USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 63
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EORGE S. DYE, of section 9, Carson Township, was born in Lee County, Iowa, April 6, 1854, the son of Henry and Jane (Mickelwait) Dye. The father was born in Miami County, Ohio, and was the son of John Dye, who was a native of Kentucky and of Scotch ancestry. Henry Dye is now living with his son, George S., and is one of the old pioneers of lowa, who settled in this State in 1839. The mother was a native of England, and died in Lee County, in 1861. She was a member of the Baptist Church. The Mickelwaits of Mills County, Iowa, are brothers of hers.
George S., our subject, resided in Lee County, Iowa, until in 1883, when he came to Pottawattamie County, and purchased 160 acres of wild prairie land, where he now lives. He has since improved the same, and now has a fine farm of 200 acres. He also owns eighty acres of land in Silver Creek Town- ship, on section 24. IIe is engaged in general farming, stock-raising and feeding. Mr. Dye was married in Grant County, Wiscon- sin, November 7, 1879, to Miss Julia C. Kirk, of that county. She was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, the daughter of Joseph and Charlotte (Meyer) Kirk. The father was engaged by the United States Government as eivil engineer and surveyor, and was sent to Russia to take plans of cer- tain portions of railroad from Petersburg to
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Moscow. Here he met Charlotte Meyer, to whom he was married. During the civil war he was engaged in building gunboats and ships for the United States Government. Mr. and Mrs. Dye have six children, viz .: Harry K., Ralph B., Albert L., Olga J., Georgia S. and Merl. Politically Mr. Dye is a liberal Democrat, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., lodge No. 444, of Carson, Iowa. Mrs. Dye is a member of the Presby- terian Church. Mr. Dye has always taken an active part in educational matters. Has been a member of the School Board in some capacity ever since he has resided in the connty.
ILLIAM N. CONFARR, one of the substantial farmers of James Town- ship, descended from an old American family of German descent. His great grand- father participated in the war of the Revolu- tion, and his remote ancestors settled near Reading, Pennsylvania. Colonel Long, the great-grandfather of our subject on the ma- ternal side, was a colonel in the Revolutionary war, and received his pay in Continental money, which became worthless, and was used for papering the walls of a room in his resi- denec. Michael Confarr, the paternal grand- father of our subject, who spelled his name Confer, was a farmer in Berkeley County, Virginia, and was married to Elizabeth Gild- ner, who lived to the great age of ninety-six years They were the parents of three chil- dren: David, John and Catherine. John Confarr, a son of the above and the father of onr subject, was born in Berkeley County, Virginia, and learned the blacksmith's trade. At the age of nineteen years he was married clandestinely to Eve C. Stimmel, danghter of Abraham Stimmel. To Mr. and Mrs. Con- farr were born eight children, viz .: Eliza,
William N., Mary C., John W., Sarah L., Isaac T., Charles E. and Susannah C. The father began business as a blacksmith near Winchester, Virginia, where he lived until about 1838, when he went to Clifton, Greene County, Ohio, where he still resides. He was very prosperons, and began loaning money before the civil war, and is now worth at least $25,000. He is greatly re- spected by his fellow townsmen, and has been Treasurer of his township for twenty-five years, and has also held the office of Town- ship Trustee. Politically he is a Democrat. His wife is still living; they have been mar- ried sixty years.
William N. Confarr, our subject, was born March 5, 1833, near Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia, and in early life learned the trade of blacksmith from his father, and was also a clerk in a general store. He was then in the mercantile business at Clifton, Ohio, until 1883, when he came to James Township, Iowa, and settled on his present farm of 160 acres. Politically he is a Re- publican. Ile has served in the civil war, and was called out when Cincinnati was threatened by the rebels. He also served in the National Guards for 100 days, and is now a member and commander of the U. S. Grant Post, No. 123, G. A. R., at Avoca, Iowa. Socially he is a member of the Mount Nebo Lodge and Rabboni Chapter of Masons at Avoca, and both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder. Mr. Confarr has served as Jus- tice of the Peace, and has also been a mem- ber of the Board of Education. He is an active man of wide experience and much practical information, and stands deservedly high as a citizen. The family are from old Colonial stock, and they should take an honest pride in the sterling ancestry from which they sprung.
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
Mr. Confarr was married to Eliza Bick- more, daughter of Sedate Bickmore, who was of English descent, and emigrated from Maine to Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Confarr have been born one son, llerbert O., who is a well-read young man, and has spent four years at Antioch College at Yellow Springs, Ohio. The Bickmores own St. George's Island off the coast of Maine, which has been in the family for many generations.
DWIN A. WOOD, one of the old soldier citizens of l'ottawattamie Conn- ty, is from an old American family of Scoteh descent. Thomas G. Wood, the grand- father of our subject, was a native of Massa- chusetts, and the father of five children: Thomas, Henry, Gideon, Nancy and Tabor. Tabor Wood, a son of the above and the father of our subjeet, was born near New Bedford, Massachusetts, and learned the manufacture of woolen cloth, which he fol- lowed in that city for many years. Ile was also a farmer and sheep-raiser. He married Eliza Fuller, and to them were born seven children: John, Samuel, Ellen (deceased at the age of fifty-eight years), Edwin, Francis, and Thomas,-all born in Massachusetts ex- cept Thomas II., who was born in Chantan- qua County, New York. In 1841 the father moved to Jamestown, New York, and en- gaged in the manufacture of woolen cloth, where he remained seven years; next he went to Black Rock, now a part of Buffalo, New York, and here he resided three years; about 1852 he moved to Elvira, Lorain County, Ohio, remaining three years; in 1854 he went to Brownhelm, same county, where he resided on a farm until 1863; next he went to a farm near Oberlin, and in 1887 moved to Oberlin, where he still rosides, at the age
of ninety years. He was born March 4, 1800, in the town of Fairhaven. Massachu- setts. Mr. Wood took an active interest in local affairs and in the cause of education, and at Elvira was a member of the School Board, and when a citizen of other places he was usually a member of the same board. He was also a member of the Board of Supervisors in Elvira, and was a member of the Congregational Church; a man of ex- cellent character and morals, and exceedingly temperate, as his long life will show. He won the confidence of the people as a neigh- bor and friend, and was also true to his pro- fession. He is now retired, and is spending his last days in peace in the beautiful town of Oberlin.
Edwin A. Wood, a son of the above, and the subject of this sketch, was born in Fair- haven, Massachusetts, August 5, 1834, and received but a limited education in the public schools. At the age of ten years he went to work for his father in the woolen mills, and the remainder of his education was gained at odd times by diligence and hard work. Being very strong physically he was obliged to work when he was very young, to assist his father in the care of the family, and thus his youthful years were passed. At the age of eighteen years he went to Ohio, where he remained on a farm in Lorain County until Lincoln made his first call for 300,000 men. He promptly responded, and on August 5, 1862, on his natal day, he enlisted, leaving his wife with two young children. He en- listed in Company F, One Hundred and Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served two years and ten months, which period closed our great civil war. He was one of the soldiers who chased John Morgan through Kentucky, and was in many skirmishes with him. The next year he crossed the moun- tains with Burnside into East Tennessee and
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was in the battles of Knoxville, Tunnell Hill, Resaca, and was with that great General, who, with his victorious army, marched through the heart of the Confederacy to the sea. Mr. Wood was with his regiment all through the heavy fighting until they reached Atlanta, when they were ordered back, and reached Nashville in time to participate in that battle, and assisted in driving Hood across the Tennessee River and annihilated his army. The regiment was then ordered to Washing- ton, District of Columbia, and they then went by boat to Cincinnati, and by rail to Annapolis, where they took a steamer to Fort Fisher, where they were engaged in the capture of Wilmington. They then fought their way into the heart of North Carolina, and during the march had one continual skirmish. They joined Sherman at Colum- bia, North Carolina, which they had captured, and here the regiment was discharged and brought by boat to Baltimore, and then home to Ohio. Mr. Wood was promoted as Cor- poral at Frankfort, Kentucky, and detailed as clerk for the Adjutant General at brigade headquarters, and served in this capacity abont one year. He was in active service all of the time, and was but a short time sick. When he entered the army he was the per- fection of physical manhood, but like many others of those brave men who risked their lives for their country's cause, he came from the army with a constitution shattered by exposure.
On returning home he found that farm life did not agree with him, and he engaged in the mercantile business in Brownhelm, Ohio, which he continued three years, but was burned out and met with a loss of all his property. He then engaged in buying prod- uce for one and a half years, and was in New York city one year. In 1879 he came to Avoca, Iowa, and engaged in the dairy busi-
ness, which proved very successful. He was appointed Postmaster under Harrison, March 10, 1890, which offiec he still holds, to the general acceptance of the people. Being naturally a man of good nature, this office is particularly adapted to him, and due him as an old soldier who risked in his young manhood life and health in the service of his country. Mr. Wood is a man of quiet tastes, and his straightforward character has always given him the confidence of his fellow towns- men. In Ohio he held the office of Town- ship Assessor and Clerk, and was also a member of the School Board. Politically he is a stanch Republican, voting as he fought. He is Chaplain of the G. A. R., U. S. Grant Post, No. 123, Department of Iowa, in which he was one of the commanders.
At the age of twenty-three years Mr. Wood married, at Brownhelm, Ohio, Miss Angelina Cooley, daughter of Rensselaer and Julia (Wells) Cooley, both descended from old American families who had been con- neeted with the early history of our country as pioneers and soldiers since the first settle- ment. Mr. Cooley was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and his wife was from Con- neeticut. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been born ten children: Eliza F., Almira E., Julia M., Rensselaer T., Mercy Anna, Sarah G., Edwin, Thomas G., Dora B. and Frank H. The daughter, Mercy Anna, is deputy post- mistress, which position she fills with ability and skill.
ENRY PIEPER, one of the pioneer settlers and a prominent merchant of Minden, was born in the village of Leet, Holstein, Germany, August 26, 1848, the son of John N. Pieper, who was a farmer by oc- cnpation. He was the father of six children :
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
Henry, Christina, Emma, Nicholas, Herman and Reimer.
Henry Pieper, our subject, came to Amer- ica in 1867, landing in New York. He came directly to Davenport, Iowa, where he re- mained seven years engaged in farm work. In 1874 he bought 280 acres of wild land one and a half miles northwest of Minden, which, by hard work and industry he has converted into a fine, fertile farm. He re- mained here two years and then came to Min- den, where he engaged in running the first livery stable in this eity. In 1885 he en- gaged in the hardware business in company with John P. Stuhr, and they carry a large stock of furniture and hardware, having a commodious building for the purpose. Per- sonally Mr. Pieper owns the building in which Dr. Wyland's drug store is located, and also the building in which the Bank of Minden is situated. He still owns his or- iginal 280 acres, which is now one of the best farms in the township.
Mr. Pieper was Constable of Minden three years, and for two years was a member or the School Board. In 1881 he married Abel Rolhfs, and they have two children: Sophie and Rudolph. Mr. Pieper deserves much praise for his manly and straightforward course in life, and is a credit to the sturdy German-American people who have done so much to develop this country.
LONZO GROUT, a prominent farmer of Pottawattamie County, is of Holland Dutch ancestry. Three brothers of that name came from Holland before the war of the Revolution, one settling in Massachusetts. one in New Hampshire and one in Vermont. The grandfather of our subject, Hezekiah Grout, was a soldier in the Revolutionary
war, and was a farmer of Wethersfield, Wind- sor County, Vermont, but passed most of his life in Rutland County, that State. Ile lived to the great age of ninety years. He was the father of seven children, viz .: Hannah, Chloe, Elmina, Nabia, John, Hezekiah and George. The father was an honest man, a patriotic soldier, and one who assisted in founding this great Republic. John Grout, the father of our subject, was born in Wethersfield, Ver- mont, and learned farming in early life. He was married to Polly McAllister, and they had nine children, namely: Elkana, Daney, Alonzo, William, Henry, Rockwood, Marcia, Lucia and Lonisa. The father lived all his life in Vermont, and died at the age of sixty years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was an industrious and hard-working man.
Alonzo Grout, a son of the above and the subjeet of this sketch, was born April 10, 1829, in Wethersfield, Vermont, and learned the mason's trade in early life. In 1849 he came to Kane County, Illinois, and worked at his trade in Anrora for ten years. He then moved to De Kalb County, Illinois, where he remained four years, and next set- tled on a farm in Will County, where he lived fourteen years. In 1876 he came to Pottawattamie County and settled on his present farin of 250 acres, where he has made many good improvements. The farm is in a good condition, showing the effects of careful husbandry. Mr. Grout has always held the respect of his fellow-citizens, and in Will County held the office of Assessor, and in Knox Township, this county, has been Trustee, Supervisor and School Director several times. In his political opinions he is a Republican.
He was married in Aurora, Illinois, to Emeline Rice, daughter of Layton and Man- dana (Waters) Rice. The father came from Vermont, and settled near Aurora. Mrs.
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Grout was born in Rutland County, Vermont, December 26, 1831. Her great-grandfather, Joshua Vallet, was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. Grout have been born eleven children, namely: Addie E .. Clara C., deceased at thirty two years of age; Fred A., Edgar R., deceased in infancy ; Cora G., who died at the age of two years; Lizzie M., John D., Maude E., Merton B., Harry E. and Roy, deceased in infaney. There were eleven brothers and sisters in Mrs. Grout's family, viz .: Asahel, Emeline, Philander, John, Isaae, Alphonso, Mary, Ed- gar, Albert, Eugene and Emigene. Mr. Grout had three brothers in the civil war: Henry, William and Roekwood. Henry was in the Fifty-seventh Illinois, and was wounded at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, the ball passing into his stomach and be- ing evacuated from his bowels, and he is still living. Rockwood was in a Vermont regi- ment. Mrs. Grout had two brothers in the war: Isaae and Alphonso. The former was in the Thirty-sixth Illinois, held the office of Orderly, and served all through the struggle. He was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Shiloh and many others. Alphonso was also in an Illinois regiment, and was killed in his first battle-Vicksburg. May 16 and 17, 1863.
OBERT M. WHITE is one of the promi- nent pioneers of Valley Township. His grandfather, Nathaniel White, was a farmer in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and of English descent. He lived to the great age of eighty years. He was married to Mary Little, and they had nine children, viz .: Nicholas, David, John, Nathaniel, Samuel, James, Mary A., Jane and Eliza, all born in Washington County. The father moved to Lawrence County, where he owned
a farm of 200 acres, and where he died. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and was a man of industrious habits and integrity of character. Samuel White, his son, and the father of our subject, was born on the farm in Washington County, in 1806, and was reared to the life of a farmer. He married Mary Leslie, in Lawrence County, where he had gone with his father when a boy. They were the parents of seven ehil- dren, namely: Nathaniel, Nancy A., Mar- garet. Robert, Samuel, Maria and Eliza-all born in Lawrence County. The father owned a farm in that county, where he died at the age of seventy- three years. Both he and his wife were members of the United Presby- terian Church, and the father was a comfort- able farmer, an honorable man, and enjoyed the respeet of his fellow-eitizens. His son Samnel was a soldier in our great civil war, belonging to the First Pennsylvania Volun- teer Artillery, was in several battles, and had the drum of one ear destroyed by the dis- charge of the artillery.
Robert M., the subject of this sketeh, was also born in Lawrence County, December 7, 1833, and, like his father before him, was reared to farm life. At the age of nineteen he left home, and began work for himself. At the age of twenty-one, in 1854, he went to Mercer County, Illinois, where he remained five and a half years. In 1860 he went to Brown County, Kansas, but returned to Iowa the same year, and settled in Valley Town- ship, Pottawattamie County, on his present farm. Iowa was then a new country, and Valley Township had but few settlers. His land was wild, but by dint of energy and perseverance he has converted it into a fine fertile farm, to which he has added until he now has 480 aeres. He is a prominent eitizen of this county, and a pioneer, and as sueh his name will go down to posterity in
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
the annals of the State of Iowa. He has given each of his three sons 160 acres of land.
He was married in Mercer County, Illi- nois, to Martha Clark, danghtor of Charles and Sarah Clark. The father was a native of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and set- tled in Mercer County, Illinois, in 1850. He came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in 1860, and died in 1886, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, as was also his wife, but in Iowa they joined the Baptist Church. He was an industrious man, and well known to the early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Clark were the parents of six children, viz .: Uriah, William, Samuel, Margaret, Martha and Catherine. Mr. and Mrs. White have had six children: Charles, Warren, Uriah, Leslie, Edmond, and one who died when yonng. Warren was a graduate of the State Univer- sity, and was a lawyer by profession, but while at his home, and while assisting in the harvest field, he was instantly killed by lightning. He was unmarried, but was a young man of great promise. His death was a severe blow to his parents and friends. Socially Mr. White is an Odd Fellow, and politically a Republican. He was Township Trustee seven years and Clerk sixteen years. He stands high in his county as a man of integrity and good judgment, and his honor is unimpeached.
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LEXANDER KENEDY, an enterpris- ing and well-known citizen of Center Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, has resided on a farm in section 1 since 1880.
He was born in Huntingdon County. Pennsylvania, February 5, 1819. Ilis father, Gilbert Kenedy, was born in Belfast, County Down, Ireland, son of John Kenedy. Gilbert
Kenedy was only two years old when his par- ents came to America and settled in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. John Kenedy was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and fought bravely all through that struggle for his adopted country.
Gilbert Kenedy married Jane Applebee, who was born on the ocean, of Scotch-Irish parents. They reared six sons and three daughters, Alexander being the youngest son. The father died at Shade Gap, IInn- tingdon County, Pennsylvania, at the age of eighty-five years; and the mother died in Pike County, Illinois, when past eighty. Mr. Kenedy followed the vocation of a farmer all his life. Ile was in politics a Whig, and in religion a Presbyterian.
Alexander grew to manhood on a farm in Pennsylvania, receiving a somewhat limited education. Arriving at the age of manhood, he was married, November 3, 1852, to Jane Gillis, who was born in Bedford County, near the Fulton County line, Pennsylvania. Her father, Daniel Gillis, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and when a young man he came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. Her mother was also a native of Scotland, her maiden naine having been Margaret Carlisle. Daniel Gillis and wife passed the remainder of their lives in Fulton County, Pennsylva- nia, the former living until he passed the seventieth mile-post, and the latter reaching . the advanced age of eighty-eight years. They reared nine children, three sons and six daughters. Two of the sons, David Andrew and John MeCoy, were soldiers in the late war, the latter dying of disease contracted while in the service. Daniel Gillis was a farmer all his life; was a Whig and a Pres- byterian.
Mr. Kenedy resided in Pennsylvania until 1856, when the family moved to Pike Coun- ty, Illinois, where they lived six years. He
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
also spent some time in other portions of Illinois. In 1874 they took up their abode in Chariton County, Missouri, where they remained until 1880. In that year, as before stated, he came to Pottawattamie County and settled on his present farm. Mr. and Mrs. Kenedy have eight children: John Calvin, at the homestead; Mary Rebecca, wife of J. L. Phillips, Center Township, Pottawattamie County, has seven children; Sarah Emma, wife of Thomas B. Phillips, of Wright Town- ship, sanie county, also has seven children; Margaret Jane, at home; James Chalmers, who is married and has two children, resides in Layton Township, this eonnty; Newton Daniel is married, has one child, and lives in Wright Township; Virginia Adeline, wife of Daniel P'. MeLain; and Lnella P., wife of S. J. Smithi, of Lincoln Township, has two children.
Our subject was roeked in an Abolitionist cradle, and is now a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as also is his wife. They have reared their children in such a manner that they are fitted to occupy worthy and respected posi- tions in society. Although over seventy years of age Mr. Kenedy is well preserved. lle has traveled extensively, is well in- formed on general topics, and is one of those frank and cordial gentlemen with whom it is a pleasure to meet. By all who know him he is regarded as an honored and esteemed citizen.
BEL A. RANDALL, a prominent farmer of Knox Township, came from Virginia in 1859, and settled at Newton, Iowa. His father came with his family the same year, and settled ou 160 acres at Newton and 120 at llighland Grove. Jacob Randall,
the grandfather of our subject, was a farmer of Hardy County, West Virginia, all his life, dying at the age of eighty-one years. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and was the father of twelve children: Catherine, Ruth, Elizabeth, Margaret, Rebecca, Jemi- ma, Asenath, Amelia, Abel, Silas, Mary and Tabitha. Abel Randall was born in Hardy County, West Virginia, in October, 1803, and learned farming and blacksmithing in early life. He was married in his native county, to Mary Gailey, of Irish descent, and they had seven children: Jacob Y., de- ceased; George W., deceased; Asenath T., Mary R., Isaac D., deceased, and Margaret A. After marriage Mr. Randall settled on the old homestead, where he remained until 1859, and where he followed blacksmithing part of the time. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church, but later in life joined the United Brethren Church, in which the former was a local preacher, class-leader and steward. In West Virginia he held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years. He died at the age of seventy- seven years, having lived from 1864 to 1868 in Washington County, Iowa. He was a good, substantial farmer, a law-abiding citi- zen, and a man of integrity of character.
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