USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 62
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T. LAINSON, contractor and bnilder, No. 32 Fourth street, residence, No. 120 Franklin street, Council Bluffs. Mr. Lainson's business was establshed in 1887 and during the year 1890 aggregated $40,- 000. He employs an average of twenty-five men per day. Some of the principal build- ings in Council Bluff's have been erected by him. Among them we mention the follow- ing: the residences of W. C. James, W. W. Loomis, J. J. Steadman, A. W. Askawith, O. P. Wickham, George W. Crane, J. A. Herreld, Henry Van Brunt, Forest Smith, Mrs. T. B. Lewis, H. A. Baird, three flats for S. H. Foster, and the interior work of the Grand Hotel, besides other buildings of minor importance.
Mr. Lainson is a native of Kent County,
England, born near London, December 28. 1853, son of William and Mary Ann (Argles) Lainson, the former a second cousin of Will- iam Cubit, Lord Mayor of London. IIis parents have been residents of Council Bluffs for two years. The father, although now seventy two years old, is following his trade, that of carpenter, and is assisting his son. The mother is in her sixty-eighth year. Mr. Lainson was only three years old when the family came to America and located in Can- ada, where they lived three years, after which they moved to Pennsylvania. Thirteen years later they came to Iowa and settled in Car- roll, where they remained three years. In 1876 they took up their abode in Ida County, this State, and in 1883 came to Council Bluffs. His father being a carpenter, Mr. Lainson was brought up to that trade. Ile received a common-school education. He gives his undivided attention to his business, and has met with eminent success. He makes interior work a specialty.
Mr. Lainson was married, in Ida County, Iowa, December 20, 1880, to Miss Cassie E. Battin, who was born in Wisconsin, Decem- ber 27, 1862. They have one child, Ilarry A., four years old. Politically Mr. Lainson is independent, casting his vote for the man he thinks best qualified to fill the position. He is ranked among the energetic young business men of Council Bluffs.
SAAC N. GARDNER, a prominent citizon of Pottawattamie County, descended from a prominent American family. His grandfather, James Gardner, was an English soldier, and came to America with the British army at the time of the war of the Revolu- tion, when but nineteen years of age. He deserted from the English army and joined
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
the American forces. After the war he mar- ried and settled in Ohio, and was the father of eight children: William, James, Robert, John L., Washington, Nancy, Betsey and Fannie. The father settled on a farm in Marion County, Iowa, where he died, at the age of eighty-seven years. John L. Gardner, his son, and the father of our subject, was born in Muskingum County, and was a farmer and miller by occupation.
lle was married in Marion County, Ohio, to Sarah Goodwin, daughter of Asa and Margaret (-) Goodwin, and they were the parents of four children: Isaac, John, Smith and Sarah. The father was a pioneer settler of Ohio, where he lived to the age of seventy years. He then settled in Blackford County, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin were born ten children: Margaret (who died in infancy), James W., C. V., John N., Asa A., Isaac N., Rhoda A., Mary H., Sarah and Washington. After marriage Mr. Gardner settled on a farm in Marion County, Ohio, which was then Delaware County, and where all of his children were born. He lived there until 1853, when he came to Iowa County, Iowa, where he remained until his death, which occurred in Atchison, Kansas, at the age of sixty-nine years. He was an upright man and a good citizen, and held the respeet of his fellow-townsmen. Ile was Justice of the Peace at Marion, lowa, and also held sev- eral township offices. Politically he was an old time Whig and Republican. He had tive sons in the war: James M., who enlisted in the Twenty-fourth lowa Volunteer Infantry, Company C, and served through the great struggle; Croven V., Company A, Twenty- ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, was Captain of his company and served through the war. Ile was in the same regiment with Hon. James Ly - man, and was promoted from Orderly Sergeant to Captain. Asa A., Company D, Thirty-fifth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served through the war, and was promoted as Captain. He was badly wounded at the battle of Stone River, Tennessee, the ball passing through his body below the heart and through the breast, and he is now suffering from the effects of this wonnd. He was again badly wounded at Chickamauga, Tennessee, through the upper right thigh. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and all the engagements until he was wounded at Stone River. He was absent about six weeks. Isaae N., Company C, Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served seventeen months, and was transferred to the Twenty- seventh United States colored troops, as First Lieutenant, serving until the close of the war. Washington was in Company D, Sixty- fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was but sixteen years of age when he eulisted, in 1861, and was awarded a medal at Stone River for bravery. He was in every march and battle that his regiment took part in; was wounded at Resaca, Georgia, and was conveyed from the field by three comrades in the heat of the battle. He went to school in Ashley, Marion County, Ohio, and then wen. to Hillsdale, Michigan, but was graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan University, in Delaware, Ohio. He is now Vice-President of Albion College, Albion, Michigan, and has also been Com- mander of the G. A. R. Post of Michigan. This is one of the most remarkable army records to be found in any family.
Isaac N. Gardner, the subject of this sketch, was born October 7, 1841, on the old homestead, six miles from Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and was but twenty years of age when he left the farm and school, where he had taught four terms, to begin the life of a soldier. He entered as a private, was promoted to First Lieutenant of a colored regiment, and came out as Captain. He was in the battles of the Wilderness, Fort Fisher, Petersburg,
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was not wounded or taken prisoner, and did active service throughout the great struggle. IIe returned to Ohio, where he was honorably discharged, October 7, 1865. He then went to southwestern Missouri, where he bought a traet of land, and remained one and a half years. In 1869 he came to Iowa, settling on his present place, which then consisted of 160 acres of wild land, but which he has since converted into a fine farin, and by en- ergy and industry has added to it until he now owns 240 acres.
He was married to Emily W. Kearney, daughter of Thomas Kearney. The father, a native of Ireland, came to Council Bluffs from Galena, Illinois, in 1857. He is still living, at the age of sixty-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have been born six children: Frank, Gerald, Chester A., Marcus, Mary I., and an infant yet unnamed. Mr. Gardner is a stanch Republican, has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and has also been School Director. Ile is a well-known , citizen of this connty, and his descendants for generations will hold in respect the names of the soldiers of this family who fought for their country.
W. WILLIAMS, contractor and builder, No. 123 West Broadway, is a native of Ashtabula County, Ohio. He was born May 2, 1842, son of James and Sarah (Wood- ruff) Williams, both natives of New York State and descendants of old Puritan families. When the subject of our sketeh was four years old his father died, and when he was twelve he left his native State ånd went with his mother to Michigan and located near Coldwater. After remaining there three years they removed to Warren, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, where they lived one year.
In the fall of 1857 they located in Fort Cal- houn, Nebraska, where the mother died the following autumn. In December of that year, 1858, Mr. Williams and his two sisters eame to Conncil Bluffs, where he has sinee made his home. In 1860 he began a two years' apprenticeship to the trade of brick- laying and plastering, but before his time expired, in Angust, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served six months, until Fel :- ruary, 1862, but was not accepted. He then returned to Council Bluffs and completed his trade, after which he worked as a journey- man until 1870, when he commenced con- tracting. In 1883 he turned his whole attention to contracting and nas since been extensively engaged in the same. During the year 1883 he took the contract for seventy honses. Ilis annnal business the past two years aggregates 845,000. During the busy season Mr. Williams employs about thirty men. On upper Broadway he has a briek-yard where he manufactures his own brick besides supplying the trade. Some of the contracts he has taken are numbered among the best business blocks and private residences. In connection with the business already referred to he also has a wholesale flour and feed store and deals in wood and coal, lime and all building materials. IIe handles the Diamond Bluff flour of St. Peter's, Minnesota, and is agent for the Acme Cement Plaster, one of the best plas- ters in existence, just entering the market in this city.
Politically Mr. Williams is a staneh Re- publican. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., Pottawattamie Lodge, No. 46, and of the Modern Woodmen, Hazel Camp.
Mr. Williams was married, July 21, 1863, to Miss Charlotte E. Armstrong, a native of Nauvoo, Illinois, born May 6, 1844. They
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
are the parents of seven children: Fannie, Ralph, Mark, Stella, Olive, Emma and Ruth. Fannie, Stella and Olive are deceased. Mr. Wiliams and his family reside at No. 111 Stuttman street. He is the owner of a null- ber of city properties, eleven in ali.
DWIN J. ABBOTT, Assistant Clerk and Treasurer of Council Bluffs, has been serving this city in various capac- ities at least eight or nine years. He was born in London, England, September 27, 1841, the son of Joseph and Mary (Bam- ford) Abbott. At the age of twelve years, he came to America, locating at Cleveland, Ohio, where he received his education, and remained until his fourteenth year, when he commenced work for himself. He was va- riously employed until he entered the service of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern (Northern Indiana) Railroad. In 1861 he enlisted in the hundred-day service, after which he did hospital duty for some time. Mr. Abbott then enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged Sep- tember, 1864, at Camp Chase, Ohio. After the war Mr. Abbott returned to Cleveland, and connected himself with the Metropolitan Police force, in which capacity he served until 1871. In that year he came to Conn- cil Bluffs, where he has sinee remained. He has served as Deputy Recorder and Township Clerk for several years, and since that time he has been twice elected as Justice of the Peace and in the employ of the city as Fi- nance Clerk. He has been a faithful friend to the public, and has been untiring in his duties. He is a member of the G. A. R., Abe Lincoln Post, No. 29, of which he is a charter member, and Past Judge Advocate
and Assistant Adjutant General of the De- partment of Iowa, G. A. R. Ile has organ- ized fifteen posts in this locality. He is also a charter member and Post Commander of St. Albans Lodge, K. of P., No. 17, and also a member of the I. O. O. F. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
Mr. Abbott was married October 27, 1861, to Sarah E. Packer, of Elyria, Lorain Connty, Ohio, who died December 26, 1888, leaving the following children: Mrs. James H. Craig- mile, of Council Bluffs; Mrs. James. R. Bar- rett, also of Council Buffs, and two deceased. Mr. Abbott was again married, Jannary 7, 1890, to Mrs. Mary H. Dougherty, a native of Rome, New York. They are both mem- bers of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
LEXANDER WOOD, Alderman at large, and a resident of the First Ward of Council Bluffs, was elected to his present position first in 1882, serving two years, and was re-elected in March, 1890. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1836, a son of James and Jennie (Glass) Wood, both of Scotch descent. The parents died when Alexander was quite young, and he went to live with an nncle in Ayrshire, Scot- land, where he made his home until he reached his majority. He then came to America, locating at Florence, Nebraska, and in 1870 came to Council Bluffs, where he has since made his home. Shortly after he came to this county he established a vine- yard of twelve acres and an orchard of two acres in the corporate limits of Council Bluffs. The average yield of this place is about 6,000 pounds to the acre, and he has turned his whole attention to horticulture, and has made a decided success. He is a live, energetic business man, and strives to
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promote the welfare of the public good. IIe affiliates with the Republican party, and is a member of the Western lowa Horticultural Society, and also of the Pottawattamie County Fruit-Growers' Society.
Mr. Wood was married in 1870 to Mrs. Pyper, nee Ellen Watson, a native of Ayr- shire, Scotland. She had one child by her former marriage-William Pyper.
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JOSEPH MCGINNIS was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1850, son of John McGinnis, Jr., also a native of that county. His grandfather, John Mc- Ginnis, Sr., was born in London, England. He was a saddle-maker, at which trade he worked in London for seven years. John McGinnis, Jr., married Elizabeth Hoffman, a native of Greene County, Pennsylvania, a descendant of German ancestry. They reared ten children, seven sons and three daughters, Joseph being the seventh born. His parents passed their lives and died in their native county, the father at the age of sixty-two years, and the mother at seventy-six. The latter was a member of the Baptist Church, and the children were reared in that faith. Their father was a farmer all his life. In politics he was a Republican.
At the age of six years Joseph McGinnis went with his parents to Ritchie County, West Virginia, where he remained until he was nineteen. Then he came to Iowa, and first settled in the eastern part of the State. In 1872 he came to Pottawattamie County and bought his present farm in section 16, Wright Township. At that time it was wild land, and he was one of the carliest settlers in the neighborhood. He at once went to work to improve his place, the present flourishing condition of his farm being the
result of years of labor and well directed efforts. Mr. McGinnis erected a comfortable frame honse on a natural building site, and surrounded it by a grove and orchard of two acres. He also has other buildings and farm improvements. A branch of Walnut Creek flows through his premises, furnishing an abundant supply of water for stock purposes. The most of the grain raised on the farm he feeds to his stock.
Mr. McGinnis was married March 31, 1878, to Miss Roxanna Bridges, of Madison County, Iowa. She was born in Des Moines, and was reared there and in Madison County. Her parents, Lawson and Malinda Bridges, both natives of Rush County, Indiana, now reside in Madison County, Iowa. Mr. Bridges was born in 1822, and Mrs. Bridges in 1829. They moved first to Burlington, Iowa; next to Pleasant Grove, then to Des Moines, and in 1869 to Madison County. Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis have two children: Hattie, born February 11, 1879; and Joseph, July 19, 1885. They lost two children: David, the second child, who died at the age of seven years, and an infant daughter not named.
Mr. McGinnis' political views are in ac- cordance with Republican principles. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and both are Sabbath- school workers. Ile ranks among the repre- sentative citizens of Pottawattamie County.
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MON L. ALLEN, a substantial farmer of Layton Township, descended from a prominent American family, who were early settlers of Maryland. His grandfather, Isaac Allen, was born in that State, settled on a farm in Harrison County, Ohio, and died from cholera in Burlington in 1851. His son, Isaac Allen, the father of our sub-
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
jeet, was born in Ohio, and learned far ning in early life. Ile was married in his native State, to Sarah A. Lemmon, daughter of Jacob Lemmon, ef Seoteh descent. They were the parents of five children: Amen L., Madison, Alvin, Aliee and Frank. In 1851 the father moved to Iowa, settling in Wash- ington County, where he became a substan- tial farmer. He passed the remainder of his days on this farm, and was a hard-work- ing and influential man. He held many of his township's offices, and died at the age of fifty years.
His son, Amon L., our subject, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, December 5, 1847, and was reared to farm life. When but three or four years of age his father moved to Iowa, so that he has passed nearly his whole life in this State. In 1882 he moved to Pottawattamie County and bought his present farm of 160 aeres, which is now under a good state of cultivation. He was married in Washington County, at the age of twenty-three years, to Mattie Maxwell, daughter of Robert and Rachel (Thompson) Maxwell. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born twe children-Sheldon and Roy. They are both members of the Presbyterian Church.
Robert Maxwell, the grandfather of Mrs. Allen, was born in America, but his father was a native of Ireland, and settled in this country in an early day. Robert Maxwell was a farmer of Harrison County, Ohio, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was married to Martha Crowson, of Seoteh de- scent, and to them were born eleven ehildren: William, Thomas, Robert, Samuel, Martha, Rachel, John, Nancy, Walter, and two who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell were both members of the Presbyterian Church. In 1847 they came to Iowa, settling in Washington County, where the father
lived to the age of eighty-seven years. Rob- ert Maxwell, a son of the above, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1819. At the age of twenty-eight years he was married to Rachel J. Thompson, and in 1846 they set- tled in Washington County, Iowa. They were the parents of nine children: Ella, Martha, Mary, Jennie, Thomas, Florence, Estella, and two who died in infancy. The parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, and the father was a hard-working and substantial farmer, and is still living at the age of seventy years. He was one of the men who helped to build up the country in which be lived, and has added his quota in making the State of Iowa one of the grandest in the Union.
Thomas Thompson, the maternal grand- father of our subject, was also a pioneer of Ohio, and lived in that State when the In- dians were very troublesome. He married a lady of German descent, and they were the parents of eleven children.
ILLIAM A. COOPER, section 15, Waveland Township, Pottawattamie County, postoffice Griswold, is anoth- er one of the enterprising and successful eiti- zens of the township. . He has resided here since 1881.
Mr. Cooper was born in Scott County, Iowa, near the Museatine County line, Oeto- ber 6, 1855. His father, John Perry Cooper, owned land in both counties. He was a na- tive of Tennessee, of Irish extraction. Mr. Cooper's mother, nee Jane Pace, was a na- tive of Kentucky. His parents were married in Illinois, near Rock Island, and were among the early settlers of Iowa. The mother died in the fall of 1877, and the father, at this writing, aged seventy-eight years, resides in
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Muscatine County, Iowa. They reared a family of eleven children, ten of whom are now living, viz .: Robert, Mary, John P .. Louisa, Catherine, Harriet, William A., Emma, Josephine and Winona. Vilena, the second born, is deceased. Robert, the eldest, served all through the late war, and now lives in Adams County, Iowa.
The subject of our sketeh passed his youth on a farm, eleven miles from Mus- eatine, and attended the publie schools in Muscatine and Seott counties. In 1877 he took up his abode in Montgomery County, Iowa, where he worked at farm work by the month. He was married in that county, March 24, 1880, to Miss Mary Everett, a na- tive of Henry, Marshall County, Illinois. Her father, Charles Everett, a native of Ohio, born near Urbana, is now a resident of Cheltenham, Illinois. Ile was formerly a druggist, but is now engaged in the grocery business. Iler mother, Sarah (Jenkins) Everett, a native of Virginia, is deceased. She was a Methodist, as also is Mr. Everett. Politieally he is a Democrat.
In 1881 Mr. Cooper came to Pottawatta- mie County and bought eighty aeres of im- proved land. He sold that property, and in 1889 purchased his present farm of J. G. Cramer. Mr. Cooper has a good frame resi- dence situated on a natural building site and surrounded by shade and ornamental trees. He has barns, sheds, eribs, hog honse, yards and orchard. His farm is well watered, and is considered one of the best improved in the neighborhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have four children: Earl, Edna, Howard and Ida. He and his wife are members of the Evangelieal Church, of which he is a trustee. Mr. Cooper is a man yet in the prime of life, Ile is fair and honorable in all his dealings, and is regarded as one of the representative citizens of Wave-
land Township. Politically he is a Demo- crat.
B ENJAMIN WINCHESTER, retired, is a well-known pioneer and the pioneer briek-manufacturer of Council Bluff's and Omaha, having arrived here in May, 1854, and ever sinee made this eounty his home. He was born in Erie County, Penn- sylvania, Angust 6, 1817, a son of Stephen Winelester, a native of Orange County, Ver- mont. The family trace their ancestry baek to two brothers, who settled one in New Eng- land and the other in Virginia. Stephen's father was Benjamin Winchester, who served with distinction and bravery for seven years in the Revolutionary war, under General Putnam. Mr. Winchester, our subject, was reared in agrienltural pursuits and at brick- making. At the age of fifteen years he be- eame a Mormon, and attended the laying of the corner stone of the Mormon Temple at Kirtland, Ohio, in 1836. At eighteen he began as a missionary and preached both in New England and in Enrope, his headquar- ters being at Philadelphia; and for nine years he was thus a zealous laborer for the Mor- mons' cause. He became disgusted, in 1844, with the leaders, owing to their immorality, and withdrew from the church. Abont this time Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormon- ism, was killed. Mr. Winchester resided then for a time at Philadelphia, and next was engaged in the tobacco trade in Pittsburg. In the spring of 1854 he arrived at Couneil Bluffs, coming by railroad to Alton, Illinois, and thenee up the Missouri River. In the tall, by team, he went by way of Davenport to Pittsburg for his family At this time Council Bluffs comprised about 1,500 inhabit- ants, dwelling mostly in log cabins along
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
Broadway and Madison streets. The leading hotels then were the Robertson House and the Pacific House,-the latter just opened. Mr. Winchester engaged in the manufacture of brick, being the first in the county to engage in that business to a considerable ex- tent, very few small lots having been previ- ously made by the Mormons. Subsequently he assisted in laying out the town of Omaha, and afterward broke the ground for making the first briek-yard there. He entered into a contract with the Ferry company to make a quantity of brick, and built a log cabin near by in which to keep the laborers. Mr. Duell and wife did the cooking; but Indians and squatters stole their lumber and other sup- plies to such an extent that brick-making was not profitable. He sold out and retired to this side of the river. Mr. Winchester, however, continued in this business from that period to 1887, when he also sold out and retired. In 1867 he made the brick for the Ogden Honse and several business blocks, manufacturing $20,000 worth that season and employing twenty to thirty men. He now lives at 420 Washington Avenue, where he has a fine residence.
In his political principles he is a zealous and active Democrat. Ile has served two years as City Councilman, and during the war was a candidate for the State Legislature, but then his party were more than ever in the minority.
He was married, February 25, 1840, to Miss Mary Hannah Stone, an intelligent and well educated lady, who was born and reared in Brooklyn, New York. She is a daughter of Robert and Maria (Smith) Stone, natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Winchester have three sons and two daughters, namely: Savil- lion A., of Garner Township; Ameriens, at home; Benjamin, Jr., at home; Josephine Marion, wife of Thomas Owen, of Garner
Township; and Frances Amelia, now Mrs. Joseph Abel, also of Garner Township. Three children died: Orlando, at the age of seven months; Richard A., when seven years old; and a babe. Mr. and Mrs. Winchester celebrated their golden wedding February 25, 1890, when five children and eleven grandchildren were present.
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