USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > Historical and biographical record of Black Hawk County, Iowa > Part 46
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EORGE SEVERANCE, proprie- tor of the livery-stable at Hudson, ... ..... was born at Greenfield, Massa- chusetts, November 30, 1827, the third son of Pliny and Sophia Sever- ance, his parents being born, reared and married in the same State. Our subject remained on the home farm till eighteen years of age, when he commenced life on his own account. For six years fol- lowing he was employed in hotels in Spring- field, Massachusetts, and Brattleboro, Ver- mont, after which he worked on his father's farm for two years. He was then employed in a burnishing establishment for three
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years at Glastonbury, Connecticut, and in 1856 he came with his family to Iowa, be- ing a pioneer of Grundy County. He re- calls the fact that he and his brother Fred brought from Dubuque the lumber for the first frame dwelling built in Grundy Cen- ter. Mr. Severance made his first home in Black Hawk County in 1861, on a farm near Hudson, but a year later removed to the farm owned by his brother-in-law, Al- fred Areline. Since 1865 he has made his home in the village of Hudson where he is well established in the livery business. Be- sides his business he also owns a good farm, which is located in Lincoln Township. He was married at Springfield, Massachusetts, November 29, 1849, to Eliza Elizabeth Backus, born in Windham, Connecticut, March 12, 1826. Their family consists of five children-Anne, wife of William Sharp, of Hudson; Belle M., wife of Frederick Denio, of Nebraska; Virginia, at home ; Carrie E., wife of Frank Chambers, of Hud- son, and Charles F., at home. Politically Mr. Severance is a staunch Republican. Our subject's mother, with her three sons, Henry, Charles and Frederick, and a daugh- ter, Ellen, came to Grundy County in 1856. The father and son Henry had visited that county before, Henry buying at that time 240 acres of land and the family located on this land. The father not liking the new country remained in Massachusetts till 1866 when he came to Grundy County, where he died January 18, 1883, aged eighty-seven years, the mother having died in the same county May 28, 1872, aged sev- enty-two years. Both are buried in Grun- dy Center. Of their children Edwin W. now lives in Lincoln Township, this county, he having come to Iowa after the war. Henry's sad fate has never been solved. In 1876 he left his home in Grundy County for Cedar Falls, carrying about $700 with which he was to pay for some land, and is supposed to have been murdered for his
money. A daughter, Sophia, was post- mistress at Grundy Center for several years and also owner of a drug store at the same place. She now lives in New York State. Mary married E. W. Chapin and resides in New York State. Ellen married Alfred Areline and died at Le Mars, Iowa. Charles lives on the homestead in Grundy County, and Frederick is in Kansas.
OBERT CAMPBELL, farmer and stock-raiser, of Spring Creek Township, lives on section 7, where he owns 185 acres of valuable land. He also owns 160 acres in Kossuth County, which is farmed by his second son, Robert. Mr. Campbell was born in Scotland in 1820, a son of Joseph and Ann (Timball) Campbell. His father died in Scotland about 1850, and in 1853 his mother came to America and died about 1858. Our subject came to America in 1844, but subsequently returned to Scot- land and was there married in 1855 to Isa- bella Thompson, who was born in 1825. To them have been born five children- Samuel, of Kossuth County ; Mary J., wife of George Frisby, has one child, Robert ; Ellen L., at home; Robert, of Kossuth County, and Joseph, at home. They also reared and educated Martha L. Wilson, a daughter of John Wilson, an Englishman. Her mother died and she made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Campbell until twenty- one years old, and then went to Nebraska to live with her father, and there married, and now lives in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are members of the Presbyterian church at La Porte. They have been con- nected with that denomination many years and have been earnest and active workers in the church and for the cause of Christi- anity. Mr. Campbell is purely a self-made man, his accumulations being the result
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of combined energy, pluck and indus- try. In his youth he worked at the stone- cutter's trade nine years, but since coming to Black Hawk County he has followed agricultural pursuits. In politics he is in- dependent, casting his vote for men, not party. He has served several years as jus- tice of the peace of his township, a position he is eminently qualified to fill, his keen sense of right making him a just and equitable adviser.
S YLVESTER H. PACKARD, at- torney at law, Cedar Falls, Iowa, was born in Rochester, New York, September 10, 1826, a son of Sylves- ter H. and Clarissa (Wadsworth) Packard, of Welsh and English de- scent, respectively, the mother being a di- rect descendant of the noted Captain Wads- worth who, during the reign of King James II., hid the royal charter in the oak tree. Our subject's father was one of the earliest settlers of Rochester, and for many years was one of its leading business men, being engaged in the manufacture of furniture. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and for a time was Brigadier Inspector of the volunteer militia. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in the pub- lic and high schools of Rochester, and at the age of seventeen years he began the study of law under the preceptorship of Horace Gay, of Rochester, at that time one of the leading lawyers of New York State. Here he continued his legal studies seven years, when he was admitted to the bar in 1850. He remained with Mr. Gay for three years after being admitted to the bar, and in 1854 he came to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he opened a law office in part- nership with W. H. McClure. In connection with their legal practice Mr. Packard pub- lished the Cedar Falls Banner about three
years, which paper is supposed to be the first published in Black Hawk County. Since disposing of this paper, Mr. Packard has devoted his attention to the practice of law, being at times associated with W. H. McClurc. Mr. Packard was married at Cedar Falls to Miss Z. C. Barnes, and of the four children born to this union two are living-Jeffrey G. and Helen M. December 3, 1858, having been at Sioux Rapids attending to his real estate interests, Mr. Packard started on horse- back for Fort Dodge, when he was over- taken by a northwestern blizzard, and for two days and nights he was at its mercy without tasting food, or seeing a human being. This exposure resulted in the freezing of his lower limbs, which subse- quently had to be amputated. Mr. Pack- ard has served as councilman of Cedar Falls, and for many years acted as City Clerk. He served for three years as post- master, and for a time was commissioner of the United States Courts. He is a mem- ber of Black Hawk Lodge, No. 65, A. F. & A. M., of Cedar Falls, and of Valley Chapter, No. 20, R. A. M. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Episcopal church.
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ONATHAN E. BABCOCK, de- ceased, was a native of the State of New York, where he was born in 1838, and in that State he was reared to manhood. After coming to Iowa, he was engaged in clerking for Timothy Elwell, now deceased, at Wa- terloo, Black Hawk County, Mr. Elwell at that time being engaged in the mercan- tile business. After coming to La Porte City he became a partner of his former em- ployer, Mr. Elwell, in Elwell & Babcock's grist-mill at this city, carrying on the busi- ness together till his death. July 9, 1868,
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he was married at La Porte to Martha J. Elwell, and this union was blessed with three children-Mark E., Ida C. and Albert . P. His death occurred July 9, 1875, and was much regretted by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was classed among the live and substantial business men of the place, and was always interested in all enterprises for the good of his county. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and his remains were interred with Masonic rites. In his political views he was a Re- publican.
APTAIN ROBERT J. McQUIL- KIN, one of the enterprising cit- izens of La Porte City, Iowa, was born August 7, 1833, in West- moreland County, Pennsylvania, a son of James and Rebecca McQuil- kin. He was reared in his native State, receiving his education at the academy at Leechburg, Pennsylvania, and after com- pleting his education he taught in the pub- lic schools of Pennsylvania for several years. He came to Iowa in 1855, and for one year taught school at Vandalia, Jasper County, when he returned to Pennsylvania, remaining there till 1861. He then returned to Iowa, and for a short time followed farm- ing in Benton County. He served as a a Captain during the late war, enlisting in August, 1863, in Company D, Thirty-first Iowa Infantry, and for a time formed a part of the Fifteenth Army Corps under Gen- eral Logan. He participated in the battles of Haines Bluff, Arkansas Post, siege of Vicksburg, including the fighting at Cham- pion Hill, the battles of Black River, Look- out Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold and the entire Atlanta campaign, going with Sherman on his march to the sea. He witnessed the surrender of Columbia, and the surrender of the Confederate army
under General Johnston, and participated in the grand review at Washington at the close of the war. He received an honor- able discharge in June, 1865, having served as a brave and gallant soldier. After the war he returned to La Porte City, and for a short time was principal of the high school. He has been engaged in the lum- ber business for many years and is doing an extensive trade, and in this line of busi- ness has met with excellent success. He was married in December, 1866, to Jennie H. Thompson, of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. They have five children- Minnie R., Lizzie J., Hattie B., James E. and Maggie L. Mr. McQuilkin was the first Mayor of La Porte City, holding that office two successive terms. He has also served as city councilman, and for several years held the office of justice of the peace. In politics he affiliates with the Republi- can party. He is a comrade of the Grand Army Post, which he is at present serving as Adjutant, and also belongs to Shield's Lodge, A. O. U. W., of which he has been master workman for two terms. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyte- rian church, of which he is an elder.
DWARD QUACKENBUSH, one of the old settlers of Black Hawk County, Iowa, was born June II, 1827, a native of New York State, and a son of Abraham and Delany (Wolfe) Quackenbush, his Grandfather Quackenbush being one of the first settlers of Otsego County, New York. Of the six children born to his parents, four are living-Catherine, Adelia, Amelia and Edward. Marvin and Maria are deceased. Edward Quackenbush was reared to man- hood in his native county, receiving in his youth a fair education. He subsequently engaged in teaching school, which he fol-
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lowed successfully for a period of twenty years, teaching in New York, Ilinois, Wis- consin and lowa, being one of the first teachers in La Porte City, this county. He left his native State in the spring of 1853, coming West and locating in Kane County, Illinois, where he resided two years. He then went to La Fayette County, Wisconsin, and in 1856 came to Black Hawk County, lowa, buying 120 acres of raw prairie land in Cedar Township, where he lived till 1865. He then removed to La Porte City, where he has since made his home. He was married in the State of New York, March 6, 1853, to Sylvia Eddy, a daughter of David and Polly Eddy, who were na- tives of Vermont. Six children were born to this union-Julia R., Florence B., Amine E., Nettie D., Tuma S. and Dora E. Mr. Quackenbush has, by his industry and good management, become the owner of 218 acres of well-improved land. He has served four years as justice of the peace of Cedar Township, and three years as asses- sor of Big Creek Township. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and was one of the charter members of La Porte City Lodge, No. 216. Both he and his wife are members of the Free-Will Baptist church, which he is serving at present as clerk.
ILLIAM L. FOX, one of the old pioneers of Black Hawk County, and proprietor of the National House of La Porte City, was born February 15, 1827, a son of Enoch and Christiann (Sechler) Fox, and is of German descent. He was first married in 1852 in Pennsylvania, to Sarah" Walts, who was born in that State in 1826, a daugh- ter of Barney and Katie (Shoemaker) Walts, and to this union were born six children- Catherine, wife of M. D. Saunders, of De- catur, Iowa; Cyrus, of Lincoln County,
Nebraska : Christiann, wife of James Boyd ; Mary, wife of George McClintock, of Jack- son ; John, of La Porte City, and Jesse. For his second wife Mr. Fox married Mrs. Alice (Long) Kepkey, in this county, in 1878. Mrs. Fox was first married to John E. Kepkey, who died in 1874. By her first marriage she had two children-Georgic M. and Aurilla E. The latter is deceased. Mr. Fox has been a resident of this county for many years, and has witnessed all the changes which have taken place during the past thirty years. He has one of the best regulated hotels to be found in a place of this size in the State of Iowa, and has con- nected with it first class sample rooms, and livery for the accommodation of his customers.
DWIN W. SEVERANCE, farm- er, section 21, Lincoln Town- ship, is a son of Pliny and So- phia (Wrisley) Severance, a pioneer family of Grundy County, settling there in 1856. He was born in Frank- lin County, Massachusetts, July 16, 1825, the second of a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters. He was reared in the Old Bay State, remaining under the home roof till twenty years of age. He then found employment in a hotel at Springfield, going thence to Bos- ton, Massachusetts, where for five years he was employed at the Revere House. In 1851 he went to Louisville, Kentucky, and a short time later to Columbus, Ohio, and was bookkeeper in the American House four years, and in the Neil House a year. Leaving Columbus he was engaged in the same capacity in the American House, Cleveland, Ohio, a year, and subsequently as clerk in the Briggs House, Chicago, Illinois. Soon after the opening of the Newhall House in Milwaukee, he was em- ployed there as clerk, remaining three
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years. In August, 1860, he left Milwau- kee, and went to Louisville, Kentucky, and was employed in the Louisville Hotel till the breaking out of the Rebellion. When General Rousseau recruited the Fifth Ken- tucky Infantry, he went into the service as its Sutler, and for three years shared the rough fortunes of that regiment. He then became Post Sutler at Taylor Barracks, but in October, 1864, tiring of army life, he closed out his business and became a resi- dent of Black Hawk County, Iowa, buying a farm of 350 acres on section 35, Black Hawk Township, south of the village of Hudson, on which he settled the following December, living there five years to a day, when he moved to Waterloo, where he lived two years. From March, 1872, till March, 1877, he lived in Orange Township, and then moved to the farm where he now lives in Lincoln Township, which he bought in February, 1870. His farm is one of the best in the township, and the thrift and good management of the owner is evident to all, the soil being unusually productive, and the farm buildings are com- modious and in good repair. In politics he. is a Republican, but his independence of thought and action in politics as well other things is well known. His large experience in hotel life added to his life in the army has made him a judge of men, and his friends are among the best citizens of the county. In his likes and dis- likes he is somewhat radical, and as he values friends above everything else, they always receive a hearty welcome, and are made to feel at home when his guests. While in Milwaukee, April 28, 1859, he was married to Carrie A. St. John, who was born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, April I, 1839. Being left an orphan in her infancy, she was reared by Mr. Kean, the first pro- prietor of the Newhall House. They have had a family of seven children-Edwin K., their eldest, was the first child born in the 44
Newhall House ; Charlton M. and William M. were born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky ; Lewis H., Henry W., Mary F. and Joseph- ine were born in Black Hawk County.
ALTER O. RICHARDS, physi- cian and surgeon, of Waterloo, was born November 1, 1820, in Genesee County, New York, a son of Richard and Clarissa A. (Ames) Richards. At the age of seventeen years he removed with his par- ents to Geauga County, Ohio, where he attended school. In 1840 he entered Ober- lin College, from which institution he grad- uated in the class of 1845. He soon after located at Sturgis, Michigan, where he taught school three years, and at the same time studied medicine under James Taft, an eminent physician and surgeon of
that place. After leaving Sturgis he taught school at Lima, Indiana. He took his first course of lectures at Ann Arbor, Michigan, after which he re- turned to the office of his preceptor where he pursued his studies, and in the winter taught school at Lima as before mentioned. He then returned to Ann Ar- bor, and graduated in 1855. The Doctor began the practice of his profession with Dr. Sargent, of Ontario, Indiana, and in the summer of 1855 he came to Waterloo, Black Hawk County, where he has since been actively engaged building a large and lucrative practice. In 1868 Dr. Richards with three other gentlemen organized the Union Milling Company, of Waterloo. He is a member of the National Medical Asso- ciation, and was one of the organizers of the Cedar Valley Medical Association, of which he was a delegate to New Orleans in 1885. He was married to Julia A. Bun- dy, a graduate of a collegiate institute. To them have been born two children-Julian
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E., a graduate of the State University of Iowa City, and editor of the Waterloo Cou- rier, and Effie S., who also attended the State University, now the wife of E. M. John- son, of Minneapolis. The Doctor is a strict Good Templar. He is a member of the Congregational church.
W. LEEPER came to Black Hawk County, lowa, October 11, 1853, from Wyandot County, Ohio, by way of Southern Illinois. He was first employed in husking corn for a man at Cedar" Falls, and in May, 1854, he bought his first land from the Gov- ernment. In the winter of 1853-'54 he was engaged in splitting rails along the Cedar River. In the spring of 1854 he settled on his land and commenced to improve the place, and there make a home. He now owns 160 acres on section 27 and 160 acres on section 34, all well improved. He has one of the best farm houses in the county, and his fine barn, built in 1874, and his other farm buildings are as good as any in the township. His residence, which is of brick, was built in 1880, and is heated al- most entirely by a furnace. Mr. Leeper was born in Crawford, now Wyandot County, Ohio, December II, 1831, a son of Thomas and Catherine (Baum) Leeper, the father born in Ireland in 1771, and the mo- ther a native of Pennsylvania. His father was but twelve years of age when he came with his parents to America. He was ship- wrecked three times, and was three years on the voyage. Our subject's father was an early settler of Ross County, Ohio, and there built the first saw and grist mills about forty miles from Sandusky City. He died at the age of sixty years, May 28, 1831. His wife died November 23, 1860, at the age of sixty-eight years. J. W. Leeper was married May 21, 1854, to Milta Ford, who
was born December 4, 1833, in Wyandot County, Ohio, a daughter of David and Catherine (Van Gundy) Ford, both natives of Ross County, Ohio. Her mother died in Washington Township, this county, in February, 1879, at the age of sixty-six years, and her father is living in this county with one of his sons. Her parents came to this county with their family of ten children, of whom Mrs. Leeper was the eldest, and settled in Washington Township in the fall of 1853. Their children are-Mrs. Leeper; Sarah M., wife of James Caughey ; Mary A., wife of Warren Sherman; Ellen, wife of William Deming; Eliza, wife of A. V. Sprague ; Curlis, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Ni- ram, living in Washington Township; Lydia, wife of G. W. Gochenour, of Washington Township; Reuben, living in Washington Township; Nancy, the youngest child, is deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Leeper have been born ten children-Clemens, born Au- gust 28, 1855; Thomas E., born June 14, 1857, dealing in stock in Waterloo Town- ship, this county ; Lydia J., born February 8, 1860, wife of J. P. Albert, stock-dealer, living in Waterloo; Catherine, born April 5, 1862, wife of D. G. Wert, living on Mr. Leeper's farm ; James William, born May I, 1864, died of diphtheria, September 8, 1880; Eliza E., born November 14, 1866, living at home; Sissy, born January 25, 1869, died aged fourteen months ; Rosa, born March 29, 1871, died November 8, 1880, of diphtheria; Charles, born May 20, 1874, living at home ; David, born December 7, 1877, died of diphtheria November 8, 1880. In politics Mr. Leeper is a Republican. He has never sought for public office, his time being wholly devoted to his agricultural pursuits. He sowed the first timothy seed in his township, bringing the seed with him from Ohio. He was extensively en- gaged in stock-raising for many years, and at present keeps about seventy-five head of cattle on his farm, and is making a specialty
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of Holstein cattle. He also raises from seventy-five to one hundred hogs per year. Mr. Leeper has in his possession a writing desk over 100 years old, made by Mr. Wiley, a blind man, who was stepfather to our sub- ject's father. Mr. Leeper's daughter Lydia has two children-Rosy, born February 22, 1883, and Harry, born November 6, 1884. His son Clemens was the second white child born in the township. He married Emma Bailey and has one child-Freddie, born September 29, 1881. He is living in Mount Vernon Township where he has 120 acres of land.
OBERT A. JONES, deceased, was one of the pioneer settlers of Black Hawk County, making his home on section 7, Orange Town- ship, in 1850. He bought the first lumber cut in the county, and built a log cabin there, it being the first habita- tion in this part of the county. He brought some means with him, and soon was the owner of 600 acres of land which he bought from the Government. He was an active and progressive man, ever kind and gener- ous to new comers, helping them to get land, and in other ways where help was needed. He gave to the poor if not able to pay, telling them to pay when they were able. A few years after settling here he went to Southern Illinois bringing back with him a large stock of cattle, which nearly all perished in the hard winter of 1856-'57. Mr. Jones was born in Edwards County, Illinois, March 24, 1823, and December 23, 1843, was married to Margaret Hunt, a na- tive of the same county, born April 27, 1825. In 1849 they moved to Wisconsin, coming to this county the year following with a family of four children-Mary Eliza- beth, now wife of O. J. Turner, of State Center ; Emeline, now principal of the high
school at Decatur, Nebraska; George and Annie, both now deceased. The following children were born to them after coming to the county-Charles M .; Arthur, who died aged eight years; Mrs. Rosa E. Fisher, a widow; and Isabella, wife of Alexander S. Gillen, of Brule County, Dakota. Mr. Jones sold his original land purchase in Orange Township in 1861, and bought a farm near Marshalltown which he disposed of soon after. He then wentto Poweshiek County where he followed cheese-making one season, and in 1862 returned to Black Hawk County, buying a farm of 176 acres on section 23, Black Hawk Township, where he spent the remainder of his life. His death occurred January 9, 1882, and his memory will always be cherished by all old pioneers for his many acts of kindness. In religion he was a member of the United Brethren church, and in politics, a Demo- crat. His widow now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Rosa Fisher, at Hastings, Nebraska. Cadwallader Jones, father of our subject, was a Kentuckian by birth, and a pioneer of Southern Illinois. He was a prominent man and officer in the Black . Hawk war. Mrs. Jones's parents were also early settlers of Southern Illinois, from Kentucky.
HARLES M. JONES, son of Rob- ert A. and Margaret (Hunt) Jones, was born in Orange Township, Black Hawk County, January 12, 1854. His health failing him he started for the Black Hills, March 1, 1876, making Custer City his objective point. He was in Deadwood when the first house was being built in that city. He spent five years in the mining districts of Nebraska and Dakota, prospecting over a wide area, and mining with varied suc- cess. He was one of the projectors and proprietors of Leeds City, he giving the
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