History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 103

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002

USA > Iowa > Hardin County > History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 103

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Jason B. Smith, of the firm of Smith & De Marsha, was born in Wyoming county, New York, May 5, 1843. His father, Daniel Smith, was a native of Vermont, and his mother, Harriet (Freeman) Smith, of Connecticut. In 1848 this family im- migrated to Wisconsin and settled in Walworth county. At twelve years of age Jason B. Smith commenced clerking in a store at Delavan. His school days were few, but by being ambitious and industri-

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ous he has secured a good practical business education. In 1865 his father gave him the choice of several pieces of property, and after due consideration he accepted 130 acres of land located in Pleasant town- ship, Hardin county, and at once, in ac- cordance with the advice of the great journalist, started for his new home. Mr. Smith had $1,000 in money, and with this he purchased a team and wagon, erected a house, and commenced a farmer's life. During the lonely days that followed, he often wished he was once more under the parental roof, but his pride would not permit him to return home. Mr. Smith did not permit matters to continue in this wise long, for he soon made the acquaint- ance of Miss Rebecca Penn, of Eldora, and in 1866 she became his wife. In 1873 Mr. Smith left the farm and engaged in an agricultural implement business at Eldora, which he continued until 1881, when he came to Radcliff, and engaged in his pres- ent business, and is now meeting with marked success. The children are-Llew- ellyn D., Estella, Cady and Grace.

Edgar Crosley was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, February 16, 1855. His pa- rents being John and Catherine (Meyers) Crosley. In 1857 the family removed to JoDaviess county, Illinois, and in 1867 to G:undy county, Iowa. In 1874 Edgar Crosley married Miss Cordelia Best. He then resided in Marshall county; afterward in Grundy, and in 1881 came to Hardin. Their children are-Montford, Blanche, Birdie, and an infant.

George C. Hough is an enterprising and well-to-do farmer, who came to Hardin county and settled on section 34, where he now resides, in 1880. Mr. Hough is a

native of Germany, born January 17, 1830. He learned the stone-cutter's trade, and in 1854 came to the United States, landing in New York City on January 19. He first worked in Brooklyn one year; then at North Hampton, Pennsylvania, about the same length of time, after which he emi- grated to Wisconsin. In 1874 he came to Iowa, and lived in Dallas county until he came to Hardin county. Mr. Hough was married in 1860, to Miss Maintainnie Hohanshalt, and they now have four chil- dren-F. S., William H., Adaline M. and Della M.

George R. Willhoite, the gentlemanly and accommodating Station and Express Agent, of Radcliff, was born in Illinois, March 30, 1852. At the age of fifteen years Mr. Willhoite commenced work at the harness trade, and followed the same until 1874, since which time he has been railroading. He came to Radcliff May 10, 1882. In September, 1875, he married Miss Addie Sutliff. They have two chil- dren-Grace and Roy.

The first mercantile business of Radcliff was established by A. N. Drake. He pur- chased his lot in January, 1881, erected the store building he now occupies, bought a small stock of general merchandise, and on about the 10th day of April opened business. Mr. Drake had never had any experience in mercantile life, but he at once gained the confidence of the public, and as he met with good success in trade, he soon enlarged his stock of goods, and is now doing a good paying business. Addison N. Drake is the oldest son of A. M. and Elizabeth Drake, and was born in Knox county, Ohio, March 6, 1858. In 1867 the family removed to Decorah,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Iowa, where they resided until 1870, and then returned to Ohio. But like many other families who return to their native States, they then fully realized the advan- tages presented by the Western country. They therefore in the spring of 1874 loaded their worldly goods into a wagon, and again started for the grand old Hawk- eye State, and soon settled in 'l'ipton town- ship, Hardin county. Here the subject of this sketch helped till the soil during the summer seasons, while during the winters he taught school. In May, 1880, Mr. Drake was united in marriage with Miss Carrie R. Coolidge, daughter of F. D. and Mary (Sibert) Coolidge, and they now have one daughter-Mamie, she being the first child born in the village of Radcliff. Mr. Drake is an honest and upright citizen, accomodating in business, and prompt in the discharge of his obligations. He is a Republican in politics, and is at present serving as Postmaster and Notary Public.

J. C. Adams, of the firm of Bently & Adams, is a native of North Carolina, and was born October 7, 1839. He resided in his native State, helping till the soil, until 1859. The family then removed to Henry county, Indiana, and two years subse- quently to Marshall county, Iowa. J. C. Adams, when eighteen years of age, com- menced teaching school, and this he con- tinued most of the time until 1872. Dur- ing this time, in 1866, Miss Florence A. Bently became his wife, and in 1868 he located in Hardin county. After giving up teaching Mr. Adams entered the Law Department of the Iowa State University, and June 26, 1873, graduated with the degree of LL.B. He then returned to Union, Hardin county, and there carried

on" a general law and collection business until 1882, when he cate to Radcliff and formed a partnership with S. T. Bently, and engaged in his present business. Mr. Adams is a member of the Christian Church. The children are- Addie, Luther E., and Hattie May.

J. T. Livengood, M.D., was born in Winnesheik county, Iowa, January 17, 1854. His father, William R. Livengood, enlisted in the United States' service 1862, and went out with Company D, of the 38th Iowa, and now fills a soldier's grave. His mother, Sarah E. (Ridgeway) Livengood, died in 1877. J. T. Livengood is the oldest of four children. He was educated in the schools of Decorah, and resided in his native county until 1872. He then came to Hardin county, and commenced the study of medicine with Dr. A. H. Pearsons, of Union, as preceptor. In 1874 he entered the Hahneoman College of Chicago, and remained until the following spring. He then returned to Union, and formed a partnership with his preceptor, and continued with him until 1881, during which time, in 1877, he was again attend- ing college. Dr. Livengood then came to Radcliff, where he now has quite an exten- sive practice. He was married in October, 1878, to Miss Cora L. Reinhart. They have one daughter-Lulu.

F. Stuckenberg of the firm of Stucken- beig & Thalman, was born in Ogle county, Illinois on the 10th day of July, 1849. His parents, Frederick and Rebecca (Shaper) Stuckenberg, were both natives of Ger- many, who came to the United States and settled in Ogle county before there was a railroad west of Chicago. The subject of this sketch received a common school edu-

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

cation, and helped till the soil in his native State until 1873. Then came to Iowa and followed farming in Butler county until 1882, since which time he has been at Radcliff. Mr. Stuckenberg in 1874 mar- ried Miss Ricca Rattmyer, and they now have two children-Minnie A.and Henry A.

A. P. Baer of the firm of Bergfield & Baer is a young and enterprising merchant, who has had considerable experience in mercantile life. He commenced as clerk in a store at Joliet, Illinois in 1873, and continued in a retail business until March, 1880; then entered a wholesale house in Chicago, and in 1881 formed a partnership with R. H. Bergfield; came to Radcliff and engaged in his present business. Mr. Baer was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania in 1854. His parents being David E. and Mary A. (Murry) Baer. In 1857 the family migrated to Illinois. A. P. Baer was married in September, 1879, to Miss Rose Weishaar. They have had one son.

E. A. Windette is found among the very first men who came to Radcliff. He was born in Randolph county, Illinois, February 11, 1856. His father, an Englishman by birth, came to the United States when but eight years of age. He died in 1881. His mother, Partheia (Calkins) Windette, is a native of the State of New York, and now resides at Mechanicsville, Iowa. E. A. Windette learned the painter's trade, and followed the same in his native State until 1873. He then, came to Iowa, continued painting until 1881, since which time he has been at Radcliff. He was married in 1876, to Miss Emma I. Allen. They have one child-William Allen.

The firm of Rorem Bros. commenced business on the 12th day of May, 1882,

and, as they carry a good stock of general merchandise and furniture, they have established a good business. They are both natives of Norway, being the sons of Torgrino O. and Anna (Tedness) Rorem. They came to the United States with their parents in 1867, and soon settled in Scott township, Hamilton county, Iowa, where they helped till the soil until they engaged in their present business. Austin, the older of the brothers, was born January 7, 1855, and Ole J., the younger, was born June 10, 1857. They are Republicans in politics, and in religion Lutherans.

The first blacksmith in Radcliff was Le- roy D. Pierson, as he came to the village in the spring of 1881, erected his present shop, and, during the month of April, commenced business. He now employs several men, and is doing quite a large business in his line. Mr. Pierson is a na- tive of Jackson county, Michigan, and was born in 1850, his parents being John C. and Electa (Tucker) Pierson. He learned horseshoeing, and followed the same in his native State until 1869. He then came to Iowa, and located in Scott township, Ham- ilton county, and was there engaged in a general blacksmith and plow shop until he came to Radcliff. Mr. Pierson was mar- ried in 1873 to Miss Bessie Carhart, a na- tive of Wisconsin.

J. A. Casebeer is a man who, in busi- ness relations, has the entire confidence of his fellow-men. He holds the office of Justice of the Peace, attends to collections and also deals in real estate. He came to Sherman township and located on section 29, in 1881, his land lying just west of the village of Radcliff. Mr. Casebeer was born in Cedar county, Iowa, June 5, 1850.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

His parents, John and Laurinda (Hum- phrey) Casebeer, both being natives of Ohio. He was educated at the Iowa Col- lege at Grinnell, where he graduated in 1876. During the years he attended college, he at several different intervals taught school, in order to obtain means to pay his tuition

and other expenses while at school, and subsequent to graduating he went to the Pacific Slope, and there taught until 1881. [ In 1878 Miss Martha Loughridge became his wife, she being a graduate of the same class with Mr. Casebeer, and they now have two children-Albert and George.

CHAPTER XXXIV:

UNION TOWNSHIP.

That which now constitutes the town- ship of Union has the honor of being the first in which a white man sought to make his home in the present county of Hardin.

Greenberry Haggin, a perfect type of the old style pioneer, one who preferred to live on the outskirts of civilization, to be the connecting link between the savage and civilized life, in 1849, with his family, came into this unbroken wilderness, and, building a cabin on section 23, there sought to live the retired but independent life of a pioneer. Mr. Haggin had several sons, all of whom took up claims on sections 10, 14 and 23. The old gentleman and some of his family remained here but a few years, and then took up their line of march to Minnesota The Haggin's fami- lies were the only ones that located here during the year 1849.

In 1850 came James Austin Dawdy, William Robeson, Samuel Smith, Sr., with his two sons, Alexander and Samuel Smith, Jr., all from Knox county, Illinois. Jacob Miller and a Mr.Grimsley, the former being from Illinois, while the native place of the latter is unknown, with Thomas N. Hauser, were also pioneers of 1850. Of this number, Thomas N. Hauser, Jacob Miller and Samuel Smith, Jr., are the only ones now living.

William Robeson located on section 14, removing several times, but finally died on the same section.

Mr. Grimsley located on section 10, where he opened a farm, and did black.' smithing under an old oak tree, in the spring and summer of 1851. He subse- quently erected a small shop. He was the first blacksmith, and it is supposed that

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

the first coal used from the Hardin county mines was used by him in his forge in 1851. Samuel Smith, Jr., relates that in the spring of 1851 he went with Mr. Grimsley down the river near where the mines of Moran & Buckner were after- wards located, and from the bottom of the lowa river dug out a load of coal, which they hauled back to be used by Grimsley in his business. In fording the river near the house of the latter, the wagon box was detached, and the whole load went to the bottom. Mr. Grimsley died in 1852, and was doubtless the first death in the town- ship.

. Samuel Smith, Sr., was a native of Vir- ginia, and was born in Greenbrier county. Here he grew to manhood, and was united in marriage with Charlotte Shintaffer, by whom he had fifteen children, twelve boys and three girls, all of whom grew to be men and women, except one boy. After his marriage, the family moved to Ohio, where they resided during the last war with Great Britain. Mr. Smith enlisted, and was with Scott at Fort Meigs. About 1824 the family removed to Indiana, and in 1837 to Knox county, Illinois, where they remained until 1849, and then came to Iowa and located in Keokuk county, re- maining there until the spring of 1850, when they came to what is now Union township, in Hardin county. Mr. Smith died in 1854, and Mrs. Smith in 1858, at advanced ages.

The year 1851 is what is known as the wet season by all the old pioneers. It be- gan to rain on the 8th day of May, and continued for six weeks. The Iowa river was higher than ever before or since. The few that remain of those living in the

county at the time, explain that the reason so little sickness followed was the fact there were no doctors in the country.

John Q. Irvin, L. W. Price, Daniel Spurlin and family, and Washington Asher are the only ones that came to the county in 1851.

From 1852 on, the township rapidly filled up with a fine and enterprising class of citizens; business enterprises were' es- tablished, and an era of prosperity com- menced, which continued until a short period before the war.

During the first decade, in addition to those already mentioned, there located in the township the following named: L. H. Lockwood, William Lockard, James Drury, James Long and family, and George Whitney.

THE PIONEERS.

Following are given sketches of many of the pioneers of the township:

T. N. Hauser was born in North Caro- lina, on the 13th day of September, 1822. He is the son of George and Catherine (Shores) Hauser. There were a family of nine children-five sons and four daugh- ters. In 1823 the father of Mr. Hauser left his home in North Carolina with his family for Indiana, where he arrived in due time. He purchased land and made a farm, and in connection with this farm ran a general store and dealt in live stock. He was a man of strict integrity, and an active business man. He died in Marshall county, Iowa, in 1866, his wife dying in 1844. They were members of the Chris- tian Church. T. N. Hauser, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm and received a common school educa- tion. August 6, 1844, he married Miss

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Nancy (Bayles) Hauser. She was born in North Carolina March 23, 1825. In 1850 they emigrated to Iowa, coming through with teams, camping out, and finally locat- ing in Hardin county, where they now re- side. Their first cabin was 12x14, made of round poles, without windows, and for light a log was cut out, over which was pasted greased paper. Mr. Hauser pur- chased his claim of a man by the name of Haggin, paying for the same a horse and $15 in money. Being in straightened cir- cumstances he contracted to spilt 2,000 rails for a man by the name of Smith for 50 cents per hundred, and during the same winter split enough to fence his own farm, and also hewed timber for a new house, which he erected the following spring. The furniture with which his cabin was supplied was made by himself from native timber. The spring and summer of 1851 is known as the wet season. Everything in this new country was very scarce. For six weeks Mr. Hauser was compelled to borrow corn from his more fortunate neighbors, and not being able to get to mill on account of high water, there being then no bridges, he was forced to pound it into meal. Mr. Hauser has now been identified with the county a third of a century; he has seen an unbroken wilderness settled by a thrifty and enterprising people, and almost the entire county under a high state of cultivation. He has accumulated a competence and possesses 360 acres of fine land, while such of his children as are married are also comfortably situated. In politics he is a Republican and has been honored with several local offices. When the Old Settlers' Society was organized in 1874, he was its first President. Mr. and

Mrs. Hauser are the parents of ten children . -Elijah J., Sarah J., David, William, Hat- tie, Nelson, Leonard, George, Carrie and Pauline.

Wm. Montz was born in Frederick county, Maryland, on the 25th day of February, 1813. He was one of a family of eighteen 'children, and was reared on a farm. When four years old he went to Ohio with his parents, where he was edu- cated in the Pioneer School House of that State. In 1849 he married Susannah Miller, a widow of Henry Sufall. She was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1825. By this union there were six children, five of whom are living, viz .- Nancy C., wife of Elijah Walton; Annie S., wife of Frank Lamer; Martha M., wife of Albert Meyers; Willie H. and Sophia F. In 1843, Mr. Montz left Ohio and came to Cedar county, Iowa, where he was employed in a saw mill for some years. In 1850 he came to Hardin county and located on section one. Mr. Montz is at present living a retired life at Whitten. He has 240 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre, besides property in Whitten, valued at $800.

James A. Dawdy was born in Barrow county, Kentucky, July 19, 1819. In 1839 he married Eliza Robinson. She was born in the same county June 26, 1818. Mr. and Mrs. Dawdy were the parents of six children, five of whom are living-James A., born July 5, 1842; Wm. M., born Feb- ruary 17, 1843; Louisa F., born January 14, 1845; Thomas M., born April 10, 1849; Mary J., born November 12, 1851. In an early day Mr. Dawdy and family emi; grated to Tazewell county, Illinois, from which place they removed to Knox county,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

in the same State, and in 1848 to Keokuk county, Iowa. In 1850 they came to Har- din county, where Mr. Dawdy purchased wild land and made a farm, and where he remained until his death, which occurred in May, 1864. He was a member of the Christian Church, a kind husband and an indulgent parent. At the time of his death he had accumulated a fine property, thus leaving his wife and children in com- fortable circumstances. He had a farm of 248 acres, mostly under cultivation. Mrs. Dawdy says that often she has had to grind buck-wheat in a coffee mill for a large family, and pound corn in a stump burnt out for that purpose.

Joel G. Lounsberry was born in Wind- sor, Boone county, N. Y., September 12, 1833. He is the son of J. W. and Esther (Guernsey) Lounsberry, the latter dying when he was but two years of age. In early life Joel learned the trade of mill- wright with his father and afterwards took up the carpenter trade. In 1850 he came to Hardin county, Iowa, locating in El- dora, where he subsequently embarked in the cabinet trade, employing as high as six men. In the spring of 1861 he en- listed in the 1st Iowa Cavalry, Com- pany G, and was mustered in at Burling- tor. He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Little Rock, Black River Bridge and others, serving three years and two months. He was injured at Prairie Grove. He was promoted ser- geant of the company, and in 1856 he married Miss Martha E. Edgington, a sis- ter of Colonel Edgington, of Eldora, She was born March 18, 1835. By this union there was one child, which died in infancy. Mrs. Lounsberry died in 1860.

For his second wife he married Jane Whitney, a daughter of George Whitney. She was born in Stephenson county, Illinois. They are the parents of four children, three of whom are living-Wil- lie G., George W., and J. Clement. Mr. Lounsberry has a beautiful farm of 210 acres under cultivation, and valued at $40 per acre.

Jacob Miller was born in Macon county, Illinois, March 11, 1827. He is a son of David Miller, of North Carolina, and Jane (Cooper) Miller. Jacob came to Hardin county in the fall of 1850. His education was received in the pioneer school house, traveling from three to four miles through the woods, each day, to school. He was married in Marshall county, Iowa, to Har- riet Ballard, a daughter of Philip Ballard, of Kentucky. She was born in Indiana, November 18, 1828. The family consisted of eleven children, nine of whom are living, viz: Henry R., William J., Robert E., Charles F., Lewis' A., Martha A., John W., Mary M., Rosella E. Immediately after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Miller moved to Hardin county and located where they now reside, moving into a log cabin, 14 by 16, with a puncheon floor. At that time no family lived north on the river. They had to go to Cedar Falls for their milling, many times pounding their corn into meal for the family use. There was then plenty of game. Mr. Miller came to Iowa a poor man, with nothing but his hands and a good constitution. He went to work to make a home, and, by good management, has accumulated a fine property, and to-day is one of the well-to-do farmers of the county, having 280 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre.

R. Campbell.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

J. Q. Irvin, one of the energetic farmers and early settlers of Hardin county, Iowa, was born in East Tennessee, on the 4th day of September, 1830. He is a son of S. L. and Elizabeth (Crouse) Irvin, who were married in North Carolina, where two children were born-Sarah and Nancy. In an early day they emigrated to Tennes- see, and in 1830 to Russell county, Ken- tucky, when J. Q. was a babe. They were members of the Baptist Church. In 1844, while on their way from Kentucky to Illi- nois, Mr. Irvin died in Hosiertown, Owen county, Indiana. Being unable to go any farther, the family remained there some eight years, when Mrs. Irvin married Law- rence Arney, and is still living in Indiana. In the fall of 1851, J. Q. left Indiana for Hardin county, Iowa, where he made a claim of 240 acres of beautiful prairie land, and in 1853 entered the same, and now has one of the finest farms and homes in the county. In 1850 he married Miss Eliza R. Hauser, a daughter of George Hauser. She was born in Owen county, Indiana, in January, 1831. Mr. Irvin came to this county in limited circumstances, but went to work, and by judicious management has accumulated a fine property, and to-day is among the large and prosperous farmers of the county. Hc has 400 acres of land, val- ued at $50 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Irvin are members of the Christian Church. He was instrumental in building up the Chris- tian Church in Union, and at present in building a church in Whitten.

L. W. Price was born in Rush county, Indiana, June 30, 1830. His parents were Jacob and Hannah (Bailey) Price, natives of Pennsylvania. He moved to Rush county, Indiana in 1828, where the father

died in 1846. His mother is still living at the advanced age of eighty-two. In the spring of 1851, Mr. Price came to Hardin county, Iowa, where he erected a log cabin, clapboard roof, puncheon floor, with furni- ture to match, cutting poles for bedsteads. In February, 1859 he married Zilphia Shinn. By this union there were six chil- dren, three of whom are living-Eva A., Mary E. and Emma E. Mrs. Price died in 1870, she was a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Price afterward married Paulina C. Hauser of Indiana. She was born in Owen county, Indiana, October 25, 1838. There were four children, three of whom are living-Claine W., Theron C. and Mabel L. Mr. Price was visited in 1860 by the cyclone, which passed over the county. He had a wagon which he had just purchased, blown to pieces, cost- ing $65 for repairs. Mr. Price came to the county in limited circumstances, with 60 cents in his pocket, but with a brave heart started out to make a home, and by good management has accumulated a fine pro- perty and a home, and to-day is one of the well-to-do farmers of the northwest. IIe has 140 acres,'valued at $50 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Price are members of the Chris- tian Church.

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History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 103

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1002

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002