USA > Iowa > Fremont County > History of Fremont County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistic, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Fremont County, constitution of the state of Iowa, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 80
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
and George A. Followed farming until 1879; is now a merchant at An- derson. Owns a farm of 400 acres. Mr. Henderson has held various township offices. Coming to the county at so early a date he has not only witnessed its growth, but borne his share of the heat and burden.
HUTCHINSON, E. W., farmer, section 6, P. O. Anderson; born in Belmont county, Ohio, December 31, 1840, where he remained until twen- ty-one years of age, when he enlisted in the 15th Ohio veteran volunteer infantry. He was in all the battles of his regiment until that of Stone River, when he was taken prisoner. He was paroled shortly after, and joined his regiment-having been exchanged in the meantime-at Mur- freesboro, Tennessee. His fortunes then were those of his regiment. He was mustered out December 27, 1865. In the following spring came to. Fremont county, Iowa. Was married April 25, 1872, to Miss Mary E. Irwin. They have four children: Samuel A., Della, Erskine, and one yet unnamed. He owns a farm of 180 acres, and is largely and successfully interested in stock raising.
HUME, JOHN M., farmer, section 32, P. O. Sidney; born July 20 1829, in Kenton county, Kentucky. At a very early age he went with his father's family to Crawford county, Indiana, where he grew to matu- rity, and was educated. Came to Iowa in 1854, settling in Fremont county. He went on a filibustering expedition to the Island of Cuba, in 1850, and was at the taking of Cordeno. He was married April 8, 1860, to Miss Johanna Mann, a native of Kentucky. They have four child- ren living: Allie B., Nellie, Jennie and Clara; and four deceased : William, Samuel, Lew and Clara. Mr. Hume is a member of the M. E. church and his wife a member of the old school Baptist. His farm comprises 600 acres of most excellent land.
JENKINS, WILLIAM L., livery, feed and sale stable, P. O. Sidney; born in Fairfield county, Ohio, January 24, 1838. When six years of age moved with his parents to Clark county, Illinois, where he grew to man- hood. In 1856 he engaged with the Western Stage company, driving for them in Illinois and Iowa, until 1865, when he located in Sidney, Fremont county, Iowa. In 1873 he was appointed deputy sheriff of the county, which position he filled until January, 1880. Was married to Miss L. J. Jones, of Maryland, February 1, 1862. They have three children: Frank, Edith and Harry. Mr. J. is a member of the I. O. O. F.
JUDD, WARREN, farmer, section 10, P. O. Sidney; born April 24, 1826, in Dearborn county, Indiana. In 1855 came to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he remained one year, moving thence to Gentry county, 27
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
Missouri, in the following year. In 1865 came to Fremont county. He enlisted in 1861 in the state service in Missouri, serving for six months. From that date until the close of the war, he served in the home guard. He was married June 27, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth Parsley, in Wayne county, Indiana, who died October 30, 1859. Was married to Miss Martha Hendrick, May 5, 1861, in Gentry county, Missouri. By this union he has one child-Horace. By his first wife were born to him three children, one son and two daughters: George W., Martha P. and Julia A. He is a member of the Baptist church.
JOHNSON, M. D., superintendent county farm, P. O. Sidney; born in the state of New York, October 14, 1823, remaining in the county of his birth until 1833, when he removed to Chautauqua county. In 1854 Mr. Johnson came to Jones county, Iowa, where he remained until December 8, 1870, when he became a resident of this county. He enlisted August 23, 1862, in company K, 24th Iowa, and was with his regiment in all its engagements. He was several times promoted for meritorious conduct, and was mustered out as commissary sergeant. He was married to Miss Phebe A. Tallman, November 14, 1846, by whom he is the father of five children: Don C., Porter M., Ella B., Clinton D. and May E. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M. He has held several township offices, and been twice elected as superintendent of the poor farm.
JOBE, V., brick-mason, P. O. Sidney; born May 17, 1845, in the state of Illinois. When quite young moved to Indiana, remaining until 1855, when he came to Iowa. He was married March 19, 1864, to Miss Annie Jenkins, a native of Indiana. They are the parents of five children: Ella R., Everie W., Corea G., Henrietta, Jennie E. and Jemmie E. J.
JENKINS, THOMAS, minister, P. O. Sidney; born in Monongalia county, Va., January 6, 1798, where he matured and received his education. In 1825 he founded a powder mill in his native county, and afterward changed the same to a flouring establishment. In 1832 he moved to Warren county, Ohio, and in 1835 to Indiana, where he remained until 1854. In that year he came to Iowa and located in Fremont county. In early life he united with the Old School Baptists, to the ministry of which church he was ordained October 7, 1832. Mr. Jenkins has been three times married: July 11, 1816, to Miss Hannah Smith, by whom he had seven children: Mary, Jonathan, Ambrose, Nancy, Sarah, Thomas and Rhoda. By his second wife, Mrs. Anna Crumrine, he had three children: Anna, Susannah and one unnamed. In 1852 he married Mrs. Matilda Cunningham. He has been in the ministry a number of years. He had the misfortune to become totally blind for four years, because of a cata- ract. He is now full of vigor and as zealous as ever in his work.
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
KING, A. D., county treasurer, P. O. Sidney; born May 20, 1848, in Lee county, Iowa. In 1854 he moved to Bedford, Taylor county, where he remained until April, 1862, when he enlisted in company K, Fourth Iowa infantry, being then but fifteen years of age. In the same company were two of his brothers, neither of whom were yet eighteen. Mr. King was with his regiment during all the stormy scenes through which it passed. He was discharged August 5, 1865. In September of 1866 he came to Fremont county and entered into the employment of Paul & Storm, of Sidney. From 1867 to 1875 Mr. King was engaged in the mercantile business at Fremont City, this county. In the latter year he was elected county treasurer, on the Republican ticket, and again elected in 1877 and 1879. Mr. King was married to Miss Mary L. Roberts, of Plattsville, Taylor county, Iowa, July 1, 1866. They are the parents of five children: Ancil, Louis G., Minta E., Charles W. and Pearl.
KENNEDY, WILLIS W., retired merchant, P. O. Riverton; born October 20, 1813, in Wake county, North Carolina, and there attained manhood's estate. When eighteen years of age he entered the gold mines of North Carolina, remaining for some three years. He then went to learn the bricklayer's trade, following this occupation for sixteen years. In 1843 he became a resident of Andrew county, Missouri, where engaged in various business occupations until 1864, when he moved to Glenwood, Mills county, Iowa, remaining there until 1866, when he came to Sidney. Mr. Kennedy was engaged in business of various kinds until 1872, when he retired from active business life. Mr. Kennedy was married Novem- ber 13, 1844, to Miss Phebe Carigen, of Carter county, Tennessee.
KEELER, RILEY, druggist, P. O. Sidney; born November 17, 1834, in Marion county, Indiana, resided there until 1850, when he moved to Fre- mont county, Iowa. His father purchased a choice farm some nine miles north of Sidney. Young Keeler was, therefore, raised as a farmer. After attaining manhood's estate he taught school one term, and worked at the carpenter's trade which he had learned in his youth. In 1856 he was mar- ried, and the same year purchased a small farm, on which he resided until 1865. He then came to Sidney, engaging in the drug business, in con- nection with his brother-in-law, James Gray, which they jointly continued until 1870, since which time Mr. Keeler has carried on the business in his own name. Mr. Keeler was married March 22, 1856, to Margaret Gray, of Fremont county. They had one son: James, born January 8, 1857, since deceased.
LINGENFELTER, L., attorney at law, P. O. Sidney; born near Lexington, Kentucky, in August, 1822. His father was George Lingen-
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
felter, a native of Frederick county, Maryland, but who settled in Fayette county, Kentucky, while it was yet an immense canebrake, about the year 1804. In that year his father married Miss Nancy York, the daugh- ter of a revolutionary soldier. A few years thereafter, Mr. Lingenfelter's parents moved to Clay county, Missouri, locating in the neighborhood of Liberty, where young Lingenfelter received the major portion of his edu- cation. After thoroughly improving the advantages of the schools of Liberty, young Lingenfelter entered college at Fayette, Howard county, Missouri, for two years, when his course sustained an abrupt and painful curtailing in the death of his mother. In the following year he taught school at Liberty, retaining his position for two years, when he began to read law under the instruction of Judge Wood. In 1846 Mr. Lingenfelter married Miss Susan Lancaster, a daughter of Col. Lancaster, of Wash- ington county, Kentucky, by whom he is the father of six children, four sons and two daughters, all living. Since Mr. Lingenfelter came to Iowa he was twice elected to the office of prosecuting attorney for Fremont county, which he filled to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. In 1860 he voted for Mr. Douglas in the presidential election of that year, but during the war with the confederacy he ably sustained the administra- tion of Lincoln. In 1864 he was appointed by the republican state con- vention, one of the delegates to the Baltimore convention, which renomi- nated Lincoln for a second term. At the close of the war Mr. Lingen- felter came back to his first love and connected himself with the Democ- racy, to the time honored principles of which he still adheres. In relig- ious faith Mr. Lingenfelter is a Baptist, of which denomination he has been a member for thirty-five years. He is a conscientious temperance man, intelligently active in his interest in educational matters, and a patron of all that tends to ameliorate the conditions of men. From the earliest day he has been actively interested in the welfare of the county, and has been closely identified with its interests. In 1876 he published a brief "History of Fremont County," which was an epitome of its existence up to that date.
LINN, SYLVANIA J., nursery man, P. O. Sidney; born September 16, 1836, in Perry county, Ohio. Came to Iowa when but four years of age, living in Henry county until October, 1861, when he enlisted in com- pany D, 4th Iowa cavalry, but, owing to disability, he was discharged in six months. In the fall of 1863 he moved to Sidney, engaging in various occupations until 1871, when he founded the Sidney nursery. This is a most commendable enterprise, of which the residents of the county have availed themselves freely. An account of it is elsewhere given. He was married August 27, 1863, to Miss Charlotta Simons, of Sidney. Mr. Linn is a member of the I. O. O. F.
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
LAIRD, MRS. MARY I., P. O. Sidney; born July 14, 1814, in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she grew to womanhood. April 10, 1832, she mar- ried Johnston Laird, a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, born in March, 1806. Her husband was, in his younger days a farmer, and in 1835 he engaged in the mercantile business. Mrs. Laird came with her husband to Fre- mont county in 1852. Her husband died August 27, 1868. She is the mother of eight children: William, Hamlin, Henry, George, Benjamin, John, Francis, James and Mary.
LYBE, D. I., jeweler and dentist, P. O. Sidney; born December 25, 1847, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood. He attended the college of dentistry, of Philadelphia, and finishing his studies located in Blair county, Pennsylvania, to engage in the practice of his profession. In 1870 he came to Iowa, locating in Jasper county, where he continued until 1877, when he came to Sidney. In 1878 he opened a jewelry store in connection with his dental office. Mr. Lybe was married July 3, 1872, and is the father of two children: Bessie and Leland. He enlisted in company I, 101st regiment Pennsylvania infantry, in 1864, and served until the close of the war.
LEITCH, ALEXANDER, farmer, Sidney township, section 34, P. O. Sidney; born in Scotland, October 12, 1825, in the city of Iverness. In 1837 emigrated to America with his father's family, and located at Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1839 he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, remaining until 1846 when he settled at Gallitin, Davis county, same state, at which place he was married to Miss Emily A. Venable, Septem- ber 27, 1850. They are the parents of four children: Elizabeth M., Amelia A., William T. and Isabella M. In 1854 Mr. Leitch left Missouri, and located in the town of Sidney, Fremont county, Iowa. He was post- master at Sidney in the years 1855-6-7; he held at the same time the office of school fund commissioner. In the fall of 1858 he was elected clerk of the district court; re-elected at the expiration of his first term, and appointed for a third term clerk of the district and circuit courts by the board of supervisors. He has also filled the offices of justice of the peace and township trustee. Mr. Leitch and his son are both Master Masons. His wife is sister to Dr. Joseph Venable, one of the very first physicians to practice in this county.
LEFFLER, WILLIAM, merchant, P. O. Sidney, place of business Spring Valley; born December 28, 1843, in Boone county, Missouri. Came to Iowa in 1853, with his mother, his father having died in 1849. In this county he grew to manhood, and received his education. In his youth he suffered from a severe attack of typhoid fever, which left him a cripple for life. He engaged in his present business in 1875.
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
MORRIS, WILLIAM, bee-keeper and farmer, section 2, P. O. Anderson; born May 3, 1841, in Bates county, Missouri. In 1849 he moved with his father's family, where he resided until 1850, when he came to Fremont county, locating in Sidney township. In 1854 he became a resident of Cass county, Nebraska. He removed to California in 1857. In 1863 he enlisted in company E, Second Massachusetts cavalry, and was put on picket duty in the defences of Washington. In 1863 he was captured by the Confederates, by whom he was exchanged a few months after. Mr. Morris was in thirty-two battles, during his connection with the army. He was mustered out August 7, 1865, at Boston, Massachusetts. He then came direct to Iowa, and entered Tabor College. In the spring of 1866 he commenced his present occupation- that of farming and keeping bees. He was married to Miss Susanna Wilson, of Tabor, February 22, 1866, by whom he has seven children: Sarah L., Martha L., Nellie S., John W., Harriet O., Marietta I. and Emma R. He is a son of Milton Morris, of Missouri, who came from that State because of entertaining principles hostile to slavery.
MORGAN, WILLIAM W., editor Fremont Democrat, P. O. Sidney; born March 30, 1833, in Windsor county, Vermont. In 1847 moved with his parents to Miami county, Indiana, where he attained his majority. In 1850 started for Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 1854 settled in Kansas, establishing a claim in Doniphan county. In 1856 went to Illinois, remaining until 1858, when he went to Nebraska. In 1863 he entered the service of the United States in the Second Nebraska cavalry, being engaged in the Indian expeditions in the northwest. In 1864 and 1865 he was first assistant clerk in the Territorial Council of Nebraska. Came to Iowa, and located in Fremont county, at Bartlett, where he was justice of the peace. In 1869 he was elected sheriff on the democratic ticket- and was re-elected four successive terms. Since 1877 he has been engaged in the practice of law in connection with Robert Percival, of Council Bluffs. In the fall of 1880 he purchased the Fremont Democrat, and assumed its management. Mr. Morgan is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the A. O. U. W. He was married September 10, 1837, to Miss Hannah J. Rheinhart, of Long Island, New York, by whom he has four children: Houston N., Laura B., Alice and William L. His wife died July 20, 1880.
MURPHY, JOSEPH, attorney at law, P. O. Sidney; born November 24, 1828, in the parish of St. Mullins, county Carlow, Ireland. His father was of the old stock of the adjoining county of Wexford, and his mother was the daughter of Benjamin Wrigley, of Cheatam Hill, Manchester, England, whose ancestry were of the followers of William the Conqueror,
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
from Normandy, in 1066, A. D. When but a few months old his parents moved to Dublin, in 1829, where he was reared, and they being in com- fortable circumstances he received what might be termed a liberal educa- tion. At an early age, and long before he had the remotest idea of emi- grating to America, he became familiar with, and a great admirer of, her history and institutions, so that when financial reverses rendered emigra- tion advisable, he was prepared to make an intelligent choice of a country for his future home. In the year 1850 he came to America, and commenced his career as a teacher of common schools in Indiana. During his leisure he read law, and was admitted to the bar by Judge Morton in 1853. In August, 1854, Mr. Murphy came to Sidney, Iowa. He then engaged in teaching-one term-in the old brick school house that stood on the west side of the city. Shortly after this Mr. Murphy began to practice-there being but two lawyers, Messrs. Sears and Lingenfelter. Mr. Murphy has continued in practice until a few years since, when his sight failing him, he was obliged to desist. He now resides on his farm, west of the city, coming to town daily to engage in his profession.
McDONALD, JAMES H., attorney at law, P. O. Sidney; born April 15, 1853, in Hamilton, province of Ontario, Canada. When a child came with his parents to Oneida county, New York, remaining eight years, when he removed to Columbia county, Wisconsin. In 1871 he came to Sidney, Fremont county, Iowa. Some of his earlier years in this county were passed in teaching school. In 1876 he was admitted to the bar as an attorney. Mr. McDonald was married to Miss Ella Gray, September 16, 1880. Mr. McDonald and wife are members of the Presbyterian church of Sidney.
MOOMAW, JOHN F., merchant, P. O. Sidney; born October 11, 1837, in the state of Virginia. When about ten years of age moved with his parents to Grant county, Indiana, remaining some seven years. In 1856 came to Fremont county, of which he has since been a continuous resident. His life, for the greater part, has been spent at the work-bench, for he is a carpenter by trade. In 1863 he visited the Rocky Mountains, remaining but a year. In 1877 he entered the furniture business, in which he is now engaged. Mr. Moomaw is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married December 20. 1860, to Miss Matilda Fletcher; by this union they have three children: William H., Joseph B. and Charles.
MCCRACKEN, CYRUS, physician and surgeon, P. O. Sidney; born January 4, 1833, in Morgan county, Indiana. His education was received in the common schools of Indiana, and Richland Seminary, Keokuk, Iowa. In 1854 he engaged in the drug business, in Keokuk county at
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
Richland, where he remained until December, 1855. In that month his store was burned, a disaster more heavily borne, owing to a severe sickness, for he was at that time suffering under a severe attack of typhoid fever. After recovering he formed a partnership with Dr. Shelly, engaging in the practice of medicine at Abingdon, Jefferson county, Iowa, where he remained until 1860. He graduated from the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons. When he came to Sidney, he formed a part- nership with Dr. John McKilliss, with whom he continued until the fall of 1863. He then assumed the practice in his own name, meeting with sig- nal success. Dr. McCracken was married September 20, 1854, to Miss Sarah M. McCreery, of Richland, Iowa. They have one child, Mary, born June 28, 1856, now wife of John T. Hodges, of Sidney. Dr. McCracken is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and A. O. U. W.
MOOMAW, JACOB B., carpenter and joiner, P. O. Sidney; born October 24, 1799, in the state of Virginia, where he grew to manhood, was educated and married. His father was Philip Moomaw, born Octo- ber 17, 1771, and died November 11, 1844. He was a carpenter and cab- inet maker by trade, and from him young Moomaw learned his trade. When twenty-one young Moomaw indentured himself to his uncle, and for three years served an apprenticeship at the tanner's trade. He then assumed control of the yard, which he continued for thirteen years. He then entered upon his first trade-that of carpenter-until 1845, when he removed to Grant county, Indiana, to follow farming. In 1855 he came to Fremont county, and found a congenial home in the young city of Sid- ney, which he helped both to plat and to build. Many of the older houses in the town stand to attest the quality of his workmanship. He built the old seminary building, and the Herod hotel (now the Cromwell House). Mr. Moomaw has filled nearly every township office since his residence here: was thrice elected a justice of the peace, but would not qualify. For fifty-six years he has been a conscientious member of the Christian Church, and a minister in the same. He was married to Miss Anna Fisher, of Virginia, August 17, 1830, by whom he has five children living: Mark F., John F., Catherine, Daniel D., and Jacob.
METELMEN, A. F., merchant, P. O. Sidney; born June 30, 1833, in Mecklinburg, Germany. He received his education in an excellent pri- vate school in that country, where he remained until nineteen years of age. In 1852 he came to America, and located in Cleveland, Ohio, find- ing employment as clerk in a dry-goods house in that city. At the expi- ration of two years he removed to Davenport, Iowa, remaining but a short time, when he went to Louisville, Kentucky. Here he engaged as a salesman until July, 1856, when he came to Fremont county, locating in
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
the then newly constituted county seat. He entered the employ of Tootle & Armstrong, remaining with this firm until it was dissolved, when he formed a partnership with the junior member of the firm, under the firm name of Reed, Armstrong & Co. This partnership continued until 1867, when Mr. Metelmen purchased his partners' interest, and con- ducted the business in his own name until 1876. He then associated with himself Mr. Hodges, the firm name being A. F. Metelmen & Co. Mr. Metelmen was married to Miss Mary Brown, of Peoria, Illinois, by whom he has two children: Maud Ella, born January 12, 1869; and Charles, born October 1, 1878.
MURPHY, CHARLES W., postmaster, joint editor and proprietor Sidney Union-Advocate, P. O. Sidney; born in Green county, Ohio, Aug- ust 20, 1846, where he grew to man's estate. He was educated at the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, and at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, from the law department of which he gradu- ated in the spring of 1874. He came to Iowa, and located at Hamburg in the same year. In July, 1875, he purchased the Sidney Union, which he published until its consolidation with the Advocate. Mr. Murphy served in the federal army for thirteen months, in the fifth independent bat- talion Ohio cavalry. He was married January 8, 1876, to Miss M. B. Darst, of Circleville, Ohio, by whom he has two children: Clark and Kenneth. In 1878 he was appointed postmaster, which office he still holds.
McCORMICK, H. T., farmer, section 32, P. O. Plum Hollow; born January 11, 1835, in Warren county, Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and was educated. Came to Iowa in 1867, and located on the farm he now occupies. He was married June 13, 1867, to Miss Sarah Kuhns, a native of Venango county, Pennsylvania. They have five child- ren living: Roselle H., Franklin U., Lulu M., Rutherford J. and Linda F. He is a member of the I. O. O.F., and has held several township offices.
NESS, WILLIAM C., mechanic P. O. Sidney; born May 29, 1840, in Miami county, Indiana. In 1852 he came to Iowa, locating in Appa- noose county, where he remained until grown to manhood, and learned the wagon-maker's trade. From September 1859, to the spring of 1861, he was in school at West Point Academy, Grundy county, Missouri. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in company B, first Missouri cavalry, serv- ing four-years. He was in numerous battles and was thrice wounded in the arm, in the head, and in the breast. He was mustered out May 16, 1865. In September of the same year he came to Sidney, and attended
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HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
the Seminary which was then in operation at the county seat. He has been in various occupations, including two years teaching school. He was married October 16, 1872 to Miss Maggie D. Hatten, of Sidney. They are the parents of three children: Leo., Maggie, and one unnamed.
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