History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, Part 58

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 58
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 58

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).

J. C. Witthoft is a native of Hanover, Germany, and was born in the village of Tellmer, near the city of Lumburg, July 7, 1835. When sixteen years of age he began serving an apprentice- ship at the carpenter's trade, and worked at the same until his emigration to this country in 1866. He first settled in Houston Co., Minn., and worked at his trade in that county until the spring of 1870, when he came to Franklin county, renting a farm in Ross township, which he cultivated for four years. He then rented another farm which at the end of two years he purchased and still owns. Mr. Witthoft is an energetic farmer, and by industry, economy and push he has ac- cumulated a fine property. Ile now owns 280 acres of good land on sections 21

and 22, two hundred acres of which are under cultivation. He values this land at $40 per acre. Mr. Witthoft devotes con- siderable attention to stock-raising, in which he is meeting with good success. He has 120 cattle, abonteighty hogs and four- teen horses, a good basis for future pros- perity. His farm has the advantage of an ex- cellent location, and is one of the best farms in Ross township, if not in the county. In 1861 Mr. Witthoft married Catherine Kruckenberg, born in Germany at the same place her husband was born. They have had five children, four of whom are still living-George, Mary, Caroline and Emma. The parents are both members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Witthoft is a republican in politics.

A. T. Little, son of Abijah and Sarah Little, in 1859, came to lowa by team, taking six weeks to make the entire trip, having his wife and four children with him. They first settled on section 28, West Fork township, Franklin county, the family being the fourth to locate in this township. They lived there until 1870, when Mr. Little bought the farm of 320 acres in Ross township, which he still owns. He was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, in 1830, where he grew up on a farm and received a common school edu- cation. His father was a native of New York, being of Irish and Scotch blood, his mother a native of Massachusetts, of English descent. When he was eighteen years of age his father died, his mother having died a year before, and he com menced to earn his own living. He worked for others three years, then bought a farm and cultivated the soil, in Ohio, until 1859, when he came to this county,

546

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

his first residence in West Fork township being a very humble little log house. He was town clerk in West Fork for a number of years, trustee of the school for many years, director for twenty years, justice of the peace for fourteen years, and in fact has held all the town offices. In politics he is a republican. He has been a member of the I O. O. F. at Hampton for twelve years. He was married in 1851 to Harriet Gillett, born in New York. They have had eleven children-Charles G., who was killed at the age of twelve by the discharge of a gun in the hand of another boy; Linter A., who now lives in this town; Sumner B., in California; Ver- non E., Orinda, wife of A. J. Cannon; Amand, Charles S., Emma S., Adrian A., Frankie, who died when a child, and Hattie.

E. K. Frost was born. in Oneida Co., N. Y., Dec. 19, 1811. He is a son of Ansil Frost, a native of Connecticut, and of Laura (Kimball) Frost, a native of New York. Ten years after his birth his parents moved to Ontario Co., N. Y., where he grew to manhood. His educa- tional advantages were very limited, but he early determined to have an education, and commenced a systematic course of study at home. During those years of boyhood he studied surveying, and at the age of twenty-one he had entirely mas- tered the subject. He began teaching at nineteen, and followed this for a number of years, and was a successful teacher. In 1844, after meeting with misfortunes, he determined to come west, and soon after settled in Walworth Co., Wis., ar- riving there with only three dollars and seventy-five cents. During the first five

years he was engaged in farming, often undergoing many hardships. At the end of that time he was elected clerk of the county board, and during his stay in that county he was constantly engaged in the county poli- tics. He was originally a democrat, but on its organization he joined the republican party, being the first in his county to advocate its principles. While in Wis- consin he always took a great interest in educational affairs, and succeeded in 1850 after a hard fight of two years, in getting a graded school at Elkhorn, the first one west of Lake Michigan. In 1871, he came to Franklin county, and settled in Ross township, where he has ever since re- sided. He is one of the most successful small fruit growers of the county. In 1838 he married Fanny Tubbs,a native of Oneida Co., N. Y. They have had three children -Charles, Francis M., who enlisted in company A, 10th Wisconsin Infantry, in 1861, and died at Bowling Green, Ky., April 6, 1862, and Viola, wife of G. W. Bass, of Kansas City, Mo.

S. A. Gibbs is a native of New York, born in Chemung county, on the 6th of February, 1815. His father was a car- penter, and S. A. learned the same trade with a brother when he was twenty-one. He resided in the State of New York until 1860, then removed to Green Lake Co., Wis., where he lived one year, then moved to Winona Co., Minn. In 1871 he came to Franklin county, and has since resided on section 6, Ross township. He owns ninety-five acres of land, all of which is under cultivation, except five acres of timber. In 1844 Mr. Gibbs mar- ried Isabelle Wright, of Chemung Co., I N. Y. They have had seven children, four

547

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

of whom are living-Martha, the wife of George Durr, of Cerro Gordo county; Mary Jane, Thomas and Addie May, the wife of Joe Smith, of Ross township. Mrs. Gibbs is a communicant in the Bap- tist Church. Mr. Gibbs has held the office of road supervisor. In politics he is a staunch democrat.

William Eddy, proprietor of the Union House, in Chapin, was born in Manches- ter, Vt., Jan. 19, 1819. ITis father, James Eddy, was born in Adams, Mass., and his mother, Delia (Carter) Eddy, was born in Hartford, Conn. When William was a child, his parents removed to Berkshire Co., Mass., and remained there until he was twenty years of age when the family went to Medina Co., Ohio In 1862, Wil- liam enlisted in company B, 42d Ohio In- fantry, commanded by Garfield. He served eighteen months and was then dis- charged on account of disability. He re- turned to Ohio and engaged in hotel business until 1868, when he removed to Eldora, Iowa. In 1872 he came to Cha- pin, and opened the first hotel in the place. There were only two houses in Chapin when he came. His first hotel was a small shanty which soon became too small for his increasing business, and he then built a larger house. In 1883 he made another addition. Mr. Eddy married Venita Shaw, of Medina Co., Ohio, in 1858. They have had four children, two of whom are living -Delia, who married W. W. Richards, who opened the first store in Chapin and died here in 1881; and Lepha, the wife of S. O. Gridley, now living in Ross town- ship.

S P. Weaver was born in Princeton, Ill., in 1845. There he grew to manhood,

being brought up on a farm and receiving a common school education. At the age of eighteen he went into a store as clerk, remaining there a part of three years, the rest of the time being spent at school in Dover. In 1863 he enlisted in the 139th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served for about six months and was then honor- ably discharged. He then returned to Illi- nois and spent about one year and a half in Chicago, as elerk in a dry goods store In 1867, he removed to Brookings, Iowa, and went into business for himself, deal- ing in lumber, grain and agricultural im- plements. He continued in this business for three years, then went to Missouri and thence to Chicago, and finally, in 1872, he came to Chapin and engaged in business. He commenced business there with a part- ner, not having at the time a dollar, hav- ing lost all previous to this venture. But the firm was very successful, and built the first elevator in the county, in 1875. In 1880, Mr. Weaver bought out his part- ner and has been carrying on the business alone with equally good success. He was justice of the peace and is a member of the Masonic lodge at Hampton. He is a dem- ocrat in politics. He was married in 1875 to Ella Beilby, of Hampton. They have two daughters-Louisa and Fannie. He was treasurer of the Methodist Episco- pal Society, and was instrumental in the building of the present church, having ad- vanced the money to erect it. He has erected several stores and dwellings that have been a great improvement to the town and county.

E. M. Knight was born in Clinton Co., N. Y., Feb. 6, 1838. Ilis parents were Elijah and Jane Knight, his mother's

548

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

maiden name being Blow. They were both born in Clinton Co., N. Y. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war, while his father served in the war of 1812. E. M. Knight learned the trade of blacksmith in 1856, at Gover- neur, N. J., working at it two years, then farming four years in his native county. He then opened a shop of his own and ran it three years, being one year in the employ of the Government. In 1865 he removed to Iowa, working at his trade in Monona until 1872, when he came to Chapin and opened the first blacksmith shop in the place. Mr. Knight bought the first lot sold in the town and planted the first tree. He married Jennie Horribin at Monona, Iowa, July 26, 1866. They have three children-Lulu, Carrie and Willie, the first child born in the village of Chapin. Mr. and Mrs. Knight are members of the Congregational Church. He has served as constable two terms, and is a member of Sheffield lodge, I. O. O. F.

J. E. Crawford is the proprietor of the Chapin Mill. He was born in New Hamp- shire, April 30, 1839. His father's name was James Crawford, his mother's maiden name, M. C. Bellows. They were both natives of New Hampshire, and moved to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1840, where the father died in 1845. The son, James E., re- mained in Dubuque until 1861, when he enlisted as a private in company L, 2d Iowa Cavalry, and served four years and forty days. He was in the battles of Cor- inth, Tupelo, Nashville, Franklin and numberless other minor engagements. In August, 1862, he was taken prisoner and held thirteen days. He was wounded at

Colleyville, a minnie ball passing entirely through his body and penetrating the knee of the man behind him. In 1864 he re-enlisted and was mustered out of the service at Selma, Ala., Aug. 5, 1865. He entered the service as a private in 1861, was elected sergeant in 1862, was promoted to first lieutenant in 1864, at Memphis, and made captain at Deca' ur, Ala., the same year. After the war was over he lived at Dubuque, Iowa, until 1873, at which date he came to Franklin county, residing on a farm in West Fork until 1882, and then commenced the mill- ing business at Chapin, in which he is still engaged. In 1866 he married Maria Hecks, of York State. They have five children-Arthur, Ella, Mabel, Mary and Baby. He was school director in West Fork, and in politics is a staunch repub- lican.

Isaac and Hannah Bird came from Eng- land and settled in Canada West, near Toronto. They had a son, Matthew Bird, who is the subject of this sketch and who first saw the light in Canada, Nov. 5, 1840. In 1866 the family removed to Dodge Co., Wis., where Matthew lived until 1874, when he came to Franklin Co., Iowa, and located on section 13, Ross township. He has 160 acres of prime land, 105 acres of which are under plow. There are seven acres of trees and the balance meadow land Mr. Bird values his land at $40 an acre. He keeps twenty head of cattle, fifty hogs and five horses. He has been married twice ; the first time, in 1866, to Sarah M. Bird in Canada. In 1871 she died, leaving two children - Charles A. and Mary Emily. In 1874 Mr. Bird married Catherine Devlin of Dodge Co., Wis. He

553

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

has been secretary of the school board two terms ; trustee, five years ; sub-director, five years, and road supervisor, two years. He is an old line democrat, and never fails to vote that ticket when the polls are open.

S. O. Gridley has been a resident of Franklin county since 1875, locating first in Chapin, where, in company with his brother-in-law, W. W. Richards, he en- gaged in mercantile business, having the first store and being the first postmaster in the town. He retained his interest in the business three years, then sold and bought the farm where he now lives. His atten- tion is chiefly given to stock, that being more profitable than the raising of grain. He was among the first to import Holstein cattle into Franklin county, which he did at great expense. He was born in Medina Co., Ohio, in 1849, where he received a good education. He is the son of Orrin and Lydia Gridley, who were of English descent, and natives of New York. He remained with his parents until of age, when he took charge of one of his father's farms. In 1870, he married Lepha Eddy, also a native of Ohio. In 1874 he re- mowed to Page Co., Iowa, purchased a farm and put in a large crop, but suffered a severe loss from the grasshoppers. He then rented his farm and came to Franklin county, where they have since lived. They have three children-Novella, Eddy B. and Orrin E. They are members of the M. E. Church, and for two years Mr. Grid- ley has been superintendent of the union Sunday school. He is a republican.

Henry Gerfen was born in Westphalia, Prussia, Oct. 20, 1842. In 1864 he emi- grated to St. Louis, Mo , and engaged in

labor until 1874, then moved to Wiscon- sin. In 1876 he came to Franklin county. After working for different farmers for a time, he bought land on seetion 24, Ross township, where he now has a fine home. He has thirty-five acres under cultivation, and values his farm at $25 an acre. In the fall of 1875 Mr. Gerfen married Car- oline Steinhan, in Dane Co., Wis. They have three children-Annie, Mary and Matilda. Mr. Gerfen and wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church. He is a democrat in politics.

George Schollein, of Schollein Brothers, was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., in 1839. His father, Matthias, was a tailor, and in 1854 he and his son George came to Iowa and settled in Dubuque county. George spent two years on a farm, receiv- ing a common school education. At the age of seventeen he commenced to learn the carpenter trade, which he followed in Dubuque county until 1874, when he went to Dubuque city and clerked in his broth- er's store for one year. In 1876 he came to Chapin and commenced his present business of general merchandise, in which he is doing well. In 1862 he went into the army in the 21st Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, company F, serving for twenty months, as musician. He was in the siege of Vicksburg, and battles of Jackson and Hartsville, Mo. He was discharged be- cause of disabilities. He has been justice of the peace for some time, and a member of the school board. In politics he is a democrat. He was married in 1861 to Mary Ann Simpson, a native of Pennsyl- vania. They have had seven children- Emma J., Anna M., Minnie E., James M.,

554

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Charlotte Blanche, Mary A. and Emanuel Washington.

W. R. Yelland, born in Chelsea, Mass., in 1838, is a son of William H. and Mary Ann Yelland. When seven years of age, he, with his parents, moved to Illinois, and settled in Jo Daviess county, near the county seat. There he grew up to man- hood on his father's farm, receiving a lib- eral common school education. He con- tinued to live with his father until he was twenty-five years of age, when he rented a farm adjoining his father's farm, on which he lived for one year. He then went to Wisconsin to take charge of his father- in-law's extensive stock farm, and re- mained there until 1877, when he came to Iowa, and settled in Ross township. He bought 160 acres of land, on section 6, where he now lives, having a well improved farm, well stocked, and with good buildings. The land is worth $30 per acre. Mr. Yelland is at present a member of the school board in his own town. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., and one of the trustees of his lodge at this time. Ile was married in November, 1873, to Sarah G. Oliver, a native of LaFayette Co., Wis. They are the parents of five children -Oliver, Jessie, Myra, Florence and an infant. On the farm there is a very fine orchard of choice trees. At the time the writer was present there was an old log house on the place, known as the pioneer postoffice, in a fair state of pres- ervation.

W. T. Adams settled in Ross township, in 1878, purchasing the farm of 240 acres which he now owns. He has a fine farm, has put up good buildings and made valu- able improvements. He was born in

Montgomery, Wood Co., Ohio, Ang. 31, 1838. There he lived with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, being reared on a farm and receiving a limited education. In 1854 he removed with his parents to La Fayette Co., Wis. In 1862 he entered the army, enlisting in company E, 96th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was soon promoted to orderly of his com- pany. He served in the army of the Cum- berland with his regiment, which partici- pated in all the important battles of that department. In April, 1864, he was hon- orably discharged on account of disability received while in the line of service. He then returned to Wisconsin and bought a farm in Monticello, La Fayette county. Mr. Adams was married Dec. 25, 1864, to Clara M Blackstone, of Monticello, Wis., born in Hamilton, Canada, June 13, 1842. They have four children-George W., John Q., Charles B. and Clara Josephine, all of whom were born in Monticello, Wis. Mr. Adams continued to farm in Wisconsin till the spring of 1878, when he sold out and came to Iowa. Since coming to Ross township he has been township clerk two terms. He is a mem- ber of Anchor Lodge, No. 191, A. F. & A. M., at Hampton, and a member of the Congregational Church, at Chapin. Mr. Adams has been active in local politics, having filled different township offices, and for three years previous to his com- ing to Ross township, he was a member of the board of supervisors of La Fayette Co., Wis.

Jacob Heuberger is a native of Canton, Aargau, Switzerland, and came to Amer- ica in 1872, and located first at Scale's Mound, Ill. His father's name was Henry

555

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Heuberger, and his mother's maiden name was Mary Buckle; the parents are still living in Switzerland. In 1875 Jacob Henberger visited his parents in Switzer- land, and on his return to his adopted country, he worked at wagon making at Scale's Mound and Apple River until 1879, he having learned the trade of wagon maker at the age of sixteen in his native land. In 1879 he came to Chapin and started his wagon shop here. He is mas- ter of his trade and has a good business. He owns 160 acres of land in the town- ship of Ross. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Hampton.

E. F. Moris is a native of Austria. His father being a blacksmith, he learned the same trade and has worked at it since boy- hood. In the spring of 1869 he came to America to seek a home under freedom's sun. He followed his trade in St. Louis and other places on the Mississippi until 1879, when he came to Chapin, Iowa, and after working for E. M Knight for a time, opened a shop of his own, which he has conducted successfully ever since. Mr. Moris is an excellent workman, and blacksmithing with him is a success. He is the owner of a good house which he built, and also has three town lots.

W. F. Marks, of the firm of Marks & Procter, was born in LaFayette Co., Wis., in 1854. He was brought up in town, re- ceiving a good, liberal education, gradu- ating at Eastman's Commercial College, in 1875. After graduating, he returned to Wisconsin as clerk in a store, remaining there till the fall of 1879, when he came to Hampton, Iowa, and went into a store as clerk, where he remained until 1882, at which time he formed a partnership

with Mr. Procter, and came to Chapin and engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness, which is proving a successful enter prise. He was married in 1882 to Eva Stonebraker, of Hampton, Iowa.

W. H. Harris, station agent and post- master at Chapin, was born in Warren Co., Ind., in 1844. When he was eleven years of age his parents moved to Monte- zuma, Iowa, and about this time his father died. His mother died when he was four- teen years of age, so that from this period onward he made This own way in the world. At the age of sixteen in company with others he made a trip across the plains to California, which took about four months. Here he remained but a short time. On the 19th of May, 1861, he went aboard a vessel before the mast at San Francisco as a sailor, the objective point being Boston. He followed the life of a sailor for about six years, the last . year owning and conducting a small boat on Humboldt bay. He then returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York, and after spending one year in In- diana, he came back to Montezuma, Iowa, where he had formerly resided, and there followed farming for eight years, or until 1876. In that year he was appointed sta- tion agent at Ewart, on the C. I. railroad, and the year after came to Hampton, Iowa, as telegraph operator, which posi- tion be filled for one year and was then sent to Faulkner, on the C. I. railro d, where he remained only a few weeks, when he was made station agent at Cha- pin and has been there ever since. In June, 1881, he was appointed postmaster. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., at Hampton, and a member of the Chapter.

556

IIISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

lle was married in 1870 to Miss A. A. Greyson, a native of the State of Indiana. They have five children-Theodore, Nora, Alma, Wilfred and Leslie. In politics Mr. Harris has been a life-long republican.

FIRST EVENTS.

A saw mill was built by A. S. Ross, H. H. Grinnell and R. T. Knight, in 1858, and operated four years by Mr. Ross and six years longer by others, when it was removed by Grinnell.

The first death was that of Mr. Neff, a settler who came before Ross, but who left for a time on account of the Indian scare, afterwards returning and dying here. He was buried on the hill in the bounds of the road, and in grading years afterward his coffin was struck by the road scrapers, taken up and placed in the cemetery.

The first marriage was R. T. Knight and Jane Guinn.

The first birth was Florence Robinson, daughter of Dudley Robinson, who came in 1857.

The first postoffice was kept at the house of A. S. Ross, on section 31.

The first election was held at Shober Grove, in 1858.

The first blacksmith shop was opened by A. S. Ross, in 1858.

The first religious services were held in a barn on William P. Avery's place, Mr. Avery being the pioneer minister of this section of Franklin county.

SCHOOLS.

The first school in the township was taught by Mrs. Wright, in the fall of 1857, in a small log cabin near where Mr. Shafer's house afterwards stood; she also taught three terms in a barn belonging to S. M Lovering. The first school house

proper was built in 1861, and destroyed by fire in 1877. In 1883 there were seven school district in the township and nine schools-three in Chapin and six outside the village, all under a township district At this date there were 250 scholars in the township. The school house in Cha- pin was a large two story frame house, built in 1878, and arranged for three departments.

ORGANIC.

The first ele ction held in what is now Ross township, took place Oct. 14, 1879, when the following officers were elected: l'rustees, N.Rhutassel, M. Bird and Il.Stott; justices of the peace, M. Gibbs and W. W. Richards; constables, E. C. Cook and Thomas Gibbs; clerk, Wm. Glendenning; assessor, James Carroll. The officers for 1883 were: W. H. McMillen, M. Bird and Wm. Ellis, Jr., trustees; W. T Adams, clerk; James M. Carroll, assessor; George Schollien, justice of the peace; George Blackstone, constable.

RELIGIOUS.

At a very early day a Methodist Epis- copal class was formed in Ross township, which was in the Rockwell charge up to 1883. Services were held at school houses until May, 1883, when a frame church was dedicated by Rev. Crippin, of Mason City, assisted by the pastor, Rev. Will, who lived at Rockwell.

CHAPIN VILLAGE.

The old town of Chapin was located on section 36, Richland, and section 31, Ross township. It was platted Dec. 6, 1858, by Rev. J. B. Grinnell. It was named in honor of Mrs. Grinnell, Chapin being her maiden name, in consideration of a church bell which she donated to the

55 7

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

Congregational society. But little was ever done in way of business at this town, but upon the building of the railway through the county, a station was made two miles east of this site on sections 33 and 34, Ross township, and George Beed, of Hampton, platted what is sometimes called New Chapin, July 29, 1872, Obadiah Smith doing the surveying. The Central Railway of Iowa was completed through this point in 1870, when the place com- menced to grow. The first one to engage in business was William Avery and W. W. Richards, who formed a partnership and run a general stock. Avery soon sold out his interest to Mr. Crawford. Mr. Richards died in a few months and the business was closed up. The next to engage in trade was Schollein Bros., who carried a small line of hardware together with a general stock. Mr. Harper was first to open an exclusive hardware store.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, Part 58

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