USA > Iowa > Davis County > History of Davis County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 78
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HEM, JACOB, farmer and stock-raiser, section 24, postoffice Hickory; was born in Germany, may 1, 1808; came to this country in 1835, and worked as a stone-mason, first in Illinois, and then in Missouri. In 1840, he located in Davis county, staked out his claim of 320 acres, and commenced clearing his land. He now has about 200 acres well improved, "goot" or-
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
ehard, and "goot vater." In 1835 he was married to Miss Wesley, a native of Germany, and raised a family of five children : Mary A., wife of A. Peter- son; Elizabeth, wife of G. Stanghter; Franeis M., Jacob M., and Maggie, wife of J. Person. Mr. IL.'s wife died October 17, 1880, and he married again July 30, 1881, to Miss Clara Bellk, a native of Illinois. He has a very pleasant home, where he intends to spend the rest of his days with his young wife.
JONES, HENRY, farmer and stock-raiser, section 13, postoffice Hickory; was born in Butler county, Ohio, March 1, 1825, and lived with his parents on the farm until he was 26 years old. He came to Scotland county, Mo., in 1843, with an ox team, which was rather slow, but he managed to get there, and in the fall of the same year he came to Davis county, where he now lives: staked out his claim and built his first eabin, 18x26, a large house in those days. Mr. J. was hunting on the banks of the Des Moines when the last of the Fox tribe of Indians passed down the river. He was married January 1, 1852, to Miss Sweney Carter, a native of Kentucky, born May 3, 1827. They have had six children : George F., Sarah, wife of Francis Gar- rett: William H .. Joseph C., Jessie B., Mary J. and Marquess.
LYNCH, J. K., farmer and stock-raiser, seetion 15, postoffice Eldon; was born in Spencer county, Ohio, January 15, 1833, and lived with his parents until he was of age. He and his younger brother spent their young days as bee hunters, and hunting Indian relics. He was married March 4, 1855, to Miss Susan Stroud, a native of Missouri, who was born March 4, 1838, and died February 16, 1881, and he married again September 26, 1881, Miss M. A Simpson, a native of Ill. By his first wife he raised a family of eleven children, all living at home, except one, died quite young: Charles. II., Mary M., John W., Pruda V., Margaret A., Sarah D., Emma C., Eliza- beth, and Thomas J. Mr. L. has a fine farm of 80 acres, 40 aeres well im- proved.
MCCLURE, WM., farmer, section 20, postoffice Floris; was born Octo- ber 12, 1829, in Jessamine county, Ky. At the age of one year he moved with his parents to Orange county, Ind., where he lived about 15 years. In the fall of 1844, his father moved to Iowa Territory and settled in Van Buren county, and three years later came to this county. He settled on the farm he now owns in 1854, consisting of 320 aeres, now highly improved. He is engaged in stock-raising. He was married March 11, 1851, to Miss Letitia A. Prevo, daughter of L. T. Prevo, who came to Van Buren county in 1837, and moved to this county in 1840. Mr. and Mrs. M. have been blessed with nine children: Manuel, Maria, Ovid, Ciara, Thomas J., Mary F., Margaret, Stella, and William P. Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the Church of Christ. He is a demoerat in politics, and is one of the most enterprising farmers in Salt Creek township.
NOEL, PETER, farmer and stock-raiser, seetions, 14, 15 and 16, post- office Eldon or Hickory; was born in Scioto connty, Ohio, October 3, 1816, and lived with his parents, and was educated in the common schools, until he was twenty-six, when he bought a farm, and went to raising stoek until 1850, when he sold out and emigrated to Davis county, Iowa, and staked ont his claim of 160 acres, where he now lives; built his first cabin, and com- menced improving his farm, which is now under good cultivation, with a fine orchard on it. He was married January 15, 1842, to Miss Rachel Downing, a native of Adams county, Ohio, who was born February 23, 1824, and they have had eight children, Philip A., Aramintha, wife of A. Quigley; George
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
W., Dora, wife of A. Davis; and two sons in the army; Bartholomew ; starved to death in rebel prison, and Mechie, killed at Champion Hill; and two chil- dren died in infancy.
PHELPS, A. II., farmer and stock-raiser, section 33, postoffice Troy ; was born January 12, 1846, in Union township, this county, and spent his youth assisting his father on the farm, and attending school. His father and an elder brother enlisted in company E, Third Iowa Cavalry, and in 1863, his father coming home on aceonnt of disability, he enlisted, in October, 1863, in the same company. Ile was in the Steele raid through Arkansas, and in the fights on the Price raid, and at Independence, Missouri, where his brother fell, and at Mill Rnn and Osage, Kansas; was taken siek and sent to hospital at Lonisville, Kentucky, and mastered out August 18, 1865 ; came home to his father's farm, and at the age of twenty-one worked at carpentering two years. Ile was married February 11, 1869, to Miss Mary Hall, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of G. B. Hall, of this county, and they have two children, Wayne and Clayton. Mr. P. moved to Nebraska in 1871, and three years later, returned to this county. He bought his present farm in 1881, consisting of eighty acres of well improved land, known as the Gra- ham farm.
SLOAN, WM., farmer, section three, postoffice Eldon; was born Deeem- ber 14, 1817, in Chester connty, Pennsylvania. When six years of age his parents, Robert and Elizabeth, removed to Ohio, where he lived for thirty years. Ile was reared on a farm and received a limited education in the subscription schools. Ile arrived in this county June 15, 1853, and settled on the farm where he has since made his home. He owns a fine farm of 140 acres, well improved. Hle was married in March 1841, to Miss Char- lotte Gerry, who died in Jannary 1842, and Mr. S. married the second time to Margaret Mann, of Columbus, Ohio, they have six children; George W., Mary Ann, Joshna K., Robert, Frank and Sarah E., twins, and Matilda A. In politics Mr. S. is a democrat, and is a man very highly respected by those who know him.
SWAIM, JOIIN, farmer, section 20, postoffice Floris; was born May 31, 1821, in Jefferson county, Ohio; when quite young his parents, Elias and Rachel, removed to Belinont, then to Monroe, where he lived till eighteen years old, when he learned the carpen- ter's trade in Harrison county, and served as apprentice with Thomas Bradley for four years; then came to Iowa, and settled in this county, in 1845. He now owns a good farm of 200 acres, well improved; everything about the place showing the thrift and industry of its owner. He was married in August, 1843, to Miss D. Hale, and they have four children; George M., Jolın H., Rachel, and Florence. In politics Mr. S. is an inde- pendent democrat, and is one of the most substantial and intelligent farmers in the township.
VAUGHN, IRVIN, farmer and stock-raiser, section 26, postoffice Hick- ory, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, October 16, 1843, and came with his mother to Davis county in the fall of 1855; and was educated in the com- mon schools of the county. In the spring of 1862, he emigrated to the far west, where he was engaged in mining and prospecting. He traveled all over the territories and passed through all sorts of adventures, being robbed of his "dust" by highwaymen; he returned to this county in 1864, and lo- cated where he now resides, and has made a very snecessful farmer.
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
SOAP CREEK TOWNSHIP.
ALLEN, JOHN A., farmer and stock-raiser, postoffice Belknap; was- born in April, 1820, in Montgomery county, Ky., and at an early age he moved with his parents to Bourbon county, Ky., and in 1836, on account of the slavery question, they moved to Putnam county, Ind. He was raised at the plowhandle and educated in the subscription schools. In 1841 he came to Davis county, Iowa, and in 1851 moved to Lucas county, and returned to this county in 1863, where he lias since resided. His farm is located one and a quarter miles from Belknap and contains sixty acres of improved land and ten acres of woodland, with good buildings and orchard, well fenced and stocked. He was married December 3,1840, to Miss Elizabeth A. Ingram, a native of East Tennessee. They have four children: William, Jas. H., Mary and Milton T. Mr. A. and wife, are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are very highly esteemed by all who know them.
BERRY, JAMES, farmer, postoffice Belknap; was born December 19,. 1817, in Frederick county, Va. He was reared a farmer and received a lim- ited education in the subscription schools. At the age of five he moved with his parents to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He came to lowa in the fall of 1845, and located in this county where he has since resided. He owns a fine farm of 125 acres in cultivation and forty acres of woodland. He was married January 24, 1843, to Miss Nancy McConnell, a native of Ohio. They have had eight children: Thomas, who enlisted Octo- ber 6, 1863, in company E, Ninth Iowa Cavalry, and gave his life for his country, September 6, 1864; Jas. E., John, Samuel L., Ephraim S., Mar- garet, deceased; Wm. J. and Mary E., at home. Mr. B. and wife are mem- bers of the M. E. Church.
BOVARD, G. L., telegraph operator, Belknap; was born January 4, 1862, in Armstrong county, Pa. At the age of seven years he moved with his parents to Schuyler county, Mo., where they lived till 1876, when they came to Moulton, Iowa. He acquired a good education, graduating at Moulton high school; and then began learning telegraphy, and eight months later went to work on the "Wabash" as an extra for eight weeks; then took the night office at Belknap, a position he now occupies. He is a fine operator and a perfect gentleman.
CANNADY, FRANCIS M., farmer and stock-raiser, postoffice Belknap; was born August 27, 1834, in Vermillion county, Illinois. He was reared a farmer and educated in the common schools. At the age of thirteen he came to this county with his parents, and in the fall of 1848, moved to Wa- pello connty, where he grew to manhood; he afterwards moved back to this county, and now owns a fine farm of forty acres highly improved. He is also engaged in in the manufacture of shaved ax-handles, in which he is doing a rushing business. He was married December 25, 1859, to Miss Mary A. Lester, a native of Pike county, Illinois. They have four children, Laura F., Marion G., Byron L., and James R. In politics Mr. C. is a re- publican.
DODD, ELIZABETH, postoffice Belknap; was born in Trumbull county, Kentucky, where she grew to womanhood and was educated in the subscrip- tion schools. She was married in October 1829, to John Dodd, who was born in 1800, in Henry county, Kentucky, where he grew to manhood on a
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
farm and received a limited education. In 1830 he moved to Hendricks county, Indiana, where he cleared a farm of eighty aeres and lived fourteen years; he then came to this county, where he entered a farm of 170 aeres, which is now under fine cultivation. They were blessed with fourteen ehil- dren, nine living: William, Thomas, Bernard, Catharine, Junietta, Charles, Henry, Martha J. and Alvah. Mr. Dodd died in the winter of 1873, and Mrs. D. still lives on the old homestead.
GRANT, EDWARD, JR., farmer, seetion 32, Drakeville postoffice. Is the owner of 440 aeres of well improved land; he was born January 23, 1829, in British America, and at the age of eight years eame with his parents, Edward and Alice Grant, to Harrison county, Ohio, where he was raised on a farm, and received a common school education. In 1848 the family set- tled in this county. He went to California about the year 1852; his mother- died in this eounty in 1856, and his father in 1861. In 1864 he returned from California, and found three sisters without father or mother. He at once bought a farm and the girls kept house for him, until the last one was married, about a year ago, when he leased his farm, and intends to visit Cali- fornia again this fall. Mr. G. stands high in this eounty, and commands the respect of all who know him.
HARBOUR, R. J., farmer and stoek-raiser, postoffice Belknap; was born February 1, 1841, in Henry county, Iowa, and at five years of age eame with his parents to this county, and here grew to manhood. He was reared a farmer and educated in the common schools. When the war broke out he enlisted in company E, Third Iowa Cavalry, and was in the battles of that regiment, being wounded in the head and shoulder at " Moore's Mills," July 2, 1862, and remained in hospital till the next spring; then rejoined his company, and was at Iron Mountain, Little Rock, Guntown, Tupelo, and in Wilson's raid from Eastport to Macon, Georgia. Was discharged in the fall of 1865; returned home and purchased the farm he now owns, which is located six miles northwest of Bloomfield, and contains 110 acres of fine land, mostly in cultivation. He was married Marel 9, 1866, to Miss S. J. Vest, a native of Indiana. They have seven children: Schuyler C., John E., George, May, Bessie, Elizabeth and Lousia, the last two twins.
KING, IL. T., farmer and stock-raiser, postoffice Drakeville; was born in Maryland, November 10, 1814, and lived there until he grew to manhood. In 1837 he moved to Madison county, Ill., and in the fall of 1874 he came to this county and settled two miles north of Drakeville, and owns 288 aeres of well improved land. He owns a great deal of stock and has 230 feet of eattle sheds, besides two of the best stables in the county. He was married December 3, 1835, to Miss Louisa Dorsey, of Maryland. They had seven children: John B. and James T., living in Golden City, Col .; Clara, wife of Albert Estabrook, and four deceased, Mary E., wife of E. H. Dorsey, and three in infancy. Mrs. K. died June 9, 1860, and he married again June 20, 1861, Miss Elizabeth Higby, of Alleghany county, Pa. They have three children, Obedia H., Ulyses G. and Wm. K. Mr. and Mrs K. are members of the M. E. Church. He has been a member of a church since 1829, and is a self-educated man.
McCONNELL, T. J., deceased, farmer; was born December 16, 1833, in Muskingum county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, reared a farmer and edueated in the common schools. He was married in 1856 to Miss Naney Dutton, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and had four children: Mar- garet A., Jessie T., Jas. W., Elizabeth J. Mrs. M. died May 4, 1872, and Mr.
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IIISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
M. was married August 9, 1873, to Elizabeth Dutton. Mr. M. died February 6,1877, since which time his wife and sons have carried on the farm, contain- ing 122 1-2 acres under fine cultivation. Mr. M. came to this county in 1856, and was one of the most highly respected citizens of the county.
McCONNELL, SAMUEL, farmer and stock-raiser, section 13, postoffice Belknap; was born February 11, 1827, in Muskingum county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and received a common school education; living with his parents till he was twenty-one years old, when he went to work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed more or less for twenty years. In 1851 he came to Iowa, remained about three months, then returned to Ohio until 1857, when he came back, locating in Davis county, till 1860, settling on his present farm. In 1860 he went back to Ohio on a visit, and on account of the war remained till 1866, when he returned to this connty, where he has since lived. His farm is located four miles north of Belknap, and contains 120 acres, with good buildings, orchard and vineyard; and has one of the best stone quarries in the State. He was married in September, 1852, to Miss Maria J. Craig, a native of Ohio. They have had six children : Maggie, James F., John W., Sadie, and Samnel F., and Mary, deceased. Mr. M. and wife are members of the Protestant Methodist Church, and in politics he is a democrat.
McGEE, JOEL, hotel-keeper, Belknap; was born November 28, 1831, in Bartholomew county, Ind. Here he grew to manhood and received a com- mon school education. In 1848 he came to Wapello county, Iowa, and two years later to this county. In 1852 he started for California and reached San Francisco after a voyage of ninety-six days. In 1855 he returned to this county where he has since lived. He worked at blacksmithing until 1876 when he commenced keeping hotel, which he has since followed with credit to himself and family. He owns a farm of ninety acres adjoining the town of Belknap. He was married October 20, 1856, to Miss Jane E. Dun- lavy, a native of Indiana. They had five children: Sarah E. and Clara E., both at home, and three deceased. Mrs. M. died August 2, 1867, and he was married again October 20, 1873, to Sarah Kinney, a native of Clark county, Ohio. Mr. M. is a member of the Baptist Church; he and his family are well educated and are surrounded with all the evidences of refinement and culture.
MUNN, DAVID, farmer and stock-raiser, section 12, postoffice Belknap; was born in 1827, in Switzerland county, Ind. He was reared a farmer and received a common school education, and there grew to manhood. In 1867 he came to Davis county, Iowa, and purchased the farm he now lives on, located on Soap Creek, containing 148 acres, 100 in cultivation and the bal- ance good timber pasture. His farm is well stocked, has good buildings and a fine young orchard. He was married in 1857 to Miss Nancy Brooks, a native of Indiana. They have four children: Adolphus, Calvin, Albert and Jas. W. Mr. M. has raised a colt this year, which at five months old weighed 820 pounds, which is pretty hard to beat in this connty.
MUNN, J. F., farmer and stock-raiser, postoffice Belknap; was born Sep- tember 4, 1132, in Switzerland county, Ind., where he grew to manhood, be- ing raised on a farm and receiving a common school education. In 1860 he came to this county and purchased the farm where he now lives, containing 120 acres of fine land with good improvements. He was married July 6, 1862, to Miss Rosa Dawson, a native of Jennings county. Ind. They have seven children: John L., Wm. E., David M., Catharine, Addison, Thomas,
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and Ellie M. Mr. M. is a Mason, being a member of lodge No. 86, Drake- ville. In politics he is a republican. He has the respect and confidence of the entire community.
PARSONS, C. C., station agent, Belknap; was born March 12, 1854, in Oneida, Ill .; and here he lived and attended school till he was twelve years old; then went to Seott county, where he worked on a farm for two years; then returned to Knox county for a year. At the age of fifteen he began learning telegraphing, which took five months; then took charge of the night office at Oneida, and remained three years; went into the employ of the C., R. I. & P., and took charge of Princeton station, Mo., for one year; then the Eldon station for three years; then took charge of the Belknap Junction of- fice of the C., R. I. & P. and Wabash roads, which position he now holds, being also the express agent. He was married September 19, 1877, to Miss Lillian Richardson, a native of Texas. They have two children: Clarence M. and Hester. Mr. Parsons has four lots and a nice residence here, and is very comfortably situated; he is a fine business man, and enjoys the con- fidence of both companies, and the respect and good will of the entire com- munity.
PARSONS. JAS. II., postoffice Belknap; was born February 29, 1860, in Knox county, Ill., where he lived fifteen years and acquired a common school education. In 1876 he went to work for the P. & D. R. R. about a year; then came to Belknap and worked for the C., R. I. & P. R. R. for six months; then worked for the P. & D. a year, at Danville, Ill .; then for the C. & E. I. about two years; then for the C. M. & St. P., as yard switchman, at Chicago, until January 9, 1881, when he had the misfortune of having a pair of car trucks run over his lower limbs, which permanently disables hin for manual labor. After recovering, in a measure, he commenced learning telegraphy, in the office at Belknap, where he is now engaged.
RUTMAN, DANIEL T., farmer and stock-raiser, postoffice Belknap; was born July 19, 1822, in Sangamon county, Ill. When quite young he re- moved with his father to Fulton county, Ill., where he grew to manhood on the farm, and acquired a common school education. In the spring of 1843, he came to this county, being among the first settlers of Soap Creek town- ship. He was married in 1849, to Miss J. Roundy, a native of Saratoga, N. Y. They have been blessed with eight children: Stiles H., Miles A., Giles L., Horace E., John T. D., Mary and Virgil M. Mr. P. and wife are mem- bers of the M. E. Church, and in politics Mr. P. is a greenbacker. By his upright conduct and fair dealing, he has merited and acquired the esteem of all who know him.
SHARON, JOHN II., farmer and stock-raiser, Belknap; was born Dec- ember 4, 1847, in Juniatta county, Penn .; here he grew to manhood and was educated, graduating from the Ross Creek Academy, in the same county. When the war broke out, he enlisted in Company I, One hundred and twen- ty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, and after serving in the army, returned home and went to farming again, and in the fall of 1864, came to this county, where he now owns a nice farm of 100 acres, four and a half miles from Bloomfield, all under cultivation, with good buildings and orchard. He was married September 7, 1865, to Miss Prudence Wann, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, who died June 7, 1874; Mr. S. married again June 17, 1877, Mrs. Biddle, a native of Greene county, Penn., who had two children by her former marriage: James R., and Jessie N., and has one child by this mar-
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
riage, Catherine L. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Congregational Church, and are highly respected in the community where they live.
SHERMAN. H., farmer and stock-raiser, postoffice Belknap; was born May 26, 1819, in Jefferson county Ind .; he was reared a farmer, and here grew to manhood. In the fall of 1856, he came to this county, where he purchased his present farm and has since resided. It contains 100 acres, now under a high state of cultivation, and he has just completed the best farm house in that part of the county, and also has a large barn, and good orchard. He was married September 4, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth A. Munn,. ' a native of Switzerland county, Ind. They have had eight children : James A., Admana N., David N., John M. Rossanna, Arribell, Thomas, and Orange D. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the P. M. Church.
STARK, GREENUP, pioneer farmer and stock-raiser, postoffice Belk- nap; was born in February 1817, in Henry county, Kentucky. He was reared a farmer and educated at the subscription schools, and lived in Henry county till he was thirteen years old, then with his parents moved to Decatur county, Indiana, where he lived till 1846, when he came to Davis county, Iowa, where he has lived on the farm which he entered, for thirty- five years. It contains 280 acres, 200 under cultivation, with eighty of woodland pasture. He was married in February 1842, to Miss Hannah Wallace, a native of Virginia. They have had nine children, five now liv- ing, J. J., wife of Mr. Lowe, of Mills county; A. W. A., Lucy, one of the best school teachers in the county; G. W. and Mattie, a young lady of seven- teen, at home. Those deceased were, Lucinda, Josiah, John and James. Mr. S. by steady, hard work, has made his farm, in improvement and pro- duction, second to none in the county, and has gained the confidence and esteem of all who know him; he has been a republican since the organiza- tion of the party, and has held many offices of trust.
WHITAKER, J. B., M. D., Belknap; was born July 15, 1837, in Surry county, N. C. When quite young his parents moved to Monroe county, Indiana, where he lived fourteen years, acquiring his education at home un- der a private tutor. At the age of seventeen, he entered College at Jack- sonville, Illinois, where he spent three years, and then commenced the study of medicine with Dr. C. P. Dunlap, of that place; attended three terms at the Cincinnati Medical College, and there graduated February 24, 1860; he then entered the government service as chief commissary at Santa Fe, N. M., where he served three years, eleven months and two days, then returned to Terre Haute, Indiana, where he practiced till 1880, when he come to Belk- nap, where he has now gained quite a large practice. He was married in August 1857, to Miss Mary E. Briscoe, a native of Monroe county, Indiana. They have one child, Alice, who is now a school teacher in Indiana. Mrs. W. died October 6, 1858, and the doctor was married again June 13, 1877, to Miss Mary E. Cupp, a native of Lawrance county, Indiana. Mr. W., wife and daughter are members of the Baptist Church.
WINN, THOMAS A., JR., telegraph operator, Belknap; was born April. 28, 1861, at Canton, Missouri. At an early age he moved with his parents to Virden, Illinois, and attended the public schools. At the age of thirteen years he began clerking in a store for his grandfather at Wentzville, Mis- souri, and remained three years; then learned telegraphing, took charge of the Wentzville night office, W. St. L. & P. R. R. for four months, then went to Montgomery for two years; then for three months at Ferguson, and was then promoted to day operator at Belknap, Iowa, which he now holds. Since
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