Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Part 68

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 828

USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 68

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

He was married in Scott County, Iowa, to Emily Dulin, daughter of James and Almira (Danforth) Dulin. The father was born in Virginia, in 1812, and was a farmer by oceu- pation. His father, John Dulin, an Irish- man by birth, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in Virginia. Mr. Dulin went to Ohio when a young man, and in 1843 set- tled in Scott County, Iowa, where he was one of the early pioneers. He was a substantial farmer, and lived to the age of seventy-one years. His wife was born in 1812, and died at the age of seventy-three years. They were the parents of nine children: Thomas, Bush- rod, James, Alfred, Eleazer, Emily, Clara, Elizabeth and Jolm. Mrs. Dulin was a meui-

ber of the Christian Church. Mr. Dulin was a hard-working man, and well known to all the old settlers. To Mr. and Mrs. Living- ston have been born six children: Hugh, James, Joseph, Bessie, Emma M. and Katie. James was married to Clara MeMasters, and they have one child-Hugh. He is now a butcher at Hancock.

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HOMAS DOOL, a substantial farmer of Valley Township, is the son of Robert Dool, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and was of sterling Scotch- Irish descent. He was the son of Henry Dool, who came from Scotland and settled on a farm in Ireland, and was the father of five children: John, Henry, Robert and Martha. Robert came to America when a yonng married man, in 1817; his name was spelled Doole. He was married to Margaret Spears, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and they were parents of eight children: William S., Henry and IIannah (twins), Rosean, Margaret, Mary, John and Thomas. The first three were born in Ireland, and Rosean was born on the ocean in an English ship sailing under American colors for safety in French waters; so it is said that she did not know her nationality. The remainder of the children were born in America, John' Spears also came to America in 1821, bring- ing his wife, nee May Hannah, and four children: Robert, May, Hannah, Margaret. The father came to Ohio, where he was among the early pioneers of Guernsey Coun- ty, and where he lived until 1831. He was a member of the old Seceder Presbyterian Church, and was an honorable man. Mr. Dool landed in Philadelphia. and went di- rectly to Ohio, settling in Harrison County, where he was a pioneer. He lived only to

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the age of thirty-nine years, dying of canal fever in 1829. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a man who loved his family, which tempted him to risk life and health in the struggle with the wilder- ness in order to better their condition. Mrs. Dool was left with a family of small children, to whom she taught industry and honesty, which is always learned at the mother's knee. In 1859 she came to Illinois with her son John, where she died at the age of ninety years. She was born in 1792 and died in 1882. She was a lady of strong character and hardy constitution, and strove to teach her children, all of whom became good citizens; one son, William S., a Presby- terian minister, followed that profession in Ohio and Illinois for many years.

Thomas Dool, our subjeet, was born on his father's farm in Harrison County, Ohio, July 26, 1828, and, like many of our famous men, had little chance to attend school, and after eleven years of age did not attend school at all He learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for eleven years. In March, 1862, he went to Mercer County, Illinois, where he remained eleven years. In 1873 he came to Pottawattamie County, settling on his present farm of eighty acres, but which he has since improved and converted into a fine farm of 160 acres, on which is a new and commodious residence and many other improvements. He is respected by his fellow citizens, and takes an active interest in the cause of education, having served as Justice of the Peace and as School Director. Ife has made his property by hard labor, and is truly a self-made man

Mr. Dool was married in Harrison County, Ohio, to Mary Bell, daughter of John and Margaret (Clifford) Bell. The father was an Irishman by birth, and came to America in 1841, settling on a farm in Harrison County.

He was the father of ten children, viz .: Mary, Benjamin, Esther, Samuel (deceased in his second year), John, George, Edward, James, Margaret A. and Jane. Benjamin was a soldier in the civil war, enlisting at the be- ginning, and was in several battles. He died in June, 1862, from typhoid fever. The father removed to his farm in Mercer Coun- ty, Illinois, in 1864, where he is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Dool have been born four children: Henry E. (deceased at the age of twenty-six); William J., who was born in 1859; Margaret J. and Mary E. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dool are members of the Presby- terian Church, in which Mr. Dool has been an elder for many years. He assisted in or- ganizing the Knox Presbyterian Church, and with Robert Martin was elected elder.

S TEPIIEN THOMAS DUNN, JR., a farmer of Crescent Township, was born in Dubnque, Iowa, Angust 24, 1849, the son of Stephen and Mary Dunn, of Irish ancestry. The senior Dunu was born Decem- ber 26, 1819, in Dublin, Ireland, where he was reared to manhood. About the age of twenty-one years he emigrated to America, landing at New York, where he served his apprenticeship as tailor. About two years after arriving in this country he married a French lady, who was born November 23, 1826, and died in 1865. They had three sons and one daughter, namely: William and Mary, deceased; John, now residing at Conn- cil Bluffs; and Stephen Thomas, the subject of this sketch. In 1857 the father came to Council Binff's, where he married again, made his residence and followed his trade to within a few years of his death, which occurred De- cember 26, 1888. Purchasing a farmi eight miles north of Conneil Bluffs, he spent the

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

remainder of his days there. The children by his second wife were two daughters: Allie and Winifred, both now deceased.

His son, the subject of this sketch, was reared to farm life, married in 1874 and pur- ehased eighty aeres of land on section 34, where he now lives. There he began lite anew and made the many improvements es- sential to a complete and comfortable home. He now has a fine imported Clydesdale stall- ion five years old, weighing 1,700 pounds and being seventeen hands high, which he keeps in Council Bluffs in the season.

He was married in Mareh, 1874, to a lady who was born in Wisconsin, April 28, 1857, and sinee then has occupied his present farm. He is a steadfast and enthusiastie Democrat, has been Road Supervisor for the past five years, is a member of the Mutual Protective Association of Crescent City, and he and his wife are devont members of the Catholic Chnreh and exemplary citizens. They have had two danghters and five sons, namely: Joseph Earl, born March 1, 1875; Mary Winifred, October 2, 1877, died August 24, 1878; Ellen, born September 15, 1879; Al- bert Francis, January 15, 1882; John, Au- gust 10, 1886; Stephen Thomas, Jr., January 24, 1888; and Andrew, March 10, 1890.

OSEPH A. BUNNELL, a substantial farmer of Pottawattamie County, own- ing one of the largest farms in Knox Township, is of English deseent. His grand- father Barlow was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war, and was a traveling salesman through the West. He bought land and mill property, and established his brother Abner on a traet of land at Maumee City, Indiana, at a very early day. Charles Bunnell, the father of our subject, was born in Ontario

County, New York, near Rochester, and was married in that county to Margaret M. Bar- low, a well edueated lady, and the daughter of an old Revolutionary soldier, who were pioneer settlers in the old colonies of Massa- chusetts and New York. Mrs. Bunnell taught her husband to read and write, and he became a well-informed man. They were the parents of twelve children, seven sons and five danghters: Charles B., Alby, deceased at forty years of age; Joseph A., William T., Byron L., George, deceased at two years; Susanah M., Josephine M., Mary, Sarah, and the first and last born died in infaney. The father settled on a farm in Portage Connty, Ohio, where he was among the pioneer settlers. He resided there about twelve years, then moved to Winnebago Connty, Illinois, remaining seven years; in 1851 he came to Clinton County, Iowa, and settled on wild land, where he lived until he eame to Shelby County. His wife and son Byron died, and after two years he went to the State of Washington, where he still lives, at the age of eighty-five years. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was for many years a deacon, class- and leader, trustee, and has always made the Methodist ministers at home in his residenee. His wife was a devout ehureh member sinee twelve years of age, and she was a woman of high character, and instilled the lessons of integrity and honesty into the minds of her children, and she is still remembered with affection.

Politically Mr. Bunnell is an old-time Whig and Republican, and has always been a hard-working and upright inan. He had two sons in the civil war: Byron L. and Joseph A. The former was in the Twenty- sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was in Sherman's first and second battles of Vieks- bnrg, and also in the severe battle at Arkan-

All Baratos ..

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

sas Post, where he was badly shot in the hand, and was in the hospital at Memphis. He afterward returned to his regiment and drove an ambulance from Chattanooga to At- lanta, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. He was also on the return march to Washington and was present at the grand review. He was engaged three days in heavy skirmishing at the battle of the Clouds at Lookout Mountain.

Joseph A. Bunnell, our subject, was born January 10, 1836, in Portage County, Ohio, and received a common-school education. In 1852, at the age of sixteen years, he came to Clinton Connty, Iowa, where he worked on his father's farm, and then came to Shelby County with his uncle, Truman R. Barlow, a blind man, but of excellent education. Mr. Bunnell took np wild land before it was in market, on March 9, 1853, which he has since improved. October 14, 1863, he en- listed in Company M, Ninth Regiment Vol- unteer Infantry, and was in the battle with Shelby's force near Duvall's Bluff. Ilis reg- iment was guarding the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad, and was in very dangerous service, and was engaged in many skirmishes. Mr. Bunnell escaped without wonnds, and served to the close of the war, and was hon- orably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, in February, 1866. After the war he settled on his farm in Shelby County, which he after- ward sold and bought his present farm, then consisting of 120 acres of wild land, for which he paid $1,800. By energy and per- severance he has added to this until he now owns 600 acres of the finest bottom land in Pottawattamie County, and also 280 acres in Adams Connty, this State. In his political views he is a strict Republican. He is a member of U. S. Grant Post, No. 123, Avoca, Iowa. Ile has held the office of School Di- rector and Trustee for fifteen years, and has 42

also been Secretary, Supervisor and Assessor.

Mr. Bunnell was married in 1856 to Sarah J. Headlee, a sister of Joseph Headlee, whose sketch appears in this volume To Mr. and Mrs. Bunnell have been born nine children: Amanda J., George E., Annis D., Walter E., Albert E., Charles S., Ola G., Emma V. and one who died in infancy.

M. BARSTOW is one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the city. He O was born in Fulton County, Illinois, September 10, 1854, son of Samuel and Eleanor (Coulson) Barstow. The latter is of English descent, and a native of Illinois. Samuel Barstow was born in Muskingmin County, Ohio. He and his wife came to Mills County. Iowa, October, 1855, and set- tled on a farm twenty miles south of Council Bluffs, and in 1871 came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, purchasing their present farm, six miles south of Council Bluffs, where they still reside. They had three sons and two daughters, all living: James M., our subject; Rozeltha, wife of Joseph Stoker, farmer, of Mills Connty, Iowa; Alice J., wife of Ed- ward McIntyre, farmer, of Harrison County, Iowa; Miss Ena H., teacher in Bloomer School, Council Bluffs; Guy E. resides with his brother, Dr. Barstow.

Dr. Barstow was but a year old when his parents came to Mills County, Iowa. He first attended a subscription school in a slab house in Mills, afterward the district and public schools. He also attended the Belle- vue High School, of Bellevue, Nebraska, two terms; then taught during the summers, and attended school during the winters; also at- tended college at the Methodist Seminary at Glenwood, Mills County. He then taught four years and accumulated money sufficient

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to take his first course of lectures at the Keo- kuk College of Physicians and Surgeons. He continued to carn the money during vacations to pay for his tuition and expenses at the college, from which he graduated in March, 1880. While a student at the Medical Col- lege he was a very hard worker, pursuing not only the regular course of studies, but also taking private instruction from eminent members of the faenlty in diseases of the eye and ear, and also in obstetries. After his graduation he immediately began the prae- tice of medieine in Conneil Bluffs, but, being very ambitious of taking a high place in his profession, he took the first opportunity of going to Bellevue Medical College, New York city, where he had the advantage of the instruction, both theoretical and practical, of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of the day, and also the immense advantages of hospital practice. He graduated from this college in March, 1884, having taken special instructions in practice, surgery, ob- stetrics, and diseases of women and children, aside from the regular course of lectures and hospital processes. After his graduation at Bellevne he again resumed liis practice at Council Bluffs, where he has been rapidly and steadily working his way into the front rank of the profession in Council Bluffs, which city numbers among the profession the ablest physicians and surgeons in western Iowa.

Dr. Barstow is a member of the Presby- terian Church; is one of the staff of the Pot. tawattamie County Asylum for the Insane, both visiting and consulting; also of St. Ber- nard's Hospital. He enjoys the confidenee and respect of all who know him. The Doe- tor has been very snecessful in his praetiee, and by reason of his kindly manners and painstaking care he is well liked by his patients. Both he and his wife are popular socially. Dr. Barstow belongs to the State

Medical Society, is a member of the Medieal Society of the Missouri Valley, and also of the Council Bluffs Medieal Society. and has been president of this latter society. He is in vigorous, robust health, capable of a great deal of hard work and study; honest, frank and manly in his character and demeanor, imbued with a generous ambition, and possessed of the advantages of a strong mind and thoroughi, practical education and training.

He was united in marriage to Miss Carrie M. Shepard, October 29. 1884. She was born in Ohio, and is a daughter of Nathaniel and Ruth (Fontz) Shepard. Dr. and Mrs. Barstow have one child-Ruth.

ILLIAM G. TITTSWORTH .- The biographieal historian in recording the lives and records of a large num- ber of men, has presented for his delineation a great variety of character and many inci- dents of interest and value. His pen depicts the adventures and vicissitudes of the hardy pioneer. Those men are born, not made, as not every man or woman has the sterling qualities and attributes to be a pioneer, and not every nation can produce them. The hunter and adventurer in new countries also claims his share of attention, as he pushed his way through the trackless forests, fords the great rivers, and elimbs the lofty moun- tains. The youthful soldier filled with pa- triotismn, is also a prominent figure. The untiring and hardy seeker after mineral wealth in our mountain ranges, and the ad- venturous raneh men, the forerunner of the more plodding farmer, all combined con- tribute their various characteristics to form the complete picture which the biographical writer has presented to his view. Remark-

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

able as it may appear. all the above ocenpa- tions and traits of character are blended in the adventurous career of the subject of this sketeh.

He was born and reared on our southern borders, and passed his youthful days among a people noted for their tempestuons charac- ter, and through the turbulence of frontier life. He received no education, and in his boyhood, surrounded with the perils of a rude and bloody border warfare, grasped the musket of the soldier almost before his slen- der form was capable of enduring the fatigues of bearing arms. Ile became a soldier in our great civil war, and marehed with that daring leader, Sherman, in the greatest campaign in history, -the famous march to the sea. Laying down his arms only when peace was declared, the youthful soldier, confronted with the problem of making his own way in life, became a sailor, adventurer, hunter and trapper in the then unsettled and trackless wilds of Wyoming, and finally became a suc- cessful ranchman. He passed through an experience with reckless characters, which would have ruined a large majority of young men. His innate strength of character brought him safely through to become a kind father, loving husband and a prominent American citizen.

William G. Tittsworth was born April 9, 1847, in Franklin County, Arkansas, and on account of having been left an orphan by the death of his father, William D. Titts- worth, when a mere child, lie received no ed- ucation. This defect he has partially sup- plied by self-instruction and a habit of reading and that practical experience gained by elose observation of human nature which a life of adventure and travel gives, and when combined with a manly force of ehar- acter is frequently of more value to its pos- sessor than a liberal education. Young

William left Arkansas at the early age of five years, and the family settled on a farm in Taney County, Missouri. There were six children in the family, namely: A. D., Will- iam D., William G., Mary, Marcessa and Annie. The mother married again in that State to James Clevenger, of Taney County, Missouri, and a farmer by occupation. Young William, not being satisfied at home, went to live with his grandmother, May, who resided on a farm in the same county, and here he spent much of his time until he came to Iowa, just prior to the breaking out of the great civil war. Here he was engaged in herding cattle for I. C. Cooper, of Des Moines. He returned to Missouri after a short time, when the great civil war burst upon the country. Missouri, being one of the border States, was soon a scene of great domestic violence, the people being divided in their opinions; some were strong in favor of the Union and the old flag, and others, in- fluenced by their close relationship to the Southern people, were the most bitter seces- sionists. Therefore neighborhood was di- vided against neighborhood, family against family, and partisan warfare raged in all its violence.

Our subject was but a boy of fourteen years when he was surrounded with all the excitement of this state of affairs. Armed bands, called " guerrillas," took the field, and, elothing their real objeet, which was murder and plunder under the guise of loyalty to the South, swept like a remorseless seourge upon the defenseless people. One of these bands raided the neighborhood where his mother lived, and committed many acts of violence in the peaceful valley. Visiting his mother's house they searched for arms and plunder, and with bluster and threats over- awed the trembling inmates. William D. Tittsworth, the elder brother of our subjeet,

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

then a boy of about sixteen years of age, was at a neighbor's place on Bear Creek, four and a half miles away. The raiders found him, and being aware that his step-father had voted for Missonri to remain in the Union, and that the family were imbued with Union sentiments, remorselessly shot him down. Alf. Boler, a noted bushwhacker, did the shooting, about July 1, 1861; but, although severely wounded, Mr. Tittsworth eseaped to the bushes, with which that country was thiekly covered. He reached a vacant log eabin in the woods, and was cared for by sympathizing neighbors. Another young man, by the name of Davis, who also was wounded, shared the cabin with him. Davis was shot under circumstances which well il- lustrates the bitterness of the struggle in Missouri. A man named Manning, the father- in-law of Davis, was one of the leaders of the bushwhackers. Davis, as well as his father, was a Union man, but had taken no part in the conflict, fearing the raids of the bushwhackers. They, like many of their neighbors, had made a practice of sleeping in the bush at night for safety. Manning was aware of this, and told them to come home and sleep on the porch, and he would see that they were protected. Davis, believ- ing his father-in-law would do him no harm, consented, and one night, in company with his father, slept on the porch. Manning · treacheronsly collected some of his men, sur- ronnded the house, and took them both pris- oners. In company with a man named Kelley, a blacksmith who had been previously captured, they were taken along a bridle path toward a mill, and were told they were to be shot. Kelley was blindfolded, and Davis and his father thought it was simply done to frighten them. Soon, however, they heard the report of fire arms, and heard Kelley fall. Then with a glance at each other they

broke away and ran for the timber. The elder Davis fell dead on the way, and the younger, with a hasty glanee at his father, reached the timber, not, however, without being wounded by three shots, and falling suddenly behind a log escaped to a eabin in the woods, and finally recovered. Boler. a noted guerrilla, was their leader in this part of the country, and killed many people with his own hands. He was finally himself killed by Union soldiers and beheaded, and the gory trophy carried on a pole to Ozark, Missouri.

Through such scenes as these Young Titts- worth passed, at an age when he should have been gaining an education for a future hon- orable and useful life; but, soizing a rifle he mounted a horse, which his mother gave him, and joined the Home Guards, May 2, 1861, when so young as to be hardly able to carry arms. Ile served under Captain Jesse Gal- laway, who was shot down at the threshold of his own door with his child in his arms, which was also killed by the same bullet! He was just leaving his home for the field, and had just picked up the little child to kiss it good-by, when the relentless guerrilla fired upon him from the dark.

The commanding officers of the company of Home Guards in which young William served was: First Lieutenant, F. M. Gideon; Second Lieutenant, James Oliver. They fought a skirmish with the bushwhackers at Forsyth, the county-seat of Taney County, and were repulsed. Soon afterward General Sweeney eame upon the seene with a regi- ment of Jayhawkers trom Kansas, with two pieces of artillery, and attacked the bush- whackers at Forsyth, and with a few shots from the artillery dispersed them. Young William was present at both engagements. Missouri was the homeand hot-bed of this elass both before and after the war. Their hatred,

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

enmity and superstition were mingled with a chaos of governmental ideas,-a mass of con- flieting political notions, which at last took shape in arms. Their riding from daylight till dark, from midnight till noonday, and on into midnight again, shooting right and left at public and private enemies, the guerrilla bands plundered the dead, taunted the dying and murdered opposition wherever it rose up. Stopping only to demand meals and horse feed, they often rode until nature's check, fatigne, compelled them to halt. They were brave, cunning and merciless, picked from the most desperate characters which that era developed and revealed. These grim partisans were well calenlated to fill a land with dread. Perhaps never has there been gathered under one flag a band so uniformly evil and pitiless, accustomed to no restriction and little order, their laws were few and brief, and they recognized no crime but eow- ardice, no virtne but courage. With them lite was too worthless to be spared or con- sidered. The tiger, crouching by the spring where his prey must come to drink, is not more patient, more tireless in his lonely vigil, and through days and nights these stealthy watchers have lain beside a honse, a road, a shadowy pass and waited like the tiger for their prey. They knew it would come and they waited. They never missed their mark. This is all that is necessary to describe these fearless warriors, with whom onr yonng subject was, as a boy, called upon to do battle.

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Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Part 68

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 828

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 828