USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > Historical and biographical record of Black Hawk County, Iowa > Part 32
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H. VROOM, section 12, Poyner Township, came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in March, 1871, from Steuben County, New York, where he was born May 21, 1841, his birthplace being Prattsburgh. He then settled on his present farm, which at that time was nothing but the raw prairie, on which no improvements had been madc. His farm is now well improved and con- tains 120 acres of well-cultivated land. Mr. Vroom lived at his native place till he was past twenty-one years of age, and in the fall of 1863 he came to Nora, Jo Daviess County, Ill- inois, from which place he enlisted in the late war December 24, 1863, in Company F,
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Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry. He spent the winter with his regiment at St. Charles, Illinois, and in the spring of 1864 was sent to Alton, Illinois, to guard prisoners, thence to Jefferson Barracks, and from there to Glasgow, Missouri, where he took part in the battle of Allen Station, July 24. In December, 1864, he was sent with his regi- ment to Jefferson City, thence to Fort Riley. The regiment wintered at Rolla, Missouri, then went to Alton, where they had an en- gagement with guerrillas. The regiment then was sent to Jefferson City, taking part in Price's last raid through Missouri. They were in the saddle fifty-nine days, from Jefferson City back to Rolla; July 14, 1865, they were ordered to the plains in Kansas, this being their last campaign. Mr. Vroom received his discharge at Fort Leaven worth, being mustered out December 18, 1865. November 14, 1866, he was married to Almira Webster, born in Bath, Steuben County, New York, in 1842, living there till her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Vroom have three children-Charles W., born July 3, 1868, in Steuben County, New York; Lotta M., born April 27, 1874, and Nettie C., born June 24, 1878, both natives of Black Hawk County. In politics Mr. Vroom casts his suffrage with the Republican party. Mrs. Vroom's parents, Orin and Caroline (Black) Webster, were natives of New York State, the father born in Herkimer County, Octo- ber 8, 1800, and the mother born in Steuben County, December 20, 1807. They were married in Steuben County, February 5, 1833, where the father died July 26, 1860. He was a son of Josiah and Abigail (Bab- cock) Webster, both of whom were born in Connecticut and died in Steuben County, New York, the father September 1, 1852, aged seventy-seven years and ten months, and the mother January 31, 1861, aged eighty-six years. Mrs. Vroom's maternal grandfather, John Black, spent part of his life in Steuben County. He was a soldier
in the war of the Revolution, and for his services his widow, Orissa Black, received a pension. Mr. Vroom's parents, George and Saley (Havens) Vroom, were natives of New Jersey, the father born February 12, 1809, and the mother February 8, 181I. They were married in Steuben County, New York, in February, 1832. The mother died September 1, 1849, the father surviv- ing till September 13, 1864. Mr. Vroom's grandparents, George and Jane Vroom, died in New York State, the former in 1842, and the latter May 18, 1857, at the advanced age of ninety years. All were members of the Presbyterian church.
OHN STEWART, farmer and stock-raiser, section 9, Barclay Township, was born in Scotland, October 21, 1811, a son of James and Isabella (McDermit) Stewart. He was reared in his native country, and after reaching manhood devoted his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits till 1855, when he came to America and went to Califor- nia, where he remained eight years, engaged in mining, and while there he accumulated considerable wealth. In 1863 he returned to Scotland and remained four years, and in 1867 came again to America and located in Black Hawk County, lowa. He bought 160 acres of wild land in Barclay Township, to which he has added till he now has a fine farm of 320 acres and also owns forty acres in Lester Township. His homestead, which he calls Glenlyon Farm, was named for the glen where he was reared, to which he has always been very much attached. Mr. Stewart is truly a self-made man. Start- ing in life a poor young man, he has by his indomitable will and energy made a success of his business ventures, and has acquired a pleasant and comfortable home and an abundance of this world's goods for his
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earthly requirements. Not alone has he won financial success, but by his honorable, upright life, genial, social manners, and friendly, obliging disposition he has won scores of friends who esteem and admire him for his many excellent qualities. In all his endeavors he has been assisted by a noble, unselfish wife, who has shared his trials and joys for nearly twenty years. Mr. Stewart was married in Scotland, April 16, 1867, to Isabella Robertson, who was born in Dundee, October 12, 1843, a daugh- ter of Alexander and Christiana (McNaugh- ton) Robertson. Her father died when she was cleven months old, and her mother is still living in Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Stew- art have had thirteen children of whom James and four infants are deceased. The living are-Christiana Ann, Isabella, James, Maggie and Agnes (twins), John, Catherine, and Grace E. In politics Mr. Stewart is a Republican.
ILLIAM BEATY, proprietor of the saw and grist mills, sorghum mill, and cheese factory at Finch- ford, Black Hawk County, was born in Clearfield County, Penn- sylvania, August 30, 1832, a son of George and Mary (Way) Beaty, natives of Pennsylvania, the father born in Dauphin County in 1809, and the mother in Center County, May 30, 1808, the latter dying on her fifty-third birthday. His father was at one time engaged in a woolen-mill,and after- ward became proprietor of a foundry, where his son, William, learned the mold- er's trade. The father was also an exten- sive lumber dealer in Pennsylvania, owning a saw-mill and renting another, running them both day and night for some years. He came with his son William to Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin where he spent the winterof 1854, when he bought 440 acres of land about twenty miles west of Madison,
where he has since been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. William being the only son his father gave him a saw-mill and 100 acres of timbered land when he wastwenty- one years of age. He came to Wisconsin with his parents and two sisters, living at home about nine years after coming West, when he moved to a farm in Black Earth Village, Dane County, Wisconsin, where he carried on farming for sixteen years. In 1879 he sold his farm and bought his prop- crty in Finchford, Black Hawk County, Iowa, coming here on June 19, 1879. His mills are situated on the west fork of the Cedar, and are run by water-power. Both are custom mills. His sorghum-mill is also run by water-power, but is evaporated by a steam boiler. He has twenty-five acres of land around the mill, and also owns forty acres on section 7, besides some timbered land on section 34. During the y car 1885 he made 4,875 gallons of sorghum. Mr. Beaty was married February 19, 1862, to Cordelia Smith, who was born in Green County, Wisconsin, September 4, 1842, a daughter of David and Caroline (Travis) Smith. Her father was born in New Bruns- wick in 1819, and her mother was born near St. Catharines, Canada, in 1819. Mr. and Mrs. Smith soon after their marriage moved to Green County, Wisconsin, where they lived on a farm a few ycars. They then bought a farm in Dane County, Wisconsin, where they made their home for about twenty years. They then removed to Marion County, Iowa, living there till their death. Mr. and Mrs. Beaty have had six children-David G., born December 9, 1862, in Dane County, Wisconsin, married Mary Yocum, and has one child, John; George Franklin, born March 13, 1864, died Sep- tember 27, 1864 ; Anna E., born January 9, 1867, died April 14, 1867; Frederick G., born August 15, 1868; Lafayette W., born February 22, 1870; William S., born De- cember 9, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Beaty arc
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members of the Christian church. In pol- itics he affiliates with the Republican party. While living in Black Earth, Dane County, Wisconsin, he served as assessor for two years.
LIAS IRISH came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in April, 1883, and settled on the farm which he then bought, on section 2, Poyner Township, where he has since made his home. He now has an excellent farm containing thirty acres of well-cultivated land, and is engaged in general farming. Mr. Irish was born in Pawling, Dutchess County, New York, March 7, 1830, a son of Jonathan and Ruth (Wood) Irish, the former born in Pawling, August 23, 1794, and the latter a native of Fairfield County, Connecticut, born May 26, 1794. The father died June 22, 1876. He was a son of Amos Irish, a native of England, who settled in Dutchess County in an early day. The mother died in Dutchess County, March 12, 1830, when our subject was but five days old. The father was a wagon-maker by trade, in con- nection with which he followed farming. When Elias was four years old he removed his family to Washington, Dutchess County, and there our subject grew to manhood. His first employment was on the Harlem Railroad, beginning as a brakeman, and from that position he rose to conductor and engineer, having been in the employ of the railroad for fifteen years. He left the railroad in 1857, since which he has made farming his principal occupation. He was first married in February, 1857, to Sarah Jane Benson, who was born December 13, 1830, in Dover, Dutchess County, New York. She died May 22, 1876, leaving two children-Frederick M., born June 2, 1860, now teaching in Amenia, Dutchess County, and Samuel B., born May 2, 1863, now 31
clerking in a hotel in Poughkeepsie, New York. Mr. Irish was again married Feb. 26, 1882, to Phœbe H. Jennings, a native of New Fairfield, Connecticut, born April 15, 1837, daughter of Jesse L. and Maria (Haynes) Jennings. In politics Mr. Irish is a Republican. While living in Dutchess County he served as township assessor and collector. Mr. Jennings, father of Mrs. Irish, died August 25, 1882, on the same farm on which he was born March 21, 1808, a native of Fairfield County, Connecticut. His father, Silas Jennings, was born in the same county May 4, 1779, dying November 16, 1854. He was the son of Lyman, the son of Daniel, whose father was one of the first of the Jennings ancestors in America that came over from England. Mrs. Jen- nings, mother of Mrs. Irish, was born Jan- uary 1, 18II, in Pawling, New York, and died February 15, 1875. She was a daugh- ter of Andrew and Phoebe (Howard) Haynes. Her father was born April 25, 1785, a son of Caleb Haynes, Jr., who was born in Pawling, January 30, 1761. He was the son of Caleb Haynes, Sr., who was born in 1737 and died July 26, 1823, in Paw- ling, New York.
F. ROBE, farmer and fine-stock raiser, section 24, Fox Town- ship, was born in Morgan County, Indiana, September II, 1856, a son of William and Nancy Robe, natives of Ohio, the father of Scotch-Irish descent, and the mother of New England parentage. William Robe was a strong union man all his life, and during the war of the Rebellion was shot on his own farm by a rebel neighbor for daring to assert his principles. Our subject early learned the practical part of farming, having as a youth to work for his own maintenance. He is a young man of good habits, strict business
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integrity, and by industry and frugality has accumulated a good property. He has a fine farm of 160 acres, and his residence and other building improvements are models of comfort and convenience. He makes a specialty of fine-stock raising, and his herd of short-horn cattle are unsur- passed, as are also his herd of swine, num- bering at present over 100 head. They are of the Duroc-Jersey and Poland-China breeds. He is also a breeder of golden spangled crested Polish and Plymouth Rock fowls, and mammoth bronze turkeys. Stock for sale at all times. Mr. Robe was mar- ried in Black Hawk County, Iowa, Decem- ber 11, 1879, to Alice A. Harvey, a na- tive of Black Hawk County, Iowa, daugh- ter of John and Nancy Harvey. They have one child-Alma O., born in Black Hawk County, December 26, 1.883.
HOMAS J. HUMPHREY, section 16, Eagle Township, was born in Licking County, Ohio, October 23, 1846. His parents, Thomas J. and Mary (Williams) Humphrey, were natives of Wales and came to the United States at the ages respectively of nineteen and sixteen years. They were married in Utica, New York, in 1828, and for fifteen years made Oneida County their home, and in 1843 removed to Licking County, Ohio. Their family consisted of ten children, eight born in New York and two in Ohio, viz .: Evan, who died in Waterloo in March, 1874; Jacob, now of Waterloo; Hugh, who died in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1878; Isaac, late of Dakota, died in Eagle Township, February 22, 1885, while here on a visit; Mrs. Margaret Gard- ner and Mrs. Mary Brunson, of Eagle Township ; Mrs. Elizabeth Davis and Mrs. Charlotte Wagar, of Geneseo, Tama Coun- ty ; Mrs. Winnifred Wagar, of Eagle Town-
ship, and Thomas J., who is the youngest of the family. In 1856 the family moved to La Salle County, Illinois, and there the father died in 1857. In 1863 the mother and her son Evan removed to Black Hawk County, Iowa, and located on section 16, Eagle Township, where she died in 1867. The widow and family of Evan now live on section 10, Eagle Township. In 1864 Thomas J. Humphrey left La Salle County, Illinois, and March 7 reached Black Hawk County, Iowa. In 1866 he bought forty acres of land, to which in 1867 he added another forty acres and immediately began its improvement. He has increased his possessions till his farm contains 160 acres of valuable land, and the thrift and good management of the owner are evident from the good building improvements and pleas- ant surroundings. He was married April 3, 1872, to Miss Olive Roberts, who was born in Oswego County, New York, De- cember 18, 1853, a daughter of Tudor and Elizabeth Roberts. Their only child, Maud, was born May 1, 1875. Mrs. Humphrey is a lady of culture and refinement, and has been of inestimable assistance to her hus- band in the building and beautifying of their home. Her parents are both natives of Wales, her father coming to America when twenty-eight and her mother when sixteen years of age. They were married in Oneida County, New York, October 20, 1835, and came to Iowa in March, 1860, the father dying July 31 of the same year. The mother now makes her home with Mrs. Humphrey. Her children are six in number, viz .: Humphrey, of Waterloo; Elizabeth, deceased; Thomas, of Buena. Vista County, Iowa; Mrs. Susan Parish, also of Buena Vista County ; Mrs Mary Ravlin, deceased, and Mrs. Humphrey. Mrs. Humphrey is a member of the Baptist church. Although a member of no relig- ious organization, Mr. Humphrey is a firm believer in Christianity. He in politics af-
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filiates with the Republican party, and is an ardent supporter of its principles. He has served his township in several official relations, among others those of assessor, trustee and school director.
OHN BAKER, farmer, Barclay Township, residing on section 29, is a native of Germany, re- maining there till four years of age, when he came to America with his parents. He lived in Stephenson County, Illinois, with his brother till 1860 when he settled on his present farm in Bar- clay Township, Black Hawk County, Iowa. His first purchase here was eighty acres of unimproved land, which he commenced at once to put under cultivation, and subse- quently added another eighty acres till his home farm now consists of 160 acres of well-improved land, with commodious resi- dence and farm buildings. Besides his home farm he also owns forty acres of land in Poyner Township, this county, all his property having been acquired by his own industry and perseverance. Mr. Baker was married in Freeport, Illinois, in 1866, to Rachel Rudle who was born in Germany June 6, 1847. They have five children- William O., Rosa, Archie, Bertha M. and one unnamed. Mr. Baker enlisted in the late war in 1863, a member of Company K, Forty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and partici- pated in several hard-fought battles. He received an honorable discharge at New Orleans. He is a man much respected in his neighborhood, and has been elected to several of the minor offices of his township, all of which he has filled with satisfaction to his constituents. Mr. Baker's parents had a family of six children-Catherine, wife of John Rice, of Illinois; Elizabeth, wife of L. Smith, of Hamilton County, Iowa; Jacob, of Poyner Township, Black Hawk County;
Barbara, wife of Christian Raubenheimer; Mary, wife of Henry Raubenheimer, and John, our subject. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rudle-Hannah, wife of Jacob Eisle; Leonard, of Dakota ; Christian W., of Kansas; Mrs. Catharine Weinicke, of Illinois; Rachel, wife of our subject ; Rose, wife of William Myer, of Dakota; William; John; Louisa, wife of Jacob Fye, of Illinois; Lydia, wife of David Fye; Matthias and Jacob.
M. O'KEEFFE is a native of Coun- ty Cork, Ireland, born in 1817. He served an apprenticeship at gardening, but followed mining prin- cipally till he came to America, his father being an underground agent or superintendent of a coal mine near his native city. He was married in London, England, in 1851, to Catherine Murphy, and of the six children born to this union all are deceased-Nellie died in England when an infant; Mathew, at the age of six years; John P., aged nineteen years ; Charles, aged four years, and two who died in in- fancy unnamed. He came to America with his wife in 1854, who died in Raymond, Black Hawk County, in the spring of 1861. He was again married in June, 1862, in Du- buque, Iowa, to Susan Kerin, who was born in County Clare, Ireland, April 28, 1817. She came to America in 1849 and lived most of the time in Connecticut till 1854, when she came to Dubuque. Mr. O'Keeffe came to Dubuque in 1855, and commenced as a common laborer, grading on what is now known as the Pacific & Sioux City Railroad. Although this was his first ex- perience at this sort of work, he displayed such an aptitude for it and made such rapid progress that in 1861 he was made foreman of section 14, which position he held until 1869, when he resigned. He then settled
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on his present farm in Raymond, which he had bought February 2, 1864, which he has converted from a wild state to a well-culti- vated farm. He has now Ho acres, valued at $30 per acre, with a comfortable resi- dence and good out buildings, and is now living somewhat retired from the active duties of life. In politics Mr. O'Keeffe was a Republican until the last election, when he voted the Democratic ticket. He has led too industrious a life to accept any of- fices in this country, although he has had tendered him most of the township offices. In religious belief Mr. O'Keeffe is a Cath- olic.
B F. BROWN, merchant and station agent at Winslow, Black Hawk County, was born July 14, 1841, in Fulton County, Indiana, a son of Henry W. and Mary J. (Rannells) Brown. His father was born in Maryland in 1813, and his mother was born near Winchester, Virginia, in 1820. They were married in Wyandot County, Ohio, and soon after went to Fulton County, Indiana, and engaged in farming. For three years prior to his death Mr. Brown was en- gaged in the mercantile business in Roch- ester, Indiana, dying at that place in 1851. His widow still resides at Rochester. Her father abhorred slavery, on account of which he freed his slaves, and came from his home in Virginia to Wyandot County, Ohio. B. F., whose name heads this sketch, was reared to manhood in his native county, and in his youth attended school at Urbana, Ohio. On the breaking out of the late war he enlisted in the three-months service in Company D, Thirteenth Ohio Infantry, and was sent to Camp Jackson, at Columbus, Ohio, thence to Camp Denison, near Cincinnati. He re-enlisted in Com- pany A, Forty-eighth Ohio Infantry, and was on camp duty at Camp Denison almost
a year when he was discharged on account of disability. When he returned home he weighed less than ninety-two pounds, and after regaining his health he enlisted July 19, 1862, in Company D, Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry, being mustered in at In- dianapolis sometime in August, 1862. Hc was sent with his regiment to Louisville, Kentucky, which was soon after on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, where they were sent to remove the debris from a tunnel near Gallatin, Tennessee, which had been placed there by Morgan's men, it tak- ing forty men, working at each end night and day, one month, to remove it. The regiment was then encamped for a month near Pilot Knob, and soon after was ordered back to Gallatin, where it was on guard duty till January 15, 1863, when it ad- vanced to Nashville, and from there was sent to Triune, Tennessee, encamping there till June 22, 1863. Mr. Brown participated with his regiment in the battles of Perry- ville, Kentucky, Chickamauga, Chattanoo- ga; Mission Ridge, Resaca, after which the regiment went to Ringgold, Georgia, and was there encamped during the winter of 1863-'64. He was wounded at Alatoona Mountains, Georgia, in the right foot by a minie-bali when he was sent to the hospital at Chattanooga, thence to the hospital at Nashville where he remained a month, thence to Totten Hospital, Louisville, Ken- tucky, thence to City Hospital, Indianapo- lis, Indiana. Gangrene subsequently set in, from which he has never recovered, and is now quite lame. He was discharged from the hospital at Indianapolis, May 17, 1865, when he returned to Rochester, In- diana, and has since drawn a small pension for his services in the war. October 13, 1864, he was married to Mary E. Powers, who was born in Whitley County, Indiana, May 26, 1845, a daughter of Ellis R. and Sarah (Shoemaker) Powers. Her father died at Rochester, Indiana, in January,
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1881, aged sixty-three years, and her moth- er is now living with her son, Francis M. Powers, a farmer of Union Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two children-Charles E., born July 17, 1867, and Genevieve, born November 23, 1868, both natives of Rochester. After return-
ing from the army Mr. Brown kept a grocery store in Rochester for two months, and in October, 1865, he removed to Cedar Falls, Iowa, remaining there till the follow- ing June when he returned to Rochester, and engaged in farming. In November, 1869, he returned to Cedar Falls, remain- ing there six years, and in 1875 took charge of the station at Winslow. In 1879 he built his present store which he filled with a general stock of goods, and has since car- ried on a successful mercantile trade, his annual sales now amounting to about $7,000. His business has steadily increased since its establishment, and in 1885 he built an addition to his store, 12 x 40 feet, making a double store. His wife and daughter are both telegraph operators, and attend to the business of the railroad office. In politics Mr. Brown affiliates with the Republican party. He has served as township clerk since coming here. He is a comrade of Janesville Post, No. 172, G. A. R., Depart- ment of Iowa.
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B. DARLING, M. D., of La Porte, Iowa, is a native of Clinton County, Ohio, a son of John and Amanda Darling. He was reared to manhood in his native State, re- ceiving his primary education in the public schools and seminary of Clarksville, Ohio, and later attended the Delaware Uni- versity at Delaware, Ohio. In 1856 he at- tended the Ohio Medical College, of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and the following year attended Starling Medical College, of Co-
lumbus, Ohio. He graduated in 1858 at the College of Medicine and Surgery, and in March, 1872, from the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati. He practiced for a short time at Westboro, Ohio, and subse- quently went to Southern Missouri, where he continued the practice of his profession until the beginning of the war. He has been a resident of La Porte City about twelve years, and during this time has built up a large and lucrative practice, es- tablishing a professional reputation second to none in Black Hawk County. The Doc- tor was married in Ohio, June 22, 1857, to Elizabeth Summers, of Westboro, that State, and of the ten children born to this union only four are now living-Grant, Frank, Lulie and Gracie. Doctor Darling served in the late war, enlisting as a pri- vate in Company H, Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry, much of his time, however, while in the service being devoted to his profes- sional duties in the "Vest and Southwestern States. He received his discharge at the close of the war, having been in the service three years. In politics the Doctor affili- ates with the Republican party.
OHN N. FELMLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Cedar Falls Town- ship, is a native of New Jersey, born June 23, 1835, a son of David and Sarah Felmley. His paternal great-grandfather, William Felmley, was an officer in the American army during the war of the Revolution, and his mater- nal grandfather, John Logan, served as a Major in the war of 1812. Our subject was but three years of age when his parents moved to Seneca County, New York, and in 1846 he was taken by them to Winneba- go County, Illinois, where his father died. He received a good common-school educa- tion, and subsequently was successfully en-
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