History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 106

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 106

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Isaac A. Wilkinson was born in La Salle county, Illi- nois, May 3, 1839. His father, William B. Wilkinson, was one of the first settlers where Independence now stands. He came here in 1848 and started a wagon- shop, and in the fall of 1852, sent for his family, con-

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

sisting of his wife, two sons and four daughters. The eldest, a daughter, is the wife of Mr. Benjamin Cain, of Westburgh township; the second, is Mrs. Amy A. Hast- ings, of Independence; the third, is the wife of Peter Ham, and the fourth married Walton Hill, formerly of Independence, now of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The eldest son is Mr. Leprilette M. Wilkinson, of Marshall- town, and the second son is the subject of this sketch. He was married May 3, 1864, to Miss Mary E. Noyes, of Westburgh township. They have one son, William D., born June 8, 1865. Mr. Wilkinson is a prosperous farmer of Westburgh township, owning a farm in the southwest corner of the township.

The Burr Brothers are well known business men and farmers, and are the sons of T. J. Burr, of Independence. Their lives have run in the same channel to a much greater extent than is the good fortune of many brothers -having spent their early manhood in the same town in their native State-having passed through the dangers and trying times of nearly four years of army life in the same regiment; after the return of peace going into part- nership, and still continuing in business together. There- fore it is eminently proper that in writing a short sketch of their lives the two should go together. The senior brother, Thomas Jerry Burr, was born in Genesee county, New York, July 18, 1829. His brother, George W., lacks one day of being two years his junior. Between the time they reached their manhood and their entering the ser- vice of their country, the elder brother was engaged mostly in the mercantile business in the town of Castile, while the younger paid attention chiefly to farming. In the summer of 1862 they both enlisted in the One Hun- dred and Thirtieth New York volunteer infantry. In this regiment they served about nine months, when it was transferred to the cavalry service, and made the after- wards famous First New York dragoons. Soon after en- listing Thomas was promoted to a lieutenantcy. In mak- ing a charge at Cold Harbor he passed through the enemy's line, and, on attempting to return was terribly wounded by a Minnie ball, which passed through his throat. No hopes of his recovery were entertained, but, at the end of seventy days he reported for duty. After his return to the field his regiment participated in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, and all of Sheridan's fights in the Shenandoah valley. He, however, lost his voice, and was compelled to quit the field, so was given an adjutant's commission and placed on the staff of Colonel Hancock, who had charge of the

camp of discharge, where he served until the close of the war. George was more fortunate in his army experiences than his brother. He was with his regiment in all of its many severe engagements without receiving the slightest scratch, and never so much as went home on a furlough until the close of the war, when the troops were mus- tered out of the service. During this time their father had moved to Independence, Iowa, and, immediately after their return from the army they came here also, and went into the hotel business. After a year in Indepen- dence they went to Cedar Falls, where they kept the Car- ter house, returning, however, at the end of two years, when they again took charge of the Burr house, now known as the Merchants' hotel. In the spring of 1870 the Burr brothers, tiring of the hotel business, sold, and bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres four miles west of Independence, on which they still reside. George was married September 13, 1869, to Miss Nellie Riseley, daughter of Jacob Riseley, of Independence. She was born in Monroe county, New York. They have had a family of four children, all boys, one of whom died in infancy. The living are Albert Leslie, Eugene Sherman, and Leo Ernest. Thomas was married Febru- ary 22, 1876, to Miss Anna Riseley, also daughter of Jacob Riseley. She was born in Monroe county, New York, February 22, 1845.

David Mckibben was born March 10, 1831, in Law- rence county, Pennsylvania. When he was three years of age his father, John Mckibben, moved to Seneca county, Ohio, where he lived until arriving at his twenty- first year, when he started out for himself by marrying and locating in Greene county, Wisconsin. His wife was Miss Elizabeth McClelland, daughter of Andrew Mc- Clelland, of Seneca county, Ohio. She was born March 22, 1834, and was married May 20, 1852. After a resi- dence of twenty-three years, or until the fall of 1874, in Wisconsin, they came to Buchanan county, and located near Jesup, Westburgh township. During his residence in Wisconsin (in the spring of 1862), he went to Cali- fornia, taking with him a drove of horses, which he sold to advantage in Nevada City, and returned home in the fall of the same year. Mr. and Mrs. McKibben have a family of four children-Emma O., born April 7, 1860; Elmer T., December 15, 1862; Emery C., July 18, 1865; and Eddie O., December 30, 1872. Emma is the wife of W. M. Pooler, of Westburgh township. Mr. McKib- ben is universally considered a fine man. He is at pres- ent assessor of his township.

SUMNER.

NAME.

This township was called Sumner in honor of Hon. Charles Sumner who, for a long time, ably represented the State of Massachusetts in the United States senate.

ORGANIZATION AND ELECTION.

Sumner was set apart as an independent and separate township on the seventh day of March, 1857, by order of the county judge, which is as follows:

And now, to-wit, March 7, 1857, it is ordered by the court, that township 88, range 9, excepting sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12, No. 12, and 3814, section 13 and No. 1/2, section II, together with sections 30, 31 and 32 in township 88, range 8, and sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of township 87, range 9, and section 6 of township 87, range 8, be set apart and organized into a separate precinct, to be called Sumner; and that an election be holden in said precinct on the first Monday in April next, at the house of John Ginther in said township, for the election of township officers, county assessor and district judge, and such other officers as are by law to be elected at that time; and that a warrant for such election issue to Norman A. Bassett, constable.

O. H. P. ROSZELL, County Judge.

Since the above order, changes have been made in the boundaries of the township. The following have been separated from it and added to the original Congressional townships, from which they were taken: Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, of town 87, range 9, and section 6, township 87, range 8.

In 1878 the grounds of the asylum for the insane were, by order of the county supervisors, separated from Sum- ner and annexed to Washington township, as also the northwest quarter of section 7. Sumner now comprises Congressional township 88, range 9, excepting sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, and northwest, northeast and south- east quarter of 12, and northeast quarter of 13, the asy- lum grounds for the insane and northwest quarter of section 7.

The first election in the township was held in March, 1857, in accordance with the above order, and the fol- lowing officers elected: John Ginther, Jube Day and William Boyach, trustees; B. W. Ogden, justice; and Norman A. Bassett, clerk. At this election there were only about twelve votes.

SETTLEMENTS.

Michael Ginther settled here in the spring of 1847, and was the first permanent settler in the township. He made the first entry of land here, and being at a loss how to describe the land he desired to enter, he carried the corner stake to the land office at Dubuque, going there on foot for that purpose. This entry, however, was found to be on the wrong section entirely. He had in- tended to buy the land on which he had settled, and on

which is the famous spring, known yet as the "Ginther spring," about half way between Quasqueton and Inde- pendence, on the west side of the river; and when he found the entry he had really made was one mile west, and out on the prairie he was completely discouraged, being a poor man and believing that land so far out would never be of any value whatever. Mr. Ginther was here and attended the first election in the county, August, 1847.

His children are Thomas, Joseph, Absalom, Sarah, Nancy, and Samantha. Thomas Ginther married and is now living in the southwestern part of the State. Jo- seph is married and left the county quite a number of years ago, but is still living in the State. Absalom is also married and living in the western part of Iowa. Sarah married a Mr. Phillips and moved away. Nancy is married and lives in the southwest part of the State. Sarah married a Mr. Loy and lives in Sumner township. Mr. Ginther, after a residence here of twenty years, moved to the southwestern part of Iowa, where he died.

John Ginther, a brother of Michael, settled here in 1854 on the same farm where he lived and died, said farm being situated in the south part of the township. He was of German descent. He was one of the original organizers of the township, and at his house was the first election, and also the first religious services. His wife, Nancy Ginther, died in January, 1881, in Sumner town- ship, on the old homestead, she then being the oldest surviving settler. Their children are, Gideon C., now in Cedar Rapids; Madison, who married here and a few years ago went to Colorado and died there; Harrison, who, in 1861, then a young man of eighteen years of age, enlisted in our late war and went to Davenport, where he was taken sick and died. His remains were then brought to this county and buried here. Charlotte, the oldest daughter, was married to James Palmer, and resides in Sumner township. These were the first par- ties married. Rosanah married Myron Safford and lives in the northwestern part of Missouri, Martha went to Illinois and there married, but is now living in Nebraska. Malinda lives in Sumner at the old home, and has been sick for twelve years with hip disease. Maria is a young lady of about twenty-four years, and lives in Sumner. She is the youngest of the family. Jacob, who was a young man of promise when he became of age, went to California, where he has become wealthy, and is still liv- ing there.

B. W. Ogden settled in the northern part of the town- ship in 1853, coming here from Ohio. He was a native of Frederick county, Virginia, where he was born June

389

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

18, 1821. He was educated at Leesberry seminary, Ohio, and married in that State December 26, 1847. He, for some sixteen years previous to the time of his coming here, taught school, and when he came to Iowa he re- sumed his old profession, for he taught the first school in the township, in his own log cabin; and many of his first students here were grown-up young men and women, and he taught them the rudiments of the English language. He was instrumental in building the first school house in Sumner, and taught in it the first school kept there, and for a long time the only one. He is now living in Inde- pendence, but yet owns a good farm in Sumner. He is a member of the school board in the city in which he lives, which he has seen grow to a place of thirty- five hundred inhabitants since his residence in the county. His children are: Austin W., who is in Dakota territory; William J., Anna, and Bella Victoria E. The last three are young persons, now living at home.

Jube Day, in 1855, settled in the western part of the township, and was one of the first in that part. He was a native of Massachusetts. He continued to reside here until 1869, when he moved to West- burgh township, where he now resides. At the time he moved to Sumner, his nearest neighbors were four miles away, with the exception of R. R. Beach, who set- tled here and came to the county with him. His children are Charles H., Frederick, and Ida. When a young man he was an engineer, and worked on engines on rivers, and also worked in machine shops. Eighteen years of his life were thus spent.

R. R. Beach settled here in May, 1855, near Day's, and came with him. He was a native of New York. He had five children, three of whom are now living: Albert, married and living in Independence; Abbie, and An- drew. His son Addison was drowned in the Wapsie river while attempting to cross it just above the dam at In- dependence. Going near the dam, the boat was drawn in by swift water, carried over the dam, and when he was taken up below, life was extinct. His daughter Ann, who was in the millinery business at Independence, died there, of consumption. After Mr. Beach had lived in Sumner for about ten years, he moved to Independence, and went into the wood business there. In 1878 his wife died, and he soon after left the county, and is now in Minnesota.

Orlando Cobb settled here in 1853, and on the same farm where he now lives, about one-fourth of a mile south of Independence. He has been married twice, and is now living with the second wife. He has but one child, a son, who is now married and lives with his father on the family homestead. He has a large and valuable farm, and cuts annually a large amount of tame hay, and feeds two or three car-loads of stock per year. Mr. Cobb, about six years ago, was so unfortunate as to break one of his legs, and since that time he has been confined to his house.

William Boyack, a native of the land of Burns, a stur- dy Scotchman, settled here in 1854, coming from Illinois, and still lives on the same farm where he first settled. He is one of those thorough-going farmers that are an advan-

tage to any county or State. He has five children-four boys and one girl. The latter is married to Daniel Washburn, and lives in the township. Mr. Boyack has a farm of two hundred acres of prime land, with good buildings, etc.

J. W. Wheeler settled in the township in 1856, and now lives here on the same farm where he first settled. He had four children-one daughter and three sons. His daughter, Betsey, married F. Ginther, and is now dead. Daniel was a soldier in our late war, and died in the army. Another met with an accident, and died from the effects of it; and the third and last one is living at home with his father.

SCHOOLS.

The first school here was in the winter of 1853-54, in the north part of the township, taught by B. W. Ogden, in his own log cabin. There were about twelve scholars, many of them fully grown, pursuing primary studies. This was a subscription school. The next winter there was a school at Michael Ginther's, taught by the same teacher. In 1858 a school-house was built in the east- ern part of the township, under the supervision of Mr. Ogden, who taught the first school in it. Soon after another was built in Mr. Ginther's district. Among the early teachers were B. W. Ogden, who now lives in Inde- pendence; Charles Lewis, now judge of the Eleventh Judicial district; Ida Shutliff, Amelia Miller and Mrs. Sueler. The latter taught school in her own house.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

There are no regularly organized religious societies here, but there are occasional religious services at school and private houses. The first religious service of any kind in the township was held at the Ginther school house in 1855, by the Methodists. The township being near the city of Independence, the people attended re- ligious services there.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

The Wapsie river passes through the township on the northeast side. Bear creek passes through the centre. The land, though generally good, in some parts is cold and wet.

The first wedding in the township was that of James Palmer and Charlotte Ginther, in 1856, and about the same time Francis Metcalf was married to Maria Palmer, B. W. Ogden, esq., officiating at both of these weddings in his modest log house.

The inhabitants of Sumner obtain their mail at Inde- pendence, and do their business and trading there. There is no post office in the township and never has been.

Michael Ginther, that brave early pioneer, has the honor of raising the first wheat in the township in 1848.

The first white child born in the township was Austin W. Ogden, February 11, 1854. He is now in Dakota Territory.

The soil is a light sandy loam; surface, rolling prairie. In some parts of the township are a great many large boulders, which make excellent foundations for build- ings and piers for bridges.

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

Along the river the land is hilly. There are among these hills large quantities of limestone. No quarries of any consequence have been opened as yet, but upon the surface there is every indication of being rock in abun- dance. There are, however, in the township many good farms, especially those of George H. Wilson, secretary of the Buchanan County Agricultural society, and William Boyack.

The four eastern tiers of sections are mostly covered with timber, consisting of oak, basswood, elm, hickory, cotton-wood and soft maple-the different species of oak predominating. But some portions of this timber land is what is properly called "brush land."

The people in an early day lived in a very humble manner, their principal food being corn bread. They endured the deprivations incident to pioneer life, and what is true of this is true of all other townships in the county. Before the railroad came here wheat was a drug in the market at twenty-five cents per bushel and pork at one dollar and fifty cents per hundred. They received most of their groceries from Benton county. Until 1855 the city of Independence was in an embryo condition- but one or two small stores there; post office kept at Quasqueton; no bridges across the river south of Inde- pendence, fording being the only way of crossing. Many of the settlers in this township became discouraged, sold out and returned to their former homes, while others, having more confidence in the future of the county, re- mained, and are now in good circumstances, being own- ers of good farms well supplied with all the conven- iences of modern life.

Mrs. William Applegate died first among these early settlers, in the winter of 1854.

There are quite a number of young and thrifty orchards here, and among them we notice that of John Westfall of about six acres. He has made considerable cider. R. Allensworth, John Spees, William Boyack and William Penrose also have promising orchards.

The productions are corn, oats and hay. The wheat erop is very light, and but few of the farmers try to raise it. Some still cling to this staple of the past, but almost invariably get a very light harvest indeed.

PERSONAL MENTION.

William Boyack was born in Dundee, Scotland, in the year 1822. There, after arriving at the age of twelve or fourteen years, he worked in the linen factories, with the exception of four years spent in Seville, Spain, until 1852, when he emigrated to America. On his arrival here he engaged as a lumber salesman in Rockford, Illi- nois, where he continued three years. In October, 1855, he came to Buchanan county, locating in Sumner town- ship, where he now resides. In the summer of 1849, Mr. Boyack was married to Miss Jane Doig, of Dundee. They have had six children, one of whom, Agnes V., died December 5, 1876, in the twenty-fourth year of her age. The remaining five-James D., William, Breeze O., Bessie J., and Charles E .- are all living. The daugh- ter is the wife of D. R. Warburton, of Hamilton county. Mr. and Mrs. Boyack were among the earliest settlers of

the county. Coming here when the country was new and entering two hundred aeres of government land, they have improved and added to it, until they now pos- sess one of the finest farms in the township. Mr. Boyack is a well informed man. He has always kept his eyes open during his travels. He is also a great reader. Dur- ing his stay in Spain he acquired the Spanish language, and learned much about the manners and customs of the people. It is a pleasure to listen to his descriptions of persons and places which he has seen. His oldest son, James, is township assessor.

W. H. Hosmer was born in Chautauqua county, New York in 1841. He left here with his parents when about five years old and went to Ohio where he lived until twelve years of age, then moved to Wisconsin where he resided until he came to this county in 1868. He bought the farm on which he now lives the same year. It was only partially improved. Mr. Hosmer built the house, and now has an excellent farm. He has also a fine orchard, shade trees, etc., altogether a very pleasant home. His wife, whom he married in 1865, was Miss Lydia J. Ship- ley She was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1842. They have two children -- Ira T., born January 20, 1868, and Alma, born May 20, 1870, Mr. and Mrs. Hosmer are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Hosmer is one of our best citizens, and has held several township offices. He is a thorough Republican.

J. M. Westfall has been a resident of Buchanan county twenty-eight years. He was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1823. When a young man he learned the carpenter trade, and worked at it about twenty-five years. In 1848 he left New Jersey and went to Belvidere, Illi- nois, and having lived there about five years came to Buchanan county. He first settled in Independence, where he resided seventeen years, working at his trade part of the time. He then moved to the farm on which he is living at present. He owns one hundred acres of excellent land, and one of the finest orchards we have seen in the county. He has a good house and a pleas- ant home. Mr. Westfall was married in 1843 to Miss Lydia J. Vannetten, who was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1823. They have five children, viz: Augustus B., born February 27, 1849, married Miss Kit- tie Hayden, and lives at Independence; John C., born June 22, 1851, married Miss Bessie E. Marshall, and re- sides at Sedalia, Missouri; George B., born December 18, 1855; Frank I., born December 13, 1859; Leo 1)., born November 4, 1866. Mr. Westfall was elected con- stable in 1859 and held the office two years. In 1860 he was elected deputy sheriff of the county, and was soon afterward appointed sheriff, which office he held five years in all. At the same time he was deputy pro- vost marshal for the Third district of Iowa. Mr. West" fall is a prominent Mason, being the only surviving charter member of the Blue lodge at Independence; he is also a charter member of the chapter. He is one of Buchanan's solid men, an early settler and a highly re- spected citizen.

William Davis was born in Kent, England, in 1829. He came to America when ten years old, with his father,

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

James Davis, and settled in Saratoga county, New York, where he resided till 1857 ; he then moved to Stephenson county, Illinois, where he lived five years in all, though he was back in New York State about three years. He came to this county in 1864; first settled in Homer township; after four years' residence there, he moved to Independence for a short time, and has since been engaged in farming in Sumner township. He owns three hundred and forty-seven acres; has two fine·look- ing houses, and excellent farm buildings. Mr. Davis has been a thriving and successful farmer. He is now about to give the management of the farm into the hands of his son James, who no doubt will succeed equally as well. Mr. Davis was married in 1855, to Miss Sarah J. Terry. She was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 1837. They have had five children; two died in in- fancy ; three are living, viz: James H., born September 8, 1856; William, January 16, 1865; Frank M., Decem- ber 16, 1875. Mr. Davis' father died at the age of eighty-five. His mother is still with him. She was eighty years old in August, 1880. The whole family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Davis is a Republican. He is esteemed by all as a worthy citizen.

James Beatty, sr., was born in County Tyrone, North Ireland, in 1818. He left there when sixteen years old, and came to America. He lived in Philadelphia about eighteen years, during which time he was married. From Philadelphia he came to Jones county, Iowa, where he resided twenty-eight years. In 1878 he came to this county, and moved upon his farm located in Sumner township. This farm contains two hundred and sixty acres ; he also owns a farm in Cascade, Jones county. Mr. Beatty has been a farmer since he came west ; but he learned a machinist's trade when young and worked at it several years. He was also engaged in the manufacture of cotton and woollen goods for about seven years. Mr. Beatty has a large farm with good buildings. He is a man of means, and is now able to enjoy the fruits of his early labor. Mr. Beatty's family record is as follows. He was married, January 29, 1839, to Miss Grace Stewart, who was born in the north of Ireland in 1820. They have eight children living, two deceased: Elizabeth J., born December 4, 1839; died July 17, 1876; she was the wife of John Sloan of this township. She left six children, four of whom were adopted by and are still living with Mr. Beatty: James M., born September 23, 1841, married, resides in Philadelphia, is a member of the firm of Clark & Beatty, manufacturers of woollen hosiery; Alexander, born November 17, 1843, married, lives in Homer township; Martha A., born December 23, 1847, died August 23, 1848; Margaret, born June 23, 1852, married B. C. Wise, resides at Cascade, Iowa; Stewart, born May 27, 1854; Sarah A., August 12 1856 ; William M., February 23, 1859 ; George, March 8, 1861 ; Grace, January 18, 1865. Mr. Beatty and wife, Maggie, Stewart and Grace are members of the Baptist church ; William and Sarah, of the Methodist. Mr. Beatty is a Republican. He is a self-made man. When he landed on the shores of this

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History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 106

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