USA > Iowa > Davis County > History of Davis County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 65
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EARIIART, JOSIAH I., retired farmer and merchant, Bloomfield; was born in Pennsylvania in 1813, and at four years of age came with his par- ents, Adam and Julia A. E., to Franklin county, Ohio, where he grew up a farmer, receiving a common school education. In 1841 he moved to Iowa, where he has since lived; has voted at thirty nine elections in this county, and has never lost a vote since the county was organized. He was in mer- cantile business in Troy for twelve years, and in the stock business at the same time, and about seven years was in the mill at Troy, and has been a farmer the rest of the time. He was one of the first justices elected in the county when it was organized. And prior to the adoption of the State con- stitution he was elected probate judge two terms. In 1870 he moved to Bloomfield and has been elected justice here. He was married in Ohio in 1839 to Miss Rebecca Wood, a native of Ohio, and they had seven children, Elizabeth, Malissa, George, Adeline, Julia, and two deceased in infancy. Mrs. E. died in 1854, and two years later he was married to Lonisa Ander- son, a native of Pennsylvania; they have three children, Fannie, Willie and Grace. Mr. and Mrs. E. are members of the Presbyterian church.
ECKARD, W. S., of the firm of Hill & Eekard, butchers, Bloomfield ; was born April 29, 1844, in Huntington county, Pennsylvania. Here he grew up, being educated in the common schools, and learned the plasterer's trade. At the age of nineteen he enlisted in company D. Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry and served in the Shenandoah valley, and was mus- tered ont in March, 1864; again enlisting July 4, 1864, in company B, Two Hundred and Eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, in the ninth army corps, army of Potomac; with which he participated in the siege of Petersburg, in the charges on Fort Steadman, and fort "Hell;" being the first man into the works of Fort Steadman. Was in pursuit of Lee, and at the grand review, and mustered out in June, 1865. He returned to Pennsylvania, plastered a while, then, in 1871, worked as car inspector on the Pennsylvania Central R. R .; came to Iowa in 1876, worked at butchering at Grinnell till Novem- ber, 1880, when he came to Bloomfield and engaged in the same business. HIe was married December 25, 1868, to Miss Mary Kennedy, a native of Pennsyvania; they have four children, Emma, Aldis, Eliza and Blanche. Since writing the abbove Mr. E. has sold out his business and is engaged in plastering. He is a man of energetic habits, and has a good record.
FINDLEY, DR. WILLIAM McK., deceased, was born in Dayton, Ohio, July 30, 1816. IIe was for more than forty years a medical practitioner in lowa. IIis father, Rev. John P. Findley, was for years president of Augusta Col- lege, Kentucky, and his grandfather, Robert W. Findley, was a Methodist minister for sixty years, dying in his ninety-sixth year. The Findleys are of Scoteh-Irish descent, pioneers in North Carolina, and a large number of them have been clergymen. The mother of William was Sarah Strain, her father being with Gen. Washington at the crossing of the Delaware. John P. Findley died in 1825, and Rev. Dr. Henry Bascom became guar- dian of William MeK., who spent two or three years in the college, then spent two years with his uncle at the Wyandotte mission, studying with the Indian boys and becoming an interpreter. He read medieine with Dr. Sa- bin, of Troy, Obio; attended lectures at Pennsylvania University, and grad- nated in 1837. After practicing one year in Shelbyville, Indiana, he came to New London, Henry county, Iowa, and in 1843, settled permanently in
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Bloomfield, Davis county. Dr. Findley was one of the great pioneer physi- .cians of the west, endearing himself to the early settlers by sparing no pains to respond to the calls of the sick. In 1863, he became surgeon of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, and remained at his post of duty till the elose of the war. Dr. Findley was anti-slavery in politics, and joined the republican party at its formation. He was a member of the M. E. Church. He was married October 3, 1839, to Miss Mary Bangs, in New London. She was the daughter of Captain John Bangs, of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Of seven children, the fruit of this union, only three are now living: Anna M., wife of John Duffield; John B., druggist, and Samuel P., a jeweler, all liv- ing in Bloomfield.
FINDLEY, J. B., druggist, Bloomfield, is a son of Dr. William McKay Findley, and was born September 1, 1848, in Bloomfield, Iowa. Here he has been raised and educated. In 1866 he went into the drug business on his own account, having clerked for J. B. Glenn and Gibbon for three years previous, and became master of the trade. He has continued in the busi- ness since. He is a K. P., and has made all his money himself. His father was surgeon of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, and division surgeon during the war. Ile was married November 15, 1871, to Miss Mollie E. Moore, a na- tive of Indiana. and they have had five children, Park, Olga, John B., and two deceased.
FINDLEY, S. P., jeweler, Bloomfield; was born April 28, 1851, in Bloomfield, and has since lived on the same lot on which he was horn, grow- ing to manhood and educated here, in the schools of the town. In 1871, he went into the drug business with his brother with whom he remained until 1876, when he bought out the jewelry business of J. R. Shaffer, and has continued in the trade ever since. He carries the largest stock of jew- elry in the county, or southern Iowa, and enjoys a trade second to none. This he has accomplished through strict attention to business. He was married February 22, 1877 to Miss Ella Wray, of Oskaloosa. Mr. F. is a son of the well known Dr. William McKay Findley.
FENTON, F. M., M. D., Bloomfield : was born August 25, 1833. in Boone county, Missouri. When eight years old, his parents came to Wyacondah township, this county, where they entered the land they still live on. Ilere he grew up on the farm and was educated in the common schools and Troy Academy. In the spring of 1849, he caught the gold fever, and crossed the plains to California, where he remained two and a half years, then returning home the same way. He went to school one year, and taught six months. when he began the study of medicine with Dr. E. J. Shelton, and in the winter of 1857-8. attended the Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, and re- turned to Pulaski and began practicing. In the winter of 1862-3. he grad- uated at Keokuk, and then practiced till March, 1871, when he bought a farm in Perry township, moved on to it, and practiced at the same time. In June, 1880, he sold out his farm and came to Bloomfield, where he has since devoted himself to his practice, which is now second to none in the county. He was married April 15, 1858, to Miss Sarah J. Shelton, whose father was one of the early settlers of Davis county. They have had eight children : Elizabeth, W. E., Joel N., and five deceased in infancy.
FORTUNE, W. F .. of the firm of Fortune Bros. & Fryberger, Bloom- field; was born January 9, 1853, in Davis county, and here has grown to manhood on a farm and educated in the common schools. IIc farmed till
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
the fall of 1879, when he came to Bloomfield and went into the firm of Hill & Fortune, hardware, and has been in the trade ever since. They carry a large stock in their line, and sell their goods at bottom prices; this has se- cured them a large trade. He was married November 25, 1879, to. Miss- Laura Hill, of this county.
FORTUNE, C. D., of the firm of Fortune Bros. & Fryberger, Bloomfield ;. was born, March 18, 1855, in Davis county. Here he grew up a farmer's boy, and was educated in the public school, and the habits of industry he learned on the farm are making his business life successful. He worked on. the farm till the fall of 1880, when, after clerking in the clothing house of Guthman & Co. for a year, he became a member of the above firm in the. hardware trade. Ile was married October 19th, 1881, to Miss Mary Taylor,. a native of Davis county.
FRYBERGER, W. E, of the firm of Fortune Bros. & Fryberger, Bloom- field; was born November 30, 1854, in Wabash county, Indiana. His parents came to Fairfield, lowa, in 1862, and there he grew up on a farm,. and began to learn the printer's trade when he was sixteen, with J. B. King,. of Bloomfield, and followed it six years. He finished his education in Axline's College, Fairfield. He came to Davis county in 1872, and located in Bloomfield, where he has remained. August 16, 1881, he became a part- ner in the above firm, of which he is now a member. Ile was married Feb- rnary 25, 1879, to Miss Belle Fortune, a native of Davis county, and they have onechild, Blanche.
GIBBONS, A. D., druggist, Bloomfield; was born September 26, 1833, in Prince George county, Maryland, and while an infant his parents moved to Indiana, and in the fall of 1844 came to this county, and located abont two miles north of Bloomfield. Here he grew to manhood and graduated from the log school house. February 14, 1856, he entered into partnership with Dr. Greenleaf in the drug business, on the southwest corner of the public square, in Bloomfield, and after about eighteen months sold out to. Mr. Sloan, who sold to Mr. Denny, and in February, 1866, he bought ont Mr. Denny, and has ran the store ever since. He has been a member of the city council several times, and has always been a public spirited man .. He was married November 10, 1860, to Miss Martha C. Spencer, who died July 1, 1877, and he married again April 7, 1878, to Josephine A. Welch, a. native of Illinois, and they have had two children, both deceased. When Mr. G., commenced business, in 1856, he had $425, and to-day he has a fine. business, and owns his business house and a dwelling. He has been a mem- ber of the M. E. Chnach for 28 years, and is also a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges.
GOOD, W. H., deceased, was born in Halifax, Virginia, February, 23, 1798; where he grew to manhood, then emigrated to Kentucky. In 1850, he came to this county settling in Wyacoudah township, being one of the pioneers of that township, where he lived till his disease; he was married July 29, 1860, to Mrs. Mary A. French, of Bloomfield, in Hamilton county, Ohio, and they had two children, Edward E., now a young man of 18, in Bloomfield; and Eva J., a young lady of 16, attending school. Mrs. Good has a nice farm of 124 acres, well improved, with fine brick residence, good. barn, and one of the best orchards in the township. She lives in Bloom- field, owning a neat cottage, with every comfort. She has been a member- of the Christian church since she was 17. Mr. Good was a man npright in.
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his dealings, and had the confidence and respect of everybody. He died trusting in the Lord.
GREENLEAF, D. C., M. D., Bloomfield; was born March 21, 1823, in Switzerland county, Indiana, and there he grew to manhood and was edu- eated in the log school house, and Greensburg Seminary. Began the study of medicine in 1844, with Dr. Win. Armington. of Greensburg, and during his studies he taught school and took a trip through the South, and into Texas before the annexation ; went to Galveston and enlisted in Co. D, First Texas infantry, for the Mexican war, under Gen. Taylor's call, and served about five months. when he returned home to his medical studies, began practicing in 1848, at Shelbyville, Indiana, and in 1850, went to St. Louis and graduated from the medical department of the University of Missouri. He came to Bloomfield in the spring of 1850, and began practicing. He opened the first drug store here, and in 1859, went to St. Louis, and when the war broke out, thinking the atmosphere not congenial, he returned. In May 1863, he was appointed assistant surgeon, of the Fourth lowa Infantry, and being promoted full surgeon, he remained with it till the close of the war, when he again returned to his practice. In 1855, he was elected to the legislature, as a Whig, and served his constituents with great credit, for one term. He was married in July 1852, to Miss Amanda Young, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in 1857, leaving two children, Stephen and Eugene Y. He was married again in Dec. 1858, to Augustine V., a sister of his first wife, and they have eight children, Horace C., Mattie, Della, Gertrude, Ruth, Edmund, Daniel and Inez. Ruth's life was saved at one time when she had the dyptheriac croup, by her father performing Tracheotomy.
HAMILTON, JOHN JUDSON, was born at Harrisville, Butler county, Pennsylvania, November 10, 1854. In the spring of 1866, his parents re- moved to Floris, in this county, having purchased a farm near that village. October 31, 1868, his father died, at the age of fifty years. Jannary 3, 1871 he entered the State University of Iowa at Iowa City. In September 1873, he was appointed Frst Assistant Librarian of the University, which position he filled for five years. His first experience in journalism was acquired as associate editor and business manager of the University Reporter. In No- vember, 1876, he represented the University as orator in the annual con- test of State Inter-Collegiate Association at Cedar Rapids, being awarded the second honors. In June, 1877, he graduated, taking the degree of A. B. The next few months he devoted to sociological researches in the South, traveling nearly 1,000 miles a foot through Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky, giving especial attention to the condition of the freed.nen. Returning north in the tall, he continued to act as Librarian of the University, and prosecuted the study of law, besides teaching in the Iowa City High school. In August, 1867, he went south again, and made an extended study of the condition of the colored people of Southern Vir- ginia, remaining in Dinwiddie county, for the purpose until December. Returning to Iowa, he took editorial charge of the Davis county Republican March 31, 1879, and has continued to fill that position ever since. In June 1880, he took the degree of A. M. at the State University. In the fall of 1881, he was the republican candidate for the lower house of the State leg- islature from Davis county. He is a genial batchelor, and a prince of good fellows. His standing in this county, and State as well,. is that of a eul- tured, intelligent gentleman.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
HARTZLER, J. D., proprietor Bloomfild creamery ; was born March 28, 1849, in Champaign county, Ohio, being there reared on a farm and at- tending school. At the age of twenty-one he went to Cass county, Mis- souri, for three years, then to Elkhart, Indiana, where he learned the car- penters trade, and a year or two later returned to Missouri for a short time, then coming to this county, where he is now engaged in the creamery busi- ness. Ile was married on September 6, 1881, to Miss A. Stotzman, a na- tive of Fairfield county, Ohio, a lady of fine intelligence of character. Mr. HI. is a man of very fine business capacity, and is bound to succeed.
HIARWARD, L. S., general merchant, Bloomfield; was born June 17, 1842, in Van Buren county, Iowa. In 1843, his parents came to Davis county, and located in Salt Creek township. where they entered the land on which they still live. Here he grew up and finished his education in Troy Academy. At the age of twenty, he clerked two years for his brother at Floris, then taught school three years, and in 1872 formed a partnership with hs brother at Floris, and two years later bonght him out. In 1876, he moved his stock of goods to Bloomfield, and in January, 1880, took into partnership Mr. J. B. Young, but bought him out again in August, 1881, and has since been alone. He carries a large and well selected stock, and is making money, which shows what a live Hawkeye is capable of doing in the way of business, when he has a mind to. He was married, June 14, 1866, to Miss M. E. Jay, a native Hawkeye, born in Davis county, and they have two children, Edgar L. and George D.
HAZLEWOOD, GREENVILLE, proprietor of Hazlewood harness shop Bloomfield; was born in October, 1813, at Lynchburg, Virginia. At twelve years of age he went to Samuel Schoolfield as an apprentice for eight years. Then he came to Salem, Indiana, and for twelve years engaged in harness making. Coming to Iowa in the fall of 1849, he settled in this county. From 1849 to 1861 he was farming and milling in West Grove township, then coming to this city he has been in the harness busines ever since. By good work and fair dealing he has acquired a large trade, amounting last year to $10,000. He was married in June, 1832, to Mary Clare, of Virginia, and they have had ten children : Ann R., George C., Greenville, Jr., now in business with his father, Josiah C., Charles B., David and fonr deceased, Robert, Henry, John M., and Mary L. Mr. H. is a Mason and a worthy member of the Christian church. Thee of his sons were in the army, Green- ville, Jr., enlisted October 16, 1862, as bugler, company A, Third Iowa Cav- alry, mustered out in August, 1865; G. C. enlisted August 1, 1861. as ser- geant company E, mustered ont in August, 1864; J. M., enlisted in August, 1861, bugler, company A, mnstered out Angust, 1865.
HERR, B. F., of the firm of Hill, Herr & Co., Bloomfield, was born An- gust 11, 1849, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. There he grew to man- hood and was educated in the common schools, and at the age of fourteen. went into the store of Henry Uhler, of White Horse, in the same county, and remained about five years. In 1868, he came to Iowa, then to Glen- wood, Missouri, where he clerked for Newton Shelton about two years, then went to Stilesville, Davis county, Iowa and clerked for A. Brunk about two and a half years, when he came to Bloomfield and opened a grocery (where Welch now is), under the name of Herr & Co. He sold out in the spring of 1875, and bought an interest in the store of Hill, Myers & Co., the name being changed to Hill, Herr & Co., and now occupying the finest store room in southwestern Iowa, and carrying the largest stock. He was mar-
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ried July 11, 1876, to Miss Ella, daughter of William Hill, a native of Davis conntv.
HILL, A. H., of Bloomfield; deputy county clerk; was born Jannary 13, 1836, in Putnam county, Indiana. At the age of twelve his parents came to Iowa, locating in Wyacondah township, and there he grew to manhood and received his education in the public schools and Troy Academy. He farmed until he was twenty-two, thenin August, 1861, enlisted in company A, Third Iowa Cavalry, and served until July, 1863, when he was honora- bly discharged on account of the loss of his left arm from a wound at the battle of La Grange, Arkansas, May 1, 1863. After returning home in this condition he did but little until 1864, when he was elected county re- corder and reclected in 1866, holding the office four years, and in 1868 was elected clerk of the District and Circuit Courts, which position he held by reelection for eight years. Thus showing the high esteem in which he was held by his comrades, neighbors and friends. He has been depnty elerk ever since, a position he now holds. He was married in April, 1869, to Miss Mary E. Millsap, a native of Illinois.
HILL, EBB., of the firm of Hill, Herr, & Co., Bloomfield; was born in this county, two mi'es east of Bloomfield. April 26, 1856. He received a common education, his early youth being spent partly on a farm and partly in the store with his father, William Hill. For two years he was a member of the firm of Hill. Taylor & Fortune, hardware. He was married October 26, 1881, to Miss Emma Mutz, a native of Shelby county, Indiana, a daugh- ter of Jacob Mutz. Mr. II. is of Yankee descent on his father's side, and English on his mother's. Mr. and Mrs. H. are starting in life with the brightest prospeets before them, and the well-wishes of all their friends and associates. Mrs. Hill's father was elected to Congress in 1858, and again in 1862, from the Shelby county district. and his family consists of six chil- dren: Dr. Charles M., of St. Louis; Katie: Dr. Francis, of Indiana; Etoyle, wife ot Dr. Pearson: Philo J .. Oscar, and Emma.
HILL, ISAAC. farmer and stock dealer; postoffiec, Bloomfield; is a native of Shelby county, Indiana; born December 4, 1848. When two years old his parents came to this county, lived here abont a year, then returned to Indiana, where his father died, in 1851. Two years after, he, with his mother. returned to Davis county. At the age of ten he started in life for himself, and from that time since he has "paddled his own canoe." He has lived in Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, Indiana and Iowa. In June, 1880, he settled in his present business. He was married in Indiana, in 1871, to Miss Susan Davidson, a native of Indiana, and they have had four children: Cora F., Lorana, Ninia M., and Della E., deceased at the age of two years and eight months. Mr. H. is a member of the Baptist Church.
HILL, WM., senior member of the firm of Hill, Herr & Co., Bloomfield; was born November 20, 1829, in Warren county, Ohio. There he grew to the age of maturity on a farm, and has always owned and operated one or more of them ever since. He was left an orphan at the age of thirteen, when he was thrown upon his own resources, and began working on a farm at $50 a year. In 1848. he came to Indiana, and there farmed for two years, and in 1850, came to lowa, and located three miles east of Bloomfield, and remained there till 1857. when he moved to Pulaski, where he laid out that town in 1858, and bought out Mr. Miller, and went into mercantile business, which he continued abont one year, when he again turned farmer, till the fall of 1862, when he came to Bloomfield, and again went into mercantile
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
trade, in which he has been engaged ever since. In 1863 he went to paek- ing pork, and continued it each year till 1871. During all this time he has had several partners. He has now associated with him his son, D. F. Hill, and his son-in-law, B. F. Herr. They have a store at Stanberry, Missouri, where they carry a large stock, under the supervision of his son, D. F. They have the finest store room in Bloomfield, and carry much the largest stoek, Mr. Ifill being the oldest in the business of any man in the city. He owns his store building and six other business honses, which he rents, and several dwellings, besides a number of fine farms. Ile has always been identified with the railroad, and other interests for building up the county. He was married February 15, 1849, to Miss Emily Jones, a native of Indiana, and they have had twelve children. Mary A., wife of Wm. Holmes; Julia A., wife of Wm. M. Saunders: D. F., Lizzie, wite of Baptist Hardy; I. E., Lanra, wife of Frank Fortune: Ella, wife of B. F. Herr; Sadie, wife of Stephen Hardy, Anna E .; Flora; Wm. Jr., and Thomas; all living.
HORN, M. B., Bloomfield; was born October 29, 1832, in Kentneky. In 1835 his parents came to Indiana, where he grew to manhood on a farm, and was educated in the common seliools. At the age of sixteen he learned the painter's trade, at which he worked about two years, when he again went to farming till 1853, when he came to Iowa, and located in Bloomfield, en- tering the store of Manning and Horn, as elerk, remaining with them till 1856, when he went into the drug store of Greenleaf and Gibbons, remain- ing about a year, and then went back to his brother's store, untit 1860, when they opened a store at Newbern, Marion county, to close out some stock ; from there, in 1862, he went to Chariton and clerked for O. L. Palmer about two years, then with W. H. Simpson a year, then with Beem and Wayniek for two years, and then went back to his trade, until 1870, when he farmed one year, and in 1871 returned to Bloomfield and bought ont the abstraet offiee of Shaller and Gibbons, and has since followed that and the real estate business. He has been mayor of Bloomfield three times, and jus- tice of the peace three time, which office he now holds. He has also been twice eleeted conneilman, a posion he now holds. He was married May 18, 1858, to Miss Josephine M. Custer, a native of Missouri, who died April 6, 1871. leaving four children: George F., Susan, Maud and Mary. Ile was married again, April 25, 1872, to Miss Virginia C. Custer, sister of his first wife, and they have five children: Lulu V., Martin B., Ella, Grace and a baby.
IIULL, CAPT. J. A. T., present Secretary of State of the State of Iowa. The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio, where he was born in Clin- ton county, on the first of May, 1841, but while vet an infant his parents removed to Ross county, in the same State, and resided in that county un- til the year 1849, when his parents removed to Polk county, Iowa. He re- ceived his education at the Asbury University in Indiana. at the Weslyan University at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and graduated from the Law School at Cincinnati, Ohio, with the class of 1862, and immediately returned to his home in Iowa, and enrolled himself among the defenders of his country, enlisting as a private soldier, but before leaving the city of Des Moines, he received a commission of first lieutenant, and during the same year was pro- moted to captain of company C, of the Twenty- third Iowa Infantry, which position he continued to fill with great eredit until the elose of the war, and was engaged in some of the most hotly contested battles of the war, among which were Port Gibson, Magnolia Hill, Raymond, Jackson, Champion
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