USA > Iowa > Davis County > History of Davis County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 70
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MURPHY, JOSIAH, farmer and stock-raiser, seetions one and two, post- office Pulaski; was born March 14, 1814, in Londen county, Virginia, where he grew up and received a common school education. He came to Ohio in 1839, and lived in Muskingum county twenty-eight years. He was
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
married October 11, 1838, to Miss Permelia Huff, of his native place. They have reared a family of ten children .: Nancy E., John W., Jennie, Sidney A., Thornton, Susan, Charles H., Mason, Nelson A. and Julia, de- ceased March 25, 1873, wife of Allen Jolinson, leaving two children, Eliza A. and Franklin, who live with their grandparents. Mr. M. came to Iowa in 1867, loeating where he now lives, and owns a fine farm of 176 aeres, well improved. Ilis son, C. H., is a graduate of the Kirkville Normal School, Missouri. Mr. M. has traveled a good deal, but thinks this county snits him better than any other.
NESMITH, ELIJAH. farmer and stock-raiser, section 31, postoffice Bloomfield; was born in Perry connty, Ohio, February 1, 1827; and came with his parents to Van Buren county, lowa, in 1843. Here he grew up, assisting his father on the farm and attending the Winehester seleet sehool. He became a resident of this connty in 1875, and now owns a fine farm of 120 acres, in a high state of cultivation, with good buildings, orchard, a grove of maples and walnut, and a beautiful yard adorned with evergreens. Ile was married June 6, 1858, to Miss Mary J. MeSurley, a native of Ohio, daughter of Miles MeSurley, of Van Buren county, and they have seven children, Margaret C., Dora, Mary A., Cora A., Eliza J., Ella and Bertha. Mr. N. takes an active interest in educational matters. He is a good neigh - bor and worthy eitizen.
NORRIS G. W., farmer and stock man, sections 20 and 29, postoffice, Bloomfield; was born April 19, 1835, in Clark county, Ohio. There he grew up, and was edneated at the Sturgis Academy, at Charlestown, Indiana. He spent his youth assisting his father on the farm. He came with his parents to this township in 1857, and lived with them till thirty years old, then engaged in the live stock trade for ten years, bought the farm he lives on. in 1874, consisting of 240 acres of well improved land, with a good or- chard, and buildings. He is now making a specialty of fine stock, and has a herd of finely graded short-horns. He was married February 4, 1876, to Miss Salena Colliver, a native of Indiana, daughter of Andrew Colliver, of West Grove. They have had three children: Direta, born December 18, 1880, and two deceased in infaney. Charles Norris, his father, was a na- tive of Indiana, born September 16, 1805, and died in this county Septem- ber 21, 1876, his mother is still living at an advanced age, hale and hearty. Mr. N's. two grandfathers, and maternal great grandfather, Gen. Bartholo- mew, were at the battle of Tippecanoe. He is one of this county's solid citizens, and has a niee home, finely furnished.
NORRIS, JAMES T., farmer and stock-raiser, seetion 20, postoffice Bloomfield; was born July 4, 1537, in Clark county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood and received his education. He came with his parents to Iowa in 1857, and located four miles west of Bloomfield. He enlisted in August 1862, in company B. Thirthieth Jowa Infantry. Was in the battles of Yazoo Pass, Arkansas Post, capture of Vicksburgh, Lookont Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, and with Sherman to the sea; was at the grand review in Washington, and was discharged June 15, 1865, came home and commenced farming. He bought the place where he now lives, in 1881, consisting of 130 acres. He was married October 30, 1873, to Miss Orietta Turner, a native of Indiana, and they have four children, Charles C., Har- ry E., James R. and Guy. Mr. N. was under fire in the army twenty-two times, but eame out without a serateli; although hurt slightly in a railroad accident coming home.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
PALMER, HON. DAVID P., attorney and counselor at law (retired); was born November 29, 1812, in the Empire State, where he was reared and edneated. He moved to Brown county, Ohio, in 1836, and commeneed studying law in the office of Andrew Elison, and was admitted to the bar in 1843, and practiced in Georgetown, Ohio. Then came to Iowa territory, locating in Linn connty, and in 1847 came to this county, loeating in Bloomfield; then a town of very few houses, court being held in the old log conrt-house. He was once a candidate for State senator against S. G. Me- Achran, and was defeated by twenty-eight votes. Afterwards ran against the same man for member of the constitutional convention, which formed the present constitution, and was elected by 280 majority. He has also been prosecuting attorney, both in this and Linn counties. He was mar- ried Jannary 3, 1858, to Miss Allie L. Lakin, a native of Ohio. They have seven children, Arthur G., Nellie, wife of C. O. Edwards; Oscar, Fred, Ma- bel, Herbert and Philip. Mr. P. was a war demoerat during the war; was at one time a law partner with H. H. Trimble, and can lay elaim to being the veteran attorney of this county.
PETTET, J. W., farmer and stoek-raiser; was born Jannary 28, 1823, in Clark county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood, and was edneated in the subscription schools. He came to lowa in 1844, and after remaining about ten months, went to Kentucky, where he was engaged in the wood business for six years; then coming back to Iowa, stopping in Van Buren county till 1864; then going to Jefferson county, where he farmed till 1877, when he came back to Van Buren, for nearly three years; then came to Bloomfield, this county; remained during the winter, then moved on the farm where he now lives. He was married November 3, 1853, to Miss Naomi Ferrel, a native of Harrison county, Ohio. They have five children: Victorine C., Elmer E., James R., Brice H., and Charles F., and one deceased. Mr. and Mrs. P. are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
PLANK, WM. J., fariner and stoek-raiser, seetion S, postoffice Bloom- field; was born in Lee county, Iowa, October 1. 1848; at the age of four his parents eame to Davis county and he has lived here ever since. Ifis father, J. J. Plank, is the pioneer of Pulaski, where he located, and built and run a saw mill. Mr. P., Jr., bought the farm he now occupies in 1874, consist- ing of 160 aeres, now well improved, with good buildings and orchard. IIe is a sytematic farmer, never having missed a crop. He keeps enough stock to feed it all. He was married in Lee county, January 4, 1874, to Miss Anna Klopfenstein, a native of Ohio. They have three children: Aaron D., Minnie M., and Harry.
RAWLINGS, RICHARD, farmer and stock-raiser, seetions 33 and 28, postoffice Bloomfield; was born April 23, 1823, in Prince George county, western shore, Maryland. His father, being a school teacher, early in- stilled in his mind the advantages of an education. His father dying when he was eight years old, in 1834, the family sold their interest in the State of Maryland and came to Indiana, where he worked on the farm and attended school till 1844, when he came to this county and entered the land on which he now lives. By hard work and diligent effort, he has attained quite a large property. Ile now owns 280 acres of well improved land. He was married December 11, 1851, to Miss Henrietta L. Roland, a native of Kentucky, born August 29, 1830. They have had three children, John F., Etta M., and the eldest, Andrew C., deceased Angust 8, 1867, aged fourteen. Mr. R. taught school in his young days, both in Indiana and Iowa. He is a
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
Mason, and himself and wife have long been members of the M. E. Church. He has been a local preacher in that church for many years.
ROMINGER, HENRY, farmer and stock-raiser, sections 21 and 22, Bloomfield postoffice; was born in Stokes county, N. C., March 14, 1813. There he grew to manhood, being educated in the subscription school. In 1834, he came to Indiana, and settled in Bartholomew county, where he lived till 1863, when he moved to Indianapolis for three years, then, in 1866, came to this county and located on 138 aeres of land he bought in an early day. He was married May 22, 1837, to Miss Anna K. Miller, a native of North Carolina, born in Davidson county, January 3, 1819, who came with her parents to Indiana in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. R. have four children, Wil- liamson A., who served in the Union army during the war, in the Thirty- third Indiana Infantry; Charlotte C., wife of J. W. Conden, of Bloomfield; Abbie J., wite of A. Breeding, of Fremont county; and Miss Emma F., the only one at home with the old folks. The family are members of the M. E. Church, and Mr. R. has always been a strong temperance man, and has taken an active interest in the eanse.
ROYER, DAVISON, farmer and stock-raiser, section 29, postoffice Bloomfield; was born in Lancaster county, Penn., September 18, 1821. In 1832, his parents came to Indiana, and in 1858, he came to this county, and located where he now resides, on 40 acres of well improved land, with orchard and good osage orange fence. He was married.November 27, 1851, to Miss Sarah E. Norris, a native of Indiana, and they have three children, Charles B., Emily M., wife of Albert Hamilton, and Laura A., wife of John Bloom. The parents of Mr. R. were natives of Pennsylvania. Ilis mother is buried in. Clark county, Indiana, and his father at Fairfield, lowa. Mr. R. has given his family a good education, and they are members in good standing of the Christian Church.
SAUNDERS. C. D., farmer, stock and horse dealer; postoffice Bloom- field; was born April 25, 1846, in this township, and here he has grown to manhood, receiving a limited education, his youth being spent assisting his father on the farm. Ile located on his present farm in 1865; he has a fine farm of 560 acres, all in a high state of cultivation, with three good houses, two barns, three bearing orchards, three miles of Osage hedge, and his fields are divided into eighty aere lots. He feeds on an average abont 100 head of stock. ffe served in the Border Brigade, during the war, and is now a half owner with Dr. J. W. Young in the Forest Home Mineral Spring, and 70 aeres of land. He was married February 9, 1855, to Miss Rachel E. Young, and after living happily together for ten years, she died March 7, 1865, re- gretted by all her friends and acquaintances, at the age of twenty-seven ; she was a daughter of Ephriam Young, of Bloomfield. Mr. Saunders married again November 18, 1879, to Miss Belle Brown, his present wife.
SAUNDERS, STEPHEN L., farmer and stock-raiser, section 12, post- office Pulaski. A pioneer of Bloomfield township; was born February 14, 1813, in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and became a wanderer from home at the age of nine, sinee which time he has traveled extensively. He made his first stop at Columbus, Ohio, where he remained twelve years, there be- ing but one house there when he arrived. He then went to Michigan, and two years later to Indiana, where he was married in 1836, to Miss Sophia Lattimer, who died thirteen months after, leaving one child, Matilda. In 1837 he came west, and after crossing the Mississippi, a " York sixpence" was the extent of his wealth. He stopped in Van Buren county one year,
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then with a party of seven, including Father Clifford, a Christian preacher, went to Council Bluffs, and worked for the government, in building and running a mill for the use of the Indians; then returned to Van Buren county, where his parents had located; sold ont their claim, and came with them to Davis county, and staked out his claim, where he now lives, in the fall of 1840. Ile surveyed it by pacing off a square mile, and only missed his present lines a few rods. The same year he engaged in making rails on other claims, which he had staked out for friends in Ohio, and was arrested by the United States marshal for trespassing on Indian lands, and fined $500, and ordered under gnard till the fine was paid. He describes his con- finement as being rather pleasant, the United States officers being genial hearty fellows, and were talented drinkers. They offered to let him go for his rifle, but he refused that. and many opportunities to escape till they fi- nally ran away from him, and he returned to his cabin. In 1844 he married Miss Emily Waterman, daughter of William Waterman, now of Washing- ton territory. They have eight children, Columbus D., William M., Lyman S., Millard F., Cleveland E., Laura E., Flora B., and Lincoln. Mr. Saun- ders has amassed quite a fortune. the home tarm consisting of 430 acres, well improved, with good buildings and orchard; and other lands, making in all about 1,200 agres.
ST. CLAIR, WM. A., farmer and stock-raiser, section 3, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, October 30, 1830. There he grew to manhood, and was edneated in the common schools. At the age of 2t, he anticipated Horace Greely's advice, and came to Linn county, Iowa, and remained there till the spring of 1853, when he went to California and mined two years; then worked two years for a Home and mining company; then returned to Linn connty, Iowa. In 1857, he bought a farm, and has since followed farming. In 1879, he became a resident of this county, and owns a nice farm of SO aeres. He was married in March 1859, to Miss Celestia Dille, a native of Indiana; she lived but one year. He married again in Jannary, 1863, Miss Mary Bassett, a native of Indiana. They have three children, Fannie M., wife of C. S. Painter; Jesse E. and Mary. Mr. St. Clair and family are members of the Baptist Church, and he has been superintendent of the Sabbath school for fifteen years, and takes great interest in education- al matters.
SWANK FARMAN, farmer and stoek-raiser, Bloomfield postoffice; was born in Morgan county, Ohio, February, 14, 1834. There he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools. In 1862 he came to this county. He owns a nice farmi, consisting of 37 acres, well improved. He was married at the age of twenty-one, to Miss Susanna McBride, a native of Ohio, who died November 17, 1871, leaving four children, Augusta, wife of Thomas Harbin, of Missouri: John W .; Emma, wife of Holla Blackford; and Mariette. Mr. S. married again February 10, 1873, Miss Minnie Ham- ilton, also a native of Ohio, reared and educated in Noble county, where the marriage took place. They have three children, Lorren, Harvey and Roy. Mr. S. has been for 15 years an Odd Fellow, and was deputy sheriff under Sheriff Mckibbon. He has a pair of trained ferrets, recently im- ported from Ohio, probably the only pair in the county.
SWIFT, ANDREW M., farmer and stock-raiser, section 34, postoffice Bloomfield; was born in Patnam county, Ind., March 12, 1843, a son of Curren E. and Anna Swift, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee. He is one of a family of nineteen, fitteen living; all grown and living in Iowa but
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
one. He came to Iowa, with his parents, in 1847, and settled in Perry township, this county where he grew to manhood, receiving his education at the Bloomfield schools. In 1875 he bought the farm he now lives on, ·consisting of 92 acres, well improved, well watered, and in good enltivation, situated three miles southwest of Bloomfield. Ile was married February 13, 1867, to Miss Elmyra, daughter of William and Elizabeth Gibson, of this county. They have six children, Hattie A., Retta E., Leonard D., William M., David R., and Mary.
THOMPSON, JOHN M., farmer and stock-raiser, postoffice, Bloomfield; was born in Clark county, Missouri, May 6, 1858, where he lived till the breaking ont of the war, when he and his mother came to this county, his father being in the army, in the Seventh Missouri Cavalry. After the war they returned to Clark county where he lived till maturity, assisting his father, running a ferry across the Des Moines river, and carrying the mail from Croatens to Athens. He was married December 24, 1880, to Miss Hattie N. Wood, a native of Ohio. He has been living for the last five years, on a farin belonging to John Hiller. He is an Odd Fellow, member of Drake- ville lodge No. 88, and a member of the Christian Church; and his wife, of the United Brethren. Mr. Thompson acquired his education in the com- mon schools, and is an enterprising young farmer.
TURPIN, THOMAS BENTON, farmer and stock-raiser, postoffice, Bloomfield; was born November 3, 1843, in Missouri. His father, Thomas M. Turpin, was a native of the "old North State." While a youth he came to Indiana and then to Missouri, and became a resident of this county in 1850, and died October 23, 1880. The subject of this sketch, came to this county when seren years old, and acquired an education in the common schools. When seventeen, he engaged in the stock business, being quite successful. In 1866, came home to the death-bed of his mother, and in 1867, bought the "old homestead" from his father, who continued to live with him. He owns a fine farm of 228 acres, with a fine house, barn and orchard. He was married March 19, 1868, to Miss T. J Stark, a native of this county. They have had four children, Della A., Ada S., Elsie M. and Stella, deceased, February 18, 1880. aged six years and fifteen days. Mr. Turpin is a representative citizen. an energetic business man and a success- ful farmer.
VAUGHT, AMOS, farmer and stock-raiser, section 28, postoffice Bloom- field; was born in Johnson county. Ind., April 16, 1846. He was there reared to manhood and educated in the common schools. In August, 1861, he en- listed in company I., 18th Indiana Infantry; was in the campaign against Price, in Missouri, being in Pea Ridge, and all the other fights and skir- mishes; he was also at Vieksburg under Gen. Grant, where he was wounded on the back by having his knapsack torn off by a piece of shell, leaving sev- eral ugly scars. He was then sent to Texas under Gen. Lawler, where he veteranized with the regiment in June, 1864, and was attached to the 6th Army Corps, in the army of Virginia; was at Winchester and Cedar Run, then went to Georgia, where they served till August, 1865, when they were mustered ont, and he returned to Indiana, and was married February 14, 1867, to Miss Amanda Kelley, a native of Indiana. They have five child- ren; Lena, Nellie, Minnie, Effie and Fred. Mr. V. became a resident of this county in 1872. ITis farm consists of 120 acres of well improved land.
YOUNG, JAS. M., farmer, section 10, postoffice Bloomfield; was born, Jan- uary 2, 1843, in Bartholomew county, Ind. ITis parents came to this county
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
when he was a year old, and here he has spent his life, in his youth helping on the farm and attending school. He now owns a nice farm of 180 acres, in a high state of cultivation, and well fitted for stoek-raising. He was married in December, 1864, to Miss Emily Vanghn, a native of Kentucky. They had one child, Molly E. Mrs. Young died in October, 1869, and Mr. Y. married again in March, 1870, Miss Jennie Murphy, a native of Ohio. They have two children, Charles and Etta May. Mr. Y. has seen the rise and progress of this county almost from its birth.
DRAKEVILLE TOWNSHIP.
COOPER, R. P., farmer and stock-raiser; postoffice Drakeville; was born .. March 4, 1840, in Washington county, Penn .; was reared a farmer and re- ceived a common school education. At the age of five, his mother having died, he went to live with his uncle, Richard Pogne, where he grew to man- hood. At the age of twenty-one, he entered the sheep business, which he continued successfully for twenty years. In May, 1880, he came to this county, where he now lives on a nice farm of 103 acres, well improved. He was married October 3, 1865, to Miss Lydia Melvin, a native of Pennsyl- vania. They have had three children; Mary E., Lawrence M. and Wm. H. Mr. C. is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church.
DYSART, JAMES L., blacksmith, Drakeville, is a native of Marshall county, Tennessee, born February 2, 1829, educated in subscription schools, and raised a farmer; at the age of twenty-two, went to learn blacksmithing with George Coffee, his brother-in-law, where he worked two years; then, going to Madison county to work three years, then farmed three years in Marshall county. When the war broke ont, being a union man, he had to keep ont of the way of the rebs, the hardest work he ever did in his life. On the 9th of June, 1863, he came to Troy, Iowa, and the next February to Unionville, working at his trade. May 2, 1864 he enlisted in company B, Forty-seventh Iowa Infantry, and did gnard duty till the close of the war. He then went back to Unionville a short time; then to Marion township, this connty, about a year ago; then coming to Drakeville, where he has since lived. In February, 1850 he married Miss Maxey; they have had six children, four now living, Milton B., Mary J., George B. and James K. Mr. D. and wife are members of the M. E. Church.
EDWARDS, DR. E. S., physician and surgeon, Drakeville; was born in Tennessee, April 16, 1839. At the age of twelve, his father removed to- Illinois, and one year later to Davis county, Iowa, where he has lived ever sinee, except a few years spent in Wappello and Van Buren connties. In 1859 he commeneed the study of medicine, and commenced practicing in Wapello county in 1862, and a few years in Van Buren county; then came to Drakeville in 1871, and has remained there ever since. The doctor is pre-eminently a self-made man, and self educated. He was married in this county, in 1874, to Miss Mattie Brown, a native of Indiana, daughter of Vol. Brown, of Hendricks county, and born March 20. 1853. They have had three children, Charley, four years old: Prince, two years old, and. Clyde, deceased. Dr. E. is a member of the M. E. Church, and his wife, of the Christian Church.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
ELLIOTT, JOHN, lumber and grain dealer, Drakeville, is a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, born September 30, 1837; where he lived until fifteen years of age. Ilis parents then moved to this county, where he grew to manhood, a farmer's son, receiving a common school edu- cation. He enlisted, in 1861, in company A, Third Iowa Cavalry and served four years, being mustered out at the close of the war. He was in the bat- tles of Pea Ridge, the White River campaign, Vicksburg. Wilson's Caval- ry raid throngh Alabama and Georgia, and in all the battles with his regi- ment in that campaign. He was married in this county, in 1866, to Miss Nannie Morgan; they have had four children, Allie, George C., Stella, and the oldest, Jennie, deceased, in September 1873, aged six years. Mr. E. is a member of the M. E. Church.
FOOTE, T. J., of the firm of Foot & Guile, dealers in general merchan- dise, Drakeville; was born in Montgomery county, Ind., Jannary 9, 1833, where he lived until nineteen years old, receiving a common school eduea- tion. Ilis parents, Wm. and Elizabeth Foote, then moved to Iroquois county, Ill., where he lived till 1864, when he came to Davis county, Iowa, where he has since resided. llis early life was spent in agricultural pur- snits, and for the last twelve years he has been dealing in stock and farm- ing, until about two years ago, since when he has been in mercantile busi- ness in connection with stoek. He was married in Illinois in 1859, to Miss Sarah MeClure, a native of Indiana. They are the parents of two dangh- ters, Floy V., aged seventeen, and Ruby I., aged fourteen. Mr. F. is a Mason, being a member of Jefferson lodge No. 86, at Drakeville.
HIGBEE, REV. JESSE, Drakeville, Fowa: was born near Pittsburg, Pa., where he lived till the age of twenty-four. His early youth was spent on a farm. He was the first child of Obediah Higbee, who was of English de- seent and his mother of Welch. In 1832 he came to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and two years later to Richland county, where, in 1834, he made a settlement in the woods and eleared seventy-seven acres of heavy timber in eight years, having only a few dollars when he settled there. In 1849 he came to Jefferson county, Iowa, and bought 800 acres near lowa City, im- proved 480 acres, and built five honses. He sold out there abont seven- teen years ago and came to this county, where he has since lived. While in Johnson county he sacrificed $15,0 00 worth of property to pay a seenrity debt. Ile has been a Christian minister since 1832. In Richland county, O., he organized a church at Wilson-school house and preached there for thirteen years. Ile had a number of debates with Thomas Moffitt, a Bap- tist minister, Moffit being converted to the Christian faith through the preaching of Mr. II. and bringing eight members with him, helped Mr. II. organize his church, with thirteen members in all. Mr. II. organized the church in Iowa City and preached there fourteen years. He has had five debates with Adventists, one with an Atheist.'at Mansfield, O., two with In- fidels and one with a Donkard. He was married in 1832 to Susan New- myre, of Ohio; they have eight children, Sarah, wife of Jos. Luse, David, Joseph, Jane, wife of John Blackmore, Edmund, Eliza, wife of Sam- nel A. Dysart, Newton, and Arthur C. Mrs. Higbee has been an invalid for eight years.
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