when the family removed to Wells County, Indiana, and when he was seven years old his father died. Ilis mother and her children subse- quently removed to Winnebago County, Illi- nois. At the age of twelve years Mr. Mont- gomery came to Jasper County, Iowa, where lie grew to manhood, and received a fair edu- cation in the public schools. Of his brothers and sisters we state that John went overland to California, and died in the land of gold; James E., who served four years during the war in Company I, Tenth Iowa Infantry, lives in Cheyenne County Kansas; Delphia Dewitte lives in Grove Township, Pottawat- tamie County, Iowa; Eliza Seek resides at Rockford, Illinois; Anna died when a child.
Their mother is now ninety years of age and lives in Kansas with her son James.
The subject of this sketch was married in Jasper County in 1857, to Miss Mary Jane Mills, who was born in Indiana and reared and educated in Jasper County, Iowa. She is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Burkhalter) Mills. Her mother died in Jasper County, and her father lives in Sher- man County, Kansas. The following named children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery: Ella, wife of John Walker, of Carson Township; Emma, wife of Thomas Marshall, Lincoln, Nebraska; Hatty, wife of Charles Wood, Grove Township; Irvin, who lives in Sarpy County, Nebraska; Casin, Sadie, Tillie May, John, Pearly, Lanra and Clarence L., all at home. Two of their chil- dren died in infancy.
Mr. Montgomery came to this county in 1870 and bought forty acres of land. He now has a well improved farm, a story and a half house, suitable out-buildings and good fences. His house is situated on a natural building site, and is surrounded by shade and ornamental trees. He has an orehard and grove. Mr. Montgomery is a trustee and steward of the Christian Church. IIis wife and two of their children are also members. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Mont- gomery is a man in the prime of life, and by all who know him he is regarded as an up- right and worthy citizen.
RTHUR S. HAZLETON, attorney at law, and of the firm of Mayne & Ha- zelton, has been a member of the bar of Council Bluffs since April 6, 1886. Mr. Hazleton is a native of Plymouth, New Hampshire, where he was born November 7, 1855. IIis father, Charles Hazleton, died at
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
Plymouth, April 1, 1881, where the mother of the subject of this sketch still lives. The family consists of three sons and one dangh- ter. The eldest of the family, Martha F., resides at Plymouth, New Hampshire. The eldest of the brothers, Charles W., is a civil engineer, and resides at Turner's Falls, Massachusetts. Henry is teller in the Coun- cil Bluffs Savings Bank.
The subject of this sketch is the youngest of the family. Ife prepared for college at Kimball Academy, and entered Dartmouth College in 1877, graduating in 1881. He studied law in the office of Blair, Burling & Adams, the first mentioned being the Hon. Henry N. Blair, United States Senator from New Hampshire. He attended law school at Boston University, and at Columbia Law School in New York city.
· Mr. Hazleton paved the way through col- lege with money which he earned, and met the expenses of a law course while in New York by teaching during the forenoons, and attending lectures in the after part of the day. On September 5, 1884, Mr. Hazleton arrived in Council Bluffs, and for one year was principal of the high school in that city. As he was obliged to read law one year in Iowa before engaging in practice, he entered the office of Jacob Sims, Esq., where he pur- sned a year's course of study in law before his admission to the bar. The present partnership was formed on May 1, 1886. Mr. Hazleton, by his own energy and industry, has obtained a liberal literary education, and his legal at- tainments have been reached by the same means, and they are very thorough. Ile is still a young man, but has already taken a prominent place at the bar of Pottawattamie County, and is esteemed as an enterprising and progressive citizen. Politically he is a Republican, and is a worthy member of the order of A. F. & A. M.
Ile was married May 16, 1888, to Miss Emma Higham, of Keokuk, and they have one son, Charles S.
ILLARD DEWITT is one of the representative and enterprising cit- izens of Grove Township. He came here in 1876, and has since made this place his home.
Mr. DeWitt was born in Montgomery County, New York, November 29, 1826. His father, Willard De Witt, Sr., was born in Massachusetts and lived to be 105 years old. He was of French ancestry, and fought in the war of 1812. His mother, nee Eliza- beth Mosier, was also a native of Ment- gomery County, New York. Mr. DeWitt is one of a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters. When he was seventeen years of age the family removed to De Kalb County, Indiana, where his parents spent the remainder of their lives, the mother dying at the age of seventy-six years. Mr. De Witt, Sr., was politically a Whig but subsequently became a Republican and Abolitionist. For twenty-five years he was a strong and zealous Methodist class-leader.
Willard De Witt, Jr., was reared to farm life, and was early taught those lessons of in- dustry and honesty which were so useful to him in after life. At the age of twenty-one he removed to Winnebago County, Illinois, where he resided several years and where he became acquainted with the lady whom he afterward married. January 18, 1850, he wedded Miss Delphia Montgomery, who was born in Springfield, Ohio, March 9, 1834, and was reared in Wells County, Indiana. She was the daughter of William and Eliza- beth (Jones) Montgomery, who were natives | of Pennsylvania. For several years the father
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was a successful teacher, and he afterward became a hotel manager. He died in La Porte, Indiana, at the age of forty years. The mother, who is now over ninety years of age, resides with her son in Cheyenne County, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. De Witt lived in Win- nebago County, until 1855, when they re- moved to Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa. In 1861 they removed to Jasper County, same State. They lived in Monroe five years, Mr. DeWitt being engaged in team- ing and freighting, which at that time was a profitable business. 1866 he moved on a farm which he improved and on which he lived until 1876. In that year he sold out and bought 160 acres of Sam Osler, where he now resides. This place was improved by Silas Wheeler, an old pioneer of the town- ship, it being one of the first farms settled on in this part of the county. At the time of its purchase by Mr. DeWitt about the only buildings on it were an old house and a small granary. In 1884, at a cost of $1,600, he erected a comfortable two-story house with porches and bay windows. It is sit- uated on a natural building site and is sur- rounded by shade and ornamental trees. Mr. De Witt has a fine grove of three acres and an orchard containing between 600 and 700 fruit trees: apples, plums and small fruits. He has good fences and suitable out-build- ings for his stock. His farm is devoted to general agricultural pursuits and stock-rais- ing. Among his stock are some fine spec- imens.
Mr. and Mrs. De Witt have five children, viz .: James Willard, who is married, has three children, and lives in Cedar County, Nebraska, George Lincoln, at home; Leti- cia, wife of M. F. P'rice, of Center Town- ship, this county, has two children; P. Grant, who is married, has one child, and lives in Grove Township; and John Harrison, at
home. Four of their children died in in- fancy, namely: Antionica, in her twelfth year; John H., in his tenth year; William H., in his fifth year; and Cora May, at the age of thirteen months.
Politically Mr. DeWitt was rocked in a Whig and Abolitionist cradle, and under such teaching grew to be a strong and radical Re- publican. He never aspired for public office, although he has served as president of the School Board. He is a man well informed ou general topics and is one of the respected and honorable citizens of the township. By good management and industry he has ac- quired a good property. Ile owns 240 acres of land in Grove Township, all under good state of cultivation.
SAAC IIANSEN, a native of Lillehedinge, Denmark, was born August 2, 1838, the son of Hans and Kesten (Anderson) Han- sen. The father died in Denmark, and the inother is still living, at the age of ninety- one years. They had a family of eight chil- dren, of whom Isaac was the sixth child. He was reared to farm life, and received his education in the public schools. He remained at home until he was thirty-one years of age, when he left his native country for America, in 1869. Ile came direct to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, which he has since made his home. He at once made a purchase of sixty- four acres of unimproved land, on section 6, IIazel Dell Township. He afterward pur- chased 130 acres of land in Boomer Town- ship, but has disposed of all this land except forty-four acres which ho still retains. After his marriage Mr. Hansen purchased a farm of 160 acres on section 1, Hazel Dell Town- ship, to which he has since added until be now possesses 320 acres. In 1887 he erected
Daniel . B. Clark
Eleanor Clark
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
a fine frame building, 26 x 34 feet, two stories high, with an annex 20 x 34, one story high, and also barns for stock and grain, the main one being 42 x 50 feet, and erected in 1883. His house is surrounded by shade and orna- mental trees, etc. He is principally engaged in farming and stock-raising, and in the lat- ter quite extensively. Mr. Ilansen has done much toward the building up and improve- ment of this county, and he stands among the well-to-do citizens of this community. He is a trustee of the Farmers' Alliance of Weston. In his political views he is non- partisan.
Mr. Hansen was married, November 1, 1875, to Maria Peterson, who was born in St. Taaroie, Denmark, June 2, 1842. They have four children, namely: Victoria M., born September 2, 1876; Viggo, born March 21, 1879; Peter, Jannary 15, 1881, and Carl, September 9, 1884. The family are members of the Lutheran Church of Boomer Town- ship, and Mr. Hansen is a trustee of the same.
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ANIEL B. CLARK, of Council Bluffs, is numbered among the early settlers of Pottawattamie County, the date of his location being May 10, 1852. He at that time settled on a claim which he purchased of a Mormon in Kane Township before the land was in market. A few improvements had been made, a log cabin having been built and a small part broken, but no essen- tial improvements had been made. In 1853 the land came into market. Mr. Clark en- tered the land and resided on it about thirty- two years.
He was born near Batavia, Genesee County, New York, January 4, 1819. His parents were Eli K. and Ennice (Brown) Clark, both 25
born in Connecticut. The paternal grand- father of the subject of this sketeh was also a native of Connecticut, and of English origin. He was a shoemaker by trade. Our subject possesses a memento or heirloom, consisting of a shoe-hammer used by his grandfather, and by request was given to the father of our subject as the eldest son of his father, and for the same reason Daniel B. Clark, being the eldest son of his father, came into possession of this heirloom, and it will thus descend to the eldest son of our subject. The mother of Mr. Clark also descended from an early Con- necticut family. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Clark was Daniel Brown, after whom he was named. Eli K. Clark and wife were married in their native State, in 1817, and the following year emigrated to Genesee County, New York, which was then regarded as the "far West." There he settled on a farm, where he continued to live until 1832 or 1833, when they removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio, and settled on a farm, where they remained until death. The father was born June 22, 1794, and died October 14, 1868, at the age of seventy-four years. The mother was born December 24, 1799, and died April 30, 1852. They were the parents of eleven children, ten of whoin attained mature years: a son, Jerome, died at the age of eight years. Six of their children are still living, at this writing. The subject of this sketch is the eldest. The second of the family, William H., died September 21, 1872; Piercy Ann is the wife of Thomas Lyman, and ro- sides at Downer's Grove, Illinois; Huldah L. became the wife of Joseph Carpenter, and died March 29, 1864; Willard F. died April 6, 1860; Ora E., the second surviving brother, resides in Michigan; Jerome W. was the next in order of birth; Phebe J. married, and died March 7, 1856; Altyn D., who resides in Iowa; Lois married Rev. Lyman Catlin,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
now of Waterloo, Iowa; Arista O., is married and resides in Michigan.
Daniel B. Clark, the subject of this notice, was reared to the occupation of farmer. Ile lived in Orleans County, New York, for about eight years, and then removed to Peoria County, Illinois, where he continned to reside until he came to Iowa in 1852, as already stated. Mr. Clark has long been one of the well-known citizens of Pottawattamie County. He enlarged the place where he first settled, and made of it a beantitnł home, where he lived for many years. He became the owner of much valuable land elsewhere, and although he has sold the homestead he still owns a fine farm of 300 acres near the city of Council Bluffs. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Clark retired from the active duties of farm life and removed to this city, where he and his wite have a pleasant home. Politically he is a Republican, and is an esteemed and worthy citizen of Pottawattamie County. He served his country in the war of the Rebellion, en- tering the army in 1861. He raised a com- pany of which he was commissioned Captain by Governor Kirkwood. His comenand became Company H, of the Fifteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served his country faithfully until his health failed, and he was discharged for disability at Corinth, Missis- sippi, in June, 1862. His eldest son was a soldier in Company D, Forty-fourth Regi- ment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Three broth- ers of Mr. Clark also served in the war of the Rebellion, viz .: Ora E., who was a mem- ber of Battery G, First Michigan Artillery; Altyn D. served in Company D, First Regi- ment Wiseonsin Volunteer Infantry; Aresta D., a member of Company B, Twenty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Mr. Clark was married at Ridgeway, Or- Jeans County, New York, October 4, 1840, to Miss Eleanor Bates, who was born in Madi-
son County, New York, December 22, 1819. and they have had ten children, four only of whom attained mature years. The eldest, Edwin J., died January 30, 1873, in the thirty-second year of his age; Ora is a farmer of Red Willow County, Nebraska; Emma J. is the wife of George W. Bartlett, of Red Willow County, Nebraska; and Samuel W. is a resident of the same county. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are faithful and consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
P. PETERSON was born in Sweden. June 13, 1841, the only son and one of the four children of Peter and Hannah (Hawkins) Peterson. He at- tended school until he was thirteen years old and then worked at farming for a time. When he was eighteen he attended college one year. Having, received a good education in his native language, he again turned his attention to farming, at which he worked until he was twenty-two. Then he bade good by to home and friends and started for Amer- ica. Leaving Malmo he sailed for Copen- hagen, thence to IInll. England, thenee to Liverpool, and from there across the ocean to Quebec, Canada. He came by rail and steamer to Chicago, then on to Henry County, Illinois, arriving at the latter place in 1864. In October of this year he enlisted in Com- pany I, Eighth Illinois Infantry, and joined his regiment at Memphis, Tennessee, from which place they marched to White River Landing. Ile was taken sick and confined in the hospital for some time. The latter part of February, 1865, he was removed from New Orleans by hospital boat to New York, and from there was sent West. Again he was taken sick, and he remained in hospital at Columbus, Ohio, for a time.
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
After an honorable discharge he returned to Henry County, Illinois, from whence, in 1867, he came to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Here he was variously employed until the spring of 1874, when he obtained a position on the C. B. & Q. Railroad, as a labor and der- rick hand. He was soon promoted, and con- tinned work as a stone mason for several years. In 1880 he bought his farm of 160 acres, which was then partly improved.
March 7, 1882, Mr. Peterson married Nellie Anderson, daughter of Andrew and Blanda (Rombeck) Anderson. Five children have been born to them, viz .: Hannah Pau- line, Robert Henry, Harry Martinus, Lilly Ann and Clara Amelia. Mr. Peterson and his wife were reared Lutherans and to this faith they still cling. He is a man well informed on all general topics; is kind and affable in his manner; and is highly respected by all who know him. Politically he is a Republican.
In connection with Mr. Peterson's family history it should be further stated that he and his sister, who resides at the old home in Sweden, are the only surviving members of the family, his father and mother having passed their lives and died in their native land.
RANK COLLARD, one of the substan- tial farmers of Valley Township, was born at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, Au- gust 25, 1855, a son of Royal Collard, who came from England to America in 1848, and settled on a farm in Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. Collard were born four children: Eliza- beth, who was born in England; Walter, born in Wisconsin; Frank and Charles. Politi- cally Mr. Collard was a Republican, and religiously a member of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church. He died at the age of forty- two years, and was a hard-working and indus- trious man, respected by all who knew him.
Frank Collard, our subject, was reared to farm life, and in 1876 came to Iowa, settling on his present farm. then consisting of 240 acres, and on which his brother Walter had made some improvements three years before. He has since added to this place until he now owns 320 acres of fine farm land. He is a practical farmer and stock-raiser. He was married in the fall of 1880 to Lizzie Martin, and they have two children: Irvin R. and Zella L. Politically Mr. Collard is a Repub- lican.
M. ROBBINS is the owner of 160 acres of land in section 13, Washing- ton Township, Pottawattamie County, where he has resided since 1878. An out- line of his life is herewith given:
He was born in Herefordshire, England, February 19, 1853, son of Thomas and Georgenia (Morgan) Robbins, the former a native of Herefordshire and the latter of Gloucestershire. His mother died when he was six years old, and his father still lives in England. Our subject was educated in the common schools of his native land and re- mained there until he was eighteen years old. While a boy he was for two years employed as a florist. At fourteen he engaged in the stock business, and continued to buy and sell stock for four years. In 1872 he came to America and settled near Davenport, in Scott County, Iowa, where he conducted a meat market for some time. Later, he engaged in farming near Davenport. In 1878, as already stated, he came liere and purchased his pres- ent farm. It was then wild prairie land, but under his judicious management and well
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
directed efforts it has assumed a different appearance, now being one of the best farms in the vicinity. He has a good story and a half house, 16 x 24 feet, located on a natural building site, surrounded by a grove and orchard. His stables, fenees, modern wind pump, and the whole premises all denote the prosperity of the owner. Big Silver Creek flows through his farm, affording an abund- ant supply of water for stock. This season Mr. Robbins is feeding forty-one head of steers, and has some tine cattle and good horses.
Mr. Robbins was married, in Scott County, Iowa, December 21, 1876, to Miss Maggie Harris, a native of Washington County, Iowa, reared and educated there. Her father, Henry Harris, was a native of the South, was a soldier in the late war, and died at Mem- phis, Tennessee, of disease contracted in the service. Her mother, nee Mary Tucker, was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, daughter of IIon. B. F. Tucker, one of Iowa's first Representatives. She is now a resident of Wichita, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins have one son, Eddy K. Mr. Robbins is a inember and trustee of the Evangelical Church, and teacher of the Sabbath-school. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
EORGE WRIGHT, deceased, formerly a farmer of Hazel Dell Township, was born in Thurcaston, Leicestershire, En- gland, April 12, 1819, learned the trades of brick-mason and plasterer, was married Jan- uary 16, 1842, to Elizabeth Woolenton, who was born in the town of Thrusinton, Leices- tershire, May 30, 1821, and after his mar- riage was employed as gardener and florist. In December, 1847, he emigrated to Amer-
ica, locating first at St. Louis; in a few years he removed to Genoa, Nebraska, whence he was driven two years later by the Indians back to the Missouri River. In the spring of 1860 he settled on eighty aeres of wild prairie land on section 3, Ilazel Dell Town- ship, this county, improved it and remained upon it until his death, which occurred Octo- ber 13, 1876. Mrs. Wright is still living on the old home place. Mr. Wright was, and Mrs. Wright still is, a member of the Reorganized Church of the Latter-Day Saints. In their family are six children, namely: Frederick, who was born January 2, 1843; Emma E., born November 18, 1844, now the wife of A. B. Sinith, residing in Pottawatta- mnie County, Iowa; George, born March 11, 1847, also residing in this county; William, born October 2, 1852, is also a resident of Pottawattamie County; Sarah A., born Jan- uary 18, 1857, died August 15, 1858; and Mary J., born September 13, 1860, now the wife of George Duncan, of this county.
George Wright, Jr., the subject of this paragraph, the third born in the above fam- ily, is a native of Leicestershire, England, came with his parents to this country and was brought up on a farm, assisting in open- ing up the home place just mentioned. Atter his marriage he located upon his farm on sections 3 and 4, consisting of 116 acres of uneultivated land, which he has since greatly improved, making a fine place, where he is devoted to general farmning and stock-raising. Ile is a self-made man, having risen from the bottom round of the ladder to the present comfortable station which he enjoys, by his own unaided efforts. Ile is a zealous Demo- crat, and has served as a member of the School Board, etc. Ile and his wife are members of the Reorganized Church of the Latter-Day Saints. October 9, 1872, he married Miss Alice E., daughter of William
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
and Elizabeth (Holder) Gilson, who was born in Pennsylvania, May 11, 1852, and came to lowa with her parents. In this family are five children: Lydia A., born August 5, 1873; George W., February 16, 1876, and died April 1, 1878; Frank B., June 30, 1878; Adolph B., July 9, 1884; and Gracie E., March 5, 1890.
M. COONS, proprietor of the Willow Dale Farm on section 18, Macedonia Township, is one of the most enter- prising and successful farmers in that com- munity. He was born in Marion County. Iowa, January 20, 1853, a son of Lindsey Coons, a native of Highland County, Ohio, and of German ancestry. The mother of J. M. was before marriage R. J. Connaughey, of Irish ancestry. Mr. Lindsey Coons and wife were married in Highland County, Ohio, and in 1851 eame to Marion County, Iowa, loeating there as early settlers. The father resided in that county until his death in Ohio, while on a visit in 1867. He was a merchant for many years in Knoxville, Marion County, where his widow still re- sides.
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