History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 96

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 96

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).

Stephen Patrick was born in England in 1817, where he engaged as a farmer's hand until the year 1848, when he went to Canada and farmed six years. Came to the United States in 1854, locating in Hazleton township, where he purchased the farm of ninety acres where he has since resided, two miles south of Hazleton. Built his residence in 1865. Mr. Patrick was married in 1845, to Miss Ann Jocklin, of England, who died, on their way over, at Quebec, in 1848, leaving one child, Charles, now thirty-four years of age and married to Miss Sarah Shafer. They have four children and reside in the same house with his father. Mr. Patrick was married the second time in 1849, to Miss Ann Newcombe, born in England in 1812, who came to America alone in 1848. She is now an old lady and very much afflicted with rheumatism, but bears the traces of early beauty. Mr. Patrick is a member of the Free Will Baptists. Is a model man in his neighborhood. Has the good will of all his acquaintances, and is, of course, a good, sound Republican.

Charles Patrick enlisted in the Third Iowa battalion in 1865, and served his country until the close of the war.

J. I. Nichols was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1839. At the age of seven he went to the State of Illinois with his father, Jason Nichols, where they resided seventeen years. He came to lowa in 1865, locating in Fairbank township, where he resided three years. He bought the farm of eighty acres where he now resides, about two miles south of Hazleton, in 1871. Mr. Nichols was married December 31, 1864, to Miss Lovina Kelley, born in Canada, September 13, 1842. Have five children: Martha Ann, fourteen; F. W.,

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

eleven; Eunice E., nine ; Cora A., seven ; J. H., born May 9, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols are members of the Free Baptist church, and have the good opinion of their neighbors.

R. G. Merrill, jr., was born in New York in 1848. In the spring of 1854 his father located in Hazleton town- ship, where the family has since resided. His father died January 17, 1865. Mr. R. G. Merrill enlisted in company H, First Iowa cavalry, in 1864, at the age of sixteen, and served until he was discharged on account of the war being over; the business of the cavalry being principally skirmishing, they had a full share of that to do, which was almost of daily occurrence. He is glad to say that he was slightly wounded, just enough to give him a token of the war. After his return from army life he engaged in farming three years, since which time he has been in the well-boring business. Mr. Merrill was married in 1868 to Miss Cordelia Jackson, born in Can- ada in 1850. They have five children-Estella, age eleven; Annitta, age ten; Ralph, age eight; Gardner, age three, and Cordelia, born July 16, 1879. Mr. Mer- rill is one of the first settlers of this county, and one of its solid men to-day, and one of the supporters of the Greenback party.

Gilman Nelson Bunce was born in this county in 1850, and made his home with his father, William Bunce, on the farm until he was about twenty-one years of age when he commenced work for himself by engag- ing in farming till the spring of 1878, when he engaged in the lime business. He bought his property where he resides January, 1879. Mr. Bunce was married in 1874, to Miss Mary Russell, who was born in Wisconsin in 1857. The lime-kiln of Hazleton township, and the only one in the county worked by Page's patent, was first started by Nelson Bunce in 1879. It is situated on his premises in Coytown, and it is running very success- fully. He has burnt over four thousand bushels in the last season. He finds ready sale for it all, which encourages him to go ahead with the business even stronger next year. He is determined to supply the demand at the lowest possible rates.

M. S. Wheaton was born in Seneca county, New York, in the year 1832. At the age of three he went with his father, 'Squire Wheaton, to Delaware county, Ohio, where he remained sixteen years, and where most of ten years were spent in school. He came to Iowa in 1850, locating in Anamosa, and engaging at the carpen- ter and joiners' business, contracting and hiring a gang of hands. In 1862 he went to Cedar Rapids where he spent five years as contractor and came to Hazleton in 1867, where he has been engaged in the dairying busi- ness and is postmaster. He was elected justice of the peace two years, and is at present notary public. Mr. Wheaton was married in 1857 to Miss Elizabeth D. Pat- ten, of Anamosa. They have four children living- Alice E., age twenty-two April 19, 1880, married Dr. W. E. Baker, a practicing physician in Hazleton; Orson Eugene, age twenty-one, operator at Robertson on the Burlington & Cedar Rapids railroad; Judson C., age thirteen, attends school and helps his father in the store;

Willard W., age nine, attends school. We wish the privilege here to speak of Mr. Wheaton as his acquaint- ances speak of him. As a gentleman he is a number one; as a friend he cannot be excelled; as a business man he is affable and honest; as a notary public he is abundantly able ; as a justice of the peace he is consid- erate, a man of sound judgment, who is willing that law should rule, but prejudice and friendship never; and finally, he is one of Buchanan's soundest Republicans.

E. R. Truax was born December 18, 1854, in Grant county, Indiana. At the age of ten he came to lowa with his father, Isaac Truax, and located in Hazleton township. At the age of nineteen Mr. E. R. Truax commenced life for himself by engaging in farming. He purchased forty acres of land in Hazleton in the spring of 1876. He was married February, 1878, to Miss Erie Walker, who was born in Buchanan county, Iowa, Sep- tember, 1857. They have two children-Maud, age two, and Minnie, age one. Mr. and Mrs. Truax are very pleasant people and possess the good opinion of their acquaintances. Mr. Truax is a good, solid Republi- can.

Isaac Truax was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1817, where he resided until his majority. Starting west about that time and spending some years in Illinois and Indi- ana, he came to Iowa in the fall of 1864 and bought the farm of two hundred and twenty-one acres where he now resides, in Hazleton township. He built his present residence himself, with the assistance of his son, in 1875. Mr. Truax was married August, 1848, to Miss Anna Hillman, who was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1828. Had five sons, four living and one deceased-Eli, born in July, 1849, married September, 1871, to Miss Catha- rine C. Clawson, of Iowa.

A terrible tragedy connected with the death of Mr. Eli Truax and wife while on a visit to Kansas this winter cannot be neglected here. They arrived at the house of their relatives, Lyman Culver, in southern Kansas on the eleventh day of November, 1880. They were enjoying the society of their friends till, on the night of the twen- ty-first. About three or four o'clock in the morning, the house was discovered to be enveloped in flames. The occupants of the house were all sleeping up-stairs, and their first warning of danger also disclosed to them the terrible fate which so soon awaited them. Mr. Truax, taking in the situation at a glance, effected an escape by kicking out a window and jumping to the ground. His wife handed him their two children, William Earl and Orval, being five and one years old respectively. These were rescued in safety, but Mrs. Truax and her aunt by this time were wrapped in flames, and were so burned before they could be taken from the ill-fated building that Mrs. Truax died at 9 o'clock, and her aunt, Mrs. Culver, died at 6 P. M. the same day. Mr. Truax, in his exertion to knock out the window, severed the femoral artery of his right limb, which caused his death on the fourteenth of December. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Truax, the grandparents of the orphan children, are car- ing kindly for them, and expect to give them a home as long as they live. Thus ends a brief account of an aw-

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

ful event that will ever hold a sad place in the hearts and memories of their friends. The second son, William, twenty-nine years, married Miss Sarah J. Barney, and lives in Hazleton, and is a carpenter by trade; Edger R., twenty-six years, married Erie Walker, and lives in the neighborhood of his father, and farms; John B., twenty- one years, married Miss L O. Lawrence, and lives with his father, and helps carry on the home farm; Isaac D., fourteen years, lives at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Truax are members of the Christian church. They have the esteem of the community in which they live, and Mr. Truax is known and respected as one of Bu- chanan's good, sound Republicans.

W. A. Nelson was born in Wayne county, Ohio, April 22, 1853. His father, William C. Nelson, removed to the State of Indiana, and remained about five years. In 1860 he came to Iowa, locating in Hazleton town- ship, where his father engaged in the practice of med- icine, which he continued till his death, which occur- red December 4, 1863. Mr. W. A. Nelson made his home with his father till the year 1861, when he enlisted in com- pany F, Twelfth Iowa volunteer infantry, and served his country three years and two months. He was in twenty- three different engagements, the principal battles being : Fort Henry, Fort Donaldson, and Shiloh, where he was taken prisoner and remained a prisoner of war six months and eleven days, during which time he visited the infamously famous Libby Prison. He was exchanged in the spring of 1863, and at once rejoined the Union forces and fought till the close of the war. Mr. Nelson was an inmate of the hospital through sickness about two months. Before his recovery he volunteered to go out and quell the disturbance created in Missouri, by Quantrell. He was on the Red river expedition in Smith's corps under the command of General Banks. He returned in 1864 and engaged in farming. By his father's will he came in possession of a farm of one hundred acres in Fayette county, which he moved upon in 1865, and remained there eight years. In the fall of 1874 Mrs. Nelson's father, Mr. Henry Koons, made her a present of the farm of one hundred and thirteen acres, where he now resides, one half mile north of Old Hazleton. Mr. Nelson was married, October 28, 1866, to Miss Catharine Koons, who was born in Williams county, Ohio, August 7, 1850. They have three children- William Henry, aged thirteen; Theresa May, aged ten; and Rosetta, aged six. They are a bright, intelligent trio. It is but due to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson to speak of them here as their neighbors do, they are Christian peo- ple, assisting all in cherishing good and crushing out evil.

Henry Coy was born in Defiance county, Ohio, in 1832, where he lived till the year 1864, engaged in farm- ing. In that year he came to Iowa and purchased the farm of two hundred acres where he still resides, in the vicinity of Old Hazleton. His farm now consists of three hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Coy was married in 1861, January 20, to Miss Mary A. Koons, born in Williams county, Ohio, April 17, 1843. They have four children : William Henry, aged eighteen; Nancy Bell,

age fourteen; Mary Elizabeth, aged nine; Martin Clark, aged three, born on his father's birth-day. They are a wide-awake little family. Mrs. Coy is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Coy is one of Bu- chanan's prominent farmers and will not submit to the shackles of any party, but votes for the best man and interests.

D. W. Thomas was born in Wisconsin in 1859. Lived there with his father, Edwin Thomas, upon the farm till he was about eight years of age when they moved to Minnesota and remained three years. Came to Iowa in 1870, locating in Hazleton township, where his father bought a fine farm south of Hazleton, and still resides. Mr. D. W. Thomas is one of the energetic young men of his community, and is undertaking the responsibilities of life for himself. Is, politically, a Democrat, and is happy to say is at present enjoying the realization of single blessedness.

Morton Hayes was born in New Brunswick in 1843, and came to the United States in 1855 with his father, Thomas B. Hayes, locating in this county upon the farm where his father still resides, in Hazleton township. In the year 1864, Mr. Morton Hayes enlisted in company F, First Iowa cavalry, and served his country nearly two years, when he was discharged on account of the war closing. His health was so impaired by the hardships that he has never fully recovered. He bought the farm where he now resides, two miles north of Hazleton vil- lage, in 1869. Has since added to it till now he owns one hundred and twenty acres. And here we wish to state that besides being good land it has one of the finest natural positions of any farm in the county. It is level, and yet at such an elevation that one can see the horizon at a distance of ten miles around. The chimney of the asylum can be seen on a clear day, which is twelve miles distant. The village of Hazleton is in plain view, and at the same time the church steeples can be seen plainly at Oelwein. Mr. Hayes was married March 20, 1870, to Miss Angeline Zimmerman. They have two children: Mertie E., aged six; Herbert M., aged two. They are both interesting little people. Mr. Hayes is one of the first settlers of Buchanan county, and is to-day not only one of its prominent men financially, but one of its strong Republicans.

Elizabeth Sax was born in Portage county, Ohio, in 1823. She lived with her father, Mr. George Ivaly, till his death, which was in 1837. After this event she was compelled to face life and all its realities alone till the year 1853, when she married Mr. John Sax, who was born in the State of Pennsylvania, in 1813, and died January 10, 1879. They have two children living and three deceased: Nancy, aged thirty three, married to Robert Swartz, and reside in Hazleton township-have three children; Ida, aged twenty-two, married Henry Mille, April, 1878- have one child, Libbie, nearly two years old. Mrs. Sax has been a resident of this county nearly twenty years. She is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of Buchanan's best land ; is a pleasant, congenial lady, and is held in the highest esteem by her neighbors.

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

James Girton was born in Columbiana county, Penn- sylvania, December 19, 1811. Moved to Illinois and re- mained three years. Came to Iowa in 1851, and bought the farm of eighty acres where they now reside, north of Old Hazleton one-half mile. Purchased forty acres since, so that now they own one hundred and twenty acres. Built their stone house in 1869. Mr. Girton was married in 1832 to Miss Sarah Lemon, who was born in Columbi- ana county, Pennsylvania, in 1814, November 23d. Have six children living and three deceased : Joseph, aged forty-two, married Calista M. Porter, who died January 19, 1880; Margaret, aged forty, married H. T. Reynolds; Angeline, aged thirty-five, married Louis Woods; Lucin- da, aged thirty-one, married John B. Woods, and resides with her parents; William, aged twenty-nine; Amanda F., aged twenty-three. Mr. and Mrs. Girton were among the first settlers of Buchanan county.

L. D. Engle was born in the State of New York, On- tario county, in the year 1805. At about the age of fourteen he went to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he lived till he was twenty-two years of age, when he returned to New York and farmed about four years, again return- ing to his former home in Ohio and engaging in farming for about three years. He then sold out and went to Williams county, Ohio, and purchased a farm, where he lived twelve years. In 1846 he sold out and went to Wisconsin and purchased a farm and farmed six years, when he again sold and came to Iowa. He bought the farm of one hundred and twelve acres where he now re- sides, in Hazleton township. Mr. Engle was married October 22, 1829, to Miss Lydia Kinsman, who died March 28, 1875, in Hazleton. Mr. Engle is the father of seven children, two of whom are living and five de- ceased. Nancy A. Painter now resides in Fayette county.

L. H. Maxfield was born in Connecticut April 26, 1848. At the age of five he moved with his father, A. B. Maxfield, to Milwaukee, where he remained about ten years, engaging principally in the printing business. In 1862 he enlisted in company E, Twenty-fourth Wis- consin infantry, when but fourteen years of age. He served his country during the war, and remained in the regular service afterward. Returning to Milwaukee, he engaged in the printing business about nine months, then again enlisted in the regular army and remaincd three years. For several years he was employed in different places; and was married in 1873, June 7th, to Mrs. Adalaide Buchet, of Dubuque, whose husband died in 1871, leaving a family of three children-Joseph F. M., sixteen, Rosa P., thirteen, and Frank A., eleven. Mr. and Mrs. Maxfield have a bright little daughter, Lucy V., aged five years. They have a fine farm of ninety-three acres, upon which they live, in Hazleton township. They have a pleasant home indeed. Mrs. Maxfield is an exceptionally intelligent woman, with qualities which cannot fail to make home happy.

Joseph L. Gerton was bom in Columbia county, Penn- sylvania, in 1838. When about nine years old he moved with his father, James Gerton, to the State of Illinois, remaining there until 1851, when he came to Iowa, locat- ing in Hazleton township. In the year 1860 he began

to do for himself by engaging in farming. In 1861 he enlisted in company F, Twelfth Iowa volunteer infantry. April 6, 1862, he was wounded, at the battle of Shiloh, and taken prisoner. After remaining in rebel custody two months, he was exchanged, and again joined his regiment; but after remaining three months longer, was discharged on account of disability caused by his wound. After a partial recovery, he engaged in farming for sev- eral years, then went into the American house in Inde- pendence for two years, at the expiration of which time he went to Tama City and kept hotel a year. Return- ing to Hazleton, he again engaged in farming until in 1876 he engaged as clerk for Mr. Whiteman, dry goods merchant. He remained with him about two and one- half years, since which time he has been in the same business with Kiefer & King. Mr. Gerton was married in 1865 to Miss Celestia M. Porter, who died January 19, 1880, leaving a family of two children-Nettie May, ten years old, and Jessie J., five. Religiously, Mr. Ger- ton is a Universalist, and politically is a Greenbacker. He is a natural business man, affable and pleasant in all his transactions.

W. H. Kiefer was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, in 1856. His first years were spent in school and on his father's farm (George Kiefer), till he was about fourteen years of age, when he came to Iowa, locating at Inde- pendence. Here he learned the cooper's trade, and con- tinued at that business about four years, when he engaged as clerk with his brothers in the mercantile business in Hazleton, and has since been in their employment. Mr. Kiefer was married in 1879 to Miss Ella Bates, of this county. They have one child, Oma, one year old. Mr. Kiefer is not only a number one business man, but is a Christian gentleman and a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a trustee of the saine. He is also a good, sound Republican.

Adam Kiefer was born in Indiana, in 1847, where he remained till he was twenty-one years old, engaged prin- cipally in farming, but spent about two years as an ap- prentice to the mercantile business in Mishawaka, St. Joseph county. In the year 1869 he came to Iowa, locat- ing in this county. He and his brother John bought and improved a farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres, which he lived upon nearly two years, at the expiration of which time his brother John took charge of the farm, and Adam engaged in the mercantile business for about four years in Independence. In the spring of 1877 he and his brother John went to Hazleton and purchased a fine building and laid in a complete stock of general merchandise, and commenced a business in which they have been engaged ever since, having retained at the same time their connection with farming and stock rais- ing. They have always been energetic and enterprising business men, and are evidently in the way of success. Their trade has been large, and their future prospects are indeed most encouraging. Mr. Adam Kiefer was mar- ried in 1876 to Miss Marvilla Moore, of Winthrop. They have two sons: Earl, aged four; Kyle, aged two. Mr. Kiefer and his brother own the whole block of build- ings on their corner, and consequently they have the most

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

valuable property in Hazleton. Mr. A. Kiefer, besides being a model business man, is a Christian gentleman. He is a prominent man in the Methodist church, and is a steward of the same. Among the many excellent things we may say of Mr. Kiefer, not the least is that he is a good, square Republican.

John Kiefer was born in Indiana in 1850, where he remained till he was twenty two years of age, when he came to lowa, locating in Hazleton township, upon a farm which he and his brother Adam had purchased two years previous. He resided upon the farm six years, when he moved to Hazleton and engaged in buying grain, which business he is still engaged in, having also an interest in the dry goods store with his brother Adam. His grain business has been quite a success, command- ing the trade for miles around. He buys about seventy- five thousand bushels of grain and flax-seed per year. Mr. Kiefer was married October 17, 1880, to Miss Lizzie Drummond, of Dubuque. Mr. Kiefer is one of the en- terprising business men of this county, and is one of the drive-wheels of the community. He is a Republican.

Thomas C. Mckenzie was born in St. John's, New Brunswick, in 1849, and came to lowa in February, 1877. He made his home with his brother, S. A. Mc- Kenzie, and taught school one year, when he engaged as attendant in the hospital at Independence for two years. In July, 1880, he engaged as clerk with Messrs. Kiefers & King, in Hazleton, where he still remains. Mr. Mc- Kenzie is an intelligent, active business man, and enjoys the happy lot of single blessedness.

John M. King was born in New York in 1830. When about nine years of age he went with his father, Nathan King, to Ashtabula county, Ohio, where they remained eight years, and moved to Cass county, Michigan, and lived there nine years. Here J. M. King com- menced to do for himself by working at brick-making in Beloit for two years, and came to Iowa in 1851. He located in this county, Byron township, where he remained till 1862, when he enlisted in company G, Sixth Iowa cavalry. He served his country over three years, and was in seven battles, each conflict being with the Indians, his service being on the plains. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, but we are sorry to state almost entire- ly lost his eyesight. For two years he was totally blind, but lately is partially recovering the sight of one eye. This was caused by drinking alkali water. After his re- turn from the army he sold his homestead and purchased the one of two hundred acres where he now resides, in Hazleton township. Mr. King was married in May, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Kirkendale, of Holmes county, Ohio. They have seven children: De Noris, aged twenty-five; Mary Ann, aged twenty-three, married J. C. Allen, and lives near Waterloo; Christopher, aged twenty-one; Em- ma Lovina, aged eighteen; Joseph, aged ten; Fred., aged six; and Bertha Bell, three years old. All the chil- dren except Mary Ann are single and living at home. They are an intelligent family. Mr. King is ranked among Buchanan's honest men-those who have their country's interest at heart. Mr. King and his two sons are substantial Democrats.

T. B. Hayes was born in New Brunswick, Kings county, in 1801, He remained in New Brunswick dur- ing his early years, engaged principally in farming. When he was fifty-five years of age he came to Iowa and purchased two hundred and forty acres of land where he now resides, in Hazleton township. Since coming to lowa he has turned his attention exclusively to farming. Mr. Hayes was married on November 1, 1825, to Miss Augusta Ketchem, of New Brunswick, who died on March 4, 1832, leaving four children: Charlotte, now fifty-four years old, married Abraham Coulpitt, of New Brunswick, and has one child, Matilda; Harriett Ann, was the second child, who is now fifty-two years old, mar- ried Robert Morrison, of New Brunswick, and has twelve children living; Samuel H., aged fifty, married Anna Southworth, and has three children; John K., aged forty-eight, married Emaline Burnett, of New Brunswick, and has four children. Mr. Hayes married his second wife in 1833, Eleanor Coulpitt, of New Brunswick, who was born in 1810. They have seven children: Augusta, aged forty-seven, married Joseph Southworth, and lives in Pocahontas county, this State, and has three children; Oren, aged forty-five, married Fannie Snyder and has seven children, and lives in New Brunswick; Mary J., aged forty-three, married C. I .. Belt, of Nebraska, and has five children; Morten, aged thirty-nine, married Anna Zimmerman, and has two children, and lives in Hazleton township; William M., aged thirty-seven, married Eliza MeKinsey, who died December 28, 1880, leaving a family of four children. Mrs. Hayes was a very estima- ble lady and will be long mourned by her neighbors and friends; James, aged thirty-two, married Jennie Gill, has three children, and lives in Buffalo township; Nettie, aged twenty-five, single and teaches school. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Hayes is the father of eleven children and grandfather of forty-four, and great-grand- father to nine. He raised a family of six boys and none of whom have ever been known to indulge in the use of any intoxicating liquors, or use tobacco in any form.

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History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 96

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