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 48
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
part of Ohio. Mr. Henry Ripley came to Hardin county with his family in 1852, and settled in Jackson township. R. F. did not come at the time his father came. He was engaged in the drug business at that time in Ohio, and did not come till several years later, or till 1857. Owing to poor health he did not continue in the drug business after coming to Iowa, but was engaged, alternately, in farming and in teaching for several years, making it his home in Jackson township. He then came to the village, his health having improved, and engaged as clerk in the drug store of Mr. Winchester, where he continued about three years .. He was afterwards appointed deputy clerk of the Court. He was County Superintendent of Schools for a time, and also a clerk of the Court, and of the Board of Supervisors. His health, never very firm, did not permit him to engage continuously in active busi- ness. Latterly, he was engaged with Mr. W. Moir in the grocery business for about one year.
His wife was Miss Hattie E. Ball, daughter of Jasper and Polly Ball. They have had two children-both of whom are deceased ..
S. A. Reed succeeded Mr. Ripley in 1868, and served about one year, when he le igned the office.
J. M. Boyd was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Mr. Reed. He was elected in 1870, and re-elected in 1872.
James Mitchell Boyd is a native of Allegheny county Pennsylvania. He was born eighteen miles north of Pittsburg, February 12, 1828. He is of Scotch, Irish and Holland ancestry. Robert Boyd, the grand father on the father's side, emigrated
from Ireland about 1785 when but 17 years of age. He first settled in Philadelphia, but afterwards removed to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer and Magistrate. He married Nancy Namdyne, a native of Delaware, a decen- dent of the earliest Holland emigrants to that State. They had a family of thirteen children. He served on the staff of Gen. Crooks as Judge Advocate in the war of 1812. £ He died during the late rebellion at a very advanced age.
James Boyd the father of J. M., was born near old "Fort Sigonier," Westmore- land County, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1802. He engaged at an early age as a clerk in a store, which he continued during his minority. In 1823 he married Sarah Boyd, a decendent of a Boyd family who came to the United States in 1772. Her grand- father, John Boyd with his family, consist- ing of his wife and two sons, John and Abraham, engaged passage on a sailing vessel for the new world; after going on board, it was discovered that the two boys had contracted that dread disease small- pox; and the family was ordered ashore, the vessel sailing without them. But what seemed a hardship at the time, proved to be a very fortunate occurrence. That vessel was driven out of its course by a storm; was nineteen weeks at sea; nearly all the passengers perished. The Boyds as soon as the boys recovered, took passage in another vessel, and arrived in safety some six weeks before the first vessel landed. Of this family, there were seven sons and two daughters. Four of the sons became leading Presbyterian Minis- ters. Robert Boyd the grand-father of J. M., by his mother's side, was a farmer
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
and magistrate in Allegheny County, Penn- sylvania. He married Hannah Mitchell, whose parents emigrated from New Jersey to Western Pennsylvania and settled in the valley of the Allegheny, about 20 miles above Pittsburg, about 1796. J. M was the third child in a family of twelve children; seven of whom are now living. One of his brothers, Wilson, lost his life in the Arkansas campaign, in the first advance on Little Rock. He lived at home until he obtained his majority, working on the farm, with no educational advantages, save winter times in the old log school house. His minority was all work and no play. Three months after he became of age he determined to obtain a better education. He spent two terms in Washington Col- lege, and one term at Mansfield Normal School, preparing himself for teaching. He then devoted his time to teaching, until the summer of 1857, when he came to Iowa; and September 1st of that year to Hardin county, settling in Jackson Township, where he bought half a section of school land, paying one-fourth down. It was a fine tract of land, and everybody said that he had made a fortune; butit was a poor one. As a sample of the effects of the financial crash of the fall of 1857, that land after forty acres were broken and well fenced, could not be sold for half the back payments. He taught school winters, and improved his land in summer. He buffetted with fortune up to 1862, when he was commissioned by Governor Kirkwood to assist in recruiting Co. F. 32d Iowa Volunteer Infantry. After assisting in recruiting the company, he entered the ranks as a private, but was appointed Sergeant, which rank he
held throughout his term of service, although some of the time he had com- mand of the company. At the close of his term of service, he was commissoned First Lieutenant, as a compliment, an honor he justly deserved at the beginning of his term of enlistment. He was on service in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. His first engagement was at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he was in the advance skirmish line of the right wing of the army. He was also engaged at Bayou Metaire, near Little Rock, Arkansas, and through the entire Red River campaign, under General Banks.
At the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, they stood five infantry and two cavalry charges, being one of the severest engage- ments of the war. They withstood these charges without material loss, but were afterwards flanked on the right and left, in which they lost one-half their number. The army fell back to Grand E'Core, thence to Natchitoches and Alexandria, La., during which time Mr. Boyd had command of the company, carrying his gun and accoutrements, marching at night and skirmishing during the day .. He was also at the battles of Lake Chicot, Miss., June 6, 1864; Tupelo and Old Town Creek, Miss., July 14 and 15, 1864; Nashville, Tenn., December 15 and 16, 1864, and during the entire last siege of Mobile, closing with the final storming of Fort Blakely, on the evening of April 9, 1865. Mr. Boyd made the final reports of the company, balanced the company accounts, and was mustered out at Clinton, Iowa, August 24, 1865.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
At the close of the war he retired to a small farm in Eldora township, and in June, 1867, was appointed County Super- intendent of Schools, and the same fall elected and served a full term. In Janu- ary, 1870, he entered the Clerk's office as Deputy, and in June was appointed Clerk in place of Captain S. A. Reed, who re- signed. In the fall he was elected to the place and re-elected in 1872, his term expiring in January, 1875. In the fall of that year he was elected Sheriff, and served by re-election until 1881.
Mr. Boyd was united in marriage to Miss Barbara J. Speers, a native of York county, Penn., and daughter of Geo. H. Speers, Esq., on the 2d day of October, 1860. She died May 29, 1867, leaving two children - Hannah Elizabeth and Sarah Angeline.
In politics Mr. Boyd has always been a Republican since the first organization of the party.
In religion he is a Presbyterian, having given liberally of his means to the church of his choice.
He was again married, April 9, 1872, to Mrs. Sarah J. Buckingham, whose maiden name was Howell, a native of Orange county, N. Y., and daughter of Lewis and Sarah Ann (Anway) Howell. The an- cestry of both the Howells and Anways came from Wales, and were among the first settlers of Long Island. Her grand- father, Anway, and his three sons were all soldiers in the Revolutionary War, and Mrs. B. has now a bill of the old conti- nental money in which the soldiers re- ceived their pay, dated , 1776. Her father, Lewis Howell, was born in Florida, Orange county, N. Y. Mr. Howell came
to Iowa and settled west of Point Pleasant, in this county, in 1857. Miss Howell having had some experience in teaching in her native country, engaged in teaching three weeks after landing here. She taught the first school in Tipton township, in a temporary log shanty, or pre-emption cabin, through the cracks of which the pestering little prairie snakes would fre- quently crawl. This was then the only school in all the southwest part of the county, embracing what is now the town- ships of Tipton, Sherman, Grant and Con- cord, there being no settlement for twenty miles west or southwest. There are now in those townships thirty-three (33) good and well furnished school houses, besides the fine new graded school building at Hubbard.
Z. Gilman, the successor of J. M. Boyd, is a native of New Hampshire. He was liberally educated, and a graduate of a medical college. In 1872 he located at Ackley and entered upon the practice of law with his brother, Fred Gilman, where he remained until elected to the office of Clerk of the District Court in 1874. He served with ability six years. He now re- sides in Webster City, Hamilton county.
A. C.Swain succeeded Mr. Gilman Jan- uary, 1881.
A. C. Swain, the present Clerk of the Courts of Hardin county, was born in the town of Windsor, Dane county, Wisconsin. in 1851. His father was E.R. Swain, one of the early settlers of that county. In 1861 the family removed to Beaver Dam, Dodge county.
Mr. Swain was educated in Wayland University, of Beaver Dam. He came to Boone county, Iowa, in 1868, and was en-
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
gaged for some time as a clerk at Mon- gona, in that county. In 1870 he went to Marshall county, and engaged in buying stock. He came to Hardin county in 1874, and engaged in the hardware business at Menton. He was elected Clerk of the Courts in the fall of 1880. Mr. Swain is a thoroughly competent and popular of- ficer. He was married in 1876 to Miss A. E. Benson, born at Delihi, Delaware county.
SCHOOL FUND COMMISSIONERS.
The first elected to this office was Wil- liam F. Shafer. He never qualified, how- ever, and S. R. Edgington was appointed in his place. He was among the earliest settlers of the county, but left here many years ago. He now resides in Nebraska. Jacob Kidwiler, the first settler of Jack- son township, was elected in 1854, and served one term.
S. R. Edgington was elected in 1856 and served until the office was abolished in 1858.
'SUPERINTENDENTS OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
The office of Superintendents of Com- mon Schools for each county, was created by the General Assembly in the winter of 1857-8, and an election called in April, 1858, to fill the office.
Edwin Fuller was the first Superintend- ent of Common Schools for Hardin county. He served one year.
J. M. Comstock succeeded Mr. Fuller in 1859, and served two years.
R. F. Ripley comes next, and served four years.
Elias Jessup was elected to succeed Mr. Ripley. Mr. Jessup resigned, and Mr. Boyd was appointed.
J. M. Boyd was the successor of Mr. Jessup, and served two years.
E. P. Stubbs was elected in 1869, and resigned before the expiration of his term, and Frank A. Moon was elected to fill the vacancy, and re-elected twice.
L S. McCoy, was the successor of Mr. Moon, and served four years.
Howard G. Fuller is the present Super- intendent, being elected in 1881.
COUNTY RECORDER.
Until 1864 the offices of Treasurer and Recorder were one. The General Assem- bly in the winter of 1863-4 passed an act by which the office of Treasurer was cre- ated, and also that of Recorder, or, making two distinct offices.
E. S. Sawin, of Union township, was the . first Recorder of the county, after its di- vision from the office of Treasurer. He was elected in 1864, and served two years.
Samuel S. Waldo was the successor of Mr. Sawin, and was elected to the office in October, 1866. He had settled some years in Iowa Falls, where he was engaged as a clerk in a general store. He was a man of good business qualifications and made an excellent officer. He was an active and influential member of the Congregational Church. He is at present living at Con- rad, Grundy county, Iowa.
Col. Job Stout succeeded Mr. Waldo. He was re-elected four times, and served ten years.
Job Stout was born in Franklin county, Indiana, February 21, 1817. He traces his ancestry back some two years previous to the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers, Rich- ard Stout being the first American emi- grant, arriving in this conntry that much
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
in advance of those who are now so greatly revered. Jonathan Stout, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and was taken by his parents to Kentucky when but three years of age, where he resided until 1812, when he removed to the Territory of In- diana, where he died in 1849. His wife, Nancy (Thompson) Stout, survived him seven years. Job lived at home until his twentieth year, working on a farm and sharing the advantages of the schools of the country. At the age of twenty his father gave him the choice to take eighty acres of land or a year's schooling: He chose the latter. Immediately after leav- ing school he engaged in teaching, and at the end of two years he married Elizabeth Brown, a daughter of Christian Brown, a pioneer in the State. Mr. Stout moved West, and settled on the Wabash river, where he followed the coasting trade for three years, when, losing his health, he returned to Fayette county, where he pur- chased a steam saw-mill, which he ran un- til 1850, when he was elected County Auditor, and served as such, by re-election, until 1859. He then moved on a farm, where he resided until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he engaged in the recruiting service until July, 1862, when he enlisted as a private in the 69th Volun- teer Infantry regiment. On the organiza- tion of the regiment, he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel, and took command of the regiment. The first engagement was at Richmond, Kentucky, one of the severest engagements of the war, 7,000 Union troops being arrayed against 30,000 rebels. Col. Stout was severely wounded in this engagement, and had one horse
shot from under him. He fell into the hands of the enemy, and was paroled, but not exchanged until November 19th of the same year. The regiment participated at Chickasaw Bluffs and Arkansas Post. At the Bluffs the Colonel was again wounded. He subsequently shared in the siege of Vicksburg, after which he was on detached service, owing to the trouble from his wounds. His left leg was greatly withered and useless. The surgeons began a course of diet preparatory to hip amputa- tion . During this preparation he was taken home, where he slowly recovered. In July, 1864, he took part in the Morgan raid, after which he was in the recruiting service until the close of the war.
Colonel and Mr. Stout have had ten children, eight of whom are now living --- Jonathan, one of his sons, was in the pay department, while C. B. and J. J. were in the Third Indiana Battery, and served throughout the war.
After the close of the war, the Colonel engaged in the hardware business in Con- nersville, Indiana. In 1868 he sold out and moved to Iowa, and settled on a farm about two miles from Eldora. In 1870 he was elected County Recorder, and re-elected four times, serving until 1880. That he made a popular officer is attested by thou- sands who have had business with the office.
Col. Stout has a pocket-book, an heir-loom in the family, which is about two hundred years old. It was in the pocket of Jonathan Stout, a brother of the Colonel's grand- father, when he was killed on the heights of Abraham, at the battle of Quebec, fought under General Wolf. The pocket- book then came into the hands of Job
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
Stout, the grandfather of the Colonel, and was carried by him through the Revolution
Politically, Col. Stout was an old line Whig, giving his first vote for Gen. Harri- son, in 1840. On the organization of the Republican party, he became a member, and has "fought it out on that line." Religiously he is a Presbyterian. He is also a Mason, and has taken the degrees of the Commandery. He served in the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter, and in the Grand Commandery, as Grand Repre- sentative.
J. H. Reese was elected as the successor of Col. Stout, in the fall of 1880, and com- menced the duties of his office in Jan., '81.
J. H. Reese, the present Recorder of Hardin county, is a native of the State of New York, having been born in Schenec- tady, in that State, in 1845. He removed with his parents to Rock county, Wiscon- sin, when twelve years of age, and thence to DeKalb county, Illinois. He came to Ackley, Hardin county, October, 1867. Mr. Reese was Mayor of Ackley for the years 1879 and 1880. He also served as justice of the peace for several years. In the fall of 1880 he was elected Recorder for Hardin county, and removed to Eldora the Ist of January following. Mr. Reese was married to Miss Sarah Bolender, of Ack- ley, Iowa, January 1, 1894. .
COUNTY TREASURER.
On the organization of this county, the two offices of Treasurer and Recorder were united in one.
Samuel Smith was the first Treasurer and Recorder of the county. He was first elected in the spring of 1853, and served four years.
Samuel Smith is one of the pioneers of Hardin county, his residence in the county dating from May 1, 1850. Mr. Smith was born in Ohio, in 1816. He removed with his parents to Indiana, when but eight years of age, and afterward to Illinois. His residence in Iowa dates from the fall of 1840. He built a cabin and passed the following winter in Washington county. In the spring of 1841 he went to Johnson county, where he made a location and re- sided about four years. He removed to Keokuk county in 1844, and, as before re- marked, came to Hardin county in May, 1850. He made a claim, in that year, on sections 21 and 22, in the township of Eldora, where he resided for several years. On the organization of the county, in 1853, Mr. Smith was elected Recorder and Treas- urer of the county, a position he held for five years. On his retiring from the office of Treasurer and Recorder, he resumed farming; but about the time of the break- ing out of the rebellion, he engaged in the grocery business in Eldora, which he fol- lowed till 1879.
Mr. Smith was married to Mary Ann, daughter of Joshua Bland. Mrs. Smith is a native of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had twelve children, only five of whom (four sons and one daughter) are living. Their children are as follows: William H., now a resident of Grundy county, was a member of the 9th Iowa Cavalry during the rebellion; Hannah J., now Mrs. W. W. Brooks, of Grundy county; Jacob K., in Dakota; Charles W., also in Dakota, and Ellis M. Their de- ceased children died in infancy.
Mr. Smith is known as an honest, upright citizen, and is a worthy representative of
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
the pioneer element of Hardin county. At the organization of the Old Settlers' Society of Hardin county, July 22, 1882, Mr. Smith was chosen President for one year.
Erastus Pardee, the successor of Samuel Smith as Treasurer and Recorder, is a na- tive of New York. At an early day he emigrated to Michigan, and for a time he lived in Centerville, in that State. While a citizen of Centerville, he was the candi- date of the Whigs for the office of Probate Judge, but was defeated. In 1855 he came to Hardin county, and located in Hardin City, where he engaged in the mer- cantile trade, being one of the two mer- chants in that town when it was a flourish- ing place, and one of the largest towns in Northwestern Iowa. In 1856 he removed his stock of goods to Eldora, and for a time was in partnership with his predeces- sor in the office of Treasurer and Recorder. This last mercantile venture was not a financial success. In 1857 he was elected to the office of Treasurer and Recorder, and re-elected in 1859, serving a period of four years. On the expiration of his term of office, he removed to Etna township, where he engaged in farming. He after- wards moved to Ackley, and for a time was in the grain business. He now resides in Kansas.
J. H. Cusack, of whom more is said elsewhere in this volume, was the suc- cessor of Mr. Pardee. He was popular in whatever position he was placed. He served one term.
J. D. Hunter succeeded Dr. Cusack as Treasurer and Recorder, but during his term the offices were separated, Mr. Hun- ter retaining the position of Treasurer.
J. D. Hunter is a native of Ohio. · In - 1859 he came to Eldora, and become editor and proprietor of the Hardin county Sen- tinel. In 1863 he was elected to the office of Treasurer and Recorder, discharging its duties one year, when he resigned for a position in the Government service in the Quartermaster's Department. On his re- turn from the army he located at Iowa Falls, and, in company with J. M. Scott Croston, embarked in the grocery trade. He only remained in this connection a short time, when he sold out and went to Webster City, and purchased an interest in the Hamilton county Freeman. He is still one of the proprietors of that paper.
J. D. Gourlay was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to fill out the unex- pired term of Mr. Hunter, and served until his successor was duly elected and qualified .
L. E. Campbell was elected to the office of Treasurer in 1865, and re-elected in 1867, and served two terms.
L. E. Campbell is a native of Oswego county, New York, where he was born August 3, 1837. His parents are Archi- bald A. and Fanny (Curtis) Campbell, the former being a native of Vermont, and the latter of Connecticut. The father died in April, 1854, and the mother now resides in Richland, Oswego county, New York, and is in her 81st year.
In 1854, L. E. came west, and made a trip through the States of Illinois and Wis- consin, returning in 1855 to New York, and attended school at the Belleville Ac- cademy, in Jefferson county New York; came west again July 14, 1857; arrived at Steamboat Rock, September 13, 1857; worked in mill nearly one year for S. F.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
Lathrop, and assisted in building a grist mill; went into the mercantile trade in 1859, served as Township Clerk of Clay Township; was elected to the Board of Supervisors as the first member from the township, and served with the Board until his enlistment, August 11, 1862; and entered the service as 2d Lieutenant Com- pany F, 32d Regiment of Iowa Volun- teer Infantry; was promoted to Captain of Company, October, 1864; was discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability August 10, 1865, at Montgomery, Ala.
Returned home and was married to Carrie E. Wright, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Fruster) Wright, August 27, 1865; was elected County Treasurer in the fall of 1865, and served four years, two terms, until January 1, 1870; moved to Chicago and went into the commission business, and remained until the Chicago fire, 1871; returned to Iowa, and since that time has been engaged in various businesses, buying grain, farming, etc.
E. M. Campbell is a native of New York, and was born in Otsego county, February 14, 1843. His parents were Archibald and Clara Curtiss Campbell. E. M. was edu- cated in the Paducah Academy, New York. In the fall of 1865, came to Har- din county, and located in Eldora, serving four years as Deputy Treasurer. He was then Deputy Clerk of the Courts one year, at the expiration of which term he went to Iowa Falls, where he engaged in the bank- ing and real estate business with L. F. Wisner for two years. He then'spent two years in traveling in Wisconsin and Min- nesota, introducing a patent well-augur. He then located at Steamboat Rock, and engaged in the mercantile and grain busi-
ness. In 1864 was married to Mary Wood, a native of Otsego county, New York. In 1876 he purchased a hotel building whiclı he leased until 1880, when he took posses- sion, and is now running the hotel known as the Western House. Mr. Campbell has led quite an active life. In politics he is a Republican.
Solon F. Benson, the successor of L. E. Campbell, was first elected County Treas- urer in 1869, re-elected in 1871 and in 1873. He made a popular and an efficient officer. He is the son of John and Almeda (Green) Benson. He came with his parents to Hardin county in 1856. He is now engaged in the banking business in Union.
Elias J. Hauser succeeded Solon F. Ben- son, in 1875. He was re-elected in 1877, and served two terms. He is a son of T. N. Hauser, of the township of Union, and one of its earliest settlers, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere.
Mr. Hauser was born in Indiana, in 1845, and came to Hardin county, with his par- ents, in 1850. He was elected to the office of County Treasurer of Hardin county in 1875, which office he held four years. In March, 1880, he purchased one- half interest in the lumber business of John Hall. The present firm was formed in February, 1882. His wife was Miss Hattie Sargent, formerly a teacher in the public school in Eldora. .
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