History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 73

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 73
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 73

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).

He had been but a short time on section two when a native of the same State made his appearance and located on the north- west quarter of section one. This was Daniel Peterson. He remained here until 1858, when he sold out and went to Mis- souri. He is now living in Kansas.

Another prominent settler of 1855, was Peter McMahon, a native of Ireland, but had been living in Pennsylvania a number of years. In 1855 he started with his fam- ily, by team, for the far west. At Cleve- land he took the cars for Chicago, arriv- ing there they again took to their teams, forcing their way through the great waste of Illinois and on with their tedious jour- ney through the eastern part of Iowa, to the valley of the Cedar and the Shellrock rivers. When near Butler Center they stopped and asked to be kept over night,

but were told that they could not be ac- commodated. Mrs. Nathan Lynn chanced to be there at tlie time and told them to move on as they (Lynn's) often kept land seekers. Pushing onward they arrived at Lynn's; there they found a little log house without a floor, the front of which was chinked with chips. In the absence of a door a blanket was hung up to keep out the wolves. Here they were made hearti- ly welcome. Mr. McMahon then made a claim on section four, and rented a cabin in Butler Centre, where they lived until he was able to erect one for himself. This was soon completed and he commenced the improvement of the farm which they still occupy, living in a neat frame house erected a few years since.

Two others who arrived in 1855, were Lycurgus P. Hazen and Recellus R. Horr, both natives of "good old York State." Hazen claimed the southwest quarter of section 24, and sold one-half of it to Horr, who was yet too young to make a land en- try. Hazen was a school teacher and sur- veyor. He was married in March, 1857, to Miss Sarah J. Quinn. In 1858 he re- moved to Kansas. He is now county sur- veyor of Brown county, that State. Horr lived upon his farm until 1881, when he removed to Parkersburg, where he now lives. He still owns the land bought of Hazen and has purchased adjoining land.

Wells A. Curtis, a native of Ohio, was another of the pioneers of '55. He laid claim to a tract of 160 acres on section 25. In the fall of 1881 he went to Colorado, and is still there.

Joseph Embody came the same year (1855) and planted his stakes around a farm on section 3. He remained but a

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

few years. He is now living in Montana Territory.

Just about this time quite a party put in an appearance, which broke up the mo- notony of early settlement. This com- pany consisted of Thomas Conn, an Irish- man, with his three sons-Joseph, Moses , and Samuel-together with Joseph, Will- iam and Alexander Hopley. They stopped for a time in Delaware county, where they left their families while they came on to Butler county in quest of land. Thomas Conn made a claim on the southeastern quarter of section 1, but soon sold to his son Joseph, with whom he made his home until the time of his death. Joseph still occupies the now well-improved farm. Moses made a claim, but it had been pre- viously entered. He is now living south of Aplington. Sam took his claim. of gov- ernment domain from section 12. The Hopleys, Joseph and William, made claims on sections 2 and 3. Samuel Conn did not settle upon his place, but traded for an improved farm near New Hartford. He now lives in Jefferson. They all spent the winter in Delaware county, moving to their claims in the spring. Joseph Hop- ley is still living on section 2. In 1866 William removed from section 3, and is now living in DesMoines.

Still another is remembered as having made his ingress into Monroe in 1855. This was Montford S. Wightman, a native of New York State. He made a claim on sections 25 and 26, going to DesMoines to enter it, and made the trip from Cedar Falls to that place on foot. He then re- turned to New York and spent the win- ter. In the spring of 1856, with his fam- ily, he moved to his wild prairie home.

He has erected a good set of buildings on section 26, his present home.

At about the same time, in 1855, James Gillard, a native of England, made a claim on section 14. In 1874 he moved to Rock county, Minnesota, where he is yet living.

Benjamin Inman was a prominent ar- rival of 1856. He settled on section 36, where he lived for a number of years; he is still a resident of the county.

Samuel Gillard came also in 1856; he made himself at home on section 23. In 1873 he removed to Kansas.

In 1857, W. H. Bebee made his appear- ance. He was a native of New York State, but came here from Polo, Illinois; a blacksmith by trade; he has since tilled the soil and followed his trade. He is now living in Aplington.

There were many other arrivals this and subsequent years, but the above is sufficient to show the class that inaugura- ted civilization in Monroe.

A biography of Peter McMahon, who is still living in the township, is here pre- sented:

Peter McMahon, one of the pioneers of Butler county, was born in Ireland, June 29, 1823. In 1840 he left his native land for America. On landing at New York, he engaged in a livery stable on Brower street. In 1841 he moved to Pennsyl- vania, and was there employed on the Reading Railroad four years, when he went to the north branch of the Susque- hanna Canal, where he worked that fol- lowing winter. He was then engaged in farming in Schuylkill county a few months, when he moved to Canada, where he was employed in a quarry,'getting out stone for the Welland Canal. He soon returned to

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Pennsylvania, and there worked on the Erie Canal. On September 22, 1845, he married Miss Hannah Gillespie, a native of Allegheny county. That same year he bought a farm in Pamatoning township, where they lived until 1855, when they started west to seek a home. They came to Butler county, Iowa, taking government land on section 4, township 90, north range 17, west, now known as Monroe township. He there built a log house. In 1866 he built another of logs, and, in 1875, attached a large frame house to them. They have had fifteen children, ten of whom are now living-John S., Mary A., Thomas F., Peter F., Francis G., Edward, Joseph, Margaret, Stephen E., and Andrew P. Mr. McMahon is generally called Uncle Peter. He was the first treasurer of the school board.

J. H. Kerns, an early settler in the township, was born in Schenectady county, New York, June. 1, 1831. In 1843 his parents moved to McHenry county, Illi- nois, where he received his education in the district school. At the age of twenty- one he removed to Elgin, and was there employed in a livery stable three years. In October, 1855, he came west, and through the winter engaged in a livery stable at Cedar Falls. In the spring, with a team, he took the engineer of the Dubuque & Pacific Railroad the length of the State, on the proposed route to Sioux City. At that time there was but four houses and one tent there. On his return he engaged with the Western Stage Co. to drive on the route between Dubuque and Ft. Dodge. He continued with them six years. In 1862, he went to Wisconsin to visit his mother, and there enlisted on the 5th of Sep-

tember, 1862, in the Thirty-first Wisconsin, Company B. They joined Sherman at Mari- etta, Georgia, and were present at the Siege of Atlanta. He was taken sick at Stone Mountain, Georgia, and sent to the hospital at Jeffersonville, Indiana. He re-joined the army at Fayetteville, N. C., and was with the regiment until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged, July 6, 1865. He returned to Iowa and engaged in farm- ing in Grundy and Osceola counties until 1876, when he moved to Aplington, where, in September, 1882, he bought the Quinn Hotel property, his present home. He married in 1862, Miss Julia Bisbee, of York State. They have two children- Mary C. and Ella M.

PERSONAL HISTORY.

It can be said that a work of this kind would be incomplete without giving in detail the geneology and the personal trials and disadvantages under which some of the now prominent citizens of the town- ship labored. This matter will be found of much interest, not only to the relatives, but also to all who are acquainted with the subjects of the various sketches. It is to be regretted that space forbids dealing with every citizen of the township in a like manner.

Thomas Nash, one of the early settlers of Monroe township, was born in Ohio, May 7, 1815, and died in Monroe township, May 1, 1865. He was brought up on a farm. When a young man he moved to Illinois, and there lived in Warren and Henderson counties. There he enlisted and served three months in the Black Hawk war. In 1834 he returned to Ohio, and there, on March 5, married Miss Isa-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

belle Booth. They made their home in Greene county until 1847, when they moved to Illinois, where he bought a farm in Henderson county. In 1854 he came to Iowa, selecting a claim in Monroe town- ship, and brought his family in the spring of 1855. In 1858 he returned to Illinois, remaining there until 1861, when he came again to Iowa and occupied his farm on section 20 until the time of his death. His widow is still living on the old home- stead. They had fifteen children, seven of whom are now living. Mr. Nash was long connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, had always been a consistent member, and personally identified with its interests. He held the position of class leader continually during his residence in Iowa, and held the same position many years while a resident of. Illinois.

Rollin P. Mead was born in Franklin county, Vermont, April 3, 1837, where he received his education in the district school. When nineteen years of age he visited Illinois, and there worked at farm- ing one year, when he returned to Ver- mont. In 1861 he came to Beaver Grove, Iowa. September 20, 1862, he enlisted in the Thirty-second Iowa, Company E, go- ing to New Madrid, thence to Fort Pillow, then to Vicksburg, where they joined Sherman's command, and was with him on his Meridian raid. They joined Smith's command at Columbus, and was with the Red River expedition, under Banks. Mr. Mead was wounded in the arm at the bat- tle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 3, 1864. He walked one and one-half miles, to the hospital, where his arm was ampu- tated that evening. He arose early the next morning; on being told that the

army was going to retreat, he started on foot with them, rather than be left in the hands of the enemy. After walking about two hours, he secured a ride on the cassion of a battery, and afterwards in an amuni- tion wagon. He entered the hospital at New Orleans and remained there three weeks, when he was transferred to Mem- phis, and was there honorably discharged, September, 1864, and then returned to Iowa, living for some months with his brother, in Monroe. He married, Febru- ary 26, 1866, Miss Selinda Goodsell, and the same year moved to section 8, where he had previously bought land. He made his home there until 1882, when he traded for land on section 20, at the same time buying his present farm on section 17, and now has about 280 acres of land. Mrs. Mead was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Wyoming county, December 21, 1848; died in Monroe township, January, 1871. He married his second wife, Miss Fannie E. Goodsell, sister to his first wife, No- vember 11, 1873. They have two chil- dren-Herbert A., and Mary A.

Joseph Linn was born in Franklin coun- ty, Penn., July 28, 1834. He received his education at a district school, three miles from the farm. He was married in 1856 to Miss Mary Mogart. They went to St. Louis by water then took a wagon for Springfield, Ill., where they arrived with just sixty-five cents. He there found em- ployment farming. His wife died there in 1859, aged 20 years and 5 months. His second wife was Miss Rachel Linn, whom he married February 26, 1861. In April, 1861, he enlisted at the first call for troops in the Forty-first Illinois, Company I, and participated in the battle of Fort Donel-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

son. Soon after that he was sent back on account of disability and was appointed Provost Marshal at Camp Butler, and serv- ed until Jan. 1, 1864, when he started for Iowa overland, taking his stock with him; he was thirteen days on the way. He lo- cated on section 1, Monroe township. In 1874 he bought the northwest quarter of section 2. In 1877 he built his present home. His first wife had two children, the first-Martha Ellen-died in infancy. Andrew J. died August 26, 1878, in his nineteenth year. His present wife has been the mother of eight children, four of them are now living-Florence M., Mabel Edith., Joseph J. and Mary E.

William Wright, the son of an English soldier, was born in Woolege Barracks, County Kent, England, December 7, 1815. The spring after the battle of Waterloo his father was honorably discharged from the army and settled at Golspey. William Wright married Miss Elizabeth Dring in 1844, and soon after engaged as a shep- herd. In 1855 he emigrated to America. On arriving at New York he went to Som- erset Corners and there worked at farming one year, when he came to Iowa and rented land in Dubuque county. In 1865 le came to Butler county and purchased land in Monroe township, where he en- gaged in raising grain and stock. Here he set out an apple orchard, which is now in good bearing condition. In 1876 he bought land in Ripley, and now has nearly 400 acres. His first wife died in 1864, aged forty years. She was the mother of eight children. His second wife, to whom he was married June 24, 1868, was Mrs. Susan Petheran, daughter of John Con- nell, one of the early settlers of Butler

county. In 1870 Mr. Wright bought ten acres of land and made it an addition to Parkersburg.

Alvinzi Straight was born in Delaware county, New York, August 10, 1821. When quite young his parents moved to Chenango county, then to Broome county, where they lived until he was fourteen years old, when they moved to Allegany county. On October 19, 1842, he married Miss Rosila Bryant, a native of Chemung county, New York. In 1843 he bought a farm in Allegany county, in the town now known as Alma, where they lived until 1865, when he sold and came to But- ler county, Iowa, and bought a farm on section 2, Monroe township, his present home. In the winter of 1882-3 he built a large frame house. They have six chil- dren-Wallace R., Willard F., Waldo M., Betsy K., Wesley A. and Warren S. Wil- lard F. enlisted, October 5, 1862, in Com- pany HI, One Hundred and Sixtieth New York Regiment, and was killed on Banks' Red River expedition, in April, 1863, when but eighteen years of age. Warren died October 5, 1859, aged four years, and Waldo died in April, 1862, aged thirteen years.

A. C. Warner was born in Strafford, Vermont, May 30, 1824. He was the son of a merchant tailor. He attended school until he was seventeen years of age, when he went to York State and engaged as clerk in a large general store in Clinton- ville, remaining one year when he returned to Vermont and attended school another year. In 1843, he started west and stopped for awhile in Kane county, Ill., where he was engaged for a short time as clerk in a store, after which he worked at farming. In

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

1845, he went to JoDaviess county, where in company with his brother, he bought an improved claim and built a large frame house. A year later he was joined by his parents. He married June 29, 1848, Miss Mary Hannah Welty, who was born at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In 1852, he moved to Nora, a town about three miles distant from his farm, and there engaged as carpenter and joiner. He bought town property and built an octagon brick house, lving there until 1868. In 1867, he came to Aplington, where he worked at his trade through the summer; in the fall he returned to Illinois. In the spring of 1868, he sold his property in Nora and moved to Apling- ton, where he lived a year. In the mean- time he built his present house on section 10, on land which he had previously bought. He has improved the land, and has a fine orchard of about 300 trees. He is the father of seven children-Francis H., George A., Eunice Kate, Goodrich W., Effie J., Mahlon W. and Bessie M. Mr. Warner has a twin brother named Good- rich, now living at Nora, Illinois.

C. H. Hill settled in Monroe township in 1868. He was married that year, to Miss S. J. Brown, of Wisconsin. They have had six children, two of them are living-Frank H., and Mary J. They lost two children from that dread disease, diphtheria-Minnie, who was born Febru- ary 8, 1872, died November 27, 1881, and Edwin, who was born March 1, 1874, died two days later; two other children died in infancy. Mr. Hill was born in Washing- ton county, Vermont, June 15, 1837. At twenty years of age he started out to see the world. He first went to Wisconsin, and worked at farming in Columbia county

two years. In 1861 he went to the Rocky Mountains, where he engaged in freight- ing two years. He then started traveling with fast horses, visiting the horse fairs in different States, until he settled in Monroe township, and bought his present farm on section 17. In 1868 he built his fine resi- dence. He still retains his love for good horses, and has now two fine stock horses.

Michael Nugent was born in Ireland, in 1832, and made his home there until 1852, when he started for America. , He engaged in railroading in Marathon, Courtland county, New York, a few months, then engaged on the Erie Canal, in Medina county. In 1853 he came to Iowa, and en- gaged with the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad. In the fall of that year he went. to Memphis, working that winter on the levees. In the spring he returned to Du- buque, and there married Miss Kate Flan- nigan. In the fall they went south, remain- ing there during the war. In 1864 they returned to Iowa, where he worked on the railroad at Waterloo. In 1866 he en- gaged to work for the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and came to Butler county. He was in their employ constantly until 1880. The first two years he lived at Parkersburg, then moved to Aplington. In 1877 he bought a farm on section 28. In 1879 the family moved on to the farm. In 1882 he built his present frame house. They have had nine children, seven of whom are now living-John, Thomas, Bridget, Patrick, Michael, Margaret and Mary. Catherine E. died. in infancy. Honora died, with diphtheria, February 2, 1882, aged five years, four months and twenty-six days.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Michael Logan is a native of Canada, born in Montreal, January 1, 1846. When quite young his parents moved to New York, settled near Buffalo, and engaged in farming, living there until 1860, when they moved to Stephenson county, Illinois. In 1863 Michael went to Pennsylvania, living in the oil regions about a year, when he returned to Illinois. In 1865 he came to Iowa and spent a few months, then went to St. Louis and spent the winter, return- ing to Illinois in the spring. In 1869 he returned to Iowa, and bought land on sec- tion 2, Monroe township. He has improved the land, and in 1880 he built his large frame house. He married, April 17, 1867, Miss Kate Dailey, of Stephenson county, Illinois. They have had eight children, seven of whom are now living-John H., Edward P., Bernard, Agnes E., Frank T., Annie E., and Eliza A.

Charles Caul is a native of New York, born in Jefferson county, August 28, 1837. He received his education in the district schools. When twenty years of age he went from home, and engaged in farming, working for one man, in the town of Ant- werp, eight years. He married, December 28, 1861, Miss Sarah Wells; after that he rented a farm. In 1869 he came to Iowa, and bought a quarter of section 34, in Mon- roe township, a part of which had been improved. There was a log house on the place, where he lived until 1877, when he built his frame house. He has set out a large number of sliade and ornamental trees, and now has one of the most tasty farm residences in the county. Mr. Caul has two children-Archile W., and Charles Emery. He has taken a lively interest in township affairs, has filled offices of trust

in the town, and is a member of the pres- ent board of trustees.

James Brook is a native of England, born in Kent county, September 25, 1828. When eighteen years of age he went to London and engaged to learn the trade of plasterer and stone mason. He worked there ten years, then came to the United States, first living at Mansfield, Ohio, one year; he then went to Foreston, Illinois, where he lived until 1870, working all the time at his trade. In February of that year he came to Iowa, and settled in the township of Monroe, Butler county, where he had bought land the fall before. He there built his present house. He has since worked at his trade in this vicinity, the most of the time in Parkersburg, while. his sons have carried on his farm. He was married in 1852 to Miss Frances Ward. They have three children-Helen, Charles, and Jesse.

Henry Dreyer was born in Germany, . October 19, 1852, where he received his education. In 1865 he came, with his pa- rents to America, and settled in Stephenson county, Illinois, where he engaged in farm- ing. In 1869, he and his brother started with three teams, overland, for Grundy .. county, Iowa, where his father had bought .. land. They broke several acres, and re- turned to Illinois. In the fall of that year the family moved to Grundy county. In 1874 he entered Monee College, in Will county, Illinois, attending two years, whenl he received a certificate as teacher, and engaged teaching in the schools of Grundy county. In 1877 he came to Aplington, and engaged as clerk in G. B. White's store; was with him until 1879, when he engaged in the lumber and grain business,

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

in company with Robert Wright, and con- tinued with him one year. In 1880 the firm of H. Reints & Company was formed, Mr. Dreyer being one of the firm.

Edward Owens was born in Ddohhydefed Mills, Montgomery county, Parish Lanver, township Hennaith in Wales, January 13, 1776. He succeeded his father in the management of the mills, and lived there until 1834, when he emigrated to America, settling in Pike township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he bought a farm. He died there September, 1861. His son, John E., was born in the same building as his father, on December 19, 1827; and was but seven years of age when his father emigrated to America. He attended school until seventeen years of age, when he engaged with his uncle, John Morris, to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner, serving three years. He then entered the office of Upjohn, the architect, in New York City, and was with him three years. He then made a contract with the Erie Railroad Company to build bridges. In 1854, he built the Catholic Church at Penn Yan, New York. In the fall of that year he built the Baptist Church at Elmira; also .the Brainard House. In the spring of 1855, he. made a contract with. the Delaware & Lackawana Railroad Company to build bridges. In the fall of that year, in company with two other men, he made a contract to build three churches in Scran- ton, Pennsylvania, and one at Wilkes Barre. He married, in 1856, Miss Anna Eliza Morgan. In July of that year he came to Dubuque, and with his brother engaged as architects and builders. In 1857, he engaged with the government in the con- struction of the custom house. In 1858,

he engaged in mining five miles northwest of Dubuque. That year he struck what is well known as the Owens Lead, which yielded over a million pounds of ore. During the war he went to Cedar Falls and engaged in the livery business, buying horses for the government. In 1863 he went to Wisconsin and bought 3,000 sheep, which he brought to Iowa and sold among the farmers; some of which he sold in But- ler county. In 1865 he came to Monroe township and bought a farm on section 26. He engaged in building bridges in Butler, Hardin and other counties, in payment of which he took indemnity scrip. Mr. Owens is at present engaged in farming, stock raising and dealing in real estate. He has four children - Hazel C., Robert Dale, Etta L. and Ann Eliza.

Ottze Otthoff came to Monroe township from Grundy county in 1872. He was born in Germany, August 28, 1845. He attended school until he was fourteen, when he engaged in farming. In 1869 he left his native land for America, settling in Grundy county. In 1872 he came to Monroe township, where he bought wild land on section 6. He has improved the land, and in 1874 built his present house. In 1874 he married Miss Gesine Janssen. They have four children-John, Henry, Louis and Ottze.

P. Nichlaus came to Butler county in 1874. He was born in Germany, March 15, 1831, and in 1856 emigrated to Amer- ica. He first settled near Galena, Illinois, where he rented land, and from there came to Monroe, Butler county, buying land on section 10. He now has one of the largest farms in the township. He was married

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History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa, Part 73

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