USA > Iowa > Davis County > History of Davis County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 69
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
This marriage proved unhappy, and they separated four months after, and obtained a divoree. One child was the result of this union, born after the separation, of whom Mr. C. granted her the custody. He was married the fourth time. April 29, 1854, to his present wife Miss Naney IIale, a native. of Illinois. They have two children: Anna, wife of Miles Shown; and Franeis M., of this county. Mr. C. has been a Mason for sixteen years, and an Odd Fellow for twenty. He is one of the most highly respected citizens of the county.
COY, DANIEL, farmer, stock-raiser and brick-maker, section 26, postoffice- Bloomfield; was born in Greene county, Ohio, in February 1823. IIe was there reared to manhood and received a limited education. IIe eame to Bloomfield in 1851, and bought the farm he now occupies, in 1853, con- sisting of 200 aeres, 120 in cultivation, balance in blue grass pasture. In 1878, he engaged in brick-making. He was married in 1841, to Miss Sarah Morgan, of Ohio; they have five children, Mary C., wife of Henry Smith; Susan, wife of John Neal; Martha J., wife of Wm. Ilaines; Samuel L. and Milton C., all married except Samuel. Mr. Coy has been an Odd Fellow for twenty-five years, and is a man highly respected by the community.
DAVIES, WM. G., farmer and stock-raiser, seetion five, postoffice Bloomfield; was born Angust 30, 1830. in Dearborn county, Indiana, of Welsh parents. Here he grew to manhood, and received a common school education, while assisting his father, William Davies, a pioneer of that county, and also assisted in ereeting the first brick building in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1856 he visited Missouri and Iowa, and bought his present farm, through his brother, the same year. He settled on it in 1862, and the next year returned to his native place, and married, February 28, 1863, Miss Hannah F. Emerson, and brought her to the home he had prepared. He was in the stock trade abont twelve years, had stock in the Union stoek vards in Chicago at their opening, also at St. Louis and Cincinnati. At present he is farming and feeding; he has a fine farm of 227 aeres, well im- proved, with eighty acres of permanent grass pasture; good buildings and orehard, the farm fenced all around with osage hedge. Mr. D. has a. family of s x children, Jennie S., Emma C., Lizzie L., Thomas, Willie G. and Charles J.
DEVAULT, JACOB, farmer and stock raiser, seetion 12, postoffice Bloomfield; was born June 12, 1820, in Harrison county, Ohio. Here he- grew up and was educated, learning blacksmithing, which he followed many years. In 1850, he went to California, where he remained two years, mining and traveling, then returned to Ohio, and farmned two years, then worked at blacksmithing till 1872, when he came to this eounty where he now owns a nice farm of 260 acres, 200 in good eultivation, and is well fitted for stoek-raising. lIe was married April 3d, 1844, to Miss Margaret Gotsehall, a native of Ohio, and they have had seven children, Lonisa, deceased, Hiram, A. J., J. E .. G. W., Mary E., wife of Frank Rankin, and Isabelle D., wife of Henry Wishard. Mr. Devault is a self-made man, having com- inenced with nothing except a trade and a strong constitution. He has- given his children a good education and also a substantial start in life. They are gifted with all the elements of success.
DEVAULT, HIRAM, farmer and stock-raiser, section 42. postoffice, Bloomfield; was born August 5, 1847, in Vinton county, Ohio. Here he grew to manhood, and attended the common schools. He enlisted in the 194th Ohio Infantry when he was 17. He served in the Shenandoah valley,.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
and was discharged in November 1865, when he returned home and worked at blacksmithing in his father's shop. Removed to Harrison county in 1869, bonght a small farm, built a small shop, and combined the two trades. He has a fine farm of 240 acres, well improved. His entire farm is pasture and meadow, and he keeps on an average SO head of stock. IIe shipped two car loads this year, graded as export cattle A No. 1, and fed 4,000 bushels of grain. He was married Sept. 14, 1869, to Miss Mary J. Miller, a native of Ohio, and they have two children, Florence D. and Rollie H. M. Mr. De. vanlt makes a specialty of stock-raising.
DODGE, JOIIN W., farmer and stock raiser, postoffice, Bloomfield; was born August 8, 1843, in Posey county, Indiana. He came with his par- ents to McLean county, Illinois, when ten years old, where he was reared and educated. During the war he served in company C, Forty-fourth Indi- ana Veteran Infantry, being in the army of th Cumberland; was discharged in September 1865, and returned to Illinois, helping on the farm. He mar- ried February 20, 1868, Miss Sarah J. Owens, a native of Indiana, and came to this county, buying a farm in Wyacondah township, which he sold in 1874, and bought the one he now owns, consisting of 160 acres. He has a family of six children, Clara May, Elsie B., Ettie L., Ida May, John W., and Sarah J. Mr. D. has been township trustee, in Wyacondah township.
DOKE, T. D., farmer and stock raiser, section thirty-one, post-office, Bloomfield: was born May 6, 1837, in Logan county, Ohio, and while an infant, his parents moved to Kosciusko county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood, and obtained a limited education at the common schools. Dur- ing the war he served in company B. Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. enlist- ing in August 1861, and serving in all the great battles of the western army, from Fort Donelson to Chattenooga, being promoted to first lientenent, and then doing provost duty till discharged in September 1865; when he re- turned to Indiana, engaged in the livery business, in Pierceton and Warsaw. He came to this county in 1869, and opened the livery stable where Wil- liam M. Saunders now keeps, in Bloomfield. In 1879 he purchased a farmn of 362 acres, and is making for himself a beautiful home; being nicely sit- nated one and a half miles from Bloomfield. He was married March 12, 1867, to Miss Tillie E. Keeffel, a native of Ohio, and they have four chil- dren, Odel C., Edith M., David E. and Albert T.
ELROD, ELI, farmer, carpenter and builder, section 11, postoffice Pu- laski: was born December 7, 1824, in Jackson county, Indiana, where he grew up and received his education. He came to Iowa in 1845, and located in Lee county, and came to this county in 1850, located land, built a small house, and in 1851, went back to Lee county and married Miss Sarah Scott, and with his young wife, returned to his claim. He for many years worked at carpenter work, in the meantime improving his farm. His wife died in 1873; she was the mother of six children, three now living, Ophelia, Ra- chel, and Grant. He married again in 1872, Mary Jennings, who lived but nine months. He was married in 1878, to his present wife, Miss Nancy E. Braughead, a native of Indiana, and they have two children, Alına E. and Adelbert J. His farm consists of eighty acres of improved land and fifty acres of timber. Mr. E. has no doubt put up more buildings than any other man in the county.
FRANKLING, MRS. MARTHA (colored), farmer, section 12, postoffice Bloomfield; was born in slavery on the plantation of William Grimes, in Jef- ferson connty, Kentucky, about the year 1826, and at the death of her old
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
master, she became the property of Blackburn MeElroy, of Missouri, by foreclosure of mortgage, and lived in Missouri till the emancipation. She was married there to Jacob Jolinson, aiso a slave, owned by one Merritt, and they lived together three years, when he with twenty-five others es- caped to Canada by the underground railroad, and was never heard of after- ward. They had one child, since deceased. She was again married, after emancipation, to John Frankling, having previously given birth to five children, by John Coleman, also a slave, deceased, Scott, Annie, Joseph, Harry and Charlie, who adopted their mother's maiden name, Lewis. She has been a resident of this county since 1879, and in Iowa, thirteen years. She owns a nice little farm of seventy aeres, in good cultivation, and is in- dustrious and prosperous. She was burned out in 1880, losing everything in the house, but has sinee rebuilt and is now well fixed.
GARVER, JACOB S., farmer and stock-raiser, section two, postoffice, Belknap; was born January 30, 1830, in Montgomery county, Ohio; and at the age of seven, moved with his parents to Wabash county, Ind., where he grew to manhood, and received a limited common school education, work- ing on the farm, and driving stage. He came to Wapello county, Iowa, in 1857, and came to this county in 1865; lived four years in Soap Creek township, then moved to his present farm, consisting of eighty-three and a half aeres, all under cultivation, nicely situated, with natural timber on three sides. He was married January 22, 1857, to Miss Elizabeth Smailes, a native of Virginia, and they have two children, Hattie J. and Sarah M. Mr. and Mrs. G. are members of the United Brethern Church, and he has been one of the trustees.
GOOD, JOHN, deceased, was a native of Ireland, born in County Cork, February, 1817. In his youth he assisted on his father's farm, and received a limited education at the parochial schools of his native land. He was married, February 8, 1849, to Miss Frances, youngest daughter of John and Mary Battimer, of County Cork, and six weeks later took shipping at Queenstown for America. Landing at New York, they went to Dayton, Ohio, where they made their first home. From there they went to Wiseon- sin, and bought a farm, on which they lived three and a half years, then went back to Dayton, and seven years later, in 1859, eame to this county, buying a farm and being quite successful. October 12, 1878, Mr. Good passed away, in the sixty-first year of his age, highly respected by every one. He was a man of great energy, was a member of the Episcopal Church, and died in the hope of a better world. He left a family of seven children: Mary, wife of William Stack: James A., John R., Benjamin F., Miriam A., wife of F. Bussell; G. W. and W. H., twins. The farm now consists of 204 acres, of splendid land, besides twenty-five acres timber. Mrs. G. manages the farm with the assistance of four of her sons. They live on section 34.
GORE, JAMES W., stock-breeder, Bloomfield postoffice, is a native of Decatur county, Indiana, born April 18, 1837. Ile was raised a farmer, and went to the common school. In 1852 he came to this county, where he attended Troy Academy, remaining in this county till 1863, when he went to Central California, and three and a half years later, returning to this county, he went to breeding fine stock, and has followed that ever since. He owns a farm of 130 acres. Ile has some of the best brood mares in this county, and a horse that took the premium at the county fair, in 1881; also a Jaek and Jennet that took first premium and diploma at the same time.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
He was married in Angust, 1858, to Miss Margaret A. Vaughn, a native of Lincoln county, Kentucky. They have had ten children, six now living; Elijah F., Willie A., Addie, Lulie, John M. and Mary A.
GRANT, GEORGE L., farmer and stock raiser, section 7, postoffice Bloomfield; was born June 13, 1835, in New Brunswick. He came to Iowa, with his parents, at the age of thirteen, locating in Perry township, having previously lived in Ohio eleven years. He attended school in Ohio, finish- ing here, where he has since lived, farming, and teaching school several winters. He located where he now lives, in 1879, and has a nice farm of 175 acres; eighty, in a high state of cultivation, with good buildings, or- chard and surroundings. He was married, October 28, 1862, to Miss Eva- line Childers, a native of Illinois, daughter of Abrahamn Childers. They have six children; Andrew W., Olive, Homer, Grace G., Annie B. and Edith E.
GRAFTON, THOMAS, farmer, section twelve, postoffice Pulaski; was born October 9, 1826, in Champaign county, Ohio. Here he spent his yonth, assisting on the farm and attending school. He came to Iowa in 1851, locating in Union township, this county, near Gospel Ridge, where he lived thirteen years, and came to his present farm in 1866. He was married November 19, 1846 to Miss Eliza A. Long, a native of Virginia, born November 20, 1824; her parents coming to Ohio, when she was quite young, where she was educated. Mr. G. has reared and cdncated a family of eight children, six now living; D. S., Win. S., Mary E., wife of James Anderson, Kate, Julia F. and Joe Austin; two deceased, Margaret E., died June 18, 1876, aged twenty-two, and Hester J., died February 26, 1870. D. S. served in company A, Third Iowa Cavalry during the war, and Miss Kate is a school teacher, having been educated at Bloomfield Normal School.
HAM, MATHIAS D., farmer and stock-raiser, section 11, postoffice Bloomfield; was born May 13, 1817, in Harrison county, Ind., and there grew to manhood, obtaining a liberal education in the subscription schools. He came to Fulton county, Ill., in 1835, and six years later came to this county and bought the claim on which he now lives, of Stephen Saunders, before the land came in market or was surveyed, and built a cabin which still stands on the place. He now owns 269 acres, 200 acres well improved, with good buildings, orchard, and two miles of osage hedge. He was mar- ried in November, 1835, to Miss Margaret Ann Reeves, a native of Virgin- ia; they have had nine children. Elisha, deceased, member of company A, Third Iowa Cavalry, and killed at Pea Ridge; Nancy A., wife of J. M. Bell; Mary M., wite of V. H. McLean; Win. J., Elijah B., the only one at home, and John L .. Fidelia Rhoda, and David Ray, deceased, leaving only four living. Mr. H. and wife have lived together happily for forty-five years, and have been members of the United Brethren church most of the time. He has neither sued nor been sued by any one in his life.
HAMBLETON, A. H., farmer, section 19, postoffice Bloomfield; was born November 9, 1814; in Fleming county, Ky. His early life was spent assisting on the farm and acquiring a limited education. His parents were Daniel and Martha. At the age of eighteen he moved to Hendricks county, Ind., where he lived until 1848, engaged in farming. In October of that year he arrived in this county and has remained ever since. He is located on a good farm of 180 acres, with a comfortable home, good barn and orch- ard and is engaged in stock-raising to quite an extent. He was married
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FUISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
February 1, 1838, to Miss Dorinda Bunten, of Hendricks county, Ind., and they have been blessed with nine children: Melvina, Wallace, Geo. S., El- len A., Naney E. and four deceased. By economy and industry Mr. H. has become quite prosperous. In politics he is a Greenbacker. Mrs. H. is somewhat noted for her fine butter.
HILL, JAMES A., farmer and stoek-raiser, and house carpenter, post- office, Bloomfield; was born January 29, 1834, in Barron county, Kentucky. When one year old he came with his parents to Tazewell county, Illinois, and three years later to Knox county, and four years later, in 1841, they came to Wyacondah township, in this county, where he was reared and ed- ucated. His father died March 29, 1870, and his mother died ten days af- ter, both at an advanced age. They were well known and highly thonght of in this county. Mr. H. was married May 5, 1854, to Mary A., danghter of Joseph and Anna Carter, who were among the first settlers of this eoun- ty. They have had seven children, William D., Henry T., Martha A, wife of Moses MeClure; Isabelle, Emeline, Leonard F. and Eva D. Mr. H. has seen the rise and progress, and improvement of this eounty as boy and man. He is a good citizen and reliable mechanic.
HOCKERSMITH, LEWIS F., carpenter, builder, and briek mannfac- turer, Bloomfield: was born April 23, 1851, in this connty, his father, John, being one of the first settlers of the county. Mr. H. was reared on the old homestead in Fox township, assisting on the farm and attending the com- mon schools, At the age of nineteen he bought twenty-five acres of land in that township and has since added steadily to his wealth, having bought and improved several farms, and picked up the carpenter's trade in building on them. In 1871 he bought a farm in Lucas county and engaged in stock- raising three years. In 1876 built and kept a hotel in Bloomfield a few months, then sold ont and went to farming. In 1881 he engaged in the making of briek; has all the facilities for making the best sand briek, He was married October 1, 1869, to Miss Emma E. Clemens, daughter of Wm. Clemens of this county; they have two children, Alice and Eva B. Mr. H. has been county collector, and was reëleeted, showing the esteem in which he is held by the people. His home is in the suburbs of Bloomfield, where he enjoys all the comforts of life.
JENNINGS, DAVID, farmer and stock-raiser, section 2, postoffice Belknap; was born July 2, 1851, in Morgan county, Ohio, where he was reared and received a common school education. At the age of eighteen he came to Iowa with his mother and five sisters and brothers, his father having died when our subjeet was an infant. They located in this county, where he has sinee resided. He located where he now lives, in 1881, his farm consisting of eighty acres of well-improved land. He also farms eighty acres of rented land. He was married September 20, 1879, to Miss Ida Wilbur, a native of Indiana and daughter of Garret Wilbur, of this county; they have one child, Horatio O. Mr. J. is well known as an indus- trious young man and will trade for anything he sees a dollar in. He is a member of the Masonie order.
JENKINS, ISRAEL F., teacher and ex-county superintendent, postof- fiee Bloomfield; was born June 19, 1841, in Boone county, Mo., and in De- cember, 1845, he came with his parents to Davis county, Iowa, and located in Wyacondah township, where they still reside. Here he grew to man- hood, and received his education in the common schools, Burlington Uni- versity, and Normal Department of the State University. When he was
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
eleven years old his right arm was taken off in a threshing machine, which incapacitated him for farming, and at the age of twenty he had fitted him- self for teaching, and has followed that profession ever since. In 1871 he was elected county superintendent of public instruction, which office he held for eight years, and had been deputy two years before his election. Since retiring from office he has been in the dairy business. He was mar- ried December 22, 1868, to Miss Sarah E. Kelsey, a native of Indiana, and they have one child, Ora C.
LUCE, W. O., farmer and stock-raiser, section 28, postoffice Bloomfield; was born December 29. 1852, in Warren county, Ohio. His father, Daniel, was a native of Ohio, and his mother, Minerva, of New York, her maiden name being Lewis. When four years old he came with his parents to Wyacondah township, this county, where he grew to manhood, and obtained a common school education. His father died October 21, 1865, aged 36. He was an energetic and good citizen; his mother followed her husband, five years later; she was an upright christian lady, a member of the M. E. Church. They left six sons and one daughter. Mr. L. was married Octo- ber 22, 1876, to Miss Anna E. Wray, daughter of Jas. M. Wray, of this coun- ty. His farm consists of 40 acres of well improved land, and he also owns 40 acres of improved land in section 33, Bloomfield township, and 10 acres of timber in West Grove township.
MCAVOY, JAMES, deceased; was born January 9, 1809, in County Down, Ireland. His father was a sea-faring man, and gave his son a thor- ongh education. At the age of 18 he came to America, and went to Wash- ington, D. C., and soon after secured a contract on the national pike; but lost his earnings by the failure of the chief contractors. He then went to Green- castle, Indiana, and then to Stilesville, Indiana, still working on public works, canals and railroads. During the Mexican war he enlisted in Capt. Crawford's company, Second Indiana Volunteers, and served till the regi- ment was disbanded. He came to this county in 1850, and located where the family homestead now is; consisting of 327 acres of improved land. He was married December 2, 1833, to Miss Jane Cunningham, a native of North Carolina, born May 19, 1811; the marriage taking place at Stiles- ville, Indiana. Mr. McAvoy after living an active and useful life, passed away September 27, 1872, much regretted by all. A man of bril- liant education, ready wit, and thorough knowledge of the world. He was a war democrat and visited the army several times during the rebellion. He left a family of four children, Charles J., Larissa A., and Lewis C., living at home, and Christopher C., married, and John F., deceased in 1858, aged 19. Charles J. served during the war, enlisting in August 1862, in Com- pany G, Second Iowa Infantry, and was in the battles of Bear Creek, Buz- zard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, and was with Sherman through Atlanta and Savannah; and then to Washington, being in the grand review, and mustered ont June 14, 1865. Since which time he has been engaged in farming.
MERIDETH, ANDREW F., farmer and stock-raiser, section 1, post- office Pulaski; was born December 16, 1841, in Van Buren county, Iowa. His father, Andrew M., being one of the pioneers of that county, where he still lives, hale and hearty. There Mr. M. grew to manhood, and received a common school education. He became a resident of this county in 1867, when he bonght a farm of 100 acres, partly improved. It is now in good
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
cultivation. He was married October 5, 1865, to Miss Mary Wolfe, a na- tive of Ohio. They have six children, Osceola S., Charley A., George L.,. Carrie Belle, Walter, and Bertha.
MERRY, NICHOLAS E., farmer and stock-raiser, section 16, postoffice Bloomfield; was born in Erie county, N. Y., July 1, 1838, and there grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools. At the age of twenty he learned the milling business, and followed it four years when, that not agreeing with his health, he went to farming. In January, 1860, he went to Texas, working at the cooper trade till the war commenced, when he was conscripted into the rebel service, and attached to the Second Texas Infantry, and sent to Vicksburg, and from there to the Yazoo, to fight General Quinby, where he deserted and and came into the Union lines, never having fired a guu at the old flag or its defenders. He then came. north, and enlisted in company F, One hundred and forty-fifth Ohio Infan- try, and did duty in the detenses near Washington, till the close of the war. In September 1869, he came to this county, where he now owns a farm of 120 acres, well improved. Mr. M. makes a specialty of fine stock, and breeding and improving it. He was married June 10, 1867, to Miss Maria Howell. a native of New York, and a graduate of Gainesville Female Semi- nary. Mr. M. is a jovial, good natured citizen, and self-made, having earned all he possesses by hard work.
MOORE, EDWARD W .. farmer, stock-raiser and fruit-grower, section 1, postoffice Belknap, was born September 5, 1844, in Vermillion county, Ind., and at the age of ten came with his parents to this county, and here grew up and was educated. He served in the army in company A, Third Iowa Cavalry. Went to Memphis; was at Tupelo, Oldtown, the Wilson raid, Macon, Selma, and at Columbus, Ga., was severely wounded in the hip. He was mustered out in August, 1865, and returned to this county and en- gaged in business at Drakeville four years; then, in 1869, sold out and com- menced farming on the old family homestead, consisting of 189 acres, with a bearing orchard of 13 acres. He was married May 12, 1869, to Miss Tamer A. Elliott, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of George Elliott. of Bloomfield. They have three interesting children: Florence, Frank and Horace. Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the Congregational Church, and they take an active interest in education. He is at present president of the board of education, He is engaged in wool growing and finds it profitable.
MORRIS, HARVEY M., farmer, postoffice Bloomfield; was born June 18, 1842, in Van Buren county, Iowa, and at the age of five returned with his parents to Indiana, their native State, and four years later came to this county. He enlisted Angust 17, 1861, in company E, Third Iowa Cavalry, and the first year fought bushwhackers in Missouri and Arkansas, and then Price, Marmaduke and Kerby. He veteranized in 1864, and while home on furlough, March 6, 1864, he married Miss Sarah Shadie, and six days later rejoined his regiment, and was ordered to the front; being in seventeen bat- tles; wounded once; struck twice with bullets, and mnstered out August 9, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. M. have had four children, Ida E., Mary M., Wil- liam F. and James N., an infant, deceased. Mr. M. is a carpenter by trade, and highly respected.
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