History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 122

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1316

USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 122
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 122

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Stufflebeam, one of the pioneers of Bremer county. Seven children have been born to them, four of whom are now living-Nellie Alavanda, Jacob Clarence, Bertha Aveline Aurora, Elfie.

Parker Lueas, one of the pioneers of Bremer county, is a native of Ohio, born in Montgomery county, July 26, 1814. His parents were David and Rachel (Yount) Lucas; his father was a native of Ger- many, and his mother of Virginia. In 1816 his parents moved to Darke county, Ohio, and in 1823, to Vigo county, Ind- iana, and in 1826, to Carroll county, Indiana, where they were among the early settlers of that part of the State. His father arrived in that county, a poor man; his entire worldly possessions being one hundred dollars, which he paid for . eighty aeres of land, he settled twenty-five miles from a store or mill, and even had they been nearer, they were without money to buy. The old proverb, "Necessity is the mother of invention," was practically proven in their ease. The family were al- most destitute as regards elothing. One day while the father was out, he pieked up some nettle stalks and brought them home; upon an examination of them, the motlier coneluded she could use the "tow" to elothe the family. Accordingly a large amount was collected and woven into eloth, and from this thirty-two yards of "nettle" linen was made, enough to elothe the entire family. Here the subject of this sketeh grew to manhood, and in 1833, was married to Naney Moore, also a native of · Ohio. In 1856 they came west to Bremer county, and soon after settled on section 18, Lafayette township, where he now.owns a farm of 107 aeres. Seven

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N. A. Reeves.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

children have been born to them-William V., now State Auditor; John T., now liv- ing in Oregon; Christal David, now living in Pocahontas county, Iowa; James A., a resident of Dakota; Isaae E., cashier of Allison Bank; Litia, wife of L. L. Lush, cashier of Bremer County Bank; and Mar- tla Aun, now the wife of Lawrence Reed, this town.

Henry Eveland was born in Ohio, in 1814. His parents soon after moved to Fulton county, Illinois, where his father was one of the pioneer settlers. In 1854 he eame to Bremer county, and located on section 28, Lafayette township. In Sep- tember, 1835, he was married to Lorena Miller. Eight children were born to them, seven of whom are still living-Samuel, Jacob, John Mason, James Dunean, Har- riett, wife of John Seott, living in Ne- braska; Anna, now the wife of Thomas MeRoberts; Indiana, now the wife of George Elliott. His wife died Mareh, 1870. He was married in the spring of 1873, to Martha Bingham, born in Greene county, Indiana, January 31, 1832, and daughter of John and Levisa (Bays) Bureh. She was married to Wm. Bingham in Fcb- ruary, 1850. One daughter was the result of this union-Naney Jane, now the wife of Nelson 'Ross, of Lafayette township. Mr. Evcland died May 12, 1878. Nelson Ross and Nancy Jane Bingham were mar- ried in 1865; he is a native of Indiana, born in 1843. They have seven children living-James, Henry, Albert, Alva, Lo- raine and Mabcl.

Norman A. Reeves, one of the enter- prising farmers of Lafayette township, was born January 30, 1883, in Cayuga eounty, New York. His father was Man-

nassah Reeves, a native of Long Island, and his mother, Esther (Perry) Reeves, a native of Vermont. In 1852, the family moved to Buchanan county, Iowa, where Norman remained until he attained his majority. He then eame to Waverly, and for one year worked in a saw mill, and then worked one year helping to build a grist mill for W. P. Harmon. He then purchased a half interest in the saw mill, and ran it two years, when he traded his interest for a farm in Jaekson town- ship, on which he resided seven years. He then located on seetion 20, Lafayette township, and now owns 105 acres of land. Mr. Reeves has given a great deal of at tention to fruit and shrubbery culture, and has on his farm a grove of about fifty thou- sand trces, of the European lareh, soft maple, white ash, blaek-walnut, and the different varicties of evergreens. He is a member of the State Horticultural Society, and has given much time and attention to experimenting in fruits, and has written several instructive artieles on fruit eulturc. Mr. Reeves is a member of the society of Knights of Honor, of Waverly. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for some years, and was one of the prime movers of the Spring Lake Sabbath Sehool, and has been its super- intendent sinee its organization. He was married March 30, 1856, to Miss Rhoda Willey, daughter of Tallman and Mary (Bush) Willey, of Tompkins county, New York. Five children have blessed this union-Elsie, now the wife of Byron J. Butler, of Floyd county; Elmer M., James E., and Charles and Minnie, twins. Mr. Reeves has the largest artificial grove in Bremer county, containing over 50,000

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

trees, of different varieties, all of which have been planted by his own hands. He is also more extensively engaged in horti- cultural pursuits than any other person in Bremer county.

James Andrews, son of James and Anna (Barnes) Andrews, is a native of Chautau- qua county, New York, born August 24, 1822. His father was born in Connecticut, and his mother in New York. His educa- tional advantages were limited to the dis- trict schools of that day. In 1845 his par- ents came west, to McHenry county, Illi- nois, and settled on a farm, where his mother died, in August, 1873, and his father one month later. James remained at home until 1856, when he came to Bre- mer county, and settled on a farm on sec- tion 15, which he had purchased in 1854, and on which he built a log house in 1855. In 1856, just previous to coming to his new home, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Pelton, daughter of Ransom and Mary B. (Waggoner) Pelton, formerly of Chautau- qua county, New York; but then residents of McHenry county, Illinois. Together they came to Bremer county. In 1866 he built his present handsome residence, and now owns and cultivates a fine farm of 158₺ acres. In politics Mr. Andrews is a republican, and has always taken an active part in the political interests of his town- ship, having held, at different times, nearly all of the township offices. Of the five children born to them, four are living- Charles, Anna, Elva, and Nellie. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for thirteen years, and his wife has been a member since her seventeenth year.

Wm. M. Colton, one of the leading farmers of Lafayette township, and the

oldest son of Calvin S. and Harriet (Hatch) Colton, is a native of Vermont, born in Bennington county, May 18, 1832. In 1849, his parents moved to DeKalb county, Illinois, his father being one of the pioneers of that county. Here Wm. grew to manhood, and in 1856, came west and located in Lafayette township on a farm on section 20, where he has since resided, on land he had entered in 1853. He now owns a fine farm of 220 acres. Mr. Col- ton has held various town offices, and is at present one of the township trustees. He is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and was one of the founders of the M. E. class in this township. In 1865, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Nettie Evans, a native of Canada. Eight children have blessed this union-Grant, . Hattie, James Evans, Charles, Lida, Cora, Roy and Mortimer.

S. C. Krieger, a native of Northumber- land county, Pennsylvania, was born June 21, 1836. He is the second son of Samuel and Mary Magdaline (Conrad) Krieger, both natives of that State. He was reared on a farm, receiving but a limited educa- tion. In the spring of 1857, the family came west and settled on section 5, Lafay- ette township. Here his mother died April 2, 1861, and his father March 25, 1872. In 1864, he was married to Matilda Wilson, a native of Ireland, and soon after settled on his present farm of 190 acres, which is one of the best in Bremer county. Their children are Grant, Ida, Willie, Mary, Gilbert and Lewtie.

Joshua Stufflebeam is a Kentuckian by birth, and was born October 10, 1821. In 1829 his parents moved to Fulton county, Illinois, and in 1852 he came to Bremer

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

county and settled on section 34, Lafayette township, where he entered 320 acres of land. In 1861 he moved to liis present lo- cation on section 23. He has held the of- fice of trustee one term. He was married in 1840 to Polly Allsbury, a native of In- diana. They have seven children living- Thomas, Jeremiah, Charles Newton, Josh- ua, Joseph Lee, Angelinc and Priscilla.

Jonathan Freeman, who is a native of New York State, was born in Ulster county, July- 9, 1843. He is a son of Eli- jah and Sarah M. (Longyear) Freeman, both natives of that State. The son re- mamned at home on his father's farm until twelve years of age, and then moved, with the family, to Camillus, New York, where he grew to manhood, attending and teach- ing school. At twenty-one years of age his health failed him to such an extent that he was compelled to give up his former pursuits. He then engaged as book-keeper in a manufacturing estab- lishment at Southington, Connecticut. In 1866 he was united in wedlock to Miss Au- relia L. Hotchkiss, who was born in South- ington, Connecticut, and is a daughter of Alfred and Laura Ann (Plant) Hotchkiss, both natives of that State. In 1869 the young couple came west and settled in La- fayette township, where they have since residcd. Mr. Freeman is a greenbacker, and has taken quite an active part in the politics of the township, having held, at different times, several of the town offices. He held the office of Sccretary of the Farmer's Insurance Company until 1881, at which time he was compelled to resign on account of ill-health. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman arc both members of the Baptist church of Waverly. They have been

blessed with two children, of whom Lena May is the only one now living.

Daniel H. Chambers is a native of Starkey county, New York, born Decem- ber 23, 1821. He is the eldest son of Christopher and Phæbe (Alden) Cham- bers. He was reared on a farm, and re- ceived but a limited education; remaining at home until he attained his majority; he came west in 1842 to Belvidere, Boone county, Illinois, where he remained about eight years, and then began farming in that county, which occupation he followed until 1856, when he came to Iowa, settling at Turkey Grove, three miles east of Clarksville, on a farm. Here lic remained seven years, then traded farms and located at Janesville, where he was engaged in farming for seven years. He then settled on section 14, Lafayette township. Mr. Chambers has always taken an active part in the politics of the township, and has held, at different times, the offices of trus- tee, president of the school board, and is at present director of his school district. In 1844 he was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary L. Lawrence, a native of New York State. Seven children have been born to them-Joseph S., who died June 4, 1882; Lauren L., who died during the spring of 1875; Lydia J., now the wife of Ralph Watkins, of Waverly; Noel Rew, Charles L. and George Avery.

N. B. Marsh was born in Victor, On- tario county, New York, February 23, 1841. He is the third son of Isaac and Esther (Rawson) Marsh, both natives of New York. In 1845 his parents moved to Lockport, New York, and in 1859 he came west to Chicago. His educational advan- tages were attained at the Union school of

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Lockport, and Sloan's Commercial College, Chicago, graduating from that institution. In the spring of 1861, at the first call for troops, he enlisted in the Nineteenth Illi- nois Infantry, afterward known as the "Bloody Nineteenth," but through the in- terposition of friends, was not allowed to go. Early in 1862, he enlisted in Stur- gess' Riflemen, afterward McClellan's body guard; he was once more detained. Upon attaining his majority, he enlisted, May, 1862, in Company E, Sixty-fifth Illinois Infantry, and was honorably discharged at Camp Douglas, on account of disability, four months afterward. He then returned to Lockport, where he was appointed assist- ant postmaster, which position he held until 1868, when he came to Bremer county, and engaged in farming on section 22, Lafayette township. For the past seven years, Mr. Marsh has held the office of school director. He was married in 1865, to Ellen H. Taylor, a native of Niag- ara county, New York. They have two sons living-Burton T. and Norman Rawson.

D. E. Loveland was born in Niagara county, New York, April 22, 1824. He is a son of Thomas and Betsy Loveland, of that county. The family afterward lived in Cataraugus county, New York, then in McHenry county, Illinois, and Greene county, Wisconsin. In 1865 D. E. came to Bremer county, and has since lived on section 13, Lafayette township. He now owns a fine farm of 200 acres, all under cultivation. He was married, in 1847, to Adeline Johnson, a native of New York State. They have five children living- Thomas, William, Robert, Cyrus, Martha, and an adopted son, Theodore.

Benjamin Bennett was born in Lanca- shire, England, July 7, 1833. He is son of James and Sarah (Higgenbotham) Ben- nett, both natives of England. In 1849 the family came to America, and settled in Marquette county, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in farming until 1864. He then came to Lafayette township, and lo- cated on section 8, where he remained three years, and then located on section 20, where he now resides, and owns a fine farm of 240 acres. In 1858 he was married, at Portage, Wisconsin, to Eliza- beth Ann Slater. Of the fourteen chil- dren born to them, thirteen are now living-James Howard, Ainsworth Ave- lock, Sarah Alberta, Robert Henry, Ed- ward Allen, Zela Ada, William Herbert, Oscar Horace, Rupert Wilson, Willard Melvin, Clarence Eugene, Vivian Bell, and Guy. His father died in 1861, and his mother in 1870.

John Curtis was born in Kent, England, January 17, 1813. He is a son of William and Charlotte (Gibbs) Curtis, both natives of England. In 1828 the family came to America, and settled in Madison county, New York. John afterward came west to Dodge county, Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1857 settled in Douglas town- ship, Bremer county, where he remained until 1860, when he settled on his present farm of 175 acres, two and a half miles northeast of Waverly. In 1858 he mar- ried Ruby Ann Harris, a native of New York State. Their children are-Ida May, Fred, Ruby A., Nettie E. and Lorinda- all living at home.

Willard S. Grover, born in Cataraugus . county, New York, July 25, 1831, is a son of John and Sarah (Burbank) Grover.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

His father was a native of New Jersey, and his mother of Massachusetts. In 1840 his parents moved to Winnebago county, Illinois, where Willard grew to manhood. After the death of his father in 1864, (his mother having died October 9, 1858) he came west to Bremer county, and settled on section 2, where he now owns a fine farm of 180 acres, which is one of the best improved in the county. Although Mr. Grover has never taken a very active part in the politics of the county, he has held several of the minor town offices. In 1858 he was joined in wedlock with Miss Caro- line Knapp, of Orleans county, New York. They have been blessed with two children -- Elmer and Clara, both living.

Abraham Wade was born in Cambridge- shire, England, April 29, 1823. His father was John Wade, and his mother, Elizabeth (Budge) Wade, both natives of England. His father died in 1830, and his mother in 1843. In 1851, Abraham determined to seek his fortune in the New World, and accordingly arrived in New York during the fall of that year, and in the spring of 1852, located in Cook county, Illinois, where he engaged in ditching on the low lands near Chicago for two years, when he came to Bremer county and entered land, which he owned until 1864, when he en- listed in Company H, of the Fifteenth Iowa Infantry, and served until honorably discharged at Davenport, at the close of the war. He then returned to Waverly and was engaged in running a vineyard and sorghum mill, until 1870, when he settled on his present location on section 3, of Lafayette township, and now owns 310 acres of fine farming land. Mr. Wade has held the office of township trustec,

and is the present treasurer of the town- ship. He was married in 1854, to Miss Martha Ingersoll, a native of Illinois. They have been blessed with six chil- dren-Edith, Emma, Abraham Lincoln, William, Ralphı and Nellie.

Harvey Fuller was born in Cayuga county, New York, May 29, 1847. He is the eldest son of Charles and Lois (\'ox) Fuller, both natives of New York. In 1849, the family moved to Onondaga eounty, New York, and, in 1856, to Mo- line, Illinois, where his father was cn- gaged in mercantile pursuits. Harvey re- ceived a good common school education, and a commercial course at Davenport, Iowa, and, in 1862, although scarcely fifteen years of age, he cnlisted in Com- pany H, Sixty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as a drummer boy. Ile was honorably discharged therefrom, and afterwards enlisted, in 1865, in Company I, Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry, and was honorably discharged, at Brownsville, Texas, at the close of the war. In the early part of 1866, he came to Lafayette township, where his father had settled in 1865. His father died in 1869, and his mother in 1855. In December, 1868, Mr. Fuller was married to Miss Maggie Wright. She died in October, 1869. He married December 24, 1870, Miss Nettie Fritcher, a native of Wisconsin. Mr. Fuller has one of the finest orchards in the county, and is now engaged in horti- cultural pursuits, on an extensive seale. He was clerk of the township for one year, and was elected justice of the peace at the last election. He is correspondent for various newspapers in the State.

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

James Kelly, born in Orange county, In- diana, Feb. 14, 1819, is a son of James and Ailsil (Liston) Kelly, both natives of Ken- tucky. His father was a soldier in the Rev- olution. In 1826 the family moved to Coles county, Illinois, where his father died in 1849, his mother in 1828. Here he remained and in 1845 was married to Elizabeth Sullivan, a native of Virginia, born February 12, 1827. He afterward mnoved to Wisconsin, and in 1865 settled in Lafayette township, where he has since resided. His wife died May 8, 1866, and is buried in the Spring Lake cemetery. They were blessed with eight children, seven of whom are still living-Cordelia, born in Coles county, Illinois, April 7, 1849, now the wife of Theodore Holmes, of Polk county, Minnesota; Mary A., born in Coles county, Illinois, in 1847, died in November, 1848; Larabia, born in Coles county, November 14, 1851, is now the wife of James Kelly, living in Dakota; Lucina, born in Coles county, March 10, 1855, now the wife of Charles Kellogg of Butler county; Noah, born November 17, 1857, in Lafayette county, Wisconsin; James P., born July 10, 1860, in the same county, died December 5, 1802; William, born March 23, 1863, in the same county; Josephine, born in Bremer county, Jan- uary 13, 1866, and is now living at home.

D. B. Fox, son of Benjamin and Melinda Fox, was born in Fulton county, Illinois, December 7, 1842. Losing his parents when a child, he was reared in the family of James Bevard, who came to Bremer county, in 1851, and died here in 1863. His wife, Margaret Bevard, died Decem- ber 29, 1881. In 1851, they settled in Jef- ferson township, where young Fox grew

to manhood's estate. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Fourteenth Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, and served in the cause of the Union, until honorably discharged, November 16, 1864. He then returned to Jefferson, and in 1868, moved to section 18, Lafayette township, where he has since resided. September 17, 1868, he was married to Matilda L. Weller, a native of Cook county, Illinois, daughter of John and Hester Weller, of that county. They have had four children-Hattie E., Verner D., Olive May and Lettie E.

Thomas McRoberts was born in Flem- ing county, Kentucky, August 3, 1834. He is a son of James Henry and Martha (Rollins) McRoberts, his father was a na- tive of Ireland and his mother of Scot- land. In 1838 his parents moved to Cal- loway county, Missouri, and in the spring of 1849, to Linn county, Iowa, and in the fall of that year came to Jefferson town- ship, Bremer county, and in the spring of 1850, moved to Janesville, where his father died soon after. In 1861 Thomas moved to Lafayette township, and in 1869 to his present location on section 19. In 1862 he was married to Miss Margaret Anna Eveland, daughter of Henry Eve- land, a pioneer of this township. Six chil- dren have been born to them, of which Angelina, James, Hattie and Edward are living. Two died when children-Blanche, nine years of age; and Martha Francis, six and a half years of age.

Jacob Cagley was born in Johnson county, Indiana, July 15, 1845. He is a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Keosling) Cagley. His father was a native of Vir- gina, and his mother of Tennessee. In 1856, his parents went to Chickasaw

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

county, Iowa, and settled on a farm where his father became one of the largest land owners of that county. In 1866, Jacob settled on section 3, Lafayette township, where he now owns 460 acres, He was married in 1867, to Miss Martha Ann Cuffel, a native of Indiana. They have four children living-John H., Lucia V., Fred E. and Roy L. His father died in Chickasaw, in 1881. His mother is still living.

John R. Foster was born in Maine, February 13, 1836. He is the eldest son of Leighton and Clarissa (Ricker) Foster, both natives of Maine. In 1839, his parents moved to Boone county, Illinois. In 1857, John settled in Nodaway county, Missouri, and in August, 1862, enlisted in Company B, Thirty-fifth Missouri, and served the Union honorably until dis- charged at the close of the war, in 1865, he then returned to Nodaway county, and in 1866, disposed of his interest there and came to Bremer county, and has since been a resident of Lafayette township. Mr. Foster has taken an active part in the educational interests of his township, and has held the office of school director. In 1861, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Carrie Wagor, a native of New York State. They have five children living-Mamie, Clara, Mabel, Frank, and an infant, Roy.

Seth L. Foster was born in Piscatiquis county, Maine, June 20, 1842. He is the youngest son of Leighton and Clarissa (Ricker) Foster, who are still living, and both natives of Maine. He lived with the family in Maine and Boone county, Illi- nois, until 1866, when he settled on section 30, Lafayette township, and now owns a farm of 124 acres, all under improvement.

In 1868 he married Miss Sarah S. Conner, a native of Kentucky. They have three children-Arthur L., Effie R. and Jesse A., all living,

Patrick Boylson, one of the pioneers of Bremer county, is a native of Tipperary county, Ireland, and was born in 1831. In 1848 he came to America, and settled on a farm in Rensselaer county, New York, on which he remained four years; he then spent two years in Ohio, and in 1855 set- tled in Waverly, and in 1860 settled on his present farm on section 30, where he now owns 300 acres of land. In 1854 he was married to Mary Coleman, a native of Cork county, Ireland, born October 10,1832. Of the six children born to them-William, Mary, Anna, James and George, are living.

P. Oberdorf was born in Northumber- land county, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1817. He is a son of John and Mary (Strow) Ober- dorf, both natives of that State. His mother died when he was a child, and his father, in 1870. He was rcared on a farm, receiv- ing a limited education. In 1857 he came to Waverly, and bought a third interest in a saw mill, which he retained for six years, but misfortune overtook him, a freshct came, and destroyed the earnings of a life time. He then rented a farm three miles south of Waverly, on which he lived three years, he then lived one mile north of Waverly, four years, then settled on section 24, where lie now owns 131 acres of land. Mr. Oberdorf has held the office of road supervisor and school director, and is at present, treasurer of District No. 8. He was married, in 1844, to Miss Amasa Daw- son, a native of Pennsylvania. They have nine children living-Mary Alice, now the wife of Charles Miller, of Osceola county,

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HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.

Iowa; Lewis Cass, a resident of Bremer county; Rosanna, wife of Joseph E. Jew- cll, of Butler county; Alexander, living at home; Sarah Jane, wife of Alaskis Eisen- hart, a merchant of Tripoli; Laura Melissa, John, Minerva, and William Henry.

A. B. Wilson, born in Niagara county, New York, July 27, 1830, is a son of Cal- vin and Hannah (Sherwood) Wilson. Hc was rcared on a farm, and remained in his native county until July, 1864, when he camc to Lafayette township, and scttled on scction 26, where he remained until 1872, when he bought his present farm of eighty acres, on section 13, where he has since resided. Mr. Wilson held the office of school director for eight years. His father died in New York State, in Sep- tember, 1877. His mother is still living. He was married in 1854 to Miss Angelinc Taylor, a native of New York. They have four children living-Carrie, Nettie, Whitten Taylor and Maud.

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 122

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1316

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1316