USA > Iowa > Davis County > History of Davis County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 76
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CRAVEN, W. H. H., farmer and stock-raiser; sections, 22, 23 and 15, postoffice Milton; was born December 18, 1842, the first white child born in Prarie township. His early youth was spent assisting his father on the farm and attending pioneer schools, and one term at Troy Academy. He enlisted in Angnst, 1861, joining the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, being the youngest member of the company. They joined the regiment at Macon City, Mis- sonri, and immediately went to Little Rock; being in the battles of Lone
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Jack, Black Water expedition, Prairie Grove, capture of Little Rock, at Princeton, Arkansas, where, with twenty-eight men from his company, and ten from company E, he was in a sabre charge, capturing a pet position of the enemy; was at Monticello, Mooses HEill, and a great many skirmishes. He was mustered out a sergeant, in October, 1864, at St. Louis. Returning home, was made first lieutenant, in Captain Milligan's company of border guards. He was married August 30, 1866, to Miss Eliza Eekman, a native of Ohio, and they have four children: George S., William B., Harry E., and Mabel. Mr. C. owns a fine farm of 600 acres, in good cultivation. As boy and man, he has seen the rise and progress of Davis county, and is prond of his native home.
CRAVEN, JAMES E., farmer and stock-raiser, section 24, postoffice- Milton; was born April 4, 1833, in Montgomery county, Indiana. His par- ents settled in Van Buren connty, Iowa Territory, in 1837, improved a claim, for four years, then sold out and took up a claim on section 26, Prairie town- ship, where the old pioneer, Bushirod W. Craven, died, in October, 1878, at the age of seventy-one. Mr. C. was edneated in the pioneer schools. He is now the owner of 400 acres of improved land, with good buildings, orchards, etc. He was married in September, 1854, to Miss Mary J. Russel, a native of Delaware, who died October 14, 1855, a member of the M. E. Church. He married again February 27, 1861, Miss Mary F. Holland, a native of Delaware, born November 25, 1839, and died May 16, 1863; leaving one child, Mary F. He married again December 29, 1869, Miss Lanra C. Thayre, a native of Illinois, and they have four children: George D., Hattie May, Carrie A. and Jessie H. Mr. C. has endured, as boy and man, all the hardships, privations, joys and sorrows of a pioneer.
CONNER, R. G., of the firm of Conner Bros., blacksmiths, Pulaski; was born July 24, 1835, in Preston county, West Virginia, and was raised a blacksmith. He came with his parents to Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1848, and to this county in 1850, locating at Troy, and worked in his father's shop seven years; when his father's health failed, and the business was carried on by himself and his brother Amos, till 1874, when they located at Pulaski. They do all kinds of work in their line, having a machine lathe and drill, and guarantee satisfaction. Mr. Conner was married January 12,1862, to Miss Margaret Montgomery, who died August 20, 1872; he married again Oeto- ber 12, 1873, Miss Elizabeth Spaigh. They have three children, Abbe L., L. L., and Nellie I., two girls, and one boy. Mr. Conner owns a neat little home in Pulaski.
ENGLAND, KIRK, farmer, postoffice Pulaski; was born October 27, 1877, in Cecil county, Maryland. At the age of nineteen he went to Penn- sylvania and worked two years as an apprentice at the carpenter's trade, then returned to Maryland and there pursued the same business for a mmm- ber of years. In 1868, he married Miss Maria Pearson, a native of Iowa, then on a visit to Maryland, daughter of Angustus Pearson, of this county. She was born Dec. 26, 1841, and received her education in the early schools of the county, and in Troy academy, and is a lady of very intelligent and refined appearance. Mr. England came to this county in 1868, and located where he now lives, and has a fine farm of 126 acres, well improved. They have three children, Orion W., born April 8, 1873, and Jessie and Bessie, twins, born Angust 20, 1881. Mr. England is a man well and favorably known all over the county.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
FRYBERGER, GEO. P., earpenter and builder, postoffice Pulaski; was born in Huntington county, Indiana, November 26, 1850. At the age of thirteen he came with his parents to Jefferson county, Iowa, and there grew to manhood and finished his education at the Fairfield high school. At the age of 25 he engaged with II. Caraway of Bloomfield to learn cabinet mak- ing, at which he worked four years. From that, honse-carpentering became easy. Worked as foreman for Andrew George, two seasons, lle com- menced the business of contractor and builder this present season. He employs none but the best workmen, and guarantees firstelass work. IIe is a young man of more than ordinary ability, with a thorough knowledge of his trade.
GEORGE, ANDREW J., carpenter and builder, Pulaski; was born Oc- tober 22, 1842, in Franklin county, Indiana. At eight years of age he moved with his parents to Clinton county, where he grew to manhood and obtained his education. At the age of twenty he came to this county and worked with an okler brother at the earpenter trade. He was married in this county October 22, 1863, to Miss Rachel Swinney, a native of Indiana. They have had two children, Adda Fay and one deceasee in infancy. Mr. G. has engaged in contracting since 1876, he employs from ten to fifteen first class workmen, and his work gives perfect satisfaction to his patrons. Ile has completed this season over $3,500 worth of work. He is perma- nently located at Pulaski, where he owns a nice home.
GERARD, J. H., harness and saddle maker, Pulaski; was born July 12, 1850, in Lee county, lowa, and there grew to manhood, and received a com- mon school education. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a har- ness maker. He then learned marine steam engineering, which he followed on the lower Mississippi for five years, and in 1873 was examined by the board of examiners, and received papers as second engineer. In 1880 he was helping to run the machinery in a saw mill, and was caught some way and had his right leg severely mashed and knee dislocated, which has per- manently disabled him. He then engaged in his present business. He was married January 19, 1874, to Miss Catherine W. a native of Germany. They have two children, Maggie and Katie.
HARPER, JOHN, farmer and stoek-raiser, section 12, postoffice Milton; was born October 16, 1816, in Hancock county, West Virginia, where he grew up, and was educated in the common schools; learning the carpenters trade when a young man; and came to lowa in 1848, and located where he now lives. He was married July 1, 1841, to Miss Catharine Saunders, a na- tive of West Virginia. In 1850, he started with his family, to visit the home of his youth, and, cholera, being prevailent, they were attacked with it on board an Ohio steamboat, and his wife, one chill, and a brother died, and were buried at Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Mrs. H. was the mother of four chil- dren, deceased; two sons, Robert and W. 1. 11. served in the army, during the war, and came home with shattered constitutions. and died within two years after. Returning to Iowa, Mr. Il. built a saw-mill on Fox river, in 1854, and worked it,abont three years. He owns a fine farm of 164 acres. ninety well improved, with fine honse and barn built by himself, and good orchard. ete He was married the second time December 30, 1852, to Miss Louisa Saunders, a sister of his first wife, and they have had seven children; Jolm S., Frances M., Emeline, and four deceased.
MIASTINGS, PROF. D. W., principal of the graded schools, Pulaski; was born July 1, 1855, in this county. His father, I. S. Ilastings is now
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IHISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
living near Floris, where our subject was born. Here he grew to manhood, assisting his father in the chair factory, and acquiring a common school edu- cation in winter. At the age of seventeen entered Troy Academy for two years, then attended the North Missouri State Normal for two years, teaeh- ing during vacations. He then returned home and for three years was prin- cipal of the Floris school, and in the summer of 1880, took charge of the Pu- laski schools, where he is now giving eminent satisfaction. The Professor has also taught several Institutes. He was married February 13, 1877, to Mary J. Bryson, a native of Van Buren connty. They have one child, Ethan A., born April 11, 1879. The Professor intends making a specialty of languages and literature.
HOTCHKISS, L. R., or grandfather Hotelikiss, as he is familiarly called; was born June 9, 1801, at Waterbury, New Haven county, Connecticut. He there grew up and was educated in the subscription schools. He lived there forty-five years, mostly engaged in farming; then came to this county, being one of the pioneers, and has lived here ever sinee. He settled on section 21, and opened a new farm, where he still resides. He was married in North Haven, New Haven county, Connecticut, November 25, 1834. to Miss Lou- annie E. Tuttle, who is still living at the age of sixty-eight, and they have had four children, Louisa and Ellen, who both married Hotchkisses, K. L., and E., who was killed in battle at Ringgold, Georgia; he belonged to company B, Thirtieth Iowa Infantry. Mr. H. and wite are members of the Christian Chnreh; in politics he is an ardent greenbacker, and was an old abolitionist and republican. He was a station agent on the under-ground railway, in the old slavery days.
HESKETT, JAMES E., livery and sale stable, Pulaski; was born in Louden county, Virginia, March 15, 1848. At the age of six his parents located in Belmont county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and received a common school education. He came to lowa with his parents in 1867, settling in Prairie township, this county, where he assisted on the farm. In 1876, he started the first livery stable in the town of Pulaski. He was married De- eember 25, 1878, to Miss Jeannette M. Neidy, a native of this State, dangh- ter of Joseph Neidy, killed in the army, February 15, 1862, and they have had one child, Zoe G., an interesting little girl.
HOTCKINSS, C. C., druggist and pharmacist, Pulaski; was born in this county, March 31, 1854. During his youth he assisted on the farm and at- tended the common school. At the age of fifteen he engaged with his uncle, A. T., in buying and shipping stoek, in which he still retains an interest. Ile engaged in his present business in 1878, and carries a full line of drugs, paints, oils, fancy goods, jewelry, notions, and glassware. Mr. H. is a young man of more than ordinary promise, and attends strictly to business; he is looked upon as one of the enterprising business men of the county. When a child of nine years, he met with a very serious aeeident, his hand being eaught between the rollers of a sorghum press, mashing the hand and wrist, which were saved, however, by surgical skill. He is au Odd Fellow.
KING, D. G., wagon-maker, Pulaski; was born June 24, 1842, in Jeffer- son county, New York, where he was reared, and educated in the common schools; during the war he enlisted, August 8, 1862, in the Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, being at Staten Island; then in the defenses at Washington; in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania C. H., Cold Har- bour, Bermuda Hundred, and the seige and capture of Richmond; he was mustered out June 24, 1865, and in 1868 came west, loeating in this county,
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and followed carpentering several years. He was married in June, 1865, to Miss Rebecca Cauger, who died one year after, leaving an infant, who sur- vived its mother but three months. IIe was again married September 14, 1879, to Miss Melissa Goddard, a native of this county, daughter of Richard Goddard, of Troy; and they have one child, Emma, born December 17, 1880. He located at Pulaski, in 1874; worked as a carpenter till 1877, when he opened a wagon shop, and does a general repairing business. He has a nice little home, and is a public spirited citizen.
KIRK, E. L., dealer in agricultural implements, and fruit grower, Pulas- ki; was born December 27, 1840, in Cecil county, Maryland. There he grew to manhood, received a common school education, and learned thie trade of wagon-making. He enlisted in August, 1862, in the Sixth Maryland In- fantry, and was in the battles of Opecan, Winchester, Cedar Mountain, sec- ond Bull Run, Reams' Station, Wilderness, and Cold Harbour; being wounded at Winchester, losing his index finger, and had his wrist injured. Was at the seige and capture of Petersburg and Richmond, and at Sailors' Run was slightly wounded by a bayonet thrust in the arm. He was at the surrender of Lee, at Appomattox, and mustered ont in June, 1865, at Balti- more; became a resident of this county the same year, locating at Pulaski; He worked at wagon-making seven years, and engaged in his present busi- ness in 1879; he takes great interest in fruit growing, and has a splendid orchard, also the finest apiary in the county, and is skilled in bee culture. Mr. K. was the first man inside the rebel works at Petersburg; at the grand assault, April 2, 1865, his regiment being the first to plant their colors. He was married in September, 1868, to Miss Martha Knight, a native of Iowa, and they have two children, Willie J. and Minnie L.
MERRITT, MARION, manufacturer of coopers' stock, postoffice Pulaski; was born in Davis county, April 14, 1851; was liere raised to manhood, and received a common school education; spending his youth on his father's farm. His father, John Merritt, is now living, at the age of seventy-four, in Fox River township, being one of the oldest settlers in the county. At the age of 19, Mr. M. engaged in business for himself, dealing in live stock. In 1875, he enmigated to California, and engaged in lumbering in Tehama county; and later at farming. He was married September 14, 1873, to Miss Marietta Hanshaw, of this county, who died in California, December 6, 1878, and is buried at Red Bluffs, in that State. She was aged 22, and a sincere christian lady, a member of the Christian Church. He was success- ful in California, but the death of his wife changed his life, and he returned to this county, and went into his present business in the spring of 1880.
MILLIGAN, J. W., merchant, Pulaski; was born July 11, 1842, in Van Buren county, Iowa; obtaining his education in the common schools and Troy Academy. He came to this county with his parents, in 1855, and assisted his father on the farm till he was twenty-three, when he struck out for himself; as a farmer, till 1871. He then commenced business at Pulaski, occupying the same building ever since, and doing a thriving business in general merchandise of all kinds; and lias recently added a dress-making and millinery department, presided over by his wife. He. was married February 15, 1866, to Miss Martha J. Taylor, a native of Indiana. They have six children: Charles H., Ida E., Hattie I., Walter C., James C., and Garfield. Mr. M. is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and has been township clerk beyond the recollection of the oldest inhabitant.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
MUIR, J. W., proprietor of the Pulaski House, Pulaski; was born April 15, 1849, in Jefferson county Mo., and while an infant his parents moved to. Scotland county, where he grew to manhood, and received a common school edneation. Ile followed farming till the spring of 1881, when he sold out and embarked in the hotel business at Pulaski. He was married April 16, 1876, to Miss Fannie Fordenwalt, a native of Iowa, and daughter of Adam Fordenwalt. They have had two children, Ehmer and Ethel. Mr. M. makes a splendid hotel man, and he and his wife do their best to make their guests comfortable.
REED, J. E., EsQ., J. P., Notary Publie, land, loan and insurance agent, Pulaski; born December 28, 1840, in Massachusetts; his parents being pioneers in Warsaw, Ill .; then going back to Massachusetts. They came to Iowa in 1852, locating in Roscoe township, in this county, where Mr. R. grew to manhood, and acquired an edneation. In 1862, he was appointed watchman at the St. Lonis House of Refuge, and soon atter enlisted in the Fifty-first Missouri Infantry; was afterward promoted to lieutenant, and served till the elose ot the war, being mustered out September 3, 1865, when he returned to this county, and was married in April, 1866, to Miss Margaret Stover, a native of Ohio. They have three children, living: Dora B., Es- tella J., and Geo. E .; and two deceased, Fanny and Garfield. Mr. R. met with an accident in 1869, and came very near losing his right eye. He was elected justice of the peace in 1877, and still holds the office. He also handles Wood's mowers and reapers, in connection with E. L. Kirk. Mr. Reed is a man highly respected by those who know him.
RUSSEL, JOHN C., farmer and stoek-raiser, section 24, postoffice Mil- ton; was born October 18, 1830, in Sussex county, Del. At the age of six- teen his parents located in Van Buren county, Iowa, where they still live, at an advanced age. His father, Hon. Robt. Russel, was a member of the legislature of lowa, in 1853. Mr. R. assisted his father on the farm till he was twenty-three years old. He located where he now lives in 1854; his- farm consists of 200 acres, having a well kept appearance. He also owns another farm of 113 aeres. He was married October 28, 1852, to Miss Margaret Cravens, a native of Indiana, born May 9, 1835, daughter of Bush- rod Cravens, the pioneer of this county. They have five children: Mary J., William D., George L., Fanny C., and Hannah G. Mary is the wife of J. E. Spenee, of Milton. Mr. R. has been township taustee and secretary of the school board, the latter for many years. He is a self-made man, having commenced with nothing. He has travelled a great deal, having been elear to the Pacific Ocean; but could never find a place that suited him as well as Davis county.
SMITH, J. M., hardware and agricultural implements, Pulaski; was'born January 2, 1847, in Wayne county, Ohio, and at the age of fourteen eame with his parents to Pulaski in this county. The first season he was here he lost his right leg from white swelling, after which he attended Troy Acad- emy and acquired a good business edneation. He taught school two years, was then employed by the B. & S. W. R. R. company as station agen't for- four years, and then engaged in his present business. He keeps a full stock of hardware, cutlery, agricultural implements and notions. He was married March 31, 1874, to Miss Alice Knight, a native of Iowa. Mr. S. stands high in the esteem of his friends and patrons.
SHELTON, W. H., M. D., physician and surgeon, Pulaski; was born Sep- tember 23, 1835, in Indiana, and at the age of ten moved to Iowa with his
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
parents, locating in Perry township in this county. He spent his youth at- tending school and entered Troy Academy in 1853, remaining two years, then went to the Medical College at Keokuk, known at that time as the Iowa Medical Institute, where he graduated February 28, 1860, and hung out his shingle at Pulaski the same year. Although proficient in other schools he has adopted the Allopathie praetiee, and now has a very extensive practice in Iowa and Missouri. He owns a fine residence and grounds in Pulaski, and about 800 acres of fine land in three farms. He was married in March 1859, to Miss Mary Wilson, a native of Indiana, daughter of Eben Wilson of Grove township. They have six children, Elva H., Clay A., Bernard, Etta L., Anna, and R. O.
SMITH, W. T., of the firm of Smith & Hotchkiss, grain, Inmber. and live stock dealers, Pulaski; was born October 3, 1855, in Edgar county, Ill. He there grew to manhood and received his education at the Danville Bus- iness College. He came to this county in 1873 and engaged in farming for seven years; then one year in the drug business at Pulaski, and in 1880 be- gan his present business with Mr. Hotehkiss. He was married October 11, 1878, to Miss Alice A. MeDonnell. They have two children, Bessie, born July 6, 1879, and James J., born August 28, 1881. Mr. Smith is a fine business man and has the confidence of the community.
SNODGRASS, G. W., M. D., farmer and stock-raiser; seetion 24; post- office Milton; was born January 1, 1834, in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. When three years old, he came with his parents to Warren county, Ohio, where his father erected a grist mill and also engaged in farming. Here he spent his youth, and attended school. At the age of sixteen he entered the West Point College at Spring Bar, Ohio, where he remained three years. He then entered the office of Dr. Wade, his cousin, in Cincinnati, and at- tended lectures at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery. In 1854 he came with his parents to Lee county, Iowa, and the next year attended leetures, at the Keokuk Medical College, and the same year was indneed by Drs. Wallace and Egbert, to locate at Milton, going into part- nership one year with Dr. Wallace, and then on his own account. The doe- tor, though having a very extensive practice, has never hung out a "shingle." He was married November 6, 1856, to Miss Sarah J. Billups, a native of Virginia, and an orphan when they were married. They have five children : Wm. J., Martha J., Geo. W., John, and Sarah A. The doctor owns a fine farm of 800 or 900 aeres, with three fine houses, which makes him some- what a granger. Ile is purely a self-made man, starting with $100 less than nothing, and has now acquired an enviable reputation for his fine pro- fessional and social qualities.
TOWNSEND, JOHN W .. farmer and stock-raiser, seetion 10, postoffice Pulaski; was born October 4, 1832, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and moved to Ohio at the age of eight, with his parents, to Franklin county where he spent his youth, assisting on the farm and attending the common sehools. He came to Iowa in 1854, worked as a farm hand and finished his edneation at Troy academy. Being energetic and thrifty he became the owner of 400 aeres of land, in 1864. He is a self-made man, having left home with but $25. He now owns 760 acres of good land, with good improvements. He was married October 13, 1864, to Miss Charity Hardesty, a native of this county. They have five children: Lewis L., Willis S., Caleb R., Ore, and Eva. Mr. Townsend intends going into the dairy business. and will, no doubt, make a success of it.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
TUCKER, DAVID, farmer and stock-raiser; postoffice Pulaski; was born April 8, 1825, in Butler county, Ohio. At the age of eleven his parents moved to Indiana, and settled in Ripley county, and there grew to manhood, receiving a limited education in the common schools. He was married Oc- tober 17, 1850, to Miss Martha A. Taylor, a native of the Old Dominion. Her parents were for many years residents of Grove township in this coun- ty. Mr. Tucker became a resident of this county in 1850, and bought and improved a farm of 120 acres in Grove township, where he lived twelve years, then sold out and engaged in merchandising at Pulaski one year; then bought the farm he now owns consisting of 160 acres, then wild land. Hc and his wife have been for many years members of the M. E. Church. They are the parents of seven children: Mary J., Wm. H., Sarah F., Allen W., Rebecca A., and two deceased. Mr. Tucker takes an active interest in edu- cation and has given liberally to the support of churches and schools.
WASHBURN, SELAH B., farmer and stock-raiser, section 11, postoffice Milton; was born April 8, 1825, in Putnam county, New York. And at the age of ten moved with has parents to Madison county, Illinois, where his father died three weeks after; since which time he has had to fight his own battles. He learned blacksmithing and picked np an education; coming to Iowa and locating in Lee county in 1844, where he opened the pioneer blacksmithshop in Primrose. He came to this county in 1862, locating where he now lives; he has a fine farm of 240 acres. well improved. He was married October 16, 1847, to Miss Vashti Jane Kelley, a native of New York. They have six children: Horton S., Melvin E., Lewis T., Irvine, Ida and Retta. He was burned out October 1, 1875, the house and contents be- ing totally destroyed; a loss of about $1,300. Mr. W. is a self-made man; he intends removing to Milton, and quitting hard work; he is now town- ship trustee, and treasurer of the school board.
WOODWARD, A., farmer and dairy-man, postoffice Milton; was born July 29, 1829, in Summit county, Ohio; he grew to manhood in the west- ern reserve, and was educated in the common schools; and learned the coop- ers trade. Carried on a shop two years, then came to Iowa in 1851, loca- ting near Stringtown in this county, where he engaged in brick making. He bought a farm in Van Buren county in 1853, and July 6, 1854, married Miss Lucy Wilson, daughter 'of Byram Wilson, a pioneer of this county. This lady enjoys the distinction of being the first white child born in Davis county, being born at Stringtown, October 10, 1838. She was educated at the early pioneer schools, and is a lady of refined tastes and cultured mind. They have a family of six children. Retta, Allen, Scott B., Aggie, Eva and Harry; and have given them a good education. Mr. W. bought the . farm he now owns, in 1870, consisting of eighty acres of well improved land, with good buildings, fine orchard, and nicely situated near to Fox River timber. Mr. W. is putting in practice the knowledge of the dairy business gained in his youth in the great dairy district of Ohio.
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