USA > Iowa > Davis County > History of Davis County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 79
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
writing the above Mr. Winn has been transferred to a better position at Springfield Illinois. He is one of the best operators on the Wabash road.
VAN BENTHUSEN, JOIIN, farmer and stock-raiser, postoffice Belk- nap; was born September 26, 1823, in Warren county, Ohio. At the age of five years he with his parents moved to Shelby connty, Ind., settling in a dense forest, where he grew to manhood, enduring all the privations of pioneer life. In 1850 he came to this county, settling in Marion township, entering a farm of 160 aeres, which he made into a comfortable homestead. He was married October 1, 1844, to Miss Sarah Clayton, a native of Ohio, born April 22, 1827. They had eleven children. nine now living: Mary E., Pereilla, Susan E., Wm. H., John W., Sarah E., Thomas C., Steven and Herman. He and his wife are members of the Protestant Methodist Church; he is a Mason and in politics is a greenbacker. During the war he enlisted in company F, Fortieth Iowa Infantry, and manfully discharged the dnty of a soldier. Ile was mustered in November 15, 1862, being one of five brothers in the army. He was in the battles of Vieksburg, Helena, Little Roek, Fort Smith, Port Gibson; was in the service three years and not off duty a day in that time. He is now looked upon as one of the best farm- ers in the county.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
AKERS, B. C., EsQ., justice of the peace, Troy; was born November 17, 1812, in Barron county, Ky .; at the age of nine years, he moved with his parents to Tennessee, where he was reared and educated; waking three miles to attend a very indifferent subseription school. In his youth he followed Hatboating on the Cumberland, Ohio and Mississippi rivers; and was in New Orleans in 1833, during the cholera epidemic. He was married August 27, 1835, to Miss Martha Etheridge, a native of Tennessee, and they have had five children: Amanda J., deceased Mareh, 1880, wife of John H. Miller; Martha M., wife of S. B. Siddons; James C., Sarah E., wife of John E. Con- ner; and Mary E., deceased, when three years old. In 1840, Mr. A. eame to Iowa, and lived in Van Buren county twenty-two years, enduring all the pri - vations of a pioncer life. He eame to this connty and located in Troy, in 1862, sinee which time he has been one of the county's best citizens. He has been justice of the peace or constable for a great many years, and has been many years a member of the Baptist Church. His son, J. C., served three years during the war in company H, Nineteenth Iowa Infantry.
BARKER, JOHN T., farmer and stoek-raiser; section 9, postofliee Troy; was born October 20, 1842, in Van Buren county, Iowa; his father, Isaac, loeating there in 1839, where he died in 1847. Our subject then lived with his mother till he was seventeen; eame to this eounty in 1861, and attended school one winter, working for his board. He enlisted An- gust 6, 1862, in company I, Nineteenth Iowa Infantry, and was in the bat- tles of the regiment, being taken prisoner at Sterling Farm, Louisiana, Sep- tember 21, 1863; exchanged July 22, 1864; he was mnstered out July 10, 1865. He still suffers from epilepsy, eaused by exposure in the army. He was married January 31, 1867, to Miss Catharine A. Denning, a native of Van Buren county, born December 22, 1844, and they have six children:
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William H., Jacob II., Sarah A., John T., Jesse F. and J A. In 1873, he bonght eighty aeres, in this county, now in cultivation. IIe has a good orchard, and vineyard, and owns twenty acres of timber. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church.
BELL, D. S., general merchant, Troy; was born June 9, 1843, in Jeffer- son county, Ohio. At the age of twelve he came with his parents to Van Buren connty, Iowa; his education being mostly acquired in Ohio. At the age of seventeen he enlisted, in September, 1861, in company D, Third Iowa Cavalry, and was never off duty till the Price raid in Missouri, in 1864; was at the Pea Ridge, and from there to Helena, Arkansas; had his horse killed, and was taken prisoner at Lagrange, Arkansas, and taken to Little Rock, and four months later was paroled when General Steele captured that city; went to St. Louis for ten days; then returned to his regiment at Little Rock, and protected union citizens; then veteranized, and after thirty days furlough, went to Memphis, and was in the Tnpelo fight; then in the cam- paign against Price in Arkansas and Missouri, and Kansas; being taken with sore eyes, the result of exposure on this trip; mustered ont September, 1865; returned to this county and engaged in business at Troy; then had the mail contraet between Keosaugna and Bloomfield; was then salesman for Mr. Bishop five years; then commeneed his present business at Troy, with $700 stoek, and at present does a very large and increasing business. He was married in May, 1875, to Miss Druella Bruce, a native of Indiana, and they have two children, Ethel and Everett.
BISHOP, ABRAM, farmer and stock-raiser, section 2, postoffice Troy; was born in Virginia, in 1818, and there grew up and was educated, till he was eighteen, when he moved with his parents to Indiana, in Putnam conn- ty, where he lived eighteen years. In 1854, he came to Illinois, and three years later to Iowa, and located where he now lives. His farm consists of eighty acres, well improved. He was married in October, 1849, to Miss Philadelphia B. Webb, a native of Kentucky, and they have ten children: Nancy. Richard, George, Abram, Eliza, Livy, Belle, John, David and Hen- ry. Mr. B. has a nice comfortable home, and can look forward to an old age of peace and plenty.
BOLLMAN, SAMUEL, farmer and stoek-raiser, section 32, postoffice Pulaski; was born January 1, 1804, in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania; here he grew up and received his education; making his first move to Virginia, where he served as apprentice three years in the miller's trade, and was married, in 1830, to Miss Susannah Good, a native of Virginia, and came to Ohio the following year, where he lived fourteen years. In 1845, he came to this eounty, and located where he now lives; having no team or means he went through many hardships, till the Mormons went through, when he purchased a team of them, which enabled him to break his land. Five years later he had 160 acres in cultivation, and has been prosperons ever since; he now owns 385 acres; also town property in Bloomfield. His wife died in 1875, leaving seven children, all grown: William N., John A., George W., David M., Samuel N., Frank P., and Margaret, wife of Kirk Pearson; Dav- id died in 1878.
BROWN, JOHN, farmer and stock-raiser, section 28, postoffice Troy ; was born Angust 17, 1826, in Richland county, Ohio, where he grew up, assist- ing on the farm, and attending the common schools. He then traveled, in Pennsylvania, in 1849, and in 1851 spent abont a year visiting different parts of Iowa; returned to Ohio in 1852, and was married October 18, 1854,
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
to Miss Unity N. Knox, also of Ohio. HIe engaged in farming till 1867, when he came and located where he now lives; he has a farm of 160 acres, 115 aeres in good cultivation; he feeds most of his crop to stock. He has a family of nine children; Mary Belle, wife of C. D. Saunders; James L., Rob- ert W., Alice A., Abbie D. and John K., born in Ohio, and Emma J., Wil- liam A. and Lela V .. born in Iowa. They are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are well and favorably known over this county.
CONNER, LEE W., blacksmith and wagon-maker, Troy: was born in 1829, in Preston county, West Va. At the age of twelve he moved with his parents to Pennsylvania, then to Indiana, and in 1848 came to Iowa. He received a limited education, and learned his trade in his father's shop. On coming to Iowa, they located in Troy, and carried on a shop, with the assistance of two younger brothers, till 1852, when he married Miss Sarah Evans, a native of Tennessee, and built the shop he now owns and occupies, where he worked till 1865, when he moved to his farm, on account of fail- ing health, where he lived thirteen years; then resumed his business in Troy. His family consists of six children: John A., Samuel E., Charles F., Mary F., wife of Whitney Cameron; Addie and Mattie. His farm is situated in Van Buren county, and consists of 82 acres, well improved. with good buildings and orchard. One son, Charles F., works with his father in the shop: he does a good business, and his work is too well known to need any recommendation.
COX, ENNIS, farmer and stoek-raiser, section twenty-eight, postoffice Troy ; was born June 10, 1822, in Adams county, Ohio. At the age of six- teen, he moved with his parents to Bartholomew county, Indiana, where he spent his youth, helping on the farm, and attending the distriet school in winter. He was married Angust 3. 1843, to Miss Lucy A. Belle, a native of Indiana, living happily till she died, November 7, 1849, leaving three children : James II., John A. and Benjamin F. Mr. C. married again Feb- rnary 7, 1851, Miss Rebecca Kirk, a native of North Carolina. They came to lowa in 1854, locating in Wyaeondah township, and became a resident of this township in 1856; living on section 34 till 1873, when he bought the fine farm and residence he now owns, known as the Arney property farm, of of 240 acres, well improved; his house is a mansion, without doubt the finest in the township, if not in the county; it was erected in 1868, at a cost of 86,000; the location, surroundings, and conveniences being perfect. He bonght property in Troy, in 1873, and moved there to educate his children, and there his wife died, July 30, 1878. She was a kind and indulgent moth- er, a good wife, and a member of the M. E. Church for many years. She left four children: Maria, Milliard. Edward and Amy. Mr. C. married again July 1, 1880, Lncinda E. Shook, daughter of John Corrick, of this county. Mr. C. is an active member of the M. E. Church, and is highly respected in the community.
COX, J. H., merehant, Troy; was born in Bartholomew county, Ind., July 25, 1844, and at the age of ten eame with his parents to Wyacondah township, in this county, where they lived two years, then moved to Union township. He received his education at the common schools, with a finish- ing course at Troy Academy. IIe did good service for his country during the war, enlisting in November, 1863, in company F, 30th lowa Infantry; he was in the grand review at Washington, their banner having on it, " 23 engagements," Mr. C. having been in seventeen of them; among others, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, Lovejoy Station,
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
Macon, Jonesborough, Beaufort, S. C., Columbia and Mill Creek, where they received news of the surrender of Lee, having been with Sherman in his famous march to the sea. The war over, he returned to Iowa, and re- ceived his discharge the day he was twenty one; he went to work with his father on the farm, and was married December 28, 1866, to Miss Isabella Wiley, a native of Missouri; they have six children: Irene, Bernard, An- gusta, Olive, Lney and Guy. Mr. C. was several years engaged in the stock business, and went into his present business in March, 1881. He handles dry goods, groceries and provisions, making a specialty of farm produce; he has been township elerk; is an Odd Fellow, and member of the Chris- tian Templars, and takes an active interest in temperance work.
COX, W. F. C., farmer and stock-raiser, section 24, postoffice Troy; was born in Benton county, Missouri, December 15, 1840. When eight years old he came with his parents to Appanoose county, where his father died in January, 1850; two years after, the family, he being the eldest of three children, moved to Mahaska county, where his mother married again; they moved to Adair county, Mo., in 1855, and he went to Illinois in 1860; he followed farming, and when the war commenced he enlisted in company H, sixty-eighth Illinois Infantry, which regiment was mustered out in Oc- tober, 1862. In 1864 he came to lowa, and located on his present farm in 1869, which was then all brush, which he eleared away, making a nice farm of 70 acres. He was married in Illinois, in June, 1862, to Miss Mary Crawford. They have had eight children: Eva J., Amanda E., Ardilla M., Wm. T., Mary B., Owen, Harrison B., and one deceased, Hiram B. Mr. C. is a man of more than ordinary pluck and energy, and has the respect of everybody; he is a Mason, a member of Troy lodge.
CUPP, MRS. MARY A., maiden name Smith, section 29, postoffice Troy; was born in Trenton, N. J., April 7, 1832; she moved with her pa- rents to Pennsylvania when eight years old, where she was reared and edu- cated in the common sehools; she was married March 14, 1852, to S. F. Cupp, and they kept the West Branch Hotel, between Lock Haven and Jer- sey Shore, Penn., for four years; they came to Missonri in 1858. At the breaking out of the war Mr. C. and two other neighbors were the only Union men in the vicinity, and they were repeatedly warned by the confed- erates that they umust join a company then recruiting for rebel service, or leave; doing neither, while working in the woods, he was shot by bush- whackers, onee in the arm and onee through the body; as soon as he recov- cred, he came with his family to Iowa, in September, 1861. Ile bought the farm on which Mrs. C. now lives, in 1865, and died July 6, 1867, al- ways having been weakly since he was shot. He was an active member of the Christian Church. Since his death, Mrs. C. has managed the farm, con- sisting of 80 acres, 45 under good cultivation; she is the mother of seven children: G. W., T. J., in Kansas, Mary E., wife of Isom Elrod; Anna J., wife of J. W. Miller; Matilda E., Charles S. and Willie A. Mrs. C. has displayed a commendable faenlty for business, and has, in the main, been quite successful. Mr. C. lies buried on the farm, by request.
DOWNING, ROBT. B., farmer and stock raiser, section 4, postoffice Troy : was born July 3, 1830, in Adams county, Ohio. Ilere he grew to manhood, assisting his father on the farm, and acquiring an education, and also worked at coopering a few years; he came to Iowa in 1855, and located where he now lives; he has a fine farm of 93 acres, with everything well kept and neat. He was married October 30, 1850, to Miss Edia M. Tole,
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
of Kentucky, reared and educated in Ohio. They have four children : An- geline S., wife of M. Wilkinson, in Texas; Charlotte A., widow of E. Wil- kinson, deceased; Malon W. and Josiah. Mr. and Mrs. D. are members of the M. E. church. Mr. D. was for several years constable, and is well known in the county.
FOSTER, PROF. C. E., B. A., Principal of Troy Academy; was born in Wayne county, Iowa, April 26. 1859; was educated at the Missouri State Normal School at Kirksville, where he graduated in June 1880, and took charge of the Troy Acadamy, and classical school, in September 1881. Ow- ing to mismanagement on the part of former teachers, this old time seat of learning where so many of the foremost men of this county acquired their education, had fallen into decay. And the trustees, B. F. Shreve, W. H. Roeser, W. M. Evans, W. Parks, and R. M. Lock, secretary. in September 1881. employed Prof. Foster, to try and instil new life into the institution. It is now in a prosperous condition, students coming in every week, from all parts of this and adjoining counties. The Professor has established a course of lectures and illustrative experiments in physical sciences, in con- nection with the school. He also intends giving lectures in different parts of the county, during the year. The Professor has earned a high reputa- tion as an instructor, and has the hearty indorsement of his Alma Mater, being recommended as a man of great energy and executive ability. Troy Academy, thus entering its 28th year, under such favorable auspices, bids fair to excel, in its chosen field, that of training teachers, and giving a thorough classical and scientific education.
GARRETT, J. M., M. D., physician and surgeon, Troy ; the oldest phys- ician now living in this locality, was born October 28, 1828, in Highland county, Ohio, where he was reared and educated, assisting his father on the farm. He entered the Salem Academy at the age of seventeen; and read medicine three years with his brother, J. P. Garret; attended lectures at Ohio Medical College, in 1849 and 1850. He was then called to take charge of his brother's practice, he being in poor health. He was married in Sep- tember, 1854, to Miss Anna M. Wilson, a native of Ohio, and came to lowa the following year, commencing practice at Troy, and meeting with good
success. His wife died in August 1857; she was highly respected and a member of the M. E. Church. She left two children. Wilbur and Arthur, one, a teacher in this county, and the other a telegraph operator in Kansas. He married again September 15, 1859, Miss Jane A. Paxton, a native of Virginia. They have six children: Elmer E, Mary F., John M., Lucy, Mattie M. and Reece. The doctor ran for the legislature in 1863, on the republican ticket, against a democratic majority of 800, and was defeated by eight votes; but was elected in 1865, by 150 majority, and reelected in 1867. In 1872, he retired from practice on account of failing health, and lived on his farm till the spring of 1881, when he moved back to Troy, and commenced practicing again. Ile has been victimized a number of times, once to the tune of $3,000, by a sharper. He has a very extensive practice -old school.
GILLER, H. R., farmer and stock-raiser, section 29, postoffice Troy; was born April 14, 1846, in Noble county, Ohio. While quite young, his parents died, and he lived with his maternal grandfather, who gave him a good common school education. During the war he enlisted, at the age of fifteen, in Company C., 161st Ohio Infantry, and was at the battle of Har- per's Ferry; being a hundred day regiment, discharged at Columbus in 1863,
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IIISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
he reenlisted, April, 1864, in Company C., 185th Ohio Infantry. Being in several engagements, mostly against bushwhackers in Kentucky ; discharged in September 1865, went to Pongkeepsie, N. Y., to commercial college, and also attended one at Chicago; and in the spring of 1866 went to Colorado, and worked for a rancher four years. Having saved his money, he then. bought a halt interest in 492 head of cattle, and ran a cattle ranch. At one time was worth in cattle $30,000, but reverses came and when he settled up in 1879, was far short of that. He then came to this county and bought the farm he now lives on, consisting of 160 acres, of well improved land. Ile was married November 11, 1879, to Miss Celia B. Sullivan, daughter of C. Sullivan of Union township. Mr. Giller owns an interest in stock yet in Colorado, and is a man of extraordinary energy. Mrs. Giller is a refined and cultured lady; for several termis a teacher in Troy publie schools.
HAINE, DAVID, farmer and stock-raiser, postoffice Troy; was born November 23, 1825, in New Carlisle, Clark county, Ohio. His father died when he was five years old, and he lived with his mother till he was twelve years old, when she married again, and his guardian placed him with D. L. Warwick as apprentice in harness-making and saddlery, where he remained two and a half years. He then moved to Champaign county, and assisted his stepfather on the farm, and attended school till August 21, 1846, when he married Miss Isabelle Jane Patterson, a native of Ohio, and came to this. county with his young wife, and bonght the farm he now occupies, consist- ing of 160 aeres. Five years after, he and J. I. Earhart, C. Ewing and H. W. Briggs laid out the village of Troy. In 1858. he started a harness shop, at Troy, which he carried on in connection with his farm till 1880. He has two daughters: Sarah, wife of George W. Tittle, now in Kansas, and Uelella, wife of E. J. Mize, of this county. Mr. HI is a member of the Masonie order.
HALL, GEORGE B., farmer and stock-raiser, seetion 3, postoffice Troy; was born November 28, 1824, in Preston county, West Virginia, and there grew to manhood, spending his youth in assisting his father on the farm, and attending school in the winter. He was married, March 30, 1848, to Miss Naney Gandy, also a native of Virginia, and came to his present farm in 1855. He lias a fine farm of 115 aeres, well improved, with good build- ings and orchard. Ile has living water and plenty of blue grass pasture, and is well fixed for raising stock, and keeps enough to feed his erops. His family consists of six children: Martha J., wife of James H. Phelps; Mary C., wife of A. H. Phelps; Susan A., wife of W. G. Black; Edward C., Eva B., Stella M. and two deceased, Elizabeth, wife of U. M. Downing, and James Willie. Mr. II. is well thought of by those who know him, and has. been township trustee for ten years, receiving at one time the entire vote of all parties.
HEASTON, JOHN, farmer and stoek-raiser, section 27, postoffice Troy; was born November 25, 1821, in Clark county, Ohio, and there grew to man- hood and received a limited education at the subscription schools. He came to this county in 1856, and lived at Troy two years, then went on the farm where he now lives, consisting of 160 acres, mostly in enltivation, well watered, and a good stock-farm. Ile was a member of Capt. Steele's Company of Border Gnards, during the war, and was called ont several times. He was married January 5, 1842, to Miss Mary Moore, a native of Ohio, born January 16, 1818. They have reared a family of seven children, Eliza Jane, wife of V. Soliday; Barbara A., wife of D. L. Thomas; Rachel E.,
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HISTORY OF DAVIS COUNTY.
wife of George Lane; Mary E., wife of Wm. Kemp; John M .. Wm. M., and Thomas L., all married except Thomas. The home of Mrs. Heaston's fath- er burned down when she was 18 years old, and a brother and two sisters perished in the flames. Mr. Heaston also had a sister burned to death. He has met with some losses by bursted banks, but has been able to over- come it by industrious habits.
LEACH, CHARLES, farmer and stock-raiser, seetion 10, postoffice Troy; was born in Monongahala county, West Virginia, in 1816, and there grew to manhood and was edneated in the common schools. He came to Van Buren county, Iowa, in 1839, and four years later came to this county and located where he now lives, which was then all timber; the first year clearing away enough to build a cabin and plant a little corn. He now has a nicely improved farm of 160 aeres. He was married in his na- tive State, in November, 1837, to Miss Hannab Hamilton. They have six children: 'John L., Caroline, wife of George Grovener; Margaret, wife of M. Baker; Mary E., wife of Henry R -; William F. and Harvey C. John L. is still at home, being highly thought of in the community, and having been repeatedly elected assessor of his township. Mr. L., Sr., was a trustee for several years.
LEACH, JOHN C., farmer and stoek-raiser, seetion 12, postoffice Troy; a son of Jeremiah Leach, one of the first settlers of the connty; was born in this county October 3, 1845; he aequired a common school education, and during the war, in February, 1864, enlisted in company D, third Iowa Cavalry ; was on the raid with Gen. Grierson, and had his horse shot under him at Tupelo; was in the raid in Arkansas and Missouri, against Price; was at Independence, Big Blue. Osage Creek, in the Wilson raid, Planters- ville, Selma, and Columbus, Ga. His captain was killed, and company seattered, and he came very near being captured; done duty at Atlanta, till Angust, 1865, when they were mustered ont, and returned home, since which time he has worked on the farm. IIe was married October 27, 1870, to Miss Sarah C. Carroll, a native of Ohio. They have six children: Byr- nina, Lora, Leonora, Bella, Ralph W. and Winfield. Mr. L. is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and has been justice, township elerk, and was county supervisor for four years, from 1876 to 1880. He is and Odd Fellow. JEREMIAH LEACH, father of the above, was born in Virginia, Feb. 8, 1810, and was there reared to manhood, and educated in the subscription schools; he was married there in August, 1831, to Miss Elizabeth Baker, of Pennsylvania, and came to this county in 1839, and staked out the claim on which he now lives; he was elected and sworn in the first justice of the peace in the county; he was ordered out during the border troubles, and was elected sergeant. His children are: Martha, wife of Wm. Mustard; Elisha, Jacob, died at twenty-one; Mary, deceased; John C., and three, Margaret, Casandra and Reason, deceased. Mrs. L. died May 17, 1881, at the age of 75 years. 3 months and 2 days. She was a highly respected lady, a good wife and kind mother, and was a member of the M. E. Church for many years. She is buried in the Trov cemetery.
LIKES, URIAS, farmer and stock-raiser, section 17, postoffice Troy; was born January 15, 1817, in Philadelphia, Pa. He came with his parents to Ohio in 1821, and four years later to Indiana. When sixteen years old he went to Boone county, Ky., and worked on a farm, attending school, and flatboating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers; he then spent two years in Versailles, Ind., then farmed in Illinois and Michigan, and arrived in Iowa
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