USA > Iowa > Floyd County > History of Floyd County, Iowa : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 101
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the best the Government could afford, and with well-blackened boots and clean-brushed clothes they spent several pleasant weeks, which, of course, aronsed the envy of those less fortunate. By the judgment of the head officers they were sent to the front. They were ordered to Texas, but upon arriving at New Orleans they were ordered to hunt guerrillas, the most dangerous part of army life. The rest of their army life was spent in wading through swamps and jungles, placing themselves as a target for the sharp- shooter. Mr. Conner relates the circumstances of a raid he was on in connection with Sherman's march to the sea. They numbered 30,000, and by a peculiar practice of military tactics they were kept wading the swamps in ambush as much as possible. They survived for four days without a bite to eat except leaves and buds of trees. Their horses became fatigued and died by the dozen, while many of them mired and drowned. Three hundred negroes followed them into this swamp. Their fate was fearful. At the end of the fifth day's journey there were only two remaining with them, the rest either starving to death or drowning or miring. It is supposed that but few ever lived to get out. The most of these negroes were riding mules, but one by one they disappeared and the mules followed on, and came very handy to those who lost their horses. Mr. Conner was married in January, 1847, in New York State, to Miss Rozilla Ingerson, a native of New York. They have only one child living-Amelia, married to John Stewart, and resides in Cerro Gordo County. It was not party spirit but true royal patriotism that caused him to fight for his country so tenaciously. He has been a life-long Democrat, and a strong advocater of supporting the Constitution. For county officers he wisely votes for the best man.
F. Crocker was born in Grafton County, N. H., April 9, 1834. He was a son of Benjamin S. and Eliza Jane (Howe) Crocker. At the age of cleven Mr. Crocker moved with his parents to Lake County, Ill., which he called his home till 1863, though for thir- teen years he was a sailor on the lakes; six or seven years of this time he sailed before the mast; afterward promoted to second mate, then to first mate, which position he occupied about four years; at the expiration of this time he was appointed to take charge of a vessel. This position he continued in during the bal- ance of the time. When he commenced this life he was but thir- teen years of age, and was away from home three years on his first trip. In February, 1863, he became a citizen of Floyd County
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spending the first two years on rented land, at the end of which time he purchased forty acres on Flood Creek, S Charles Town- ship, and resided on it about one year, when he sold it and bought another forty acres on the same creek, but in Union Township. On this he lived about one year, when he sold it and bought eighty acres, two and one-half miles northeast of Marble Rock. Upon this he built a house, and made it his home about eighteen months, when he sold and moved to Marble Rock, and rented a farm one year. In the year of 1869 he bought the farm of 120 acres where he still resides, two and one-half miles southeast of Marble Rock. This is one of Floyd County's best farms, being all under good cultivation, and of the best quality of soil, and raises as good crops as are raised in the county. Mr. Crocker was married May 22, 1859, in the city of Kenosha, Wis., to Pathina E. Porter, a native of New York State. . They have a family of three children living, and one deceased-Frankie, the wife of James Reams, resides in Greene, Butler County; Willis and Willie were twins (Willis died at about the age of fourteen and one half, July 22, 1879; Willie lives with his father); Birdie J., the youngest, now about six years of age. Mr. Crocker is a Republican and an out and out Prohi- bitionist. He is also a member of the order of Freemasons.
W. O. Crumb was born in New York in 1838; at about the age of twelve, he moved with his father, E. Crumb, to Indiana, where W. O. made his home till 1862, when he came to Iowa. He spent the first fifteen years farming, the first five years as a renter, afterward purchased a farm in Scott. In 1880 he engaged in the restaurant business in Marble Rock, at which avocation we still find him, doing a pleasant business. Mr. Crumb was married July 26, 1856, to Miss Hannah J. Claypool, a native of Michigan. They have five children-Loretta A,, Mary O., Irving O., Lydia L. and George L. Loretta married Godfrey Reihm, and resides in Scott Township. Mary is the wife of Robert Fletcher, residents of Scott Township. The rest of the children still make their father's house their home. Mr. Crumb is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is politically a Republican. Was in an early day Constable, and one of the first officers elected in Scott Township. One time he held five offices, for the reason there were more offices than men in the township, viz .: Assessor, Trustee, Sub-Director President and Secretary of the Board of Directors.
Benjamin Darland was born in Nicholas County, Ky., May 24, 1807. When about four years of age, he moved with his
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father, Isaac Darland, to Preble County, O. Here Mr. Darland made his home the majority of the time till he moved to Illinois, which was in 1836. Mr. Darland learned the hatter's trade in Richmond, Ind. He afterward worked at the trade in Greenville, Ohio, three years, and eleven years in Fulton County, IN. At the expiration of this time he moved to Kane County, Ill., and rented land about three years, when he purchased a farm and made it his home about five years. In 1855 he came to Floyd County, Iowa. In the spring of 1855 he entered 320 acres of land; upon this land he moved in 1856, where he made his home till 1873, when he sold, and has since made no permanent place his home, spending most of his time visiting friends in the East, making his home with his sons, in Iowa. Mr. Darland's family consists of five children living, and five deceased; two died in infancy, their names were Isaac and Mathew, deaths occurring at Batavia, Ill. J. W. is married and in the dry-goods business in Marble Rock; Charles died at Marble Rock, in 1867, aged fifteen years; Frances is now the wife of J. L. Secor, and resides in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, near Sheffield; Frank was killed at the battle of Blue Mills, Mo., Sept. 17, 1861, aged twenty-one years; Catherine married Mr. Chas. F. Greenwood, and resides in DeKalb County, Ill .; Maria, wife of W. Brubaker, died in Chicago, April 14, 1879; Frank was killed in the army in 1861; Julia married Jesse Beelar, and resides in Verndale, Minn .; Henry, married and resides in Marble Rock. Of Mr. Darland we cannot refrain from speaking as those who know him best. He has not only been identified with this conn- ty's interests from a very early date, but is interested still in the history whose foundations he helped lay. Has always been a life- long Republican, though never an office-seeking man. In Illinois he held the office of County Supervisor two years, in this county, has been a member of the Board of Supervisors two years; and was a member of the Iowa Legislature the year 1874, it being the Fifteenth General Assembly. These positions he acceptably filled besides others of his township and county, such as member of the Board of Trustees, Supervisor; etc. He is a man who always throws his influence on the side that has for its motto: The advancement of the country and the morality of its citizens, and was a decided friend to the Amendment.
J. W. Darland was born in Greenville, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1833, He is a son of Benjamin Darland, whose sketch will be found in this work. At about the age of three he moved with his parents
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to Fulton County, Ill., where he resided about ten years, attending school most of the time. At the expiration of this time the family moved to Kane County, and remained about four years. Here he assisted his father on the farm. They then moved to De Kalb County, Ill., where Mr. Darland spent three years upon his father's farm. Oct. 5, 1855, his father's family moved to Marble Rock, this county. Mr. Darland made his home with his father, and worked upon his farm till 1860, when he went to Muscatine and taught school the winter of 1860, near Muscatine. The following summer he spent upon a farm. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Second Illinois Light Artillery; was mustered out at the end of three years, but immediately re-enlisted, at Columbus, Ky., in same company, and remained till the close of the war, be- ing mustered out Oct. 4, 1865, at Springfield, Ill. He was indeed one of the Government's most faithful and profitable servants; was never taken prisoner, nor in the hospital, nor wounded, though he participated in ten hard-fought battles-Union City, Tenn .; Coffeeville, Miss .; Tupelo, Miss .; Old Town Creek, Miss .; Browns- ville; Siege of Vicksburg; two days' battle of Nashville; Spanish Fort; Tallahachie, Miss. He returned from the army to Marble Rock and clerked the following six months for Hiram Rosenkrans. In the spring of 1866 he went into the mercantile business himself, in Marble Rock, which he continued two years, and then went to Aureola, and remained in the mercantile business two years, when he returned to Marble Rock, and continued in the same business till 1878, when he sold his stock and went to Chicago, and engaged in the grocery business, remaining in the city about one year, at the expiration of which time he returned to Iowa, locating in Greene, Butler County, where he engaged in the hotel business about one year. Sept. 1, 1880, he returned to Marble Rock, and opened up a fine general store, which business we find him still pursuing, very successfully indeed. He has all his life made friends, and is to- day enjoying the highest respect of the community as a straight- forward and honorable business man. Mr. Darland was married Dec. 22, 1866, to Josephine Frost, daughter of Robert Frost, one of Floyd County's first pioneers, coming to the county in 1854. 'Twas he who built the first saw-mill in Union Township. It served its day as a good mill, but is lately neglected for want of timber. It stands to-day on the east bank of Shell Rock, at Aureola, as a monument of early days. Mrs. Darland was born in Kane County, Ill., in 1843, and came to Iowa at the age of eleven. Their family
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consists of three children-Charles A., Harry C., and Clarence, ages, fourteen, twelve and ten respectively. Mr. Darland is a member of the Odd Fellows and Freemasons. He is Master of the Masonic lodge, which position he has been elected to for five years. Politically he is a Republican-never votes any other ticket. His first vote was for John C. Fremont. Mr. Darland enlisted as a private; at the end of six months he was promoted to Corporal- then to Quartermaster Sergeant-then First Sergeant, and was pro- moted to the commission of Second Lieutenant Aug. 22, 1864, which position he held till he was mustered out.
Egbert Davis was born in New York State in 1831, where he remained till he was twenty-three years of age, engaged in dairy- ing and farming. He was the seventh child of Philip and Katurah Davis. In 1854 Mr. Davis went to Illinois, where he remained one year, when he came to Floyd County and has since resided, with the exception of three years, which he spent in Hamilton County. He resides on section 20, Union Township, upon a farm he purchased in 1870. Mr. Davis was married in Union Township, this county, in the spring of 1857, to Miss Fannie M. Ackley, a native of New York State. Their family consists of six living children-Jennette Amelia, married Alven Harden, and resides near Mason City, Ia .; James A., Nina A., E. S., Charles E. and Rutherford B. Hayes still make their father's house their home. Though never an aspirant for office he has always taken an active interest in politics and votes the straight Republican ticket.
H. Garber was born in Shelby County, Ohio, in 1838. At about the age of fourteen he moved with his father, Joseph Garber, to Clayton County, Iowa, where he made his home till Aug. 20, 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry; served his country three years lacking twelve days, being mustered out Aug. 10, 1865, at Clinton; was in the hospital only twenty days during this time; was never wounded nor taken prisoner. He and his brother Joseph and three cousins enlisted in the same company and at the same date, and all came out unscathed except his brother, who was discharged in about six months after enlistment, and returned home and died finally of disease contracted in the army. Mr. Garber's army life was the experience of a faithful soldier. Participated in many engage- ments; a few we give below: Little Rock, Ark .; Fort Derussa, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, Tupelo, battle of Nashville, Fort Spanish and Fort Blakely at Mobile, Ala. After his return from
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the army he joined his father's family who, in the spring of 1865, moved to Floyd County, where H. Garber has since resided with the exception of the year 1874, which he spent in Clayton County. Mr. Garber was married July 31, 1867, to Miss Electa A. Wallace, daughter of John Wallace, of Marble Rock. They have two chil- dren living -- Max and Louella, ages five and three respectively.
Charles Gates was born in Germany in 1830; came to America in 1852, stopping the first three years in Rochester, N. Y .; Sept. 17, 1855, he landed in Marble Rock, and has since been a citizen of the county. He made Marble Rock his home till 1860; when he went there the town had just been laid out, and was all in timbered brush. Mr. Gates helped to clear it, and lay the first foundation to its history and prosperity. In 1856 Mr. Gates entered forty acres in Union Township, which he farmed till 1860, when he sold, and purchased eighty acres, where he still resides, about three miles south of Marble Rock; in 1860 he moved upon this farm, and has since made it his home. Mr. Gates has, in several different pur- chases, added to his first, till now he owns 640 acres, besides eighty acres he gave to his son Charles, who now resides in Greene. The number of acres and the natural fine location and the splendid state of cultivation and improvement which the farm is under, make it one of the largest and best farms in the county. Mr. Gates is one of the few pioneers of this county who has started at the bot- tom round in the financial ladder, and by his own exertions and prudence earned for himself a property that makes him independent. And, in addition to this, he has given by his life a lesson to young men that is well worthy of imitation. He bears the highest respect of all his acquaintances and neighbors, and has raised a family that is a credit to any father. Mr. Gates was married in Rochester, N. Y., in 1855, to Miss Julia Kasy, a native of Ireland. The names of their children are: Charles, a merchant in Greene; Henry is a farmer in Union Township; George, a merchant in Greene; Albert makes his home with his father, and is engaged in farming. Mr. Gates is a member of the Presbyterian church, and politically is a sound Republican.
John Gates was born in Germany in 1827; came to America in 1850, spending the first four years in New York State. In 1854 he became a citizen of Floyd County, locating at Nora Springs, where he spent six months; thence to Marble Rock, where he worked at the blacksmith's trade about five years. While residing in Marble Rock he purchased eighty acres, where now he resides, about two
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miles southeast of Marble Rock; has added to his first purchase till he now owns 400 acres of Floyd County's best land, principally under cultivation. He has put in crop usually about 370 acres. Besides this farm he owns about 200 acres, in addition to 160 acres he gave his son. Mr. Gates usually keeps from forty to fifty head of cattle and twenty head of horses, and 200 head of sheep. Mr. Gates was married in 1852 to Jane Hoy, a native of America. They have three children-Fredric E., married Cora Russel, and farms in Union Township; Katie A. and Ella, both single and at home. Politically Mr. Gates is a Republican; has held in Union Township the office of Township Cashier, and is now the Justice of the Peace, and has been for the past six years, besides other minor offices. He is a member of the Protestant Evangelical church.
Martin Gates was born in Germany in 1828; came to Amer- ica in 1851, locating first in New York State, where he remained about three years, working as a farm hand. In 1855 he came to Iowa, and located in Marble Rock, where he spent the first four years. Those years were spent in working by the day for the neighbors. In 1856 he entered forty acres of Government land at 81.25 per acre. Not being satisfied with the land, he sold it at an advance of $2.75 per acre. In 1859 he bought ninety acres along Shell Rock River, in Union Township. To this farm he added different purchases till he owned 250 acres. Upon this farm he lived till the fall of 1881, when he moved to Marble Rock, the spring previous having sold it entire to Mr. Benjamin Bow- man for $6,000. The same summer he bought a farm of 120 acres in same township, near his old farm. He also owns eighty acres on section 31, same township, and only one-half mile fromn his 120-acre farm. The 120 acres is farmed by his son-in-law, William Preston. The eighty Mr. Gates farms himself, with the assistance of a hand. Mr. Gates does what is considered a mixed farming, keeping about one dozen cows and about fifty hogs, though he has kept as high as 200 hogs. In June, 1881, he pur- chased an entirely new stock of hardware, and opened a fine hard- ware store in Marble Rock. It has been our pleasure to visit the store, and must say it presents a very good appearance, embracing every seeming want of the farmer, from nails and tools to any farming implement they might desire. Mr. Gates was married in New York State in 1854, to Miss Catharine Casy, a native of Ireland. They have three children-Andrew, married, and in the hardware business with his father; John, also in the hardware
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business; Eliza, the only daughter, married William Preston. Ot Mr. Gates we cannot refrain from speaking in the following language: He is a man who has started from the lowest financial round in the ladder, and has, by his own exertions, wrung from the hard hand of toil a home and business and independence well worthy the pride of any man, and has by so doing given an example quite worthy of imitation, besides rearing a family of children who promise to make the best of citizens. He has the good words and best wishes of all who know him, and those who know him best are loudest in their praises.
Diebold Gerhard was born in Germany in 1826. He was a son of John and Lizzie (Kohlman) Gerhard. At about the age of twenty-seven he came to America, stopping in Wheeling, W. Va., and remaining about five months ; from thence to Illinois, where he made his home about eleven years. In 1866 he came to Iowa, locating in Floyd County. The first three years he rented land of John Gates. At the expiration of this time he bought the farm of eighty acres, where he still resides, on section 26, Union Township, paying $10 per acre. Has since bought forty additional acres joining his original eighty acres ; for this he paid $25 per acre. Upon this farm he built himself a fine house in the year 1870, and a nice barn in 1877. His farm is all under good improvement and first class cultivation. They have indeed a beautiful home. The buildings and surroundings are such that he has one of the grandest homes in the Northwest. He does his farming principally himself, and usually has it all in crop, besides keeping about twenty-three head of cattle and about forty head of hogs, and horses enough to carry on his farming. Mr. Gerhard was married in Illinois, in 1860, to Frederica Hoffman, born in Germany in 1830, and came to this country in 1860. She was a daughter of Paul and Lena Hoffman. Her father died in Germany in 1859. Her mother came with her to America. Mr. Gerhard's family consists of three sons and two daughters - Chrisena, mar- ried John Maxson and resides in Union Township ; William is a clerk in Greene; Julia, George and Nicholas are single, and reside at home. Mr. Gerhard is a member of the Lutheran church, and Mrs. Gerhard of the Methodist church. Politically he is a Democrat.
John Goodmiller was born in Illinois in 1844. Here he made his home till he was about twenty-eight years of age. He was a son of Michael and Doratha (Keck) Goodmiller, both natives of
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Germany. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Forty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, the Old Lead Mine Regiment ; served his country three years, participating in many hard battles ; a few of the more prominent ones we give : Vicksburg, Jackson, the Atlanta campaign, with Sherman on his march to the sea; was wounded in left forearm with a gunshot at the battle of Vicksburg, siege of forty-eight, and was off duty with the same about three months. After his return from the army he resumed his avocation as a farmer, where his prominence as a good and worthy citizen was appreciated by his fellow-men, by electing him to the offices of Justice of the Peace, Collector and Township Clerk. In 1873 he became a citizen of Floyd County. The first five years he rented land. In 1878 he purchased the farm of 100 acres, where he still resides, about one mile south east of Marble Rock, beautifully situated and located, and under a fine state of cultivation. Mr. Goodmiller was married in 1868 to Miss E. M. Pulley, a native of Ohio. They have six children - Wellington G., Arthur M., Homer, Preston, Elmer and Lorey. Politically he is a Republican.
Byron P. Greenwood was born in De Kalb County, Ill., Sept. 26, 1855, where he made his home on the farm with his father, Charles F. Greenwood, till he was twenty-three years of age, when he came to Marble Rock, this county, where his father purchased a stock of dry goods in company with J. W. Darland. Under the firm name of Darland & Greenwood they continued in business about six months, when Mr. C. F. Greenwood purchased his partner's interest. B. P. Greenwood has since been conducting the business alone under the name of C. F. Greenwood. He has a fine, clean stock, and an assortment that should please the most fas- tidious. and is doing a business of $8,000 yearly. His live and let live principles, together with his prompt dealing, have won for him a reputation worthy the pride of any young man. Mr. Green- wood was married in Marble Rock, Jan. 14, 1880, to Miss Minnie Winchill, a native of Iowa. Politically we find Mr. Greenwood Republican.
Isaac Halstead was born in Indiana in 1833. When only a child his parents moved to Michigan, where he lived till he was twenty-one years of age, when he married and moved to Lynn County, Ia., and stopped about six months, when he came to Floyd County. He moved upon a farm that he purchased in Union Township, about one mile east of Marble Rock. Here they resided till the year 1857, when their residence was destroyed by fire. In-
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stead of rebuilding on the farm, they built a fine residence in the present village of Marble Rock. Here Mr. Halstead resided and car- ried on his farm till his death, which occurred in 1877. He was mar- ried in Michigan, in 1854, to Miss Eliza J. Denewd, a native of Indiana, but a resident of Michigan. They raised one child- Florence Idel, married to Julius Haynes, a inerchant in Marble Rock.
E. B. Haynes, M. D., was born in Guilford, Windham County, Vt., Aug. 9, 1827,where he made his home till he was about twenty- four years of age, when he went to Massachusetts and spent about four years in the pursuit of an education principally. At this date he went to Wisconsin, where he remained about ten years, dividing his time between farming and the practice of medicine. He be- came a citizen of Floyd County, April 3, 1866. He located in Marble Rock, Union Township, and at once commenced the prac- tice of medicine, which avocation we find him very successfully engaged in still. Dr. Haynes commenced the study of medicine under the instructions of an eminent physician in Chester, Vt., named Dr. Chase, with whom he remained three years, studying and practicing medicine. He attended medical lectures at Comstock, and commenced the practice of medicine in New Chester, Wis., in 1856. The Doctor practices under the eclectic system, having previously acquainted himself with the allopathy and homeopathy systems. Of Dr. Haynes as a physician and gentleman we can but speak as his neighbors, that he is always found equal to the emer- gency, and; by his faithful care has won a position in the hearts of his neighbors and friends that will scarcely be eradicated by time. Dr. Haynes was married in Bernardston, Mass., Nov. 7. 1848, the day Zack Taylor was elected President of the United States, to Miss Julia J. Hunt, a native of Vermont, born March 7, 1832. They have a family of three sons-Julius E., now thirty-two years of age, married and in the dry-goods business in Marble Rock; Jewett S., now twenty-three years of age, mar- ried and in business with his brother, and Justine H., a bright- eyed boy of thirteen years of age, who makes things lively at home. Dr. Haynes is a member of the order of Freemasons.
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