History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 67

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 67
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 67

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).

Among the early arrivals was R. W. Butler, who moved from the Wapsie. Being possessed of some means, by judicious in- vestments and a successful system of farm- ing he accumulated a snug sum, which is now enjoyed by his heirs.

Levi Burress built his cabin on section 27, on the west bank of the Shell Rock. He was a mighty hunter in his younger days, a man of imposing presence, of frank, open bearing, and a voice full of heartiness and good will. His cabin was the stopping place for the many emigrants wending their way north and westward. They will long remember the hospitable Kentuckian.

James Blake, originally from Maine, but by training a Virginian, came in 1854 and entered 320 acres on section 25, where he at once erected a cabin.

Philip J. Ebersold, from New York, was one of the earliest arrivals. He located on the premises now occupied by Mr. Mc- Names, on the banks of Flood creek. He afterward removed about a mile and a half southeast of the old homestead to another farm, which he purchased and brought un- der a high state of cultivation. He was a reading and thinking man, as well as one used to toil.

In the summer and fall of 1854 came William Gough, Hugh Thomas, P. Eber- sold, Delano McCain, and others.

John F. Eikenberry, also one of the oldest settlers, and a preacher of the Gefman Baptist, took a claim and made of it a model farm. He is a man much esteemed wherever he is known, genial in his manner, and honest in all his purposes. He is a fit representative of his faith, of which there are many families settled in this and adjoining townships.

John V. Boggs was another of the first settlers, and was located for years on scc- tion 20. He was a member of the old board of supervisors, and a man of sterling rectitude -- reliable as the needle to the pole.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Tobias Miller is another of the early settlers of Dayton township-came in June, 1853, and located on the section where Eikenberry now lives. In 1855 he sold out and went to Minnesota. The last heard of him he was at South Bend, Indiana.

Levi Burris came in 1852, shortly after Goheen, and settled on section 27, living there until his death, in fall of 1882.

Commodore Bennett settled on section 13, the place now owned by Wm. Kingery.

GENERAL ITEMS.

The first religions services in the town was held at the house of James Griffith, in 1854, by Israel Shafer, of the United Brethren denomination. Some meetings were after- wards held at school houses. They gener- ally have a religious service of some char- acter once in two weeks.

The first death was William Goheen, in 1853; he was buried on the banks of Cold- water creek, section 19; afterwards taken up and buried in the Hardman cemetery.

The first school in Dayton was held in the fall of 1858, in a frame building 20x20, costing $500. A winter term was taught by a Mr. Thompson, with an attendance of fifteen.

There are at present ten school districts in the township, witli school buildings in each.

The first birth was in 1855, a daughter, Isabella, to J. W. Goheen and Mary (Burras) Goheen. These parties, it is said, were the first couple married in the township.

OFFICIAL RECORD.

The territory now comprising Dayton, on the 6th of February, 1855, was equally

divided, the east half being merged into the organization of Butler township, and the west half belonging to Coldwater. In this shape it remained until September, 1860, when Judge Converse set it off and or- dered it organized as a separate town. from the others, and an election was ordered on the 6th day of November, 1860, at the house of Richard Chellew. At that election C. H. Forney, Abel Eddy and Lemuel Carter were chosen judges; Patrick Hagerty and Phineas Clawson, clerks. The first officers were as follows: Justices of the peace, Hugh Thomas and Levi Burress; consta- bles, Richard Chellew and Reuben Stro- hecker; supervisor, Thomas Hagerty; clerk, John F. Eikenberry; assessor, Phin- eas Clawson; trustees, John V. Boggs, Philip J. Ebersold and Lemuel Carter.

The present officers of the township are as follows, elected in November, 1882: Justices of the peace, L. Bragg and F. Morrill, Jr .; township clerk, W. W. R. Shafer; constables, George C. Clark and John Dellker; assessor, W. H. Lyford; trustees, C. H. Forney, George Lathrop, and E. Morrill.

Among others that have held prominent positions in the township are: C. H. For- ney, John V. Boggs, John F. Newhard, M. L. Carter, Joseph Packard, E. J. Eber- sold, Julins Temple, George Lathrop, and F. Morrill.

DAYTON'S SHARE IN THE WAR.

During the rebellion the township, al- though sparsely settled, furnished more than its quota of men had it been credited as it should have been.

From the records of Adjutant General Baker we copy a list of those who served

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

in the gallant Thirty-second Iowa In- fantry : Phineas Clawson, Joseph Bab- cock, C. N. Thomas, James Ybright, Wil- bur Clauson, Henry Brooks, James Butler, John McCain, Albert Boggs, Isaiah Car- ter, John Swim, Aaron Harter, John For- ney, Roszell Cain, and Sylvester Bragg.

Among other regiments are found the names of the following men from Dayton: Dock Burress, Jasper Blake, and Alex. Forney. The drafted men were Joseph Thornsbrue, Hamilton Brown, and Robert Burress. Among the "hundred-day men" were W. A. Wilkis, John Eddy, and Wil- liam Carter.

THE FARMERS' CLUB.

The Clarksville Star, in its issue of the 20th of May, 1875, contains the following remarks from the pen of Van E. Butler:

"Among the educational institutions of this town is the 'Farmers' Club,' which was organized in 1864, the object being to increase the interest in agriculture, horti- culture and floriculture. How much in- fluence it has exerted within a period of ten years is seen by the superior thrift, the intelligence, improved style of farm- ing, and the general neatness of the home- steads of its members. Mutual intercourse and interchange of ideas on farming and other topics have kept its members posted on the issues af the day; and if a stranger should step in when the club is in session he would no doubt conclude that the farm- ers kept their best stock at home and sent the poorer material to the Senate or Legis- lature, on the same principle that they select their best seeds for propagation and send the inferior article to market."

CHARACTERISTIC SETTLEMENT.

It has been remarked by some that bio- graphies when published in a work of this kind have a tendency to make the whole matter monotonous and uninteresting, con- sequently detracting from the interest which otherwise would attach to such a volume. While this in a great measure is true, yet there is no way which will so clearly show the actual character of a set- tlement. Dayton township has good reason to be proud of her representative people. Among the many deserving of mention, a few are therefore appended.

John N. Boggs is one of the pioneers of Butler county, his residence in the county dating from September 10, 1853. Mr. Boggs was born in Ohio, in 1820. He lost his parents when he was but three years of age, and was brought up by strangers in Henry and Union counties, Indiana. He came to this county with Mr. John Hart, of Coldwater township, and pre-empted a farm adjoining Mr. Hart. He had possession of this farm, only from July 2, 1854, till January 10, 1856, when he sold it for $16 per acre. This was a remarkable price for land at that early day, and the sale was a fortunate transac- tion for Mr. Boggs. He has owned his present farm in Dayton township since May 1, 1856, buying it of John Hunter, of Janesville, Bremer county. He now has 200 acres. Mr. Boggs has been twice married. His first wife was Susan Lyons, a native of Pennsylvania. She died in 1874. His present wife Mrs. C. (Lence) Hardman, was a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Coldwater township with her husband, Aaron Hardman, in 1853. He died in 1878. Mr. Boggs has three chil-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

dren by his first wife-Albert, Sarah and Joseph P. His first child, Orville, died in 184. Mrs. Boggs has nine children by former marriage, six of whom are living. In politics Mr. Boggs is a republican, and has held offices of trust.

P. J. Ebersold, a native of the State of New York, was married in New York City to Mary Gihon, who was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1823, and came to the United States with her mother and brother when she was nincteen years old. She came to Iowa in 1854, and has lived in Dayton township since that time. Mr. and Mrs. Ebersold have seven children- Emily, Katie, David, Lillie, Laura, Sarah J. and Thomas. They lost one child -- Alphonse. They have a beautiful liome on section 24.

Hugh Thomas, residing on section 24, has been a resident of Dayton township since August, 1854. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1809. When three years of age lie removed to Wayne county, Ohio, with his parents. His parents, Michael and Agnes Thomas, lived in Wayne county about nineteen years, when they removed to Hancock county, where his mother died. His father died in Indiana. Mr. Thomas has been three times married. His first wife was Hannah Williams, a native of Penn- sylvania; his second wife was Frances Crawford, and his present wife was Miss Mary S. Arkills, a native of Ulster county, New York, who came to Clarksville with her mother in July, 1867. Mr. Thomas has three sons and three daughters. His oldest son, Hiram, was a member of an Indiana regiment, in the war of the rebel- lion, and died in the service. His sons,

Charles N., and L. D., were also in the service. Mrs. Thomas' parents, Nathaniel and Jane Ann Arkills, removed from the State of New York to Marquette county, Wisconsin, in 1861, where her father died in 1863. Hor brother, Charles W. Arkills, served in the war of the rebellion, and now lives in Floyd county. Her mother resides with him. Mr. Thomas' chil- dren are-Hiram, (deceased), Asenath, now Mrs. John Duly; Charles N., Liverton D., Amanda A., now Mrs. Charles Surfus; Al- bert H., and Hattie R. Mr. Thomas has always been identified with the interests of the township, and has seen it change from a wilderness to a well-settled and prosperous county. He was the president of the first school board on its organiza- tion, and has held other local offices.

William H. Bonnell resides on section 25. Hc bought his present farm of F. J. Phillips. His father, Shedrick Bonnell, was one of the earliest settlers of Frc- mont township. Mr. Bonnell was born in Ohio, in 1851, and came to Butler county, with his father, in 1855. He married Miss Eliza Shannon, daughter of John A. Shan- non. They have two children-Amanda E., and Dora N. Mr. Bonnell's farm con- tains eighty acres.

Lemuel Carter; resides on section 34. Mr. Carter is one of the early settlers of Butler county, coming here in 1855. He wasborn August 16, 1809, -in Geauga county, Ohio; but was brought up in Union, and there married Jemima Orra- hood, a native of Virginia. Mr. Carter located upon his present farm upon his arrival, in 1855, purchasing of Mr. Butler. His wife died in August, 1~72. His pres- ent wife was Mrs. Polly Owens, a native

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

of New York. His children are-Phoebe, wife of C. Wygle; Maria J., wife of Rob- ert Burrass, who died in the service during the war of the rebellion; William and James, who live in Wisconsin. Mr. Car- ter's farm contains 160 acres. ''He is now in his seventy-fourth year, and, although he encountered all the privations incident to a pioneer life, yet he is physically well preserved, being hale and healthy for a man of his years. Mr. and Mrs. Carter are members of the M. E. Church.

Charles T. Mather resides on section 33. His father, Dan. Mather, was one of the early settlers of Butler township, and is still living, in his eighty-seventh year. He was born in Otsego county, New York, August 17, 1796, where he was married to Roxanna Underwood. They removed to Warren county, Pennsylvania, in 1825. He was a carpenter by trade, an occupa- tion he followed for many years. He re- moved from Pennsylvania to Boone county, Illinois, in 1844, and came to Butler county in May, 1854. He was among the earliest settlers of Clarksville, where he was en- gaged for many years in contracting and building. Among the early buildings which he assisted in constructing was the court house in that village, now used as a public school building. He purchased about 1,000 acres of land of the govern- ment, but devoted most of his attention to mechanical pursuits. His specialty for many years was fanning mills. His first wife died October 31, 1856. He afterward married Mrs Sallie Veber; they now re- side in the village of Clarksville. Mr. Dan. Mather had five children, four of whom are now living-Mrs. Maria Nelson, Charles T., Stephen D., who resides in

Tennessee, and Milo E., who lives in Kan- sas. Stephen and Milo served in the war of the rebellion. Charles T. married Car- oline Tripp, a native of the State of New York. They have seven children-Jessie, Charles M., Celia, Luella, Nellie, Cathe- rine, and Daniel. Mr. Mather has a large farm, containing a full section of land.

Christian H. Forney is numbered among the farmers of Dayton township. He was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1822. When nineteen years of age he removed with his parents, Christian and Christina Forney, to Indiana, where they lived until their death. Mr. Forney moved to Illi- nois in 1854, onto a farm in Livingston county, near Pontiac. His residence in Butler. county dates from July 3, 1856. He bought his present farm from William Mullin and James Blake. Mr. Forney has been twice married. His first wife was Rebecca Prince, a native of Champaign county, Ohio. His present wife was Miss Agnes Burnes, à native of England. She came to the United States when but five years of age, living in Ohio. Mr. Forney had three children by his first wife and has had six by his second, five of whom are living. He is one of the successful farmers of Butler county and is quite an extensive land owner, having five hundred and sixty acres in one body. In 1850 he took a trip across the plains to California and was absent about a year.

John A. Shannon was born near King's- ton, in the province of Ontario, in 1826. His parents, John and Samantha (Smith) Shannon, were natives of New York State. Mr. John Shannon was in the war of 1812, and moved to Canada after the close of that war, where he resided till his death.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

His wife is still living there. John A. Shannon resides on section 36. He pur- chased his farm of Andrew Daily, of Bremer county, in the spring of 1862, and settled here several years later. Mr. Shan- non went to Michigan from Canada in 1852, and came to Butler county in 1856, settling in Clarksville. He is a carpenter by trade, and assisted in the construction of many of the older buildings of that village, building Peet's Hotel and several of the principal residences there. He married Elizabeth Fisher, danghter of Jeremiah Fisher, an early settler of De- Kalb county, Illinois. Mrs. Shannon is a native of Clinton county, New York. They have five children, to-wit: Eliza J., wife of William S. Bonwell; Tina, now Mrs. Schuyler Hardman; Bertha, now Mrs. Charles N. Bonwell; Clara and John L. Their farm contains 160 acres.

Lafayette Bragg resides on section 29. His father, Erastus Bragg, was a native of New York State, and moved to Illinois about 1834. He resided in Illinois and Wisconsin until 1861, when he came to Butler county and settled on section 20 of Dayton township, where he died Christ- mas, 1874. His wife, Louisa Williams, à native of York State, is still living. She has five children-Lafayette, Clarissa, Sylvester, Roxanna and Martin. She lost two children. Lafayette was born in Illi- nois, in 1836. He married Jane Burrass, who came to this county with her adopted father, Levi Burrass., Mr. and Mrs. Bragg have four children-Alma, Mary. A., Clara and Martin L. Their farm contains 240 acres.

David Ackerman resides on section 28. He bought his farm of 109 acres of Delany

McKane, who entered the farm from gov- ernment land. Mr. Ackerman is a native of New York State, born in 1822. His par- ents were David and Susanna Ackerman. His father was a native of New York State. His mother was born in Connecti- cut. They resided in Otsego county until their death. When twenty-five years of age Mr. Ackerman went to Wisconsin and took up land in the town of Rubicon, Dodge county, where he lived for nineteen years; coming to Butler county, November 3, 1866, he purchased his present farm the following spring. His wife was Lucy J. Fairchild, a native of the same county. They have six children-Jane, wife of John Favor, residing in California; Wesley A., Charles D., Lillie A., Byron D. and Mary C. Mr. Ackerman's farm contains 320 acres.

Stephen Fitzgerald resides on section 11. His father, Michael Fitzgerald, was born in Ireland, and came to the United States when twenty years of age, settling in Ontario county, New York. He after- wards removed to Greene county, Wiscon- sin, being one of the early settlers of that county. In 1867, he came to Butler county, and bought a farm of Mr. Davis on section 11 in Dayton township. In 1874 he sold his farm and moved to Waverly. Mr. Stephen Fitzgerald purchased his place in 1872, of A. Lloyd, who bought of J. J. Wagonseller. The parents of Mr. Fitzger- ald had ten children, three sons and seven daughters. Stephen is the only one living in this county. He was born in Canan- daigua, Ontario county, New York, in 1846. He married Elizabeth Ashlan, daughter of Lewis and Margaret Ashlan, who settled in McGregor from the State of New York,

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

585

about 1855, and are now living in Clarks- ville. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald have three children-Ellen, Lillie M. and Nina.

Joseph Packard purchased his farm on section 22 in 1867. Mr. Packard was born in Wayne county, New York, in 1833. He removed to Michigan with his father, Ira Packard, who died in Lenawee county, that State. Mr. Joseph Packard came to Butler county in 1867. His wife was Helen N. Eddy, daughter of H. S. Eddy. They have two children, Ernest and Rn- luff. Their farm contains eighty acres.

Milton R. Root resides on section 22. He is the son of Ruluff Root, of Clarks- ville, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere. Milton R. was born in Her- kimer county, New York, in 1857; came to Iowa with his parents, who settled in Clarksville. Mr. Root, Sr., resided on the farm, where his son now lives, for several years. It is one of the largest farms in the county, containing 1100 acres. Mr. Root is largely engaged in stock raising. His wife was Mary B. Walker, who died Juue 13, 1882, leaving one daughter, Fannie.

William W. R. Shafer resides on sec- tion 36. His father, Thomas Shafer, pur- chased the farm of Mr. Gould. Mr. Shafer was born in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1846. He came to Iowa with his father, who now lives in Clarksville. W. W. R. purchased his farm, which contains 160 acres, of his father. His wife was Miss L. J. Clemmer, born in Greene county, Wisconsin, in 1848. Her father, Dr. J. N. Clemmer, is still a resident of Greene county. Mr. and Mrs Shafer have six children-Lena L. L., Nettie A., Joseph T., Mary A., George C. and Fred.

George Mason resides on section 16, where he settled in the spring of 1869. He bought his farm of W. H. Bettinger. Mr. Mason was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, September, 1833. When twenty-one years of age he removed to Ohio. His parents, John and Mary Ann (Miller) Mason resided in Rockingham county till their death. Mr. Mason went to Henry county, Indiana, where he en- listed in 1862 in the 84th Regiment Indi- ana volunteer infantry, and served till the close of the war. He participated in the battle of Chickamauga, was at Chattanooga, &c. During the latter part of the war was on detached service. He has been a resident of this township since !865. He has been married twice. His first wife was Francis Rife. She died here Feb- uary, 1874. His present wife was Mrs. Joanna Trimblin. Her maiden name was Flusher. He has six children by first wife. Mrs. Mason has four children by her for- mer husband. Their farm contains eighty acres.

W. H. Price resides on section 7, and has owned his farm since 1870. He is a native of London, England, where he was born in 1837, coming to the United States with his parents when but a child, and re- sided in New York City, where his father was in business for many years. Mr. Price came to Butler county in April, 1856, and entered into the mercantile business in Clarksville in 1858, where he continued until 1877, when he settled on his farm of 400 acres.

Julius Temple resides on section 20. He purchased his farm of D. and M. V. Bragg in 1871. He was born in Heath, Frank- lin county, Massachusetts, in 1844. His

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

father, John Temple, died in Massachusetts when Julius was a boy. Mr. Temple came to Waterloo, Black Hawk county, in 1858, with his step-father, James Maxwell. He served six months in the army as a mem- ber of the 41st regiment of Wisconsin infantry. After the war he returned to Black Hawk county, from thence removed here. He married Miss B. Minor, daugh- ter of John Minor. They have two chil- dren, Jessie and John. Mr. Temple's farm contains 120 acres.

Frederick Morrill resides on section 8. He bought his farm of John Dexter, who, being the first settler, made all the im- provements. Mr. Morrill was born in Sebec, Piscataquis county, Maine, in May, 1818. His parents were John and Liberty (Lyford) Morrill. His wife was formerly Miss Diana Lyford, a native of Sebec. Her parents were James G. and Huldah (Spaulding) Lyford. Mr. Morrill came to Floyd county in March, 1873, and settled here the following June. Mr. and Mrs. Morrill have five children-Edwin, Emma M., now Mrs. Harmon Douglass; Minnie, now Mrs. Jacob Montgomery; Frederick, jr., and William H. S.

William H. Lyford came here from Maine, in 1874, and settled on section 6. He is a native of Maine, born in 1831. His wife was Hannah Gould, a native of the same State. Her father settled in Alamakee county, this State, in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Lyford have four children - Charles W., Hiram G., Cora and Alına. He was the first settler on his farm, and now has 160 acres.

Henry Wamsley resides on section 20. He bought his farm of Martin V. Bragg, in the fall of 1874. The farm was first

settled by Douglas Bragg, father of Martin V. Mr. Wamsley has 120 acres. His father, M. B. Wamsley, was an early set- tler of Butler township; his biography will appear in the history of that township. Mr. Wamsley was born in Ohio, in 1849. Mrs. Wamsley was formerly Miss Ida Hicks, a daughter of John Hicks, of Clarksville. Mr. and Mrs. Wamsley have one daughter-Myrtle.

James W. Williams resides on section 5. He purchased his farm in 1877, of Wm. N. Gaines. Mr. Williams was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1829, and lived many years in Cataraugus county in that State. His father was a native of Wales. Mr. Williams settled in Delaware, Iowa, in 1853, where he lived until coming to Butler county in 1877. His wife was Flora Bush, a native of Chautauqua county, New York. They have three children- Charles H., Anna and Daisy-all born in Delaware county. Mr. Williams' farm contains 240 acres, on which he has made all the improvements.

Jarvis E. Ferguson resides on section 22, which he purchased of J. Perrin in the spring of 1878. A part of his farm was first settled by Z. H. Eddy. Mr. Fergu- son was born in Lenawee county, Michi- gan, in 1837. His father, Joseph F. Ferguson, was a native of Wayne county, New York, and emigrated to Michigan in 1832. Mr. Ferguson first came to Dayton township in 1864, where he resided but two years when he returned to Michigan. In the spring of 1873 he came again to Iowa, and located in Union township, Floyd county, settling in Dayton township in 1878. His farm contains 80 acres. Mrs. Ferguson was formerly Miss Josephine

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

587

Mason, daughter of Austin Mason, a native of the State of New York, but an early settler of Michigan.

Charles Ramsy resides on section 15. He bought his farm of Levi Parker in 1880. Mr. Ramsy has been a resident of Butler county since November 3, 1864, and of this township since 1869. He is a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born in

1836. When fourteen years of age he removed to southern Ohio with his parents. He has been a resident of Iowa since 1857. His wife was Margaret J. Gabby, a native of Pennsylvania. They have six children Janette, Agnes, William, John, Charles and Arthur. They lost two children. Mr. Ramsy has 40 acres of land.

CHAPTER XXIV.

FREMONT TOWNSHIP.

The township bearing this name is in the northeastern corner; its east line join- ing Bremer county; and its north, Floyd county; with Butler township on the south, and Dayton on the west. It comprises township 93, range 15. The soil is rather a sandy loam, and in about one-half of the township is underlaid with a strata of lime- stone. Those who are familiar with this kind of land know its worth for cereal products. The only timber of natural growth in the township is a five acre tract in the northwestern part. But a large amount has been planted by the enterpris- ing farmers, and is now in thrifty growth. The land is rather rolling, but there is a valley extending from northeast to southeast which is appropriately known as Pleasant Valley. No more beautiful and productive land can be found in the

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 67

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