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 93
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 93
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Sylvester Hill resides on section 28. He took up his residence here in October, 1877, but purchased the place in the spring of 1875, of George W. Hyde. At the time of the purchase the farm had few
improvements. About forty acres had been under the plow, and the house was a small structure of logs. A comfortable and commodious house replaces the primi- tive abode, 125 fruit trees are in position, and the place now has other valuable im- provements, and many others in prospect. Mr. Hill was born in Barford, Stanstead Co., Canada, in 1840. Ilis father, Aaron Hill, was born in New Hampshire, and his mother, Caroline (Goodspeed) Hill, was a native of Vermont. In 1859 Mr. Hill emi- grated to Randolph, Columbia Co., Wis. He became a soldier during the last year of the war, and was enlisted in the 51st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. In the spring of 1868 he came to Clear Lake, and at once turned his attention to carpenter- ing, and was soon after employed in rail- road bridge building. Mrs. Hill was, in her girlhood, Mary M. Allen. She was born in Vermont. Her parents, Oliver and Orpha Allen, removed to Wisconsin when their daughter was eight years of age, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have three children-Edgar S., Nina E. and Freddie. Mr. Hill's farm contains eighty acres.
Nelson Hanson purchased the farm where he resides, in 1880. It is located on section 27, and contains 120 acres. Ile is a native of Sweden, born in 1836. At the age of eighteen he came to this coun- try, leaving his parents in their native land, where they completed the period of their existence. On coming to America, in 1854, Mr. Hanson went to Darlington, Wis., where he attended school for a time, afterward becoming a student at Beloit College. IIe learned the trade of mason, to which pursuit he has devoted many
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
years of his life. Mr. Hanson is a man of education, an extensive reader and well versed in all general subjects. Mrs. Han- son (Jennie A. Moody), was born in Penn- sylvania. The Hanson family includes four sons and three daughters.
Lakeview Creamery is located on sec- tion 16, Lake township, two and a half miles east of Clear Lake village. It was built by Orville J. and Orrin R. Hubbard in 1882. The establishment is furnished with all facilities for first-class products. The cream is collected from the surround- ing country for many miles. In 1882, the first season, the product was about 90,000 pounds of butter, and the probable results of the season to come, will greatly exceed that amount. The butter is shipped to New York and commands the highest rates of that market. The Hubbard Brothers are natives of Otsego Co., N. Y. O. J., the elder, was born in 1851; the second, O. R. Hubbard, in 1854. Caleb N. Hub- bard, their father, came to this county in 1867 and settled in Lake township. He died in July, 1877. Their mother is yet living. Orville J. Hubbard was associated in the mercantile business with J. C. Davis at Clear Lake, from 1875 to 1880. He married Nettie L., daughter of Thomas O. Howard, July, 1876. She was born at Clear Lake in 1858. The children are three in number-Howard C., born in 1877; Ethel E., born in 1880; and Floy D., born in 1882. Orrin R. Hubbard married Hat-
tie L. Bates, a native of Blue Earth, Minn., July, 1876. They have three children- Vera B., Yeta L. and Merton E.
ORGANIC.
Lake township was one of the three original townships of the county. The first election was held on the first Monday of April, 1857, at the house of James Sir- rine at Clear Lake, when the following of- ficers were elected: Marcus Tuttle and Horace Parker, justices of the peace; Peter P. Wood and Hiram Stiles; constables; Joseph Turner, clerk.
In 1883 the officers were: George P. Smith, Robert O. Sirrine and Samuel Bool, trustees; J. H. Boeye and C. B. Sea bury, justices of the peace; M. P. Rose- crans, clerk; J. B. Heath, assessor; Wil- liam Evans, constable.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first marriage was that of Michael Callanan, Jr., to Mary Ann Gray.
The first birth was Joseph Dickirson, son of the first white man who came to the lake for settlement. This occurred in May, 1855.
The first death was a little girl of Mar- cus Tuttle, who died Jan. 3, 1857.
SCHOOLS.
The pioneer school of Lake township was taught by Mrs. Lutz, at her own house in 1856. The first public school was taught in the winter of 1857-8, on section 9, by E. A. Tuttle. In 1883 the township had seven school honses.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXIX.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.
Lincoln township was set off from Mason and Lake townships by the board of supervisors at their June session, 1861, and now comprises congressional town- ship 97, range 21 west. The township is well watered by Lime creek and Callamus creek. The former furnishes a good water power. Originally there was a good supply of timber along these streams, but it is fast disappearing before the ax of the settlers. There is but little wet land in this township, the greater part be- ing a beautiful rolling prairie land, with the richest soil found in the county.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
To Abel Clark belongs the honor of be- ing the pioneer of what is now Lincoln township, settling here with his family in 1854.
Ira Williams first settled on the west side of the Shell Rock river, between Rock Falls and Plymouth, from where in May, 1856, he came to Lincoln township and located on section 24.
In 1856 Gabriel Pence, accompanied by his son, John, came to Cerro Gordo county and purchased several hundred acres of land in the northwest portion of Lincoln township. In May, 1857, Mr. Pence, wife and seven children removed from Jackson county and settled in their new home .. The oldest daughter was married and did
not come to the county until 1859. Gabriel Pence settled on section 6, and his sons, two of whom were married, located near him.
Gabriel Pence was born April 18, 1806, in Ohio. His father, John Pence, was the owner of a flouring and woolen mill in the State of Ohio, which property he sold and removed with his family to Indiana, where he built new mills. He operated these a number of years, and finally because of impaired health and a desire to see his family settled in life without being scat- tered, he sold out and went to Illinois, where he purchased a large tract of land, established his children on farms, and there resided until his death, which oc- curred in 1844. He was twice married and reared a large family of children. Gabriel Pence was trained to the vocation of his father. While in Indiana he mar- ried Nancy McConnell, and about 1836 emigrated to Illinois. Six years after he moved to Jackson Co., Iowa, where he purchased land and resided until 1857. In that year he came to Cerro Gordo county, and actuated by the inherited desire to preserve his family in one un- broken circle so far as possibly, he bought a large tract of land in Lincoln township, and distributing it among his children, had the satisfaction of seeing them all
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settled in the same neighborhood. At a surprise party given in his honor, every lineal descendant was present including children, grand-children and great-grand- children-four generations, about fifty- three in number. He died Feb. 7, 1880, and his wife followed him Oct. 11, 1882. Of the ten children, Mr. and Mrs. Pence reared to maturity, seven still survive, John, Elizabeth (Mrs. George Goodell); Hannah (Mrs. Wi liam Rhodes); George, Allen W., Eliza (Mrs. B. G. Richardson), and Lydia, now the wife of Benjamin Duell. Mr. Pence was a man of sterling traits of character. He was a fond father, and built a substantial and permanent reputation in the township where he ex- pended his fortune. He bore the highest character as an old-fashioned Christian gentleman. John Pence, his oldest sur- viving child, was born May 7, 1828, in Indiana. He settled in Iowa at the date named in his father's sketch, and in 1849 was married to Louisana Lock. He set- tled in Cerro Gordo county in 1857, on section 6, Lincoln township, where he is the proprietor of 500 acres of land. His children are as follows-Levinna, now Mrs. Umbarger; Nancy, now Mrs. Booth; Sarah, now Mrs. Lavanway; Charlotte, now Mrs. Yokom; Lizzie, now Mrs. Taylor; Ella, now Mrs. Umbarger; Arthur C., Rachel A., John L. and Lawrence W.
A. W. Pence was born April 11, 1835, in Henderson Co., III. IIe was reared on a farm and settled in Cerro Gordo county in 1857, and has since been a resident of . Lincoln township, where he owns 158 acres of land. He married Caroline, daughter of J. B. Cobb, of Jackson Co., Iowa. Following are the names of their
children-Mary M., John E., Lincoln G., Phebe J., Cora F., Carrie A., Alice N. and Wallace S. Mr. Pence is an adherent of the republican party, and belongs to the Church of the United Brethren.
George Pence was born Oct. 14, 1832, in Indiana. In 1857 he came to Cerro Gordo county with the members of his father's family. In the fall of the same year he returned to Jackson county and was married to Susanah Kegley. She died Nov. 9, 1879, leaving seven children, three of whom have since followed their mother to the unseen land. Those who still survive are-Nancy, Mrs. D. A. Zokom, Lenora, Laura and Susanah. Mr. Pence is engaged in farming, and inter- sperses his agricultural labors with that of a sportsman's life. He is a republican in politics, and in religious views adopts the creed of the M. E. Church.
Among other earlier settlers was Rich- ard Osborn, who settled in 1859, on sec- tion 5. Milton Goodell also settled on the southwest quarter of section 9, in 1859. He was a single man, but built a log house and went to farming. Upon the break- ing out of the civil war he enlisted in the service, was wounded and taken pris- oner on the Red River Expedition and sent to a hospital, where he died from the effects of his wound.
B. G. Richardson has been a resident of Cerro Gordo county since 1860. He is a farmer and a man of fine faculties, well read, genial and courteous, and a public spirited citizen of his township. Since the date of his residence he has been con- tinually in local office, and is now secre- tary of the school board, and has been justice of the peace for the last fourteen
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
years. He is an adherent of the repubii- can party. His parents, S. M. and Loce- nia Richardson, emigrated from New York to Wisconsin, and in 1860 to Cerro Gordo Co , Iowa, where they settled with their family. Mr. Richardson was born Aug. 3, 1840, in Cortland Co., N. Y., and became a resident of Lincoln township in 1863. While a young man he was engaged summers in farming, and in teaching winters. He was married in 1863 to Eliza J., daughter of Gabriel Pence. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson have the following chil- dren-Seth G., Ida M., Ralph, Roy, Rosa, Grace and Byron P. The homestead in- cludes 174 acres of land.
George Goodell, a pioneer of Iowa, came to the State in 1854 and first settled near Iowa City. Two years later he went to Bristol, Worth county. The next sea- son he went to Illinois and afterwards to Kansas. He returned to Iowa in 1860 and has since been a resident of Lincoln town- ship. He was born in Ohio, July 4, 1839, where he spent his boyhood. He is finely located on 160 acres of land on section 5. Mr. Goodell has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was united in 1863, was Marietta Pence. She died in 1872, leaving three children - Lydia, Gabriel and Haven. The present Mrs. Goodell was Mrs. Elizabeth (Pence) Osborn, sister of Mr. Goodell's first wife. In political principles Mr. Goodell is a republican.
Thomas Law, Sr., is a son of "Auld Scotia," born in 1806. In youth he learned the weaver's trade, which occupation he followed in his native country. He was married in 1830 to Mary Hamilton. In 1849 he came to the United States and
took up his residence in Oneida Co., N. Y., and was employed in the dyeing de- partment of the New York Mills. He brought out his family in 1850. In 1855 he went to Columbia Co., Wis., and en- gaged in agriculture. Some time after he went to Dodge county in that State. He came to Iowa in the fall of 1863 and lo- cated on section 16, Lincoln township, where he died in 1878. His wife is still living. They reared a family of twelve children, eleven of whom were born in Scotland, and seven are still living. Fol- lowing are the names of those surviving- Thomas, Jeanette, Mary, John, James, Elizabeth and Isabella.
Thomas Law, Jr., was born in Scotland, Dec. 3, 1830, and was instructed in the weaver's trade. He came to the United States in 1850 with the other members of his father's family, and worked in the New York Mills, of Oneida Co., N. Y. He went to Wisconsin in 1855 and in 1861 to Michigan. In February of that year he was married to Mary Bishop, daughter of William and Janet Bishop. In 1862 Mr. Law went back to Wisconsin, and came to Iowa in the same year in search of a per- manent location, and after some prospect- ing fixed upon Cerro Gordo county. In 1863 he brought his family to Iowa and established a home, where he now resides. Mrs. Law died Oct. 3, 1878, leaving five children-Jessie C., William H., Mary E., Annie M. and Thomas B. Mr. Law was a second time married. His second mar- riage was with Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas H. and Susan French, and oc- curred Nov. 27, 1879. They have one son- John S. Mr. Law belongs to the republi- can party and has been township clerk, and
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was township treasurer for a period of six years. The family attend the Congrega- tional Church.
Emory Osgood Thompson has been a prominent citizen of Cerro Gordo county since 1866. He was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Aug. 22, 1814. He was brought up on a farm and received an excellent ed- ucation in an academy. In 1836 he went to Wisconsin and was there engaged eigh- teen months in surveying. In 1838 he re- turned to New York and was married to Lucinda Hildreth. In 1853 he again went to Wisconsin, where he followed farming, in Green Lake county. He enlisted in the Union service in 1861, enrolling in the 57th Illinois regiment, Volunteer Infantry, and after serving a year was discharged on account of physical disability. He was under fire at the battles of Shiloh and Fort Donelson. Mrs. Thompson died in 1880, leaving eight children-Julius, Julia, Alice, Lucy, Emma, Rozella, Mary and Nellie. Mr. Thompson was afterwards married Dec. 2, 1882, to Mrs. Nancy Wil- liams. He has been actively interested in local and county politics most of his life. He has acted as county supervisor and has held several township offices. Among other positions of prominence, he has oc- cupied that of postmaster at Rockwell for fourteen years. In religious sentiment he has been a Baptist from youth. Ira Wil- liams, the first husband of Mrs. Thompson, was the second settler in Lincoln town- ship. He was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., in 1809, and was reared on a farm. He was married in 1834 to Nancy Riclı- ardson, and emigrated, in 1845, to Illinois. In 1855 he came to Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, and lived one year on the west bank
of the Shell Rock river, in Falls township, and then took up his residence on section 24, Lincoln township. He was a soldier for the Union three years. He died in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Williams reared nine children, seven of whom are living-Cyn- thia, Reuben, Ellen, David, Lemuel, Mary and Gilbert.
Amos Thomas, a settler in Cerro Gordo county, is a son of Rufus and Mary (Ford) Thomas, the former a native of New York and the latter born in Connecticut. He was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y , Jan. 8, 1834. The family transferred their resi- dence to McHenry Co., Ill., in 1837, and in 1854 to Winona Co., Minn., where the senior Thomas died, in 1877. The mother died in Cerro Gordo county in 1882. Of the children, brothers and sisters of Amos, four are still living-Louren, Rufus, Charles and Lorenzo. Mr. Thomas was brought up a farmer, and 1857 went to Mc- Henry Co., Ill., and was married to Mary Westcott. After that event he returned to Winona. In 1864 he enlisted in company K, 11th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and remained in the Union service until the close of the war. He settled on section 16, Lincoln township, in 1866, where he now owns 160 acres of land which is in an excellent state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have six children-Janette, Polly, Clara, Cora, Alice and an infant son. Mr. Thomas is a republican in politics, and is warmly interested in educational matters.
C. H. Phillips owns and resides on a farm of 168 acres of land in Lincoln town ship, every detail of which gives evidence of the good sense, thrift and energy of its proprietor. His residence was erected at
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
a cost of about $1,200. He was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., April 27, 1820. Ilis parents, Abiather and Hannah (Ranney) Phillips, were natives of Massachusetts. Mr. Phillips was brought up on a farm, and in 1854 was married to Almira, daugh- ter of Edwin II. and Cynthia Blackmore,, of Ontario Co., N. Y. They remained residents of that county until 1865, when they moved to Ripon, Wis., and the next yearto Lincoln township, Cerro Gordo coun- ty,Iowa. The children who yet survive are -Lambert, Lester, Norman, Edwin, Nina, Albion and Dora. Mr. Phillips takes little interest in politics save in the dis- charge his privileges as a citizen of the United States.
James Ferrier is a native of Scotland, born May 1, 1826, and growing to man- hood among the lochs and mountains of "Auld Scotia." He was married in 1847 to Joanna Lumsdale, and eight years later turned his face to the new world, reaching the United States in 1855. His first tarry was in Co umbia Co., Wis., going thence to Dodge county, in that State, and from there to Iowa. In the spring of 1866 he purchased 200 acres of land in Lincoln township, on section 15, where he took up his residence the same fall. He now owns 440 acres of land in first class condition. Mr. and Mrs. Ferrier have been the parents of ten children, and have eight now living -Catharine, Joanna, Jane, William, Ellen, James, George and Martha. Mr. Ferrier is a Presbyterian in his religious senti- ments. He has identified himself with the republican party, and held the various township and school offices.
C. W. Fuller is fully entitled to be enrolled among the prominent and worthy
citizens of Cerro Gordo county. He has received the best evidence of the confidence of his townsmen in their support for local offices, has fought for the integrity of his country's flag, and made a meritorious record as a citizen. He was born in Alle- gany Co., N. Y., July 13, 1841, where he attained his majority on a farm. In 1861 he went to Columbia Co., Wis., returning to his native State in the fall of 1863. He enlisted in January, 1864, in company F, 4th New York Heavy Artillery, which command was attached to the Army of the Potomac from the battle of the Wilderness to the surrender, of Lee. On the mustering out of his regiment he re- turned to Wisconsin. He was married in 1866 to Marion, daughter of Gideon and Rachel Aldrich. He moved to Iowa and located on their present home in the spring of 1-67. They have two children-Wal- ter E. and Leslie C. Fuller. Mr. Fuller is a republican in politics, and owns a farm of 160 acres of fine land on sections 17 and 21.
H. J. Willis became the owner of 120 acres of land in Lincoln township in 1868. At the date of his purchase it was an un- broken prairie, but he has placed it under fine improvements and erected a good resi- dence, suitable and commodious barns and other buildings. The farm now includes 190 acres. Mr. Willis was born in Massa- chusetts, Aug. 18, 1821. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Newcomb) Willis. Ile was left fatherless at eight years of age. His mother went, in 1832, to Onon- daga Co., N. Y., and five years after to Wayne Co., Ohio. In 1842 she went to MeHenry Co., Ill., where she died in 1854. At the age of fourteen Mr. Willis com-
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
menced his struggle with the world as clerk in a mercantile establishment. When he attained his majority he adopted farm- ing as his vocation in life. He was mar- ried in 1844 to Fannie Bun, and in 1863 came to Iowa. He first went to Winne- shiek, county, where he lived two years, and then made another transfer to Rich- land Centre, Wis. In 1867 he returned to this State and made a brief stay in Floyd county, after which he fixed his residence in Cerro Gordo county. To general agri- culture he has added stock farming, and exhibits fine samples of thoroughbreds. Mr. Willis is a leading citizen of Lincoln township, and is valued by his townsmen on account of his meritorious character. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a republi- can in politics.
W. H. Moffett settled in Lincoln town- ship in 1868. He was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., Nov. 6, 1839, and emigrated with his parents to Walworth Co., Wis., in 1859. In 1861 he enlisted in company A, 4th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving under Gen. Banks until May, 1866, when he returned to Wisconsin and in 1868 came to Iowa; and has since that time lived in this township. In 1860 he married Susan Hill, daughter of William and Mary Hill. They have eight living children-Delos P., Fred, Clarence, Bert, Hubert, Wayne, Maud, Edna and May.
D. Taylor, who has been a resident of the township since 1868, was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Feb. 24, 1817. His parents were Nathaniel and Eunice (Dra- per) Taylor. He was reared on a farm and married to Amelia A. Braydon. In 1844 he moved to Columbia Co., Wis., and in 1868 came to Iowa. His wife died Jan.
12, 1876, leaving three children, one of whom was living in 1883-George D. He married Clarissa Whitman, Dec. 25, 1877. In politics he is a republican. He has been a member of the Methodist Church over forty years.
Rev. H. H. Shields connected himself with the denomination of United Breth- ren at the age of seventeen, and when twenty years old began his labors as an itinerant preacher. He was. actively en- gaged in that capacity through a long term of years. In 1867 he was stationed in charge of the United Brethren Church in Lincoln township. He was born in Clinton Co., Ohio, Sept. 27, 1838. His father's family removed to Huntington Co., Ind., in 1852. They moved to Win- neshiek Co., Iowa, in 1855, and went af- terwards to Clayton county, and thence to Jones county, where the mother died, leav- ing nine children. The father is now a resident of Lincoln township, and is in hale old age, able still to work at his trade, shoemaking. Mr. Shields still acts as local preacher, but devotes, himself chiefly to agricultural pursuits. His farm is located on section 6, of Lincoln and Grant town- ships. He was married in 1863 to Nancy J., daughter of Isaac and Barbara White. The family includes four children-Bar- bara E., John W., Edith M. and Ira H.
S. H. Conrad Class owns 200 acres of land in Lincoln township, where he has been a resident since 1873. He is engaged to some extent in dairy and stock farming, to which his farm, fixtures and belongings are well adapted. Lincoln Springs Creamery is located on Mr. Class' farm, and he is one of the interested partners. He was born Dec. 25, 1835, in Germany. His
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO . COUNTY.
parents were Conrad and Dorothy Class. In 1857, at twenty-two years of age, he entered the Prussian army and after two years service, hired a substitute and emi- grated to the United States where his brothers, Fred and William, had settled some years previous. His younger brother, Simon, accompanied him and they went first to Oconto, Wis. Mr. Class went to Michigan in 1860, thence to Pennsylvania, and afterwards settled in IIolmes Co., Ohio. In 1862 he was married to Nancy Frazier, a native of that county, and daugli- ter of John and Mary (Cassidy) Frazier. Two years after his marriage, in 1864, he enlisted to fight for the Union in company K, 178th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serv- ing one year. He returned to Ohio and operated a saw mill until 1869. In that year he went to Henry Co., Ill., and en- gaged in farming, coming to Iowa four years later. The children of Mr. Class' family are-Almon F., John W., Joel F. and Phebe J. Mr. Class is a republican in political faith and is at present town- ship clerk. He is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity and holds a high position in the esteem of his townsmen. The fam- ily attend the Christian Church.
L. R. Harding has been a resident of Cerro Gordo county since 1873. He passed a year in Mason township, lived three years in Lake, and has been a citizen of Lincoln township six years. He owns 240 acres of land on section 22. He is the son of David H. and Fannie (Reeves) Harding, and was born in Orange Co., N. Y., April 23, 1832. He was bred to the calling he now follows, and, March 11, 1858, married Hannah, daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Hallock) Mapes, of Orange
county, born Aug. 25, 1836. He resided in the Empire State and interested him- self in farming until his removal to Iowa. In politics Mr. Harding is a republican, but was formerly a democrat. He com- mands the respect and good will of all who know him, for honesty and integrity of character. Mr. and Mrs. Harding have three children-Alva, born Feb. 18, 1860; Edgar, born July 15, 1862; Harry T., born April 3, 1864.
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