History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 99

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 99

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 McClawry was born in Courtright, Delaware county, New York, August 3, ISIo. Lived with his father, J. R. McClawry, on his farm until he was twenty- three years of age, when he married Miss Margaret Row- land, who was born also in Courtright, July 25, 1812. Came to lowa in the spring of 1855, and purchased a farm in Burton county, and resided there ten years. Afterwards purchased town property in Bell Plain, and rented it. Here he resided three years, turning his at- tention considerably to the legal profession, with a view to the practice of law. In the year 1865 he purchased the farm of eight hundred acres where he now resides in Buffalo township. His wife died October IS, 1857, leaving a family of ten living children : Ebenezer, born

February 16, 1833 ; Margaret, born June 9, 1836 ; Hugh, born January 13, 1838; Edmond, born August 1, 1840; Mary E., born October 25, 1842 ; William R., born December 6, 1844; Margorie A., born March 14, 1846 ; Robert, born March 3, 1848; Christian, born February 25, 1851 ; Thomas C., born April 22, 1855 ; Sarah C., born April 22, 1855 ; Hugh died, at the age of five years, on the tenth day of February, 1843. This sad event was occasioned by the house taking fire at midnight, and be- fore he could be rescued he was enveloped in flames. Edmond died October 14, 1862, at the age of twenty- two; lost his life through exposure while a prisoner of war in the late Rebellion.

Mr. MeClawry married his second wife in October, I875. Her name was Mrs. Anna L. Lee, born August 25, 1840. They have two children ; John Chister, born April 1, 1878, and Arthur, born June 24, 1880. Mrs. McClawry, by her first husband, Mr. J. W. Lee, had five children-one of whom is deceased, Sara A. Elizabeth, who died December 20, 1861, at about the age of one year : William Russel, born March 15, 1862 ; George Thomas, born April 15, 1866; Iris J O., born January 15, 1868 ; Nora Belle, born May 27, 1870 ; Nancy Josephine, born August 25, 1872. Mr. Lee was a soldier in the late war three years ; afterwards enlisted as a veteran. Mr. McClawry's family are con- siderably scattered, and most of them are married. Ebenezer married Miss Fletcher,and farms in Humboldt county, lowa; Margaret married D. D. Applegate, an attorney in Toledo, Tamer county, lowa; Mary E. married Mr. Holmes, a leather dealer in Bell Plain ; William R., married, and practicing law in Fort Worth city, Texas ; Agnes married Jesse Daily, a merchant and cattle dealer in Vermillion, Dakota; Robert is single, and is receiving large pay as boss mechanic in Arizona Territory ; Christian married Levi Armstrong, a merchant in Macon, Iowa ; Thomas, single, and owns a ranch, and supplies a military post in Arizona Territory ; Carrie is unmarried, and teaches in Tama county, lowa. All of this family partake of that indomitable spirit of the father, consequently all are wide-awake and meeting the demands of the times. Both Mr. and Mrs. McClawry are members of the church, and living Christian lives. Mr. McClawry is known throughout the country as a man of sound judgment and great energy. He has all his life been interested in the public's welfare, even before he left the east he was elected justice of the peace. He is one of Buchanan county's first men financially and morally. His advanced years do not seem to impair his invincible will, but he is as elastic in mind and body as most men of half his years.

Charles Brooks was born in Summit county, Ohio, October 22, 1842. He is the son of Mr. P. A. Brooks, who settled in Independence in the winter of 1856, and who died October 31, 1857, in the sixty-third year of his age. About a year after his death Mrs. Brooks moved to the farm where her son Charles still lives with his mother. Mrs. Brooks was daughter of Samuel Lillie, of Bethel, Windsor county, Vermont, and was born March 20, 1803, and is consequently in the seventy-eighth year

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of her age. In the year 1862 Mr. Charles Brooks en- listed in the Fifth Iowa infantry, in which regiment he served about three years, at the end of which time the regiment was consolidated with the Fifth Iowa cavalry, in which regiment he served until the close of the war, when he was mustered out of service. He immediately went to farming at the old home in Buffalo township. He is now one of the leading men of his township.

William Crowfoot was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in the year 1842. His early boyhood was spent here, but in the year 1855 his father, Seth Crowfoot, em- igrated with his family to Hillsdale, Michigan county, Michigan. After a residence of about two years in Hills- dale, Mr. Crowfoot again removed his family, settling this time in Buchanan county, Iowa. In 1866 Mr. Crowfoot was married to Mrs. Almeda M. Crandall, of Buffalo Grove, and immediately after located on the farm where he now resides. Mrs. Crowfoot by her first marriage had five children-Dwight J., Lorenzo D)., Mariette R., Lu- cius, and James. Mr. Crandall died a soldier of the Thirty-eighth Iowa infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Crowfoot have four children, as follows: Mary E., twelve years of age ; Minnie M., eight; John A., seven; Delila M., one. Mr. Crowfoot also was one of the number of those who risked his life in the defence of his country. From Octo. ber, 1864, until August, 1865, Mr. Crowfoot served in the Fifteenth lowa infantry, company D. Mr. Crowfoot is one of the good farmers of the county, and is also paying attention to stock-raising. They are among the rising families of Buffalo township, and both parents are active members of the Congregational church.

Joseph W. Russell was born in New Haven, Huron county, Ohio, in the year 1839. During his infancy his father moved to Cattaraugus county, New York, There he remained until at the age of sixteen, when he emi- grated with his uncle, Samuel Grant, to De Kalb county, Illinois. There he lived until the removal of his uncle's family to Iowa, in 1855. They settled on what is now known as Grant farm, in Buffalo township, where Mr. Grant died on the twentieth of November, 1880. He was one of the best known and foremost citizens of this county, and very highly esteemed by all who knew him. Mr. Russell has been one of our citizens ever since his arrival in the county, excepting about eighteen months spent in Minnesota and the western part of this State. In 1862 Mr. Russell enlisted in company C, Twenty- seventh Iowa infantry, in which regiment he served until April, 1864, when he was transferred to the veteran re- serve corps, serving on the staff of Colonel E. B. Alex- ander. Mr. Russell participated in different engagements in which the regiment was conspicuous, never was wounded or taken prisoner, but suffers from the result of severe marching to such an extent that he is very desir- ous of a pension, which he no doubt will get when all our soldiers get their dues. In the year 1866 Mr. Rus- sell was married to Miss Anna Dunn, of St. Louis, Mis- souri. After a little more than five years of happy life together, and the birth of two children, Mrs. Russell was removed by death, at the age of twenty-five years. Mrs. Russell was a model wife, and she is remembered as one

beloved by all who knew her. The children are-Mary Anna, born May 5, 1867; and George W., born May 24, 1869.

Joseph Rowse was born in Cornwall, England, in the year 1813, where he worked for his father as a farm lab- orer until he reached the age of thirty-five. He then gathered together his effects and sailed for Canada, where he again hired to a farmer, remaining in that country eighteen months. From there he moved to Fort Atkin- son, Wisconsin, engaging in the hotel and livery business, which business he followed for the succeeding seven years. In the year 1856 he sold out and moved to Rockford, Illinois, where he took up teaming and farm- ing. Thinking that the place where enterprise and pluck would find their greatest reward, could be found on the rolling prairies of Iowa, Mr. Rowse again took to his wagon, this time bound for Buchanan county, lowa, Mr. where he arrived in the month of May, 1866. Rowse was married in Fort Atkinson, in the year 1856, to Miss Mary E. Wood. They have a family of two sons and four daughters: George Walter, age twenty-two; William, age twenty: Eliza J., age twenty-three; Mary Ann, aged eighteen: Harriet, aged sixteen; Charlotte V., aged thirteen. Mr. and Mrs. Rouse are happy in the enjoyment of a very good home, which is wholly the re- sult of their own exertions, and are considered one of the first families, where, to have acquired through hon- est industry is better than a patent of nobility.

Norman R. Lewis was born in Orleans county, New York, on the twenty-fourth of August, 1827. When Mr. Lewis was but a child, his parents moved to Cat- taraugus county, in the western part of New York, where they lived the ensuing twenty-seven years. Some ten years were spent in Chautauqua, an adjoining county, before quitting the State. At the close of that time, in the year 1866, he emigrated to Buchanan county, Iowa, where he still resides. In the year 1864, Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Electa L. Lewis, of Calhoun county, Michigan, who had two children by a former marriage. The oldest, a daughter, being the wife of Edgar E. James, of Independence, and the second, Martin L. Lewis, of the same place. Her first husband died a soldier of the Twentieth regiment, Michigan infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have two children: Arba J., born in New York, in 1865; Elba A,, born in Buchanan coun- ty, in 1868. Mrs. Lewis was born in Ohio, on the eighteenth of August, 1843. Mr. Lewis has a good farm and is very comfortably situated to enjoy life.

James Jewell was born in Saratoga county, New York, on August 2, 1815, where he lived with his father until his twenty-ninth year. At that age he began business for himself, and continued farming until the year 1852, when he emigrated with his family to Buchanan county, Iowa. Here he located on the farm where he now resides, which he bought of the United States Government for a little less than one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, buy- ing two hundred and forty acres at once. In the spring of 1842, Mr. Jewell was married to Mrs. Juliana King, of Saratoga, New York. Mrs. Jewell has one son by her first marriage, Charles King, who is a prosperous

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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.

farmer of Buffalo township. Mr. and Mrs. Jewell have two children, both sons: James E., born in the year 1843; and Richard T., born in the year 1847. The oldest of whom is in Missouri. The other son is living on the farm with his father. He married the oldest daughter of Mr. Robert Campbell, of Buffalo township. Mr. Jewell is one of our very earliest settlers, being the first settler out from the timber northeast of Indepen- dence, having few neighbors and seeing many bands of Indians, but never was molested by them. They are a fine family and are prepared to enjoy their old age with their children settled around them. Mr. Jewell was in Buffalo county three years before moving into it, and found but four houses in Independence. He has seen the county grow and has helped to make its history, a history of which, in coming years, his descendants, with those of all the early pioneers, will be justly proud.

Edwin R. Titus was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, November 6, 1844. When he was about six years of age, his father's family took up their residence at Paines- ville in the same State. After a residence of about eleven years there, he, together with his father's family, moved to Buchanan county, Iowa. In the year 1865 Mr. Titus was married to Miss Elizabeth Jewett, of Buffalo Grove, and soon after bought and settled on the farm, where he now resides (section 21, Buffalo town- ship). He followed farming until the year 1872, when he with his family returned to Lake county, Ohio. There he engaged in trading of different kinds for about eighteen months, when he again returned to his farm in this county. Since his return he has been engaged in his farming operations connected with stock-raising. His family circle was sadly broken by the death of his wife on the tenth of October, 1879, in the thirty-fourth year of her age. Mrs. Titus left besides her husband to mourn her loss an interesting family of five children: The eldest, Hattie M., aged fourteen years ; the second, Eunice E., aged nine years; the third, Re- becca A., aged seven years ; the fourth, Caroline B., aged four years, and the fifth and youngest, Edwin R., three years of age. They are a happy family in spite of their seeming present loneliness, and Mr. Titus is one of our foremost farmers and business men, with the best part of his life yet before him. Mrs. Titus was the daughter of Mr. Nelson Jewett, and was born at Westburgh, Ver- mont, January 3, 1845. She was a model wife and mother, and was a consistent and active member of the Congregational church, of which Mr. Titus is also a member.

Ezra Richardson was born in Buffalo Grove, Novem- ber 6, 1852. He made his home with his father during his lifetime, and since his death and the division of the property, he falling heir to the homestead. now occupies it. The farm consists of two hundred and sixty-two acres, finely located, and is not only a fine farm but a fine home. Mr. E. Richardson was married May 15, 1877, to Miss Evaline A. King, who was born in Buffalo township January 6, 1858. They have two children- - Ralph, born September 14, 1878, and George Washing- ton, born February 22, 1881.

Mr. Abraham Richardson, the father of Mr. Richard- son, married his second wife August 4, 1861. Her maiden name was Caroline Jewett, born June 3, 1837. She died September, 1879, while on a visit to Virginia. Mr. Richardson and both wives are buried in the ceme- tery on the west side of Madison township.

M. Bradley Delos was born in Wyoming county, New York, November 16, 1842. Lived with his father, Har- vey Bradley, until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he purchased a saw-mill and engaged in the manufacture of cheese boxes for three years. Came to Iowa in May, 1868, and purchased the farm of eighty acres where he still resides, in section fourteen, Buffalo township. In the summer of 1875, Mr. Bradley built himself one of the finest farm residences in the county. It contains ten large rooms, and is of first-class architecture. It pre- sents a fine appearance on an eminence affording a splendid view; has shade and fruit trees planted. He is a carpenter and joiner by trade, and is engaged at it principally, hiring help to carry on the farm. Mr. Brad- ley was married on New Year's day, 1865, to Miss E. York, daughter of Horace and Maryett York. She was born in Wyoming county, New York, January 11, 1847. They have two children-Minnie, born November 14, 1869; Guy, born November 11, 1878. Mr. Bradley possesses the true spirit of enterprise. Whether he brought it with him from the east, or whether it has been imbibed from the free winds of our prairies it is not easy to decide, but whatever its origin, may it increase and prevail, until every prairie farm is crowned by a fine mansion. Mr. Bradley is, politically, a Democrat.

B. J. Titus was born in Canada December 15, 1831. When only six months old he came to the United States with friends to his grandparents in Rochester, New York, where he lived until he was twelve years old. He came to Iowa in May, 1868, and moved on the farm he had located in 1863. Afterwards he bought eighty-three acres situated in Buffalo township. Here he lived till the spring of 1880, with the exception of three years spent in Ohio. He bought the farm of eighty acres where he now resides, in Buffalo township. Mr. Titus was mar- ried March 25, 1852, to Miss Lydia Babbitt, who has the honor of being born in the town of Mentor, Lake county, Ohio, the home of President Garfield. They have five children living -- John A., born September 26, 1854; Fred A., born January 13, 1857; Allanta, born October 21, 1860; James D., born November 7, 1870, and died January 2, 1872; Mary, born November 27, 1874; Lenore, born April 18, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Titus are members of the Congregational church. He is a good sound Republican.

C. W. King was born in the State of New York Jan- uary 16, 1835. His father, Charles King, was lost at sea on his way to England when C. W. King was but six months old. His mother married Mr. James Jewell a few years afterwards, and the subject of this sketch lived with them until he was eighteen years of age, when he came with them to Iowa in 1852. They located in Buf- falo township. Mr. C. W. King bought one hundred and twenty acres of Government land where he now lives,

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in section twenty-six. He has since purchased sixty acres, making a farin of one hundred and eighty acres. He built his house in 1856 and his barn in 1865. Shade and fruit trees are planted, and his farm is under a good state of cultivation. Mr. King was married October 15, 1856, to Miss Louisa Grout, born in New York January 12, 1840. They have four children living and two de- ceased-Evaline Augusta, born January 6, 1858, married Mr. Ezra Richardson May 15, 1877, and resides in Buf- falo Grove; Estella Jane, born April 24, 1860, died August 26, 1872; I. W., born April 27, 1862; Samuel Charles, born July 26, 1868, and died September 30, 1871; Olive Julia, born September 30, 1871; Orville James, born April 21, 1878. Mr. King hunted deer successfully for several years after coming west. At that time he had to go to Independence to vote; there being only five or seven voters in the county. He took the first issue of the first paper published in the county, before the townships were organized.

Robert Campbell was born in New York, Niagara county, June 26, 1824. Up to about twenty years of age his life was spent in school during the winters and on the farm in summers. After that he worked as a hand till he was twenty-two years of age, when he went to Wisconsin. He came to Iowa in the fall of 1863, and stopped in Independence one year. In October of 1874 he moved into the house of Mr. Whitmarsh, and remained two years while he farmed his place and built himself his present residence. Mr. Campbell purchased forty acres of his farm in 1863, and forty in 1879. He carries on farming and is the postmaster at Castleville post office, and has been for the last twelve years. Mr. Campbell was married March 27, 1875, to Miss Corde- lia L. Hart, who was born in Niagara county, New York, March 2, 1828. They have five children living and two deceased : Silas M., born March 26, 1846, killed at the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi, on the fourteenth day of July, 1864; he enlisted in 1862 in company F, Thirty- third Wisconsin infantry; Thomas, born in Rock county, Wisconsin, July 8, 1851; died November 12, 1854; Hattie S., born in Rock county, Wisconsin, New Year's day, 1854; married R. T. Jewell, and resides in Buffalo township; Amelia, born in Rock county, Wisconsin, April 7, 1854; married D. B. Heath, and resides in Ne- braska; Charles W., born in Lane county, June 11, 1859, married Miss Alice A. Douthit, of Nebraska, and lives with his father; Mary E., born in Buchanan county, June 22, 1864, single and lives at home ; Clarence H., born in Buchanan county, August 13, 1867, also lives at home and attends school. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Camp- bell is a solid and sound Republican.

T. E. McCurdy was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, March 2, 1848. He resided with his father, E. Mc- Curdy, in Newcomerstown, till he was seventeen years of age, when he went to Illinois, where he worked on a farm by the month. He enlisted February 8, 1864, in company I, Twelfth Illinois infantry. He was mustered out June 12, 1865. He was with Sherman on his At- lanta campaign, and engaged in the battles on that expe-

dition : Kennesaw Mountain, battles before Atlanta on the twenty-second and twenty-eighth of July, and at Jonesborough. He was wounded at Atlanta October 6th, which was the means, indirectly, of him severing his connection with the army. Before recovering from his wound (which was that of a gunshot in the left limb), he was taken sick with the small-pox. After his return from the army he came to lowa and purchased eighty acres of land, where he still resides, in section eighteen, Buffalo township. He has since made purchases of land, until now he owns two hundred and forty acres. There is no better farm in Buchanan county. Its soil is of the first order and its natural location is very fine, furnishing a beautiful view for many miles of the horizon Mr. Mc- Curdy was married October 28, 1866, to Miss Catharine E. Nelson, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, March 4, 1850. They have one daughter: Ines L., thirteen, born July 27, 1880. They have an attractive home, and all the necessary appliances for the enjoyment of life. Mr. McCurdy has held offices of trust more or less since a resident of Buffalo township; is at present a member of the board of supervisors. He is one of the driving wheels of the community, one of the fine men of the county, and one of the sound Republicans of the Nation.

Mrs. Ellen Blunt was born in Ireland. She was a daughter of Miles McGowen. She came to America in 1825, and January 12, 1853, she married Charles Blunt, who was born in Ireland, in 1815. They moved from Wisconsin to lowa in 1864, locating in Tama county, Iowa. Mrs. Blunt purchased the place of forty acres, where she now resides in Buffalo township in the spring of 1877. Mr. Blunt died September 10, 1879, leaving one son: James Thomas Blunt, now twenty-four years of age October 20, 1880. He car- ries on the farm and makes a home for his mother. They are members of the Catholic church. They have a nicely situated farm and a snug little home.

W. H. Huntington was born in Cedar county, Iowa., April 17, 1853, and resided with his father, James Hunt- ington, until he was about the age of eighteen, when he commenced to do for himself, engaging in different occupations, among which business was the hardware in Hazleton. He was married January 1, 1877, to Miss Zorada Amanda Watson, who was born in Iowa county, Iowa, February 22, 1857. They have one child: Alma Margaret, born December 23, 1879.

Mr. Huntington purchased his farm of eighty acres in March, 1878, situated in section 7, in Buffalo township, where he still resides. He has a beautifully situated farm which is all under cultivation, and with his present purposes carried on, he will soon have one of the pleas- antest homes of Buchanan county.

Nicholas Meyer was born in Wisconsin, January 4, 1857. He resided with his father, Peter Meyer, on the farmi till the year 1876, when he came to lowa and pur- chased the farm of eighty acres where he now resides, in section seventeen, Buffalo township. Mr. Meyer was married, January 28, 1878, to Miss Mary Muller, who was born in Wisconsin, November 17, 1859, daughter of Nicholas and Mary Muller. They have a little son, born

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April 22, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are members of the Catholic church. They have a nice farm, with shade and fruit trees planted, and every convenience of a well- furnished home. They are young folks who are starting with the determination to win, and have the ability also to realize their expectations.

K. M. Harrington was born in Orleans county, New York, in the town of Medina, February 13, 1825. When eleven years old his parents moved to Niagara county. He lived with his father, Daniel Harrington, on the farm till he was twenty-four years of age. When he went to the State of Michigan, engaging in farming during that time. He returned to Niagara county, New York, in 1851, and again engaged in farming and continued it for fifteen years, being married in the meantime. He came to Iowa in the spring of 1866, engaged in the sheep bus- iness the first six years. His purpose was to raise fine stock, but found the soil too wet. After losing many fine sheep he had paid a high price for in the east and brought with him, he abandoned the project and turned his attention to farming. Being naturally of an energetic driving spirit, he went into everything he undertook with all his power, consequently he put out one hundred and fifty acres of wheat the following season. In previous years. nothing could have been a better project, but it was just when the wheat crop failed all through this portion of Iowa. He purchased the farm of two hundred and sixty acres where he now resides, in sections twenty and twenty- one, Buffalo township. He finds the cattle and hog bus- iness pays more remuneratively than any thing else, and is extensively engaged in the same. He owns about fifty head of stock besides five head of horses. His farm is finely situated. The house stands on an eminence com- manding the view in all points of the compass. Mr. Harrington was married, on April 18, 1852, to Miss Lucy A. Jewett, who was born in Middleburgh, Vermont, July 19, 1825. They have four children-one son and three daughters: Harriet M., bom November 16, 1855, married H. A. Jones, and resides in Buffalo township; Thomas J., born June 14, 1858, engaged in the railroad business in Colorado; Cora A., born May 8, 1865; Car- rie E., born December 29, 1867. Mr. Harrington is re- garded as a sound-headed, well-read, and thoroughly posted man. His house is well furnished with books and papers. Politically he has always been a sound Democrat.

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History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 99

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