History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 101

Author: Williams bros., Cleveland, pub. [from old catalog]; Riddle, A. G. (Albert Gallatin), 1816-1902
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 574

USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 101

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William Andrews was born in Boston, Massachusetts, October 11, 1846. When nine years of age he came with his parents, Matthew and Margaret Andrews, to lowa, locating in this county, where he has since been a resident. His father purchased one hundred and twenty acres in section twenty-one, Madison township, where he made his home till his death, which occurred in 1857. Mrs. Andrews is still living, and resides at Strawberry Point, and is now sixty-three years of age. In 1877 Mr. Andrews purchased forty acres of land in section twenty- one. He was married July 14, 1869, to Miss Nellie Smith, who was born in McHenry county, Illinois, March 16, 1848. She is a daughter of Mr. Holley Smith, a prominent citizen of this county. They have a family of six children - Albert S., Richard H., Amy A., Charles W., William N., Walter B .- as wide-awake and promis- ing a group as one often meets. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews reside upon a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which was a present to Mrs. Andrews by her father at the time of her marriage. Mr. Andrews is a Green- backer in politics. Among the first settlers of this coun- ty, he is to-day among its most prosperous citizens.

George Anderson was born in New York in 1829. At the age of eleven years he went to the State of Illi- nois with his father, William Anderson, where he made

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA

his home nearly twenty-four years. In the meantime he had purchased property and married. In 1864 he came to Iowa and purchased the farm where he now resides in section eighteen, Madison township. Originally there were eighty acres in this farm, for which he paid twelve and a half dollars per acre. Has since made different purchases until now he owns two hundred and thirty- eight acres, eight of which are in Delaware county. His last purchase of land was in section fourteen, consisting of forty acres, for which he paid twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents per acre. In the summer of 1869, Mr. Anderson built himself one of the best residences in the vicinity at that time. Has in progress a fine cattle barn, dimensions thirty-six by sixty feet, which will soon be completed, adding both to the usefulness and fine ap- pearance of his home. He has trees bearing fruit, shade trees, plants, and in a word, he has about him all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. Mr. Ander- son was married in the State of Illinois in 1856, to Miss Anna J. Pitman, who was born in New Hampshire in 1839. They have four children: Frankie, born in Illi- nois in 1857; Gracie L., born in Illinois in 1862, married William Wallace, March 13, 1881, resides in Mitchell, Dakota; Alfred, born in this county in 1864; Oren, born in this county in 1870. Mrs. Anderson is a member of the Baptist church.

L. R. Ward was born in New York in 1817. At the age of seventeen he moved with his father, Justus Ward, to Illinois, loeating near Chicago, where he lived twenty years, engaged in farming. In 1855 he came to Iowa and purchased from the Government the farm of four hundred aeres, where he still resides, in Madison town- ship, besides twenty acres of timber in Delaware county. This farm is not only among the good ones of Madison township, but of Buchanan county. We think Mr. Ward has one of the finest building spots in the county. A beautiful grove of pine trees which he set out about twenty years ago, presents a grand appearance. Mr. Ward was married in 1846, to Miss Clarinda M. Hewitt, born in Pennsylvania in 1826. They have a family of seven children: W. F., S. W., Adelaide, married Sey- mour Whitney, resides in Clayton county; Mary J., Alice V., Silence A., teacher; H. O. Mr. Ward is a man of great ability and a leader in his community, in an intellectual point of view. He is not only one of the first citizens in the county in point of time of settlement but in point of citizenship. Politically we find Mr. Ward a man who has investigated matters thoroughly, and stands firmly on the Greenback platform.

F. W. Young was born in England in 1828, and came to America in 1844. He spent his first ten years in this country in New York city, engaged as clerk in a book store on Fulton street ; afterwards spent about five years in Philadelphia, and came to Iowa in 1853, locating first in Newton township, where he lived nine years. In 1862 he sold and came to Madison township and purchased two hundred acres of land where he still resides. His first residence was built in 1876. Mr. Young was mar- ried in Illinois, in 1854, to Miss Ann Parmiter, a native of England. They have a family of five children-Anna

May, Victoria Alice, Mary Ella, Frederick George, and John Alfred -- aged twenty-four, twenty-two, nineteen, six- teen, and twelve. Anna is now the wife of R. E. Draper, and resides in Fayette county; Victoria is now the wife of J. F. Webster, and lives in the neighborhood. Mr. Young is a pleasant gentleman, and takes an interest in the live issues of the day. He has one of the finest farms and most pleasant homes of the county. Politi- cally, he is a Republican.

William Quick was born in New York in 1835. He was the son of John and Susan Quick. When twenty- one years of age he came to Iowa, locating first in Dela- ware county, where he lived on a farm two years, which he traded for the one he still owns in section twenty-two, Madison township. This farm he moved upon and made his home about sixteen years. In the year 1874 he moved to Ward's Corners and engaged in the mercantile business, in which he still continues. Though the place is small he does a very good business, satisfactory not only to himself, but to the surrounding community. He is a wide-awake, shrewd business man, and is still the owner of two hundred and ten acres of land. Mr. Quick was married in 1853 to Miss Mary A. Townsend, who was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1836. They have two children living-Mina, born in this county in 1866, and Franklin, born in this county in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Quick are intelligent, refined people. He has made his "licks" count, and has, by his own exertions and frugality, become an independent man. But, unlike most men, he allows his wife an equal share of the credit of success.

N. R. Whitman, jr., was born in New Hampshire, No- vember 1, 1842. At the age of thirteen he came to Iowa with his father, N. R. Whitman, locating in Madison township, where he has since resided, with the exception of the time spent in army life. He enlisted July 24, 1862, in company H, Eighteenth Iowa infantry. He served his country over three years. Was in the Seventh army corps under the command of Steele, Schofield, Tot- ten, and Blunt. Was never wounded or taken prisoner, though he participated in several severe conflicts. Mr. Whitman's father and mother and oldest sister all died in the year 1879, within three months. Mr. N. R. Whit- man, sr., came to this county with a family of seven chil- dren. It was in the wilds of the west in those days. His land was only located and not paid for. He was a man of great nerve. Notwithstanding all the dark op- position before him, and without a cent in his pocket, he niet fairly, and tested thoroughly, what the west had in store for him. He raised his family and gained a good home in spite of the opposing forces. This latent will power was demonstrated in the fact, that in the year 1854, he, in company with his three sons, Omer R., N. R., and C. E., aged fifteen, twelve, and ten respectively, passed the Green mountains of Vermont, carrying their flint-lock guns and a small trunk. The vigor of youth and the determination of age, combined to make a strong force and the trip was accomplished with many pleasant recollections, for enjoyment in after years. Mr. N. R. Whitman, jr., was married May 13, 1866, to Miss

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

Angeline Whitney, who was born in Illinois, in 1841. They have two children, twins: Cora E., and Mark Ebert, aged respectively, seven and four. In such a record, there is praise enough to satisfy the most crav- ing. Who would weaken its force by common place compliment?

Mark Whitney was born in the town of Orange, Franklin county, Massachusetts, in the year 1815. When about three years of age his father, Palmer Whitney, moved to the State of New York, where Mr. Whitney lived till he was nearly twenty-one years of age. After a residence of seventeen years in Illinois, he came to Iowa in 1853, and purchased the farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres, where he still resides, in section twenty- four, Madison township, and built a good house in 1856. In that day, it was the best house in the township. Mr. Whitney was married in Illinois, in the year 1838, to Miss Caroline Ward, born in New York, in 1820. 'They have a family of five children living: Angeline, now wife of Nathan R. Whitman, residing in Ward's Corners; David, married and lives upon his farm one mile west of his father; Caroline, wife of Charles M. Niles, and re- sides in Marion county ; Eva Felena, married April 12, 1881, to Mr. Church Strong, and resides in Fremont township; Francis Emily, single, and at home. Those who know them best, speak well of them.

Silas Ross was born in Ludlow, Vermont, Windsor county, in 1814. Here he made his home till he was thirty-seven years of age, engaging in farming, principally, with the exception of two years, during which he was en- gaged iu the mercantile business in the town of Ludlow. In 1851 he went to Davis county, Illinois, where he re- mained about eighteen months, but finding the society very rough, he wended his steps westward, in pursuit of a more genial home. In the year 1852 he came to Iowa and purchased the farm where he still resides, in Madi- son township, section thirteen. He owned two hundred and eighty acres, but five years ago sold it all to his sons.

Mr. Ross was married in Lunenenbergh, Massachu- setts, in 1835, to Miss Parrull Donsmon, born in Massa- chusetts in 1814, and died in this county, January, 1877. Mr. Ross' family consists of three living children-Emily, now the wife of Samuel Messenger, and resides in this township; Oren S., married Miss Demelda More and re- sides in Nevada; Calvin, single, and now owns and farms the homestead. Of Mr. Ross we can say we are pleased to find such men among the first settlers of the county. Mr. Ross is a member of the Baptist church, and honors his profession in his life. Lucy died in Vermont at the age of two and one-half years, September 19, 1843. Lucy P. died in this county at the age of fifteen, August 25, 1860. Allen was born in Ludlow, Vermont, in 1850, and died in this county, February 13, 1877. He was married in August, 1873, to Miss Ann Marshall, who was born in New York in 1847.

Earl K. Jenks was born in Genesee county, New York, in the town of Covington, May 10, 1826. His father, Joseph Jenks, moved to Ohio when Mr. Jenks was about ten years of age. He, however, lived in Covington with an uncle until his seventeenth year, when he went to

Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where his father lived. After remaining there but a short time Mr. Jenks went to Ken- tucky, where he stayed about two years, going to school most of the time. At the end of that time he returned to Ohio and soon after went to Boone county, Illinois. There he farmed for the following seven years, or until the year 1851, when he again moved, this time to this county. Mr. Jenks was married in the year 1848, to Miss Eunice M. Green, of Cherry Valley, Illinois. They had six children, five of whom are still living: R. M. Jenks, born April 7, 1850; Emma H., born September 8, 1852; Charles R., born July 23, 1855; Clarence M., born April 20, 1858; Anna T., born October 8, 1861. Mrs. Jenks was removed by death the tenth of Decem- ber, 1865, in the forty-fourth year of her age.

Mr. Jenks married Marietta Fuller, of Cherry Valley, Illinois, in the year 1866. They also have had five chil- dren, three of whom are living, as follows: Katie M. Jenks, nine years of age ; Blanche E. Jenks, seven years of age; Alonzo D. Jenks, four years of age. They are one of the leading families of Madison township, and Mr. Jenks is engaged in cattle raising and farming busi- ness, and somewhat largely in dairying.

Mr. L. Hawley Smith was born in Johnston, Lamoille county, Vermont, on the thirtieth of July, 1823, where he lived with his father until his seventeenth year, when his father emigrated to McHenry county, Illinois. When he came of age he began doing business for himself, first farming for about two years, afterward engaging in the lumber business in Waukegan, Illinois, in which busi- ness he spent about two years. In the year 1850 Mr. Smith traded his interest in the lumber business for a farm, and left home for the gold regions of California. He, however, remained there but about nine months when he returned to Illinois and commenced farming. At the end of three and one half years, or in the fall of 1854, Mr. Smith came to Buchanan county and bought a farm in Madison township near Buffalo Grove post office. where he still resides. Mr. Smith was married January 17, 1844, to Miss Mary Colhy, of McHenry county, Illinois. She was the daughter of Mr. Gideon Colby, and was born in Danville, Vermont, May 22, 1826. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had eight children- three sons and five daughters, all of whom are living, ex- cept one daughter, Mary, who died November 4, 1864, at the age of three and one-half years. The family now consist of Montreville, V., born November 26, 1845; Nellie, born March 16, 1849; Olive I., born July 16, 1852; Herbert, born July 29, 1854; Carrie W., born December 23, 1856; Albert A., born April 12, 1859; Mary M., born May 23, 1866. They are a happy family and enjoy a pleasant home. Mr. Smith is one of our most prominent cattle and dairy men, and runs his home farm of four hundred and twenty acres. Is a prominent Republican, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. He is one of those men who came here with but little, and by a strict attention to business, without, however, neglecting the social develop- ment and education of his family, has acquired a for- tune of many thousands. Nellie is the wife of Mr. Wil-

HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

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liam Andrews. Olive is the wife of R. M. Jenks. Car- rie is the wife of Mr. S. C. Todd, and lives in Illinois. He is a man who always keeps a promise, and his word

is just as good as his note. He has always been a hard working man and richly deserves the reward he is enjoy- ing.

BYRON.

This township was granted an independent and separ- ate organization on the twentieth day of March, 1856, by order as follows: "Comes into court James Lines and forty-six others, praying that the court set off township eighty-nine, north of range eight, excepting sections thir- teen, twenty-four and thirty-six; and the same is hereby formed into a separate precinct to be called Byron, and the court orders that an election be holden in said town- ship on the first Monday in April next, at the house of William Lines, on section fifteen in said township, for the election of three trustees, two justices, two constables, and one road supervisor, and one school fund commis- sioner, for the county at large-O. H. P. Roszell, Coun- ty Judge."

ELECTION.

The first election in the township was held as above ordered, T. Stoneman and C. W. Mckinney being ap- pointed judges of election, and William Lines clerk. The following persons were elected: E. B. King, John Tullock and William Potter, trustees; L. S. Brooks and Sylvester Pierce, justices; James Becker and Martin Hearne, constables; S. L. Gaylord, county supervisor ; William Lines, clerk, and John C. Ozius, assessor. The present township officers are: Joseph Sutter, E. B. Brit- nall, and A. P. Mills, trustees ; S. J. Dunlap, assessor ; Z. P. Rich, Davis and Benjamin Knight, justices ; G. E. Titus and William Patterson, constables; Frank Fox, clerk. At this election there were thirty-seven voters.

SETTLEMENT.

The first permanent settler in this township was Henry Baker who built the first cabin here and occupied it in 1844, in the southwest part of the township, near a beauti- ful spring and close to the timber. Here it was that the first and only settler in Byron lived for nearly two years, his nearest neighbor being Hamilton Mcgonigle, who had settled south of him in Liberty township, some three or four miles away. Baker's sister lived with him. He did not remain in the township more than about two or three years. During the time he lived here he was mar- ried to Laura Hunter, then soon after left the county and his present residence has not been found, nor has any- thing been learned as to what became of him. His sister married Samuel Casky and lives in Quasqueton, Liberty township.

Robert Sutton settled in Byron township in 1846 or 1847, having purchased Henry Baker's claim, and the latter moved away, leaving, as far as we have been able to find, Sutton and family the sole inhabitants of the. township. He lived here until the fall of 1865, when the country began to settle up and civilization and religion began to spread their influence over the country and neighbors became too many ; it was then that he gathered his herds of cattle about him and started for the frontier of Kansas, where he now resides engaged in keeping a hotel. While he lived in this township he never went into the timber without his faithful gun, which in those days was his constant companion. He is said to have been very severe in the punishment of his children and unrelenting in the hatred of his enemies. On one occa- sion his oldest son Benjamin did something that angered the father, and he fastened him tightly to a large tree with his hands also fastened behind him, then placed an ear of corn in his mouth, left him there in a hot day for more than two hours, and when taken down he fainted away and it was some time before he gave any indication of life. The names of his children were Henry, James, Benjamin, Jessie, Clarisa, Daniel, Nancy and Perry. Mr. Sutton was a native of Pennsylvania, but emigrated here from Illinois where he had lived for awhile, keeping in advance of civilization and religion and a settled up country. The place where he first settled is beautiful beyond description, with a spring of pure water under the grand old trees on the edge of the timber and pro- tected by it.

Mr. Gaylord was a native of New York, being born there April 27, 1808; married at the age of nineteen years to Sophia Brokman. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church with which they united in early life. He continued to live on the place up to the time of his death, which after a short illness, occured on the twentieth day of October, 1856; his wife and nine children survived him. His widow continued to live on the old homestead, and in the severe winter of 1857 fol- lowing she lost a large number of cattle and horses ; this was a winter ever memorable in the history of the west on account of the severe cold weather. At the break- ing out of our late war four of her sons volun- teered in the service of their country, viz: Edward H., Erwin R., J. Birney, and Levi B. All returned at the

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

close of the war except Erwin R., who died September, 1863. In 1865 Mrs. Gaylord sold the homestead, pur- chased a residence in Independence, where she lived up to the day of her death, which occured July 16, 1878, being then nearly seventy-one years of age. They had in all ten children, one dying quite young: Edward H. lives with his family in Denver, Colorado; Emily M. married in, 1854, S. W. Rich, living in this county until 1880, when she moved to Greeley, Nebraska, is a widow, her husband having died in Buchanan county in 1874; Olive O. Gaylord resides in Lincoln, Nebraska; Elizabeth A. married to H. E. Palmer, and lives at Independence; J. Birney is married, living in Indepen- dence. He is engaged in the show business, having travel- led all over the United States, Australia and Mexico, and has been thus engaged for a number of years; Flora W. married to E. H. Colburn, and resides in Greeley, Nebraska; Levi B. married and lives in Beloit, Kansas; Frank M. is married, and also lived in Beloit, Kansas; Frank M. died September 27, 1880, leaving a wife and two children. These two worthy and highly esteemed pioneers of this township now sleep side by side in Oak- wood cemetery, in Independence.

Hamilton Megonigle first settled in Buchanan county in February, 1848, about one mile east of Independence, on land owned and occupied by Ephraim Miller. He squatted upon that land, and while he was in possession, and had made improvements, built a log house and broke up land, another party entered it from the Government. At the time Megonigle came there were but a few settlers in the county. The present beautiful city of Independence, entirely unknown, scarcely a house there. When he became satisfied that he could not become the owner of the spot, that to him and his wife seemed dear, beautiful and grand, with sad hearts, they moved upon a place, near Quasqueton, the then metrop- olis of the county, called the Orbit farm. In 1853 he settled in Byron, on Pine creek and in the midst of the timber. Here he lived up to the day of his death, which occured on the twenty-fourth of April, 1867. He was a native of Pennsylvania from the banks of the Juniata, a regular, careless, jovial, free-hearted, open-handed, back- woodsman, who was known to everybody and loved to be called "Old Juny." He was a shoemaker by trade, but after he came to Iowa devoted his attention to farming. He was the life of the settlement, jovial, happy and gay, and at their festive occasions was the bright particular star. At his death his widow remained upon the old homestead, where she now, surrounded with all the comforts of life, still resides where the writer visited her. Her love for the brave pioneer of early days is still unabated, speaking in raptures of their heroism and true kindness of heart. They were blessed with nine children, eight of whom are now living : Bartamour married and then volunteered in our late war and died in the army; Armenia, married to S. N. Miller and lives in Liberty township; Cronocia married Emanuel Miller and lives in Liberty; Louisa married, and resides in Liberty; Alva married and lives in Pottawattamie county, Iowa; Jane, married to Benjamin Miller and lives in Liberty; Isabel, married

and lives in Nebraska; John R. is married and lives in Byron township; Samuel S. lives on the old homestead, and is yet unmarried.

Colonel Isaac G. Freeman came to Iowa April 14, 1853, settling on Pine creek. He was a native of New Jersey, but went to New York when quite young, grew up there, and married there December 17, 1835. While living in New York he received the appointment and acted as deputy sheriff, and was also a magistrate. He was also appointed colonel of a regiment of State militia in New York, receiving his commission from the govern- or of the State. During his residence here he acted as a justice, and took a lively interest in all political mat- ters, being of the anti-slavery type. At the Presidential election in the fall of 1880, being quite feeble, he insisted upon voting, and, in company with his wife, rode to the polls and deposited, as it proved, his vote for the last time. He died in April, 1881. He was a Mason and a member of the Baptist church. They had the follow- ing children : Rachel C., who married Dr. John G. House, of Independence, and who is now dead, but Mrs. House is still living in the city; I. E., who was a soldier in the late war; Reuben E., who volunteered in our late war, and died in the army; Phineas G., who married, and whose family lives in Independence, but he takes charge of the old home farm ; William C., an engi- neer, who now lives in Minnesota; George B., engineer, who is married and lives in Minnesota; Henry A., who is married and lives in Byron, on the old homestead; Harriet, who is an artist, and is now at Denver, Colo- rado; Charles B., who is an engineer, and resides in Minnesota; Lillie A., who lives in Denver, Colorado.

Nathan King came to the county in 1852, settling in Washington township, but in 1853 became a settler of Byron, and on the farm now owned by A. Francis. He died here in October, 1866. He had thirteen children, of whom there are nine living. He was a native of New York, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Amos King came to the county in 1849, settling in Independence, but in the early part of 1851 became a resident of Byron, building his cabin on Pine creek. He remained here but two years, then went to Ohio, but subsequently moved to Chicago, Illinois, and is now in business there. He had a family of four children-two boys and two girls.

Ezra King settled here about the same time in 1851, remaining until 1877, and then removed to Liberty town- ship, and died there in 18So, leaving a wife and six chil- dren. He was a member of the Church of God, in Byron.

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History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 101

Author: Williams bros., Cleveland, pub. [from old catalog]; Riddle, A. G. (Albert Gallatin), 1816-1902 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Cleveland, Williams brothers Number of Pages: 574

Author: Williams bros., Cleveland, pub. [from old catalog]; Riddle, A. G. (Albert Gallatin), 1816-1902
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 574