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 73

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 73

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Pierce Maher, a native of Ireland, came to Cass county in 1858, from Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he had been living for a few years, and purchased forty acres of land on section 32, in Brighton township. He is now a resident of the city of Atlantic, and is noticed at length in that connection.

OTHER REPRESENTATIVE PEOPLE.

Besides these early comers, there are a number of people in the township who

are worthy of note because of the part they have taken in the building up of the township. We give some of them:

Rev. E. J. Locke came to this county in 1870, and settled on section 31, of Bright- on township, where he owns a fractional eighty. This place he purchased from James Pantier, who had made some little improvement. When it became the property of Mr. Locke it was in poor con- dition, and what little improvement there was seemed considerably dissipated. The present condition of the place indicates thrifty and good management. Here as- well as elsewhere the home of Mr. and Mrs. Locke will be remembered, as a wel- come place for travelers and strangers, and the number who can testify to their kindness and hospitality is legion. In ad- dition to this land Mr. Looke owns forty acres in Pottawattamie county. He is a native of Rhode Island, born November 27, 1809, and is a son of Joshua R., and Waity (Sheldon) Locke, who were natives of the same State. He is of Scotch ex- traction, his great grandfather having been born in that country. He was brought up on a farm, and as his parents were in limited circumstances his youth was spent in hard work, and his opportu- nities for obtaining an education were such as the common schools afforded: When thirty-three years old he entered the ministry of the Baptist church, and his success as a preacher and religious teacher is evidenced by the fact that he preached in one place for a period of twenty-five years. In 1868 he went to Illinois and stopped at Stonington, Chris- tian county, where he continued in the useful work, to which he seemed so well .

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

fitted something more than a year, when his health failed,and being unable to prosecute the important work with his old time vigor ond feeling the necessity for a change, he left the ministry and came to Iowa. He was married October 27, 1833, in Rhode Island, to Chloe Woodmansee, a native of that State, and daughter of John and Josbua Woodmansee. They have seven children now living-Waity A., born April 19, 1855; Pardon T., born October 10, 1839; Hannah W., born April 2, 1842; Almon A., born April 11, 1845; Charles H., born March 26, 1848; Sarah J., born May 8, 1852; and John E., born June 21, 1855.

John W. Berry came to Cass county in February, 1867, and settled on section 32, Brighton township, where he bought three hundred and five acres of land in a body. There was a house standing on the bank of Indian Creek in the north- west quarter of the section, into which he moved. and lived one year. He then built his present residence, on the south west quarter of the same section. He now owns five hundred acres of land lying in a body. He at first, engaged in rais- ing grain, but has more recently raised a large amount of stock for market. Mr. Berry has always followed farming and has been successful in his business, being one of the well-to-do farmers of the coun- ty. He was born in Menard county, Ill- inois, March 29, 1835. IIe is a son of James Berry, a native of Tennessee, and Jane O. (Rutledge) Berry, a native of Virginia, who were early settlers in Menard county, where they were married. John W. lived on the homestead where he was born until he came to Cass county.

He was there married, January 6, 1859, to Miss Harriet Bell, a native of Menard county, Illinois. Her parents were na- tives of Kentucky.

Merritt Hewitt came here in 1875, and purchased eighty acres of land, located on the east half of the northwest quarter of section 22, of Brighton township. It was then partially improved and is now in a high state of cultivation. He has a new and commodious residence, erected in 1882. It is pleasantly located and sur- rounded by a fine grove. Mr. Hewitt was born June 7, 1843, in Erie county, Ohio, and is a son of Collins H. and Abi- gail F. Ilewitt. The former was born in Cayuga county, New York, and died in Iowa in 1854. The latter was a native of Columbus county, Ohio. She died in 1856. The subject of this sketch lived in Ohio till ten years of age, then removed with his parents to Iowa county, Iowa. He enlisted in that county in 1862, in company G, of the Twenty-eighth Iowa Infantry. He was mustered into service at Iowa City, under command of E. P. Hendershot. He served until August 25, 1865, participating in the following bat- tles: Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, Vicksburg, Jackson, Sabine Crossroads, Winchester, Cedar Creek and others. He was mnstered out at Savannalı, Georgia. He returned to his home and was married November 15, 1868, to Elizabeth L. Coats, a native of New York, and daughter of D. W. and Sophronia F. Coats, of whom the former is dead and the latter is still living, resid- ing with her daughter, Mrs. Hewitt. Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt have four children- May F., Edwin M., Ray C. and G. W.

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Mr. Hewitt is the present assessor of Brighton township, an office which he has filled four years. He has voted with the Democratic party since 1864. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workingmen and Grand Army of the Republic.

. J. R. Herbert, in 1867, traded his home in Hardin county, Ohio, for eight hun- dred acres of land in Brighton township, including the whole of section 2 and a part of section 4. He did this with the intention of providing homes for his sons. He built a house on a hill in the south- east corner of the land, the lumber of which was drawn from Dunlap and New Jefferson by Mr. Herbert's sons. After the house was completed, they discovered that it was not standing on his land, but jast west of the boundary line, and were consequently obliged to move it. Mr. Herbert lived in this house two or three years. He has since given his land to his sons with the exception of one hundred and seventeen acres, which he reserved for himself. He has been successful financially, since coming here, and is now living in comfort and ease, with pleasant surroundings. J. R. Herbert was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, September 23, 1814. His father's ancestors were Welch and his mother's Irish. When he was thirty years old he moved to Hardin county. There he improved a farm, and resided until his removal to this county. Ile was married July 7, 1836, in Ohio, to Hannah Barton, a native of Columbiana county, Ohio. She was born May 10, 1814. They had five sons, four of whom are living-Franklin, George W. and Jo- seph K. are residents of this county.

Henry B. is sheriff of Audubon county. The second son, John W., died at the age of eighteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Her- bert are members of the M. E. church. Politically Mr. llerbert is a Republican. Mr. Herbert and his sons are among the most respected citizens of Cass county.

Franklin Herbert, son of J. R. Herbert, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, July 17, 1837. His early life was spent in his native State. He enlisted in 1861, in company D, of the Fourth Ohio Infantry and served three years in that regiment. He then re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Ohio Infantry, and served five months, or until the war closed. He received the appointment of corporal, December 12, 1861, and held that office throughout both terms of service. He participated in the engagements of Rom- ney, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Coal Harbor. He was color guard after the battle of the Wilderness. Af- ter the war he returned to Ohio and re- mained till 1867. In that year he went to Wisconsin and, soon after, came to Cass county. Mr. Herbert's farm contains one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he has made all of the improvements. It is located on section 2, of Brighton town- ship, comprising the south west quarter of the section and is a well improved and desirable place. Mr. Herbert was mar- ried October 10, 1872, to Laura Franklin who died October 11, 1875, leaving one child, Mabel L. He was again married, December 19, 1877, to Laura Mott. By the latter union there are two children- Fred. W. and Delmar Owen. Mr. Her- bert has held some offices in the township

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

since the organization of the same, and is one of its most respected citizens. He is a member of the G. A. R. and the A. O. U. W.

Joseph K. Herbert, son of J. R. Her- bert, was born in Hardin county, Ohio, July 24, 1853. He lived in that State un- til his parents removed to Cass county, he being then fourteen years old. Here he resided with his parents until 1876. He settled on his present farm in 1878. It contains eighty acres, located in the northeast and sontheast quarters of sec- tion 2, a part of the land for which his father traded his home in Hardin county, Ohio, in 1867. He has a valuable farm and is engaged in stock raising. He was married, October 15, 1874, to Maria Lynch, a daughter of A. H. and Elizabeth (Blankenship) Lynch, now of Atlantic. Mr. and Mrs Herbert had four children- Melville P., born November 30, 1876; Roy J., born May 4, 1878; Laura M., born Jan- uary 14, 1881, and died March 11, 1882; and Ralph, born September 2, 1882. Mr. Herbert is politically a Republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

Henry Gordon lives upon the north west quarter of section 26, where he owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He came to Cass county in 1876 and purchased his farm from Isaac Dickerson. It was, at that time, unimproved prairie. He now has the land nearly all under cultivation and well fenced. He carries on general farming. Mr. Gordon was born in Jeffer- son county, Wisconsin, October 1, 1840. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah J. (Piper) Gordon, natives of New York. Henry Gordon came to this State in 1863, and

settled on a farm in Iowa county, where he remained until he came here. He was married November 13, 1861, to Emily Coats, a native of New York and daugh- ter of David and Sophronia (Sanders) Coats. They have had two children- William, who died when about three years old and Etta M., living with her parents. Mr. Gordon is a Democrat, politically aud a member of the A. O. U. W.

William C. Welsh, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Sweet) Welsh, was born in Knox county, Ohio, September 18, 1855. He lived in his native State until 1859, then removed with his parents, to Bureau county, Illinois, where he was reared and educated. He was employed as clerk in a store in Buda, in Bureau county, from 1870, then engaged upon the rail- road for three years. After this he was engaged in mercantile business until he removed to Cass county in the spring of 1878. He settled at that time, on the farm where he now lives, in the north- west quarter of section 25, of Brighton township. It was then unimproved. Mr. Welsh is engaged in stock raising, and is at present, intending to make a specialty of Holstein cattle. He was married in Buda, Illinois, to Katie P. Murphy, Sep- tember 6, 1875. She is a native of Penn- sylvania. They have two children-E. Fay and George G. Mr. Welsh is a Re- publican, politically.

Dewitt C. Cady is a native of Oneida. county, New York, born May 23, 1842. He is a son of B. F. Cady, who came to Cass county in 1870, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 35, of Bright- on township. In 1877 he built a house on the north west quarter of the southeast

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

quarter of the same section. He died there in December, 1879. His widow, Betsey M. (Sherburne) Cady, now lives in Atlantic. Dewitt C. Cady was reared in his native village, South Trenton. He received his education in Oneida county, and subsequently taught school there. He also taught a few terms in Cass county. 'He was on the road as a traveling sales- man, ten years. He came to Cass county with his father and settled on his present farm, where he is engaged in general farming. He also keeps a small dairy. Mr. Cady was married October 26, 1869, to Hattle A. Owens, a native of Oneida county, New York, and daughter of Wil- liam and Mary Higgins Owens. They have three children-Frank C., Mary E. and Clarence W. Mr. Cady is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Stephen N. Elliott was born in Elgin county, Canada West, March 12,1827. His father was John Elliott, a native of Con. necticut, who went to Canada when a young man, and was there married to Ann Anderson, who was born in the State of New York. Mr. Elliott's paternal grandfather was a soldier in the war of the revolution. Stephen N. Elliott lived in Canada until the age of twenty-six years, and there learned the trade of car- penter and joiner. He was married to Esther Buchanan, a native of Toronto, Canada, and a daughter of James and Ann Buchanan, who were of Irish de- scent. Mr. Elliott emigrated about 1853, to Portage City, Columbia county, Wis- consin, moving his family there in 1855. In 1862, they moved to Dodge county, Minnesota, and remained there until 1868, when he sold his property and came to

Cass county. He purchased at that time, the southeast quarter of section 23, Brighton township. He now owns two hundred acres, all of which is under culti- vation. He has a desirable location and a beautiful home. He is at present renting his land. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have one son-Werden B. The family are members of the Baptist church.

Robert A. Berry came to Cass county in 1869, and stopped with his brother, J. W. Berry, one year. He then purchased of William Green, two hundred acres of land on section 30, where he now resides. The land, at the time of his purchase, was slightly improved, but is now all under cultivation, except thirty-five acres of timber land. He is engaged in stock rais- ing. His farm now contains three bun- dred and twenty-six acres, all lying in section 30, is well watered and finely im- proved, having good buildings, fine orch- ard, etc. Mr. Berry was born in Illinois, May 15, 1848, and is a son of James and Jane (Rutledge) Berry, natives of Ten- nessee and Virginia, respectively. They died in Menard county, Illinois. Robert A. Berry lived in that county till fifteen years of age. He was married to Jennie Johnson, a native of Virginia, and daugh- ter of Thomas and Betsey Johnson, who came to Cass county in 1869, and settled in Brighton township. Both are now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Berry have six children living-Eva J., James O., Ona II., Gracie I. and Alta F. Mr. Berry is a member of thetownship board of trustees and a Demo- crat, politically.

Granville B. Olney, son of Vernon I .. and Louisa Olney, was born in Knox county, Ohio, November 3, 1841. His an-

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

cestors were of English desceut. When he was eight years old, his parents moved to Mahaska county, where his early life was spent. From 1864 to 1866, he was in Rhode Island, employed by H. G. Williams, in the cities of Providence and Pawtucket, one year, and by George W. Angel, to run a farm and milk wagon, one year. He then returned home and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed four years. In 1869 and 1870, he carried on carpentering and manufacturing bee- hives, together. In 1871 he came to Cass county, and purchased eighty acres of land. Heowned at one time, one hundred and eighty acres, all under cultivation and well improved. He is largely en- gaged in stock raising. In 1872 his sales of stock amounted to seventy-eight thou- sand dollars. In 1884 he made an im- provement in the "Langstroth" bee-hive, which is proving a financial success. He was married February 2, 1870, to Anna M. Taylor, a native of Noble county, Ohio, and daughter of John and Louisa (Stewart) Taylor, of whom the former is of French descent, and the latter of Irish. Mr. and Mrs. Olney have three children-John B., Vernon O, and Anna M. Mr. Olney is a member of the I. O. O. F.

S. H. Wood came to Cass county in 1874, and bought the farm he now occu- pies, of Kate Dwyer. It was then wild land, but is now well improved and highly cultivated. Mr. Wood was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, eighteen miles from Harrisburg. At the age of eight years, he went to Monmouth, Illinois, where he lived until 1874. He is a son of Samuel and Martha E. (Bell)

Wood, who now live in Cass county. S. H. Wood was married in Columbus, Ohio, to Pauline Blackwood, a native of that State. This marriage took place February 6, 1868. They have two child- ren-Robert H. and John S. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are members of the Presby- terian church. He is a Republican polit- cally.

Orange W. Wheatley owns and occu- pies a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in the north west quarter of section 11, and the northeast quarter of section 10, Brighton township. He located on this farm in June, 1873. It is now in a good state of cultivation and well im- proved. It is admirably adapted for a stock farm, in which business Mr. Wheat- ley is engaged. He was born in the town of Hardwick, Caledonia county, Vermont, August 28, 1848, and is a son of J. A. Wheatley, a native of New Hampshire, and Charlotte (Skinner) Wheatley, a na- tive of Vermont. Mr. Wheatley left his native State and went to Wisconsin, where he lived one year, then went to a place near Green Bay, and worked in the pineries and mills until 1873, at which date he removed to Cass county. His parents are now living in Marne. He was married March 20, 1873, to Miss Elsina Sheffier, a native of Wisconsin, and a daughter of Bartholomew Sheffier. They have four children-Wilbur O., Jessie A., John, Belle E., and Moses A.

William Masteller was born in Makaska county, Iowa, August 3, 1856. He is a son of Jacob and Ellen (Blaine) Masteller, residents of Mahaska county. The latter is a second cousin of James G. Blaine, candidate for the presidency in 1884. The

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

subject of this sketch was educated at Oskaloosa college, in his native county. In 1880, he removed to Cass county, and bought his present farm of John Chris- man. It wasthen partially improved. He has continued improving the place and now has a fine farm, well fenced and cul- tivated. A splendid grove of five acres and an orchard surround his residence. He is engaged in farming and stock rais- ing, making a specialty of hogs. Mr. Masteller was married in Mahaska county, September 7, 1882, to Mary Willis, daugh- ter of William and Ellen (Nickson) Willis, residents of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Masteller have one child- Carrie A., born April 28, 1884. They are members of the Presbyterian church.

George J. Pellet settled on the farm where he now resides, in 1872. It con- sisted of one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved railroad land. Mr. Pellet purchased this land with the intention of making a stock farm, for which purpose it is admirably adapted. It is now an im- proved and valuable place. He is engaged in raising fine cattle of the Shorthorn and Holstein stock, also in buying and ship- ping cattle, horses and other stock. Mr. Pellet was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, in 1846. He is a son of Jason and Phoebe (Rogers) Pellet, who now reside in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, but were originally from Connecticut. They moved to Wisconsin when George J. was eight years of age. Jason Pellet was there engaged in the lumber business, dealing in ship timber. He is still living there and engaged in the same business. George J. Pellet was married January 1, 1867, to Lydia A. Wheatley, who died

April 9, 1875, leaving three children, Ida, Walter and Mary. He was again married, February 22, 1876, to Mary A. Mott. By this union there are four children-Olive and Laura, (twins), William J. and Ada A.

William Berry was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, October 18, 1819. He is is a son of George and Sarah (Floyd) Perry. When three years old he removed with his parents to Clinton county, Ohio. He remained there until 1851, when he removed to Butler county, Ohio. He was a stone mason by trade, and always fol . lowed that occupation until he came to Cass county. He was married in Butler county, May 18, 1852, to Sarah Conl- ter, a native of that county, and daughter of Nathanial and Mary (Buchanan) Coul- ter, who died in Butler county. Mrs. Berry died May 16, 1859, leaving four children-Amanda J., wife of John Jay, living in Dakota; Susan A., wife of James Jay, also in Dakota; John W., in Butler county, Ohio; and Alice, who died August 16, 1860. Mr. Berry was again married December 12, 1867, to Mrs. Margaret Zeek. Mr. Berry moved to this county in 1872, and settled upon land which he had purchased in 1857. He now rents his farm, which contains one hundred and sixty acres. He is politically a Democrat.

Nathan R. Williams was born in Wayne county, Indiana, July 18, 1826. IIe was one year old when his parents moved to Hamilton county, of the same State, where they remained a short time and removed to Madison county, also in Indiana. His father, Zadock Williams, was born in Ten- nessee, and died in Madison county in 1836. His mother, Anna Williams, was a native of North Carolina. She died in.

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Porter county, Indiana, in 1880. After his father's death the family removed to Wayne county, living there and in Ran- dolph county five years. They were in humble circumstances, and Nathan's op- portunities for obtaining an education were slight, but such as they were he made the most of, and fitted himself for teaching. He went, in 1844, to St. Joe county, Indiana, and taught school three terms near South Bend. He was married September 4, 1850, to Ann Duncan, a na- tive of Ohio. In 1865 they moved to Linn county, Iowa, and lived there until 1873, when they went to Kansas and staid one year, after which they came to Cass county and located on the southeast quarter of section 4, Brighton township. It was then unimproved land, but is now in a good state of cultivation and a very desirable farm. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have six children-Hannah M., John I., Mattie E., Anna, Bessie A. and Altha B. Hannah, John and Mattie are teachers. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the M. E. church.

T. M. Crowner was born in Richland county, Ohio, October 29, 1831, and is a son of Thomas and Susanna (Cochran) Crowner, natives of Ireland. Thomas Crowner, Sr., died when the subject of this sketch was very young, and he went to live with his uncle, Thomas Meloy. His uncle afterwards moved to Missouri and he returned home, remaining in Bel- mont and Richland counties until twenty- three years old. He then went to Griggs- ville, Pike county, Illinois. He was mar- ried in that county, October 29, 1854, to Mary Halferty, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of Statler and Elizabeth

(Shoop) Halferty. Mr. and Mrs. Crowner lived in Pike county, removing from thence to Morgan county, of the same State, thence to Sangamon, and later, to Christian county, also in Illinois. In the latter county they lived seventeen miles from Taylorville, remaining there until they removed to Cedar county, Iowa. They lived there but a short time, then came to Cass county, where he had pre- viously purchased the farm on which he now lives. It is located on the southeast quarter of section 27, of Brighton town- ship, where he owns one hundred and seventy-five acres of land. He is engaged in general farming. Mr. and Mrs. Crown- er have two children : Alice C. and Etta C. Mr. Crowner is a Democrat.

C. H. Powell was born in the city of New York, June 23, 1822. He is a son of P. B. and Clarissa (Haley) Powell, hoth natives of New York city. P. B. Powell was a ship carpenter by trade. In 1845 J. H. went to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and engaged in a fanning mill manufactory a short time, then went to Racine, where he engaged in the same business in com- pany with A. P. Dickey, which they con- tinued from 1849 to 1852. They then removed to Prairie du Chien, where they continued business until 1856. In that year he removed to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and there in company with a brother built a fanning mill manufactory and carried on business till 1859. He then sold ont to his brother and removed to Al- lamakee county, bought and improved a farm, and remained there till 1865, then again engaged in the fanning mill business until 1868: He then moved to Mower county, Minnesota, where he followed

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

farming until be came to Cass county. He settled on a farm of eighty acres on sec- tion 9, of Brighton township, which he improved and resided upon till 1882. He then entered the hardware establishment of Henry Buck, where he has since been employed. Mr. Powell, in 1859, made a tour through Iowa, to Council Bluffs and Sioux City, crossing the river into Da- kota. In 1853 he traveled in Minnesota, selling fanning mills. He was married June 13, 1848, to Betsey Barney, who died in 1876. His present wife was Miss M. Marvin, one of the early residents of Brighton township, having come here in 1871. Mr. Powell has reared a family of ten .children, all of whom are living, bnt none of them are residents of this county.

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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