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 87

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 87

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L. D. Marsh came in 1859, coming from Grant county, Indiana, and settled on section 19, where he erected the first frame dwelling of Bear Grove township. He served through the war, returning home, where he died about the year 1875. Ilis widow still resides upon the old homestead.

In the spring of 1859, Charles Hebing located and built a log house on section 9, and in 1864, settled upon section 16, where he is still resident. He had come to this county in 1856, locating at Lewis, but came to Bear Grove as stated above.

Charles H. Hebing, a pioneer of Cass county, was born in Prussia, October 16, 1838. He received a fair education in his native country, in the German, Latin and French languages. In 1852 he came to the United States, landing at New York in November of that year. He went immediately to Buffalo, New York, where he attended school during the fol- lowing winter, for the purpose of acquir- ing the English language, In May, 1853, he left school, having expended all his money except one dollar, which he in- vested in an Intelligence office trying to

obtain employment. He succeeded in getting work as a teamster on the Michi- gan Southern railroad, which he continu- ed until about the last of October, 1853, and cleared, during that time, three hun- dred dollars. He then went to Sandusky City, Ohio, and attended school the win- ter following. In the spring of 1854, he came to the Hawkeye State, stopping first at Grinnell, Poweshiek county, where he worked for a farmer, B. Howard, about four months. Then, in company with his brother, G. A. Hebing, went by stage to Council Bluffs. They went across the river into Nebraska, but shortly after turned back and came to Lewis, and have since been identified with the interests of this county. In 1859 he crossed the plains to Colorado on a Mustang pony, and engaged in mining one year, then in transporting supplies from the Missouri river to the mines. He continued the latter occupation three years, which cov- ered the greater part of the period of our late war. He then returned home to Lewis. In company with his brother he bought three hundred and sixty acres of land, paying therefor from $4.50 to $25 per acre, in Bear Grove township, and later a large tract in Union township. After dividing their interests, the land in Bear Grove was owned by Charles H. and that in Union by G. A. Hebing. Charles H. has two hundred and forty acres in section 16, where he resides. He was married February. 6, 1867, to Anna E. Chapman, daughter of Milton and Eliza- beth Chapman, and grand-daughter of David Chapman, the first surveyor of Cass connty. Mr. and Mrs. Hebing have had three children-Guy G. (deceased),

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Clara, and May. Mr. Hebing was the first one in the county to declare his in- tention to become a citizen of the United States, and has held the office of town- ship clerk two terms, has also served as school director. He is the son of a master mechanic, but he follows farming and stock raising for a living, He kept cattle on the prairie in this county when the wolves were so numerous and vicious they would attack the young stock in the day- time, while he was herding them. Deer and elk were plenty then. He went out once in company with two others from Lewis, in the vicinity of where Marne now is, and killed thirty-two elk, by running them into ravines and gulches, filled level with snow, and killing them with knives, hatchets and clubs. Mr. Hebing, in at- tempting to cut the throat of one, got astride its neck, when the animal ploughed his way out of the deep snow, and gave Mr. H. a free ride at the rate a mile a minute; he remained upon the neck of the animal as far as Indian Grove, when he got off and walked back to Eight-Mile Grove. Mr. Hebing is a lover of pets and wild animals, and while he has been farming has had pet elk, deer, bear and wolves which he tamed so that they would follow him, if he wished them to do so, wherever he went. He, also, while freighting from the Missouri river to Denver, owned a yoke of buffaloes, which he drove across the plains with other cattle. Two years ago, while back to the mountains of Colorado, for recreation, he captured a young bear, which he bronght with him to Bear Grove and kept for more than a year, but finally had to kill him on account of his being so strong and

large, it was difficult to manage him. Mr. Hebing had taught him many tricks. The bear would shoulder arms, waltz, etc. When dressed the bear weighed over two hundred pounds. Mr. Hebing says bear meat is superior to pork or beef.

Gehart Hebing came with his brother, Charles, and helped to improve the farm on that section. They, also, owned a place in Union township, and on a divis- ion of the property being made, Gehart removed to Union, where he now resides.

In 1862, Dr. A. Teele settled on sec- tion 8, coming from Elkhart county, In- diana. He lived here a number of years, when he sold out and removed to Craw- ford county, where he has since died.

Rev. W. M. Graham came to Bear Grove township in February, 1867, and settled on section 11, where he now re- sides.

Benjamin Albee, in the spring of 1867, made a settlement on section 10. He was a native of New York State. He re- mained in the township until the spring of 1883, when he moved to Oregon. Soon after his arrival in that far away land he had the misfortune to lose his wife, the helpmeet of a busy life, and in the fall of 1884, he returned to this county.

William Farmer settled on section 9, in the fall of 1867. He is a native of Eng- land, born on the 21st of March, 1820. He is the son of Joseph and Helen (Mathews) Farmer, who both died in the "Old Coun- try." Mr. Farmer emigrated to America in the fall of 1848, and settled in Jeffer- son county, Indiana, where he remained until 1865. He was united in marriage, while there, in the fall of 1849, with Friswith F. Collett, a daughter of John

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

H. and Jane Collett, natives of Wales, by whom he has three children living-Wil- liam J., Ellen A. and Hattie F. In 1865, Mr. Farmer came to Iowa, locating,at first in Polk county, but in the fall of 1867, came here, as above stated. He is still a resident of the township, living with his son-in-law, Mathew Martin, on section 16.

Henry Stone lives upon section 1, of Bear Grove township, where he located in May, 1868, purchasing then a farm of eighty acres, to which he has since added another eighty acres, and now owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Stone was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, June 16, 1818. He was reared upon a farm and has always fol- lowed farming. He was married, Feb- ruary 22, 1846, to Sarah A. Tracy, also a native of Litchfield county, born July 31, 1819. In 1853, they emigrated to Hen- derson county, Illinois, and worked rented lands until 1867. In that year they removed to Cass county, and settled in Bear Grove the following year, as before stated. They have had three children- Samuel C., born in Connecticut, January 23, 1847; Lester W., also born in Con- necticut, February 7, 1850; and Eva C., born in Illinois, September 27, 1857. Eva C. died in April, 1864.

John and Mathew Martin settled upon section 10, in the fall of 1860, where Mathew is still living.

Matthew W. Martin was born in Brax- ton county, West Virginia. January 14, 1842. His father emigrated to Miami county, Ohio, when Matthew was young, and in the fall of 1852, moved to McHenry county, Illinois. His occupation was farm-

ing. In 1859, he removed with his fam- ily to Ray county, Missouri, where he bought a farm and intended to remain, but on the breaking out of the Rebellion, being of pronounced Union sentiments, he was obliged to leave, and was glad to get away, His loss by this compulsory removal, amounted to six thousand dol- lars. He went back to MeHenry county, Illinois, and died there in 1863. IIls wife, Barbara Martin, died the same year. Mat- thew W. Martin enlisted, September 4, 1862, in company H, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry. His regiment was a part of the Sixteenth Army Corps, commanded by General A. J. Smith in the Red river campaign. He took part in the campaign and siege of Vicksburg and battle of Nashville, when General Thomas routed Hood's army. Also the battles at Fort Blakeley and Spanish Fort at Mobile. He was honorably discharged August 17, 1865, and returned to McHenry county. The following fall he settled in Marsball county, Iowa, where he remained three years, then came to Cass county and bought, in partnership with his brother, John Martin, one hundred and twenty acres in section 10, Bear Grove. Mr. Martin was married in this town, in 1870, to Helen M. Farmer, a native of Indiana, born in 1855. Her parents, William and F. Farmer, are both living with Mr. and Mrs. Martin. They occupy a farm of eighty acres in section 16. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin- Harry, Ethel, Roy and Earl.

H. G. Van Vlack came to Bear Grove township in March, 1869. and settled on section 11. Here he remained about a year, when he sold out and removed to

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Union township, where he still lives, one of the representative and influential men of that section of the county. The farm where he settled, is now the property of Mr. Bickett.

Section 11, received a settler in the spring of 1869, in the person of C. T. Sum- ers, who remained there until 1883, when he removed to Lewis, where he is operating the Commercial House, the skating rink and a meat market. A sketch of him may be found in that connection.

Jerome N. Peters is a son of Christian and Susan Peters, and was born in Wayne county, Ohio, February 25, 1826. When he was three years old his parents moved to Ashland, Ohio, where they lived many years. Christian Peters died May 2, 1884. His widow is now living on the place owned by her son, Jerome. The subject of this sketch was married in Ashland county, November 15, 1849, to Sarah Franse. He followed farming there until 1851, then came to the Hawkeye State and settled in Clayton county, where he owned and carried on a farm until Octo- ber, 1869. In March of that year he had visited Cass county and bought three hun- dred and sixty acres of land in sections 14 and 11, Bear Grove, a portion of which he broke. To this farm he removed his family, and is still residing thereon. His residence is on section 14. Mr. and Mrs Peters are the parents of eight children- Martin W., now a resident of Custer county, Nebraska; David A., of Lewis, Walter F., of Bear Grove; Eliza C., wife of George Albee, of Lane county, Oregon; Malinda M., Melissa A., George W. and Clarence R.

Alhart E. Speelman was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1817. He was married in Fayette county of the same State, in 1844, to Elizabeth Isher- wood who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1819. In 1855 they came to Iowa and settled five miles east of Marion, in Linn county, and lived there seven years. They removed to Jones county in 1862, where they owned a farm. In 1869 they came to this county and bought a farm of eighty acres in sec- tion 13, of Bear Grove, where they now live. They have two children-John W. and Nora.

Jacob T. Martin was born in Preston county, West Virgina, March 3, 1844. He is a son of Daniel T. and Elizabeth Mar- tin. His mother died when he was an in- fant. His father is now living in his na- tive county. Jacob T. Martin, when sev- enteen years of age, enlisted in Company A, of the Seventh West Virginia Volun- teer Infantry, September 4, 1861. Le joined the army of the Potomac and took part in Mcclellan's campaign against Rich- mond, second battle of Bull Run, battles of South Mountain and Antietam. He was under command of General Burnside at Fredericksburg, in Hooker's battle of Chancellorsville, the three days battle of Gettysburg, the campaign of Grant and the siege of Peterburg. At the battle of Hatch's Run, he was wounded and taken prisoner. He was confined three months and ten days, at Richmond, Virginia, was thien exchanged and returned to the regi- ment. He veteranized in January, 1864, while in camp at Stevenburg, Virginia. He was honorably discharged, June 29, 1865. He was married March 5, 1865, to

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Abbie Pringey, also a native of West Vir- ginia, born June 20, 1848. In April, 1867, Mr. Martin removed to Iowa, and livecd two years in Muscatine and Cedar coun- ties. He came to Cass county in Octo- ber 1869, and located in Noble township, where he bought a farm on section 12. He afterwards sold this place and bought the fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he now owns and occupies. It is located in section 28, of Bear Grove. He purchased the place of George Carter, but it was improved by Park Lewis and broth- ers. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have six chil- dren-Laura A., born in October 1866, now the wife of Harvey Cassill; Maggie E., born in August 1868; Frederick S., born in December 1871; Mattie M., born in June 1874; Nellie G., born in August 1877, and Caddie B., born in November, 1879.

W. W. Andrews, living on section 23 of Bear Grove, was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, May 20, 1843. His parents, Orrin and Minerva Andrews, moved to Henry county, Illinois, in 1852. Ilis mother is still living in that county. His father is dead. W. W. Andrews came to Cass county in 1872, purchasing then his present farm. He was married in Henry county, Illinois, in 1869, to Mary C. Fort, daughter of Isaac and Caroline Fort, residents of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews have six children -Watson W., Lucy C., Albert I., Elmer W., Alice M. and George K. A brother of Mr. An- drews, Charles W. Andrews, was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, July 6, 1849. He came to Iowa in the fall of 1870, and spent one year in Marshall county, then came to Cass county. He

lived one year in Atlantic township after which he bought a farm in section 23, of Bear Grove. He afterwards sold this farm and bought his present farm. He was married in 1871, to Mahala G. Fort, of IIenry county, Illinois. They have six children-Stella E., Clayton W., Ar- thur L., Merrett S., Orrin C. and Creston F. Mrs. Andrew was born in New York, March 3, 1848, where she lived until eighteen years of age, when she went with her parents to Illinois. In 1861, Mr. Andrew enlisted in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and spent four years of success- ful and honorable service for his country in the war for the Union.

William E. Buckley is a native of Liv- ingston county, New York, born March 8, 1846. He was living in Wyoming county of that State in 1864, at which time he enlisted in February, in the Twenty- fourth Independent Battery. He was captured by the rebels at Plymouth, North Carolina, sent to Andersonville prison, where he was confined nine months, and then paroled out. He was discharged in July, 1865. He came west with his father, John Buckley, (who now lives in Noble township,) in 1869. He was married, Sep- tember 10, 1865, to Mary Piper, who was born March 19, 1846, in Livingston county, New York. They lived in Noble town-' ship for twelve years after coming to the county, then resided in Edna three years, af- ter which they removed to this town. Mr. and Mrs. Buckley have seven children- Jennie, Ida, Freddie, George, Lucy, Willie and Elmer.

John Bartsch, a native of Saxony, was born October 8, 1838. IIe came to the United States in 1857, landed at New

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

York and went to Buffalo where he worked a few weeks. From there he went to Prairie du Sac, Sauk county, Wis- consin. There he afterwards bought sixty acres of land He enlisted in com- pany K, of the Twenty-third Wisconsin regiment, and took part in the battle pre- ceding the capture of Arkansas Post, also the battles of Port Gibson, Cham- pion Hill, Black River Bridge and siege of Vicksburg, where he was in A. J. Smith's corps. He participated in the Red river campaign and was in the battle at Fort Blakely and Spanish Fort. He was honorably discharged at Mobile, Ala- bama. He was married September 6, 1865, at Prairie du Sac, to Theresa All- bright, who was born in Prussia in 1842. Her father, Christian Allbright, was a man of ability and education and was at one time mayor of his city. He after- wards moved to Sauk county where he died in 1864. His widow did not long survive him. Mr. and Mrs. Bartsch came to Cass county in 1873, driving a team from Sauk county. His farm on section 17 contains eighty acres, all improved. They have three children-Minnie, born in November, 1869; Mattie, born in May, 1872, and Lena, born in January, 1874.

William H. Martin resides on section 85, where he settled in the spring of 1876. He was born in Miami county, Ohio, Sept- ember 23, 1848. His parents, Alexander and Barbara Martin, moved to McHenry county, Illinois, when William was about four years old. Alexander Martin died in that county in 1863. His wife's death occurred the same year. In the spring of 1868, William H. Martin came to Iowa and located in Marshall county. He re-

mained there until the following winter, then came to Cass county and bought a place on section 10, which he sold and bought eighty acres in section 3, where he lived a short time, then removed to.his present residence. His farm contains eiglity acres. He purchased the land of Hiram White. William H. Martin and Cornelia Linderman were united in mar- riage, July 3, 1875. She is the step- daughter of Hiram White of this town, and was born April 15, 1852, in Boone county, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children-Lulu May and Min- nie Bell.

George F. Case was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, in the town of Austinburg. His grandfather, Asael Case, was one of the pioneers of that county, having come there from Litchfield county, Connectient, in 1800. George F. Case is a son of Frank- lin B. and Sarah J. Case. The former now resides with him. The latter died at his home in 1881. They moved west in 1849, and were among the early settlers of Lee county, Iowa, where they owned a farm and 'resided until 1877. In that year they came to Cass county and located on the farm now owned and occupied by George F. and his father. It is on sec- tions 18 and 19, and contains two hundred and forty acres. Their residence is on section 18. George F. Case and Martha A. Turce were married January 1, 1867. She was born in the town of Saybrook, Aslıtabula county, Ohio, May 15, 1843. They were married in that town. Mr. and Mrs. Case have two children- Bertha, born June 26, 1874, and Addie, born July 19, 1880.

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Lorenzo Dow Marsh, one of Cass county's pioneers, was born Jannary 1, 1818, in Gurnsey county, Ohio, where he lived until he reached manhood. He re- moved with his parents, Jesse and Rachel Marsh, to Indiana, where they (the par- ents) died, near Marion, Grant county. There the subject of this sketch and Hannah Moore, were married, October 28, 1841. She was born January 4, 1823, near Dayton, Ohio. Her parents, Isaac and Rachel Moore, moved to Wayne county, Ohio, and later, to Indiana. They both died in Bear Grove, their last years being spent with Mr. and Mrs. Marsh, who' removed hither in 1860, thus becoming pioneers of what is now Cass county. Mr. Marsh says, "then we had no near neighbors except wolves." The first year he rented land and built a house and broke a little ground upon his present farm. His purchase was three hundred and sixty acres of land, to which they re- moved during the first winter. Mr. Marsh died on the anniversary of his birth, at his home here, aged fifty-five. His widow retains the homestead, and one hundred and twenty acres, the balance of the land was divided among their children, of whom there were ten, eight are now living-Isaac, of Villisca, Iowa; Enoch W., of this township; Eve- line, wife of Ephraim Martin, of Lewis; James, of Davis county, Iowa; William, living in Holt county, Nebraska; Rachel, wife of J. McFadden; Ray, of this" county; Lorenzo Dow and Aimeda, at home. Mr. Marsh was a member of the Second Iowa Cavalry, company D. He was discharged in consequence of injuries received by being thrown from his horse.

Ile remained in .the hospital six months previous to his discharge. Enoch W. Marsh, second living son of L. D. and Hannah Marsh, was born October 8, 1846, and came with his parents to this county in 1860. He remained with them until his marriage to Catherine Underwood, daughter of Jesse and Mary Underwood, of Pleasant township, Cass county, formerly of Ohio. She was born May 4, 1851, and they were married April 28, 1875. They have two children-Laura Emily, born March 8, 1878, and Willis Woodward, born October 29, 1882. Mr. Marsh resides on section 19, upon one hundred and sixty acres, part of his father's original pur- chase.

Alanson Miller, son of Calvin and Sarah Miller, was born in the State of New York, county of Schenectady. When he was a child, his parents moved to Mc- Henry county, Illinois, where they settled upon a farm. Alanson was reared to that occupation and remained with his parents until his marriage, February 26, 1868, to Mary A. Willis, daughter of W. N. and Mary C. Willis. Her father was born in Massachusetts, and her mother in Pennsyl- vania. They moved from Ohio to Mc- Henry county, Illinois, in 1845. They are now living on the old homestead, in that county. Mrs. Miller was born Decem- ber 10, 1847. The spring following their marriage, Mr. Miller hired to assist in driving sheep, to Cass county, Iowa, and being so well pleased with the new country, decided to make it his home. He returned to Illinois, and in the fall of the same year, removed permanently to this county. For two years he lived upon rented land in Turkey Grove. In the

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

meantime be purchased forty acres of land on section 10, Bear Grove township, to which he removed in the spring of 1871, and on which he now resides. Mr. Miller has been prosperous and now owns one hundred and fifty acres of finely im- proved land. His parents removed to this county in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have four children -Evaleen M., born in February, 1869; Etta L., born in Decem- ber, 1871; Willis A,, born in April, 1874, and Eliza, born in February, 1883. Mr. Miller has served two terms on the board of town trustees, and is now serving his second term as school director. He was also a Grant delegate to the State Conven- tion in 1880.

Michael J. Miller, son of Calvin and Sarah Miller, was born in McHenry county, Illinois, October 23, 1849. He came to Cass county in 1874, and has been a resident here since that time. He was married November 13, 1877, to Nancy R. Burnside, who was born at Kirkwood, Illinois, July 10, 1862. Her parents, Robert and Nancy Burnside, came from Illinois, in 1871, and settled in Atlantic township, where they still reside. In May, 1882, Mr. Miller bought his present farm of eighty acres, in sec- tion 5, of Bear Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have two children-Robert C. and Earl D.

Oliver McFadden resides on section 15, of Bear Grove township. He has lived upon his present farm since 1878. He owns, also, the southeast quarter of sec- tion 9, all of which is improved. Mr. McFadden was born in Grant county, Indiana, October 16, 1853, and is a son of George W. and Sarah McFadden. The

latter died in 1865. George W. McFad- den, with his third wife and seven chil- dren, came to Cass county in 1871, locat- ing in Noble township, where he now lives. Oliver McFadden was married June 3, 1880, to Phobe A. Tippey, a sister of J. J. Tippey, of this township. She was born in Grant county, Indiana, November 25, 1852. They have two chil- dren-Ada Belle, born March 19, 1881, and William J., born June 25, 1882.

John Boller was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, November 24, 1844. His father, Adam Boller, died in 1846. His mother, Ruth (Atherton) Boller, lives in Grant county, Indiana, with her son, Reuben Boller. John Boller and Rachel Tippey were married November 30, 1865. She was born in Grant county, Indiana. Her parents died in that county. Mr. Boller followed farming in Grant county, until he came to Cass county, October 6, 1875. He had visited the county the previous spring, and purchased bis pres- ent farm, then unimproved prairie, in section 15. It contains one hundred and sixty acres, now all under good improve- ment. Mr. and Mrs. Boller have seven children-Laura, born in November, 1866; Murray L., born in August, 1868; Amy, born in July, 1870; Dicy, born in July, 1872; Phoebe L., born in August, 1874; Maggie, born in December, 1876; and Albert, born in February, 1882.

Jesse A. Marsh is a native of Grant connty, Indiana, born August 8, 1844. He is a son of Benjamin and Mary Marsh, both of whom died in Grant county. Jesse A. Marsh and Margaret S. Howard were married November 6, 1868. She is a native of the same county, born March

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

2, 1846, and is a daughter of William and Ruth Howard. The former is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Marsh. The latter died in Grant county in 1875. Mr. Marsh came to Cass county in 1876, and pur- chased eighty acres of improved land in section 15, of Bear Grove township, where they now live. He enlisted Feb- ruary 1, 1865, in company D, of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana Infantry, and served until the regiment was mils- tered out of the service. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh have no children of their own, but are bringing up a child, Delila J. More- head, horn July 22, 1868.

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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