USA > Iowa > Shelby County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 51
USA > Iowa > Audubon County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 51
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C. BONNE, undertaker and dealer in furniture and farm implements, is one of the well-known business men of Shelby, where he located and began business in June, 1878. Ile started in a small way in a building where he had his furniture and workshop. He has been industrious and his trade has constantly increased. He has added warerooms and filled them with a well-selected stock of goods. In 1883 he added to his furniture and undertaking business farm machinery, and carries a large stock of stand- ard make of goods. He does a business of $6,000 per annum. Mr. Bonne is a native of Denmark, and was born December 20, 1846. He is a son of M. P. and Mary Ann (Christianson) Bonne. IIe was reared in his native country, and attended school until he was fourteen years of age. For three years he worked on a farın. At the age of seven- teen he began working at the painter's trade, but owing to ill-health he gave it up and worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1873 he landed at Quebec, and then went to New Jersey, where he worked for the Delaware,
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company at Dover. From swinging a large hammer in the workshop he was promoted to assistant in building passenger coaches. He lived here until 1878, when he came to Shelby, to better his fortunes in the west and grow up with a new country. In addition to his other business Mr. Bonne operates a blacksmith- shop, where he keeps an experienced work- man. He is an honorable and fair business man, and has many friends. He was mar- ried in 1875 to Miss Dorothea Katherine Henrickson. They have three children-Al- fenia Hellen, Leah Abbe and a baby boy. Politically he is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church of Omaha, Nebraska.
B. BOOKER, dealer in agricultural and farm implements and machinery, established his business at Shelby March, 1886. Ile carries a full line of goods, such as one will find in a first-class establish- ment. He is fair and honorable in his deal- ings and has a good trade, which he well merits. During the season of 1888 his sales amounted to between $5,000 and $6,000. Ile also deals quite extensively in flour and feed, in which he has a good trade. Mr. Booker is a native of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Ile was born in 1855, and was ten years of age before his parents removed to Johnson County, lowa; here he grew to manhood. His youth was passed on the farm and in at- tending the common schools. In 1878 he came to Harrison County, a few miles north- west of Shelby, where he bought wild land and improved it in good style; he engaged in farming until the spring of 1886, when he started in business in Shelby. He was mar- ried in Johnson County, Iowa, in 1878 to
Miss S. A. Dennison, of that county. They have two children-Myrtle D. and Roy Vance. Mr. Booker's business is located in what is known as the Campbell building, near the center of trade. He has extensive rooms for his business, in fact one of the best in the town.
EORGE F. COLBY is one of the well- known early settlers of Shelby County, and an ex-soldier of the late war. He was born in Sullivan County, New Hamp- shire, July 5, 1836, a son of Ira and Polly (Foster) Colby. He was reared in the place of his birth and was edneated in the common schools. At the age of eighteen he took Horace Greeley's advice and came west. Ile spent some years in the west and sonth, and just before the war broke ont located in south - ern Illinois. Ile enlisted in the Twenty- fourth Illinois Infantry, Company E, in July, 1861, taking an active part in the bat- tles of Stone River, Chickamanga, Mission Ridge, and going with General Sherman on his famous marel to the sea. He served three years in the Twenty-fourth Illinois, then re-enlisted in the Eighteenth Kentucky, where he served ten months; he was honor- ably discharged as a private. He then re- turned to the north and engaged in the more peaceful pursuit of agriculture, settling in Fayette County, Iowa. Ile was united in marriage at MeGregor, Iowa, October 28, 1867, to Miss Cornelia Lawson, a lady of in- telligenee of that town, a daughter of John D., now of Lincoln Township, this county. Mr. Colby engaged in farming in Fayette County until 1873, when he came to Shelby County and bought 240 acres of wild land in sections 9 and 10, Shelby Township; this he has improved and has built a good house
Charles PO idd
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and barn, and has set out a grove, so there is no better farm in the neighborhood. He made this his home until the fall of 1888, when he came to the village of Shelby to give his children better cdncational advantages. Mr. Colby is a Republican and a strong ad- herent to the principles of the party; his first vote was cast for Lincoln. He has served as trustee and as a member of the school board. He is a member of the G. A. R., Dick Yates Post, No. 361; also a member of the A. F. & A. M., and the Mt. Zion Commandery at Harlan. Mr. and Mrs. Colby are both worthy and consistent members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Shelby. They have two children, a son and a daughter-George William and H. Etta. Mr. Colby is a man well known in the county, cordial to all, hon- orable in business and always gives his hearty support to any enterprise to advance religion and education. He is one of Shelby's most valuable and respected citizens.
IIARLES KIDD, one of the pioneer settlers of Donglas Township, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in the year 1818. He is the son of John and Elizabeth Kidd, natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared in his native State and received his education in the public schools ; in addition to the opportunities afforded in school, he has en- joyed the advantages of traveling through the States of Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois. In 1856 he came to Douglas Township, Shelby County, and has improved a farm of 160 acres in sec- tions 16 and 17. Mr. Kidd is a member of the Republican party, and has been officially identified with this body in his township. He held the office of justice of the peace for several years. Mr. Kidd's wife, who was
Miss Susan Williams, died in Missouri in 1854. She was a native of the State of Ohio, and survived her marriage a little over one year. Mr. Kidd has always been a lover of law and order, and has ever upheld all enter- prises tending to the advancement of the com- munity.
THO MEANS is one of Shelby's intelli- gent and respected citizens; he eame to the town in December, 1882. He is a native of Lewis County, West Virginia, born February 3, 1821; he is a son of Isaac Means, a native of the same place; his grandmother was a native of Ireland; his father's brother served five years in the United States army and was in the war of 1812; he died at Ga- lena, Illinois. The mother of our subject was a Miss Elizabeth Starcher, a native of Vir- ginia, and of German ancestry. The parents had nine children of whom Otho was the oldest; there were four sons and five dangh- ters. The family removed from Virginia to Morrow County, Ohio, in 1883, and were among the early settlers. Otho assisted his father to clear the land of heavy timber, and received his education in the subscription schools and the Marion Academy. Later he engaged in teaching, and taught some twelve terms. In 1858 he removed to Kosciusko County, Indiana, near Warsaw, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for two years. In 1852 he was elected county surveyor and served four years. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, when Lincoln called for 300,000 men, he enlisted in Company A, Seventy- fourth Indiana Volunteers. He was in the bat- tles of Ball's Bluff, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and Buzzard's Roost. Ile was honor- ably discharged in June, 1865, as musician, fifer of the regular musicians. In the fall
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
of 1865 he removed to Johnson County, Iowa, near Iowa City, where he bought a farm and engaged in its cultivation until 1882, when he came to Shelby. He bought the homestead of W. F. Cleveland, a fine house situated in the east part of the village, where he has all the comforts of a good home. Mr. Means is en- gaged in the insurance business, representing the most reliable companies in the country. l'olitically Mr. Means is a Republican; he cast his first vote for Henry Clay. He was elected mayor of Shelby in 1886 and 1887, serving with eredit to himself and to the best inter- ests of the town. He is a member of G. A. R., Diek Yates Post, No. 364. He has served as Chaplain. He is a member of the Good Templars, No. 430. IIe has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for thirty years and is one of the stewards. He was mar- ried September 3, 1850, to Catherine Grouse, who was born in Franklin County, Penn- sylvania, and reared in Richmond County, Ohio. They have four children living-James HI., John F., of Woodbury County, Iowa; Mrs. Geneva A. Sampey, and Charles Henry. Mrs. Means died Jannary 15, 1885; she was a worthy and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church from the time she was sixteen years old. Mr. Means is a man well informed, firm in his belief of right and wrong, honest in business; he has the confidence and respect of all.
AP MORGAN, Mayor of Shelby, and one of its well-known business men, lias been identified with the town since April, 1881; he is a native of the Hawkeye State and was born in Scott County, Deeem- ber 6, 1848. Ilis father was William Mor- gan, who was born in Greene County, Indiana; his mother, Elizabeth (Stafford) Morgan, was
a native of Indiana. The Morgan family came to Scott County in June, 1845; there were ten children in the family, Jap being the third child. Ilis yonth was passed on a farm and in attending school. He resided at home until 1871, when he went west, where he spent two years at different points; he then returned to Iowa, where he made his home; in 1878 he moved to Jasper County, where he lived three years, opening a meat-market; in 1881 he came to Shelby, where he is proprietor of the meat market, and has a good trade. He also deals exten- sively in live-stoek, being junior member in the firm of Winters & Morgan, stoek-ship- pers. Mr. Morgan is a Democrat. IIe was married in Scott County, October 10, 1877, to Miss Etta Gibson, of that county. They have two children-Bert and O). Ethel. Mr. Morgan stands high in the community, both as a business man and politically ; he is a man friendly to all and has many admirers.
UMIARLES KOSTELECKY is the pro- prietor of the city livery, feed, sale and exchange stables, located on the north side of Main Street, where he has a large barn for horses, carriage-rooms and offices; every- thing is conveniently arranged, and all the details of the Unsiness are promptly attended to by him or his assistants. He keeps a good stoek of carriages, phaetons and spring-wagons for his trade. IIe started in business in 1882. Ile has been a resident of Shelby eleven years. Mr. Kostelecky is a Bohemian by birth and was born in March, 1854. He is a son of Joseph Kostelecky; he was a lad eight years old when his parents came to America and located in Johnson County, Iowa, near lowa City, where he grew to manhood. His father was a blacksmith, but Charles's first manual
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abor was on the farm. He received his education in the public schools. In 1877 he came to Shelby; he first did teaming, then he engaged in draying, doing quite an extensive business; in 1882 he began the livery business. He is a man of unusually great physical strength and activity. By a striet attention to his business he has seeured a good trade, and is well worthy of it. Mr. Kostelecky was married at Iowa City in 1878 to Miss Lena Brotershoky, of Iowa City; they have four danghters-Anna, Nell, Sada and Lena. Mr. Kostelecky is a Republican, and is one of Shelby's active business men.
E. MORRIS is one of the early settlers of the township, coming to the county in the spring of 1870. He was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, January 18, 1838. Ile is a son of Dennis Morris, a native of Seneca County, New York, and Olive Orpha (Hongh) Morris, a native of Canada, although reared in Connecticut. D. E. Morris is the oldest of thirteen children. When he was four years old his parents removed to Peoria County, Illinois, where they were early set- tlers; here he grew to man's estate; he was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools of the country. During the Rebellion he went to the defense of the old flag; he enlisted October 10, 1861, in the Fifty-seventh Illinois Infantry, Company II, at Lincoln's call for 300,000 more men, and was mustered into the service December 26, 1861. He was first under fire at Fort Donel- son ; later in the battles of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, the battle of Corinth, Town Creek, Resaca, Kingston, Rome, Altoona Pass, At- lanta, Savannah, Bentonville, and Sherman's march to the sea; he was honorably discharged December 25, 1864. Ile then returned to
Peoria County, Illinois. He was married to Miss Mary C. Vanduyn, October 10, 1865; she was a native of Seneca County, New York, and a daughter of Dennis and Margaret (Mapes) Vandnyn. Mr. Morris engaged in farming and carpenter work until 1870, when he came to Shelby County. In 1872 he came to the land in Shelby Township where he now lives; it was wild prairie land, and he was one of the first settlers in the neighborhood; he lias improved the land and has a good, comfortable house, a barn for grain and stock, and six acres of grove, all indicating the energy and economy of the owner. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have three children-Allen B., Ellis Frank and Jennie Blanche. Mr. Morris is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R., Dick Yates Post, No. 364, and a member of the Legion of Honor. He is a man well posted, kind to all, and one of Shelby Township's best citizens and representative men.
ILLIAM EDWARDS is one of the representative men of Shelby Town- ship; he came here in June, 1869. He was born in Cardiganshire, Wales, April 12, 1838; he is the son of E. J. and Ceynor (Phillips) Edwards; he was but eighteen months old when his parents came to Amer- ica. They first settled in Jackson County, Ohio, and later in Gallia County, Ohio. Will- liam E. was reared a farmer and was educated in the common schools. In the great Rebell- ion, at the first call for three months' men, he enlisted at Rock Island, where he was living at the time, in the Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry, Company C. He served his time, and in the fall of 1862, at the call for 300 000 more men, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois, Company H, for three years; he took an active part in the siege of
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
Vicksburg, and was in General Steele's expe- dition from Helena to Little Rock. Ile was honorably discharged in August, 1865, as First Lieutenant, having been a brave and gallant officer. He came to Mahaska County, Iowa, where, in company with a brother, he engaged in mercantile business at Beacon. Abont three years later he sold his interest, and improved some land he owned in Monroe County, Iowa. In 1869 he settled on 160 acres of land that he owned in Shelby County; here he has since made his home. Ilis farm lies about two and a half miles north of Shelby; he has a good house, an orchard, a grove and a windmill; the grove contains six acres. He was married September 13, 1876, to Miss Mary Jane Cousins, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and reared in Muscatine County, Iowa; she is a daughter of William and Mar- garet (Armstrong) Cousins. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have two children-Hannah Myrtle, born June 20, 1877, and Mary Agnes, born November 10, 1882. Mr. Edwards is a Re- publiean; he has served on the school board with credit to himself; he is a member of the Masonic order, Shelby Lodge. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Hle has always taken an active interest in re- ligions and educational affairs. He is kind and hospitable, and has made inany friends in his western home.
C. BROWN came to Shelby County in April, 1872. He was born in Jack- son County, Indiana, February 19, 1847. He is a son of the Rev. J. D. and Jane Brown. The mother's name was Still- well. R. C. was a lad of eight years when his father moved to Carroll County, Illinois. Hle was reared on a farm and received his education in the Carroll County public schools
and at Eagle Point Seminary, Illinois. He engaged in teaching, and taught for several years, both in Illinois and Iowa. During the late war he enlisted in April, 1864, in the One Hundred and Forty-second Illinois Infantry, Company D. Ile was honorably discharged in November, 1864. He was married March 6, 1872, to Miss Ella A. Fra- zee, born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. When she was ten years of age her parents came to Carroll County, Illinois; she was a daughter of Noah and Eliza (Maiken) Fra- zee. Mr. Brown settled in Shelby in 1872, and engaged in teaching for three years. In 1875 he settled on a farm, where he has since lived. Ile has a good house, a fine grove and an orchard. Ilis farm contains eighty acres of good rich land near the village. He has engaged in farming and general stock-raising; everything about the farm indicates the energy and thrift of the owner. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two children-Claude R. and Grant C. Mr. Brown is a Republican, and has served as township assessor, as town- ship clerk, and as a member of the school board. He has filled all these offices with credit to himself. Hle is a member of the G. A. R., Dick Yates Post, No. 364, and has served as Quartermaster for three years. Ile has taken an active interest in education and religion, and every enterprise that had for its object the advancement of the community. He is cordial and genial in his disposition, and has made many friends among the citi- zens of Shelby Township.
LARSON is one of the well-known prominent citizens of Shelby Town- ship. He came to Shelby County in the fall of 1870. He was born in Niagara County, New York, December 26, 1841; he
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is the son of J. B. Larson, a well known citi- zen of the township. Nathaniel was but a lad of four years when his parents came to MeHenry County, Illinois, where they lived a few years; they then removed to Clayton County, Iowa. Our subject was brought up on a farm, and received his education in the common schools of MeHenry County, Illi- nois, and Clayton County, Iowa. He was one of the first to answer the call for 75,000 men. He enlisted October 20, 1861, in the Thir- teenth United States Regular Army, Com- pany C, and served three years. He was with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea. He was first under fire at Yazoo Bottom, Arkansas Post, Black Bayou, Cham- pion ITills, Black River, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Collierville, Tennessee, and Mission- ary Ridge. Our subject enlisted as a private and was discharged as Sergeant, October 20, 1864, having served three years as a faithful and gallant soldier. He returned to Clayton County, Iowa, and in the spring of 1865 moved to Winneshiek County, Iowa. He was married July 3, 1866, to Miss Einma Price, a daughter of Daniel Price (deceased), who was one of Shelby Township's well- known pioneers. Mr. Larson, in the spring of 1867, moved to Howard County, Iowa, where he lived until he came to Shelby County in 1870; here he bought 100 acres of wild land, where he has since lived. He now owns 320 acres of as good land as the county affords. Eighty-seven and one-half acres lie in Lincoln Township, section 31, and the balance in section 4, Shelby Township. His farm is well improved; he has a good house and barn, also sheds for stock and a windmill. He has a grove of ten acres. Everything bespeaks the energy and wise management of the owner; he is engaged in stock-raising and feeding extensively. He has thorough-bred and high-grade cattle. Mr.
Larson and wife have five children-Ethel, Fred D., Roy G., Ralph and Grant. The two eldest attend Mount Vernon Seminary, Iowa. Mr. Larson is a Republican. He served two years as assessor and two years as trustee, which he did with credit to himself and the best interest of the township. He is a member of the G. A. R., Dick Yates Post No. 364; he is one of the charter members. He has always liberally supported any worthy enterprise. He is cordial to all, genial in his disposition, and has secured the respect and confidence of all who know him.
- OHN BURWELL, house, sign and car- riage painter, is one of Shelby County's well known citizens, and has been iden- tified with the place since 1879. He is a native of England, born in Lancastershire, eighteen miles from Liverpool, April 30,1838. He is a son of George and Mary Burwell, natives of England. He attended school until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to learn the painter's trade. On April 15, 1865, he sailed from Liverpool to America. On the same day news was received on board the vessel that President Lincoln had been assassinated; this cansed great excitement as there were many Americans on board. Ile landed at Castle Garden and from there went to Wisconsin, settling in Warsaw County, where he worked at his trade some time. He traveled quite extensively in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. He worked for a time at Chicago, Illinois, and at Davenport, Iowa, and then came to Shelby, where he soon built up a good trade; during the summer season he employs three men. His many years of practical experience and his thorough knowl- edge of the business are the foundation of his success. He was married in Shelby
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County to Miss Susan Cox. IIe is a Demo- erat, a member of the 1. O. O. F., Canopy Lodge and Encampment, of Avoca. He is an enterprising man and one of Shelby's enter- prising citizens.
ACOB B. LINN is one of Shelby County's honored citizens and an ex-soldier. He was born in Huntingdon County, Penn- sylvania, March 16, 1839. He is a son of James, a soldier of the war of 1812, and Nancy (Hooker) Lynn. Ile is the youngest of seven children. He received a fair edu- cation in the public schools of Pennsylvania, and was attending college in order to gain an education that would be sufficient for a profession, when the war broke out. In an- swer to Lincoln's call for 50,000 men he, in company with seven class-mates, enlisted, April 23, 1861, in the Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves, Company F'. He intended to en- list for three months, but he served three years in the same regiment. Ile was under fire at Gainesville and took an active part in the second battle fought on the Potomac, and in the seven days' fight on the Peninsula; he was taken prisoner June 27, 1861, and sent to Libby Prison; he spent sixty days here and at Belle Isle, experiencing all the horrors of these terrible prisons. After his dis- charge he was unfit for duty and was sent to the United States hospital in New Jersey, but he took French leave and joined his regi- ment at Sharpsburg, Maryland. He took an active part at Sharpsburg, Antietam, battle of Fredericksburg under General Burnside, the battle of the Wilderness and in the seven days' battle before Richmond, He was hon- orably discharged at Spottsylvania Court- House, and mustered out of the service at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1864, as
Sergeant. He returned home and took charge of his two brothers' farms, they still being in the service. He was married October 7, 1864, to Hester Ann Chilcote, of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Alva and Catharine (Booker) Chilcote. He lived in Pennsylvania nntil 1874, when he came to Shelby County. Hle settled on wild land and was one of the first on the prairie; he im- proved his land in good style, and has a sub- stantial house, and barn for stock and grain. The farm consists of 120 acres of rich land, two and a half miles from Shelby. Mr. and Mrs. Linn have seven children, six sons and one daughter-Ambrose B., MeKindre, Anna Laura (a successful teacher), Monroe, Walter M. C., Franklin, and IIngh L. Mr. Linn is a Republican. He has served as township clerk for three years, as a member of the school board, and is the present assessor of the township. He has filled all these offices with credit to himself and to the best inter- est of the public. IIe is a member of the G. A. R., Dick Yates Post, No. 364; was a charter member of the first post of Shelby County. He is a member and class-leader of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Linn and four children are also members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Linn has ever taken an active part in religious and edu- cational affairs, and is always a liberalsupporter of any enterprise that has for its object the advancement of the best interests of the com- munity. He is cordial to all, upright in business, and one of Shelby County's most valuable citizens.
NDREW JACOBSON was born June 28, 1837, in Schleswig, Denmark; this province afterward became a part of Germany. He was a son of Peter and Cath-
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