USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 70
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
Mr. and Mrs. Blain have nine children, as follows: James, Edmonson, David, Joseph, Moreland, Mary, Robert, Nelly Bly and Susan. Their first born, Moreland, is de- ceased. Politically Mr. Blain is a Republi- can, but is independent in many of his views.
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H. CHANEY, a representative citizen of Washington Township, and an ex- soldier of the late war, was born in Montgomery County, Missouri, October 12, 1845, a son of Samuel Chaney, who was of Irish ancestry. The mother of our subject was Ellen (Parmer) Chaney, a native of Ger- many. Our subject was but eight years old when his father died in Montgomery County, Missouri, and his widow and six children moved to Scott County, Iowa. The mother died when C. H. was but ten years of age, and he was then reared on a farm in Scott County, by Jerry Hubbard. During the late war he enlisted, May 1, 1864, in the Forty- fourth lowa Infantry, Company I, Volunteers, and was ont some four months. Ilis regi- ment was stationed mostly at Memphis, Tennessee. After his discharge he enlisted in the Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Company C, and was under fire at Spanish Fort, and was honorably discharged at Mo- bile, Alabama. He then returned to Scott County Iowa, where he resided until 1868, when he came to Western Iowa, first settling in Mills County. He remained in that county until 1883, when he eame to Potta- wattamie County and bought his present farm, which consisted of forty acres. It was partly broken, though there were no im- provements of any kind on it; but it is now under a good state of cultivation and im- provement.
Mr. Chaney was married in Bartlett, Fre-
mont County, Iowa, in March, 1872, to Miss Helen Aitken, who was born in Pennsylva- nia, the daughter of David Aitken, of Fre- mont County. Mr. and Mrs. Chaney have four children: Walter Newton, Maggie Belle, Word and William IIenry. Politically Mr. Chaney is a Republican, and he and his wife are both members of the Evangelical Church, and both are workers in the Sabbath-school.
E. MAXWELL was born in Jeffer- son County, Iowa, December 16, 1854. Ilis father, John Maxwell, was born in Indiana, and his mother, nee Catherine Clover, in Pennsylvania. They were married in Jefferson County, Iowa. Grandfather Benjamin Maxwell was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. When the sub- ject of this sketeh was about ten years of age his parents moved to Lucas County, Iowa, and located northeast of Chariton, where they lived for some time. They are now residents of Chariton. The father has been engaged in farming all his life. They have reared a family of six sons, viz .: Albert, who resides in Washington; W. E., the subject of this sketch; I. M., Sumner County, Nebraska; T. H. and E. J. (twins), the former a resident of Creston, Iowa, and the latter of Chariton; and C. G., also at Creston, engaged in the mercantile business with his brother, T. H.
W. E. passed his youth at farm work, and received his education in the publie schools of Lucas County. He was married at Coun- cil Bluffs, Iowa, September 5, 1878, to Miss S. J. Timberman, a native of Pottawattamie County. She received her education in her native county and also in Harrison County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell have three children: Amy Pearl, Gaylen Cloyd and Ivy Emma.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Mr. Maxwell came Pottawattamie County in March, 1876. For three years he rented land. In 1879 he purchased eighty aeres of wild land, which he improved and sold in 1888. Then he bought his present farm of John Colwell. This land was first improved by Morford & Burggess. It com- prises eighty acres, and is under a good state of cultivation. A good frame house has been erected, which is situated on a natural build- ing site, surrounded by a grove and orchard of an acre and a half. Everything about the honse and farm shows the enterprise and prosperity of the owner.
Politically Mr. Maxwell is a Republican. He is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a man yet in the prime of life, is frank and cordial in his manner, and is regarded as one of the repre- sentative citizens of Center Township.
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AMES RAINBOW, section 24, Silver Creek Township, is a well known and representative citizen of this community. He came here in 1875, and has since made Pottawattamie County his home. Mr. Rain- bow was born near York, Yorkshire, Eng- land, March 16, 1826. His parents, Jonah and Sarah Rainbow, were natives of York- shire. James was reared on a farm, but at an early age he engaged as porter and clerk in a hotel, which occupation he followed sev- eral years. He worked at some of the fashionable watering resorts on the coast, where he saw much high life among the titled aristocrats of England. At the age of twen- ty-four years he came to America, and was employed for a time in a hotel at Rochester, New York. Later, he went to Lyons and Avon Springs, Western New York. In Western New York he was engaged in hotel
work, and spent some time in a nursery. While there he took active interest in horti- culture, and the knowledge thus gained proved of much value to him in after life. In 1856 he came to Iowa City, then the capital of Iowa, where he engaged in the livery business. Next he turned his atten- tion to the nursery business again, and later was employed by W. B. Daniels, a prominent merchant. In 1867 he moved to Iowa Coun- ty, and at Genoa Bluff again entered the nursery business. In 1875, as stated at the beginning of this sketch, he came to Potta- wattamie County. Previous to this time, in 1856, he had entered 120 acres of Govern- ment land here, and to this he added eighty acres more, which he acquired by purchase, making 200 acres in one body. During the fifteen years of his residence here Mr. Rain- bow has improved his farm, and now has one of the best in the neighborhood. It is well adapted for both grain and stock, and his orchard of four acres ranks with the best in the county. Mr. Rainbow takes an active interest in the horticultural affairs of Potta- wattamie County. He has done much to promote the fruit interests of his section, and no one is considered a better judge of fruits than James Rainbow. He has a good frame house, situated on a natural building site. All the ont-buildings, wind-mill and fenees and everything about the premises indicate thrift and prosperity.
Mr. Rainbow was married, at Honey Falls, New York, to Eliza Goody, a native of Eng- land, and a daughter of James and Sarah Goody. They have seven children, viz .: James J., formerly a successful teacher, now a resident of northern Iowa, where he is en- gaged in the dairy business; Sarah, Robert, Lonisa, William, Lizzie and John.
Politieally Mr. Rainbow is a Republican. He has served on both petit and grand
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
juries frequently, and has been elected to several township offices, the duties of which he performed with credit to himself and for the bests interests of the public. He is a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Rainbow has been honored in many ways by his friends and party. He was a delegate to the Farmers' Alliance State Convention, October, 1890, and was one of the honored citizens who went to Denver, Colorado, at the time of the Farmers' Congress. He was one of the most liberal donators to the decorations of Council Bluffs, in September, 1890, when the Farmers' Congress met there. He is a gentleman well informed on all general topics, and is broad and progressive in his views. He is honored and esteemed by all who know him.
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ACOB I. REED, a prominent fanner of Pottawattamie County, first came to Council Bluffs in 1854. when the town contained only log houses. His great-grand- father, Jacob Reed, came from Scotland, and settled in South Carolina long before the Revolutionary war. His son, Jacob Reed, the grandfather of our subject, was born in that State, and was a captain in the war of the Revolution, and received a land warrant. He was married in his native State to Mary Smith, and to them were born nine children: Enos, Rebecca, Wilburu, Harper, Francis, Jackson, Joseph, Mary and Ozie. After these children had reached maturity Mr. Reed moved to Rush County, Indiana, about 1817, and settled on a farm near Rushville. In 1842 he moved to Mereer County, Illinois, where he died in 1853, at about eighty years of age. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a devoted Chris- tian. He was also an educated man, and
taught school until he was seventy-four years of age, having taught in one building for five years. Enos Reed, the father of our subject, was born in South Carolina, and was twenty-three years of age when his father moved to Indiana with his large family. He was married in Rush County, that State, to Elizabeth Rishling, daughter of Fredrick and Catharine (Bousemnan) Rishling. The father was of German deseent, and was an old settler of Rush County. He was the father of six children, viz .: Fredrick, Cath- erine, Elizabeth, George, William and Sam- uel. After marriage Mr. Reed settled on a farm in Rush County, and was the father of nine children, namely: Emily, George, Ja- cob, Edner, Mary, Enos, Marion, Emeline and Elizabeth. The father was County Judge of his county for several years. He removed to Illinois and settled on a farm, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a devont member of the Baptist Church, and held several church offices. At one time he had a handsome property, but lost it all in the cat- tle business. He lived to the age of fifty. four years, dying in Mercer County, Illinois.
His son, Jacob I., the subject of this sketeh, was born November 26, 1830, in Rushville, Indiana, and was but eleven years of age when his parents removed to Illinois. He remained on a farm in Mercer County until 1861, when he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He lived two years south of Oakland, and then came to the northeast cor- ner of what was then Big Grove, where he remained nineteen years. In 1882 he settled on his present farm of 200 acres.
He was married in Mercer County, in 1851, to Hannah J. Sherer, daughter of Rob- ert Sherer. He was the father of three ehil- dren: Eunice, Margaret and Hannah J. To Mr. and Mrs. Reed were born ten children, namely: Adaline, May S., Margaret, Robert,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
George, John, Albert, Irvin, Harry and Jennie M. The mother was a member of the Presby- terian Church in Illinois, but joined the Methodist Church in Iowa. She died in Mareh, 1890, at the age of fifty-eight years, and was a faithful and devoted wife and mother. She was a helpmate to her husband, having labored with him to build up a home in the wilderness of Iowa. Robert Reed, their eldest son, died very suddenly in Au- gust, 1890, at the age of twenty-eight years. This was a sad blow to Mr. Reed, following so elosely the death of his wife. Mr. Reed is a man of honor and integrity, and has done his full share toward building up and developing this township. He has taken an active interest in the schools, having acted as sehool director and trustee. Socially he is an Odd Fellow.
ACKSON C. BORUFF, of section 23, Macedonia Township, was born in Mer- eer County, Illinois, May 17, 1845, the son of John and Mary (MeGreer) Boruff. The father, a native of Tennessee, was the son of Valentine Boruff, a native of the South; the mother was born in Indiana near Connersville. The parents were mar- ried in Illinois, and reared three children. The mother died in 1865, and the father now resides in Roek Island County, Illinois, and is married and has one son.
Jackson, the second of three boys, was reared in Roek Island County, Illinois, and passed his youth at farm work. In 1876 he eame West to Montgomery County, near Red Oak, where he bought a farm and resided three years. He then bought eighty acres of land, and later forty acres, and he now has 120 aeres within one mile of Macedonia. He
has three wells to supply water for stoek pur- poses.
Mr. Bornff was married in Muscatine County, Iowa, May 18, 1876, to Miss Han- nah Drury, who was born in Roek Island County, Illinois, the daughter of James and Jane (Randolph) Drury, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Boruff have three children: John W., Hattie A. and Claude C. Politi- eally Mr. Boruff is a Demnoerat, but has never aspired for publie offiee. He is a man yet in the prime of life, honorable in all his dealings and is one of the solid men of the township.
B ERNHARD GRESS, a prominent farmer of Pottawattamie County, and the pro. prietor of the Cottage Home Hotel in Walnut, was born in the Grand Dukedom of Baden, Germany, June 24, 1851, the son of Balthaser S. Gress, a blacksmith of Baden. He was married to Magdalena Kanzler, and they had four children: Bernhard, Anna, Frank and Katie. He was engaged in the Rebellion, and was under the con- mand of Franz Siegel, afterward a distin- guished general in our great eivil war. In 1860 Mr. Gress brought his family, then consisting of a wife and two children, to America, settling in Iowa City. He engaged in farming six miles north of that eity, and remained until 1878, when he eame to Pot- tawattamie County, where he still lives. at the age of sixty-four years. He has always been a hard-working and honest man.
Bernhard Gress, the subject of this sketch, was but eight years old when he eame with his father, to Ameriea. In his twenty-third year he came to Pottawattamie County, and began farming in Waveland Township. He
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
sold this farm and bought 240 acres of land in Lincoln Township, which he still owns. In 1889 he moved to Walunt and bought the old Hinckley residence, which he con verted into a hotel, the " Cottage Home,' and is now running with success and general satisfaction to the public. Mr. Gress has had the confidence of his fellow townsmen, and in Lincoln Township was Assessor for eight years. His farm is one of the best in this part of the county, and has many excellent improvements.
In 1876 he was married to Miss Katie Eichhorn, daughter of Adam Eichhorn, of Johnson County, and a native of Germany. Hle is now retired, and is living with Mr. Gress. Mr. and Mrs. Gress are the parents of seven children: Frank, George and Vina. Mr. and Mrs. Gress lost four children in three weeks, by diphtheria, in the winter of 1887.
LLEN BULLIS has been a resident of Wright Township since 1870. He was born in Racine County, Wisconsin, June 6, 1847, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Bullis, natives of England. His parents were married in England, and subsequently removed to the United States and became residents of Racine County, Wisconsin. They had a family of seven children. five sons and two daughters, Allen being the fifth child. He was only eight years old when his father died; was brought up on the farmn and was educated in the public schools.
Jannary 1, 1864, he enlisted in Company E, Nineteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served to the close of the war. He was in the battles of Duvall's BInffs, Cold Harbor and Seven Oaks; was honorably discharged at Richmond, Virginia; returned to Wisconsin 42
and received his final payment at Madison. He then engaged in agricultural pursuits, and remained in Wisconsin until 1870. In that year he came to Iowa and located in Wright Township, Pottawattamie Conuty, where he had relatives and acquaintances. The first land he bought was 160 acres in section 4, which he improved and afterward sold. Then he purchased eighty acres in section 8, and later 120 acres more, now own- ing 200 acres of well improved land. He has a comfortable house, good stables and other ont-buildings, a grove and orchard, and a modern wind pump. Much of his attention is being devoted to stock-raising. At this writing he is feeding thirty six head of cattle and sixty-five logs.
Mr. Bullis was married in 1873, at Lewis, Cass Connty, Iowa, to Miss Mary Harmes, who was born in Ohio and is a danghter of Jacob and Catherine Harmes, residents of Wright Township. Mr. and Mrs. Bullis have one son, Freddy J., a youth of fifteen years. Mr. Bullis casts his vote and in- fluence with the Republican party. Ile is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lewis Lodge, No. 140.
MITH G. AGNEW, one of the sub- stantial farmers of Layton Township, is descended from a prominent old American family of Scotch descent. His grandfather came from Scotland and settled in Pennsylvania, and his father, Gibson Agnew, was born on a farm in that State, and learned the tanner's trade, which he followed several years. When a young man he went to Ohio, and was there married to Eleanor Smith, and to them have been born twelve children: Eliza, Sarah, Martha, Amanda, William, David, Margaret, John,
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BIOGRAPHICAL IHISTORY.
Mary, Smith G., George and Irwin. The father settled on a farm in Parke County, Indiana, where he ran a distillery, and where he remained one-fourth of a century. In 1852 he settled on a farm in Cedar County, Iowa, where he was among the early pioneers. IIe then moved to Muscatine County, where he died in 1877 at the age of eighty-one years. He was a member of the Presby- terian Church, in which he was an elder.
His son, Smith G. Agnew, the subject of this sketch, was born October 8, 1848, in Parke County, Indiana, and was but four years of age when his parents came to Iowa. After the death of his father, he managed the home farm for two years. After mar- riage Mr. Agnew came to Pottawattamie County and settled on 160 acres of wild land, which he had bought a few years before. With the help of his wife and his own hard work he has added to this place until he now owns a fine homestead of 240 acres, which is pleasantly situated near Walnnt. Politi- cally Mr. Agnew is a staneh Democrat, and also takes an active interest in the cause of education and in the good of the schools, serving as School Director for three termins. He has held the office of Road Supervisor.
He was married in Clark County, in 1879, to Lanra Woods, daughter of John and Amanda (Walker) Woods, who were the parents of five children: Laura, Charles, James, Loren and Warren. The father was an old settler of Muscatine County, having come in 1851. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church., and the former is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Agnew are the parents of four children: Millie. Harry, Loren and Edith. Both Mr. and Mrs. Agnew are members of the Presbyterian Church. The grandfathers of Mrs. Agnew are both living. Valentine Woods, her father's father, is now living in Cass County,
at the age of seventy-nine years. He emi- grated from Pennsylvania to Dearborn, In- diana, where he lived many years. Robert Walker, her mother's father, is living in Sacramento, California, at the age of seventy- eight years. He came from Switzerland, is a carpenter by trade, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
EORGE W. POLAND, a substantial farmer of Pottawattamie County, was born in Maryland, December 8, 1825, the son of Peter Poland, also a native of Maryland. He was married to Margaret Metz, and they were the parents of three ehil - dren: Jane, Margaret and George W. Mrs. Poland died when our subject was but six years of age, and the father was again mar- ried and went to the Western country, and our subject never heard from him again. He was brought up by different people, and re- ceived but little education, but in early life began to work on the farm and in a tan-yard, which he continued three years. He re- mained in Virginia until 1855, when he came to Iowa, settling in Washington County, and first working at farm work, and in 1863 he bought a farm in that county, and ten years later came to his present place, which then consisted of 240 acres of wild land, but which he has since converted into a fine, fer- tile farm. He sold eighty acres of his land and gave his son, Amos, forty acres, so that he now owns 120 aeres of fine land and ten acres of timber.
Mr. Poland was married, in 1849, in Hampshire County, Virginia, to Mary A. McShane, daughter of John MeShane. She was born in Maryland, March 9, 1821, and had a similar experience with her husband, her parents having been poor, and she was
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
brought up by strangers. They are the par- ents of four children, viz .: Elizabeth E., now the wife of M. T. Baker, a farmer of Wash- ington County, Iowa, and they have four children: Jacob U., Viola, Cora A. and Elma; Amos, a farmer of Knox Township, married Mary Stewart, and they have two children : Julia E. and Anna B .; Mary J. married William Gibbons, a farmer of Woodbury County, Iowa, and they have four children: Eva B., George E., Amos C. and Cleveland ; Dennis married Annie Garthwaite, and is now a farmer on the old home place, and they have three children: George E., Grant and Amos C. The gaanddaughter, Julia E., married William Meredith, a farmer of Knox Township, and they have one child, Jane H. Thus Mr. and Mrs. Poland have thirteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They have both been life-long members of the United Brethen Church, in which Mr. Poland has held the office of Class-leader, Trustee and Sunday-school Superintendent for many years. In his political views he is a Republican, and has been School Director and Supervisor of his township.
Mr. Poland is a self-made man, as his early days were clouded with poverty, and in early yonth he was left to the care of strangers with all the vicissitudes of such dependency, and by a straightforward course and an honest purpose he has steadily risen until he now owns a good farm, and has given his children a good home. He has always been a religi- ons and moral man, and deserves the respect of all his descendants for the good example he has set them, in which he has been assisted by his faithful wife; together they have borne the burden, and together they will reap the reward of the well-doer. Mr. Poland had a cancer cured on his nose, which bid fair to end his life. The regular doctors failed to cure it, and a friend recommended him to a
farmer who had cured several cancers. Mr. Poland called to see him, and used his medi- cine, which in time enred him completely. He bought the prescription, anl has since treated others successfully.
OHN H. WINANS, a substantial farmer of Knox Township. is from an old Amer- ican family of New Jersey, an l of Eng- lish descent. His great-grandfather and grandfather were in the Revolutionary war, and the latter was a farmer of New Jersey near Elizabeth City. Our subject's father, Benjamin Winans, was also a farmer, and was married to Hannah IInghes, daughter of Charles Hughes, of New Jersey. They were the parents of six chil Iren: Fannie, John H., Charles, Mary, George E. and Eliza. In 1854 the father moved to Scott County, Iowa, settling on a farm of wild land, where he lived until 1884, when he moved to Chester Township, Poweshiek County, where he is still living, at the age of eighty-six ye urs. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church at Rahway, New Jersey, for forty-six years. The father is a prosper- ons farmer in good circumstances, and has always obeyed the Quaker instructions of owing no man anything. In his political principles he is a Republican.
John H. Winans, our subject, was born in Elizabeth City, Essex County, New Jersey, Angust 15, 1842, and was reared to farm life. He was but twelve years of age when his father came to Iowa, and he carried from New Jersey $1,200 in a leather belt, with which his father bought his farm. In 1865 Mr. Winans moved to Pottawattamie Coun- ty, settling in Center Township, and in 1878 moved to his present farm of 160 acres in Knox Township. In his political principles
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
he is a Republican ; has been a Supervisor of his township five years, Constable two years, and School Director three years. He has been identified with Iowa since his boyhood, and like his father has always stood high as an industrions and honest man and a good citizen.
Mr. Winans was married at the age of twenty years, in 1862, to Sarah J. Fuller, daughter of Ezra and Arloah L. Fuller. The father was a farmer of Cnyahoga County, Ohio, and settled in Scott County, Iowa, in 1861, where he was a large landholder, own- ing 900 acres of land. He had two sons: Jared M. and James, and a brother, Spencer, in the civil war, all three of whom died in the army. He was the father of twelve chil- dren, and died in Center Township, this county, where he had moved in 1864. He held the office of Supervisor five years, Con- stable two years, and School Director three terms. Isaac, the eldest brother of Benjamin Winans, was a captain in the war of 1812, and was in the battle of Morristown, New Jersey.
EORGE H. GRAYBILL, of section 14, Garner Township, was born Decem- ber 23, 1846, in Pottawattamie County, and was one of the first white children born in this connty. His father was George W. Graybill, a native of Jackson County, Ohio, and the son of Michael Graybill, who was born in North Carolina; and the mother, nee Polly Stoker, was born in North Carolina. The parents were married in Indiana, but afterward removed to Missouri, and thence to Hancock County, Illinois. They were mem . bers of the Church of the Latter- Day Saints, and followed the Mormon leaders to this county, where they were early pioneers. The
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