USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 47
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In his political views Mr. Arnold is a democrat. He is now serving as justiee of the peace in Cono township, which office he has filled for six years in a most ereditable and praiseworthy manner. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Walker and the Modern Brotherhood of America, while in religious faith he is a Presbyterian. He is a man of exemplary habits and strict integrity, in manner unassuming, and all who know him entertain for him the highest regard and esteem.
CHARLES H. GOULD.
Many of the most prosperous and highly respected residents of Buchanan county have spent their entire lives here, feeling that the advantages afforded them in this county are equal to those to be found elsewhere. Of this number is Charles H. Gould, the owner of a general hardware store at Aurora. He has been engaged in that business for eleven years and was previously in other lines in the same city.
He was born in Fremont township, this county, on the 2d of May, 1860. The family was the third to locate in Aurora and were among the earliest set- tlers in the county. As his parents died, Charles H. Gould was reared by Mr. and Mrs. John Gould, of Buffalo township, from the time that he was six weeks old. He attended the district schools and aequired a thorough elementary education. He remained upon the farm of his foster parents until he became of age and then engaged in the general merchandise business in Aurora for several years. For the past eleven years he has been the owner of a hardware store and carries a large and well chosen stock. He handles a high grade of goods and his prices are fair, the large patronage which he enjoys being but the natural result of his farsighted business methods. He is ranked as one of the prosperous and up-to-date merchants of Aurora, and his ability is the more apparent when it is remembered that he has attained his present success altogether by his own efforts.
Mr. Gould was married in 1878 to Miss Mary E. Lumbard, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Cutler Lumbard, who was a farmer in that state. Mr. and Mrs. Gould have two children. William H. owns a farm of eighty acres but is now living in Aurora. His wife died September 1, 1914, leaving one son, Donald. She was in her maidenhood Miss Mabel Knapp and was a daughter of William Knapp, a retired farmer of Aurora. Rosetta is the wife
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of H. E. Heywood, residing in Milestone, Saskatchewan, Canada, and they have a son, Harold.
Mr. Gould is a republican and has served upon the town council. Frater- nally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Modern Brother- hood of America and the Knights of Pythias, all of Aurora. He owns the building in which his store is located and also his residence, which is situated on South Main street. His fellow citizens speak highly of him and he has many friends, who prize his good opinion, as they know him to be a man of unimpeachable probity.
JOSEPH LUKE BROWN.
Joseph Luke Brown, a worthy native son and representative agriculturist of Buchanan county, owns and operates a well-improved farm embracing one hundred and sixty acres on sections 10, 11 and 15. Cono township. His birth occurred in Newton township on the 12th of February, 1864, his parents being Mathew Y. and Clarice M. (Timson) Brown, the former a native of Pennsyl- vania and the latter of Vermont.
Mathew Y. Brown, an agriculturist by occupation, came to Buchanan county, Iowa, in an early day and for some time devoted his attention to the cultivation of rented land in Newton township. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in the Twenty-seventh lowa Infantry, with which he served for one year and then returned to his home in this county. Removing to Mid- dlefield township. he there purchased an unimproved farm of eighty acres and later bought an adjoining tract of similar size, operating the place success- fully until 1896, when he put aside the active work of the fichls. His remain- ing years were spent in honorable retirement at Quasqueton, where he passed away on the 24th of November, 1907, the community thus losing one of its honored pioneer agriculturists and respected citizens. His wife was called to her final rest in December, 1912. To them were born nine children, as follows: John II., who follows farming in Newton township; Joseph L., of this review ; Russell A., who is a resident of Quasqueton, this county ; Angelia, who is the wife of E. M. Gardner and resides in Nebraska: Charles M., who died on the 13th of October. 1881; Mark, an agriculturist of Cono township; Mary, who gave her hand in marriage to L. R. Berry, of Waterloo, Iowa ; Robert S., living in Qnasqueton, lowa: and Ruth, who is the wife of John H. Polk, of Middlefield township.
Joseph L. Brown was reared and educated in this county and remained on the home farm with his parents until he had attained his majority. He then started out as an agriculturist on his own account, cultivating rented land in Middlefield township for eight years, on the expiration of which period he purchased and settled on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sec- tions 10, 11 and 15, Cono township. He has operated the place continuously and successfully since and has enhanced its value by substantial improve- ments, his buildings being on section 10.
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On the 2d of September, 1891, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Elma E. Perry, her parents being Malachi and Lucretia (Cutler) Perry, the former born at Charter Grove, De Kalb county, Illinois, February 28, 1843, and the latter a native of Linn county, Iowa. Malachi Perry took up his abode in Jones county, Iowa, as a young man and was there married. On the 24th of December, 1863, he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company K, First Iowa Cavalry, remaining with that command until honorably discharged at Austin, Texas, February 15, 1866. He returned to Jones county on horseback, and, as above stated, was there married on the 1st of June, 1867. Mr. Perry carried on agricultural pursuits in Jones county for two years and on the expiration of that period took up his abode on a farm near Central City, Iowa, which he operated as a renter for several years. Subsequently he came to Buchanan county and purchased an attractive home at Quasqueton, where he was successfully engaged in the butchering busi- ness for a number of years, and where he continued to reside until his demise, which occurred on the 27th of December, 1912, when he had reached the age of sixty-nine years nine months and twenty-seven days. His widow, who still makes her home in Quasqueton, has attained the age of sixty-five years. To them were born four children, namely: Manley, who is engaged in busi- ness as a merchant of Quasqueton; Mrs. Elma E. Brown; Nellie E., who gave her hand in marriage to George Klotz, of Newton township; and Fred, a resident of Quasqueton. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have five children, as follows : Blanche, Guy, Perry, Retha and Wayne.
Mr. Brown gives his political allegiance to the republican party, for one term served as assessor of Cono township and is now serving as township trustee. Both he and his wife belong to the local lodge of the Modern Broth- erhood of America and are Presbyterians in religious faith. A public-spirited and progressive citizen, he takes a commendable and intelligent interest in public affairs and does everything in his power to promote the permanent inter- ests of the community in which his entire life has been spent.
WILLIAM H. BOLTON.
William H. Bolton, who has lived in Buchanan county for a half century, is widely recognized as one of its representative and prosperous agriculturists, owning a well-improved farm comprising one hundred and twenty acres on section 5, Cono township. His birth occurred in Canada in January, 1852, his parents being John and Mary (Richards) Bolton, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Ireland. John Bolton, an agriculturist by occu- pation, came to Buchanan county, Iowa, in the '60s, purchasing and improv- ing a tract of land in Newton township which he cultivated until 1881. In that year he took up his abode on the Davis place, four miles south of Inde- pendence, purchasing and improving the property and operating the same successfully for a number of years or until he put aside the active work of the fields. His last days were spent in honorable retirement at Independence, where he passed away March 1, 1909. The period of his residence in this
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county covered four decades and in his demise the community lost one of its representative agriculturists and highly esteemed citizens. His wife was called to her final rest on the 9th of June, 1878.
William H. Bolton, who was a youth of fourteen years when the family home was established in Buchanan county, remained at home until twenty- seven years of age, and then purchased a tract of eighty aeres on section 5, Cono township, and began its improvement. Subsequently he extended the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase until it now embraces one hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land, in the cultivation of which he has met with excellent results. The property is highly in- proved in every particular and in its neat and thrifty appearance bespeaks the careful supervision of its owner.
In December, 1878, Mr. Bolton was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Fest, a daughter of Charles and Louisa (Klotz). Fest, both of whom were natives of Germany and emigrated to the United States at an early day. The father, a stonemason by occupation, assisted in the erection of the insane asylum at Independence and worked at his trade for a number of years. Sub- sequently he purchased land in Newton township which he cultivated until 1883, when he abandoned agricultural pursuits and resumed work at his trade in Independence. It was while on a visit to Germany that he passed away in 1894, while the demise of his wife occurred in 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Bolton have six children, as follows : John H., who is engaged in farming in Buchanan county ; Christopher R., a merchant of Brandon, this county: Mary, who is the wife of N. C. Nelson, of Brandon, this county; Myrtle, who gave her hand in marriage to Fred E. Chesmore, an agriculturist of Buchanan county ; and William G. and Samuel R., both at home.
In his political views Mr. Bolton is a stanch republican, while fraternally he is identified with the Modern Brotherhood of America, being a charter mem- ber of the lodge at Quasqueton, Iowa. His religious faith is that of the Metho- dist church. In Buchanan county, where he has so long resided, he holds the respect and confidence of all who come in contact with him, being regarded as an able agriculturist and a progressive and public-spirited citizen.
MRS. MARY (SCOTT) MERRILL-BRINTNALL.
Mrs. Mary (Scott) Merrill-Brintnall was a woman of splendid Christian character and many sterling qualities which endeared her to those who knew her, so that her memory is cherished by many with whom she came in contact. She was born at Greenville, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of April, 1840, and was a daughter of William H. Scott, who was also a native of Mercer county, born on the 31st of January, 1814. The days of his boyhood and youth were spent in his native state and in 1837, when twenty-three years of age, he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Condit, also a native of the same county. IIe came to Buchanan county in the year 1858, after having spent twenty-one years of his married life in the Keystone state. Arriving in Iowa, he settled in Liberty township, casting in his lot with the pioneer farmers of this county.
MRS. MARY (SCOTT) MERRILL-BRINTNALL
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Here his remaining days were passed, his death occurring on the 17th of March, 1894. He had long survived his widow, who passed away on the 30th of May, 1861, when fifty-two years of age.
Mary Scott spent her girlhood largely in the east and supplemented her public-school education by study in a college in Ashtabula county, Ohio. She was eighteen years of age when she accompanied her parents to Iowa and in Buchanan county she became a successful teacher, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that she had acquired.
In 1860 she became the wife of Jesse Merrill, who died eight years later, on the 28th of March, 1868, leaving her with three children. They had purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Middlefield township that is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Perry V. Craig. Forty acres of this land had been cleared and broken but no other improvements had been made. Mrs. Merrill, following the death of her husband, superintended the crection of buildings upon her land and hired help to run the place. The first trees set out upon the farm, which are the oldest ones now standing, Mrs. Merrill carried on horseback from her father- in-law's home to her farm. She was a true pioneer woman and she displayed many excellent business traits in the supervision and management of her prop- erty. She recognized fully the obligations and duties which devolved upon her and also the opportunities of life and she utilized every possible chance to fur- ther the interests of her children. After a time she removed to Hopkinton in order to give them the educational advantages afforded by those schools. In later life she became the wife of E. P. Brintnall, of Winthrop.
More than forty years ago she aided in the organization of the Missionary Society of the Pine Creek Presbyterian church, but in later life identified her- self with the Congregational church at Winthrop. She was ever a most earnest, consistent Christian woman, faithful to the teachings of the church, which she exemplified in her life through her kindly spirit, her sympathy and her generous assistance to those in need. She had the warm regard and deep friendship of all her neighbors and those with whom. she came in contact and it was with deep regret that the news of her death was received on the 14th of January, 1912.
In reviewing the life record of such a woman as Mrs. Mary (Scott) Brintnall one is reminded of the words of a modern philosopher, who said : "It is not from the few conspicuous deeds of life that the blessings chiefly come which make the world better, sweeter and happier, but from a kindly and lowly ministration of the everydays, the little faithfulnesses that fill long years."
ISAIAH GILL.
Isaiah Gill is a resident farmer of Liberty township, owning one hundred and fifty-three acres, which he has carefully and systematically cultivated, although he is now largely leaving the actual work of the fields to others and is to a considerable extent enjoying a well-earned rest. He was born in this county December 13, 1851, a son of David and Nancy (Miller) Gill. Both were natives of Ohio and the former died when more than eighty-four years of age, while the latter had passed the psahnist's allotted span of three score
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years and ten at the time of her demise. The Miller family became early resi- dents of this county.
In early life David Gill followed farming in the Buckeye state and also learned the carpenter's trade there, following that spursuit and also conduct- ing an undertaking business in Reedsburg, Wayne county, Ohio. He was likewise an ordained minister of the Church of God. He came to the west with an emigrant train that journeyed to Davenport, where the train broke up, after which Mr. Gill continued on to Buchanan county, where there was much land still in possession of the government. He located a claim in Washing- ton township in 1850, paying for it the usual government price of a dollar and a quarter per acre, and he built the first frame house in Independence, which at that time was a tiny village. He lived to witness the gradual settlement of the county, with the attendant development of lands and the further work of improvement, and as time passed on he, too, shared in the good fortune of the county and became the owner of four hundred and twenty acres of prairie and timber land. He broke the sod and carried on the work of cultivating his fields with ox teams and became a prosperous general farmer and stock-raiser.
Mr. Gill likewise extended his efforts into other business connections, becoming a stockholder in the Independence Mill Company and in the Buchanan County Fair Association. In 1855 he organized the Church of God, known as the Bethel church, in Byron township, and became its first minister. He was also very active in school work and was an unfaltering champion of the cause of education. He likewise entered actively into the political affairs of the county and at no time was he derelict in his duty in regard to public affairs. He had a family of eight children, of whom one son joined the Union army as a member of Company A, Twenty-seventh lowa Infantry, and was killed at Brownsville, Arkansas. Only two of the family are now living in Buchanan county. Great, indeed, have been the changes which have occurred since David Gill arrived here, for at that time Indians still inhabited this section of the state. There were many kinds of wild animals, and wolves frequently made the night hideous with their howling. Game could also be had in abundance and furnished many a meal for the settlers. From that period to the present the representatives of the Gill family have taken an active and helpful part in the work of public progress and improvement.
Isaiah Gill, born in this county amid pioneer conditions and surround- ings, pursued his education in one of the old-time log schoolhouses and his boyhood was spent upon his father's farm, where he aided in breaking prairie with ox teams. He continued to live with his father until 1877, when he began farming on his own account. For the past thirty-five years he has lived in Liberty township and he is now the owner of one hundred and fifty-three acres of rich and productive land. He has devoted his life to general farm- ing, but is now practically living retired, leaving the active work of the fields to others. He has ever been deeply interested in the welfare and prog- ress of town and county, and at all times has cooperated heartily in move- ments that have resulted beneficially to the community.
On January 28, 1878, Mr. Gill was married to Miss Sarah A. Swartzel, who was born in Liberty township, Buchanan county, a daughter of Henry
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and Mary (Myers) Swartzel. The father was born near Dayton, Ohio, and died at the age of seventy-three years, while the mother, whose birth occurred near Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, passed away at the age of thirty-seven years. The father came west with an emigrant train in 1853 and settled in Liberty township, near Quasqueton, where they found pioneer conditions, the Swart- zel family settling upon a tract of land which was entirely wild and unde- veloped. When old enough Henry Swartzel began farming, taking up one hundred and sixty acres of government land. He always carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising and was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, which he converted into an attractive and valuable farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Gill have been born four children: Hattie May, the wife of William Hearn and the mother of two children, Forrest and Fern; E. L., who operates his father's farm and who married Miss Edna King, by whom he has one child, Erma Maxine; Georgia, who died in infancy; and Harry B., who married Cora Meliss and follows carpentering in Independence.
Mr. Gill has always been an active member and interested worker in the Church of God, in which he has held every office. His attitude upon the temperance question is indicated in his support of the prohibition party at the polls. In fact, his entire life has measured up to the highest standards. He has followed those things which are most worth while, never being content to choose the second best, and the principles which have governed him in all his relations have made him a man whom to know is to esteem and honor.
FRED L. CHAPMAN.
Fred L. Chapman, the present popular mayor of Aurora, is a retired farmer and stockman and, although he now resides in town, he still owns his fine farm of three hundred and forty acres, three miles southwest of Aurora, on sections 22, 23 and 24, Buffalo township. He was born in Portage county, Ohio, August 9, 1862, a son of T. K. and Mary E. (Burt) Chapman. The birth of the father occurred in Portage county on the 21st of May, 1838, and he was there reared. He is a graduate of.Oberlin College and in 1866, when a young man of twenty- eight years, removed to Winnebago county, Illinois, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. On leaving that state in 1869 he came to Buchanan county, Iowa, and bought three hundred acres of land in Middle- field township, which he cultivated for four or five years. On disposing of that place he removed to Independence, where he lived until about 1881, and then purchased land in Sioux county, Iowa. He now resides in Lemars, Plymouth county, this state, where he is living retired from the cares of active business life. His wife, who is also living, was born in Portage county. Ohio, on the 27th of April, 1840, and was there reared and educated. To them were born four children: Grant, a resident of Sioux county, Iowa, who married Miss Margaret March and has two children ; Fred L., of this review : Charles, who died at Independence when seven years of age; and Elam, a resident of Sioux county who married Miss Lizzie Allderson and has four children.
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Fred L. Chapman passed his boyhood and youth in Independence, where he attended school, but after his marriage spent one year in Buffalo town- ship, this county, and then removed to Sioux county, where he purchased a farm. On selling that property he bought land in Plymouth county, this state, which he disposed of about 1893 and then returned to this county, buy- ing the farm of three hundred and forty acres near Aurora which he still owns. Besides that property he has a good honse and lot in Aurora which he occu- pies. His efficient work as a farmer brought him excellent returns, and he is now able to live in ease and comfort.
On the 9th of December, 1882. Mr. Chapman was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Allen, a daughter of A. A. and Mary W. (Allen) Allen, who, although of the same name, were not related prior to their marriage. Mrs. Chapman was born in Janesville, Wisconsin, and at an early age was brought to this county by her parents, the family settling in Buffalo township, where the daughter attended school. Mr. Allen was born in Essex county, New York, June 6, 1834, and the birth of his wife occurred in the same county, April 13, 1832. He died on the 21st of September, 1883, but she is still liv- ing and now makes her home in Oelwein. It was about 1861 that he became a resident of Buchanan county, the family home being established at Buf- falo Grove, where he owned two hundred and twenty-five acres of land and also had eighty acres near Winthrop. He operated this property until his death and it is still owned by Mrs. Allen, while Mr. Chapman superintends its cultivation. One son, Alison A. Allen, is living in Oelwein. He married Lena Donahne. To Mr. and Mrs. Chapman have been born two sons : Kelsey A., who was born in 1884 and married Myrtle Canfield, their home being in Buffalo township; and Constant Burt, who died when a child of four years.
By his ballot Mr. Chapman supports the men and measures of the republi- can party and has always been intensely interested in both state and county affairs. Ile has served as a delegate to a number of republican conventions and for three terms has most efficiently filled the office of mayor of Aurora. To his public duties he gives the same thoughtful care and attention that he ever bestows npon his own personal affairs and under his administration the town has steadily advanced. All who know him speak of him in the high- est terms and his friends throughout the county are many.
ADELBERT SMITH.
Adelbert Smith is a successful farmer, but perhaps is best known as a breeder of thoroughbred Aberdeen Angus cattle and Poland China hogs. Hle not only sells at a high price all of the animals which he raises, but could readily dispose of many more. He owns and operates four hundred aeres of land on sections 22, 15 and 16, Buffalo township, and also has eighty acres on section 5, Madison township.
Ile was born in Kankakee, Illinois, Jannary 3, 1860, a son of John and Martha M. (Strong) Smith, of Irish and English descent respectively. The father was born in Ireland in 1826 and remained there until sixteen years
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of age, when he emigrated to America and located in Wisconsin. He was married there and subsequently removed to Kankakee, Illinois. In 1861 he enlisted from Cortland, De Kalb county, that state, in Company C., One Hun- dred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served with his command until early in 1865. In that year the family removed to this county, arriving here on the 10th of August. They located upon eighty acres in Buffalo town- ship, which is now a part of the farm belonging to our subject. The father died in 1869. He was a member of the Methodist church and was held in high esteem by his neighbors and friends. His two sisters were lost at sea, en route to America, and his father accompanied him to this country and passed away in Wisconsin. Mrs. John Smith was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, and accompanied her parents to Medina county, Ohio, where both died, her father preceding her mother by some years. Mrs. Smith was married in Wisconsin and accompanied her husband to Illinois and later to this county. She died in Buffalo township, in 1891, when past sixty-six years of age. Although she belonged to the Methodist church, upon coming to this county she attended the Congregational church, which was more convenient to her home. She was the mother of four children, namely: Z. O., a blacksmith of Aurora, Iowa : Mrs. Martha Crandall, of Ravendon Springs, Arkansas; Adelbert : and Stuart, who was a railroad man and was killed in Kansas. Mrs. Smith was at the time of her marriage to Mr. Smith a widow, her first husband being Trowbridge Pelton, by whom she had four children, and two sons survive.
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