Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Part 81

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 81

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).

DMOND LATHAN, of section 1, Hardin Township, came to this county May 5, 1851. He was born on Elk River, Clay County, Indiana, July 14, 1824, the son of John and Nancy (Bollarhide) Lathan, both natives of North Carolina, the former of English ancestry and the latter of German. They were married in North Carolina, and afterward removed to Indiana about 1812, where they were among

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the early settlers. They reared a family of eight children, namely: Utley Ann, Eliza- beth, Edmond, Laborn, John, Charlotte, Harrison and Eliza Ann. The parents died in Boone County, Iowa, near Des Moines, the father at fifty-two years of age, and the mother at the age of sixty-five.

Edmond Lathan was reared on a farm in Clay County, Indiana, until twenty-four or twenty- five years of age, and his youth was passed at farm work, in chopping, clearing and grubbing. After his marriage he bought a farm in Clay County, where he lived until 1850, when he sold ont and came West to Pottawattamie County, with two teams of horses. He brought his wife and three chil- dren with him, and was on the road about twenty days, fording many streams, and eross- ing the larger ones on ferry-boats, camping out at night most of the time. When he arrived in this county he settled above Cres- cent City, ten miles from Council Bluffs. Here he lived several years and improved quite a traet of land, and in 1855 built the first sebool-house erected in the county, which was of hewed logs and shingled roof; he made the shingles with a drawing-knife. He sold out some years later and moved to Council Bluffs, where he resided for three years, engaged in teaming and gardening. Mr. Lathan then moved to Keg Creek Town- ship, where he resided for several years, and in 1878 came to his present farm, which was partly improved and contained a small prairie house.

Mr. Lathan was united in marriage, when twenty years of age, to Nancy Reel, who was born near Greencastle, Putnam County, In- diana, the daughter of William A. and Sarah (Reel) Reel. The father was born in Dayton, Ohio, of Irish ancestry. They had nine ehil- dren, six of whom are now living, namely: John William, who resides in Colorado;

Mrs. Martha Aldridge, who resides in Ne- braska; Joseph Riley, who lives in Monroe County, near Mapleton; Mary Etta, wife of George Cox, who resides in Missouri Val- ley; Anna, wife of Silas Jones, who resides in Monona County, near Mapleton; Edmond, who resides in Nebraska. They lost three children by death: Sarah Elizabeth, who died at the age of forty-four years; Edith, who died in childhood; and a babe. Mrs. Lathan died in 1859, when thirty-five years of age. Mr. Lathan was married to his present wife in 1861, to Mrs. Jessie Martin, nee Under- wood, who was born in Scotland, and a sister of Samuel G. Underwood, of Keg Creek Township. They have four children : Naney Ann, wife of G. L. Brown, residing in Wash- ington Township; Samuel, engaged in the timber business in Butte, Montana; Harrison, at home; and Jessie, also at home. Politi- cally Mr. Lathan is a Democrat, and has been a member of the Baptist Church for forty- five years. He was at one time a member of the Methodist Church and a moderator in the Baptist Church.

HOMAS FLOOD, of Hardin Town- ship, section 26, has been a resident o Pottawattamie County since 1873. He was born in Mills County, Iowa, September 6, 1858, the son of James and M. L. (Bel- atti) Flood. The father was a prominent old settler of Mills County, and is now one of the the solid citizens of Keg Creek Township. Thomas, the eldest child of five sons and one daughter, was reared in Mills County until fourteen years of age, when his father settled in Keg Creek Township. Here he grew to manhood, having passed his youth at farm work in the summer and attending school during the winter. He finished his education

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

at a public school and by studying at home, and lastly at St. Joseph Business College. He engaged in teaching at the age of eighteen years, and taught during the winter months and frequently during the summer months for twelve years. He bought the land where he now lives in the spring of 1881, which was then wild land. He broke out some of it, and the next season rented it. IIe again located on his farm in the spring of 1884, where he has since resided and made his home; he has eighty aeres well improved. He is engaged in general farmning and stock- raising, and is also engaged in general mer- chandising, having built a store and put in a good supply of general merchandise in com- pany with his brother, Lawrence Flood, who is also in company with him on the farmn. They carry a fine assortment of dry-goods, groceries and farming implements. The Flood Brothers are favorably and well known all over this section and have a good trade. Politically Mr. Flood is a Democrat, and was appointed Postmaster of Armour in March, 1890.

Ile was married March 12, 1884, to Miss Alice Le Valley, of Silver Creek Township, a woman of intelligence, who was born in Lincoln, Illinois, the daughter of Hugh Le Valley. They have four children: Fran- ces, Charles, Lawrence and a baby girl.

S. QUICK, one of the best and most favorably known citizens of Hardin

6 Township, was born in Rocking- ham County, Virginia, August 15, 1818, a son of William Quick, who served in the war of 1812, and Elizabeth (Trout) Quiek. He was seven years old when his parents re- moved to Licking County, Ohio, in pioneer

days. William and five brothers drew by hand a light wagon, loaded with household goods. Mr. W. S. Quick, our subject, saw the first shovelful of dirt thrown on be- ginning the construction of the Erie Canal, by Governor Trumbull, of Ohio. He was brought up on a pioneer farm, clearing ground in the forest. After his marriage in 1856 he came to Iowa, settling at Winterset, Madison County, for three years. Then he went to Pike's Peak with an ox team, in search of gold; next he was engaged in freighting from Des Moines and Plattsmouth to Denver; then conducted a hotel at Denver and also entered the mercantile trade; re- moved to Omaha and then to Council Bluffs, engaging in the livery business, in buying and shipping grain, and in general merchan - dise. One season (1865) he drove a herd of 600 cattle to Chicago. He settled upon his present farm in 1881, which he had pur- chased previously, in 1872. Here he has built two good houses, a barn 42 x 50, and other buildings, and planted a fine orchard and grove of ornamental trees. He and his son are partners in the farm and in the store, in which they carry a full line of general merchandise, and have an extensive trade. The farm at present comprises 280 acres of well-improved and well-stocked land. In his political views Mr. Quick is a Democrat. While in Council Bluffs he was Alderman three years. He was initiated as a Free- mason in 1848, at Bellefontaine, Ohio.

When twenty-four years of age Mr. Quick married Miss Angeline Effinger, who was born at Newmarket, Virginia, and they have two children: Elias Jefferson, now in part- ership with his father; and Cornelius S., an banker at Indianola, Red Willow County, Nebraska. Mrs. Quick died in October, 1885, and April 28, 1889, Mr. Quick mar- ried for his present wife Miss Amelia Hamp-

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ton, and by this marriage there are two chil- dren-Gertrude and Howard.

Elias J. Quick, just mentioned, was born in Lieking County, Ohio, and was eleven years of age when his parents came to this State, and fourteen years old when he went to Denver. He attended school in Ohio, in Iowa, at Denver and at Council Bluffs, and by actual practice obtained his business train- ing. He was married in February, 1873, at Council Bluffs, to Miss Elizabeth Thomas, who was born in Wales, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Thomas. They have eight children, namely: Anna Caravena, George, Cornelins, Tilly, William T., Jay, Elizabeth and Mabel. Mr. Quick is a Democrat in his politieal sympathies. He was appointed Postmaster of Quick postoffice in 1884, under President Arthur.

ILLIAM F. PLUNKET, of section 19, Hardin Township, is one of the prominent and well-known settlers of the township, where he has resided since September 19, 1870. He was born in Men- ard County, Illinois, November 29, 1833, the son of Zeno A. and Sarah (Foster) Plunket, both natives of Kentucky. They were also married in this State. The father was among the early settlers of Sangamon County, where he settled in 1831 and remained until 1835, when they moved to Henry County, Iowa, which was then a Territory, inhabited by the Fox and Winnebago Indians; he was also one of the first settlers of this county. The father died in September, 1842, leaving a widow, three sons and one daughter, viz .: William F., Elizabeth, who died in Henry County, near Wayland; J. H., of Garner Township; and Samuel, who was killed at Vicksburg in 1863. He was a member of

the Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry. The mother now resides with her son, William F., at the age of seventy eight years.

William F., our subject, passed his youth in Henry County, assisting at farm work. April 6, 1854, he started for California with an ox team, crossing the Missouri River at Conneil Bluffs, when there was only one log cabin where the boat landed at Omaha. At the end of four months he reached Shasta County, California, where he remained until December 5, 1856, when he returned home

via the Isthinus of Panama, to New York, and thence to Henry County, Iowa. In the fall of 1870 he came to Pottawattamie County, and purchased 200 acres of partially improved land, which he has since converted into one of the best improved farms in the township. He has since added to this tract until he now has 280 acres. He has a grove and orchard of four acres, and everything about the farm shows the thrift and prosper- ity of the proprietor.

Politieally Mr. Plunket is a Democrat, and has served as Township Trustee and as a member of the school board, serving with credit to himself and the best interests of the people. He is a man fifty-seven years of age, but bears his years lightly; he is frank and cordial in his manner. He has lived fifty years in Iowa, and has witnessed the growth and prosperity of this part of the county, and has shared in its development. He is numbered, socially, financially and politieally, among the solid men of the town- ship. He was married in Henry County, October 7, 1858, to Miss Nancy Ann Caughey, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of Josiah and Elmira (Malone) Caughey, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Plunket have seven children living, viz .: John F., who lives adjoining his father; Charles C., a physician at Anita. Cass County,

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

Iowa; Edward, a machinist at Des Moines; William O., Albert F., at home; Ira Z. and Casper A. They lost their second child, Samuel, by death, at the age of two years.

SAIAII ROSSA, who resides in Garner Township, section 12, is one of the prom- inent citizens of the township. He eame here in July, 1877, from Mills County, Iowa, where he had resided for three years. Ile was born in Ulster County, New York, Octo- ber 6, 1857, the son of John Z. Rossa, who was born in the same county, and the son of Zachariah Rossa, of Holland-Dutch ancestry. Our subjeet's mother was Catharine (Oakley) Rossa, who was born in Ulster County, New York, the daughter of Jolin Oakley, a cap- tain in the war of 1812, and of an old Amer- ican family. John Z. Rossa and wife had two children -- Isaiah and Phoebe Monroe --- who died in New York State at the age of twenty nine years. She left five children. The father died in Ulster County, New York, in November, 1882, and the mother resides with her son Isaiah.

The subject of this sketch passed his youth upon a farm, and finished his education at Ashland, in Green County, New York. He taught school several terms. Arriving at the age of manliood he was married May 29, 1856, in Ulster County, New York, to Mary L. Turner, who was born in Ulster County, the danghter of Josiah and Jane Ann (De la Montonge) Turner, natives of New York. At the time of Lincoln's call for 300,000 more men, our subject enlisted in the civil war in Angnst, 1862, in the One Hundred and Twentieth Infantry Volunteers, Company C, of New York. His regiment was stationed in Virginia mostly. He served one year and eleven months, and was honorably discharged 48

in July, 1864, at West Philadelphia, where he had been confined some time by a chronic disease in a hospital.

After the war Mr. Rossa returned to Ulster County, New York, and in 1869 removed to Clark County, Iowa, where he resided for one year. IIe then came to Montgomery County, Iowa, where he resided until 1874, and then removed to Mills County, same State, re- maining until 1877, and then settled on his present farm, which was then wild land. He now owns forty acres of land in Crescent Township and eighty acres in Garner Town- ship, all under a good state of cultivation. In his political principles Mr. Rossa is a Re- publican. He is a man of intelligence, well informed on general topies, and has taken an active interest in educational and religions work of the community where he resides. Mr. and Mrs. Rossa have six children, viz .: Catherine Wood, Sarah Olive Osborn, resid- ing in Weston, Iowa; Lavinia, wife of Harry Osburn, of Council Bluffs; Frank, who mar- ried Lillian Osborn, and resides in Crescent Township; Josiah, who resides at home and owns a farm in Crescent Township; and Emma, at home. They gave their children a good education, and two of their daughters have been successful teachers. They lost one child by deatlı, Johu, at the age of twelve years. Ile was the second child.

ILLIAM D. BALL, of section 30, Hardin Township, came to this county in 1879, where he has since resided. He was born in Parke County, Indiana, Janu- ary 15, 1847, the son of Zopher and Deborah (Mothorn) Ball, the former a native of Sulli- van County, Ohio, and the latter of Tennes- see. The parents were married in Parke County, Indiana. William D. was eight years

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of age when his parents came, in 1855, and settled in Marion County, Iowa, where they were among the early pioneers. The father lived there until his death in 1860, and the mother eame to Pottawattamie County about 1879, and lived until her death, near (ak- land, at the age of seventy-four years. They had three sons and four daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters are in Pottawat- tamie County.

William D., the fourth ehild, lived in Marion County until 1867, when he went to Denver, Salt Lake, Idaho and Wyoming. He worked for the Northern Pacifie Rail- road, engaged in freighting and railroad work. After three years he returned to Marion County, Iowa, and in 1875 he came to Pottawattamie County, where he lived two years. He then moved to Shelby County, remaining two years, and then returned and bought eighty acres of wild land in Potta- wattamie County, where he now lives, and where he has made many improvements. At the age of twenty-seven years he was married to Delia Orr, who was born in Illinois, but reared in Missouri. She is the daughter of Anthony and Jane (Blake) Orr, of Scotel- Irish extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have reared four children: Maggie Jane, Marion, Rosa May and Bertie Lee. Their eldest child, Clarence, died at five years of age. Politically Mr. Ball is a Democrat.

OHN HARDING .- Among the old set- tlers of Grove Township none are better known than the gentleman whose name heads this article. He came here in 1866, and has since made this place his home.

Mr. Harding was born in Wiltshire, Eng- land, December 28, 1820, the son of John and Elizabethi (Heuer) Harding, both natives

of England. He was reared on a farm and educated in his native land. The lessons of industry, economy and honesty, which in early life were instilled into him by his par- ents, have been of great value to him. In 1852 he married Miss Louisa Trotman, a native of Wiltshire, born in June, 1825, the daughter of Cornelius and Ann (Reeves) Trotman.

In 1866, with his wife and children, Mr. Ilarding bade farewell to friends and native land and sailed for America to make a home for himself and family. They started from Liverpool and landed at New York city, thence to Chieago by rail. In the latter place he purchased a team and wagon, and in it continned his Western journey to Potta- wattamie County, and settled in Grove Township. Here he bought seventy acres of partly improved land. Mr. Harding has prospered sinee he took up his residence here, and is now the owner of 270 acres of land; 230 aeres are in one body, seetion 32, and forty aeres are on section 21, being a mile and three-quarters apart. This land consists of rich prairie soil and good timber land, well watered and well adapted for stock, and is considered one of the best farms in Grove Township. Mr. Harding has a comfort. able house, and suitable outbuildings for stock, grain, ete., and is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has some of the finest hogs in Pottawattamie County.

Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Harding, viz .: Ellen Lydia Wagner, of Colorado; Elizabeth, wife of John Osler, of Grove Township; Augusta Mand, wife of J. W. Brownell, of Colorado; Finetta Almina, wife of A. A. Sanders, of Missouri; Robert J., who married Addie Magee, and resides in Colorado; Thomas W., at home; Hester Drusillie Maria and Bertha Charlotte were both drowned in England, the former at the

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

age of two years and ten months and the lat- ter at the age of nineteen months; Mary Catherine died at the age of fourteen; and Fanny Sarah Jane died when she was nine- teen years old. All their children were born in England except Thomas W., who is a native of this county.

Mr. Harding and his wife were reared in the Church of England. They both united with the Protestant Methodist Church of this place, but Mr. Harding says they were turned ont of the church because he was a loyal Democrat; however, they are earnest and consistent Christians. He is a leader in the Democratic party, not only in his town- ship bnt throughout the eastern part of Pot- tawattamie County. Colonel Bowman once stated that Pottawattamie County had no more zealous and loyal Democrat than John Harding. For a number of years he has served as a member of the Board of Township Trustees. He has been a delegate to both State and Congressional conventions at Des Moines and Atlantic, and to all the conven- tions of note on the Bluffs, at times going from his place thirty miles and baek in the same day to attend said conventions. He is a man well posted on all general topics, is firm in his convietions of right and wrong, and is honored and esteemed most by those who know him best.

ILLIAM LEWIS, a well-known stock- dealer of Grove Township, has been a resident there since 1870. He was born in La Salle County, Illinois, September 21, 1848, a son of Charles Lewis, who was born in Norway, and was bnt a youth when he came in 1826 to America. He married Elizabeth Hou,gas a very intelligent lady, who was born at Rochester, New York. He

was a pioneer of La Salle County, and re- sided there, a successful business man, nntil his death, in 1861. He left two sons (Will- iam, the subject of this sketeh, and Ed, a resident of Dakota), and his widow, who lived until August 5, 1890. William was brought np to farm work, and completed his school education in the city of La Salle. In 1870 he came to Pottawattamie County, first buy- ing a tract of wild land on section 36, Mace- donia Township, which he occupied and improve I for ten years, when he settled upon his present farm. He now owns 1,080 acres of well improved land. His home farm com- prises 160 acres, and there is on the premises a good frame residence built in modern style. besides a good barn and other outbuildings, competent for the care of a large number of domestic animals. In the winter of 1889-'90 he fed 40,000 bushels of corn. Besides, he owns an interest in 700 or 800 head of live- stock in Sarpy County, Nebraska. Mr. Lewis is a thorough stockman, and a jolly, warm- hearted Westerner. Ile is a Democrat, but too busy with his own affairs to take any part in a political canvass.

He was married in Mills County, Iowa, May 30, 1873, to Mrs Elizabeth Richards, a native of Parke County, Indiana, and daughter of James and Alzina (Fisher) Shank. Her father was born in Warren County, Ohio, and her mother in Brown County, same State. The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are Anna W., Arthur C., Laura I. and Charles M.

OBERT CURRIE, a farmer of Norwalk Township, Pottawattamie County, was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, October 7, 1837. He spent his school days at his native place, where he learned the blacksmith's trade. When a young man he came with his

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parents to the United States, in 1849, and to Utah in 1852, working at his trade. In 1859 he went to Nevada and California, where he remained until 1864, and then returned to Utah. In 1872 he again crossed the plains to Carson City, Nevada, working in the shops of the V. & T. Railroad until 1876, when he again came to this county and located in Crescent Township, being engaged with Robert Adams in mercantile pursuits, and then in Under wood for a time. In 1881 he came to Norwalk Township, and located on the farm where he now lives, and of recent years he has turned his attention exclusively to farming and stock-raising.

In 1861, March 24, he married Miss Eliza- beth Jones, a daughter of David E. Jones. She was born in South Wales September 7, 1839, and came with her parents to the United States when fifteen years of age. They immediately went to Utah, and after- ward to Nevada and California, and in the latter State was married to Robert Currie. David Jones, her father, died in Nevada. He was a farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Currie have eight children, viz .: John L., a farmer of Crescent Township; William C., residing in Salt Lake, and in the employ of the Salt Lake & Rio Grande Railroad; James R., a farmer of this connty; Thomas H., George W., Mary Elizabeth and Orse, all at home. Raymond died in 1889, when nine years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Currie are members of the Latter-Lay Saints' Church. Politically Mr. Currie is a Democrat, and is a member of the Mutual Protective Society.

OSEPH EVANS, residing on section 6, Garner Township, is a well-known set- tler of Pottawattamie County. He came to this country in 1856, where he has since

made his home. Ile was born in Wales, July 4, 1848, the son of Evan and Mary (James) Evans, both natives of Wales. The parents reared a family of three children: David Evans, residing in Vail, Crawford County; John, residing in Garner Township; and Joseph, onr enbject. The father lived in this country until his death, which occurred in 1865, and the mother now lives in a house adjoining her son, Joseph, at the age of sev- enty-five years. She was again married in . 1866, to F. D. Piddington, who was born in England, and died in October, 1888. She is a member of the Reorganized Church of the Latter-day Saints. Hler first husband was an elder in the Mormon Church, but later be- longed to the Latter-Day Saints.

Joseph Evans, our subject, was a lad of nine years when his parents sailed from Liverpool to New York, then came to Iowa City, and from there, by hand-carts, to Coun- cil Bluffs. He received his education in Pottawattamie County, and was reared to farm life. Arriving at the age of manhood he was married, in Council Bluffs, October 26, 1866. to Miss Jane Rees, who was born in Wales, the daughter of John and Mary (Davis) Rees. She came to Ohio when a girl of twelve years. The parents came to Pottawattamie County about 1836. The father lived in Council Bluffs until his death, in 1875, and the mother died in Garner Township in 1886. Mrs. Evans has one sis- ter in Garner Township, Sarah, the wife of John Evans; and one in Salt Lake, Anna, the wife of James Obint. Mr. Evans settled on his present farm in 1878, when it was wild land, but which he has since improved. He now owns sixty-six acres of land, and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Evans is a Democrat politically, and is one of the enterprising and respected eiti- zens of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Evans

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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

have fivechildren, viz. : William, David, Rosa, Candace and Minnie J. They have lost seven by death in childhood.

OIIN CURRIE, JR., is an influential resident of Norwalk Township; was born near Edinburg, Fifeshire, Scotland; February 14, 1837, is thought to be the date of his birth, but on aceonnt of the records of the Currie family becoming lost when they came to the United States the date is rather uncertain. He was the son of John and Tomema (Blythe) Currie, both of whom were born in Fifeshire, Scotland, where they were married and resided until coming to the United States in 1849. They landed in the port of New Orleans, after a perilous jour- ney. They soon after came to Conneil Bluffs, then Kanesville, and commenced farming on the land where Streetsville now is, having entered the land from the Government. In 1852 the family continued their trip to Utalı, where they arrived after a long trip, in company with a large number of others. After a short stay in the Capitol of Utah the family moved to Utah Valley, on the Amer- iean fork. In 1863 they returned to Cres- cent City, which became their home, and where the father died, in 1880, when seventy- six years of age. Ilis wife, our subject's mother, died at Kanesville the year after her arrival from Scotland. She was born in 1805. John Currie, our subject's father, learned horse-shoeing and blacksmithing when yet a young man in Edinburg, at which he worked until coming to America. He was a farmer in Utah, a merchant at Crescent City, and was presiding Elder in the Latter- Day Saints Church in Utah; he was Justice of the Peace a number of years, and Post- master of Crescent City from the beginning

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Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Part 81

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