USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > Historical and biographical record of Black Hawk County, Iowa > Part 22
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ILLIAM DEEMING has a fine farm of 280 acres in Mount Vernon Township, 200 acres be- ing on section 27 and eighty acres on section 28. He has a finc, large frame residence and his farm build- ings are commodious and comfortable. He is one of the representative farmers of the township, a public-spirited, enterprising citizen and a good neighbor. He came to Black Hawk County from five miles east of Lockport, Will County, Illinois, in the spring of 1854, and worked for one Walter
Hitchcock, to whom he had hired in Will County for Sio a month. He subsequently worked by the day and month till he had earned enough to buy forty acres of Gov- ernment land, on the river, part of which was timber and part prairie land. He af- terward bought eighty acres of prairie land and two years later sold it all at an advance on the purchase price and bought forty acres in Mount Vernon Township. This he afterward sold and went to Sioux City, spending three months looking for a loca- tion, more satisfactory, but finally returned to Black Hawk County and bought eighty acres of his present farm of Dyer Williams. In 1866 he sold this and went to Adair County, Missouri, and bought 240 acres of land, on which he lived four months. At that time there were two political parties in Missouri and cach had a secret society. Representatives from these parties visited him and told him he must join one or the other of them. This he declined to do, saying that he preferred returning to Iowa. An aunt of Mrs. Deeming lived at Kirks- ville, and they went there to buy their house- hold furniture, but the aunt advising them not to stay there as they " did not know what hung over their heads," they only bought a cook stove, which they sold for one-half its cost and returned to Iowa, ex- changing their 240 acres for the eighty acres they had left in Mount Vernon Township. Mr. Deeming made the first improvements on his land, and built the first house, a small frame, in which he lived till he built his present residence. He has been successful, due to his energy and good management. Mr. Deeming was born in Meltonmowbray, Leicestershire, England, March 7, 1834, a son of Thomas and Ann Maria (Dixon) Deeming. His mother died in England, November 1, 1842, aged thirty-three years, and his father in this township, March 21, 1880, aged seventy-two years. His father married a second time and his wife died in
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Lockport, Illinois. He accompanied his father to the United States when he was fifteen years old, and lived at Lockport till coming to Iowa. He was married No. vember 28, 1858, to Ellen Ford, a native of Wyandotte County, Ohio, born September 9, 1838, a daughter of David and Catharine (Van Gundy) Ford. Her parents were na- tives of Ross County, Ohio, her father born in 1807 and her mother in 1812. About 1853 they moved to Black Hawk County, Iowa, and settled in Washington Town- ship. Here her mother died February 21, 1879, and her father still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Deeming have six children-Nancy A., born September 16, 1859, was married February 3, 1880, to George Knapp, of Waterloo Township ; Josiah, born Decem- ber 29, 1862; William Henry, born April 2, 1867; Louisa, born June 7, 1869; Katie M., born January 23, 1873 ; Nellie J., born April 8, 1877. In politics Mr. Deeming was formerly a Republican, but now affili- ates with the Democratic party. He has served his township as road supervisor and trustee.
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ENRY C. HUNT was born in Montpelier, Vermont, February 22, 1832, the youngest son of eleven children of Caleb and Re- becca Hunt, who were both natives of New England, his paternal ances- tors being originally from England. His maternal grandfather served as a surgeon during the Revolutionary war. Henry C. lived at his birthplace till ten years of age when he went with his parents to Haver- hill, New Hampshire, where he remained several years. He received a good educa- tion, preparing himself for Dartmouth Col- lege, but when a young man he was offered his choice between a college education and a position in the general ticket office of the Michigan Central Railroad at Detroit, and
accepted the latter. He attended satisfac- torily to the duties of the office about two years, when his health failed him. He then spent one and a half years in the pineries west of Port Huron, Michigan, after which he returned to Detroit, and for three years engaged in the wholesale and retail mercan- tile trade. He came to Cedar Falls, Iowa, in the spring of 1857 where he was engaged in the mercantile business with G. B. Van Sawn until 1862. For many years he has handled agricultural machinery, and for the past several years has been general agent for Northern Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota for William Deering, the extensive manu- facturer of agricultural implements. Mr. Hunt was married in 1855 to Helen M. Garrison, of Detroit, Michigan, and of the six children born to them five are living- - William P., Harriet L., Henry E., Harry N. and Percy G. Mr. Hunt is a man of ex- cellent business ability, and in his various enterprises has been uniformly successful. In politics he affiliates with the Republi- can party. He has served satisfactorily as city councilman, and also as Deputy United States Collector under President Lincoln's administration. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for nearly twenty years.
AMUEL H. MILLER, one of Orange Township's most promi- nent citizens, was born in Somer- set County, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1838, the third of seven children of Jonas A. and Sally (Horner) Miller, also natives of Somerset County. His mother died when he was twelve years of age, leaving the family to the care of his father, with whom he remained until man- hood, and was early inured to the labors incident to farm life. The winter months were devoted to study and attending the district schools, and while thus employed
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a thirst for knowledge was kindled, which has grown with the years, and has been partially satisfied by reading and observa- tion. In 1860 he left the old home and came West, and in 1862 became a resident of Black Hawk County, Iowa, making his home in Orange Township, where he be- gan to manufacture sorghum molasses, and also taught school. He subsequently rented a farm a short time, and in 1865 bought where he now lives, on section 17, Orange Township, and began the develop- ment of a pioneer farm. His land is now all under cultivation, and his building im- provements are commodious, and were erected with a view to utility and con- venience. Mr. Miller early became con- vinced that greater profits could be realized from stock than from general farming, and consequently was among the first in North. ern Iowa to make a specialty of that in- dustry. He introduced Poland-China hogs into the county, and for several years was a successful breeder for market. Sep- tember 1, 1863, Mr. Miller married Eliza Beachley, daughter of Daniel Beachley. She was a native of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and died in October, 1865, leaving one son-Edwin Stanton. January 9, 1870, Mr. Miller married Susan Saylor, also a native of Somerset County, Penn- sylvania. They have five children-Anna G., Ira S., Howard W., Mary Kate and Lizzie M. Mr. Miller has served his town- ship as clerk four years, and in 1884 was elected assessor for a term of two years. He was one of the incorporators, and the first president of the Farmers' Mutual In- surance Company of Black Hawk County, serving five years, and in 1884 was again elected to the same position which he now holds. He is one of the most active Christian workers in the community. His life has been devoted to building up the kingdom of Christ, both as a lay member and as a preacher. He has for many years
been a member of the German Baptist church, and in June, 1876, was appointed a minister of the denomination, and was ordained in June, 1885. His family are members of the same church.
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ILLIAM C. CLOUGH, deceased, was a native of Kennebec County, Maine, born August 22, 1820, a son of Elijah and Elizabeth Clough, of Scotch descent. His parents were farmers, and he was reared to that occupation, remaining. with his parents till of age, when he went to Rhode Island and remained thirteen years. In 1855 he came West, and located in Black Hawk County, Iowa, buying 116 acres of wild land in Waterloo Township, and four lots in the village of Waterloo, and made this his home till his death. He was a practical business man, and pros- pered in all his transactions. Liberal and benevolent, he gave freely of his means to assist any and every laudable enterprise or worthy person. Conscientious and per- fectly honorable, he was held in high es- teem by all who knew him. Kind hearted and affectionate, his family lost a noble husband and indulgent father when he was taken from them. His widow, to whom he was married May 9, 1847, was Angeline Goodridge, daughter of Isaac and Eliza- beth Goodridge. Their family consisted of seven children-Lizzie A., Luella F., Anna R., Minnie A., Corrinna, Mable and Willie E. Corrinna, Mable and Luella F. are deceased. Lizzie is the wife of Peter McStay, a miner in California, and has three children-Walter, Carlie and Angie. Anna R. is the wife of Charles Campbell, a carpenter of Waterloo, and has one child -Guy. Mrs. Clough is a good manager, and has conducted her business since her husband's death successfully. She resides
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on the homestead, where she is surrounded with all the comforts of life. She is, as was also her husband, a member of the Congregational church. In politics he was a Republican.
OHN PALMER, one of Black Hawk County's most prosper- ous farmers, resides on section 14, Black Hawk Township. He was born in Devonshire, England, June 14, 1831, a son of John and Joanna Palmer. The former was born April 26, 1808, and died October 20, 1877, and the latter, February 11, 1809, and died September 25, 1878. Our subject was reared a farmer, receiving a fair education in the English branches. He is the sec- ond of thirteen children. The eldest, William H., lives in Mt. Vernon Township; Silas, Ellen and Hattie live in Chicago; Thomas is in New Zealand; Mary Ann and Elizabeth live on farms in England ; James is in the mercantile business in Lon- don; Stephen died in Chicago, and three others are also deceased. To better his condition in life and build for himself a home, he came to America, where there is room for all, embarking at Plymouth in a sailing vessel for Quebec, and, after a seven- weeks voyage, landed May 29, 1853. July 18, the same year, he was married to Louisa Jeffrey, who was born in Devonshire, Eng- land, July 17, 1829, and came to America in the same vessel with her husband. After reaching America Mr. Palmer found em- ployment as a farm laborer at $12 a month. He remained in Canada three years, en- gaged in farm work and brick-making and chopping cordwood, carefully saving his earnings with a view of getting a home in the United States. In 1856 they started for Iowa, taking a steamboat on Lake On- tario, there being no railroad there at that 22
time, making the journey from Chicago with one horse and a spring wagon, making the trip in twelve days, having a few house- hold goods and $200 in money. He reached Waterloo in May and bought a few lots in the new village, and eighty acres of land outside the town. Trials were in store for them. Sickness made him unable to work, and in the spring of 1857, having spent the most of his property, he went to Butler County and pre-empted 130 acres of land. But that county was new, neighbors were scarce, and markets so distant that life seemed intolerable to them. In 1862 he disposed of his land, realizing only 90 cents an acre for it, and returned to Black Hawk County, and for two years rented the old Worthington farm in Black Hawk Town- ship. In 1864 he bought eighty acres on section 14, which is a part of his present farm, and commenced improving it. Ten acres had been broken and a small house had been built. Now his fortune changed, and he began to steadily gain ground, until to-day he is one of the township's most prosperous citizens. His farm of eighty acres has been increased by additions till he now owns 310 acres of productive land, and his residence and farm buildings are among the best in the township. This has been gained by unyielding perseverance, thrift and a systematic and practical care and oversight of his work. He devotes the greater part of his attention to stock- raising, making a specialty of horses and cattle, having in 1886, 130 head. In poli- tics Mr. Palmer is a Republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has never sought official honors, but has several times been given positions of trust by his fellow townsmen. For four years he was magistrate, and has been a member of the school board for several years. He is one of the directors of the Farmers' Mu- tual Insurance Company, of Black Hawk County. He and his wife were reared
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
under the ministrations of the Church of England, and are still in sympathy with the church of their youth. They have eight children-Emanuel J. and Silas G., of Wright County, lowa; Samuel J., in the Black Hills, Colorado ; Nellie, wife of Clar- ence Lamb, of Sioux County, Iowa; Eliza- beth Ann, Ernest W., Hattie J. and Thomas A. are living at home. Three children are deceased-Edwin J., Stephen H. and Su- sannah, all dying in infancy. Mrs. Palmer's parents, Emanuel and Susannah Jeffrey, died in their native country, her father in 1855, aged seventy-five years, and her mother several years later, aged seventy years. They had a family of ten children, of whom but five are living-Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Elizabeth Lever, of Osage, Iowa; John and Samuel, in Australia, and Eman- uel in Wales. One son, George, was killed in the Crimean war.
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M. H. PALMER, residing on sec- tion 24, Mount Vernon Town- ship, was born in Devonshire, England, June 10, 1829, where he lived till 1854, when he came to America. He remained over a year in Chicago when he came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, locating at Waterloo, and en- gaged in farming on a small scale, living there till May 9, 1861, when he settled on the farm where he now resides. Mr. Palmer was reared on a farm and has always fol- lowed agricultural pursuits, in which he has met with success. He now owns a fine farm, known as the Cedar Valley farm, containing 181 acres, which is now for sale, at $65 per acre. This farm is well improved and in good condition. It is divided into ten fields with No. I fences, with 1,000 rods of tile drain and 800 feet of gas pipe for water, all in running order. The land is well supplied with water both winter and
summer. It has two acres of orchard in bearing, and other small fruit ; orchards and yards well protected north and west with an arbor-vitæ grove, twenty to thirty feet high ; groves of soft maple mixed with black and white walnut, and other varieties of trees. It has furnished wood for the place for the last fifteen years, and over 160 cords have been sold. On the farm is a good two-story frame house containing eleven convenient rooms, with cellar and cistern, running water in kitchen supplied from a never-failing well 150 feet deep; a barn 36 x 60 feet, with other farm buildings, all in good condition. Mr. Palmer's real and personal property is valued at $25,000. His place is beautifully situated six miles north and one mile east of Waterloo, and nine and a half miles from Cedar Falls, on two main lines of railway, and terminus of the Diagonal, or I., W. & N. R. R. It has good school advantages and is about one mile from Mount Hope Methodist Epis- copal Church. Mr. Palmer sold 164 acres of his 345 acres of land in January, 1884. In 1864-'65 Mr. and Mrs. Palmer made a trip to England, and in 1875-'76 made a second trip to their native country, visiting by the way several cities in Canada and the United States, particularly Washington, District of Columbia, and the Great Centen- nial Exposition at Philadelphia. In 1884 they visited the South and the Cotton Ex- position at New Orleans. They are noted for traveling. Mr. Palmer's early educa- tion was rather limited, only attending school a few months winters, finishing off his last six months in 1848 at Prospect Place College, under the auspices of the Bible Christian denomination. Mr. Palmer was married in Devonshire in the spring of 1853 to Elizabeth Hicks, who was born Novem- ber 16, 1830, the eldest daughter of William and Grace (Palmer) Hicks, residents of this township. Her parents were natives of Dev- onshire, England, the father born October
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7, 1806, and the mother December 3, 1810. They were married in their native place in 1829, and in May, 1857, came to this country and settled in Lincoln Township, removing to Mount Vernon Township in 1868. They bought a farm here on which they lived till 1884 when they sold it, and have since made their home with their youngest daughter. They had a family of ten children-Mrs. Palmer, William, John, Harriet A. (de- ceased), Ezekiel, Mary A. (wife of H. E. Taylor), Stephen P., Thomas P., Julia E. (deceased), Clara P. (wife of D. W. King). Mr. and Mrs. Palmer had one child born to them-John H., born February 20, 1854, and died of cholera infantum at Waterloo, September 7, 1855. Mr. Palmer began life on limited means, and what he has made has been acquired by his own untiring energy and industry, assisted by his noble wife, who has done her share toward increasing the family funds. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are members of the Episcopal church and it is due to their efforts that the Mount Hope Methodist Episcopal Church was built, they having raised $700 for that purpose, and subscribed $113 to the building of the church, and superintended the build- ing. Mr. Palmer has been ever ready with a helping-hand for the benefit of the churches, society, charitable, agricultural and public enterprises in Waterloo and his neighborhood. He was the first to own and operate a clover huller, and the first to in- troduce tile drainage in the county. In his political views he is a Democrat. For the past fifteen years he has served as road supervisor and refused other offices. Mr. Palmer pays considerable attention to stock- raising. He has sixty head of cattle, about fifty hogs and twelve horses and colts. Mr. Palmer's parents, John and Joanna (Hicks) Palmer, were natives of England, the father born April 26, 1808, and the mother Febru- ary 11, 1809. Both were reared on farms, and were married in 1828. The father died
at his residence at Northlew,“ Devonshire, October 20, 1877, of cancer, and the mother died September 25, 1878. They were the parents of twelve children, our subject be- ing the eldest. The remainder are -- John, a farmer of Black Hawk County, Iowa; Stephen, deceased ; Elizabeth, married Mr. E. Squire, and lives in England ; Thomas, married, living in New Zealand ; Ellen, wife of John King, living at 680 West Van- Buren Street, Chicago, Illinois ; Edmund, deceased ; Edmund T., killed by a runaway horse ; Silas, married and living in Chicago, Illinois, at 452 Warren avenue ; Harriet, wife of John Northcott, living on Ogden avenue, Chicago, Illinois ; Mary Ann, mar- ried E. Vallance and living in Devonshire, England ; James, living in London, England.
M. SHOEMAKER, Treasurer of Black Hawk County, Iowa, was born in Lucas County, Ohio, August 23, 1839, the third son of Thomas and Catherine (Van Fleet) Shoemaker, natives of Pennsylvania, and early settlers of Lucas County. They had a family of six children. The father died in Lucas County in 1871. The mother and four of her children still survive. Our subject was reared on a farm, receiving such educational advantages as the village school afforded. He remained on the farm till 1861 when he enlisted in the Union army in Company I, Fourteenth Ohio In- fantry, and served three months when he was discharged. He re-enlisted as a private in July, 1862, in Company F., One Hun- dredth Ohio Infantry, but before the organ- ization of the company he was commis- sioned Second Lieutenant, in which position he served till the following December, when he was promoted to First Lieutenant, and in April, 1863, he was promoted to Captain, in which rank he served till the
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
close of the war. He was mustered out July 3, 1865, when he returned to his home in Ohio, remaining there one year. In 1866 he was married to Miss Mary E. Gil- lett, of Ohio. They have a family of seven children. In the summer of 1866 he came to Waterloo, Iowa, where he was engaged in the mercantile business one and a half years. He then accepted a position as clerk in the treasurer's office, in which ca- pacity he served very acceptably for four- teen years. In the fall of 1881 he was elected treasurer of Black Hawk County, and in the year 1883 he was re-elected to the same position.
8 YRON CULVER was born in Cayuga County, New York, July 19, 1824, a son of Orange and Betsey (Andrews) Culver. The Culver family is supposed to have originated from three brothers who immigrated to America from England in the early part of the eighteenth century, one of the brothers being our subject's great-grandfather. His grandfather, whose name was Benjamin Culver, was born June 15, 1747, and served as a soldier in the Rev- olutionary war. His father, Orange Cul- ver, settled in Cayuga County, New York, during the latter part of the last century, remaining there till our subject was four years old. He then settled in Orleans County, New York, and there Byron Cul- ver was reared, receiving a rudimentary education in the district schools, and after- ward attended academies for a few terms. He was married in his native State, June 25, 1857, to Clara Stevens, who was born June 25, 1826, a daughter of Andrew and Sallie (Lee) Stevens. Mr. Culver came to Black Hawk County in the spring of 1858, settling at Cedar Falls, and for many years was engaged in the grain trade. He has
large real estate interests in Minnesota, lo cated in the Red River Valley, and is one of the prosperous men of his township. In politics he is identified with the Repub- lican party. He has served as supervisor of Cedar Falls Township for one term and has also held the office of mayor of Cedar Falls for two terms, serving with satisfac- tion both to himself and to his constitu- ents. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity.
AMUEL MARSTON was born in Spafford, Onondaga County, New York, October 1, 1820, a son of Israel and Ruth (Palmer) Marston, who were born, reared and married in the State of New York, his father being of Scotch and his mother of English descent. When seven years of age he was taken into the family of Mr. Orrin Frisbie, with whom he lived till he was twenty-one, having a good home, and receiving fair educational advantages. He was married November 30, 1841, to Miss Mary Rice, who was also a native of Onondaga County, New York, born July 29, 1823, her parents, Levi and Catherine K. Rice, being natives of Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Marston have three children -Minerva, wife of Charles M. Blanchard, of Kossuth County, Iowa; Charles E., re- siding near his parents, and Olive A., wife of E. J. Palmer, of Wright County. The youngest child, Lizzie, died in her fifth year. Mr. Marston followed farming in his native county till 1843, when he moved with his family to Hillsdale County, Mich- igan, where they suffered much from fever and ague. He remained there till 1854, and during his residence partially cleared three farms, but sickness kept him in somc- what limited circumstances, and his start in Black Hawk County, where he settled in 1854, was almost like commencing life
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anew. In the spring of 1869 he sold his property on section 5, Lincoln Township, buying 320 acres of partially improved land in Pleasant Valley, Grundy County, Iowa, which he sold in the fall of 1871. He then settled on the place where he has since resided, his farm located on section 5, Black Hawk Township, containing ninety- two acres of fine land. Mr. and Mrs. Marston are well known throughout the county, and are highly respected for their many kind and neighborly qualities. Both are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Marston was formerly a Whig, but since the organ- ization of the Republican party he has voted that ticket.
ILLIAM H. STEVENS, residing on section 20, Lincoln Township, is a native of Jefferson County, -010 mm RE Wisconsin, born March 17, 1844, the second child of Silas R. and Ade- line Stevens, who were natives of New York and Canada respectively. His parents came to Wisconsin before their marriage. They were married in Jeffer- son County, that State, where they still make their home, and where the father ranks among the prosperous and wealthy citizens. Five children were born to them -Jerome, who resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota; William H .; Marett, deceased, wife of J. E. Barrett ; George and Charles, living with their parents. William H. Ste- vens was married May 5, 1861, to Miss Charlotte Barrett, daughter of C. E. Bar- rett, and sister of James E. Barrett. To this union were born two children-Lena, deceased, and Silas Edwin. In August, 1864, Mr. Stevens enlisted in Battery E, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, and dur- ing most of his service he was in the garri- soned forts on Arlington Heights. After his
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