History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 107

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 107

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continent, his property consisted of one English sov- ereign. His property and his prosperity are the reward of his labors. He came to lowa when it was but little settled, and has witnessed many changes.

W. W. Norton, one of the old settlers of this county, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, in 1836. When about a year old he left there with his father, Eli Norton, who moved to Erie county, Pennsylvania. In 1854 he came to Buchanan county; lived ten years in Homer ; in 1865 he bought eighty acres in Sumner, where he now resides; he has since bought and sold some land, and now owns one hundred and fifteen acres. Mr. Norton has a good farm with excellent buildings upon it. He is a prosperous farmer. When he came here but little of the southern portion of the county was settled. Like the rest of the pioneers he had before him the diffi- cult task of building up a home on the wild prairie, in which undertaking he has succeeded well. Mr. Norton was married, in 1861, to Miss Catharine E. Miller. She was born in Stark county, Illinois, in 1851. They have five children. Following are their names and their ages in the year 1880: Nettie M., eighteen; Clarence E., sixteen ; Mira L., fourteen; Frank L., seven, and Ransom E., four. All of the children are living at home at pres- ent. Mr. Norton has held several local offices, such as justice, clerk, etc. He is a first-rate citizen.

Mrs. Eliza A. Safford was born in Bennington, Wyom- ing county, New York, in 1814. She was the daughter of Elisha and Betsey Hoard. She was married in New York State May 25, 1834, to Mercian O. Stafford. They lived in Pennsylvania and New York several years, then went to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, where they re- sided until 1861, when they came to Buchanan county. Previous to coming here Mr. Safford had purchased eighty acres in this township, where Mrs. Safford lives at present. The country was quite wild and settlers were few. Mr. Safford made all of the improvements on the place himself. He died April 2, 1865, at the age of fifty-five. They had a large family, twelve children, seven of whom are now living. Following is a copy of the family record: Ellen, born May 19, 1836, died June 25, 1837; Rufus, born August 3, 1838, married, lives in Grundy county ; Alonzo, born November -, 1840, died January 8, 1841 ; Oliver and Olivette, born May 11, 1842; Oliver died in the army October 25, 1862; Olivette was married in 1863 to John Orput, re- sides in Cloud country, Kansas; Myrom, born April 11, 1844, married, resides in Worth county, Missouri ; Lois, born June 10, 1846, died December 24, 1871; Darius, born October 14, 1848; Lyman W., born January 1, 1851, died March 1, 1852; Ida A., born August 21, 1855; John, born June 25, 1858; Ella, born June 1, 1860. Mrs. Safford has a good home with her son Darius, who manages the farm. Darius is a straight Re- publican and a good, industrious citizen.

George H. Wilson was born in Cornwall, Litchfield county, Connecticut, October 21, 1828. At the age of fifteen he commenced work as a clerk in a store and post office. He followed clerking and teaching for sev- eral years. He then bought a store and. engaged in

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

trade in Plymouth, Connecticut; was there five or six years, then went to New Haven and engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business for three years. His health failing, he sold out and went back to Ply- mouth. In the opening of 1864 he came to this county, and has since been a farmer, with the exception of one year in a store in Independence. He purchased one hundred and forty acres in this township in 1867, and has since added forty. Mr. Wilson has a fine farm and does a good business. He has an orchard on his place, and the buildings are good and nicely situated. He was married February 4, 1857, to Miss Anna Terry, who was born at Plymouth, Connecticut, December 3, 1835. Mrs. Wilson is the granddaughter of Eli Terry who made the first wooden clocks in this country. His first work was done entirely with a pen knife. It was a suc- cess, however, and he afterwards amassed a fortune from this industry. They have only two children : Alice J., born December 8, 1857, and Ella T., born April 21, 1861 : both are living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Congregational church. He is a prominent man, and an earnest Republican. Mr. Wil- son was elected secretary of the Buchanan County Ag- ricultural society, May 27, 1878, and has since held that office. He has been a director of the society almost all of the time since its organization. He is also director and secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance com- pany of the county. He has held nearly all the town- ship offices.

Thomas McGowan was born in Ireland, in 1838. He came to this country with his father, Edward McGowan, at the age of twelve; lived in Rockland county, New York, four years; came to Fayette county, this State, in 1857; remained there one year, and has since resided in Buchanan. He lived in Washington township till 1873; the farm on which he lives at present he bought in 1867; built the house and made all of the improvements. He has ninety acres, including timber. Mr. . McGowan was married in 1868, to Miss Alice Holt, of Independence. They have four children: George, born January 19, 1869; Fred., born October 9, 1872; Frank, born May 23, 1875, and Helen, born January 5, 1880. Mr. Mc- Gowan has a good house and a pleasant home. He is a man of intelligence and a good farmer. He served his country in the army, probably for a longer time than any other soldier of this vicinity. He enlisted in September, 1861 in company F, Twelfth Iowa infantry, and served till January 25, 1866. He participated in some of the severest engagements of the war, was present at the bat- tles of Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Vicksburgh, Mobile, and many others. He was taken prisoner April 6, 1862, at Shiloh, and was kept in custody of the rebels six months and a half, in the prisons of Macon, Georgia, and Mont- gomery, Alabama. He received a shot through the left arm at the battle of Shiloh. Mr. McGowan is a sound Re- publican. He is a hard working and industrious farmer and a good citizen. He started poor, but has made himself a good home and is making improvements con- tinually.

A. R. Goss was born in Randolph, Vermont, in 1839.

When nineteen years of age he canie to Littleton, in this county, where he resided until 1867, with the ex- ception of the time he was in the army. He enlisted June 29, 1861, in company A, Fifth Iowa infantry, and served three years and three months. Was present at the battles of Vicksburgh, Chattanooga, Lookout Moun- tain, Corinth, Iuka, etc. In 1873 he moved to Wash- ington township; resided there six years; moved to Sum- ner township in 1880, purchasing a farm of two hundred acres, making one of the best farms in the township. He was married in 1868 to Miss C. A. Fuller, of Hazle- ton township. They have four children: Henry Delbert, born August 18, 1870; Charles Rogers, born May 14, 1875; George Edward born June 14, 1877; and Arthur Orrin, born January 21, 1879. Mr. Goss is a sound Republican. He is one of the old settlers, having come here when but a comparatively small portion of the county was settled.

F. S. Loy was born near Frederickstown, Maryland, in 1822. When about one and a half years old he went to Ohio with his father, Frederick Loy. Lived in Morrow county, Ohio, till 1854, then went to Wisconsin. In 1856 he came to this county, and lived in Independence two years. In 1858 he bought cighty acres in Sumner, it being part of the farm on which he is living at pres- ent. He now owns two hundred acres of excellent land, all in one body. It is one of the best farms in the town- ship. The land was wild; Mr. Loy has made all the im- provements. He is one of the few farmers in this town- ship who are still living on the places where they first located. There is a beautiful grove of maples and cot- tonwoods, covering four and a half acres, near his house. This was planted by Mr. Loy and adds very much to the beauty of the place. He was married in 1842 to Miss Clarissa Purvis, a native of Seneca county, New York. Mrs. Loy was the mother of nine children, eight of whom are now living. She died May 5, 1879, at the age of fifty-eight. Following are the names of the chil- dren and their ages at the time (1881) of writing: Wil- liam N., thirty-seven, married, resides in Jefferson town- ship; Sarah Belle, thirty-five, married Albert Beach, of Independence; George H., thirty-three, lives in Arkan- sas; Nelson F., thirty-one, married, resides in Sumner; Frederick D., died when about a year and a half old; Louisa M., twenty-eight, married John Torrence, of Jef- ferson township; Henry W., twenty-six; Mary E., twen- ty-four; and Frederick W., twenty-one. The last two reside at home. Mr. Loy has been a member of the Presbyterian church for about thirty-seven years. He is a solid Republican, a good farmer, and a good citizen. He has held several local offices.

Matthew Rodney was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1826. In 1837 he came to this country with his par- ents, who settled in St. Lawrence county, New York. There he lived until the fall of 1849, when he went to Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where he resided until 1865, in the midst of an Indian settlement. He came to this county in 1865, and settled in this township. At first he bought eighty acres of wild prairie; now he owns three hundred and sixty acres of the very best land in

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

Sumner. Mr. Asuney has a good house, nicely fur- nished, which he built in 1865. His farm is all under excellent cultivation ; he keeps seventy-five cattle, and fourteen horses ; he has thirty-five cows, and is making preparations for running a creamery this season. Mr. Rodney was married November 16, 1853, to Miss Mary A. Lee, who was born in Ireland in 1836. They have eleven children now living. The following are their names and ages at this writing (March, 1881): Mary, twenty-five, wife of John Ratchford, of Homer township; William, twenty-three; Michael, twenty one; Matthew, nineteen; Kate, seventeen ; James, fifteen; John, twelve; Emma, ten; Lizzie, seven; Lulu, six; Eveline, one. Mr. and Mrs. Rodney belong to the Catholic church. They are good citizens, well known and respected. Mr. Rodney commenced work for himself at the age of twenty-five, starting with nothing. He has always been an energetic, hard working man, and has earned all that he now possesses. He is to-day one of the wealthiest men in this vicinity, and is, most emphatically, a self- made man. He is straightforward and honest in all his dealings, and owes no man a dollar.

Philip C. Smyser was born in Adams county, Penn. sylvania, in 1825. At the age of twelve he went with his father, Michael Smyser, to Wayne county, Ohio, where he lived eight years; then he returned to Pennsyl- vania and remained seven years; went back to Ohio for four years; and in 1852 came to Iowa with John Smy- ser. Since that time he has been a resident of Buchan- an county principally. In 1862 he enlisted in company H, Twenty-seventh Iowa, and served nearly three years. He saw some of the severest engagements of the war, but was fortunate enough to get through without injury. He bought the farm on which he now lives in 1868. It was unimproved, and Mr. Smyser built the house and all the buildings. He has one of the best orchards in this vicinity. Mr. Smyser was married July 6, 1856, to Miss Emeline Decker, who was born in Hancock coun- ty, Ohio, in 1841. They have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter, Ella, who was twenty years of age in January, 1881. Mr. Smyser has been a Republican since the organization of that party, and is a good citizen.

William H. Warburton was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1845, and lived in Illinois until he came to this county in 1869. His farm of two hundred acres was purchased in 1868. It was then a wild lot, but is now one of the best improved farms in this vicinity. There is a fine young orchard of about three hundred trees on the place, a beautiful grove of maples and several evergreen trees near the house. The house is large, convenient and situated in a pleasant spot. Mr. Warburton does a good farming business. Two of his brothers have been with him in years past, but they are now in other business, and the entire management of the farm devolves upon him. He keeps a large stock of cattle, horses and hogs, and is considered one of our most industrious and suc- cessful farmers. Mr. Warburton was married February 18, 1869, to Miss Ellen C. Irvine. She was born in Ogle county, Illinois, in 1846. They have three chil-

dren living-Carrie E., born October 12, 1871; Myrtie, born in June, 1873, died in infancy; Mary A., born February 2, 1875 ; Clyde W., born December 7, 1879. Mr. Warburton's mother, Mrs. Caroline Warburton, is living with him. Her maiden name was Higgins; she was a member of a family of ten children, of whom four brothers and herself are now living. She was born in Chautauqua county, New York, in 1817. Mrs. Warbur- ton has four children living, William being the oldest. The whole family are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Warburton is a strong Republican, and a wide-awake, well informed young man. Has held several township offices, such as trustee, clerk, etc.

William S. Spece was born in Morgan county, Vir- ginia; left there when four years old and went with his parents to Champaign county, Ohio, where he continued till 1848, then went to Green county, Wisconsin, and was there until 1871, when he came to this county and bought a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, on which he is at present living. There is a good orchard of large trees upon the place. When about eighteen years of age he learned carpentry, and worked at that trade eight years, and has since been engaged, principally, in farm- ing. Mr. Spece was married, in 1844, to Miss Julia A. Youngblood, a native of Virginia. She died in 1873 at the age of fifty-three, after rearing a family of eight chil- dren, all of whom are now living. Their names are Sarah J., Mary C., Barbara A., John D., Margaret E., William N., Mamie E., and Maria S. The three oldest are married. Sarah is the wife of George Burdick of this township; Mary married David McBride, now de- ceased, and resides at Independence: Barbara married John Hastings and lives in Green county, Wisconsin. Mr. Spece passed his early days in the fronticis of Ohio. He is a pleasant gentleman, smart and active for his years.

Thomas Ginther was born in Tuscarawa county, Ohio, in 1851. . His parents, John and Nancy Ginther, came to this county in 1843. When they settled in Sumner there were only two other families in the town- ship. Of course the country was wild, and they had all of the difficulties and hardships of pioneers with which to contend. They succeeded, however, in making a good home, and brought up a family of ten children. Mr. Ginther died October 22, 1859, at the age of forty- seven. Mrs. Ginther was spared to live with her chil- dren until December 16, 1880, when she passed away, aged sixty-seven. Mr. Thomas Ginther now manages the old farm. He was married July 9, 1878, to Miss Sarah Barrett, who was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1859. They have one child, Guy, born May 25, 1879. Mr. Ginther is a sound Republican and a good citizen. He has been in this township longer than any other man now living here.

Henry Washburn was born in Columbia county, New York, in 1814, and moved to Onondaga county when eight years old. When young he worked at carpentry, and made that his business until he came to Iowa in the fall of 1859 and bought the farm on which he still lives. He purchased one hundred and twenty acres of it before

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA

leaving New York, and has since added thirty. He bought a wild lot. There were only two houses between his place and Independence at the time of his coming. Mr. Washburn has now a good farm, with excellent buildings, shade and fruit trees. He was married in 1835 to Miss Anna Stevens, who was born in Green county, New York, in 1817. They have eight children living and three deceased. Their names are as follows : Sarah A., Phoebe R., Enos B., Stephen R., Etta P., Frank E., James H., M. Adelbert, Ida A., William D., George H. Sarah, Stephen, and Ida are not living. Phoebe, Enos, Stephen, Etta, Frank, and Adelbert are married. Mr. Washburn has held several township offices. He is a prominent and highly respected man.

Nathan C. Baker was born in Genesee county, New York, in 1827. When about seventeen years of age he learned the jewelry trade, at which he worked several years in Fond du Lac; Wisconsin, and in Placerville, California. He lived in California from 1850 to 1859, where, besides working at his trade, he engaged in min- ing, ranching and training horses. From California he went to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he resided the most of the time until he came to Iowa. He was married while there. Mr. Baker has travelled extensively. He devoted his time to travelling for two years. He has been in every State in the Union ; also in Mexico and Central America. He came to Buchanan county in 1874, having bought his farm previously. He has three hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, and the farm is one of the very best in the county. It is well wooded and watered; has good buildings, a fine orchard, and beautiful shade trees. There is a valuable stone quarry on the place. Mr. Baker is one of our largest and most prosperous farmers. He was married in 1859 to Miss Carrie J. Crocker, a native of Lockport, New York. They have one child, Harley N. Baker, born in 1864. Mr. Baker is a member of the Masonic order. He is a prominent and highly respected citizen.

Nelson North was born in Shoreham, Vermont, in 1824. In 1831 he went with his parents to Essex coun- ty, New York, where he resided fourteen years. Then, in 1845, he went to Wisconsin and lived there twenty years. In 1865, he came to this county, and settled in this township. He has eighty acres of good land. The house in which he lives was among the first built in this township. Mr. North has always been a farmer and is still working away at the business with industry. Ile . was married, in 1851, to Miss Isabel Wiley, who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1830. They have two children: Mary Edith, born July 8, 1852, married William Loy, resides in Jefferson township; and Elmer E., born December 16, 1862. Mr. North is a good, sound Republican and is most highly esteemed in the community. He has held the office of justice six years, besides other local offices.

William E. Snow was born in Essex county, New York, in 1823. He has followed various occupations. When a young man he worked at carpentering, also worked on the canals eight years, and farmed seven years. He came west in 1865, and settled at Independence,

where he worked at carpentering until 1878, when he re- sumed farming. Mr. Snow bought his farm in 1873, but has not worked it himself until recently. He has three hundred and twenty acres under cultivation, making one of the largest and best farms in the neighborhood. He keeps a good stock of cattle and hogs, and is engaged in dairying. Mr. Snow was married, October 10, 1847, to Miss Alsina Sweet. She died December 14, 1851, at the age of twenty-three. She bore him two children: George A., born June 12, 1848; and Charles J., born July 18, 1851. His second wife, whom he married February 25, 1854, was Miss Betsy J. Sweet, born in Essex county, New York, December 25, 1833. She is the mother of two children: Emma A., born Novem- ber 18, 1854; and Jed W., born July 25, 1859. George married Miss Emma Flemings. She died in 1877. His second wife was Miss Phoebe Knapp. He resides in this township. Charles married Miss Nellie Perry, resides at Independence. Emma married R. C. Hyde, and also resides at Independence. Mr. Snow is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows. He is a prom- inent man, and a most worthy citizen.

Charles G. Woodruff was born in Farmington, Hart- ford county, Connecticut, in 1812. His parents died when he was young. He worked at various occupations until twenty-four years of age, when he married and com- menced farming. He was engaged in this business about four years in Connecticut, and then moved to Granville, Licking county, Ohio, and resided there several years. During this time he went with a colony to southern Mis- souri. While there he was taken sick, and was unable to work for three years. He returned to Licking county and engaged as a travelling salesman for an eastern pub- lishing house. He followed this business nine years, in different States. In 1852 Mr. Woodruff left Ohio, and came to Buchanan county. He entered a farm of Gov- ernment land at Foink's Grove, Jefferson township. In 1866 he moved to Sumner township, having purchased a part of his farm in 1864. The place was unimproved. He now owns one of the best farms in this township. There are two hundred acres of excellent land, a good house, and the best of farm buildings. Mr. Woodruff lives in town mostly, but still manages the faim. He deals in stock considerably and carries on dairying quite extensively. He keeps thirty cows and runs a creamery. He was married at Granville, Massachusetts, March 22, 1836, to Miss Amelia C. Eno. She died November 4, 1858, at the age of forty-two, leaving five children: Fred- erick C., born in 1838, is now superintendent of Ames' school, St. Louis; Henry R., born in 1845, house build- er, Lawrence, Massachusetts; Helen A., born in 1846, married John McGowan, and resides in Osceola county, Iowa; Charlotte HI., born in 1848, lives at home; Willie A., born in 1855, is also at home. The three oldest are married. Mr. Woodruff married again, in 1859, Miss Loanna 7. Cooley, daughter of Dr. John B. Cooley, of Homer, Licking county, Ohio. She died September 30, 1860, at the age of thirty-six. She lost one child, Albert C., born May 19, 1860, died August 1, 1860. He is now living with his third wife whom he married in 1861.

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

She was Miss Delia S. Pcase, daughter of Deacon Eli Pease, of Blandford, Massachusetts, and was born in 1828. They have one child living and one deceased: Franklin P., born February 19, 1869, died June 19, 1869; Mary L., born September 4, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Woodruff has held several local offices such as jus- tice, trustee, etc. He is a staunch Republican and a most worthy citizen. He was the originator of the Inde. pendence Congregational church, and gave eleven hun- dred dollars towards building it.

George Netcott was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1842. When about seventeen years of age he com- menced working at the mason's trade, and has been en- gaged in that business ever since. He came to this

country in 1872, and settled at Independence, where he has since been engaged in the capacity of a contractor and builder. He has erected some of the largest and best buildings in our city, and is kept busy constantly. He is at present engaged by the county to construct a large, fire-proof building which is to contain the county offices. Mr. Netcott is one of our most enterprising business men. He was married in 1863 to Miss Matilda E. Woodbury, who was born in London in 1842. They have five children: Henry, born August 7, 1867; George A., August 3, 1869; Flora Amy, June 6, 1871; Willie, July 17, 1873; Rosina Kate, October 27, 1876. Mr. Netcott is a good, sound Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Netcott have always adhered to the principles of the Presbyterian church.

MIDDLEFIELD.

This township was organized and set apart as a separ- ate and independent township on the twenty-first day of September, 1858, as shown by the following order of the county judge :

STATE OF IOWA, } ss. BUCHANAN COUNTY.

In the County Court of said County.

Be it known, That on this twenty-first day of September, 1858, on petition of Philetus Mackey and Albert Risley and others, a new town- ship in said county is hereby constituted and formed, consisting of the thirty-six sections of Congressional township eighty-eight, range seven, and in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants thereof, it is or- dered to be styled Middlefield.

STEPHEN J. W. TABOR, County Judge.

The first election in the township was held at a school- house in the fall of 1858, and the following officers were elected : G. Smith, R. Stoneman, and M. Broadstreet, trustees; Daniel Leatherman, assessor and constable.

The present officers are: A. J. Hagelrigg, Joseph King, and Patrick Farrell, trustees; E. A. Barnard, clerk; W. T. Sharp, assessor; L. P. Stntson and J. W. Sharp, jus- tices ; John Plank and A. Miller, constables.

SETTLEMENTS.

Patrick M. Dunn settled in the southeast part of the township April 2, 1850. He settled in the timber, and he remains now, as he was then, entirely surrounded by a beautiful forest, and his residence is situated on Buf- falo creek. There is no doubt he was the first white man to build a cabin in the then wilderness of Middlefield. He was a native of Kings county, Ireland, being born there September 29, 1800. He came to the United States September 29, 1836, with his wife and two chil- dren. He and his wife, in those early years, went each year twice to Dubuque for groceries and such things as

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History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 107

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