History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, Part 55

Author: Union Publishing Company (Springfield, Ill.) pbl
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 990

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 55
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 55

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

H. J. Mitchell was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in 1833. When fourteen years of age he left home and went to Sheboy- gan Co., Wis., and traveled over different parts of the State until the fall of 1854, when he came to Franklin county and settled in Reeve township, where he was married to Octavia Smith. She was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Nov. 26, 1838, and has the honor of teaching the first school in Franklin county. Here Mr. Mitchell engaged in farming, but, in 1860, he went to Colorado and engaged in min- ing, but in a few months returned to his home, since which time he has been en-

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

gaged in tilling the soil. His father was a native of Vermont. He died in this county, in 1869. The mother was a native of Ireland. She died here in 1866. They were the parents of five children, H. J. being the fourth. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, at Maysville. He is a republican in politics, and has held several local offices. He is a good citizen, held in high esteem by all his neighbors. By his marriage there have been born to him four children-Charles R., (deceased), Clara J., (deceased), Clar- ence L. and H. Jay.

Samuel P. Mulkins was born in Dela- ware Co., Ind., June 28, 1849. He is a son of one of the old settlers of this town- ship. He remained in Reeve township until the spring of 1864, when he left home and worked for John I. Popejoy for two years, after which time he went to the southern part of the State, where he was married to Matilda Chestnut, who was born in Clay Co., Ky .. in March 1851. They went from there to Missouri, where he engaged in farming, remaining until the fall of 1878, when he returned to Reeve township, Franklin county. Mr. and Mrs. Mulkins have five children- Jacob F., Samuel E., Mary C., John H. and Maggie E. A. Mr. Mulkins and his wife are members of the Methodist Church.

Among those who came to Reeve town- ship in 1855 were : F. M. Springer, Levi Jones, Isaac Mulkins, J. S. Mulkins, Solo- man Staley, W. Conway, Benjamin But- terfield, James Soyer, Martin Soyer, James Morris, James Rucker, James Johnston, L. Shroyer, Henry Shroyer, W.

J. Shroyer, Nathaniel J. Shroyer, Amos Roberts, Erastus Baker, William Free- born, A. Jones, F. A. Denton, William Higans and men named Whiteside and Fortner.

Francis M. Springer was a native of what is now Jasper Co., Ill., born July 9, 1826. He is one of twins. His par- ents were David and Sally ( Waddell ) Springer. The father was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1797 ; the mother is a native of Jasper Co., Ill., born Nov. 14, 1811. They moved to Galena in the fall of 1832, where they died of cholera within twelve hours of each other. They left a family of five children. When Francis M. Springer was fifteen years of age, he came to Iowa, stopping two years in Linn county, then six years in Buchan- an county, after which he returned to Galena, and then moved to Shulsburg, Wis., where he was married to Maria E. Green, Dec. 13, 1854. She was born in Jo Daviess Co., Ill., Aug. 14, 1836. In the following spring he came to Franklin Co., Iowa, and settled at Maysville and helped survey the town site of that place. Here he remained till the fall of 1856, when, with his family, he returned to Jo Daviess county, but soon came back by ox team, camping out at night. They set- tled permanently in Reeve township, his present home. He is a staunch republi- can and has frequently been honored by local offices. They have four children- Elenora C. J., born Sept. 29, 1855, John G., Jan. 24, 1858, Albert N., Sept. 18, 1860, (deceased Ang. 6, 1881, ) Steven A. Aug. 29, 1864, and Bernard, Feb. 18, 1875. Mr. Springer was present at the first wedding in Franklin county.

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Levi Jones, an old settler of the town- ship, was born in West Virginia, in 1808. His parents were Benjamin and Elizabeth (Bell) Jones, who were also natives of West Virginia, where the father died. Af- ter the father's death, the mother emi- grated with her family to Delaware Co., Ind., where she afterward died. They had a family of fourteen children, the subject of this sketch being the fifth child. He was married, in Virginia, in 1829, to Jane Snider, born in West Vrginia, in 1806. In 1838, in company with his mother's family, he went to Indiana, and there engaged in blacksmithing, which he followed until he came to Franklin county in 1854, where he engaged in farming and blacksmithing. In politics he is a repub- lican, and was a member of the first board of supervisors. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Methodist Church at Ge- neva. His education was received in a log school house with holes bored in the slabs, in which were inserted pegs for legs. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have had ten children, seven of whom are living-Athalia, Al- pheus, Thomas W., J. F., Martin B., Eliz- abeth and Benjamin.

T. W. Jones, son of Levi Jones, came to the county in 1854. He was born in West Virginia, March 5, 1837. When one year old his parents moved to Indi- ana, where he grew to manhood and re- · ceived a common school education. He was married April 11, 1865, to Mary J. St. Clair, born in New York, April 28, 1837. They have eight children, seven of whom were living in 1883-Wentworth C., Jay F., Martin A., Roy W., Bertrand, Vinna E. and Hugh L. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Baptist Church at Hamp-

ton. In politics Mr. Jones is a republi- can and has held local offices.

W. B. Jones, another son of the pio- neer, Levi Jones, came with his parents to Franklin county in 1854. He was born in Delaware Co., Ind., Sept., 16, 1841. He grew to manhood in Franklin county, re- ceiving a common school education. In August, 1861, he enlisted in company I, 9th Iowa Infantry, serving until July, 1865, when he was discharged. He re- ceived a gunshot wound in the leg at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, and was also wounded in the head at the battle of Pea Ridge. He was married May 16, 1866, to Martha A. Butterfield, who was born in Vermilion Co., Ill., Sept. 11, 1847. They have one child-Martin L. Mr. Jones is a staunch republican in politics and was sheriff of Franklin county for two terms. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. society at Geneva, and of the Hampton Masonic lodge.

John Rumzey Reeve, son of Judge James B. Reeve, was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Sept. 15, 1849, and was three years of age when his parents moved to Iowa He grew to manhood and received a common school education in Franklin county. He was.married Dec. 24, 1871, to Ella Hudson, who was born in Dodge Co., Wis., Sept. 6, 1853. Her father, Amos B. Hudson, was a native of Vermont, and her mother, Laura (Green) Hudson, was born in Oswego, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Reeve are the parents of two children -Daisy and Indie.

Isaac C. Mulkins, one of the old settlers of Reeve township, came to Buchanan Co., Iowa, in the spring of 1855, remain- ing one year, when he came to Franklin

514 HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

county and located on the farm now owned by Thomas Fox. He erected a log house in which he spent the first winter without any chinking between the logs. He had the ground for a floor on which the fire was built, having neither stove nor fire- place, and over which they cooked and kept warm. At this time deer were so plentiful that droves of them were often seen, some numbering as high as twenty- five. Mr. Mulkins was born in Henry Co., Ohio, in 1817. When a boy he went to Indi- ana, where he was reared, and was mar- ried to Lucinda Thornberg, who died Dec. 25, 1852. By this marriage there were seven children. He was again married in 1853. By this marriage there were eight children. Ile was a member of the M. E. Church. He enlisted in company H, 32d Iowa Volunteers, in December, 1863, and died in Red River, Ark., April 9, 1864. His widow married Mr. H. Perry, of But- ler county, who died in the township, April, 1883. Mrs. Perry is still a resident of the township, and lives with her father, Levi Jones, an old resident of the county.

J. S. Mulkins, a twin son of Isaac C. Mulkins, one of the old pioneers of Reeve township, was born in Delaware Co., Ind., June 28, 1849, and came to Franklin county with his parents when a mere lad, and where he has since lived, with the excep- tion of five years spent in Missouri. He was married in Franklin county March 31, 1870, to Maggie Creighton, born in Ohio, in August, 1847. They have had five chil- dren-Irvin A., Esta J. (deceased), Charles S., Marvin C. (deceased), and David G.

Benjamin Butterfield, one of the pio- neers of Franklin county, was born in Washington Co., N. Y., June 11, 1795.

His father died when he was three years of age, after which he went to live with an uncle, where he remained until he became of age. When twenty-three years of age he was married to Martha Morrison, a na- tive of Washington county, and there followed farming. He removed to Ohio, remaining two years, from thence to Park Co.,, Ind., where he spent three years, when he went to Vermilion Co., Ill., where his wife died. They had three children. He subsequently married Elizabeth Scott, a native of Kentucky, born July 28, 1800. In 1831, he went to Cook Co., Ill., and was at Fort Dearborn at the time of the Black Hawk war. lle afterwards kept hotel twenty-five miles south of Chicago, twen- ty-one years. In 1855, he came to Franklin county and settled on section 29, Reeve township, where he lived until his death, April 28, 1878. His wife is still living, with four children. Mr. Butterfield was formerly a whig, but of late years was a republican. He was the first justice of the peace elected in Cook county. Mrs. But- terfield has been a member of the Presby- terian Church for many years.

John S. Butterfield, son of Benjamin Butterfield, one of the pioneers of the county, was born Feb. 14, 1835. He came with his father's family to Franklin county, and Jan. 1, 1856, was married to Mary J. Jones, of Geneva township, who was born in Indiana in 1841. They have had six children, five of whom are living-Benja- min E., Robert S., Nettie J., Clara A., and Albert P. His wife died Oct. 25, 1870. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. society. He is a radical republican, and has been a member of the board of township trustees.

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Lewis Shroyer came to Franklin county in the spring of 1855, and first stopped at Maysville, where he worked at carpenter work two years, that being his trade, when he went to Mayne's creek, and run a saw mill eight years, after which he ob- tained an interest in it. In the spring of 1865, he moved to the farm where he still lives. He was born in West Virginia in 1832. His parents were natives of the same State, the father born in 1807, the mother in 1810 and were married in 1830. In 1838, they emigrated to Delaware Co., Ind., where the father died in 1876, the mother in 1849. Lewis grew to manhood in that county, receiving his education in the log school house of that day, and fol- lowed farming and carpentering. He was married in the fall of 1856. to Joan Jones, born in Virginia in 1834. They have four children-D. W., Clara J., Martin L. and Victor E.

James J. Johnston, a native of Ireland, came to America at the age of sixteen, in company with a cousin, going first to Can- ada. He then spent three years in New York, took a trip to New Orleans, and in 1855 went to Washington Co., Iowa. In the fall of 1855 he came to Franklin county and located on section 2, Reeve township, where he has since resided. He was born in 1823 in Ireland, where his parents re- mained until their death. James was mar- ried Aug. 31, 1854, to Elizabeth Bradsute, born in Green Co, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1829. They have had seven children-John E., David F., Ralph W., James H., Charles F., George A. and Jennie E. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are members of the Congrega- tional Church at Hampton. He is a re- publican in politics and his neighbors have,

at different times, honored him with local offices. In speaking of pioneer days, Mr. Johnston gives the following: When I came to Iowa, in the spring of 1855, there was not a mile of railroad west of Du- buque, and when we wanted flour we usually had to go to Cedar Falls, a three days journey, and when we raised anything to sell it had to be taken to that place. We also had to dress our own pork and haul it to Cedar Falls or Waterloo. I sold pork, the year before the war, at that town, for $2 per hundred and my wheat for thirty-three and one-third cents per bushel. These are facts, which perhaps my grand- children will hardly believe, unless I here record it in history.

During the next decade, among those who made settlement in the township were: John Imlay, J. M. Soper, Albert Pickering, Amos Shephard, George W. Wilton, Amos B. Hudson, Garrett Luke, Isaac Way, Philip Kratz, Mrs. Susan Cole, John Meyer, O. D. Andrews, A. D. St. Clair and Warren S. Towle.

J. M. Soper is an old settler of Reeve township. He is one of the leading farm- ers in the county, and for many years has been engaged in buying and selling stock, which he still follows, and in which he is very successful. He was born in Franklin Co., Vt., in 1815, and is a son of Joseph and Elicta ( Mansfield ) Soper. His father was a captain in the war of 1812, and his grandfather a soldier in the war of the Revolution. When J. M. Soper was six years of age, his parents removed to Franklin Co., N. Y., where he spent his boyhood and received a liberal education. The country being new and heavily tim- bered, he worked hard at clearing land

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

and making potash and pearlash. He was married in 1836 to Angeline Gray, born in the State of New York in 1819. In 1851, he moved to Lake Co., Ill., where he remained two years, thence to Buchanan Co., Iowa, and in 1856, came to Franklin county, where he now lives. His wife died in September, 1869, leaving four chil- dren-George W., Wallace W., Lavina and Albert M. He was again married, in 1870, to Abagail Smith, a native of New York,born in 1827 and died in 1880. He was again married in 1881 to Rowena E. Mer ritt, who was born in Ohio, in 1844 Mr. Soper's farm consists of 236 acres, for which he paid $10 per acre. This land was entered by Mr. Mayne. In politics Mr. Soper is an independent. He has held vari- ous local offices in Franklin county, and stands high in the estimation of his neigh- bors.

Philip Kratz was born in Germany, in 1825. His parents emigrated to Wauke- sha Co., Wis., while he was a small boy. The father died, in 1861, aged sixty-three; the mother, in 1881, aged seventy. The father was twice married, and had, in all, eleven children, Philip being the youngest by the first marriage. His education was limited,but he has profited by observation. In the fall of 1853 he came to Iowa to to look at land. At that time cars were only running as far as Janesville, Wis. He, therefore, walked most of the distance to Franklin county, where he entered land, then walked to Des Moines, where he worked during the winter. In the spring he returned to Franklin, but on reaching there found the settlers fleeing from the Indians. He turned and went with them to near Cedar Falls, where

they made a fort. From thence he went to Cedar Falls, where he worked on a mill race until the excitement was over, when he returned to the county and entered more land. He then removed to Wisconsin, but, in the summer of 1855, he again returned, in company with John Meyer, and added to his land. On March 12, 1856,he was married in Buchan- an county, to Lonisa Reed, who was born in Germany, in 1833. He then came and built a log house and returned for his wife, arriving in Reeve township, May 6, 1856. He is an industrious, go-ahead man. He cast his first vote for Buchanan, since which time he has been a sturdy republi- can, and has held offices of trust in his township. Mrs. Kratz is a member of the German Baptist Church. They have five children-Paulina A., Valentine J., Philip E., Mary J., (deceased), and Lemuel.

Bennett Cole was born, in 1818, in Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he was mar- ried, in 1837, to Susan Phillips, born in the same county in 1810. In 1853 they moved to LaFayette Co., Wis, remain- ing until 1857, and from there to Frank- lin county, first settling in Geneva town- ship, where they remained until 1870, when he purchased his farm in Reeve township, where he died, Sept. 10, 1882. His wife still survives him. He was an estimable citizen, had received a good common school education and was an in- dustrious, hard working man. They had five children, only three of whom are living-Martha C., Benton, who now car- ries on the farm, and Frank A., living in Kansas.

John Meyer came to Franklin county, June 1858, locating on section 32. He

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1832. His parents, George and Barbara A. (Westfall) Meyer, were also natives of Bavaria. In 1848 they emigrated to Wau- kesha Co., Wis., where the father died in 1859, aged sixty-five, the mother in May 1882, aged seventy-five. They had a family of eight children. The subject of the sketch being the third. He received a common school education, and learned the carpenter trade in Wisconsin, which he has followed in Franklin county. He was married Oct., 4, 1854, to Catherine Orwilea, a native of Prussia, born in 1834. Her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Orwilea, were also of Prussia. In 1844, they emi- grated to Waukesha Co., Wis. Her mother died in 1846, but her father still survives. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are mem- bers of the Pleasant Ridge M. E. Church. They have had seven children-John, Henry M., (deceased), Barbara A., Mary E., William, George W. and Charles F.

E. Caldwell was born in New Hamp- shire, Feb. 14, 1820. When he was but two years old, his parents moved to the State of New York. His father was by trade a blacksmith, and of him he learned his trade. He remained at home until twenty-two years of age, when he went to work for himself, at Ogdensburg, after which he worked at different places until 1848, when he removed to Elkhorn, Wis., where he worked at his trade a year. In 1858 he came to Maysville, Franklin county, and opened a blacksmith shop. He followed this occupation until Aug. 14, 1862, when he enlisted in company H, 32d Iowa, serving until July 22, 1863, when he was discharged at Columbus, Ky., by reason of injuries received in the ser-

vice, from the effects of which he now draws a pension. After his discharge he came back to Franklin county and again followed his trade for a time and then went to Illinois, afterw rd to Wright Co , Iowa. He was married in September, 1845, to Mary A. Mitchell, a native of New York, by whom he had three children- Jane, William and Sarah. His wife died in February, 1855, and he was again mar- ried, the following year, to Malinda F. Brace, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1820. In polities Mr. Caldwell is a staunch republican.

John Imlay was born in New Jersey, in 1823. When an infant his parents moved to Washington Co., Penn., remaining un- til 1835, when they went to . Muskingum Co., Ohio, where John grew to manhood, receiving a limited education and learning the carpenters trade, which he followed until the fall of 1860, when he came to Franklin county, locating on section 15, in Reeve township, where he now lives. He was married Sept. 6, 1856, to Mary Con- nor, born in Virginia, April 24, 1832. Mrs. Imlay is a member of the M. E. Church at Maysville.

O. D. Andrews was the fourth son of Benjamin and Polly (Douglass) Andrews, who were natives of Connecticut, and who at an early day moved to Ohio, the mother dying there; the father died in Stephen- son Co., Ill. O. D. Andrews was born in 1816, in Grange Co., Ohio. He was reared on a farm and received a common school education. His parents had seven chil- dren. In 1841 O. D. Andrews was joined in marriage to Mary Briggs, a native of Vermont, by whom he had seven children. Mrs. Andrews died in Stephenson Co.,

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Ill. He was again married, in Stephen- son county, to Elizabeth Morris, a native of Kentucky. In 1861, he came to Frank- lin Co., Iowa, and located in Reeve town- ship, where, on the 7th of May, 1869, his second wife died, and on March 12, 1870, he married Mrs. Lana C. (Pierce) Lander- son, a native of Chemung Co., N. Y., born in 1831, and who had two children by the former marriage. Her parents were both natives of New York, where the mother died, and the father married again, hav- ing twelve children by the first marriage, and six by the second. Mr. and Mrs. O. D. Andrews are both members of the M. E. Church at Geneva, and are estimable people. Mr. Andrews has been a resident of Reeve township for about twenty-two years and has been a valuable citizen, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

Albert Pickering was born in Richmond, Cheshire Co., N. H., in 1814, of which county and State his parents were also natives. He grew to manhood in that county, and received his education in the common schools, his early life being spent on the farm. In 1842 he went to Jo Da- viess Co., Ill., and engaged in farming, and also in the mercantile business In 1850 he went to California where he worked in the mines, and also kept a pro- vision store. He remained here until 1853, when he returned to Jo Daviess Co., Ill., and in 1861 he came to Franklin county, and settled on section 36 in Lee township, where he lived two years, when he re- moved to Reeve township, afterwards engaging in the mercantile business in Hampton. Mr Pickering has been twice elected to the office of sheriff, and has

held several township offices. He is inde- pendent in politics, and votes for the one he believes to be the best man. He is now living in Reeve township. In 1834 he married Laura Fowler, a native of New York. They have had four children, one only living at this time.

A. D. St. Clair settled on section 10, Reeve township, Franklin Co., Iowa, in 1863, He was born in Erie Co., N. Y., in 1839. His father was a native of Ver- mont, his mother of Massachusetts. When he was six years of age his parents moved to McHenry Co., Ill., where he received a good education, devoting the remainder of his time to teaching and farming. He went to Michigan in 1872, where he mar- ried Flerence J. Jackway, a native of Berrien Co., Mich., born in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair are members of the First Baptist Church, of Hampton. They have three children-Winnie C., Edson D. and Frank E. Mr. St. Clair is a staunch re- publican, takes a deep interest in politics, and is at present chairman of the board of county supervisors, and has held other local offices with credit. IIe is regarded as an honorable citizen, and held in high esteem by all who know him.

Mrs. Lydie A. Mulford is the widow of Thomas Mulford, who was born in Cosh- octon Co., Ohio, in 1829, where he grew to manhood and was married in 1845 to Lydia Crofts, the subject of this sketch, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1829. When nine years of age her parents moved to Ohio, where she was married. In 1848 they removed to Dubuque county, where her husband worked at his trade of cooper. He enlisted in 1861 in the 1st Iowa Cavalry, serving until October, 1863,

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

when he died at Little Rock, Ark. In the fall of 1863, Mrs. Mulford came with her family to Franklin county, where she still lives. She has six children-Washington W., C. Elmira, George S, Marcus M., Nathan and William T.

George W. Wilton, postmaster at Mays- ville, was born in Canada, in 1843. When a young man he went to Michigan, and in 1864, came to Franklin county, arriving on the 9th of May. Here he engaged in farming until 1866, when he went to Ne- braska until 1869, but returned to Frank- lin county in 1873. He soon, however, again left and went to Michigan, and in 1877 came back to Franklin county and is now engaged in mercantile business at Maysville and is postmaster at that place. He was married March 25, 1865, to Eliza- beth Jones, a daughter of an old settler of the county. She was born in 1845. They have five children-Silas L., Nettie J., Pearly J., Arthur W. and George E. Mr. Wilton is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Geneva. He is a republican in politics, and has held the office of justice of the peace.

Warren S. Towle came to Franklin county with his parents in 1865, and set- tled on section 3, in Reeve township, where his mother is still living, his father having died Nov. 24, 1881. W. S. Towle · was born in Somerset Co , Maine, in 1842. In 1858 he and his parents moved to Dane Co., Wis., remaining there until 1866, when they came to Iowa. He was married July 28, 1867, to Annie Hoole, born in Ohio in 1844. They were married in Livingston Co., Mo. Mr. Towle has lived in Hampton sixteen years engaged at carpenter work. They have one child

-Joseph W. Mr. Towle is a republican and has held several local offices. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church.

Among other settlers, of 1866, were John C. Jones, Jacob Kurtz and David Van kirk.

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History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, Part 55

Author: Union Publishing Company (Springfield, Ill.) pbl Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union publishing company Number of Pages: 990

Author: Union Publishing Company (Springfield, Ill.) pbl
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 990