History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history, Part 64

Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 918

USA > Iowa > Cass County > History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history > Part 64

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Joseph Stevens is a native of Derby- shire, England, and was born on the 9th of December, 1840. At the age of fifteen years he began to learn the machinist trade, and was so engaged until twenty- one years of age, when he went to Shef. field and located in that place until 1870, when he came to America and has since made this his home. Mr. Ste- vens was united in marriage in New Mills, in December, 1866, to Elizabeth Morton. Directly on reaching the shores of the New World, they came to Cass county, and located in Cass township, where he now owns 1472 acres of the finest farm land in the county, and is raising some of the finer qualities of stock. He is a man

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IIISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

of more than ordinary ability and should each and every farmer, have his business under as good management, and be pro- gressive and trustful citizens as our sub- ject, our country would be much more wealthy than at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have four children : Ernest J.B., Katie E., Beatrice M. and George A.

William S. Snell was born October 28, 1825, in Plymouth county, Massachusetts, and is a lineal descendant of one of the " Pilgrim Fathers." His father, Ansel Snell, owned a farm, but was by trade a carpenter and joiner. William S. was brought up on the farm, and at the age of sixteen years, learned the trade of shoe- making, at which he worked until he came west. He was married in Massachusetts, in 1850, to Miss Parthenia C. Sherman, a native of Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts. In 1859 they went to Lee county, Illinois, where he opened a shoe shop at Franklin Grove, and remained till 1870. In that year they came to Cass county. Mr. Snell purchased one hun- dred and five acres of land on section 35, Washington township. This he improved and lived upon two or three years. He then sold bis farm. Since then he has lived a portion of the time in Lewis, and for four or five years kept hotel and board- ing-house in the old town. In the spring of 1882 he moved to the place where he resides. It contains forty-six acres, ad- joining the town plat on the north, and also town lots. Mr. and Mrs. Snell, have three children: Francis F., a resident of Michigan ; Frederick W., also in that State, and Addie May, living with her parents.

Hiram Smith was a native of Virginia,

having been born there on the 14th of January, 1805. IIe moved to Vermilion county, Illinois, at an early age, and was there married in December, 1832, to Miss Naomi Dillon. In 1855, Mr. Smith and wife came from Vermilion county, Illinois, to Cass county, Iowa, and were among the early settlers. Like all pioneers, their work was hard, and many a day of bard labor was performed before the ground was cultivated, and the land became im- proved so as to plant groves and orchards. He was taken from his loved ones in 1858, and his widow now resides on the homestead, where they settled in Novem- ber, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had nine children-Levi, died in 1878; Hannah, wife of Fred Muherter; James D., a resi- dent of Atlantic; Luke, William H., Abigail, married Samuel Wilson; Reuben, resident of Griswold; Oliver and Henry. Mr. Smith was a prominent man, and was honored with the office of justice of the peace, and held that position several. years.

Henry C. Smith, a son of the above de- ceased, was born some time after his par- ents came to Cass county, his birth occur- ring in November, 1857, and has always made his home with his parents until three or four years ago, when he went away, but soon returned to the old folks. Since his father's death, he has looked after the welfare of his mother, who is now growing quite old Henry was united in marriage on the Ist of May, 1880, with Miss Soplironia E. Pierson, a daughter of Granville and Elizabeth Pierson, of Potta- wattamie county. They have been blessed with one child-Ira O., born in 1880, and died on the 28th of December, 1881.

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

William R. Perkins was born in Bu- reau county, Illinois, on the 29th of Janu- ary, 1850, being the son . of Elijah and Rachel Perkins. He was married in Illi- nois, in August, 1869, to Miss Maggie Thompson, a native of that State. In the fall of their marriage, William moved to Wright county, Minnesota, in company. with his parents. Both families rented farms and there lived about two years, when they came to Cass county, Iowa,and purchased one hundred acres of land on section 12. William occupies this farm, and is now one of the prosperous and suc- cessful farmers of the township. He is raising a fine stock of cattle, and is known as a fine stock breeder. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have five children living-Mary, Alice, John, Ellis and Minnie. William's father now resides in the township, on two hundred acres of cultivated land on section 12. There were five children in that family, named-Maggie, wife of H. O. Samson, of this township; David, a resident of Lewis; Emma, wife of Albert Allen, and Frank.

T. J. Hoose is a native of Wyoming county, New York, and was born on the 5th of June, 1846, and is the son of Peter and Marion (Simmons) Hoose. When eight years of age Jefferson came west with his parents, and settled in La Salle county, Illinois, where his father die.1, and his mother is now living in Lewis, with a daughter. T. J. came to Cass county in 1871, and located on section 24, Cass township, where he owns eighty acres of as fine land as can be found in the county. ! Mr. Hoose was married on the 12th of April, 1877, to Miss Mary Keys, a daugh- ' 1883. ter of James and Bridget Keys, and a

native of Pike county, Illinois. Her par- ents came to this county in 1871, where her father died in the winter of 1883-4, while her mother still resides in Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Hoose have been blessed with three children-Edward, born in 1879; Mary, on February 22, 1881, and Arthur, born on August 19, 1884.

Edward Johnson, son of Henry and Bashaba Johnson, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, on the 23d of December, 1852. In November, 1858, his parents came to Iowa, and located in Clark coun- ty, where his father died in 1867. Ed- ward being the eldest of the children, was looked upon as the support of the family. He went to Page county, Iowa, in 1868, and there did farm work for nearly one year, thence to Red Oak, and was there engaged in the same occupation. He remained there about four years, when he came to Cass county, and worked for himself. He purchased a team and began breaking the prairie and threshing his grain. He was married on the 9th of November, 1876, to Miss Amanda, dangh- ter of W. W. Haworth. She was born in Cass township, this county, in October, 1859. Mr. Johnson bought eighty acres of land on section 29, and resided there two years, when he exchanged with J. S. Ilaworth, for two hundred and eighty-two acres on sections 16 and 17. IIis farm is one of the finest in the township, and it is greatly owing to Mr. Johnson's intelli- gence and good management. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have three children-For- est, born in 1878; William, born in, November, 1880, and Lillie M., born in

John W. Scott, son of James and Polly

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Scott, was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, April 6, 1837. His parents were among the earliest settlers of that county. His father made a farm in Linn, now Ber- tram township, where he still resides. His wife died there in 1846. John W. Scott was married September 7, 1865, to Miss Eliza Ann Oxley, a native of the same county, born April 30, 1845. Her parents are Perry and Catherine Oxley, the form- er, born in Fayette county, Kentucky, January 21, 1815, and the latter in Knox county, Indiana, in 1821. They now re- side in Linn county, Iowa, where they settled in March, 1838. They were among the earliest pioneers of that coun- ty. John W. Scott settled at the time of his marriage, on a part of the homestead where he remained till March, 1882, when he became a resident of Cass coun- ty, purchasing then, the farm on which he now lives. It is located on section 11, of Cass township and contains eighty acres. He bought the same of L. K. An- drews. It was well improved at the time of his purchase. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have three children-Olive C., born May 30, 1867; Perry C., born August 22, 1869, and Jennie C., born September 7, 1875. Mr. Scott enlisted August 20, 1862, in the Thirty-first Iowa Infantry, company A., and was mustered out as sergeant. He participated in all the battles of his regi- ment.

George H. Stevens, son of Jacob Stev- ens, was born in Canada, November 6, 1835. When he was twelve years old his parents settled in Dodge county, Wiscon- sin, where he remained till 1858, then went to Nebraska and engaged in farm- ing till the war broke ont. August 20,

1861, he enlisted in company A, of the Seventh Kansas Cavalry. The first en- gagement in which he participated was at Bruce Springs, Missouri. He was in the battle of Corinth, the siege of Vicksburg, and the battle of Holly Springs and Iuka. Up to the date of his enlistment as a vet- eran, he had taken part in forty-seven battles and skirmishes. After that time he was in all of the engagements of his regiment, the last being the battle of Tupelo. Ile was a gallant soldier and al- ways at the post of duty. He was honor- ably discharged September 29, 1865, and returned to Richardson county, Nebraska, where he remained till 1874. He then came to Cass township, Cass county, Iowa, his father having previously settled here. About two years afterwards, he, in part- nership with his brothers, Jacob B. and Daniel Stevens, purchased the Iranistan mill, which they now operate. Jacob Stevens, of the firm of Stevens Bros, was born in Canada, in 1847, and came with his father's family to this coun- ty. He now lives at Iranistan, with his brothers. George H., Daniel and John, all of whom are unmarried. Daniel Stevens was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, in 1849, and came to Cass county with the family. After attaining his majority he went to Richardson county, Nebraska, thence to Table Rock, Pawnee county, of the same State, where he learned the trade of millwright. He returned to Cass county and was employed as a builder, in Lewis, working upon the construction of some of the best buildings in that town. He is now one of the firm of Stevens Bros. John Stevens was born in Canada, January 28, 1842. He came to Cass county

A. M. Wakefield

Mrs Ida Wakefield.

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

with his father, with whom he lived until twenty-one years of age. He is now engaged in farming in Cass township, owning a farm of eighty acres in section 25. He is also unmarried, and makes his home with his brothers at Iranistan. Another brother, William Stevens, was born in Canada, in 1837. He left home while his parents were living in Wiscon- sin, and went to Richardson county, Nebraska. He enlisted at the same time, with his brother, George II., and in the same company. He died at Kansas City in the fall of 1862. James, another brother, born in Canada, enlisted in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and died while in the service. Peter Stevens was born in Can- ada, in 1840. Ile left his home in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and went to Richard- son county, Nebraska, and later to Pawnee county of the same State, where he still resides. He has a large family. Ile served one year as a member of the Second Nebraska Cavalry doing duty upon the frontier.

Jacob Stevens was born in Herkimer county, New York, in the town of Fair- field, on the 4th day of January, 1814, of German parentage. Ilis father was born in the Duchy of Ifolstein, in Germany, and came to this country about a century ago. He was a shoemaker by occupation. He died three months before Jacob was born, leaving his wife a widow and very poor. with seven children to care for, six of whom were bound ont by the county authorities. Their names were as follows -James, Nancy, George, Conrad, Eliza and Sylvester. In 1817 his mother mar- ried a man by the name of Smith, and soon after removed to Jefferson county,

New York. There they settled on a piece of government timber land, and cleared themselves a farm, but afterwards lost it. When about sixteen years of age, Mr. Stevens went to Canada, and squatted on a piece of government land. Ile then returned for his parents, took them to Canada, and began life as a frontiersman. He cleared eighty acres for himself, and about one hundred acres for other parties. While in Canada he married Mary A. Monk, he being twenty-one years old, and she eighteen. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens began married life with only their willing hands and an axe, and one hundred and ten dol- lars in debt. Now commenced a struggle for the newly married pair, such as but few have ever experienced. Settling far back in the woods away from neighbors and roads, the necessaries of life had to be carried in on their backs. Their bed- steads, chairs, tables, etc., were .home- made, and of the cheapest kind, but an- swered the purpose. Mr. Stevens chopped and cleared his land at odd spells, and his faithful wife often assisted bim by gath- ering and burning brush. Mr. Stevens having bnt little education, his wife taught him to read and write, and by this means he acquired a fair education, sufficient at least to meet the requirements of business in after life. Mrs. Stevens took in sewing and weaving, and so assisted materially in the race. In clearing their land, the ashes were saved, and manufactured into black salt (potash), which was a legal ten- der in those days. Mr. Stevens traded his wedding suit for a pair of two-year- old steers, which was his first team. Then he began clearing a farm of one hundred acres for himself, on Clergy Reserve land.

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

He afterwards sold his improvements, paid up all obligations, and made a small pay- ment on fifty acres of other land. This he improved, and about the year 1848 he sold and removed to Wisconsin, with eight hundred dollars. He next bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and commenced anew in the woods, and chopped and cleared eighty acres of heavily timbered land. This he sold for sixteen hundred dollars, and bought adjoining it ninety- seven acres for eight hundred dollars. About the same time he bought in Michi- gan two hundred and eighty acres, for eighty cents per acre. Off of this land he cut and sold pine logs, to the amount of three thousand five hundred dollars, and after holding the land twelve years, sold it for four dollars per acre. Off the ninety-seven acres, he afterwards chopped and cleared seventy five acres. IIe invest- ed in railroad stock and lost two thousand dollars by it. About the year 1867, be sold this farm for three thousand two hun- dred dollars and moved to Nebraska. He stayed there one winter, and then moved to Cass county, Iowa, and bought his pres- ent farm, of two hundred and twenty acres, lying in sections 9 and 10, Cass township, for twenty-two and one-half dollars per acre, of F. II. Whitney. He also owns one hundred and ninety-three acres in section 15, of same township. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens have raised a family of thirteen children. The oldest son, George, was born in Durham, Oxford county, Upper Canada, November 6, 1835. He enlisted in company A, Seventh Kansas Volunteers, and served through the war. The second son, William, was born in the

township of Norwich, county and province above named. He enlisted in company A, Seventh Kansas Volunteers and died in the hospital at Kansas City, December 5, 1861. The third son, Peter, was born in the township of Durham, on the 12th day of May, 1840. He enlisted in the service of the United States and served on the frontier against the Indians. The fourth son, John, was born in the township and province above named on the 28th day of January, 1842. The fifth son, James, was born on the 8th day of January, 1844. He enlisted in company B, Twentieth Wis- consin, Volunteers, and died the 9th day of May, 1863, at Rolla, Missouri. The oldest daughter, Ann, was born in the place above named on the 10th day of November, 1845, and died. at Hubbard, Dodge county, Wisconsin, on the 22d day of May, 1851. The sixth fon, Jacob B., was born in the town of Norwich, Upper Canada, on the 7th day of September, 1847. The seventh son, Daniel, was born in Hubbard, Dodge county, Wisconsin, on the 13th day of October, 1849. The sec- ond daughter, Mary, was born in Hubbard, Dodge county, Wisconsin, on the 26th day of December, 1851, and was married to O. II. Conrad, October 3, 1871. The eighth son, Paul, was born in the county and State last named, on the 23d day of March, 1854. The ninthi son, Jessie, was born on the 13th day of November, 1856, and died at Hubbard, Wisconsin, Septem- ber, 28, 1862. The third daughter, Mar- tha, was born on the 17th day of January, 1860, and died, at Hubbard, Wisconsin, August 30, 1863. The fourth daughter, Aun Jane, was born at Hubbard, Wiscon- sin, November 26, 1861, and was married

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

on the 31st day of March, 1884, to C. L. Goudy. The above sketch is a short rec- ord of the most important incidents of a stirring and eventful life, and shows what may be accomplished by an earnest, deter- mined, and honest purpose, coupled with industry and economy. Mr. and Mrs. Ste- vens are both in good health, and on the 1st day of January, 1885, will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage which will be a rare occasion.

George M. Elsey, a native of Marion county, Ohio, was born in May, 1828. His father, George Elsey, was one of the pioneers of Mahaska county, Iowa, where he died in 1882. He was twice married. His first wife, Elizabeth Elsey, the mother of George M., died in Ohio in 1840. Mr. Elsey was married the second time, to Nancy Gerhart, who died about seventeen years ago. George M. Elsey is one of the pioneers of Cass county, having been identified with its interests since 1854, at which date, he came to Lewis, bringing a general stock of goods from Oskaloosa, and, in company with Charles Baldwin, opened the first general store in Lewis,the name of the firm being Baldwin and Elsey. They continued in partnership till the summer of 1885, when Mr. Elsey bought the interest of his partner, and, same year, sold the business to Joseph Wannock. The winter following, Mr. Elsey taught the pioneer school of Lewis. Among his pupils were the sons of Jehu Woodward, Chester and Wooster; Neil McClintock and his two brothers, Frauk and Augustus. December 1st, 1827, George M. Elsey and Ariminta Littlefield were united in marriage. She is a daugh- ter Horace Littlefield, and a native of

Switzerland county, Indiana, born in 1838. They began keeping house, in the house of Mr. Dan Stanley, where they remained till July, 1858, then removed to their pres- ent residence on section 14, adjoining the town plat of Lewis, where he owns eighty acres. Ile also owns one hundred acres in sections 22 and 16. They have had seven children-Warren, died at the age of one year; Carrie, wife of H. A. Shade, of this township; Sophie, wife of George G. Gillispie, of this township; Iola, Bes- sie, Effie and Georgie, at home. Mr. Elsey is a prominent and much esteemed citizen. He is at present assessor of Cass township. He has also held the office of township trustee and clerk.

James M. Baxter, one of the pioneers of Cass county, lives upon section 1, town- ship of Cass. Mr. Baxter was born July 12, 1831, in Norwich, Windsor county, Vermont. He is a son of Charles and Lora (Partridge) Baxter, both of whom are now deceased. James M. Baxter received the education commonly given to sons of Vermont, farmers, and was reared to agri- cultural pursuits. Ile emigrated to this State in March, 1856, arriving here on the 11th of that month, since which time he has been a resident and identified with the interests of Cass county. When he came here the country was very sparsely settled. One small dry goods store at Lewis was the only one in the county. There was no blacksmith shop and they were obliged to go to Council Bluffs for their blacksmithing. There was occasion- ally a school, but not a school house in the county. Mr. Baxter worked for two years as a farm laborer, but the first sum- mer bought eighty acres of land six miles

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

south west of Lewis. IIe began improving his land in 1858. He was married Aug- ust 12th, of that year, at Lewis, to Euphe- mia Richardson, a native of the State of New York. Iler parents, William and Sallie Richardson, removed when she was a child, to Trumbull county, Ohio. She and a brother, Emory Richardson, came to this county in 1857. A married sister, the wife of William Arnold, then lived at Lewis.

Mr. Baxter has contributed largely to the development of Cass county. He has broken and improved two thousand acres of the prairie soil, built many houses and at least twenty-five miles of fence. He has put down wells and built barns in pro- portion. He has bought, improved and sold a number of farms, and now owns sixteen hundred acres in Bear Grove and Cass townships, all under fence and in tame grass, pastures or crops. Ile farms about one thousand acres himself, renting the remainder of his land. Mr. and Mrs Baxter have six children-Charles M., living on his father's farm, and married to Emma Granger, of Atlantic; Roxa A., wife of H. D. Sheets; Lora P., William D. C., Henry P. and Jedley I. The last named died in March, 1880, aged eight years. Mr. Baxter was elected in 1880, supervisor of district No. 4. In 1883, he was elected chairman of the county board of supervisors, and is at present school director of district No. 1, Cass township. Mr. Baxter is an enterprising and public spirited citizen, and one of the prominent men of the county. June 10, 1880, a cyclone passed over his place, doing much damage. His loss was estimated at thirty- five hundred dollars. The storm destroyed

three tenement houses, carried away small barns and sheds, a hog house, one hundred and twenty-five feet long, and one hun- dred and twenty-five hogs, not one of which were ever seen again, ninty-five pigs and four horses. Mr. Baxter is the largest farmer in the county. He pays much attention to improved stock of all kinds, and is the owner of three fine im- ported stock horses. .

Kendrick N. Jones, born in Jefferson county, New York, on the 26th of Octo- ber, 1827, is the son of Gardner Jones, who was a carpenter by trade, and who in his latter days became a farmer. He died in Jefferson county in 1856, where his wid- ow now resides. Mrs. Jones was born in New Hampshire, and had always been a resident of that State. Kendrick N. came to the IIawkeye State in 1869, and located in Lee county, where he was engaged in farming about two years, when he came to Cass county, and settled in Washing- ton township. He was there engaged in farming until 1874, when he came to Cass township, and purchased a farm, which is now owned by Oliver Mills. In 1879 he sold his farm, and moved to Lewis, but not liking the town as well as his farm life, he moved on a farm owned and im- proved by Jacob McClain, on section 25, which he bought, and has since made it his home. Mr. Jones was married in July, 1861, to Miss Rowena Epps, a native of New York. She was a daughter of Fran- cis and Olive (Thompson) Epps. They have had two children- Fremont C., born in 1857, now resides in this township; and Ella, born in 1868.

Among the prosperous and enterpris- ing farmers of Cass township, John T.

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Garner stands among the first. He was born in Huron county, Ohio, on the 13th of March, 1851. His father died when John was an infant, and his mother dying in 1866, John was left alone with an uncle -Dix Ryan, with whom he lived until he became of age. He then began farming, and was so engaged in Stark county, Illi- nois until 1878, when he came to Fremont county, Iowa, where he bought a farm in Locust Grove township. lle sold his place in 1882, and came to Cass county, and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of nice land in Cass township, where he now resides, and has one of the finest places in the county. Mr. Garner was married in Stark county, Illinois, on the 29th of March, 1871, to Miss Lydia Himes, a native of that county. IIer mother, Maria IIimes, died in July, 1884, at the residence of Mr. Garner, and her father died in Fremont county in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Garner have three children -Della M., Lillie and Minnie.

Frank Hunt, one of the substantial and enterprising men of Cass township, was born in Grafton county, New Ilampshire, on the 7th of July, 1832, and is the son of Nathan and Harriet Ilunt. IIis father died at the old homestead in New Hamp- shire, in March, 1884, at the age of eighty- four years. Frank left his parental roof when twenty years of age, and made liis way westward, first stopping in Story county, Iowa, where he worked at carpen- tering until 1862, when he came to Polk county, and was there engaged in selling merchandise through the country. He was employed in such pursuits about two years, when he became identified with Cass county, where he has since made his

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Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co. Number of Pages: 918

Author: Continental Historical Company, Springfield, Ill
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 918