USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > Historical and biographical record of Black Hawk County, Iowa > Part 48
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tion. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views he is a Republican. He has served his township as assessor for two terms and has also served as tax collector. He was justice of the peace one term and for several years was township assessor and has polled every vote on both tickets.
OHN J. EMMERT, section 12,
Poyner Township, has been a resident of Black Hawk County
since 1868. He then bought 280 acres of his present farm, paying for it $23.50 per acre, there being on the land a small frame house and shed. He now owns 440 acres, located on sections 12, 13 and 14, besides having 320 acres in liti- gation. When he came to this county everything was booming. Wheat sold at $1.92, corn at 72 cents, and land was rapidly advancing in price. Mr. Emmert has a large and commodious frame residence, which he built in 1875, at a cost of $3,000. His barn, which is one of the largest in the township, being 105 x 60 feet, was built in 1881, at a cost of about $5,000, he having paid $4,000 in cash. He has an addition to his barn, 12 x 32 feet, which he uses for a milk house and store room. He also has a crib which holds about 2,000 bushels of corn, and other good farm buildings. He can stable fifty-two cows and thirty-two head of horses, his stable being 100 x 32 feet in dimension. He makes his own but- ter, keeping about twenty-five cows. He has about 100 head of cattle, twenty-five horses, and 150 head of hogs. He raises on an average 175 acres of corn a year. Mr. Emmert was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1837, a son of John and Susannah (Zimmerman) Em- mert. At the age of sixteen he left his native county and went to Lee County,
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
Illinois, where he worked for farmers by the month for two years. He then rented a farm on which he lived one year, when he returned to Pennsylvania. In August, 1864, he enlisted in Company A, Second Kentucky Cavalry, and after being with his regiment a short time he was taken sick, and for seven weeks was in Brown's United States Hospital, near Louisville, Kentucky. After leaving the hospital he was detailed into the Quartermaster's de- partment, where he served till being mus- tered out in April, 1865. He then returned to Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in farming till 1868, he and his brother David having rented their father's farm, which they purchased some five years later. In 1868 he came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, selling his interest in the stock to his brother at that time, and a few years later returned to Somerset County and sold his interest in the farm to his brother. Mr. Emmert was married August 19, 1866, to Elizabeth Maurer, who was born in Somerset County, Pennsylva- nia, January 6, 1841, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Walker) Maurer, both na- tives of the same county, the father born January 3, 1791, and the mother, January 5, 1799. Mrs. Emmert is the youngest of eleven children, all of whom are yet living. Her father was of German descent. He died in Somerset County, August 7, 1866, his father, Phillip Maurer, dying in the same county. Mrs. Maurer died in the same county, October 15, 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. Emmert have been born four children-Ross W., born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1867 ; Clara B., born November 11, 1869, in Black Hawk County, died March 4, 1876, of diphtheria; Carrie V., born August 15, 1877, in Black Hawk County, and Anna May, born May 25, 1871, died of diphtheria March 29, 1876. In religious belief Mrs Emmert is a Lutheran. Politically Mr.
Emmert is a Republican. He takes an active interest in educational matters; and for twelve years has been school treasurer, serving as school director for five years. John Emmert, father of our subject, was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, in 1791, in the same house as his son, John J., and died within a mile of the same house, in 1869. His father, Wendell Emmert, was born in Emmertsburgh, Maryland. He was one of the first settlers of Somerset County, where he died in 1792. Mrs. Em- mert, our subject's mother, was born in Somerset, Somerset County, in 1794. Her father, Jacob Zimmerman, was a native of Hesse, Germany, and was one of the Hessian soldiers who were captured by General Washington, he being then only seventeen years old. He took the oath of allegiance and became a soldier in the American army, and was in camp at Valley Forge. He married a New England woman, Su- sannah Kissinger, who was of English descent, and after his marriage settled in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where he lived many years.
TUART SMILEY was born No- vember 27, 1808, in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, a son of John and Susan Smiley, who were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Eight children were born to his parents-Stuart, Betsy, Thomas T., Benjamin S., Joseph, David, Nancy, and John M. (deceased). Stuart Smiley was reared in his native county, and educated in the schools of that early day. He has been three times united in marriage, tak- ing for his first wife Elizabeth Fairbanks, by whom he had thirteen children-Susan A., Melvina E., Thomas J., Edgar A., Stuart L., Frederick L., Charles E., Deett, Mary O., William J., Frank B., Adelia M.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
and George D. The maiden name of his second wife was Sarah Vosburgh, and of the two children, Myrtie and Bessie, born to this union both are deceased. For his present wife he married Miss Mary Rod- man. Mr. Smiley located in DeKalb County, Illinois, about 1859, and after a residence there of six years he removed to Linn County, Iowa. In 1870 he came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, locating in La Porte City, where he has since made his home. Before leaving Pennsylvania he served for many years as justice of the peace, holding the same office for a short time while living in Linn County, Iowa. Mr. Smiley is a liberal supporter to both church and social enterprises, and in all the affairs of his township and county takes an active inter- est. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party. Heis the owner of a good farm located in Big Creek Township.
EV. WILLIAM R. BRADFIELD, pastor of the Free Methodist church at Colfax, Jasper County, Iowa, lives on section 8, Spring Creek Township, where he owns a fine farm of 235 acres. He was born in Randolph County, Indiana, February 20, 1840, a son of Carey and Atlantic O .. (Bales) Bradfield, pioneers of Black Hawk County. He was reared to the occupation of farming which he followed forty-four , years, and in 1884 began to prepare for the ministry, although for several years he had held an exhorter's license. He has now been on a circuit a year and a half. He has always been a hard-working man, and his industry and good management has gained him a fine property. He is now an earnest worker in the ministry, and has made many friends, both in and out of the church. He was married in 1861 to Mar- tha E. Conor, a native of Indiana, born April 6, 1846, daughter of William and
Maria Conor. They have three children- John J., Rosa E. and William R. The eld- est son now has charge of the farm, and is an industrious and thrifty young farmer. In politics Mr. Bradfield is a Republican.
LBERT VITTUM, one of the old pioneers of Lincoln Township, re- siding on section 30, was born in Sandwich, Carroll County, New Hampshire, the fourth child of Eph- raim and Hannah (Eaton) Vittum. He was reared in his native State, his youth being spent on a farm and in attending the district schools. He remained under the home roof until he reached his twenty-first year, when he went to Newton, Massachu- setts, and there worked one season in a nursery. In the fall of the same year he went to Boston, remaining there till 1856, and during his three years residence at that city he was employed as mail carrier, and part of the time drove an express wagon. He came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, in 1856, where he had previously lo- cated 300 acres of land on sections 30 and 31, Lincoln Township, which land he still owns. He was the second man who settled in Lincoln Township, he building the first frame residence here, where he kept bache- lor's hall. He returned East in 1859, leav- ing a man in charge of his property. He again returned to Black Hawk County in 1863, where he has since made his home, his farm now containing 460 acres of choice land. Beside his home farm he owns forty acres of timber land on Black Hawk Creek.' He was married in March, 1864, to Mary E. Sherrett, by whom he had two sons, Edgar and Frank. He was legally divorced from his first wife, and in March, 1870, he was married to Martha A. Baker, a native of Canada, born June 21, 1845, and to this union has been born six children-Arthur,
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
Ernest, Henrietta, Allena, Clarence and Garfield. Mrs. Vittum's parents, David and Rebecca Baker, moved to Lee County, Illinois, in 1849, and in 1856 removed to this county, locating near Waterloo. They are now residents of Kansas. Mr. Vittum's parents died in Brockton, Massachusetts, the mother dying in the year 1864. The father survived till 1874, when he died at the age of seventy-five years. Of the nine children born to his parents only three are now living-Asahel, of South Reading, Vermont ; Edwin E., living in Brockton, Massachusetts, and Albert, our subject. Mr. Vittum is always active in promoting every enterprise that tends to advance the interest of his township, and is much re- spected by all who come in contact with him. He has served as supervisor for four years, and as assessor for the same length of time. For six years he held the office of justice of the peace, and for many years was an efficient school director. Politically he is an ardent Republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
RSON EIGHMEY, a son of Leman and Chloe Eighmey, is a native of Iowa, born in Rock Dale, Du- buque County, July 6, 1849. In his youth he worked in the lead mines of his native county, and in the year 1 868 he came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, with his parents, settling in Eagle Town- ship, on section 10, where his father died April 14, 1872. He now owns the home- stead, to which he has added till the farm contains 120 acres of choice land. His widowed mother makes her home with him. March 22, 1877, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Hopkins, who was born in Waterloo, this county, February 6, 1857, a daughter of Peter and Adeline
Hopkins. To this union have been born three children -- Edith M., Ada and Lu- cretia G. Mrs. Eighmey is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Eighmey casts his suffrage with the Re- publican party.
BRAHAM E. BROWN, the fifth child of Otho and Susan Brown, was born in Westmoreland Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, April 25, 1845. His father being a farmer, Abra- ham was reared to that occupation, which he has always followed. At the age of eighteen years he commenced life for himself, and determining to try his fortunc in the West he came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, arriving at Waterloo, Octo- ber 18, 1863. For several years he worked by the month at farm labor, and with his earnings he bought eighty acres of raw prairie land on section 34, Orange Town- ship, which he at once began to improve, making his home there soon after. To his original purchase he has since added eighty acres and now owns a finely improved farm of 160 acres, with a comfortable home residence and excellent farm buildings. Mr. Brown was married January 13, 1867, to Miss Lydia Lichty, a native of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, born October 14, 1844, who came with her parents to this township in 1860, where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have five children- Susan, Ervin, John, Maggie and William. Mr. and Mrs. Brown and their daughter Su- san are members of the United Brethren church. In politics Mr. Brown is identified with the Democratic party. Mr. Brown is a thorough and practical farmer, and is a highly respected citizen of Orange Town- ship. His parents were born, reared and married in the State of Pennsylvania, and to them were born six children. Their eld-
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
est son, Thomas, and their daughter, Bar- bara, died in Pennsylvania, and Jacob, Henry and Jeremiah still live in their na- tive State, Abraham being the only mem- ber of the family to make his home in the West. The father died on the old home- stead in Pennsylvania in 1860, since which the mother has made her home with her children in that State.
ANIEL H. FISH, one of the lead- ing farmers of Orange Township, has been a resident of this county since 1864, when he purchased his present farm, at that time unculti- vated land on which no improvements had been made. He now occupies one of the finest residences in the township, and his farm, which contains 240 acres, is now under a high state of cultivation, and his farm buildings, all of which have been erected by him, are in good condition. Mr- Fish was born in Northumberland County, Canada, December 9, 1837, being the young. est of a family of nine children of Ellery and Hannah (Carpenter) Fish, who were natives of Vermont and New York respectively. His parents removed from New York State with their family of eight children about the year 1834, and located in Canada, from whence they removed to Illinois, becoming residents of Kane County for a short time. In the latter part of 1852 they removed to Clinton County, Iowa, where the father purchased land and engaged in farming. In that county our subject was reared to manhood, he remaining on the farm with his parents till after his marriage. He was married January 30, 1861, to Mary M. Jameyson, who was born near Toron- to, Canada, March 25, 1843, a daughter of Samuel Jameyson. When she was a child her parents left Canada for Ohio, in which State her father died. Her mother
subsequently removed with her family to Clinton County, Iowa, where she died. Mr. and Mrs. Fish have two children-Edwinie and Charles A. Mr. Fish continued to live with his parents till he settled on the place in 1864 which he still owns and occupies. His parents accompanied him to his new home and made their home with him till their death. The father died in February, 1875, aged eighty-four years, the mother dying in July of the same year at the age of eighty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Fish and their daughter are members of the First Baptist Church of Waterloo. In pol- itics Mr. Fish has been identified with the Republican party since casting his first. vote. He has served as supervisor, and has held other local offices since coming to this county, and is ever active in promoting all enterprises that pertain to the good of the county.
UNCAN CAMPBELL, farmer, section 16, Barclay Township, is a native of Scotland, born in Perthshire in 1820, a son of John and Elizabeth Campbell, who died in their native land. He was reared in Scotland, and in 1858 came to America and lived in Canada three years. In 1861 he came to Iowa and located in Black Hawk County, buying a tract of unculti- vated land in Barclay Township. This land he has improved, and now has one of the finest farms in the county. It contains 420 acres of well-cultivated land, with a pleasant residence and good farm build- ings. He is one of the prominent and in- fluential men of the township, an industri- ous, economical citizen and honorable up- right business man. In 1866, thinking the time had come for him to take a wife, he returned to his native country, as the girls of Scotland were reared more to his fancy
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
than the American girls, and there he mar- ried Margaret Young, who was born in 1836. They have three children-John, James and Finley. Mr. and Mrs. Camp- bell are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Republican, but in local elections votes for men, not party.
ARLEY P. EIGHMEY has been a resident of Black Hawk County, lowa, since August, 1865, when he settled on his present farm on sec- tion 9, Eagle Township. Mr. Eigh- mey was born in Saratoga County, New York, December 25, 1842, a son of Leman and Chloe (Barrass) Eighmey. When hc was five years of age his parents settled in Dubuque County, Iowa, and in that county his boyhood was spent. November 16, 1861, he enlisted in the late war, in Com- pany A, Third Iowa Infantry. He had pre- viously enlisted without the consent of his parents, at the first call of President Lin- coln. His first engagement was at Blue Mills, Missouri, after which he participated in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Hatchie River, and in the campaign and battles leading up to the siege and capture of Vicksburg. He was also at the battle of Jackson, and soon after re-enlisted and returned home on a veteran furlough. He then joined Sherman's army at Kene- saw Mountain, and was in the battle in front of Atlanta. July 22 his regiment lost every commanding officer who went into the battle, coming out of action un- der command of a Sergeant. Mr. Eighmey followed the banners of Sherman to the sea, and through the Carolinas, taking part at the final grand review at Wash- ington ir. June, 1865. He was a gallant and faithful soldier, and during his entire term of service was never in hospital, never missed a march, participating in all the
battles in which his regiment was engaged, and was one of the few who never received a wound. He was honorably discharged in July, 1865. Mr. Eighmey came to Ea- gle Township a single man, but returned to Dubuque County for his bride, Miss Jennie Bradbury, whom he married Octo- ber 11, 1866. She was born in Yorkshire, England, March 16, 1842, coming to Amer- ica with her parents, Charles and Elizabeth Bradbury, in 1854. Her father died of cholera in the hospital at Brooklyn, New York, when her mother went with her family to Cambria County, Pennsylvania, and in 1856 settled in Dubuque County, Iowa. She died of apoplexy August 22, 1875, while on a visit to Mrs Eighmey. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Eighmey two are living-Leman and Orlie C. Louisa and Charles died in infancy. Mr. Eighmey began life in Eagle Township on eighty acres of unimproved land. He has by his industry and good management brought his land under fine cultivation, and has added to it till he now owns 120 acres, with a comfortable home and good farm buildings. He has served his township many terms as justice of the peace, was township treasurer four years, and was also school secretary of the township. In poli- tics he affiliates with the Republican party. He and his wife are attendants of Union Church in Eagle Township. Mr. Eighmey is a member of Robert Anderson Post, No. 68, G. A. R., at Waterloo.
D. CLARK, residing on the north- east quarter of section 2, Poyner A Township, was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, August 11, 1836, a son of Elick and Eunice (Brown) Clark, the father a native of Rut- land, Vermont. Both parents died in Ash- tabula County, the father in 1867 at the age of sixty-three years, and the mother in 1852
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
aged fifty-two years. A. D. was reared at his native place and in his youth received a good common-school education. October 8, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, First Wisconsin Infantry, and for a time served in the Fourteenth Army Corps under Gen- eral Thomas. He participated in the bat- tles of Perryville, Stone River, Chicka- mauga and Mission Ridge, serving under General Sherman till the capture of Atlan- ta, after which he returned to the Four- teenth Army Corps. He was discharged October 8, 1864. In March, 1867, he came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, when he settled on his present farm, which at that time was an unimproved tract of land. He now owns 160 acres of well-cultivated land, a comfortable residence, surrounded by fine grounds, and barns and sheds in good condition. Since coming to Iowa he has taught school every winter with the excep- tion of three, and during the summers has followed agricultural pursuits. Mr. Clark was married April 22, 1860, to Mary Lind- sey, daughter of Nelson and Matilda (Baker) Lindsey, both natives of New York. Mr. Lindsey is now living in Waterloo, Iowa. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark three are living-Ellen M., Charlie L. and Roscoe L. An infant un- named died in 1861. Mr. Clark has served his township as assessor for several years.
UTHER O. HOWLAND, dealer in agricultural implements, Cedar Falls, is a native of Columbia County, New York, born November 18, 1838, a son of George and Eliza Howland. The Howland family is de- scended from John Howland, a Puritan, who left his native country on account of his re- ligious persecution, coming to this country in the Mayflower, and locating in Massa- chusetts. When an infant our subject, Lu- 46
ther O., was taken by his parents to Fredo- nia, Chautauqua County, New York, where he was reared. He was educated at the Fredonia Academy and after completing his education he followed school-teaching very successfully for several years. In the spring of 1864 he came to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and began dealing in agricultural implements, which he has since followed, and lately has established a branch store at Waterloo, this county. September 18, 1878, he was mar- ried to Miss Ida M. Sawyer, a Normal grad- uate, a daughter of Levi B. and Jane B. Sawyer, the father living in Washington County, Maine, and the mother deceased. Three children have been born to Mr. and Howland-Eugene L., born April 2, 1880; Laura J., born June 3, 1881, and Luther H., born July 26, 1885. Mr. Howland ranks among the best business men of Cedar Falls, where he is much respected for his many manly qualities. He has served as city councilman for six consecutive years by re-election. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Iowa Legion of Honor, and the Masonic order, and is also grand recorder of the Loyal Grand Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
OHN F. MESSINGER, farmer and stock-raiser, of East Water- loo Township, was born in Mar- ion County, Indiana, in March, 1831, the third son of John H. and Mary (Miller) Messinger, the father a na- tive of Pennsylvania, and the mother of Ohio. They were the parents of eleven children. In the winter of 1846 the father removed with his family to Bremer County, Iowa, settling in what is known as the big woods. He was the first post- master appointed in Bremer County, where he resided till his death, which occurred about July, 1859. John F., our subject, was
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
in his sixteenth year when his parents came to lowa. He was reared to manhood in Bremer County, and was the first man mar- ried in that county. He was married in 1851, to Phæbe Tibbetts, a native of Marion County, Indiana. Of the nine chil- dren born to this union seven are living- Melissa and Melitia (twins), Isabella J., Marquis, Nettic A., and Hattie and Mattic (twins). Mr. Messinger resided in Bremer County till 1866, when he removed with his family to Black Hawk County, and settled in Mount Vernon, near his present farm, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1882 he settled on the farm where he has since resided, containing forty acres of choice land, and located three miles north of Waterloo. He is extensively engaged in raising small fruits, and during the year 1885 sold 13,000 quarts of strawberries and raspberries. He is also engaged in raising stock, making a specialty of horses and hogs.
EORGE F. WARD, one of the leading citizens of Black Hawk Township, was born in Rutland County, Vermont, in the town of Brandon, May 1, 1817, a son of Eras- tus and Mary Ward. His mother dy- ing when he was about five years of age, he was taken to the home of his uncle, James Ward, with whom he lived till sixteen years of age, when he commenced life on his own account. He located in Michigan in 1833, and came to Chicago in 1836, then a village, where he remained about ten years. He is now a member of the Old Settlers' Society of Chicago, which is composed of men who resided in that city prior to 1840. Mr. Ward was married in Chicago, April IO, 1844, to Miss E. J. Watson, who was born in Akron, Ohio, October 29, 1825, her father, N. W. Watson, becoming a resident of Chicago in 1842. They have a family of
five children-Mary Ellen, wife of Herman Wood, of Amador, California; Charles, in the employ of the American Express Company; George F., Jr., and Fred. A., residing at home. Mr. Ward has done what few men can boast of. He has made the whole distance from Boston, Masschu- setts, to San Francisco by wagon. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California, where he was engaged in mining for two years, returning in 1853. In the spring of 1854 he visited Black Hawk County, Iowa, and purchased 560 acres of land in Black Hawk Township. He then returned to Chicago and in the fall of the same year he again visited Black Hawk County and bought 120 acres more. At the outbreak of the Rebellion Mr. Ward assisted in recruiting Company C, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, of which he was commissioned Second Lieu- tenant. The regiment did duty in the Army of the Potomac and was one of the most gallant cavalry regiments in that army. The regiment was employed most of the time in the Shenandoah Valley till Septem- ber, 1862. It was under General Miles at Harper's Ferry, and surrounded by Gen- eral Jackson's rebel force when the officers of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry and the Eighth New York Cavalry, with a few of the Maryland Cavalry, received permission from General Miles to cut their way out if they were able. They did so, thus saving themselves from being included in that disgraceful capitulation, and for their gal- lantry on that occasion they received the ap- plause of the whole nation. In making their way out they captured a train of seventy- three wagons belonging to General Long- street's corps. Lieutenant Wood was dis- abled in the retreat, by being thrown from his horse, and was so injured as to necessi- tate his discharge and entitle him to the pen sion which he now receives. During his service he was promoted to First Lieuten- ant. In 1864 Mr. Ward became a resident of
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