Historical and biographical record of Black Hawk County, Iowa, Part 41

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) cn
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 640


USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > Historical and biographical record of Black Hawk County, Iowa > Part 41


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wife of Henry H. Glenney ; Sarah, wife of Henry R. Gochnour; Annie, wife of Jacob G. Bickley; John, with his parents, and Philetus, who died at the age of seven years. Mr. Burgoon followed farming suc- cessfully in Dubuque County till 1865, when he sold his property there and came to Black Hawk County, locating on his present farm, where he owns 170 acres of choice land. In politics Mr. Burgoon casts his suffrage with the Republican party.


SAAC M. REED was born near Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, No- vember 1, 1819, a son of Thomas and Esther (Lusk) Reed, both of whom are of Scotch origin. His paternal ancestors can be traced as far back as about the year 1650. His grand- father, William Reed, settled with his family in what is now Clinton County, Pennsyl- vania, prior to the war of the Revolution, and the family escaped the horrors of the Wyoming Valley Indian massacre only through the friendliness of an Indian neigh- bor named Joab Jelloway, who managed to inform them of the intended massacre in time to effect an escape. The parents of our subject had a family of ten children, of whom only four are now living-David L., Esther L., Thomas C. and Isaac M. Isaac M. was reared on a farm, his education be- ing such as could be obtained in the dis- trict schools of that early day. On attaining his twenty-first year he went to Wyandot County, Ohio, where he bought a large tract of land, and made his home in that county about seventeen years. He was married while living in Wyandot County to Elizabeth Bare. They have three chil- dren- Esther L., Samuel B. and Kate. Samuel B. is a graduate of the law depart- ment of the Iowa State University, of Iowa City, now living in Custer County, Ne-


braska. Mr. Reed left Ohio in 1857, and came with his family to Black Hawk County, Iowa, he and his brother, Thomas C., purchasing 180 acres in Cedar Falls Town- ship, he subsequently buying his brother's interest in the land. Mr. Reed spent about two years, from 1849 till 1851, in the Cali- fornia gold mines, when he returned to his home in Ohio. He has been a resident of Cedar Falls Township for many years, and is a member of the Old Settlers Society of Black Hawk County. He has served as trustee of Cedar Falls Township, where he ranks among the best farmers and citizens. He is a consistent member of the Presby- terian church. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and is an active worker for his party.


OHN MOORE, one of the old and respected settlers of Cedar Falls, is a native of Tennessee, born October 22, 1827. When he was but three years of age he was taken by his parents, Samuel and Nancy Moore, to Hamilton County, Indiana, and there he grew to manhood. He subsequently went with his father's family to Lee County, Illinois, remaining there but a short time, and in 1857 came to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where both parents lived till their death. With the exception of a few years spent at chair-making and in other mechanical pur- suits Mr. Moore has followed farming through life, and is at present residing on his farm near Cedar Falls. May 3, 1849, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Cash, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Cash, natives of Tennessee. Of the eight children born to them, one daughter and four sons still survive-Nancy E., Andrew J., William R., Wallace and Arthur. Mr. Moore served as a soldier during the war of the Rebellion, enlisting as a private in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry in January, 1864,


D.S. Pregare.


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and during his service of twenty months he participated in many important engage- ments. He is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he is a Republican.


EV. DAVID S. MORGAN, de- ceased, was born in Johnson, Vermont, January 24, 1835, the second son of a family of five chil- dren, three boys and two girls. When twelve years of age he was bereft of the care of a mother, but her early training and counsels were not forgotten, and in his youth he decided to devote his life to the ministry. His father, David Morgan, was a righteous, godly man, earnestly devoted to the spiritual welfare of his children. The noble traits of char- acter and many virtues of the father were transmitted to the son, and at a tender age bore fruits which ripened into a useful life, devoted to the Master. His parents being in moderate circumstances, it became necessary for David to depend on his own exertions for an education. He attended the common schools and then entered the academy of his native town. When he was sixteen years of age his father sold his farm in Vermont, and bought one near An- dover, Massachusetts, and he at once entered Phillips Academy, and after tak- ing a regular course entered Amherst College. In the meantime, however, he taught in the common schools of New England, and acted as colporteur for the American Bible Society, thus obtaining the money to enable him to pursue his studies. After attending Amherst two years he went to Union College, at Schenectady, New York, from which he graduated in 1860. In the fall of this year he entered Union Theological Seminary, New York City, remaining there until 1862, when he returned to Massachusetts and soon after en-


listed in the First Battalion, Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, and was stationed at Maryland Heights. In the spring of 1864 he was at the battle of Spottsylvania Court- House, where General Grant sent the now famous dispatch, " I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer." While in the army he was wounded in the shoul- der, incapacitating him for a time for active duty, and it is to this wound, which effected his lung, that may be traced the origin of the disease which caused his death. This injury, however, did not per- manently separate him from his company. He continued in the service for some time after, and was finally discharged July 23, 1864. Having acquired some knowledge of medicine while in college, he acted as Hospital Steward at Maryland Heights, and while there one of his company, Will iam H. Wardwell, was run over by a gun carriage and almost instantly killed. It became his painful duty to announce this sad news to the family, and thus opened a correspondence with Miss Charlotte B., eldest daughter of Henry and Angeline Wardwell, which ended in their marriage May 24, 1867. He had before this com- pleted his theological studies at " Union," and in April, 1866, had been licensed to preach by the Third Presbyterian Church, of New York City. In June, 1867, he was ordained and installed pastor of the Congregational church at Worthington, Massachusetts. In the fall of 1869 he came West and was installed pastor of the Pres- byterian church at Montello, Wisconsin, and also of the church at Buffalo, at the same time supplying two out stations. In 1872 he was advised, on account of his. health, to change his location, and in Octo- ber located in La Porte City, Iowa, where he was elected pastor of the Presbyterian church, although never regularly installed. He remained pastor-elect until March 2, 1875, when a severe hemorrhage of the


39


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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.


lungs incapacitated him for active work. From this time he was unable to perform the labors of a pastor, preaching subse- quently only on rare occasions. Although not anticipating complete recovery he in- dulged in the hope that he might again be able to preach and assume the duties of the ministry. In December, 1878, he became more seriously ill, and on January 10, 1879, his spirit took its flight from its carthly tenement to its mansion above. His final illness was marked by great suffering, which continued until a short time before his death, when he became free from pain, and quietly fell asleep. He bore his afflic- tions with that fortitude and patience char- acteristic of a truc Christian. The last half day of his life he was almost unconscious, but consciousness returned before his death, and he uttered words of trust in Christ, and a longing for the rest, and home prepared for him. He left a wife and four children-Henry H., Alice C., Ellen L. and David W .- to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father. Thus passed to the better life a noble man, whose record as a Christian minister and honored citizen is a lasting inheritance to his children. The wife with her family are residents of La Porte City, where they have many friends, who in their hour of need and trial gave them the assistance which comes only from sympathising hearts and true Chris- tian friendship.


LWOOD SAUL, one of the enter- prising farmers and stock-raisers of Cedar Falls Township, was born June 15, 1854, in Black Hawk County, Iowa, a son of David and Margaret Ann Saul, who came from Ohio in an early day, being among the first settlers of Union Township. Of three chil- dren born to his parents our subiect is the only one living. He was reared on a farm


and has always followed agricultural pur- suits, his education being received at the district schools. December 23, 1875, Mr. Saul was united in marriage to Miss Mag- gic Gibson, a daughter of Robert and Lillie Gibson, of Grundy County, Iowa. This union has been blessed with four children -Harry, born November 12, 1876; Flor- ence, born November 27, 1878 ; Nettie, born March 4, 1881, and David, born February 5, 1883. Mr. Saul settled on his present farm in the year 1880, which is located west of Cedar Falls. He is a much-re- spected citizen of his township, and is meeting with success in his agricultural pursuits, being classed among our best citizens. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat.


HOMAS AUNGER, son of Thomas and Mary Aunger, was born in Cornwall, England, De- cember 12, 1835. He remained in his native country till attaining his majority, and in his youth attended the common schools. He immigrated to Canada in the spring of 1856, making his home at Bowmanville, Ontario, for a short time. April 14, 1858, he was married to Miss Fanny Smale, daughter of Richard and Lovedy Smale, who were natives of England. This union has been blessed with one daughter- Mary E., who was born October 25, 1862. In 1858 Mr. Aun- ger removed to Waukesha County, Wis- consin, remaining there three years, when, in 1861, he went to California, where he spent almost seven years, and during this time he was engaged in mining, teaming or farming. After leaving California he returned to Waukesha County, coming by way of the Isthmus of Panama, locating there but a short time. He came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in the fall of 1868, when he settled on his present farm in


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Cedar Falls Township. Mr. Aunger com- menced life for himself on limited means, but has always been an industrious and hard-working man, and by his own efforts has acquired his fine farm, which contains 125 acres of valuable land, and the log cabin in which he first settled here has given place to a more pretentious and commo- dious residence. Mr. Aunger has served many years as school director. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Republican party. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both are highly respected citizens of Cedar Falls Township.


REDERICK MIXDORF, farmer and stock-raiser, section 5, East Waterloo Township, was born in a small village in Germany, called Vahnerow, September 1I, 1829. When he was a year old his parents removed to another village where he was reared and educated till fourteen years of age. He then began to learn the tailor's trade, but not caring for it, he commenced working on a farm. In 1857 he took pas- sage in a steamer from Hamburg, and sailed for America, landing at Quebec, thence to Chicago, and from there went to Milwaukee, from which place he went about twenty-five miles into the country where he began working on a farm, being employed two and a half years by the same man. During this time he was married to Miss Anna Hafamann, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and to this union have been born six chil- dren-August, Frank, William R., John (deceased), Charles L. and Mary C. After leaving the farm near Milwaukee he en- gaged in farming on his own account on rented land, and in the fall of 1864 he re- moved with his family to Marshall County, Iowa. £ A year later he came to Black


Hawk County and settled on the farm where he has since resided. His land which was raw prairie he has converted into a well-improved farm which contains 145 acres. He first engaged in raising wheat, but later commenced raising hogs and cat- tle. He has been rather unfortunate in his hogs, losing some years as many as a hun- dred. Mr. Mixdorf has served very ac- ceptably as road supervisor for three years.


AMES T. GRAHAM, deceased, was born in Tompkins County, "New York, March 17, 1821, a son of James Graham, of Scotch descent. In his youth he learned the shoe- maker's trade which he followed till twenty-five years of age. He came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in 1855, when he purchased 160 acres of land on section II, Barclay Township. He immediately set- tled on this land, which he cultivated, and added to it by subsequent purchases, till at his death, which occurred October 19, 1885, he owned 400 acres in one body, beside property in other counties. He was an in- dustrious and hard-working man, and these qualities coupled with his good manage- ment caused his success in life, he having commenced life with no capital but a stout heart and a determination to succeed. He was married in 1859 to Marcia Hatch, who was born in Vermont, September 12, 1836, a daughter of Amos and Lucy (Piper) Hatch. To this union were born three children-Ella, now wife of William Walk- er, of Barclay Township ; Ada, living with her mother and attending school, and Car- rie L., deceased. Mr. Graham was drafted into the late war but did not serve, having paid $900 for a substitute. Mr. Graham lived a long and useful life, and was highly esteemed in Black Hawk County, leaving at his death a host of friends. He donated


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the ground in the township where he is buried. He served as supervisor, trus- tee and treasurer, and held other minor offices of his township, always with satisfac- tion to his constituents. He became a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church of Jesup in 1860 and lived a consistent and worthy Christian during life. He gave liberally to the support of the gospel and benevolent objects. His life closed after months of in- tense suffering, which he bore with pa- tience and resignation to the will of God.


AMES WEEKS, son of William and Marian (Paige) Weeks, is a native of Devonshire, England, where he was born December 20, 1815. His parents were both natives of England, being descendants of the oldest families in Devonshire. The father died at St. Thomas, Canada. Mr. Weeks, our subject, followed farming in his native country till 1860 when he came to America, in March of that year. He lived on a rented farm for three years after coming to this country, after which he followed the butcher's trade, and dealt in cattle for five years. In 1868 he purchased eighty acres of unimproved land which he made into a cultivated farm on which he resided sev- eral years, and in connection with the cul- tivation of his land he also followed auc- tioneering with good success for a number of years. Mr. Wceks was married in Dev- onshire, England, September 29, 1840, to Charity Palmer, who was born in England, March 29, 1819, a daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Palmer, who remained in their native country, England, till their death. This union has been blessed with six chil- dren-Elizabeth M., Mary A., James, Char- ity, Miriam E. and John C. Elizabeth married Henry Spedding, of Burford, On- tario, and to them have been born two


children-Della Iona and Alfred. Mary A. is the wife of Edward Berry, of Cleve- land, Ohio, and has two children-Ethen E. and Mary A. James has been twice married. By his marriage with Amelia Wiley he has five children-James S., Ernest, John, Maude A. and Henry. For his second wife he married Mary Wiley, sister of his first wife, and to this union there has been born one child. Charity S. married. Ezekiel Hicks, of Devonshire, Eng- land, and has three children -- Mary E., Thadies and Stephen. Miriam E. married Henry Dorman and has one child -- Gracie E. Mr. Weeks is now devoting his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits his present farm being on section 36, Waterloo Town- ship.


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ILLIAM J. EMERY, farmer and stock-raiser, section 36, Barclay Township, was born in Steuben County, New York, February 14, 1841, a son of Abram and Eliza (Thomas) Emery, natives of New York, of Scotch descent. His father was a farmer, and consequently his youth was spent in assisting in the labors incident to that life, and he early learned lessons that have been of lasting benefit to him in his later life. In 1867 he left his native State and came to Iowa, locating in Barclay Township, Black Hawk County. He had but $14 when he started in life for himself, but by close application to business, hard work and economy he has placed himself on a sound financial basis, and has a pleas- ant home and a good farm of eighty acres. He makes a specialty of Holstein cattle and Norman and French-Canadian horses, hav- ing some of the finest animals in the county, noticeably so his four-year-old stallion. He is one of the enterprising, public-spirited citizens of the county, and occupies a high


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


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place in the estimation of his fellow towns- men. He was married in Steuben County, New York, August II, 1864, to Phobe Labauer, who was born in that county August II, 1844, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (McMichael) Labauer. They have one child-Elizabeth A. Mr. Emery is a member of Lodge No. 222, F. & A. M., Jesup, Iowa. He has served his township as supervisor several terms in an efficient and satisfactory manner.


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AMUEL SMITH, son of Henry and Polly Smith, was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1842. His mother died when he was but three years of age, and after being cared for by his mo- ther's sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, for a few months, he was taken into the family of Michael Tutman, where he had a good home for eighteen years. He received a fair common-school education, and at the age of eighteen became his own master. In November, 1860, he began learning the carpenter's trade, which he has since fol- lowed at various times. He came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in March, 1864, and made his home with his brother, George K. Smith, the following two years. He bought the land where he at present resides, on section 4, in June, 1868, and from the raw prairie he has made one of the best farms in the township, the building im- provements, which are noticeably good, being mainly done by himself. Mr. Smith was married February 16, 1869, to Miss Lydia Casebeer, a native of the same county as her husband, born December 19, 1847. Of the nine children born to this union eight are living-Ellen F., Norman C., Nora E. and Emma B. (twins; the latter died aged seven months), Rollin B., Eliza J., Austin E., Mary E. and Frank W.


Mr. and Mrs. Smith are earnest members of the Brethren church, or Dunkards. In politics Mr. Smith affiliates with the Re- publican party. He is greatly interested in the cause of education, and is now act- ing in the capacity of school, director.


UGH M. BARCLAY was born in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1839, the youngest of six children of James and Mary A. (McKinley) Barclay. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, the father born in Northumberland County, and the mother a native of Union County. They subsequently settled with their family in St. Joseph County, Michigan, from which place they removed to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in 1855, locating in Mount Vernon Township, where the father died in Febru- ary, 1871, aged seventy-three years. The mother died in 1872, aged seventy-five years, her death taking place in Bremer County, Io'va, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Catherine Fountain. Hugh M. Barclay, our subject, was but seventeen years old when he came to this county. His youth was spent in attending the common schools and in assisting his father on the farm. He has followed farming through life, and is now the owner of eighty acres of land on section 36, Mt. Vernon Township, and also owns forty-eight acres on section I, Waterloo Township. He was married July 3, 1866, to Martha J. Messinger, who was born in Marion County, Indiana, December 10, 1843, a daughter of Elias J. and Catherine (Perkins) Messinger, natives of Pennsyl- vania, and Marion County, Indiana, respect- ively. Mrs. Barclay was but two years of age when her parents came to this State, and after living in Lynn County two years they removed to Bremer County, being among the first settlers of that county. In 1867 they came to Waterloo, Black Hawk


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County, where they have since made their home. They have a large interest in the mill at Waterloo, amounting to about $16,000. To Mr. and Mrs. Barclay have been born four children-Charles E., Frank E., Ida M. and William Floyd. In politics Mr. Barclay is a Greenbacker. He has served his township as road supervisor, and has been school director for three years.


OHN BURK, section 6, Benning- ton Township, was born July 30, 1835, in Hesse Darmstadt, Ger- many, a son of John H. and Cathe- rine Burk, the father born in Hesse Darmstadt in 1801, and the mother born in the same year. In 1857 the parents, with their family of three sons, came to this country, and first located in Stephen- son County, Illinois, and in September, 1858, the family removed to Black Hawk County, lowa, settling in Bennington Township on section 7, where the father lived till his death, which occurred in 1882. The mother is still living, making her home with the different members of her family. John Burk, our subject, received his education in the schools of his native country. His father was a weaver by trade, and he was reared to that occupation, which he fol- lowed from the age of fourteen years till twenty-two years of age. He was married December 18, 1864, to Mary Catherine Reinhart, a native of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, born February 18, 1846, a daughter of Casper and Anna M. (Schenk) Reinhart, who were also natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, the father born December 16, 1800, and the mother March 3, 1804. Mrs. Burk was but nine years old when her parents came to America. They lived in Rensselaer County, New York, five years, then came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, and settled in Mount Vernon Township


where both died, the mother December 18, 1881, and the father September 30, 1885. Their children are-Christopher; Caspar (deceased), George, Fred, and Anna Maria, wife of Michael Besh, of Mount Vernon Township. Mr. and Mrs. Burk have six children-Fred, born September 12, 1865; John, December 9, 1867; William, August 9, 1869; Alfred, November 30, 1872; Emma Louisa, March 12, 1876, and Delia M., March 8, 1882. Mr. Burk first began farm- ing on his own account in 1864 on the place where he has since resided. The place when purchased by him was slightly improved and a log shanty had been erected. His farm is now under high cul- tivation, with a comfortable residence, good barn and other farm buildings. He now owns 250 acres, located on sections 6 and 7, Bennington Township. In politics Mr. Burk is a Democrat. He has served his township as assessor two years, highway commissioner several years, and several years as township trustee. He has been justice of the peace ten years. Mr. Burk has two brothers, August and Henry, the former living in Bennington Township and the latter in Waterloo.


H. FILKINS, a prominent and en- terprising citizen of Waterloo Township, was born in New York State, the date of his birth being October 18, 1840. His parents, Rich- ard and Adaline Filkins, were natives of the same State. The father came with his family to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in 1859, and settled in Waterloo Township, where he lived till his death, which occurred in 1869, at the age of sixty-three years. The mother survived till 1884, being at the time of her death seventy-eight years and nine months old. T. H. Filkins came with his parents to this county in 1859 and is now


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living on section 31, Waterloo Township, where he is actively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1868, to Elizabeth Trobridge, who was born in the State of New York in 1842, a daugh- ter of Prosper and Margaret (Sharp) Tro- bridge, who were born in the same State. Eight children have been born to this union-John C., William, Cornelius R., Charles, Addie M., Emma B., Ida and Ralph W. In politics Mr. Filkins casts his suffrage with the Republican party. Both he and his wife belong to the Metho- dist church.


V. SUNDERLIN was born at Auburn, Cayuga County, New York, May 1, 1841, where he was reared till about sixteen years of age. In December, 1856, he came with his parents, William and Elizabeth (Rundles) Sunderlin, to Black Hawk County, Iowa, where he has since resided with the exception of two years spent in Bremer County. He has always followed agricultural pursuits, in which he has met with success, his farm in Mt. Ver- non Township comprising 280 acres, of which eighty acres are located on section 8, forty acres on section 9, and 160 acres on section 5, and beside his farm in Mount Vernon he owns forty acres of timber land in Bremer County, Iowa. Mr. Sunderlin was married February 13, 1871, to Sarah E. Brown, born July 31, 1846, a daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Ware) Brown, the father born in England, August II, 18II, and the mother a native of Ireland, born June 10, 1816. Her father has been three times married. His first wife died a year after their marriage, while living in Ireland, to which country he had removed shortly after his marriage. He then married Eliza Ware, and a few years later came with his family to America, first settling in New




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