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 90

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 90

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Edwin F. Lee, son of John and Hannah Ice, was born November 2, 1842, in Cum-

berland county, New Jersey. His father died in that State in 1864. His mother is still living there. Mr. Lee has no relatives in this State, with the exception of an uncle in Polk county. Edwin F. Lee was employed by the government in the naval transportation service, from the spring of 1861 to the spring of 1864. In March, 1864, he went to Illinois, and engaged in farming in Mason county until 1871. He was married in that county, September 22, 1864, to Charlotte Chester, who was born in Cumberland county, New Jersey, in April, 1845. She is a daughter of Thomas and Dorothea Chester. Mr. and Mrs. Lee came to this county in 1871, and bought the farm they now occupy. He

first purchased forty acres, to which he has since added one hundred and twenty acres. It is located on section 27. Mr. Lee and wife have three children-Ma- hała, wife of Preston J. Hillyard, of this township; Henrietta and Selinda. Mr. Lee has served several terms as member of the township board of trustees, has been school director four or five terms, and township treasurer one term. He is a useful and highly respected citizen.

Jeremiah E. Todd was born June 6, 1847, in Hancock county, Ohio. He is a son of George and Rachel (Needles) Todd, natives of Ohio. He lived in his native State until November, 1864, when he en listed as a recruit in company A, of the Twenty-first Ohio Infantry, and served six months. He was mustered into ser- vice at Columbus, Ohio, and out at the same place. He returned home in good health and resumed farming. In 1866 he came to Iowa, and settled on a farm in Linn counyt, with his uncle, George

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Needles. He remained there one year, and then returned to Ohio, but soon after came back to Linn county. He was mar- ried July 5, 1869, to Martha Chessman, of that county, but a native of Indiana, and daughter of John Chessman, who died April 19, 1883. They remained in Linn county till 1877, when he came to Cass county and bought forty acres of land in Atlantic township. He kept this land until 1883, then sold it and purchased eighty acres of unimproved land in the southwest quarter of section 5, Union township, where he now resides. His farm is now all under cultivation and well-improved. It is well watered by a creek which crosses the south side, and a branch, running through the east side of the farm. Ile is engaged in general farm- ing, and in addition to this, runs a thresh- ing machine during the fall season, with which he does a good business. Mr. Todd started in life poor, but by industry and perseverance, has already accumu- lated a comfortable property. Mr. and Mrs. Todd have two children-Edna May, born May 23, 1871, and Sarah Ellen, born May 6, 1884.

John W. Crozier, son of Robert and Nancy Crozier, was born at Buffalo, New York, October 4, 1855. His parents were formerly from Ohio. They settled in Marion county, Iowa, about 1846. They were among the pioneers of that county. In 1850 they went to California, returning in 1855. On their journey home to Marion county, John W., the subject of this sketch, was born. The parents are still living in Marion county. John W. Crozier and Nancy Ann Elliott were mar- ried in that county on April 11, 1875. She

is a daughter of William and Mary Elliott, formerly of Kentucky, and now of Marion county. Mrs. Crozier was born in Ken- tuck, May 11, 1853. November 7, 1881, Mr. Crozier bought of T. C. Dowell, the southeast quarter of section 15, Union township, and September 1st moved thither. Since that time he has added forty acres to his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Crozier have three children-Clyde E., born in Marion county, July 27, 1877; Omie Dell, born February 2, 1879, and Augusta, born December 28, 1883.

Hall G. Van Vlack wasborn in Dutchess county, New York, June 19, 1827. His father, Daniel Van Vlack, was a resident of New York until his death, which oc- curred in May, 1883. Hall remained with his parents until 1844, when he learned the carpenter trade. He worked at his trade in Dunkirk, about eleven years, when he went to Pennsylvania, and there worked in Erie and Titusville, for nearly five years, as a contractor and builder. He was one of the best of his profession in Pennsylvania, and in 1868 he came to Iowa, and settled at Des Moines, Polk county, where he remained one year, and in the meantime he bought land in Cass county. On coming to Cass county he set- tled on section 11, Bear Grove township, and in 1869 he built a residence and be- gan improving his place. In 1870 he sold his property and purchased land in Union township, and has now one of the best farms in the county. He was united in marriage in 1850, to Elizabeth Maxbam. Mrs. Van Vlack is a native of New York State, and was born in February, 1829. They have been blessed with two sons- Orson, born in 1854, and George, in 1860.

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

Mr. Van Vlack has been a prominent man in the public affairs of the county. He was the first supervisor of the township of Bear Grove, and in 1872 was again elected supervisor of the county at large, for three years.

George Bock, a native of New York city, was born September 24, 1842. He is a son of Gottfried Bock, who died in Johnson county, October 10, 1882. His wife, Margaret Bock, is now living in Johnson county. When the subject of this sketch was quite young, bis parents moved to Washington county, New York. In 1863 they came to Iowa and settled in Cedar county. At the age of twenty-two years George left home and worked at general farm work in that county. He was married in March, 1870, to Angeline Chrisman, a daughter of John and Sarah Chrisman. John Chrisman died in Johnson county, April 19, 1882, and his widow lives, at present, with Mr. and Mrs. Bock. Mr. Bock came to Cass county in 1873, and located on section 9, Union township, where he now lives. His farm contains one hundred and sixty acres, all under good improve- ment and fenced in forty acre fields. Mr. and Mrs. Bock have seven children- Emma, born August 10, 1871; Margaret, born August 17, 1873; Sarah, born Sept- ember 20, 1875; Susan, born September 17, 1877; George, born September 8, 1879; Gottfried, born June 4, 1881, and Mar- tha, born July 12, 1883. Mr. Bock has served as school director, road super- visor and member of the board of trus- tees.

Jonathan A. Taylor is a native of Clear- field county, Pennsylvania, born Novem-

ber 10, 1828. His father, John M. Tay- lor, emigrated to Iowa, and settled in Scott county, about 1854. He moved to Cedar county, where he died in January, 1873. His wife, Mary Taylor, died about six months earlier. Jonathan A., subject of this sketch, spent his early life in his native State, and at the age of twelve years, began to earn his own living. In 1854 he came west and spent a short time during the Border Ruffian war, then re- turned to Linn county, where his parents were living. One year later he went to Kansas and took up land and remained there two years. He then settled in Iowa. After spending one year in Davenport, he went to Cedar county and lived twelve years. March 16, 1874, he came to At- lantic, and became a resident of Cass county, purchasing land on section 17, Union township. His farm contains one hundred and twenty acres of land, a fine farm, upon which he has made all of the improvements. Mr. Taylor was married at Cedar Rapids, November 24, 1859, to May D. Cox, a daughter of Elijah and Jemima Cox, old settlers of Linn county. Mrs. Taylor was born March 16, 1841. They have had six children-William F., born in November, 1860, now living with his parents; Eva F., born in May, 1862, wife of A. O. Ludwig, of Union town- ship; John W., born February 10, 1864, and died February 20, 1864; Lizzie, born in December, 1865, now the wife of Wal- lace Hardy, of Colfax county, Nebraska; Lydia A., born in May, 1869, and Alex- ander J., born in October, 1876.

Jacob Trego was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1840. In 1841, his father, Curtis Trego, moved to Mercer

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

county, Illinois, and later to Knox county, then to Rock Island county, and thence to Henry county, Illinois. In the fall of 1875 he came to Iowa, and settled in Madison county, where he died, August 25, 1883. His widow is still living in Madison county. Jacob Trego, at the age of nineteen, left the parental roof, that being in 1859, and the family then lived in Knox county, Illinois. He enlisted in 1861, in company C, of the One Hundred Second Illinois regiment. After serving six months, he was discharged on account of disability. He was married June 30, 1861, in Mercer county, Illinois, to Han- nah Wilkins, who was born in New Jersey, November 24, 1843. They lived one year in Mercer county, then removed to Henry county, where he followed farm- ing. They came to Cass county in 1872, and bought land on . section 18, Union township, improved and made a farm. In 1874 he sold this place to his father-in- law, and moved to Dexter. Two years later he bought the farm lie now owns and occupies, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, all improved, on section 12. They have five children-Ida, Mary, Frances, Clarence W., Helen G. and Rush R.

In Angust, 1807, Allen Trego was born and is a native of Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, and is the son of Jacob Trego. He was married in Bucks county, in Sep- tember, 1830,to Keziah Carver, a native of that county. They have had three chil- dren : Wilson, born in April, 1833, died 1834; Watson C., born in 1835, now a resident of Cass county, and Mary Ellen, wife of Cyrus Ulam, and died in Decem- ber, 1862, leaving one child-Rosa. Mr.

Trego in 1843, moved to Mercer county, Illinois, and was engaged in farming, with the exception of four years, when he was engaged in the mercantile business in Henry county, Illinois, and in 1871 he came to Cass county, Iowa, and purchased four hundred and forty acres of land on sections 10, 11 and 13, Union township ; and beside this, now owns eighty acres on section 11. He has deeded all his land except eighty acres, to his son Watson. Mrs. Trego died in August, 1882, and her death was greatly mourned by her husband and children. Mr. Trego is one of the prominent men of Union township, and is respected for his sterling, honest character.

Watson C. Trego was born in July 1835, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He en- listed in August, 1862, in company C, One Hundred and Second Illinois Volun- teers, his health failed, and he was dis- charged on account of disability. He was married in Mercer county, Illinois, to Elizabeth K. Wilkins. They have six children: Rosa Ella, died in October, 1861; Elith L., Edgar W., Mary B., Abby B., Allen W. and Nellie E. Mr. Trego served as school treasurer for two terms, has been school director and township as- sessor. He has been a very prominent man of his township, and is well known as an honest and upright citizen.

Hiram W. Studley, one of the promi- nent men of Union township, was born in in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on the 24th day of November, 1834, and there grew to manhood. He emigrated to Rock Island, Illinois, in 1855, and a portion of the three following years was deputy

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

county clerk of Rock Island county, Illi- nois ; enlisted at St. Louis, Missouri, in October, 1858, and served five years in the Seventh United States Infantry, and was discharged, at New York city, in 1863, as quarter-master sergeant. On his dis- charge he was employed in the quarter- master's department at New York, until October, 1864, when he went to Nashville, Tennessee, to serve as chief clerk under Brevet-Colonel F. J. Crilly, chief quarter- master United States military railroads, where he remained until March, 1866, when the officer was relieved and ordered to Washington, D. C., where he remained until August, 1867, when the officer was again ordered to Philadelphia, Pennsylva- nia, and where he remained in the employ of the quartermaster's department United. States army, until November 1, 1871. He left the service, and was engaged as salesman in a wholesale house in Phila- delphia, until his settlement, in January, 1875, in Cass county, Iowa, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 14, and made some fine improvements. He was married December 5, 1861, at Richland Grove, Illinois, to Lydia M. Trego, a daughter of Seth D. and. Martha K. Trego, of Mercer county, Illinois. They have had three children : Charles E., Samuel and Anne M. Samuel was born July 13, 1868, in Massachusetts, and died in May, 1871, at Philadelphia. Mr. Studley has held the offices of town- ship treasurer and justice of the peace. He was president of the school board, and . has been entrusted with several other township offices.

Jeremiah M. C. Keasey was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, November 10,

1826. His father, Christian Keasey, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and re- moved to Fairfield county, Ohio, with bis parents when quite young. He, (Chris- tian Keasey) died in Ohio in 1844. After his death his widow, Elizabeth Keasey, moved with her family, to La Grange county, Indiana, where she died in Nov- ember 1872. Jeremiah Keasey and Tem- perance Merrifield were married in that county, May 25, 1851. She was born in Huron county, Ohio, May 19, 1832. They lived in La Grange county and followed farming until 1862, when they moved to Jasper county, Iowa, and engaged in the same business. In 1873 they came to Cass county and bought forty acres of land in Franklin township, on which they lived five years. February 17, 1882, they moved to the farm which they now own and occupy, consisting of eighty acres on section 4, of Union township. Mr. and Mrs. Keasey have two children-John and Elmer. Elmer was married in 1880, to Mary Lneass, and resides in Franklin township. John was married in 1884, to Minnie Folsom; they reside in Union township. .

H. V. Boggs, son of Henry Boggs, of this township was born in Galia county, Ohio, February 22, 1846. His parents moved to Jones county, Iowa, in the fall of 1855, and remained there until June 1869, when they came to Cass county. Mr. Boggs, Sr., bought one hundred and fifty acres on section 29, and H. V., subject of this sketch, purchased eighty acres on section 20. The latter has since purchased eighty acres on section 30. Hiram V. Boggs was married June 17, 1874, to Esther Lloyd, a native of Wales, born August 16, 1855. She is a daughter

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

of Thomas Lloyd, who came from Wales to this country in October, 1868, and now resides in Edna township, Cass county. Mr. and Mrs. Boggs have two children- Beryl Margaret, born November 22, 1875, and Sarah Jane, born June 19, 1883.

Henry Boggs was born in Galia county, Ohio, December 10, 1814. His father was Andrew Boggs, a son of Samuel Boggs, who was one of the early settlers of Ohio and formerly from Virginia. Henry Boggs was married to Sarah Vashti McDaniel, who died in 1847. He was again married to Levina Green, a native of Ohio. He had by his first marriage, one son-Hiram V .; by the second mar- riage, ten children-Ervin, Tempy Jane, Sarah, Dell, Louisa, Henrietta, Henry Clay, John, Elizabeth and Andrew Jack- son.

William L. Whisler, one of the Cass , county pioneers, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in the town of New Lisbon, July 23, 1838. He is a son of Samnel and Elizabeth R. Whisler, pioneers of this county. They came here in 1855, from Whitney county, Indiana, where they had lived four years. They settled at Edna Grove, where Mr. Whisler, Sr., was post- master for a number of years. The old homestead is now owned and occupied by R. M. Whisler. The subject of this sketch, in 1859, went to Kansas and spent one year in teaming and breaking prairie. then returned home. In the spring of 1860, he went to Colorado with his broth- er, John Whisler, and they together pur- chased a mining claim and engaged in mining a part of the season. The latter part of the time William hauled quartz. Not being satisfied with the prospect, he

returned in November, crossing the Platte river at Fort Kearney on the day Lincoln was elected president. In Aug- ust, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Twenty-Third Iowa Volunteer In- fantry. His first active service was during the Vicksburg campaign. He par- ticipated in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hill and Black River Bridge. In the last battle, their colonel, William Kinsman, was killed, and the loss of the regiment was very heavy. They lost during the space of ten minutes, one hundred and fifty men. They were sent to Memphis in charge of prisoners, then to Milliken's Bend where the regi- ment was again engaged and afterwards rejoined the brigade at the siege of Vicks- burg. He was in the battle at Jackson after the surrender of Pemberton, was then in the department of Louisiana and spent the winter of 1863-64 in Texas. He joined General Banks' force during the retreat of the latter from the Red river campaign, took part in the campaign against Mobile, was in engagements at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, and again took part in a campaign in Texas. He was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, as a non-commissioned officer, Au- gust 26, 1865. Mr. Whisler was wounded at Fort DeRussey, on the Red river, by the accidental discharge of a revolver in the hands of a Union soldier. He returned to the home of his father. He was mar- ried to Maria S. Mercer, daughter of Jesse and Rachel Mercer, of Pottawattamie county, Iowa, and soon after bought his present home on section 31, Union town- ship. His farm contains one hundred and twenty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Whisler have

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

seven children-Jesse R., born in Decem- ber, 1867; Laura J., born in December, 1869; Lewis E., born in August, 1872; Laura M., born in August, 1875; Wilbur F., born in May, 1878; Florence E., born in March, 1881 and Mary O., born in Feb- ruary, 1884. In the fall of 1876 Mr. Whisler rented his farm here and re- moved with his family to Pottawattamie county to a farm which they owned near the village of Elliott. In the spring of 1881 they sold this place and returned to Cass county. Mr. Whisler in 1867 was township clerk of the territory including Victoria, Edna and Noble townships. He is a life member of the Iowa Soldiers' Orphan's Home association.

G. A. Hebing was born on the banks of the river Rhine in Prussia, December 12, 1840. When nineteen years of age he came to America to seek a home. He landed at New York city, remaining there four weeks, then went to Sandusky, Ohio. Six weeks later he went to Davenport, Iowa, thence to Grinnell, where he re- mained four weeks. He next went to Council Bluffs and Omaha, and a few days later to Cass county. This was in 1857. In February, 1859 he, in company with eight others, crossed the plains to Central City, Colorodo and engaged in mining. He returned to Cass county in October of the same year. A few days after his re- turn he started East on a visit to New York city, Sandusky and other points. The following spring he came again to this county and soon after, again crossed the plains to Colorado. He remained there until the December following, then returned. August 1, 1862, lie enlisted in company I, of the Twenty third Iowa Vol-

unteers. He participated in engagements at Currant river, Missouri, Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hill and Black River Bridge. He was wound- ed at the latter place in the left leg, in consequence of which he suffered ampu- tation. He was removed, three weeks later to Jackson hospital at Memphis,then to Dodge hospital at St. Louis, thence to Jefferson barracks and there discharged as convalescent, and returned to Cass county. Three months previous to en- listment he was married to Mary E. Chap- man, a daughter of one of the pioneers of Adair county. She was born in Feb- ruary, 1841. After his return from the army, Mr. Hebing began improving a farm in Bear Grove township, on which he lived until December, 1882, then sold and moved to his present farm in Union town- ship. It is located on section 20, and con- tains seven hundred and twenty acres with five hundred acres improved. This is the largest farm in the township. The land lies on sections 20, 21 and 29. His residence is on section 20. Mr. and Mrs. Hebing have six children-Altha F., wife of W. R. Noland of Edna; Charles H., Frederick M., Lena A., Mattie and Mary Maud.

Lewis L. Durham was born in Lewis county, New York, March 24, 1830. He lived in Lewis and Jefferson counties un- til about nineteen years of age. His father was a farmer and he was reared to that pursuit. His father died in Jeffer- son county, and his mother died while on a visit to him (Lewis) in La Salle county, Illinois. At the age of eighteen years he first came west and remained a few months in Michigan, then returned to

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

New York. In 1850 he again came West and about a year later started overland for California, but abandoned the trip near Fort Laramie and returned to La Salle county, Illinois. He was married October 3, 1851, to Lucetta M. Jones, who was born pear Crawfordsville, Pennsylvania, in 1832. He remained in La Salle county, until 1854, then came to this State and and located in Benton county, where he purchased and improved a farm of two hundred acres. In 1856, he sold out and removed to Hardin county, where he bought a partially improved farm of one hundred and forty-five acres, which later he enlarged to seven hundred acres. When the war broke out he enlisted in company C, of the Sixth Iowa Volunteers, and was mustered in as a non-commis- sioned officer. He participated in all of the engagements of his regiment, except that of Jackson, when he was in the hos- pital, which included the battles of Pitts- burg Landing, siege of Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, and in the army of Sherman which went to the relief of Chattanooga; also the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, and other important en- gagements. The last ten months of his ser- vice he was orderly sergeant of the Fourth Wisconsin Regiment, Pioneer Corps. He returned to Hardin county, Iowa, and re- mained until 1873, when he came to Cass county, and is now identified with all of its material interests. His farm contains two hundred and sixty acres, on sections 29 and 30, all under good improvement. Mr. Durham's present wife was formerly Anna Onions, who was born in England in 1846. They were married in 1873. Six children have been born to them, two

of whom are deceased-Lewis, died at the age of three years and seven months; Lillie Viola was born in 1873; Olive May in 1875; Orrin (deceased) in 1877; Anna Laura in 1878, and James Garfield in 1880.

William A. Petit was born near Water- town, Jefferson county, New York, July 15, 1827. His father, Daniel Petit, lived in that county all of his life, with the ex- ception of the last fifteen years. He died in St. Lawrence county a few years since. William A., on attaining manhood, went to Waupacca county, Wisconsin, where he worked at farming and in the pineries, about ten years. He then went to Win- nebago county, Illinois, and engaged in farming near Rockford, remaining there until June, 1876, when he came to this county, and settled on land previously purchased, on section 14 of Union town- ship. He has resided bere continuously since that time. His farm contains one hundred and sixty acres, all improved. Mrs. Petit was formerly Eliza M. Ho- bart, and their marriage took place Octo- ber 2, 1853. They have eight children- Edwin W., born in January, 1859, now residing in this township; Henry A., born in April,1861,now station agent in Wiota; Willie M., born in May, 1863, now living with his parents; Alhert H., born in February, 1865; Frank C,, born in February, 1868; Clara Louisa, born in February, 1870; Earl D., born in Novem- ber, 1873;and Alice May, horn in October, 1877. Mr. Petit is a good citizen, and is highly respected.

Josiah Snively was born in Washington county, Maryland, February 11, 1811. His early life was spent in his native

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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.

State, On attaining his majority, he went to Ogle county, Illinois, where he was married, June 1, 1857, to Phobe Hurd, who was born in New Hampshire, Sep- tember 1, 1833. In 1870 they removed to Linn county, Kansas, where he engaged in buying and selling stock. He came to Cass county in 1874, and purchased the northwest quarter of section 11, Union township. This land he improved, and the family have resided there since that time. Josiah Snively died, May 31, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Snively had four children born to them-Edward, born in March, 1855, now living in Vermilion county, Illinois; Laura, born in May, 1858, now a teacher in the public schools of Atlantic. Charles, born in June, 1863, and Hattie, born in November, 1864.

Philip Trainer is a native of Wisconsin, born August 15, 1850. His father, Wal- ter Trainer, dicd in Dodge county, Wis- consin, when Philip was quite young. His mother, Ann Trainer, died in Dodge county, February 4, 1870. Philip lived with his mother most of the time until he became of age. He was there en- gaged in the pineries, lumbering, log- drawing and sub-contracting, from the time he was eighteen years of age until he left Wisconsin. In 1875 he came to this county and has resided here continuously since that time. He purchased land on section 36, Franklin township, and there opened a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he sold in the fall of the same year, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section 5, Union township. He was married January 3, 1878, to Alice Conine, who was born in Columbia county, Ohio, August 5, 1861. Her father, Isaac

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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