USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 57
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Mr. and Mrs. Miller have six children, namely: Mary Jane, wife of George Fulton, Thayer County, Nebraska; Eliza Belle, wife of Samuel Bartle, Carson Township, Pottawatta- mie County ; Joseph B. is married and lives on his father's farm; William John is also mar- ried and resides on the Perry place; James T., at home; and Robert R., at school. Two of their children are deceased, an infant son and Eleanor, who died at the age of seven months. Mr. Miller casts his vote and influence with
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
the Republican party, and he has served the public in some of the township offices. He and his wife are members of the Sharon Presbyterian Church, of which he is an elder. Ile is also an active worker in the Sabbath-school. Mr. Miller is a man of three-score years, yet he bears his age lightly. He is a desirable acquisition to the com- munity in which he resides, and is honored and esteemed by all who know him.
EORGE V. BURNETT came to Potta- wattamie County, Iowa, in July, 1884, and has since continued his residence here. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January 9, 1848, son of John and Ann (Veness) Burnett, the former of Scotch ex- traction, and the latter born in Pennsylvania, a descendant of German ancestors. Mr. and Mrs. Burnett were married in Ohio, and when their son George was about three or four years old they came to lowa, and settled in Cedar County. There the mother died two or three years later, and the father died in 1861, at the age of forty two years and eight months. He was among the early settlers of that county, and his whole life was passed on a farm. Politically he was a Demoerat. Ile and his wife were both members of the Presbyterian Church. They reared a family of four sons and one daugh- ter, viz .: Thomas H., a well-to-do settler of Pottawattamie County, who died in Wright Township, March 23, 1886, at the age of forty-two years and twenty-three days. He had never married. Catherine L., who is the wife of William Winterstien, Wright Township, Pottawattamie County; George V., Sinith JJ., Griswold, Iowa; and Charles of Pottawattamie County, Kansas.
George was reared on a farm in Ceder
County, and learned the trade of stone- mason, which he followed four years in Iowa City before he came to this county. He is now engaged in general farming and stock- raising, owning eighty acres of improved land, well-adapted for stock or grain, located in section 31, Wright Township.
Mr. Burnett was married in June, 1878, to Mrs. Laura M. Parrott, a native of Foun- tain County, Indiana. Her father, Andrew B. Parrott, was born in Ohio, and her mother, Frances Ann (Furr) Parrott, in Fountain County, Indiana. Mrs. Parrott's parents were Kentuckians. Mrs. Burnett was but eleven months old when she came with her father and mother to Iowa. They settled in Johnson County, where, in March, 1866. the mother died, at the age of thirty-one years and nine months. Mr. Parrott still resides in Iowa City. By her first marriage Mrs. Burnett had one child, Frances Collins, now the wife of Frank Bevier, a resident of Car- son, lowa. By her present husband she has two children, namely: Maudie Odessa and Rachel May. They lost two children: John Earl, who died at the age of thirteen months and eighteen days, and Marion Oliva, their third child, at birth. In his political views Mr. Burnett is independent. He is well- informed on eurrent topics, is out-spoken and cordial in his address, and is regarded as one of the worthy citizens of the community. Mrs. Burnett is a member of the Christian Church.
ILLIAM CONVERSE, a prominent farmer of Valley Township, descended from an old American family, of English descent, who settled in Vermont in early day. The grandfather of our subject, a farmer in Plattsburg, that State, was the
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father of seven children, the sons being Erastus, William, Chase, Jesse and John, and the daughters, Polly and Jemima. Eras- tus, the father of William, went to Penn- sylvania, and was there married to Elizabeth Van Wermer, and they had six children: John, William, George B., Henry B., Erastus and a daughter who died in infancy. George B. and Erastus served in the Union army four years, and George died in the ser- vice.
In 1842 the father brought his family to Iowa, settling on a elaim where the land was not yet surveyed, in what is now Green Township, Iowa County. This State was then an entirely new country, and he had to go seventy miles for his groceries, the family having to rely upon their own productions for most of their supplies, which consisted mainly of corn bread and buckwheat cakes, with wild game and fish. For five years they were withont beef, pork, coffee, sugar and milk. Tea they made of " red-root " (Ceano- thus Americanus). The eorn they ground with a hand mill. Their clothing was mostly made of buck-skin. They lived in a log cabin, with no sawed timber except the doors and window-casings, which were made from their dry-goods boxes, that they had brought from Pennsylvania, and their floors were of puncheon. But they had a comfort- able home and were content. There were no schools, churches, roads, courts, lawyers, or even a justice of the peace, and but one doctor, who lived nine miles distant. The people were healthy, happy and peaceable; their habits were simple, and they were friendly and hospitable, helping each other for miles around. Mr. Converse lived to the age of forty-three years, dying from exhaus- tion brought on by riding seventy miles on horsebaek without a saddle, for a doctor for his sick son. Ilis widow is still living, at
the age of eighty years, with her son Will- iam. When she first came to Iowa, the Sae and Fox Indians were very numerous but friendly, and Keokuk, the celebrated chief, used to come to their cabin, and frequently partook of their hospitality.
William Converse, the subject of this sketch, was born in Rockdale Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and was but nine years of age when his parents came to fowa. He was brought up in the wilder- ness, and received no education when a boy, as the nearest school at the time of his father's death was twenty-two miles, and he never had the benefit of but six months' schooling. When his father died his brother, two years his senior, and himself were the support of the family, and at the age of fourteen he did a man's work. He learned from his father and the Indians to hunt, and the meat for the family was procured in this way. He often, when hunting with the Indians, par- took of their hospitality, and describes their cooking as being clean and orderly. After his marriage Mr. Converse settled in what is now Greene Township, Iowa County, where he lived twenty-nine years, and where he owned a farm of 226 acres. He sold this place, and in 1871 came to Pottawattamie County, settling on his present farin of 320 acres in Valley Township. It was wild land when he purchased it nineteen years ago, but he has since converted it into a fine cultivated farm, to which he has since added until he now owns 400 acres. Mr. Converse set out all his shade and fruit trees; also has many good buildings, and a splendid orchard of 300 bearing trees, and a good vineyard.
Politically he is a Republican, but is an independent thinker, and liberal in all his views, voting for the man instead of the politician. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and is president of the Anti-Horse.
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Thief Society, which office he has held for seventeen years. He has also been a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and Good Tem- plars orders. He is a strong temperance man, and has subscribed liberally for the cause. Ile has taken an active part in the canse of education and the good of the schools, and has served as School Director for years, and also as president of the School Board. Mr Converse stands high in his community as an upright and honorable man, is always found on the side of reform and in defense of the right. He has the honor of being one of the founders of the great and wealthy State of Iowa, as he has been with her from the beginning, endured all the hardships and privation allotted to her eldest sons, and has been equal to all the vicissi- tudes of life in her borders.
Mr. Converse was married at the age of nineteen, to Miss Jane C. Henry, then aged fifteen years, daughter of Williamson A. and Sarah (Richardson) Henry. The father was originally from Kentucky, but went to Ohio, and finally settled in Johnson County, lowa, between 1835 and 1842. They were the parents of seven children: Nancy, Jane, Rebecca, Fannie, Mary A., William A. and Franklin P. Mr. Henry was a soldier in the Black Hawk war; was one of the pioneers of lowa State and city, and assisted in drawing the stone for the State University. He kept a tavern in lowa City for many years, and lived to the age of fifty-five years. To Mr. and Mrs. William Converse have been born six children: John, Charles, Mary, Ella, Emma and Clara. Mrs. Converse is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. William Con verse has practiced medicine for forty years, and for the last twenty-five years has had a large practice. He is now living on his own farm, and is dealing in imported Clydesdale and French draft horses, high-grade mares,
high-grade red-polled cattle and pure-bred Poland-China swine.
AMES A. TAYLOR, one of the best known pioneers of the county, and a resident of Washington Township, has been a resident of this county for forty years. He was born in Montgomery County, In- diana, February 24, 1831, a son of Pleasant Taylor, a native of Tennessee and an old pioneer of this county. His father, Burzil Taylor, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Pleasant Taylor was married in Montgomery County, Indiana, to Jane Allison, a daughter of James Allison, who was born in Pennsylvania. They had five children, viz .: James A., our subject; Mary E. Gordon, of Oklahoma; Thomas and Pleasant, deceased; and William H., of Silver Creek Township, Pottawattamie County. They lived in Indiana until about 1840, when they moved to Missouri, then to Illinois, and in 1843 they came to Iowa and lived in Wapello County until 1850; then they came to Pottawattamie County and bought a Mormon claim in Silver Creek Town- ship, being the first " Gentile" in the vicinity. Some years later he sold out and came to Washington Township and bought the place where he now lives. His wife died in June, 1868. Several years after her death he mar- ried Sidney Webb, with whom he still lives.
James A. Taylor, our subject, was about twenty years old when he came to this county. Ilis education was obtained in the log school- houses of that period. In 1858 he took charge of a saw and grist mill on Silver Creek for two years. He subsequently purchased 120 acres of land and at once commenced its improvement He now has a well improved farın of 400 acres, one of the best in Wash- ington Township. In 1885 he erected a good
J. a. murphy
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
house, which cost $1.500. It is built in modern style, and is well furnished through- ont. A grove of fifty-five acres and orchard near by makes his home an attractive one. Both general farming and stock-raising are carried on here. Mr. Taylor was married in Pottawattamie County, in 1859, to Miss Maria E. Piles, who was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1839. Her father, James Piles, was born in Ohio, in 1804, and died in that State, at the age of fifty. Her mother, Margaret (English) Piles, was born in Penn- sylvania, in 1810, and died in this county at the age of forty-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have had nine children, viz .: Mary E., wite of G. W. Hamilton, and a resident of Wash- ington Township; William M., Henry P., who married Debember 4, 1889, Ada M. Cole, a teacher of Pottawattamie County, and is a resident also of Washington Township; Isaac, Jolın, Martha Ellen (died in 1882), Alice M., Ira J. and Margaret J.
Mr. Taylor is a Demoerat in politics. He has served the public as Township Trustee and as a member of the School Board. He, Henry and John, are associated with the Masonic Order, Coral Lodge, No. 430, at Carson. He and his wife, Henry and wife, John and Alice are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Taylor is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. As a fireside companion Mr. Taylor is jovial and cordial. He is well informed on all general topics, and is a good story-teller. He is regarded as one of the popular and worthy citizens of Pottawattamie County.
A. MURPHY, a contractor and builder of Council Bluffs, and also the owner of a planing-mill, sash, door and blind factory, which was erected in October, 1889, 87
is one of the most important business men in this eity. He came here in 1881 and erected the Union elevator for the Pool lines, and after its completion he decided to remain here. He has erected a number of buildings, among which are the David Bradley building, the Massalon, the Morselles, the Sandwich, Elec- tric motor, Marriam Block, Washington Ave- nue school building, the Grand Hotel, which is now under construction, and many other buildings. He does an annual business of about $75,000. The second year of his resi- dence in Council Bluffs, Mr. Murphy had secured some $60,000 worth of work. At present he turns out all his work at his own plant, which is located at the corner of Twenty-first street and First avenue. It was erected at a cost of some $14,000, and he employs abont sixteen men in the plant and thirty to forty outside, all of whom are prac- tical mechanics. He has in view the enlarge- ment of his plant, as he has not sufficient space to do his work. Politically he is an adherent of the Democratic party, of which he is a hearty supporter. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., Apollo Lodge. No. 139, of Chicago.
Mr. Murphy was born in Portage dn Fort, Canada East, near Ottawa City, December 5, 1839, the son of l'atrick and Rose Ann (Pren- tice) Murphy, and of Irish-Scotch descent. He attended school in his native country un- til nineteen years of age, when he commeneed work in the pineries, continning two years; he next served an apprenticeship at the car- penter's trade with his father, who was a con- tractor and carpenter. His father died when he was twenty four years of age, after which he took charge of his business and prosecuted the same two years. He then left Canada, and in 1863 went to Chicago, where he re- mained until 1864. He then went South with Sherman, and served in the employ of
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
the Government about two years and three months, when he was honorably discharged. Mr. Murphy then returned to Chicago, re- mained until 1869; thence he went to Mon- tana for three and a half years; then back to Chicago for two years; next to San Francisco, California, three years; again returned to Chicago, where he remained nutil 1881; and then came to this city, where he has since inade his home. During his travels from one place to another he was engaged at his trade. He has done much toward building up Council Bluffs, and in the fall of 1881 was the means of bringing 110 mechanics to this city from Chicago. At other times he has been the cause of bringing men from various parts of the country, and the result is that many are now permanent residents, and some are the best mechanics the city affords.
Mr. Murphy was married in Chicago, January 28, 1868, to Kate L. Wright, a na- tive of Canada, and daughter of John and Isabella Wright, of Lancaster, Canada West, and of Scotch birth and German parentage. Mrs. and Mrs, Murphy have three children: George, Mand, and Harry.
RANK COLEMAN is another one of the representative citizens of Washing- ton Township, Pottawattamie County. He was born in Tolland County, Connecticut, twenty miles east of Hartford, in 1841, son of Timothy Coleman, a native of New Eng- land, and Lanra (Hunt) Coleman, who was born in Connecticut, of an old family of that State.
When Frank was fourteen years old his father moved to Kansas and settled near Law- rence. That city then contained two shanties and one tent, the latter being 100 feet long
and used as a hotel. Border ruffians were plenty in those days in Kansas, and when Mr. Coleman was ordered to leave or suffer the consequences he chose the former. Go- ing East, he settled in Maconpin County, Illi- nois, near Bunker Hill. On a farm at that place Frank grew to manhood. Previous to their going West he had learned the hatter trade, at which he worked from the age of seven until he was fourteen. His mother died in Illinois, at the age of sixty-five years. His father passed away in St. Louis, at the age of seventy-five, while traveling in pur- snit of health. He was a farmer the greater part of his life. In politics he was a Whig, and later, an Abolitionist. To him and his wife eleven sons were born, seven of whom grew to manhood. The subject of this sketch lived in Illinois until 1871, when he came to Mills County, lowa, residing there two years. In 1873 he came to Pottawatta- mie County and for some time made his home in Macedonia Township. Then he moved to James Township, where he lived two years and improved two tarins. Ilis next move was to Washington Township. Here he purchased eighty acres of land in section 14, in 1881, and has made many im- provements on the same. The whole farm is in a flourishing condition. Ifis comfortable cottage home is surrounded by a grove and orchard of three acres, and all of his out- buildings show thrift and prosperity.
Mr. Coleman was married, March 14, 1876, at Macedonia, Iowa, to Miss Mary Willson, a lady of culture and refinement, whe was born in Cass County, Iowa, near Lewis. Her father, Kirby Willson, who was born near Cini- cinnati, Ohio, and her mother, Julia A. (Bartles) Willson, a native of Fulton County. Illinois, now reside near Charter Oak, Crawford County, Iowa. Mrs. Coleman was nine years old when they went to Mills County, Iowa, where she was
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
rearel and educated. To Mr. and Mrs. Cole- mnan seven children have been born, namely: Ella Grace, Frederick II., Bertie and Gertrude (twins), Timothy, Hobert and Roy. Mr. Coleman's political views are in harmony with Republican principles. Mrs. Coleman is a worthy member of the Evangelical Church. A man in the prime of life, intelligent and well informed on all general topics, frank and cordial in his manner toward all with whom he comes in contact, Mr. Coleman is regarded as a desirable acquisition to his community. Ile has served the public as Township Trus- tee and as a member of the School Board.
ILLIAM P. CRAFT, a wealthy and popular citizen of Pottawattamie County, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1839, a son of Peter and Tacy (DeGood) Craft, the former a native of Ohio, and a son of Samuel Craft, a native of Germany; the latter is the daughter of Joseph DeGood, of French parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Craft were married in Millsborongh, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and in 1854 moved to Wapello County, Iowa, where, in November, 1859, the mother died. The father now lives in Ottumwa, Iowa, at the age of seventy-two years. In the East he was a coal dealer and boat-builder by trade, but in Iowa he has been engaged in farming. Politically he is a Democrat, and religiously is an Atheist, or a believer in the rotation or progress of souls.
The subject of this sketch remained on a farm in Wapello County until 1873, when he went to Montgomery County, lowa, and bought forty aeres in wild land, which he afterward improved. In 1880 he sold this place and came to Pottawattamie County, where he bought 120 aeres of land on section
19, Washington Township, and later bought 160 acres on section 18, and in 1888 eighty acres more, and he now owns a well-improved farm of 360 acres.
lle was married February 5, 1867, in Wa- pello County, Iowa, to Miss Mary Silvers, who was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, but was reared in Marysville, Iowa. She was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Prickett) Silvers. Mr. and Mrs. Craft have ten children, viz .: Ella M., now the wife of Ammi Woolf, a worthy and honorable citizen of Washington Township; Emma E., Sadie, James, Jessie, lda S., Otis, Carl, Daisy and Myrtle. Politically Mr. Craft is a Dem- oerat, and both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Craft is yet in the prime of life, is intelligent and well informed on general topics, and is one of the county's solid business men.
AMES WILSON, one of the substantial farmers of Knox Township, is descended from an old American family. James Wilson, his grandfather, was one of the old pioneers of Perry County, Ohio, having set- tled there when the Indians were plentiful. IIe was from the Cumberland Mountains in Maryland, and when he first settled in Ohio they had great trouble with the Indians, and Mrs. Wilson would barricade the honse when her husband was away. They reared a family of nine children: Jonathan, Michael, James, Thomas, William (who died at the age of seventeen years), Elizabeth, Rachel, Sarah and Martha. The father cleared his farm of 160 acres from heavy timber, and besides this he owned eighty acres in Van Wert County. He died at the age of seventy- five years, and was a member of the Meth- odist Church. Hle married Martha Ashby,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
a native of Maryland. Mr. Wilson served as County Judge, and was an honorable and upright man. Thomas Wilson, a son of the above and the father of our subject, was born in Perry County, Ohio, and was reared to the life of a farmer. He married Abigail Sellers, a daughter of John and , Martha Sellers, who were early settlers of Ohio. and of German descent. Mr. Wilson eame out to the Des Moines River near Oskaloosa when a young man, and before there were any settlers there, but afterward returned to Perry County, Ohio, where he lived on a farm the remainder of his life. He was the father of three chil- dren: Franeis, James and John. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were members of the Methodist Church. He died at the age of forty-five years, and was a hard-working and indus- trious man.
James Wilson, his son and the subject of this sketeh, was born September 20, 1849, in Perry County, Ohio. At the age of twenty- one years, in 1871, he came to his present farm of 160 aeres of wild land, which, by perseverance and industry, he has converted into a well tilled and fertile farm. He has sinee added to this place until he now owns 240 acres of land. He was married in Marysville, Missouri, to Maria A. Hain- mond, a daughter of William G. and Mary E. (Hatcher) Ilammond. To Mr. and Mrs. Wil- son have been born five children: Cora, Rosa, Dora, Orin and Oley. William G. Hamn- mond was a native of Maine, but resided for a time in Perry County, Ohio, and then moved to Nodaway County, Missouri. He was the father of five children: Finley, Jesse, Melinda, Maria and Lena. He died at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson has taken an active interest in the schools. He was the pioneer settler on his farm, has made all its improvements, and now stands deservedly high as a man whose
word is as good as his bond. His children deseend from an old pioneer stock, who were the real founders of this country.
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M J. CHENEY, a prominent farmer of Washington Township, was born in Cattarangus County, New York, October 21, 1832, the son of Hurd Cheney, who traees his ancestry back to three broth- ers who came from England before the Revo- lutionary war, and one of whom participated in that struggle. Our subjeet's mother was Phoebe (Ballard) Cheney, a native of New York State, and daughter of David Ballard, of Scoteh-Irish descent. The parents were married in Cattaraugus County; the father died in Wyoming when crossing the plains at the age of seventy-one years, and the mother died in Millersburg, Iowa, at the age of sixty-four years.
M. J. Cheney was reared in his native State until eleven years of age, when his parents moved to Stephenson County, Illi- nois. In 1854 he came to Mills County, Iowa, which he made his home until 1878, excepting ten months spent in Iowa County, Iowa. He then came to his present farm of 160 aeres in Pottawattamie County, which he has since improved, and on which he has erected a fine house.
Mr. Cheney was married in Mills County, to Mary M. Dalph, who was born in Terre Hante, Indiana, a daughter of Aaron and Eveline (Miller) Dalph, both natives of New York State. The mother died when Mrs. Cheney was but ten years of age, and the father died in Cass County, Nebraska, when seventy-six years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Cheney have eight children, viz .: Milton H., a resident of Neola, Iowa, and a barber and jeweler by trade; Hiram E., who is married
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
and lives in Colorado, engaged in the stock business; Amanda E., wife of M. O. Inman, of Fremont County, Iowa; Charles O., of Colorado; Andrew M., at home; Otha C., Sadie May and Rhoda Ellen. Politically Mr. Cheney is a Democrat, is intelligent and of broad and progressive views, and is regarded as one of the best informed men in Washing- ton Township.
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