USA > Iowa > Cerro Gordo County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 39
USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 39
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James W. McDougle is from Seneca Co., Ohio, born Jan. 28, 1835, where he
grew to manhood, receiving a common school education. He is of Scotch extrac- tion. He was married in Richland Co., Ohio, Dec. 20, 1863, to Margaret J. Riley, born in Allegheny Co., Penn., June 8, 1840. In the fall of 1868, he came to Franklin county, remained over winter at Mayne's Grove, and in the spring came to Geneva township, where he still resides. He enlisted May 2, 1864, in company I, 164th Ohio National Guards, serving until . Ang. 27, 1864. They have had two chil dren-William and May (deceased). They are members of the Methodist Church at Four Mile Grove.
Adam Knau came to Franklin county. with his family, in the spring of 1869, and located on section 22, Geneva township, where he still resides. He was born in Hessia, Germany, Sept. 28, 1831. When eighteen years of age he emigrated to Pennsylvania. He was married in Butler Co., Iowa, to Mrs. Margaret Winkler, a native of Bavaria, born in 1825. They have had four children, three of whom are now living-Henry A., John G. and Margaret S. John is dead. They are members of the Evangelical Church. He is a republican in politics, and at present is a member of the board of township trustees.
W. C. Reinke was born in Prussia, in 1838. Ile is the son of Joachin and Han- nah (Schmall) Reinke, natives of Prussia; the father born in 1815, and the mother in 1814. In 1857, they came to America, set ling in Dodge Co., Wis , following farm- ing until 1866, when they removed to Iowa and settled in Hardin county, where the sub- ject of this sketch had preceded them the year previous. They remained here until 1869, and then removed to Franklin county
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
settling· on section 25, in Geneva town- ship, where they still reside The subject of this sketch is the eldest of six children. He received his education in the common school, in the German language, and also attended school after coming to America. He was ordained minister of the gospel, in the Evangelical Association, in 1867, his first circuit being at Butler Center, Butler Co., Iowa. He is now engaged in farming.
John G. Herbster was born in Baden, Germany, Oct. 28, 1821. His parents were natives of Germany, where they lived until their death, the father in 1858, aged sixty-three, the mother in 1852, aged fifty-two, having a family of eight chil- dren, Mr. Herbster being the second. He was married in 1859, to Ann Mary Schrei- ber, born in Germany, Nov. 20, 1829. In
the spring of 1859, they came to the United States and settled in Stephenson Co., Ill., where they lived two years, when he removed to Hardin Co., Iowa, and remained until the spring of 1869, when he came to Geneva township and purchased a farm of 160 acres on section 35. Mr. and Mrs. Herbster have had four children, three of whom are living-Jacob, Mary and Emma. They are members of the Evangelical Association. He is inde- pendent in politics, and has held local offices.
Among the settlers of 1870, were Wil- liam B. Bryan, John Knoll, Louis Belzer and Fred. R. H. Lill.
William B. Bryan came to Geneva township in 1870, and settled on section 7. He was born in Geauga Co., Ohio, July 10, 1837. His parents, in 1843, moved to Jo- Daviess Co., Ill. He received a good edu-
cation, and chose farming for an occupa- tion. He enlisted Ang. 15, 1862, in company H, 96th Illinois Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He was wounded by a musket ball at the ba tle of Lookout Mountain, and after his discharge returned to JoDaviess county, where he was mar- ried Dec 25, 1866, to Susan K. Townsend, born in JoDaviess county, Feb. 16,1846. He was the fourth son of Abram and Polly E. (Beadsley) Bryan; father born in 1803, in State of New York, mother born in Ohio, in 1813, and were married in 1829, having a family of seven children. The father died March 11, 1872; the mother is still living. The parents of Mrs. Bryan were George N. and Mary (Miner) Town- send; the father was born in Vernon Co., N. J., Aug. 28, 1806; mother in On- tario Co., N. Y., March 31, 1811. Mr. Townsend was orderly sergeant in the Winnebago war. Had a family of thir- teen children, Mrs. Bryan being the sixth. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan have had seven chil- dren, six of whom are living-George S., Harry H., Ernest T., Roy S. Wayne, (deceased), Mary W. and William I.
John Knoll came from Illi ois in 1870. He was a native of Berne, Germany, born March 4, 1813. He received a good edu- cation in the German language and learned the stone mason trade, at which he worked until 1852, when he came to Buffalo, N. Y., and labored two years, and then went to Freeport, Ill., remaining until 1870, when he moved to Franklin county, settling in Geneva township, where he lived until his dea h, Aug. 7, 1882. He was married in 1842 to Anna B. Gruber, a native of Germany, born in 1819. They had four children, two of
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
whom are now living-John and Mary, now the wife of Frederick Schrieber, residents of the township. John, Jr., was born Jan 9, 1847, in Germany, and came with his parents to Franklin county, where he grew to manhood and received a common school education in the English language. He was married Jan. 16, 1879, to Catherine Hoebel, born in Freeport, Stephenson Co., Ill., April 25, 1857. They have two children, Edward and Mary. They are members of the Evan- gelical Church.
Louis Belzer is a native of Germany, born in 1836. In 1848 his parents emi- grated to the United States and settled in Washington Co., Wis. ; were there five years, when they moved to Dodge Co., Wis., and remained ten years, and then moved to Iowa, settling in Black Hawk county, where his parents still live. Louis remained there seven years, when he came to Franklin county, and located in Geneva township, on the farm where he now resides. He was married Sept. 27, 1862, to Mary Ann Krebs, a native of · New York, born in 1839. They were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are now living-Susan C., Sarah M., Franklin L., Luella B., Mary G., Edward W., Freddy A. and Frieda A. (twins). They are members of the Evangelical Association. Louis and Barbara Krebs, parents of Mrs. Belzer, are natives of Alsace. They came to the United States in 1830, and settled in New York State, where Mrs. Belzer was born. Her father died in 1852, aged fifty-two years.
Frederick R. H. Lill has been a resi- dent of section 14, Geneva township, since 1870. He was born in Lincolnshire,
England, Nov. 10, 1818, receiving a com- mon school education, and where he en- gaged in farming and as teamster until 1856, when he emigrated to Canada ; thence to Green Lake Co., Wis., in 1869, where he lived for one year and sought Iowa for a permanent home He was mar- ried, in 1846, to Elizabeth Brown, born in Lincolnshire, in 1820. They had two chil- dren-Harriet who died in England, and Mary A., born in Canada. They are members of the Methodist Church. He is a republican in politics and has been in office. He has eighty acres of land valued at $35 per acre, which is under an excel- lent state of cultivation.
James Pearse settled in the township in 1872. He is a native of England, born in Devonshire, May 4, 1825. He is the son of Jeffrey and Joan (Hendy) Pearse, natives of Devonshire, England, who died there, the father July 7, 1847, aged sixty-three, the mother in January, 1869, aged seventy. His father was born and raised in the house where the family had lived for several generations. His parents had eleven children, of whom James wa's the tenth. He grew to manhood in his native land, and though his early advan- tages were limited as to an education, yet by self-application and study he has ac- quired a good practical education. In 1850, he emigrated to Canada, and en- gaged in farming, remaining there until 1871, when he removed to Linn Co, Iowa, renting land one year. The next fall he came to Franklin county, locating on section 7, in Geneva township, where he still remains. Hle now has 600 acres of good land, valued at $25 per acre. Mr. Pearse has been very successful since he
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
came here. He landed at Hampton with no capital to begin on except a wagon and three horses ; but by industry, economy and hard work, he has secured a good home and competence for life. On the 12th of April, 1852, he wedded Jane Rey- nolds, who was born in Suffolk, England, Aug. 1, 1823. By this union they have had eight children : William, Hannah (deceased), Jeffrey, Thomas, John, James Henry, George Reynolds and Stephen. Mr. and Mrs. Pearse are members of the . Methodist Church at Geneva. He is a sound republican, and at different times has filled local offices in his township and county.
Jeffrey Pearse is a farmer by vocation, his farm consisting of 120 acres, under a good state of cultivation, valued at $20 per acre. He is the son of James Pearse, born in Halton Co., Canada, April 15, 1857. When fourteen years of age he emi- grated with his parents to Iowa, first going to Linn county and from there to Franklin county, where he grew to manhood, re- ceiving a common school education. He was married, May 31, 1883, to Polly Hayes, born in Green Lake Co., Wis., Oct., 7, 1864. Mr. Pearse is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Geneva.
Bernard Heitman located here in 1873. He was born in Germany, in 1824. When eighteen years old he emigrated to America and settled in Galena, Ill., wherehe was married Feb. 4, 1864 to Mrs. Mary Feich, born in Alsace, June 15, 1831. She had been the wife of Frank Xavier, born in France, Oct. 30, 1824, married at Wood- stock Illinois, April 1, 1850. They had four children-Mary, Joseph, Celestine and Louisa. Mr. Xavier died Sept. 30,
1860. By her last marriage they have four children-Henry, Josephine, Julia and Antoinette. Mr. Heitman was also twice married, had four children all now living- Mary, Catherine, Caroline and Frank. They are all members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Heitman came to Franklin county from Illinois in 1873, and purchased the farm, where the family now reside.
John Baurr was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, where he grew to manhood. He had good educational advantages, having attended Heidelberg two winters, after at- tending the common schools. He was a weaver by occupation. When twenty-one years of age he removed to Dubuque Co., Iowa, remaining until 1873, when he came to Franklin county and located on section 23, in Geneva township, where he is now living. He was married May 6, 1867, to Rosine Christina Sinn, born in Wurtemburg in 1840. Five children have been born to them-John, George, Willie, Chris, (deceased) and Charley. The mother of Mrs. Baurr is still living in Wurtemburg at the age of seventy-five; the father died in 1877, aged seventy-nine.
John C. Bell is the second son of John and Elizabeth (Bonson) Bell, descendants on the mother's side of an old family of Bonsons. Mrs. Bell's grandfather, Richard Bonson, was a liberal of the John Bright school, and spent a large fortune in com- batting aristocracy. He died about the year 1816, aged ninety-nine years. John C. Bell was born in Yorkshire, England, where he received a limited education. His father was born in 1809, the mother in the same year. The father died in 1854. In 1855, the mother and family emigrated to this country and located in
C
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Grant Co., Wis., and in 1883, resided in Lafayette Co., Wis. She has a fam- ily of ten children. The father was a mining surveyor and contractor, of whom J. C. received instruction, which he has followed extensively in Wisconsin, Illi- nois, California, Idaho and British Colum- bia. He came to Geneva township, Frank- lin county, in 1875, and has since engaged in farming. In 1867, he wedded Sarah J. Raw, born in Grant Co., Wis., in 1840. They are the parents of eight children- Bonson C., Mary A., Barbara C., Laura, Edward S., Fannie, John C. and Ella. In politics, he is a republican and holds the office of justice of the peace, and has held the office of secretary of the school board seven years.
Frank Beach was the fourth son of Les- ter and Lydia (Chase) Beach, natives of New York, and who removed to Ohio, where they were married, in 1835, and then moved to Peoria Co, Ill, being among the first settlers of that county, where the mother still lives, aged sixty-five. The father died in 1857, aged fifty-four. They had a family of nine children. Frank enlisted in company K, 86th Illi- nois; after serving several months, was taken sick and discharged and is now on the pension list. He was married, Dec. 29, 1864, to Sarah Elsey, born in Essex, England, in 1845, and who went to Rome, N. Y., remained one year, thence to Kane Co., Ill., and from there to Peoria county, where she was married. Mr. and Mrs. Beach have had four children, three of whom are living-Lydia E., Emily C., Lilla M. and Frank. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Four Mile Grove. They removed to Bear
Grove, Butler county, in 1866, and in June, to Franklin county, settling on section 12. The farm consists of 320 acres. He is a republican in politics, and has held local offices in Madison township, Butler county. He is an estimable citizen and held in high regard by his neighbors.
Thomas F. Argent was born in Galena, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., Nov. 17, 1845. In 1861, he went to Pike's Peak and engaged in mining two years, and in January, 1863, he enlisted in McLean's Independent bat- tery, serving until September, 1865, near- ly two years of which time he spent on the plains and one year against Gen. Price in Missouri. After receiving his discharge, he returned to Illinois, and in May, 1866, went to Colorado and engaged in lumber- ing, remaining fourteen months, when he returned to Galena and engaged in farm- ing until April, 1876, then came to Frank- lin county and settled in Reeve township and engaged in farming there until 1877, when he came to Geneva township, and, in the spring of 1881, rented the place where he still resides. He was married, May, 1870, to Elizabeth Ginn, born in Jo Daviess Co., Ill., November, 1846 They have five children-William, Nettie, John D., Jane and Robert.
Ludwig Bell, a native of Mecklenburg Schwerin, was born in 1828; grew to man- hood there and received a good education in the German language. He emigrated to Milwaukee, Wis., and remained until 1865, when he went to Monroe county, staid until 1873, when he removed to Ack- ley, Hardin Co., Iowa; thence to Madison township, Butler county. In 1878, he moved to Geneva township, Franklin county, section 12, where his home now
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
is. His farm consists of 280 acres, valued at $20 per acre, and is one of the best stock farms in the county. He was mar- ried in his native country, in 1859, to Mary Wichman, who was also born in Mecklenburg. They are the parents of eight children-John F., Mary, Charley, Riecke, (deceased) William, Minna, Lou- isa and Tilda. Mr. and Mrs. Bell are mem- bers of the Evangelical Church Mr. Bell is a democrat and a good citizen.
Charles L. Canfield was born in Trum- bull Co., Ohio, Sept. 8, 1832, and grew to manhood on the farm, receiving a com- mon sc ool education. When twenty-one years of age his parents moved to La Fay. ette Co., Wis., and engaged in farming. He was married March 25, 1855, to Har- riet Hurlbert, a native of Lamoille Co., Vt, born Feb. 9, 1833. In 1878 they came to Franklin county, settling in Gen- eva township, where he has since resided. He engaged in farming until 1881, when he purchased the Geneva. hotel. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. society. Mr. and Mrs. Canfield are members of the Freewill Baptist Church, and are parents of four children-Ella L., Eva S., Hattie A. and Charles W.
John Dovey was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1837. At the age of fourteen he emigrated to Canada, remaining four years, thence to Du buque Co., Iowa, where he staid until the spring of 1871, and then went to Ackley, Hardin Co., and in t e spring of 1881, removed to Franklin county, locating on section 23, in Geneva township, where he still lives. He was married in 1858 to Adelaide Jackson, who died in Hardin county, in 1874. He was married in 1874 to Josephine Miller, who
died March 24, 1881. He then married in January, 1883, Mrs. Mary J. (Berry) Mur- phy, daughter of Peter C. and Christina Berry, old settlers of Geneva township. She was married to Mr. Murphy Feb. 15, 1855, in Cass Co., Ind. In the spring of 1856 they came to Franklin county. They had five children, four of whom are now liv- ing-Peter D., John H., Maggie E. and Emma C., wife of G. G. Cooley of Bristow, Butler county, who died Oct. 5, 1882, and Rhoda M. Mr. Murphy served in the army and died June 8, 1881.
Rev. Jacob Haymond was born near Wheeling, W. Va., in 1826. He was the son of Edward and Nancy (Jones) Hay- mond, natives of West Virginia. In 1836 they removed to Indiana, and locating near Indianapolis, engaged in farming until 1855, when they removed to Black Hawk Co., Iowa, where they remained until they died, the father in 1860, aged sixty-one, the mother in 1863, aged sixty- one. Rev. J. Haymond was married in Indiana in 1847, to Martha Smith, born in North Carolina in 1820. After their marriage they went for a short time to Illinois, and in 1856 to Black Hawk Co., Iowa, where he tilled the soil until 1860, when he entered the ministry, which profession he still follows. Though he only had a common school education, yet by reading and study he is well informed. He was converted before his marriage, in Indiana, and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. His first charge was Spring Creek, from 1860 to 1863, since which time he has been engaged in Mar- shall, Grundy, Hardin and Linn counties, and in 1879 took charge of the church at Geneva, remaining there three years,
James Pearse.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
A ir Lelux and ler
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
after which he went to Marshall county, where he is now. They had nine chil- dren, among them three pair of turins -Emily L., Malissa and Alonzo 'T.(twins), Elisha B., Edward H, Ellen M. and Esther (twins), Byron and Eluma F. (twins), the latter deceased.
Edward H. Haymond, fifth son of Rev. J. Haymond, was born September, 1852, in Kendall Co., Ill. He went with his parents to Black Hawk and Hardin coun- ties, and after finishing his studies in the common schools, attended Friend's Acad- emy at Providence, and also two terms in the Normal school at Iowa Falls, after which he followed teaching five years. He was married in April, 1873, to Etna E. Pence, born at Steamboat Rock, Har- din county, in 1856. He removed to Mar- shall Co., Iowa, in 1874, and remained there five years, then returned to Hardin county, and in 1881 came to Franklin county, settling on section 13, Geneva township, where he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Haymond have three children- Frank E., M. May and Roy C.
John M. Boots, O. H. Tilman, and John M. Runyan were also among the early settlers in Geneva township.
John M. Boots is the son of Martin Boots, an old settler of Geneva township, and was born in the township, June 1, 1856. He had a good common school educa tion, was reared on his father's farm and since doing for himself, has engaged in farming. He was married Jan. 22, 1882, to Rachel M. Manifold, born in Black Hawk county, March 25, 1856. Her parents are old settlers of the township. He moved to his present farm on section 2, in the spring of 1882.
O. H. Tilman, a native of Darke Co., Ohio, born in 1839, was a son of Daniel and Mary (Thomas) Tilman. His father was born in Ohio, the mother in Tennessee. In 1842, they moved to Indiana, and in 1855 to Franklin Co., Iowa, settling on section 10, Geneva township, where they lived until they died, the father in 1861, at the age of fifty two, the mother at Ackley, in 1876, at the age of sixty-four. Ang. 14, 1862, the son, O. H. Tilman, en- listed in company H. 32d Iowa Volunteers and served until Aug. 25, 1865. He took part in a number of engagements. When he received his discharge he came back to Franklin county, where he has since re- sided, except four years spent at Ackley. He was married in 1867 to Miss M. L. Clinesmith, born in Holmes Co., Iowa, in 1848. Her parents were natives of Penn- sylvania, who moved to Ohio in 1832, stopped in Wayne, and afterwards moved to Franklin county, where they are now living with their daughter. The father was born in 1805, the mother in 1809. They had six children, all dead but one, Mrs. Tilman. Mr and Mrs. O. H. Tilman have two children, W. O and Jessie M. Mr. Tilman is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Ackley. The parents of Mrs. Tilman, Andrew and Margaret (Miller) Cline- smith, came from Ohio to Franklin county, in 1855, and settled at Mayne's Grove, re maining there one year, when they went to Morgan township; they also lived at Ackley, Hardin county.
John M. Runyan came from Trumbull Co. Ohio. He was born Feb. 18, 1834, and is a son of John and Jane (McLese) Runyan. His father was born in Alle- gheny Co., Penn., March 18, 1803, and
25
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
his mother, born in the North of Ireland, (near Giant's Causeway) in 1805. They were married in Mercer Co., Penn., then went to Ohio, John M. being born the same year. They remained there one year, then spent one year in Pennsylvania, but returned to Ohio, where the father still resides. The mother died in 1877. John M. attended Kinsman's Academy, in Trumbull Co., Ohio, three years. He chose farming for a vocation, which he still follows. He was married Nov. 1, 1857, to Alcena E. Canfield, born in Hartford, Trumbull Co., Ohio, June 24, 1842. They have two children-Addie M. and Charlie J. They are now members of the Metho- dist Church, but were formerly Free-will Baptists. Mr. Runyan went to La Fay- ette Co., Wis., in 1854, where he was married. He moved to Franklin county and settled in Geneva township, where he still resides. He enlisted Angust, 1862, in company B, 31st Regular Infant- ry Volunteers, serving eight months, but was discharged by reason of sickness con- tracted in the army.
FIRST THINGS.
The first marriage, the first birth, and also the first death in Geneva township, occurred in the family of Henry Smith, who was married to his second wife, Han- nah Eves, in 1857 or 1858, this being the first marriage. Mr. Smith lost a child by his first wife in 1855, which was born in 1854.
ORGANIC.
In the spring of 1858 the township was organized by the county judge, who ap- pointed William H. Thompson, clerk; Daniel Tillman and William B. Johnson, trustees. The first election was held in
the spring of 1858, at a log school house on section 16.
The township officials for 1883 were: William H. Thompson and Adam Knau, trustees; Fred Stermer, assessor; M. L. Tidd, clerk; George W. Parks and J. C. Bell, justices of the peace.
SCHOOLS.
The first school was taught by Anna Scott, in the winter of 1854-5, at the cabin residence of Peter Reinhart. Only five scholars attended this pioneer school. A school was taught by Alvira Johnson- afterward wife of Mr. Crayton-in 1856, at the house of Daniel Tilman. The first school house was built, on section 16, in 1857, by subscription. The first term of school in this house was taught by William H. Thompson, who was a party to a laugh- able circumstance. One morning Mr. Thompson went to the school house to open school, but he found the scholars, headed by the big boys, had locked him out, and refused to let him in unless he would agree to treat them to something, the next Friday. Mr. Thompson, full of Yankee wit and shrewdness, climbed the fire-place chimney, made of split sticks and mud, and placed a broad board over the top of the chimney flue, which drove ' the smoke downward into the school room. Notwithstanding this the boys maintained their position, though peering out of the windows with bloodshot, streaming eyes; the teacher was obliged to go home and did not return until the following morn- ing, when he found things serene; but the big boys all had red eyes, but took the surroundings in as a double joke, on both teacher and scholars. Among the older boys who took part in this was William Horine, who, later in life, was color bearer
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
in an Indiana regiment, had his foot shot off at the battle of Gettysburg and was afterward educated by the State of In- dina. The first permanent school honse was erected during the summer of 1862, in which a school was kept the following winter, by Amelia Cole, with fifteen scholars. This house was in use for school purposes until 1873, when it was sold at auction to John Strain, for $50. In 1883, Geneva township had eight school houses and 340 children of school age. It will be seen by the following, that "rings" existed, even at an early day. Section 16 was the school section, and was to be sold at auction to the highest bidder, according to law; but the few settlers combined into a "ring" and agreed not to bid against one another in the sale of this land, which took in Four Mile Grove, containing some choice timber land, which the pioneers had by a a mutual understanding staked off, into five and ten acre lots, for their own use. In consequence of this the lands were sold at an average price, of about $1.30 per acre.
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