USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 65
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December 8, 1871, Mr. Packard was mar- ried to Miss Emily J. Myers, daughter of Peter and Nancy (Watson) Myers. The father was an old settler of Iowa County, a native of Pennsylvania and of German de- scent. He moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where he was a Senator from Columbus. He was a substantial farmer, and the father of fifteen children: Mary, Elizabeth, Maria A., D. and Reside W., twins; William H., Caro- line M., Jennie, Mack, Columbia, Ella, Syl- vester, Samuel P., and one who died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Packard have been born three children: Ida M., deceased in infancy: Cordie M. and Gracie F.
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ELIX N. LESLIE, a substantial farmer of Knox Township, was born in Alle- gheny County, Pennsylvania, in 1842, the son of Hugh Leslie, a native of the same State, and of Scotch-Irish descent. His great-grandfather came to America, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, after which he settled in Pennsylvania. Hugh Leslie married Rebecca Negley, a native of that State and of German descent. In 1871 our subject bought forty acres of land, a part
of his present farm, to which he has since added until he now owns 240 acres of fine farm land. He is a Union- Labor man, and a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He was a soldier in the late civil war from Scott County, lowa, in Company G, Twentieth Regiment Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and was in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ar- kansas; Vicksburg, siege of Ft. Morgan and Ft. Blakely, Alabama, and also in many skir- mishes. He served three years, and was honorably discharged at Mobile, Alabama. At the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Mr. Leslie was in the Twentieth Iowa Infan- try, and marched from near Wilson's Creek (Springfield), Missonri, day and night, halt- ing only long enough to make coffee, for nearly three days, and without any halt went into the battle of l'rairie Grove, Arkansas. They traveled a distance of 112 miles. The regiment was composed of guard troops, which stood the shock of the charge as well as veterans. Mr. Leslie has been a hard-work- ing man, having made a good farm from wild prairie. He landed in this county without much means, and by perseverance and indus- try he has acquired a handsome property. He is a member of the U. S. Grant Post, Avoca, Iowa.
He was married in Clinton County, Iowa, to Catherine A. McAllister, daughter of Peter and Jane McAllister, and to them have been born nine children: Frank H., Nora A., Maggie R., Hugh Edmund, Charles T., Joseph B., Jesse N., Daniel P. and Harry A.
ENRY H. PETERSON, a prominent farmer of Knox Township, is from an old American family of English de- scent, who were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. William Peterson, his grandfather,
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
was a pioneer in the State of Maine; the family originated in Nova Scotia. Mr. Peter- son was a soldier in the war of the Revolu- tion, after which he settled near Portland. He was the father of eight children: Cor- nelius, William, Abraham, John, Joseph, Charles, Lucella, Samuel and one whose name is forgotten. The father was a farmer all his life and died in Maine. William Peterson, the father of our subject. was born in that State, and served as a private in the war of 1812. He was married to Martha Myrick, danghter Andrew Myrick, a native of Maine, and an old Revolutionary soldier. To Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were born fourteen chil- dren, viz .: Patience, Ann, Lydia, Fannie, Rosanna, William, John, Samuel, Charles and llenry II., the remainder dying in in- fancy. The father was a farmer, but pre- viously a sailor, and for forty years sailed from Portland to points all over the world. When an old man he settled down on his farm, and lived to the age of seventy three years, dying in Indiana at the residence of one of his relatives. When fifty-six years of age he moved with his family to New York State and settled in Rochester, where he re- mained two years, and then went to Athens, Ohio, settling on a farm. While on the trip by schooner from Buffalo to Cleveland, Ohio, a great storm came up, and the crew refused dnty, and Mr. Peterson, being a sailor, offered his services and secured the rigging, and thus saved the vessel. The family re- mained in Athens County, Ohio, abont seven years, where Mrs. Peterson died at the age of sixty-three years.
Henry H. Peterson, the subject of this sketch, was born on his father's farm near Portland, Maine, Angust 18, 1826, and was but five years of age when he went with his father to Rochester, New York, in 1831. He learned farm work in Ohio, and, like .
President Garfield, became a canal-boat driver on the Ohio and Erie canals. He then learned the tanner and currier's trade, which he followed about five years in Ohio and Indiana. In 1845 he came to Iowa and engaged in prairie-breaking in Warren Conn- ty, and in 1855 he settled in Knox Town- ship, Pottawattamie County, where he was among the early pioneers. Joseph Headly came the year previous, and Washington Lewin, who was the first actual settler, came three years before the Petersons. His dangh- ter was born the same night of his arrival, which was the first white child born in Knox Township. Jonathan Hall, Amos Wright, William Henderson, Halan Griffith, John Crutsinger, Thomas Davis and Ira Baker were all in the township previous to Mr. Peterson. Our subject settled at Lewin Grove on 120 acres of wild land, where he remained eleven years. Ile then sold this and bought his present farm of 265 acres. He is a true pioneer of this township, having helped to bring it to its present fertile con- dition, and was for four years Township Supervisor, and was also School Director four years.
Ile was married July 4, 1852, to Miss Fannie Wood, danghter of Carson and Mary (Taylor) Wood. The father went from North Carolina and Kentucky to Lawrence, Indiana, and then moved to Montgomery County, same State. His father, John Woods, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Mr. Woods came to Des Moines, Iowa, about 1842, before the Government made the Des Moines purchase from the Indians, settling in Wapello County, where he lived seven years. He next moved to Green County, and then started to go to Kansas, but was taken sick and died in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Wood were members of the Free- Will Baptist Church, and were the par-
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nets of twelve children, viz .: Pleasant, Fannie, Nancy, John, Barzella T., Mary, Lucinda, Almeda, Thomas J., James M., Carson and William. Mr. and Mrs. Peter- son are the parents of six children who lived to inaturity, namely: Fannie J., William C., Charles M., Mary C., Almeda A. and Min- nie. Fannie J. married Winfield Scott, a farmer of Knox Township, and they have five children: Avah M., Harry J., Arthur L., Grover C. and Ada. Charles M. married Gertie Adams, and they have one ehild, Ilarry L. Mary has been a successful teacher. The name Peterson was originally spelled Patterson, but after the Revolution- ary war the members of the family petitioned the Goverment, and it was changed to Peter- son.
When Mrs. Peterson's grandmother, Fan- nie Johnson, was three years old, during the Revolution, the family were on their way to a fort when they were overtaken by a party of Tories, who, desiring to impress Mr. John- son into their service, took little Fannie upon a horse behind a rider, in order to compel her father by filial ties to follow. In this manner they rode three days, sending him on ahead to the house of an old farmer, with the intent to murder him; but the intended vietim escaped and reached the fort in safety.
APTAIN GEORGE F. C. SMART, one of the old soldier farmers of James Township, is the son of Caleb Smart, who was born in 1802 in New Hampshire. He was married in that State to Clarissa B. Smith, and they were the parents of five chil- dren: George, Helen, Morill, Mayette and Hiram. In 1835 the father moved to Michi- gan and settled on a farm in Kalamazoo
County, where he was one of the pioneer set- tlers. He died in 1840 at the early age oi thirty-eight years.
George F. C. Smart, our subject, was born in New Hampshire, July 18, 1833, and was but two years of age when his family moved to Michigan, and only seven years old when his father died. In the spring of 1852, at the age of twenty years, he went to Califor- nia, by way of New York city and the Isth- inus, and was engaged in gold-mining in the Indian diggings and Sonoma, and was also in the city of Sacramento, engaged in truck marketing. In 1857 he returned to Kane County, Illinois, where he engaged in farming, and next he went to Mereer County, Pennsylvania, and engaged in rail- road work and also worked for the express companies. In August, 1862, he enlisted, when General Lee was invading Pennsyl- vania, in Company G, One Ilundred and Forty-fitth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, as a private; was oppointed Orderly Sergeant, then promoted as Second Lieutenant, then First Lieutenant, and then Captain, for meritorious services and gallant conduct. His first battle was Antietam, and he was then in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chan- cellorsville and the Wilderness. He was cap- tnred, and after twenty days paroled. He was at Libby Prison and was on duty at Annapolis, Maryland, until exchanged. Cap- tain Smart was detailed to distribute paroled prisoners to different points, and then went into winter quarters with his regiment on the Rapidan River, where he received his pro- motion as Captain. He was in all the battles from Chancellorsville to Petersburg. He was again taken prisoner, and was taken to Macon, Georgia, Charleston, and Columbus, Sonth Carolina, where he remained impris- oned until nearly the close of the war. He then returned to Pennsylvania and was hon-
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
orally discharged at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1865.
In that year he was married to Lorretta McFarren, daughter of Josiah and Martha McFarren. Mrs. Smart had two brothers, Quincy and Julius, the former serving in the same regiment as her husband. To Captain and Mrs. Smart were born four children: Edward, Francis, Walter, and one who died in infancy. After marriage Captain Smart went to Hannibal, Missouri, where he was engaged in the livery business. When the Black Hill mining excitement broke ont Captain Smart went there, and thence to Colorado, and returned to Pennsylvania after an absence of nine months. In 1878 he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and settled on a farm in James Township. He is a member of the G. A. R., No. 358, William Layton Post, Oakland, Iowa; and politically he is a Republican.
The Captain has taken an interest in good schools in his community, and has been elected School Director. He has had a varied experience in life, and stands deservedly high as an honorable and strightforward citizen. When the country needed men he responded, was a good soldier, an efficient officer, and faithfully did his part, and enddure imprison- mont with patience, and to snch men we owe the preservation of this government.
HI. McDONALD, one of the enterpris- ing self-made men of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, resides in section 14, Wright Township. IIe was born in Steuben County, New York, May 2, 1852, son of William and Savilla (Rising) McDonald, the history of whom will be found on another page of this work. His mother died when he was only five years old. He was a robust
lad of fourteen when his father moved to Bnrean County, Illinois, where he grew to manhood on a farmn, and was educated in the public schools. In 1875 he came to Iowa and located in Adams County, remaining there two years. At the expiration of that time he took up his abode in Pottawattamie County, and has since made this place his home. In March, 1881, he purchased his present farm of 160 acres, which was then wild prairie land. By judicious management and much labor he has made it one of the best in the community. The first season he broke the soil, and in 1882 he built a house, 14 x 24 feet, one and a half stories, with a one-story addition, 12 x 24 feet. He planted an orchard of two acres and a grove, which are now in a flourishing condition; built stables, cribs, eighty feet of sheds, and a granary, 14 x 20 feet. He has 150 feet of tight board fence which is six feet high. One hundred acres are being cultivated and the rest of the farm is devoted to stock purposes. At this writing Mr. McDonald has thirty head of cattle and 100 hogs. Two of the former are registered thorough-bred Shorthorns. He also has some draft horses of a high grade. A modern three-horse- power wind-mill raises the water for house- hold use, and forces water through pipes to the feed lots. Mr. McDonald has an attach- ment by which he can make use of this power to grind grain for stock purposes. Everything on the premises is arranged with reference to convenience, all showing the enterprise of the owner.
July 3, 1877, Mr. McDonald married Martha E. Tie, a lady of intelligence and re- finement, who has been a true helpmate to her worthy husband. She was born in Ra- cine County, Wisconsin, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Spriggs) Tie, now prominent and wealthy citizens of Wright Township, Pot-
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tawattamie County. They were both born and reared in England. Mr. Tie is the present Township Trustee. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have five children: Jay Carroll, John II., Ray B., Ira Elmer and Lilly May. Their first-born, Willie, died at the age of three months. Politically Mr. McDonald is independent, casting his vote for whom he considers the best man for the office.
AMES O. FRIZZELL, section 22, Center Township, is one of the intelligent, en- terprising and successful citizens of this part of Pottawattamie County. He came here in 1882, and has since made this place his home.
He was born in Bureau County, Illinois, March 23, 1853, the son of Michael and Charlotte (Dcan) Frizzell, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Connecti- cut. Mrs. Frizzell died in Bureau County, June 8, 1881, at the age of sixty-seven years. Mr. Frizzell died at Firth, Nebraska, April 23, 1887. The father was a farmer and a carpenter, and was among the early settlers on prairie land in Bureau Connty. In poli- ties he was a Republican. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Chris- tian Church and were active workers in the same. Mr. Frizzell was twice married. By his first wife he had two children, one of whom, A. L., now resides in this county. J. O. is the youngest child living of the three sons and four daughters born to him by his second marriage.
Our subject was reared on his father's farın, and received his education in the public schools of his native county. Arriving at the age of manhood, he was married, in Bureau County, July 17, 1877, to Miss Emma Win- ters, a native of that place and a lady of
intelligence and refinement. She is a dangh- ter of James and Catherine (Sheller) Winters, both of Pennsylvania. They came to Illinois at an early day, and were among the first set- tlers of Burean County. They still reside there, near Arlington.
In 1882 Mr. Frizzell came to this county, and bought 160 aeres of land of C. C. Merri- man, who had improved the farm to some extent and had put up a small building on the place. Mr. Frizzell now owns 320 acres of land as good as Center Township affords. Ile has a comfortable home, suitable ont- buildings and other farm improvements, and is engaged in general farming and stock-rais- ing. He intends making a specialty of thorough-bred Percheron horses, at present having two horses and two colts of that kind.
Mr. and Mrs. Frizzell have three children: D. Leroy, Ethel May and James Garfield. Their third born, Alzina Pearl, died at the age of ten months.
In politics Mr. Frizzell is a Republican, and is the present Trustee of Center Town- ship He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Church.
AUL BEEZLEY has been a resident of this county since 1879. Ile was born in Shelby County, Ohio, March 24, 1839, the son of John and Elizabeth (Ells- worth) Beezley. His mother was a distant relative of Colonel Ellsworth, who was killed in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Beezley reared a family of nine children, Panl being the youngest. Captain William Beezley, a prominent citizen of Macedonia, a sketch of whom appears in this work, is their first born.
The subject of this sketch grew to man- hood on his father's farm in Ohio, and re- ceived a common-school edneation. March
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
28, 1858, he was married, in his native county, to Miss Eleanor Lewis, a native of New Jersey, daughter of Samuel and Cather- ine Lewis, also of New Jersey. The fruit of this union was two children: Elizabeth A., who died at the age of three years, and Will- iam, who is married, has one child and resides in Council Bluffs. The wife and mother, Eleanor Beezley, died May 10, 1866, in Shelby Connty, Ohio.
October 12, 1861, is the date of Mr. Beezley's enlistment in Company F, Twen- tieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he served until July 15, 1865. His regiment was in thirty-two battles, in the most of which lie participated. Among them are the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Pea Ridge, Black River Bridge, Jackson, Champion Ifill, and in the engagements around Vieks- burg until its surrender to General Grant, July 4, 1863. He was in a number of other important engagements; was with Sherman on his memorable march from Atlanta to the sea; and, finally, was with those who participated in the grand review at Washing- ton. He was honorably discharged at Louis- ville, Kentucky, after which he returned to his home in Shelby County, Ohio.
Mr. Beezley was married, September 28, 1867, at that place, to Miss Jernsha Anu Simms, a native of Miami County, Ohio, daughter of C. K. Simins and Mary, his wife, both natives of New England. By his second marriage Mr. Beezley had five chil- dren, viz .: John, a resident of Pottawattamie County; Minnie, at home: Othello, also of this county; Mattie, a resident of Missouri: and Jesse, who died at the age of five years. Mrs. Beezley died August 30, 1878. No- vember 24, 1881, Mr. Beezley wedded his present wife, nee Miss Sophronia Field, a lady of intelligence and refinement, who was born and reared in Pottawattamie County, daugh-
ter of John and Sarah A. Field, of Wheel's Grove. By her he has three children: Rudy R., Vernon L. and Melissie Valentine.
Mr. Beezley made his home in Shelby County until 1868, when he moved to Logan County, Illinois. In 1876 he removed from there to Mills County, Iowa, and settled near Emerson. In 1879 he came to this county, and for two years lived near Macedonia. Then he came to his present farm, and has since made his home here. He owns eighty acres of well improved land, but his farming operations are not limited to this, as he also enltivates other lands. He keeps a large number of cattle and is very successful with his stock. Jordan Creek flows through his farm and affords a constant supply of water for stock purposes.
In his political views Mr. Beezley is a Republican. He is a member of William Layton Post at Oakland, and is also asso- ciated with the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in Miami County, Ohio. He afterward joined at Emerson, and is now a member of Ruby Lodge. Mrs. Beezley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN CLARK, ocenpying 300 acres of land on section 18, Garner Township (No. 75, range 43), is one of the well- known influential pioneers of the county, coming here in May, 1853. He was born at Ansty, Leicestershire, England, October 29, 1821, the second son of James and Rachel (Goodman) Clark, natives of the same shire. The parents were married in the house in which he (the father) was born, and there they resided all their days. The dwelling was built by Mr. Clark, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch.
As he grew up, Mr. Clark, our subject,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
became a mechanic and also learned the shoe- maker's trade, which he followed for many years. Ile was married in the city of Leices- ter, England, July 7, 1845, to Rachel Smart, who was born in that city, April 2, 1827, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Baylis) Smart. Her parents lived there at the time of the above marriage, but eventually, with most of their children, moved to Bar- rowden, Rutlandshire, and thence to Baltons- burg, Somersetshire, where Mr. Smart en- gaged in fancy dyeing, and resided until death. A number of years afterward Mrs. Smart, with all her children excepting one, emigrated to the United States, settling in Utah, and three weeks afterward Mrs. Smart died, as a result of the fatigue of the journey.
In January, 1851, Mr. Clark, with his wife and two children, sailed from Liverpool to New Orleans, arriving there after a nine weeks' voyage. In two or three weeks he, with his family, went up to St. Louis, but returned to New Orleans to pass the follow- ing winter. In the spring of 1852 he went again to St. Louis and began work at his trade. In the spring of 1853 he moved with his family to Keokuk, and then across the State of Iowa, by ox team, having to ford many rivers and other streams, sometimes carrying his family, one at a time, upon his back across the streamns. Coming to Potta- wattamie County, he engaged in shoemaking in Council Bluffs. In 1867 he bought his present farm, which had been in cultivation some time, but had no permanent improve- ments; there were only the log cabin and a rail fence. Here Mr. Clark has judiciously expended a vast amount of labor and money, with the result of making a fine residence and a splendid farm. The dwelling, built in January, 1874, cost $2,000.
Mr. Clark has served as Justice of the Peace for several terms, with credit to him-
self and satisfaction to the public. He is a Democrat, although forinerly a Republican, voting for Lincoln for his first term. He has had seven children, of whom five are living, namely: Alam; Joseph, who was born in England, is married, has one child, and lives near his father; Rachel Elizabeth, wife of S. A. Winchester, living on section 18, Garner Township, and has four children: she also was born in England; John Thomas, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, lives in Mills County, near Henderson, Iowa, is mar- ried and has one child, a son; Henrietta, wife of William Wright, lives in Boomer Town- ship and has one son and three daughters; Henry James, who is married and lives near his father, on section 18. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have lost two children by death: their third child, a babe, died in New Orleans when five days old; and Hezekiah Baylis, the youngest, died when three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Clark made a visit to their native country in December, 1881, returning the following May, being only thirteen days on the way from Liverpool to Council Bluffs.
HEODORE GUITTAR, United States Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, December 20, 1842. He attended the common schools of that city until twelve years of age, when, in 1855, his parents removed to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and consequently Mr. Guittar is one of the early settlers of this place. He is of French de- scent, his ancestors having come from that country to Canada, settling near Qnebec. His grandfather, Vansaw Guittar, was born in France, but subsequently came to Canada and engaged in farming. He was married in the latter country, and soon afterward removed
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
to St. Louis, where all his children, four sons and one daughter, were born. One sen, Franeis, the father of our subject, when twelve years of age engaged on a boat for the American Fur Company a short time, and afterward became an agent for the same com- pany, remaining in their employ until 1840. In that year he engaged in the same business on his own account as an Indian trader. In 1852 he opened a store of general merehan- dise at Council Bluff's, continuing the same until 1878, when he retired, and still resides in Council Bluffs at the ripe old age of eighty-one years. He was in this eity as early as 1825, when it was an Indian camp- ing ground; it afterwards became an Indian trading post. He traveled from St. Louis to the mouth of the Yellowstone in keel-boats. Mr. Guittar was married in St. Louis, Mis- souri, in 1841, to Miss Eugenia Bono, who was born July 8, 1824, and is still living. They have three sons: Theodore, Franeis, Jr., and Frederick. Francis and Frederick are engaged in farming, and reside in St. Louis County, Missouri, near St. Louis.
Theodore, our subject, attended school and also elerked in his father's store until August 11, 1862, when he enlisted in the Second Iowa Battery, Light Artillery; though not twenty years old and remained in the service until the close of the war. He was in the siege of Vieksburg, Nashville, Tennessee; Tupelo, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; and was in both battle and siege of Raymond, Hurricane Creek, Old Town Creek, Oxford, Black River Bridge, and others. At the close of the war Mr. Guittar returned to Couneil Bluffs, and remained as elerk in his father's store until 1870. He then purchased a farm two miles east of this eity, where he engaged in farming and fruit-raising. He remained ou this farm five years, and then settled in Council Bluffs. In January, 1875, he was
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