History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 117

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 117

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).

Alexander M. Wallace, one of the substantial farmers of Newton, was born September 10, 1837, in Goodrich, Huron county, Canada West, where he lived until 1857. He then went to California and resided there till 1862, being engaged in various occupations. He returned

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

home over the plains to Canada and was there about three months, when he went into the army of his adopted country and served in the quartermaster's department for three years. After the close of the war he came to Iowa and settled in Newton township, upon a farm of one hundred and forty-seven acres which he had purchased while in the army. This was unbroken prairie when Mr. Wallace came here; but by hard work he is now in pos- session of a pleasant home. Mr. Wallace is engaged in mixed farming, keeping quite a stock of cattle and hogs. Mr. Wallace was married November 7, 1867, to Miss Annie E. Powles, of Cono township. They have had five children-Annie I., born February 2, 1869; William M., born April 23, 1870 ; Agnes E., born May 7, 1872; Elma M., born June 18, 1875; George E., born July 26, 1879. Elma died February 14, 1877. Mrs. Wallace is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Wallace in poli- tics is a liberal Republican, He has been school director eight years, and is regarded by all as a most worthy citi- zen.

William H. Moore, an early pioneer of Buchanan county, was born November 16, 1828, in Norfolk county, Canada West, where he lived till he was twenty-nine years old. He was raised on a farm and followed the millwright occupation a few years, when he came west locating in Newton township on a farm of eighty acres, upon which he lived three years, then sold out and bought the farm on which we now find him. It contains three hundred and sixty acres of prairie, and fifty acres of timber land. This was wild land when Mr. Moore came here, but is now a very pleasant place. He built the house he resides in and surrounded it with a fine grove of cottonwood and inaple. Mr. Moore is engaged in general farming, keeps quitè a large stock of cattle, horses, and hogs, and is considered one of Newton's prosperous farmers. He was married December 23, 1858, to Miss Isabel Wallace, of Goodrich, Huron county, Canada West. They have seven children-Lizzie, born December 25, 1859; William W., born September 29, 1861; John A., born January 11, 1865; Howard, born January 10, 1869; Frederick A., born November 5, 1872; James H., born December 12, 1874; Willie, January 28, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the Baptist church. Politically Mr. Moore is a Republican, and has been school supervisor, though he has had no aspirations in the way of office. He has been Sunday-school super- intendent seven or eight years, and is a prominent citizen.

John Crowder was born September 29, 1826, in the county of Durham, England, and emigrated to America in 1848, landing in Boston after a perilous voyage of five weeks. He at once went to Iowa county, Wiscon- sin, where he resided about eighteen months, being engaged in the lead mines. He then went, by the over- land route, to California, being engaged there as a miner for four years. He then returned to Dubuque county, Iowa, where he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he cultivated until 1864. He then crossed the plains again, going to Idaho, thence to British Col- umbia, from there to Montana, then back to Iowa, com- ing by boat from Fort Benton to Sioux City, a distance of

two thousand miles. Mr. Crowder came to Buchanan county in 1870, and settled in Newton township upon a farm of two hundred acres of partially improved land, which has been changed to a high state of cultivation by the hard work of Mr. Crowder. He was married, De- cember 20, 1854, to Miss Mary Liddle, of Dubuque county. They have ten children-Frank E., born Sep- tember 22, 1854; Charles N., September 21, 1857; Laura A., July 10, 1860; Minnie M., February 18, 1863; Ida H., September 4, 1867; Ella E., February 21, 1870; Harvey J., June 25, 1872; Lizzie M., October 23, 1874; Mamie I., March 7, 1877; Roy G., August 12, 1880. Politically Mr. Crowder is a firm Republican and ever has been since the organization of the party. He has held several offices; has been township assessor, also school director, and is a good citizen.

Charles Hoover, jr., one of the early residents of Buchanan county, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, where he lived till he was seven years of age, when he came west with his parents and settled in Newton town- ship. He has always followed farming as an occupation with the exception of three years of army life. He en- listed August 4, 1862, in the Twenty-seventh Iowa in- fantry, and was sent to Minnesota against the Indians; though he remained there but three weeks, when he went to Memphis, Tennessee. He was a participant in some of the hardest engagements of the Rebellion-was with Sherman on his raid to Holly Springs, also at Little Rock and Meridian and on the Red River expedition under General Smith. Mr. Hoover was wounded on this expedition, and carries a rebel ball in his body, even to this day. He was sent to the hospital at Jefferson Barracks, thence to Keokuk, where he remained eight months, then returned to his regiment, and was present at the capture of Mobile. He was mustered out of ser- vice August 8, 1865, and returned to Iowa. His farm contains one hundred and sixty acres of good land. He was married February 14, 1866, to Miss Susan Curtis, of Independence. They have four children-Frank W., born July 22, 1869; Jesse B., March 29, 1873 ; Arthur L., April 24, 1877; Flora A., October 14, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover are members of the Wesleyan Method- ist church. In politics Mr. Hoover is a Republican, and is well spoken of by his neighbors.

William Bruce was born in August, 1819, in Scotland, and emigrated to America in 1849, landing in New York. He went to Oriskany, Oneida county, New York, where he lived three years, engaged in a factory. He then moved to Elgin, Illinois, and continued to work in a woollen factory for three years ; then emigrated to Iowa, settling in Delaware county, where he bought three hundred and twenty acres of raw prairie. Mr. Bruce built a house and made many other improvements, residing there three years. After several removals and changes of occupation, in all of which he seems to have been fairly successful, he came to Newton township, about the year 1870, and purchased the farm on which he now resides, which con- tains one hundred and eighty acres of excellent land. He is engaged in general farming, has a pleasant home, and is evidently doing well. Mr. Bruce was married in

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

1846 to Miss Ellen Scott, of Scotland. They have had seven children -- Eliza, born August 24, 1848; Andrew, July 11, 1850; Jenette, March 7, 1855; Margaret, July 7, 1858; Robert, March 17, 1860; William, November 9, 1861; George, August 18, 1864. Jenette and Robert are deceased. Politically, Mr. Bruce is a Republican, and is highly esteemed.

James S. Brewer was born February 13, 1831, in Ohio, where he remained till he was about three years of age, when his parents settled in Will county, Illinois, where he resided till 1856, being engaged in various occupa- tions. He then came to Iowa, and settled in Newton township, upon a farm with his uncle, John Carpenter, and lived with him one year, when he began life by him- self, and rented a farm for four years in the same town- ship. At the expiration of this time he purchased a farm of forty acres and tilled it one year, when he enlisted in the Twentieth Iowa infantry, in the fall of 1862. He was a participant in many of the severest engagements of the war, went through the siege of Vicksburgh, and was at Fort Morgan, and at the capture of Mobile, besides many other engagements. He was mustered out of the service in July, in 1865, and returned at once to Iowa and began farming, which occupation he has followed ever since, residing upon the farm he had purchased previous to his army life, till 1872, when he bought the place he now occupies, adjoining the old farm. Mr. Brewer was married in 1850 to Miss Eliza Carpenter, of Joliet, Illi- nois. They have had eight children-Elvis A., born Sep- tember 7, 1853; William A., November 4, 1856; Emma, November 28, 1858; Annie, May 6, 1861; John E., May 5, 1866; Sarah B., April 2, 1868; Ida, September 27, 1871; James, March 30, 1875. Ida died when about three years old. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer are members of the Protestant Methodist church. Politically, Mr. Brewer is a Republican; has been school commissioner, and is a good citizen.

John A. Berry was born November 28, 1860, in New- ton township, and has ever since resided here. He is an active and enterprising young man, and enjoys the good wishes of all for future success in life.

Nathan Holman, one of the early pioneers of Buchan- an county, was born July 10, 1810, in Woodford county, Kentucky, where he lived till he was seventeen years old, when he moved to Lawrence county, Indiana, in compa- ny with his parents; resided there eighteen years and then went to Monroe county, of the same State. He tended ferry for seven years at Salt creek, in Fairfax. He then emigrated west, locating in Iowa, Linn county, living there but a few months, when he removed to Buchanan county, Newton township, and settled upon a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land. Mr. Holman was married March 26, 1835, to Miss Martha Owens, of Lawrence county, Indiana. They have had thirteen children -- Isaac N., born March 23, 1836; Mary F., July 11, 1837; Stephen, December 20, 1839; Zerel- da, November 15, 1841; Amanda, February 27, 1843; Henry, December 1, 1845; Susannah, February 18, 1847; Mahala, June 9, 1849; Julian, June 20, 1851; Nathaniel T., July 26, 1853; Martha J., April 20, 1855; Sarah C .;

Mertie (an adopted child), and Daniel. Mr. and Mrs. Holman are members of the Christian church. In poli- tics Mr. Holman is a firm Greenbacker, and is a sound man.

George A. Elliott, one of the substantial men of New- ton township, was born December 15, 1845, in Shelby county, Indiana, where he lived till he was three years of age, when his family went to Howard county. There he lived till he was seventeen, when he enlisted in the Sixtieth Indiana regiment. Mr. Elliott was a participant in many of the hard fought battles of the south; was through the siege of Vicksburgh, at Arkansas Post, and in many other engagements. He was mustered out of the service in March, 1865, and at once came to Iowa, where, after a few temporary locations, he settled in Newton township upon the farm where we now find him most pleasantly situated. His farm contains one hundred and eighty-four acres of good land. . He built the house he now occupies and is well located. Mr. El- liott married Miss Indiana Evland, of Waverly, March I, 1866. They have five children: Katie, born January 5, 1867; William H., born September 1, 1869; Evelyn, born January 25, 1871; Rufus O., born September 1, 1872; James J., born February 28, 1876. Evelyn died when about eleven months old. Politically, Mr. Elliott is a firm Republican and ever has been. He has held several offices; has been secretary of school board, also director, and is regarded as a most worthy citizen by all who know him.

John Carpenter, one of the oldest residents of Buchanan county, was born in Herkimer county, New York. He came to Iowa about twenty years ago and entered the farm upon which his widow now lives. It contains two hundred and forty acres of excellent land, though it was wild prairie when Mr. Carpenter came here, but by hard and industrious work he succeeded in creating a pleasant home in what was a wilderness a few years before. He married Mrs. Polly Williams, of New York, June 25, 1869. Mr. Carpenter died in November 1873. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him, being regarded as a most worthy citizen by his fellow townsmen. He left a wife and two children to mourn his loss. The names of the children are: George, born July 13, 1871, and John A., born July 31, 1873. John died in infancy. We very much regret being unable to give a long sketch of this most worthy man.

Joseph E. Fay was born April 30, 1839, in Lima, Al- len county, Ohio, where he lived till he was fifteen years of age, when he came west with his parents and settled in Linn county, Iowa, residing there till 1868, when he moved to Newton township, upon the farm where he now lives. It contains two hundred acres of good land. It was raw prairie when Mr. Fay came here. He built the house he now occupies and planted the seed for the beautiful grove surrounding it. He has also a thrifty or- chard. Mr. Fay is an energetic and prosperous farmer. He was married December 30, 1865, to Miss Eliza Me- lindy, of Linn county. They have had six children, four of whom are living: Orange E., born November 18, 1866; John H., born January 11, 1868; Howard W.,

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born March 19, 1869; Minnie E., born November 14, 1871; Edith B., born June 25, 1873; William D., born May 4, 1877. Minnie and Edith died in infancy. Po- litically, Mr. Fay is a sound Republican. He is a self- made man, and through his energy and industry has se- cured a comfortable property, and is regarded as a most worthy citizen.

James Ironside, an old resident and a well known man, was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, February 2, 1823. He emigrated to America in 1834, and landed in Quebec. He remained in Canada till 1855, residing in three or four different places, and pursuing various oc- cupations, in all of which he was successful. He oper- ated a last factory several years in Dundas, and gained a wide reputation as a business man. He also manufac- tured materials for boots and shoes in connection with his last business. He was grand master of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows' lodge of that place for many years. Mr. Ironside came to this township and located here in 1855. He entered a quarter section of land at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. He now owns six hundred and fifty acres and is one of the leading farmers of the county. The prairie was wild and settlers were few in 1855. Deer and wolves were numerous. Mr. Ironside met bravely all the trials of pioneer life, and is now prosperous and happy. His home is a beau- tiful one, built by himself. His house is finely situated, and is surrounded by a very pretty grove. He has an orchard of three acres. Mr. Ironside keeps a large stock of cattle, hogs and horses, and is a model farmer. He was married November 29, 1850, to Miss Matilda Tyke, at Hope, Canada West. She was born March 22, 1834. They have eleven children living, one deceased. Their names are: Matilda E., born September 13, 1851; Mar- garet A., born February 10, 1856; George, born Novem- ber 29, 1857; Ellen M., born March 15, 1859; Edwin J., born October 15, 1861; Janet A., born January 7, 1865; Elizabeth, born July 17, 1867; William W., born June 17, 1871 ; Charles J., born August 11, 1873; James H., born December 5, 1874; Edith M., born May 10, 1877 ; Lily, born December 3, 1878. Charles J. died in early infancy. Mrs. Ironside is a devout member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Ironside is a sound Democrat, and is respected far and wide. He is one of the sub- stantial men of the county; has been township treasurer seven years, and has held other offices. He possesses the sterling qualities of honesty and worth, characteristic of his countrymen.

William J. Dunn, one of the oldest residents of this county, was born in County Derry, North Ireland, Novem- ber 6, 1832. He came to this county in 1837 with his mother, his father having come two years previously. After landing in New York they went to McHenry county, Illi- nois, where he lived until 1850. His family was the first to settle in Hartland, McHenry county. In 1850 he came to this State with his father, P. M. Dunn, and settled in Mid- dlefield township. Mr. W. J. Dunn began work for himself at the age of twenty-two, and was engaged in breaking prairie, buying stock and running a reaping machine for ten or eleven years on his own account, although he

made his home with his father until 1864. In 1867 Mr. Dunn bought the farm on which he is now living. He owns two hundred and sixty acres of excellent land. The first house he built was destroyed by fire in 1879. He then built a fine residence upon the old site. Mr. Dunn keeps cattle, horses, hogs and sheep, and does a prosperous business. He was married September 6, 1867, to Miss Catharine Gleason, who was born in County Clare, Ireland, February 8, 1842. They have had six children, four of whom are living. Their names are: William J. born May 13, 1868; Michael J., born July 13, 1869, died March 12, 1871; Anna M., born Novem- ber 9, 1870; Michael J., born July 15, 1875, died Au- gust 5, 1876; Charles, born January 13, 1877; Blanche C. E., born December 25, 1880. Mr. Dunn and wife are Catholics. Mr. Dunn is a Republican. He has held several township offices, such as assessor, clerk, school director, etc., thus showing that he is held in high es- teem by his fellow-citizens.

Reuben C. Walton, well known as an old settler, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, December 13, 1824. When twenty years of age he settled in Linn county, Iowa, renting a farm for three years, at the expiration of which time he came to Buchanan county and entered two hundred acres of wild prairie in this township. He built his house and made all of the improvements him- self. He lived upon his first farm twenty-five years, when he sold out and bought his present place of resi- dence. He has eighty acres of excellent land, and is en- gaged in mixed farming. Mr. Walton helped raise the house of Joseph Austin, the first that was built in this township. He experienced all the hardships incident to the early pioneers. He came from Ohio with an ox team, his cash capital being only eleven dollars and ten cents. He has succeeded in building up a pleasant home for himself in his old age. Mr. Walton was mar- ried September 8, 1842, to Miss Sarah McClure, of Al- len county, Ohio. She was born December 29, 1837. They have had thirteen children: Olive G., born Sep- tember 11, 1844; James A., born October 11, 1846 (de- ceased); Cynthia H., born November 28, 1848; Samuel J., born September 20, 1850; William, born November 16, 1852; George C., born November 8, 1854; Mary A., born February 4, 1856; Maria J., born January 2, 1858; Leonard, born September 10, 1861; Alice M., born March 4, 1864 (deceased); Edith A., born January 6, 1867; Frankie E., born February 15, 1869 (deceased); Catharine E., born February 7, 1871. James was in the First Iowa cavalry, and died at Little Rock, Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Walton belong to the Christian church. Mr. Walton is a liberal Democrat. He has been justice, constable, school director, etc., and is regarded as a most worthy man by his fellow citizens of Newton township.

John H. Swayze was born in Warren county, New Jer- sey, May 4, 1816, and resided there until he was six- teen years of age. At this time (in 1832) his migrations commenced. He lived in New York, Ohio, Michigan, and in several different parts of lowa, suffering many vicissitudes of fortune, but showing great perseverance in all, and often plucking snccess from the very jaws of

RESIDENCE AND STOCK FARM OF JOHN B. POTTER, NEWTON TOWNSHIP, BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA,

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

defeat. Finally, about the year 1867, he moved to New- ton township, where he had previously bought a farm. He purchased three hundred and twenty acres of wild prairie, built a house, and made many improvements, living on his farm ten years, and then returned to Linn county, his present residence. He is most pleasantly situated, and still keeps his old farm in Newton township. He has one hundred and ninety aeres in Linn county and thirty-four in Delaware. He rents the most of his land. He is prosperous and happy, and enjoys the re- sults of his long labor and many privations. He was married November 25, 1844, to Miss Ann Jenette Dewey, of Oakland county, Michigen. She was born January 13, 1827. They have had eight children, six of whom are living. Their names are: Marion, born Oeto- ber 23, 1845; Green, born July 4, 1847; Seemon, born May 16, 1849; Mary, born May 29, 1850; Emma, born August 29, 1853; Marshall J., born June 7, 1857; Lucy H., born April 14, 1860; Ann Jenette, born October 22, 1864. Of these, Marion died in September, 1847, and Ann Jenette July 28, 1878. Mrs. Swayze was formerly a member of the Baptist church, and was one of the first members of the church at Anamosa. Politically, Mr. Swayze is a sound Democrat He is highly esteemed as a self-made man and a worthy citizen.

James Richardson was born in Bennington county, Vermont, February 28, 1827. He resided there until about twenty-eight years of age, and then came west and settled in Newton township. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of Government land, at one dollar and twenty-five cents per aere. He has made additions, and has now three hundred and twenty acres of good prairie; also fifty acres of timber. He lived in a log house six or seven years, and then made his present residence, a large and beautiful house. He is doing a prosperous farming business. He was married February 19, 1855, to Miss Almira D. Blanchard, of Bennington county, Vermont. They have had ten children, eight of whom are living. Their names are: Herbert, born February 6, 1856; Nathan, born December 16, 1857; Mary J., born February 6, 1860; Bedia A., born February 24, 1862; Ellen M., born September 3, 1865; Julietta, born De- cember 19, 1868; Orin, born April 6, 1871; Edith P., born April 5, 1856; and two sons who died in infancy. Mary and Bedia are also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Rich- ardson are members of the Methodist Protestant church. In politics Mr. Richardson is a strong Republican. He has held several offices, such as justice, trustee, etc. He has been the architect of his own fortune, his entire fortune, at twenty-one, being his bible.

John Burgoyne Potter was born in Canandaigua, On- tario county, New York, July 27, 1827. He was a son of John B. and Susannah Potter. His father died at Rockport, New York, April 16, 1837. He was a Bap- tist mmister of considerable note, and one of the found- ers of the Rockport college. His mother is at this writ-

ing living in Marion, Linn county, Iowa. His home for quite a while after his father's death was wherever he could obtain employment. Though but ten years old he began at once to support himself and mother. He per- severed and fought against poverty till he found himself the owner of three acres of land. On this he erected a house and presented his mother with a home. When this was accomplished he packed his trunk and on the twentieth day of May, 1846, he started for the west. He went to Michigan as a farm hand. Finally he worked for an interest in his crops. This proved a profitable under- taking. With this remuneration, together with his previ- ous accumulation, he purchased some land in Oakland county in 1853. This he sold a few months afterwards for eight hundred dollars, being an advance of two hun- dred dollars on what he paid. The same year he visited his brother, Dr. Joseph B. Potter, whom he had not seen for twenty years. He resided in Canal Winchester, Franklin county, Ohio. At his solicitation Mr. J. B. Potter came to Iowa on a prospecting tour, which re- sulted in his making this State his future home. He immediately returned to Michigan and prepared to emi- grate to this county. On the sixteenth day of January, 1854, he married Miss Charlotte Halstead, and, on the seventeenth, he, in company with his wife, mother and sister, started in a two-horse lumber wagon for Iowa. They arrived at Quasqueton the fourteenth day of Feb- ruary, 1854. He erected a house on section twenty-two in Newton township, but soon afterwards sold it and pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres in section twenty- six, Jackson township, Linn county. This farm being situated at a cross roads, and considered a convenient place for a post office, he was duly appointed postmaster, the office being known as Ford's Grove. Their nearest market was Dubuque, ninety miles distant. Sometimes grain would be so low that the expense of hauling would exceed the money it brought. In 1857 he exchanged his farm for the one where he now resides in Newton township, containing at that time only one hundred and forty-five acres. He has since added to his possessions till he now owns six hundred acres of choice land, under good cultivation. He has a beautiful and convenient home. His farm is admirably adapted to stock breed- ing, in which he is extensively engaged. Mr. Potter is a public-spirited man, and has served his township in dif- ferent capacities ; such as justice of the peace, township clerk, county supervisor, etc., and has always taken an active part in the agricultural society since its organiza- tion. He has the honor of being the first to introduce thoroughbred short horns into his township, which en- terprise has been followed very successfully by some of his neighbors, as well as himself. Mr. Potter's family consists of himself, wife and three sons-Joseph Ben- jamin, born in Linn county, April 22, 1855; Truman Judson, born April 11, 1858, and John Hiram, born May 6, 1861.

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History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 117

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