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 53
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 53
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dale, which he has brought with him to Shelby County. In May, 1888, he purchased the Kirkman House, the only hotel in Kirkman, which he now owns and controls, and where he and his wife can be found, who will give yon a cordial greeting and extend the comforts of a home. They are well adapted to the avo- cation they have chosen, and Kirkman has need to be proud of her hotel and its proprie- tors. Mr. Robertson was married May 24, 1888, to Margaret, danghter of Phillip and Eliza Reid, who was born August 20, 1855, in Jasper County, Iowa; her parents were natives of New Hampshire and North Caro- lina. She had two children by a former mar- riage, Frederick and Raymond.
C. BUCKMAN .- When western Iowa was in its infaney, a wild, uncultivated prairie, inhabited by few white people, and visited by the ferocious red man when- ever it pleased his unruly disposition, J. C. Buekman came to Shelby County. April 1, 1869, he brought his young bride to the new country, when they began to make a home for themselves. They purchased eighty acres of land from Ephraim Donglas, in seetion 18, Douglas Township. Immediately after their arrival they set about to build a rude hut for temporary residence; this was accomplished by erecting four posts in the corners of a square, putting in siding of slabs, and com- pleting the whole by an entire roof of tarred paper; so a little home was made in a spaee 10 x 12 feet, and although the most comfort- able quarters, judging from the exterior, the interior was made bright and shining by the affable wife, who knew the needs of the ocea- sion, and suited herself thereto. She made the little place a palace, indeed, with her con- stant congeniality and contented spirit. In
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the meantime they labored patiently, early and late, to erect a comfortable residence; the lumber was purchased in Dunlap, thirty miles away, but the nearest point; there were many small streams to be crossed after leaving Dun- lap; so, when there was a heavy load, Mr. Buckman was compelled to unload most of the lumber, drive the mules across the stream, then carry the lumber over and re-load. In this way the lumber for his present residence was secured. But he and his wife were de- termined to succeed in their efforts for a new home, and met all the unpleasant features nn- flinchingly. At one time they were ont of flour, and not being able to procure any, their only resort was the coffee-mill; they ground wheat, of which they made bread and cakes for six weeks. At last they decided to conduct a ferry boat to cross the many streams; they made the boat of an old hollow basswood tree, by fastening boards firmly to both ends, and attaching a wash- tub securely to one side to prevent it from upsetting; by means of a rope stretched across the streams from one bank to the op- posite one, acting as a propeller, they were able to eross the streams when quite high, with safety. And they are now reaping the reward of their earnest and nnremitting toil. They own a fine farm of 160 acres; two acres of this are in a grove, and two in a thrifty orchard. Mr. Buckman devotes his time to farming and stoek-raising. He spent liis early life on a farmi in Newtown, Pennsylvania, where he was born February 7, 1846. IIe is a son of William and Sarah (Cooper) Buck- man. March 4, 1860, he was married to Anna D., daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Daniels, February 16, 1851, being the date of her birth; she is a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Buekman are the parents of four children-Julia D., Bes- sie Belle, Harry W. and Roy, all at home.
Politically Mr. Buckman lends his support to the Republican party. He has held the office of township clerk for twelve years, and has also served as trustee for several years. He assisted in the organization of the township, and was one of the promoters of the Shelby County Agricultural Society, and is at pres- ent one of its directors. In all things per- taining to the advancement of the county Mr. Buckman has taken an active interest, thereby gaining the confidence and respect of all his acquaintance.
PULVER, son of Wandle and Nellie (McCarthy)Pulver, was born in New York State, May 16, 1835, where his boyhood was passed on a farm. His edu- cation though somewhat limited, compared with that received in the schools of to-day, was obtained principally in the common schools. When at the age of thirteen he ac- companied his parents to Illinois, locating on a farm in Carroll County, where the greater portion of his life was spent. Ile remained there twenty years, engaged in the pursuit of farming. Subsequently he removed to White- side County, where he remained until 1883, when he came to Shelby County, Iowa, and located on the Carter farm, in section 19, which he has since made his home. In 1860, April 29, he was married to Martha Delitt Bunce, the daughter of James A. L. and Esther Bunce, born July 14, 1842; she is also a native of New York State. They are the parents of eight children-William resides in Colorado; Dennis (deceased); Jennie, wife of Edward Smith, of Cnster County, Ne- braska; Frank, IIerbert A., Arthur L., Lloyd V., Clarence C. The five latter are at home. Mrs. Pulver is a worthy member of the Chris- tian church. In 1862 Mr. Pulver enlisted in
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
Company H, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served his country about one year in her defense against the south. The family are numbered among Shelby County's most worthy and respected eitizens.
HOMAS MITCHIELL, a native of the north of Ireland, born about 1826, is the son of Charles and Sarah (MeKee) Mitchell, natives of Donegall and Tyrone counties. When our subject was about seven years old the family came to America, to Lake Erie, Pennsylvania, where they re- mained about six years on a farm ; from there they went to Holmes County, Ohio, remain- ing about seven years; then they went to Knox County, Illinois, remaining until 1874, when Mr. Mitchell came with his wife to Iowa, settling in Shelby County, Douglas Township, section 4, on a farin of 240 aeres of wild and unimproved land. Here he erected a house and commenced life afresh in the new country. This land he has improved until to-day his farm ranks with the finest in the county, all of which he has accomplished by hard and unremitting labor. They had to undergo many hardships in the beginning of their life in the new country, but they faced them bravely, and have succeeded in making themselves comfortable for life. Mr. Mitehell was married July 18, 1852, to Lucinda, daughter of Adam and Sophia Hendricks, natives of North Carolina and Indiana. Mrs. Mitehell was born in Indiana, January 4, 1831. They are the parents of eleven ehil- dren-Sarah, wife of C. Landon, of Shelby County; Mary, wife of Samuel Bird, of Shelby County; Alexander, also residing in Shelby County ; Ellen, wife of Edmond Cazad, residing in Council Bluff's, Iowa; Anna, wife of Henry Wells, of Defiance, Shelby
County; Jane, wife of John Anderson, of Shelby County; Albert, of Shelby County; Alvin, of Shelby County; Landeema (de- ceased); Laura, wife of Albert Bigler, resid- ing in Clay County, Iowa; Ora, at home. Mrs. Mitchell is a member of the Christian ehureh, and they are among Shelby County's most valuable and esteemed eitizens. Mr. Mitehell is a Democrat. He now possesses 700 acres of land, most of which he has placed under cultivation.
HIOMAS DARLING was born in New York, December 6, 1821; he is the son of John and Hannah (Pennock) Dar- ling, both natives of New York. Ile was brought up on a farin and received his educa- tion in the common schools, which at that time were not the best. He devoted himself chiefly to farming, but at times engaged in lumbering on the Allegheny. About the year 1858 he came west and settled in Wau- paca County, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1871; he then came to Shelby County, Iowa, and rented land for several years; in 1850 he purchased forty aeres in section 2, of wild uneultivated land; the same summer he purchased another forty aeres, and has con- tinued to buy until he now owns 375 aeres of as fine land as lies in Shelby County. . He has made most of the improvements himself. Ile has a substantial frame house and a barn for grain and stock; everything indicates the economy and good management of the owner. He is a live, energetic man, as is shown by his increasing wealth ; few have surpassed him since he began preparing his home. He has held the office of road supervisor and is a member of the school board; he always assists anything that tends to advance the interests of the educational features of the county; he
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directs his attention to farming and stock- raising. Ile was married November 24, 1869, to Mary A. Kelsey, daughter of II. P. and Ann (Landt) Kelsey, natives of New York. Mrs. Darling was born in Wisconsin, while it was yet a Territory, July 15, 1845. They are the parents of three children- Darwin, Thomas and Myrtle, all at home. They are among Shelby County's most worthy and honored citizens. Mr. Darling has always supported the Democratic principles.
OIIN O. CLOSTER, a native of Canada, born September 16, 1856, is the son of Christopher O. and Bertha E. (Walder) Closter, natives of Norway. The father came to America at a very early day, and followed ship-brokerage and speculating. The mother came with her parents to America. Iver and Walder settled in La Salle County, Illinois, where they became quite prominent as straight forward, honorable citizens. Mr. Walder was a farmer, and his family be- longed to the aristocracy of Norway. John O., the subject of this sketch, began the struggle of life for himself when but ten and a half years old. He went to Chicago and engaged with Henry Sweet as clerk in a drug store; he remained with him about three years, and secured a fair knowledge of the business. He then followed farming for one year, and returned to Montreal, Canada. Here he engaged with Cox & Green as cus- tom house clerk, and remained several years; he was afterward appointed assistant secre- tary of the council of arts and manufactures, retaining this position for two years. He then resigned and returned to Chicago, seek- ing and obtaining employment with MeNeal & Higgins, wholesale grocers, at a salary of $25 per month. He resigned this position
after a service of eight years, on account of ill health, leaving a salary of $150 per month. He was married November 16, 1880, to Miss Julia, daughter of John C. and Sophia John- son. She was born in Christiana, Norway, June 8, 1862. They are the parents of three children-Osborn C., Lyle O., and Lucile. In 1886 Mr. Closter came to Kirkman, and opened a stock of general merchandise, where anything can be found from the finest fabric to heavy machinery. He carries a stock of abont $9,000. IIe is a self-made man, enjoying the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He is live and active in his business, and Shelby County has made a worthy acquisition by receiving Mr. Closter into her business circles. Politically he is a Republican.
- UKE McDOWELL, a native of Powe- shiek County, Iowa, was born Decem- ber 14, 1848. He is the son of John and Lucinda (Perry) McDowell, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. He was reared on a farm, and received the education then fur- nished by the common schools of the coun- try. He was married January 1, 1867, to Eliza Jane Mitchell, daughter of George and Mary J. (Cox) Mitchell, natives of Pennsyl- vania. She was born March 6, 1846, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and came to Iowa in 1865. They are the parents of six children-Perry, resides in Saunders County, Nebraska; Euphemia, Thomas, Cooper, Odessa and Eva. In 1869 they came to Shelby County, Iowa, and settled on a farm of sixty acres of unimproved land. Mr. McDowell erected a good frame building, and they com- menced life in the then new country. After having raised the first crop, and storing it in granaries and ricking his hay, everything
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
prepared for the winter, it was all destroyed by fire, and he lost his entire erop. But he was not discouraged, as is shown by his pres- ent beautiful home and surroundings. He has one of the finest farm residences in the county, and barns for stock and grain; he has some grove for a wind-break. He has added to his first purchase until he now owns 201 acres of as fine land as lies in northern Shelby County. He occupies his time in farming and stock-raising. He is an advocate of the Union Lahor party and its principles, taking an active interest in the issues of the day. The family are numbered among Shelby County's most estimable people.
ACOB J. MILLER, farmer and stock- raiser, section 13, Harlan Township, has been interested in the welfare of Shelby County since 1857, when he began his resi- dence here. Hle is a native of Germany, born in Alsace, March 8, 1827. He is a son of Jacob and Catherine Miller, both natives of Alsace. When he was one year old his parents emigrated to America, landing at Baltimore, where they lived about one year. Then they moved near Hagerstown, Mary- land, where they resided until Jacob, Jr., was six years old, when they moved to Butler County, Ohio. Jannary of the year 1845 found the family in Elkhart County, Indiana, where the father bought eighty acres of heavily timbered land, which he began to improve. Here the parents remained the rest of their lives. The mother died in June, 1855, and the father passed to his eternal rest at the age of sixty-five years. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom still survive. Jacob J. was seventeen years old when his parents removed to Indiana. He remained
with his parents for five years, assisting in elearing and improving the farin. Ile was married May 30, 1850, to Miss Naney Jane McConnell, a native of Ohio, and a danghter of James McConnell. After his marriage he cleared a farm in Indiana, and there made his home until the spring of 1857, when he inoved to Iowa. The trip was made in twenty days with a team of horses. He bought 220 acres of land, only eleven acres of it being broken. There was a small log cabin, 14 x 16 feet, into which he moved his family. A part of the land was entered by a man named Dalton, and forty acres in seetion 12 by Dwight Terrill. Mr. Miller has since fol- lowed farming and stock-raising. He has a landed estate of 500 acres, and has given 400 aeres to his children. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of seven children - Mary Catherine, the wife of Park F. Philson, of Jackson Township; Charles M. died May 7, 1874, at the age of twenty years; Susan Per- melia, the wife of Alexander Philson, of Harlan Township; Samuel M., Damaris Jane, John C. and George H. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Brethren church. Mr. Miller was elected, in 1862-'63-64, a member of the board of supervisors, and also sub- director. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party. Mr. Miller is a self-made man, and by industry and thrift and upright dealing has made an enviable place for him- self, socially and financially.
H. MILLER was born on the old Miller homestead in Harlan Town- ship, Shelby County, Iowa, October 10, 1858. Ile is the fourth child of J. J. Miller. Ile remained with his parents until he grew to manhood. He received his edu- cation in the common schools. Mr. Miller
4. J. Miller.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
was married in February, 1882, to Miss Mat- tic E. Carter, a daughter of Henry and Eliza- beth (Barnhill) Carter. They are the parents of three children, two sons and one daughter -Charles J., Eva Lena and Ralph Waldo. Mr. Miller began his married life on an eighty-acre tract of land, given him by his father. IIcrc he resided for one year, and then bought his present home. IIc owns 240 acres of valuable land, which he has greatly improved. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Christian church. Iler parents are both de- ceased. Mr. Miller has departed from the political faith of his father, and votes with the Republican party.
ILLIAM II. DENT, a native of Jef- ferson County, Indiana, born April 18, 1849, is a son of Daniel and Mary (Parsons) Dent, natives of Lynn City, Eng- land, who now reside in Marshall County, Iowa, at the advanced age of eighty-three and eighty-seven years. They are the parents of seven children, two boys and five girls ---- Eliz- abeth, Robert (deceased), killed in the battle at Millican's Bend, having enlisted from Marshalltown, Iowa; Ann, Rebecca, Martha, Barbara, Alice (deceased), and William H., the subject of this sketch, who was born in Indiana. When he was three years old his parents removed to Champaign County, Illi- nois, where they spent five years; then they went to Marshall County, Iowa, where the remainder of his early life was spent. He was reared to farm life; his education was received outside of the school-room, being of purely practical character. He is a keen ob- server and a good, live, energetic business man, and stands in the foremost rank of Shelby County's well to-do farmers. Ile came to Shelby County, March, 1873, and purchased
a tract of eighty acres of unimproved land in sections 20 and 21, Polk Township; here he remained nine years and made many improve- ments, crecting the first dwelling on the stream, known as Long Branch, which finds its source in the extreme northicast part of the county. IIc had to undergo many hardships incident to pionecr life, as he was among the very first to settle in this part of the county. Upon this first purchase he planted about seven acres of grove, and in 1881 he sold the forty aeres lying in section 21 and purchased an adjoining 120 acres in section 20, making his farm one quarter-sec- tion; it is as fine land as there is in the county. He has put it under good cultiva- tion, crected a fine frame residence and barns for stock and grain; he has planted another grove of four acres. He has done much toward building up and improving Shelby County, and well deserves the esteem and re- speet of the citizens. He has always sup- ported the Republican party until 1888, when he joined his vote with the Union Labor party. Ile was married Jannary 1, 1870, to Loretta Gaer, danghter of Shelton and Lorena Gaer, natives of Illinois; she was born in Marshall County, Iowa, May 12, 1852. They are the parents of five children-William R., Robert D., Raymond, Mary, Leonard; they have three children deceased, twin boys died in infaney, and Winnic, who died at the age of fifteen months. Shelby County has no peo- ple more energetic and deserving.
HRIS MICHAELSON, a native of Den- mark, born March 18, 1847, is a son of Michael and Anna Anderson. He was raised in Denmark on a farm, and received his education in the common schools of that country. In 1867 he came to America and
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY.
located in Cook County, Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand for two years, when he came to Iowa, and located at Merrill's Grove, Shelby County, Polk Township; here he and his brother had purchased sixty acres of land partially improved, where he resided something over a year when he removed to Bowman's Grove, Jackson Township; herc he had a nine-acre tract of land on which he lived about six years, in the meantime pur- chasing five acres adjoining his nine-acre traet, and an eighty-acre tract in section 32, Polk Township, where his present home now stands. He moved on this farm in 1878; it was a wild piece of prairie land when he pur- chased it, but he has built fine barns for stock and grain and a fine residence. Ile has planted about five acres of grove and made all the improvements that will be seen on a well-regulated farm; it all bespeaks the thrift and energy of the owner. When Mr. Michaelson came to America he had nothing, and to-day he is possessor of over 500 acres of land in the county, having one of the finest of stock farms. He devotes himself to farming and stock-raising, and is one of the leading farmers of the county. He is a live business man, and is destined to be one of the wealthiest citizens. He is a Republi- can. Ile was married November 27, 1872, to Mary Christenson, the daughter of Christ and Kittie Anderson; she was born Decem- ber 28, 1844, in Denmark, and came to America in the spring of 1872.
NDREW J. GROAT, a native of Brown- ville, Jefferson County, New York, was born March 6, 1832. He is the son of Peter HI. and Sarah Ann (Marks) Groat, na- tives of New York. When he was seven months old his parents removed to Canada,
where they remained for a short time; from Canada they removed to Whiteside County, Illinois, and remained there one winter. In the spring of 1833 they located in Clinton County, lowa, on the land where Camanche now stands. Mr. Groat homesteaded a tract of land, and added to it until he owned 320 acres of land. The Indians had not made their final departure when he settled here, and the land was wild and uncultivated. He erected the first blacksmith shop in this section of country, and was one of the first mail carriers in that part of Iowa; his ronte lay between Davenport and Dubuque, and was known as the River Ronte. He was one of the founders of the town of Camanche. In those early days people were compelled to go to Elkhorn Grove to mill, a distance of thirty miles; it required from one to two weeks to make the trip, as the grinding was of slow process, being done in an old ox-mill, on the tread-mill pattern, such as the people of this day and age will see nowhere. Bnt they were right glad of even these facilities, for very often they were obliged to resort to a more ancient mode of grinding; they would take a log, and make a wooden mortar four or five feet long, and a heavy wooden ınaul, and placing the corn in this mortar, would work the maul up and down until the corn was mashed into coarse meal. Their meat was principally wild, such as deer and turkey. Their buildings were of the rudest sort, con- structed of rough or hewn logs, with stiek and clay chimneys, and puncheon floors. Saw. mills then were almost unknown, and the Inm- ber they had was procnred by the whip-saw process. No one but a veritable pioneer can realize the hardships and privations under- gone in opening up a new country. Amid sueli surroundings and scenes onr subject, Andrew J. Groat, grew to maturity; he re- ceived his education in the subscription
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
schools of those days. At the age of six- teen years he returned to New York, intend- ing to make a visit, but eirenmistances changed his plans and he remained three years. He was naturally of a roving disposition, and visited a good many points in Illinois. Mr. Groat was united in marriage to Miss Naney E. Irwin, December 2, 1858; she is a daugliter of Andrew and Nancy (IIaynes) Irwin; the father was a native of Ireland, and the mother of Germany. She was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, December 18, 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Groat are the parents of eight children -John F., Lillie M., wife of George W. Moore; Flora B., Nancy E., Andrew J., Vi- ola G., Ina E., and Alvin J. In 1872 Mr. Groat came to Shelby County, settling in Cuppy's Grove, where he rented land for two years, and then purchased eighty acres . of land east of the grove. After that he made several changes in his location, and finally settled in section 3, Polk Township, on a farm of 200 acres of partially improved land; this he has improved and placed in a fine de- gree of cultivation. He is a live, energetic man, and stands to-day in the first ranks of Shelby County's honored citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Groat are members of the United Brethren church. He is a staunch Democrat, but refuses to accept any party honors in the way of publie office.
ETER MARTINSON was reared in Den- mark, where he was born October 18, 1830; he is the son of Martin and Anna Nelson. He attended the common schools of his native country until he was fourteen years old, when he began earning his own living as a farm land; he received for his first year's work $6; after this, the wages he received ranged from $11 to $70, the latter being the
highest amount ever paid a farm hand in his native country. In this manner his life was spent while in Denmark. In 1871 he and wife came to America, about sixteen days being occupied in the voyage; they landed. at Castle Garden and immediately came to the west, buying forty acres of land in Douglas Township, Shelby County, Iowa; he remained here four years; the land was bnt partially improved, and he went into debt for it about $900. After four years of labor in making improvements he sold this farm, excepting five acres, realizing $1,000 from the sale. IIe then purchased an eighty-acre tract in section 32, Polk Township, where he now resides. Ilere he has made many improvements, nutil to-day he has one of the finest farms in the county; he has added to his first purchase until he now owns 500 acres of excellent land. He has a fine frame residence, and barns for stock and grain; he has planted a grove of four acres; everything bespeaks the wise man- agement and prosperity of the owner. He occupies his time in farming and stock-raising, dealing quite extensively in both. His life shows what a man can do if he has energy and ambition, starting as he did with nothing, and to-day owning as fine property as Shelby County affords. He was married February 23, 1871, to Mary Martinson; she was born in Denmark, March 25, 1845. They are the parents of nine children-Mary, John, Mar- tin, Anna, Esther, Samuel, Freddie, Lewis and William. They are members of the Bap- tist ehureh. Mr. Martinson is a staunch Republican. He was a soldier for two years.
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