History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 114

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 114

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).

Robert Clayton was born March 1, 1835, in Preston, Lancastershire, England, and emigrated to America in 1849, landing in Philadelphia, August 17th, after a very pleasant voyage. Mr. Clayton remained in Philadelphia about three months, and then went to New Jersey, stop- ping there four months, working in a cotton factory in the meantime. He then came west and located in Grant county, Wisconsin, where he lived one year and then moved to Lafayette county, remaining there six years and worked out all of the time. He then bought a farm of eighty acres in partnership with his brother. This farm he tilled eight years, and afterwards rented a farm five years. He next moved to Homer township, Bu-

chanan county, Iowa. He purchased four hundred acres of excellent land, two hundred and forty acres being im - proved and the remainder wild prairie. He built his present residence about five years ago, and has a very pleasant home. Mr. Clayton has a fine farm and is evi- dently doing well. He was married September 7, 1862, to Miss Ann Winn. They have had thirteen children, ten of whom are living; Joseph J., born June 3, 1863, died January 8, 1865; Joseph Clayton, born November 29, 1864; James, born March 16, 1866; Mary J., born February 8, 1868, died September 8, 1869; Mary J., born August 15, 1869; William T., born February 21, 1871; Charles C., born August 19, 1872; Robert H., born February 14, 1874; John R., born October 18, 1875 ; George R., born December 17, 1876, died Feb- ruary 9, 1877; Calvin, born March 17, 1878; Nettie L., born August 21, 1879. They also have an infant girl, not yet named, she was born February 13, 1881. Mr. Clayton is a thorough going Democrat, and is held in high esteem by his fellow townsmen.

Andrew Clayton was born in Lancastershire, England, in 1829, and emigrated to this country in 1853. Mr. Clayton went into a factory to work when eight years of age and remained there till the time of his emigration, with the exception of the little schooling he received- being able to attend school but a half day at a time for four or five years, though he considered himself fortunate in getting this small amount. His voyage to America was a pleasant one, and nothing transpired of special in- terest. He landed in Philadelphia, where he remained two weeks with his sister, and then went to Galena, Illi- nois, going by the way of Pittsburgh down the Ohio river to Cairo, and up the Mississippi to Galena, thence to Elk Grove, Wisconsin. Here he worked with his brother about eighteen months on a farm; then hired out for a year or two, but soon after purchased a farm. He came to lowa in 1869, having sold his farm in Wis- consin, and settled in Homer township, where he now lives, occupying the old Mitchell mansion. Mr. Clayton was married in 1879 to Miss Mary Ellwood, of Preston, England. In politics Mr. Clayton is a Conservative and is highly esteemed and respected by all who know him.

A. K. Stanford was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, April 26, 1841. When fourteen years of age he went to Zanesville, Ohio, where he remained two years and then came west in company with his uncle, locating at Quasqueton. They remained upon a rented farm one year, then removed to Homer township, where his uncle had previously bought one hundred and fifty acres of wild prairie. Here they built a house, and planted trees and made many other improvements. Mr. Stanford re- sided upon this farm two years. January 4, 1864, he enlisted in the Twenty-seventh lowa infantry. He was a participant in the Red river expedition, and also in the battles of Pleasant Hill, Old Oaks, Tupelo, Oldtown Creek, Nashville, and assisted in taking Spanish fort and Fort Blakley. Mr. Stanford was mustered out at Mem- phis in December, 1865. He maintained throughout his military career a faithful and gallant record as a soldier. After the close of the war he returned to Iowa

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

and went to farming in Homer township. Two years later he bought the farm where he now lives, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, though he has sold eighty acres. Mr. Stanford was married to Miss Isabel Haskell November 4, 1861. Mrs. Stanford died in 1871. Mr. Stanford was married the second time to Miss Cath- arine Cox. He has a family of eleven children, six by the first and five by the second marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Stanford are members of the Methodist church. He is a Republican. He has been township assessor four years, and is now serving his sixth year as township clerk, he has also been trustee and school director. He is one of the oldest residents of the county, and is regarded as an intelligent and enterprising farmer.

James R. P'atten was born at Summer Hill, New York, March 18, 1839. He remained at home until he was fifteen years of age, when he moved west with his father, James Patten. After stopping a few months in Illinois he went to Wisconsin, where he lived three years, being engaged in farming. He then returned to Illinois, where he remained two or three years. There he enlisted in the Ninth Iowa cavalry, company I. He was stationed at Chicago the first winter, then went south. He took part in several engagements, among them Guntown, Mississippi; Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Patten maintained a faithful record as a soldier and served his country with zeal and fidelity. He once came near being killed, being kicked in the head by a mule. In December, 1864, he was mustered out and returned to Illinois. In 1868 he came to Buchanan county, and settled in Homer township. After several changes he finally bought the one hundred and twenty acre farm on which he now resides. Mr. Patten has an excellent farm, is well-contented and prosperous. He is quite exten- sively engaged in dairying, keeps thirty cows and consid- erable stock of other kinds. He has a good home, well situated, with a fine young orchard. Mr. Patten was married March 18, 1863, to Miss Addie Beckith. They have seven children: Ida L., born January, 16, 1864; Mary M., born July 22, 1866; Stella J., born August 12, 1868; Martha M., born April 25, 1870; Minnie M., born April 17, 1873; Willmina, born November 11, 1878; Millie E., born August 1, 1880. Mr. Patten is a strong Repub- lican from principle. He is an intelligent and enterpris- ing man, and is highly spoken of by his neighbors.

Lucius E. Robison was born in New York, Septem- ber 1, 1844. He remained here until he was six years of age, when his parents moved to Courtland county, New York, where Lucius resided until 1866, though he was in the army about two years. He enlisted on the thirteenth of January, 1864, in the Sixteenth New York heavy artillery, and was stationed at first at Yorktown, and then transferred, March Ist, to the First New York mounted rifles. He was a participant in the engagement at Bermuda Hundred, under Butler; was also at Peters- burgh, and through the siege of Richmond. He was discharged December 9, 1865, at Albany, New York. At the close of the war he went to Michigan, where he resided four years, being engaged in farming. In the spring of 1870 he went to Greeley, Colorado. He

stopped here till June 29th, when he returned, locating in Buchanan county. He rented a farm in Homer town- ship, but bought the farm he now resides upon the same year. His farm contains one hundred and twenty acres of excellent land; it was partially improved. Mr. Robi- son was married, April 17, 1870, to Miss Fannie Mosher, of Summer Hill, New York. They have two children: Eva L., born September 17, 1871; William A., born Jan- uary 22, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Robison are members of the Methodist church. He is a sound Republican and is regarded a worthy citizen.

Charles Combs was born May 9, 1817, in Jefferson county, New York. When he was fourteen years old he removed with his father, Nicholas Combs, to Chautauqua county, and was engaged in farming till 1866, when he came west, first settling in Michigan county, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He resided here ten years and emigrated to Buchanan coun- ty, Iowa, locating in Homer township, on a farm of two hundred and forty acres. It is one of the best in the township, soil fertile and well watered, and cost Mr. Combs three thousand six hundred dollars. He has a pleasant house, well situated, also a fine young orchard of one hundred and fifty trees, which he does not leave for the cattle to trim, so he says. As a proof of the fertility of the soil, Mr. Combs has raised thirty bushels of oats to the acre, on an average of twenty-five acres of land. He is engaged in mixed farming, keeps quite a large stock of cattle and horses-some of the best in the county. Mr. Combs was married, October 7, 1852, to Miss Susan M. Groves, of Chautauqua county, New York. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living: Fremont, born September 2, 1853; Blanche I., born September 23, 1855; Corwin, born January 26, 1857; Alma, born April 26, 1859; Jefferson D., born July 31, 1861; Bertha, born June 13, 1863; Antionette, born August 23, 1865; Nasby, born August 5, 1869; and Reo, born December 28, 1873. Mr. Combs is a Demo- crat, and is regarded as one of the substantial men of the township.

Thomas Delaney .- Among the early settlers of Bu- chanan county, Mr. Delaney deserves special mention. He was born December 19, 1833, in the county of Tip- perary, Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1851. Im- mediately after landing in New York he went to Cayuga county, where he was engaged in farming about three years. He then moved to Sutherland Falls, Rutland county, Vermont, residing there eighteen months, and then removed to Cayuga county, where he remained till the fall of 1858. He next emigrated to Buchanan county, lowa, locating in Jefferson township, where he bought forty acres of wild prairie. Mr. Delaney built a log house, in which he lived till 1870, and surrounded it with a beautiful grove. Selling this, he moved to Homer township. He has a good farm of eighty acres, is well situated, has plenty of timber near his house, and is evidently enjoying life. Money, Mr. Delaney says, was as scattering as hen's teeth when he came in 1858. He was married in 1855 to Miss Bridget Coleman. They have seven children : Mary L., born May 22, 1856; Alice

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

A., born September 29, 1857; Elizabeth J., born Sep- tember 23, 1859; Margaret E., born January 21, 1861; Celia, born May 2, 1864; Emily, born August 17, 1868; Martin T., born June 17, 1869. Mr. Delaney is a Cath- olic. He is a firm Democrat. At present he is road supervisor. He is a self-made man.

Alfred Pike .- Among the early and prominent resi- dents of Buchanan county, Mr. Pike deserves special mention. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, May 17, 1829. He remained at home until eighteen years of age, and then began work for himself. In the fall of 1864 he came to Independence. After remaining there three months, he moved to Homer township, having pre- viously purchased forty acres here. The land was but partially improved, there being a small house upon it. Mr. Pike says he remained there until the house was ready to fall down, and then concluded to sell out, which he did, and bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in the same section as his first. Mr. Pike consid- ers his farm equal to any of its size in this county. He has a nice home, with a beautiful grove about it; also a young orchard in a thrifty condition. Mr. Pike is en- gaged in mixed farming, and is evidently doing well. He was married December 18, 1847, to Miss Rebecca Brandon, of Wayne county. They have had thirteen children: William, Philander, Mary E., Martha M., Henry E., Granville B., Sarah R., Jasper B., Nora R., Julia A. They lost three children in infancy. William, Martha, and Sarah are also deceased. Mr. Pike is a "black Republican" from principle. He has been town trustee one term, and is now serving his second term, thus showing the esteem and confidence in which he is held by his fellow townsmen.

Isaiah H. French was born at Royalton, Vermont, August 2, 1841. When very young his parents moved

to Claremont, New Hampshire. Here Isaiah remained till he was twenty years of age, assisted his father on his farm till he was fourteen, and then began to work for himself, hiring out on farms in the summer seasons, and teaching winters. He came to Iowa in 1861, landing in Independence, and stopped with his brother Henry the first winter, about five miles out of the city, and then went to Spencer's Grove, where he was engaged in farm- ing till August, 1862, when he enlisted in the Fortieth lowa infantry, company K, and rendezvoused at Iowa City till November. His regiment at this time went south, but Mr. French, having contracted disease and be- ing unable to perform military duties, was sent home on a sick furlough, and was under doctors' care eight months. He then reported himself for duty at Jowa City, though he had not recovered fully from his former sickness, and has not even at the present time. The sur- geon declared him unsound, and Mr. French was excused from all duties. In November, 1863, he was sent to Keokuk, where he filled several positions in the hospital, remaining a year; then went to Davenport, where he was discharged March 25, 1865, because his heart and lungs were diseased. After his discharge he returned to Spencer's Grove, Iowa, and engaged in farming, which occupation he has since followed. His present farm contains one hundred and twenty acres ; has good buildings, and also a fine orchard of three hundred trees. Mr. French married Miss Livera G. Kidner, August 9, 1866, which union has been blessed with five children: Minnie L., born December 12, 1869; George A., born March 17, 1874; Ada B., born August 20, 1877; Nellie, born May 21, 1879. They lost a little boy in infancy. Mr. French is a Conservative in politics, and a Free and Accepted Mason. He has held some town offices, among which is that of justice. He is an intelligent and worthy man.

CONO.

NAME.

The township was called Cono from a Winnebago chief, thus named, who, in early days, was often in the township on his hunting and fishing excursions alone the Wapsie river. He had many friends among the early settlers, and was a great friend of the white man.

ORGANIZATION.

This township was organized and set apart as an in- dependent township on the twenty-first day of Septem- ber, 1858, by an order of the county judge, as follows : STATE OF IOWA,

BUCHANAN COUNTY. Ss.

Be it known, that on this twenty-first day of September, 1858, it hereby is ordered that a new township be formed of the thirty-six sec-

tions of congressional township eighty-seven and range eight in said county, and that it take the name Cono, all in accordance with the petition of Jonathan Simpson, W. McCaughty and others. STEPHEN J. W. TABOR, County Judge.

ELECTION.

The first election was in 1858-George Anson, J. B. Gleason and Samuel Hovey being elected trustees ; Martin C. Glass and M. Hampton, justices ; W. Mc- Caughty, assessor ; and Edward Hovey, county super- visor. The present officers are John B. Hannam and E. W. Showls, justices ; W. F. Cooper, Henry Burham and Jacob Kress, trustees; J. Crego, township clerk, and Lucius Stout, assessor.

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

SETTLEMENT.

John Cordell made the first permanent settlement here in 1843, on a creek near where Quasqueton now stands. He came here from Ohio, and made the first entry of land, on which he resided. But he lived in the township only about one year, and then moved to Liberty, where he remained up to the time of his death. In the fall of 1851, Mr. Cordell was one of the commis- sioners who surveyed a State road from Quasqueton to the county seat of Marshall county. His children were: Sarah A. Cordell, married to Alvah M. Fir- man; they have three children, and live on a portion of the land formerly owned by her father ; John Cordell, married to Lucinda Lemons ; has four children ; Alfred Cordell, married to Alphenia Fleming ; is a miller, and lives in Waterloo ; Albert Cordell, living in Minnesota, is a farmer. Mr. John Cordell died at Quasqueton in 1858, his wife preceding him in 1857. He was an Eng- lishman, born at Liverpool, and came to the United States when seventeen years of age.

William Rounds, about 1852, came from Ohio, and first built his shanty on Sand creek. He did not remain but a short time. He became dissipated in his habits, deserted his family and went to Kansas, where he soon after died. The family being left, Mrs. Rounds went to Marion and the children were bound out. There names were John, James, Rachel, Diana, Rebecca and Sarah.

Leander Keys and T. B. Burgess settled here in 1845. They built the first frame house in the township. For a time these two young men lived there-" batched it," as the saying is. Keys was a carpenter and Burgess a tailor, and both worked at their trades occasionally. T. B. Burgess married, in 1852, a lady from Wisconsin, and lived here one year; then rented his farm and went to Janesville, Wisconsin, for a short time; then back again and sold his interest in the farm and went to Cedar Rapids, where he started a livery stable. He was a native of New York. Leander Keys, in 1850, went to California overland, and remained there some two or three years ; then he returned, and married Cora Anna Coffin, of Coffin's Grove, Delaware county. Then he moved to Independence and went into the dry goods business. While living in Independence he was elected sheriff of the county, and served one term. He had not been there but a few years when he sold out his store and again went to California, where, we understand, he is now. F. B. Burgess, when last heard from, was also in the land of gold.

George Anson, a native of England, emigrated from the old sod in 1848, and came from Ohio in 1853. He was a gunsmith, but has not worked at his trade since coming to the United States, but has been a farmer. He is still living in the township, and has seven children and twenty-two grandchildren.

Morris Todd became a resident of Buchanan county in 1854, and first settled in Liberty township. In 1860 moved to Cono, settling on section three, where he now lives. He has seven children, three boys and four girls. He has been assessor of the township for twelve years, and a member of the county board of supervisors for

three years. He has a nursery covering ten acres of land; has an orchard and a fine two-story house, and a good, well cultivated farm.

Jacob Kress settled here in 1856, and came from Illi- nois. He is a German, born in Baden Baden in 1836. He was married in Cono in 1857 ; has eight children ; and says that he has four pairs, proving it thus: The first is a girl and the second a boy ; the third a girl and the fourth a boy ; the fifth a girl and the sixth a boy; the seventh a girl and the eighth a boy. The youngest is four years old and the oldest twenty-one. Mr. Kress has a fine orchard, now in full bearing ; has a good farm and good buildings, and is, in fact, one of our best farmers.

Adam Gimpher came from Germany and settled in the south part of Cono township in 1857. . He has a family of eight children, a large farm, a good stock of cattle, and a dairy of thirty cows. He commenced life, like many other young men, with nothing but a good sound body and a determined will.

Henry Burnham became a settler here in 1857; came from Chicago, Illinois. He was a blacksmith, and while in Chicago was connected with the Illinois Central rail- road shops. He has filled, since living in the township, the office of county supervisor, and has been connected with its schools as director and otherwise for twenty-three years. He is still living in the township, and has a farm of three hundred and three acres, with good buildings, etc. He has a wife and eight children.

W. G. Anson became a resident of Cono in 1853. He is an Englishman and came to the United States in 1848 with his father when but ten years of age. They first settled in Maryland, and then came to Ohio, thence to this township, where he now lives. He is a cabinet- maker by trade. He was married in Quasqueton to Harriet Blair and has seven children. He is now farm- ing in this township.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

The surface is a rolling prairie, excepting along the river, where it is hilly, the soil a light loam with a clay subsoil.

In the southeastern part of the township, on the Wapsie river, is situated the timber, and not over four hundred acres in all.

Allen Cordell, a son of John Cordell, died here in the summer of 1854.

In 1844 and 1845 the then few inhabitants were terri- bly afflicted with sickness, mostly fever and ague. The venerable Dr. E. Brewer, now a resident of Indepen- dence, was the physician, living near Quasqueton, and in fact the only physician in the county. At the time Mr. Cordell's family were sick and their little boy, Allen, died, the only thing they had in the house to eat was baked squash, and to this meal the doctor was in- vited, and he says it was one of the sweetest morsels he ever tasted.

The Wapsie passes through the southwestern part of the township. There are two small streams called Sand creek and Blanks creek. There is in section eleven a

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA

lake extending over six acres of land. There are in this lake some fine fish, such as bass, pike, etc. In some parts of the lake it is very deep, at one time, in winter, measuring forty feet.

Mrs. Firman, the daughter of John Cordell, the early pioneer, is the owner of a large portion of the lake. The land near and surrounding it is wet and boggy.

In early days, along the river, there were a good many wild turkeys and a few deer: bears also have been seen here, but none caught. There are also wolves, which, in spite of civilization and settlement, still remain. The fish and game in the early days contributed largely to- wards the support of the early settlers.

L. Keys and T. K. Burgess raised the first wheat here in the summer of 1846.

The first white child born in the township was Lucien Stout, who now lives in the township, and is the present assessor.

William Burway and Jane A. Cooper were married February 5, 1854; D. C. Hastings and Margaret A. Cooper August 3, 1854. There are no cemeteries in the township, the people burying their dead at Quasqueton and Rowley,

The Evangelical society was organized here in 1857. Rodolph Deipher was the first preacher; and, at its or- ganization, it had fifteen members. In 1869 they built a house of worship in about the centre of the township at a cost of eight hundred dollars. The present preacher is Henry Stillright. The religious services of this church are conducted in the German language.

The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern road passes through the southwest part, and running some five miles in the township.

A post office was established here on or about 1849, and H. Grimm appointed postmaster; and he was the first and only one. The office was abolished six years after. The inhabitants now obtain their mail at Quas- queton and Rowley.

Jacob Kress has probably the largest and oldest orchard. Martin C. Glass has one in which he raises a large quantity and a fine variety of apples. Martin Kress and Adam Gimpher and Morris Todd have each a young orchard.

Morris Todd has a fruit nursery that covers about ten acres of land, from which he sells large quantities of trees each year. The trees are of a hardy variety and well adapted to the western climate.

The principal productions in the township are corn, oats, barley, and hay, and some raise flax; but it is not general among them. Much attention is paid to raising fine hogs, cattle and horses. Wheat raising here is among the things that were; but the milk-pail has taken its place. There is a large number of good dairies here, and the township boasts of some excellent butter makers. The consequence of this change is that the people have money to invest, and also sufficient to pay debts.

PERSONAL MENTION.

William Brady, one of the well-known residents of Bu- chanan county, was born October 11, 1832, at Hampden, Geauga county, Ohio. He assisted his father on his farm,

and worked out some till he was twenty-two years of age, when he came west and settled in Cono township, where he entered eighty-seven acres of wild prairie. Mr. Brady lived the first year upon what is known as the Taylor place. He then moved upon his present farm, built a log house and resided in it fourteen years, when he erected the fine house he now occupies upon the old site. He has a pleasant home, well surrounded with shade trees, also an orchard in good bearing condition, afford- ing him an abundance of fruit. Mr. Brady's early life on the western prairies was much like that of other old set- tlers. He has lived to see the country that was formerly uninhabited and wild, cultivated and inhabited by a thriv- ing and prosperous community. Beginning poor in life, he now enjoys a competency as a reward for his labors. Mr. Brady was married April 23, 1854, to Miss Flora T. Miller, of Geauga county, Ohio. This union has been blessed with six children, four of whom are living-Hattie E., born December 6, 1854; Clifton B., born February I, 1857; Florence E., born December 24, 1862; William Elmer, born March 15, 1866; James R., born May 25, 1868; Mattie J., born July 22, 1875. Florence and Mattie died in infancy. Mr. Brady came of a long-lived family; his father and mother, also seven brothers and three sisters are still living. He is an energetic and en- terprising man, and has been justice, township treasurer and school director, and is highly spoken of by all who know him.

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History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 114

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