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 71

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 71

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George Lane resides on section 32, Eldora township. He is one of the early settlers of the township. He came here first

in September, 1853, and made a permanent settlement in 1854, purchasing his farm of the government. He was born in Ten- nessee; his parents were natives of Vir- ginia. His father, Thomas Lane, moved with his family from Tennessee to Vermil- ion county, Illinois, when George was two years of age. Thomas Lane came to Har- din county, in April, 1855, and settled in Union township, on section 5, where the village of Gifford now is. . In 1857 he settled in Eldora township, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1866. His wife died in 1876. Mr. George Lane married Miss Lillie Walker, daughter of Samuel Walker, who settled in Eldora township in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Lane have four children-Annie, now Mrs. Frazier Golden, Frankie, Effie and George.

Mr. Lane's farm contains two hundred and forty acres of land; two hundred of . which he got from the government.

Robert Lane, son of Thomas Lane, and father of George Lane, resides on section 34. He was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1840. He came to Hardin county with his father, who lived for many years on section 27 in this township. Robert lived at the homestead till he settled where he now lives, in April, 1877. He bought his farm of Mr. P. Betts, who was the original settler on the place. Mrs. Lane was formerly Mary S. Hunter, a daughter of James Hunter. They have eight children, two sons and six daughters -Laura, Ninie, Maud, Warren G., Frank- lin, Bertha, Nellie, Nettie and an infant girl. His farm has 100 acres.

DeRoy Ellsworth is the son of Daniel F. Ellsworth, one of the early prominent settlers of Eldora. Daniel F. Ellsworth

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

was born in the State of New York, Octo- ber 21, 1811. He removed to Potter county, Pa., when a young man, where he lived till 1854, the date of his settlement in Hardin county. Houses were scarce at that time, and building material not read- ily obtained. Soon after his arrival, Mr. Ellsworth purchased a piece of land just east of the present village of Eldora, as it contained a log cabin, which afforded the family a shelter till the following spring, when they removed to the village. In the summer of 1855, he built the Ellsworth House, the construction of which was under the supervision of DeRoy. Mr. Ellsworth was prominently connected with the early history of Eldora. He .was chiefly instrumental in establishing the mail route between Marietta and Eldora, and thence to Iowa Falls. He afterwards had the contract for carrying the mail over this route. He was postmaster here for several years. He now resides at Eagle Grove, Wright county, Iowa. His first wife was Rhoda L. Babcock, born in the State of New York in the same year that her husband was born. She died in 1860. They had six children, four sons and two daughters, viz: Mrs. S. G. Winchester, DeRoy, Darius F., Mrs. D. E. St. John, D. V. and O. M. The boys were all in the service of the Government during the war of the rebellion. DeRoy joined his father, February, 1865, who was then Division Quartermaster in the army of the Potomac, and remained till the close of the war. Darius F. was Quartermaster of a Pennsylvania regiment. D. V. was Second Lieutenant of Company A, 12th Iowa Regiment. O. M. was in the 9th Iowa Cavalry. After the war, DeRoy was en-

gaged in the drug store of S. G. Win- chester till 1870. In January, 1871, he formed a co-partnership in the drug busi- ness with his brother. Besides his busi- ness interests here, he has a store at the thriving village of Hubbard, where he is doing an excellent business. . He is an active, energetic and fair dealing business man, and well deserving the patronage so liberally bestowed upon him.

James E. Bailey was born at the home- stead, where he now lives, and which he now owns, March 18, 1854. His father, Wm. Bailey, who still survives at the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven years, is one of the earliest settlers of the township of Eldora, locating on section 20, where he still lives. He was born in New Jersey, July 30, 1795. His father died when he was a boy. He removed to Pennsylvania with his mother's family, thence to Ohio, where he was married. From Ohio he went to Illinois, and came here from Illi- nois, as before stated, in March, 1852. He bought his farm of Jonathan Conger, who had made a claim of the place. Mr. Bai- ley has the honor of having built the first school house ever built in Hardin county -the building made of logs, which was located near his residence, on section 20. Scarcely a vestage of this school house remains, and its former site is covered with trees of many years' growth. Mr. Bailey was a shoemaker by trade, and fol- lowed that business, in connection with farming, for many years. He is still hale, for one so old, and bids fair to live many years yet. His wife died January 22, 1879, in her seventy-third year. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey had fourteen children-six sons and eight daughters. Four sons and five

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daughters are living, viz: Henry, in Fort Scott, Kan., where he has been for many years; Wm. D., in Webster City; Eliza- beth, wife of Samuel Waggamen; Harriet E., wife of A. E. Webb, of Eldora; Su- san; Samantha A .; Thomas H., resides at Gifford; Julia and James E. The latter was born at the homestead, March 18, 1854, and is the only one born in Iowa. The house, which the family still occupy, is of logs, and was built in 1853-one of the first built in the county.

Benjamin Walton is a settler of 1854. He resides on section 36. He was born in Indiana, in 1818, where he was brought up. Before coming to Hardin county, he lived for about six years in Rock Island county, Illinois. He came to Hardin county in 1854, and settled where he now lives, in 1855. His wife is also a native of Indiana. They have six children, five sons and one daughter-Morgan, Truman, Riley, George, Elijah and Amanda. His farm contains 80 acres. He removed to sec- tion 25, where he lived till his death, which occurred, June 11, 1878. His widow still lives at the homestead

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Mr. Peter Mason had seven children, four sons and three daughters. The sons are living, the daughters died in Indiana. The children are, Henry, who lives on sec- tion 25, Philip and Lconard in Kansas, and Samuel. Samuel married Mary F. Hughes, daughter of M. H. Hughes, an early settler of this township, now living in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have two children-Martha R. and Vesta. They lost two children-Samuel O. and Mary E. Mr. Mason's farm contains 100 acres . Samuel Mason's father, Peter Mason, was one of the early settlers of

Eldora township, having come here June 15, 1854. He was born in Culpepper county, Virginia, in 1802, and removed to Ohio with his parents, when about eight years of age, and settled in Logan county in that State. His wife was Mary Husaw, born in Ohio. His general business was farming, though in his younger life he was otherwise engaged; was for several years engaged in flouring mills in Ohio and also in Indiana. He came to Hardin county from Indiana, in 1854, and settled on section 21, in Eldora township, where he lived about six years.

Anson Whitney resides on section 35. Mr. Whitney's advent in Hardin county dates back to 1854. He is a native of Randolph county, N. C., where he was born March 12, 1811. Mr. Whitney, in his youth, had no opportunity for acquir- ing even the simplest rudiments of an education; and up to the age of twenty- one years, when he left his native State, he had never had a day's schooling, and was unable to "read or write." When twenty-one years old, he went to Morgan county, Ind., where he enjoyed his first opportunity for attending school. Here, he enjoyed one school term of four months. He then went to Hendrix county, and from there to Park county, in that State, where he worked and attended school for some time. The manner in which he improved the limited opportunities of those days for acquiring an education may be inferred from the fact that he taught a successful term of school, about this time, in Warren county, Ind. Mr. Whitney, when twenty- five years of age, was married, in Warren county, to Miss Mary Huffan, born Febru- ary 1, 1837, in South Carolina, who removed

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with her parents, when five years of age, to Ohio, and from that State to Indiana. In 1846, Mr. Whitney removed with his family to Vermilion county, Ill., where he lived till 1854, when he came to Hardin county. He settled on his present farm in 1856. He has 217 acres, 120 of which he entered as Government land. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney have had ten children, none of whom were born in Hardin county. Six of their children-two sons and four daughters-are still living, viz: Thomas J., Annie, Wm. R., M. Jennie, Rachel M. and Laura A. The names of the deceased children are: Mrs. Sarah E. Betts, John R., Mary M. Strean and James H. Mr. Whitney is one of the well known early settlers of Hardin county. He is a man of much general intelligence, and pos- sesses a good memory. He came to Har- din county poor, and with a large family, and, by industry and economy, has acquired a competence,

Riley Adams, one of the pioneers of Hardin county, was born October 25, 1832, in Knox county, Ohio. When eight years of age his parents moved to Warren county, Ill. He grew to manhood there, and received a common school education. He was married November 9, 1853, to Miss Catherine Karnes, who was born July 3, 1838, in Ohio. In 1854 Mr Adams came to Hardin county, locating in Union town- ship, on the land where Gifford now stands. He remained here until 1859, when he sold his farm and started for Pike's Peak, but after reaching DesMoines, met several par- ties on their return from that Eldorado, with anything but favorable news; they gave such bad news that Mr. Adams gave up the trip and returned to Hardin county,

and the same summer removed with his family to Illinois, where he remained until 1872, when he returned with his family to again make his home in Hardin county. He bought the farm of Philip Mason, on section 25, Eldora township, where he still lives, and has a nice farm containing 165 acres, valued at $42.50 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are the parents of eight child- ren, namely: Margaret E., William R., Samuel O., Charlie, Mary J., Cora A., Nellie and Albert. W.

William T. Buckner, on section 3, is the son of Henry Buckner, who was born in Harrison county, Ky., in 1800, where he lived till twelve years of age, when he re- moved to the State of Indiana, with his mother, his father having died in Ken- tucky. Henry Buckner was brought up in Indiana; married Nancy McClure. They came to Hardin county in 1855, and set- tled on section 9, where Mr. Buckner died, in October, 1874. His wife survives her husband. William T. Buckner was born in 1853, and came to Hardin county with his father, in 1855. He married Mary A. Bowman, daughter of Samuel Bowman. They bave four children-Frances C., Samuel C., Ettie V. and Pearl Adell; lost a daughter, Emma. The parents of Mr. Buckner had eight children, four sons and four daughters, all of whom are living but one son, Edward C., who was a member of the 12th Regiment, lowa Volunteer In- fantry, Captain S. R. Edgington's company, and was killed at Fort Donelson. Mr. Buckner is the only member of his father's family now living in Hardin county.

Alexander W. McDonald is a settler of 1855. He was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1832. He was brought up in

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

597

Ohio; married Lucy Stage, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio. They came to Hardin county in October, 1855, and settled in the village of Eldora, and engaged in farming. Mr. McDonald owns a farm ad- joining the village of Eldora, on the east. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have two children -Mary and George W.

Samuel Bowman came to Hardin county in March, 1856. He was born in Pennsyl- vania, in 1817, but removed, when an in- fant, with his parents to Stark county, Ohio. He went to Indiana when about. twenty-five years of age, and thence to Illi- nois; coming to Hardin county, as before mentioned, in March, 1856. He first set- tled in the village of Eldora, and engaged in farming. He afterwards settled on section 3, but exchanged his farm there for a farm on section 28; the latter farm he still owns. Mr. Bowman is a carpenter by trade, and followed the business of carpen- tering for thirty years, Mrs. Bowman was formerly Miss Hannah Epley, and was born in Pennsylvania, but removed with her parents to Stark county, Ohio, when ten years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman have four children, two sons and two daughters -Mary A., now Mrs. William Buckner, born in Ohio; Salome, wife of D. V. Ells- worth, born in Ohio; James, born in Indi- ana, and Samuel, born in Illinois. They lost four children, all of whom died in childhood .

John B. Henderson resides on section 11. He settled on section 12, in 1856, the year from which his residence in the county dates. He purchased his present farm of J. L. Horner, where he settled in 1880. Mr. Henderson was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1822. His parents emigrated to

Illinois when he was ten years of age. They first settled in Vermilion county, in that State, and afterwards removed to Mercer county, Mrs. Henderson was formerly Miss Wealthy Sellers, whose parents settled in Indiana from Ohio, and then to Illinois. They have two children -Jacob, born in Mercer county, Illinois, and Aggie. Mr. Henderson is the only one of his father's family in the county.

J. J. Donovan resides on section 33. He was born in Kentucky, in 1815; he removed to Illinois with his mother's family, his father having died of cholera in Kentucky, in 1832. Mr. Donovan lived in Illinois for many years. He came to Hardin county in the fall of 1856, and settled where he now lives the following year. He was married to Eliza Cooper, born in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Donovan have five children-Margaret E., John W. Ellen Louisa, Elijah H. and Harriet. They lost seven children, three of whom died of that fearful disease, diptheria.

August Wentworth of Xenia, was a settler of 1856. He was born in Middle- sex county, Massachusetts, April 29, 1835, His father, Daniel Wentworth, was born in New Hampshire, his mother Susan (Pingrey) Wentworth was a native of Massachusetts. The family removed to Kane county, Illinois, in 1841. Mr. Went- worth's parents went to California in 1850, and located at Stockton, in that State, where he still lived when last heard from, Mr. Wentworth came to Hardin county from Dupage county, Illinois, in November, 1856, and settled in Union township, where he lived until 1860, when he removed to Grundy county, where he engaged in farm- ing for three years. IIe then came to

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Eldora township and settled at Xenia. He was married to Joan H. Crist, daughter of Wm. and Catherine Crist. Her father was a native of Indiana, and died in Rock Island county, Illinois. Mrs. Wentworth came to Hardin county, with her mother, in the fall of 1858, and settled in Union township, near Gifford. The family were victims of the tornado of 1860, their house being destroyed, and all the family were more or less injured. Her mother died at Xenia, in February, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth have seven children, three sons and four daughters.

John Crosbie resides on section 17. He came to Hardin county in 1856, and bought 80 acres of his present farm. Mr. Crosbie was born in Penninghamshire, Scotland, about 1824. He emigrated to Pennsylvania about 1851. He was en. gaged on State works in Lehi county for several years. Mr. Crosbie has a good farm of 160 acres, which was known as grub land. He has, by hard work, made an excellent farm, and feels well rewarded for his years of labor and industry. . Mrs. Crosbie was formerly Rebecca Richards, of Pleasant township. They have five children-John, Edward, William, Agnes, and an infant daughter; lost two children.

Samuel Martin resides on section 23. He was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1826. He emigrated with his father's family to Philadelphia in 1846. His mother's name was Ann (McCracken) Martin. They removed to Ohio from Philadelphia, thence to Wisconsin, and finally settled in Henry county, Ill., where they resided till their death. Mr. Martin was married in Philadelphia to Catherine Walker, a sister of Wm. Walker. They came

to Hardin county, Iowa, from Henry county, Ill., at the time Mr. Walker came, in 1856. Mr. Martin first settled on section 24. He settled where he now lives, on section 23, in the spring of 1865, Mr. and Mrs. Martin have five children, viz: Wallace H., Harry S., William J., Charles H. and Effie A. Mr. Martin's farm contains 200 acres .

Wm. Walker is numbered with the settlers of 1856. His father was Samuel Walker, born in the North of Ireland about 1798. His mother was Elizabeth (Charleton) Walker. She emigrated to the United States, and settled in Philadel- phia in 1838. The family resided in Philadelphia till 1849, when they removed to Illinois, and came to Hardin county in 1856. Mr. Samuel Walker died in 1867. His wife still lives, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, having been born in 1796. The parents of Mr. Walker had nine children when they came to Iowa, all of whom came here with them, excepting one daughter, who remained in Illinois. William and three sisters continue to re- side in Hardin county; the others live elsewhere. Mr. Walker was married in Philadelphia to Miss Sarah J. Blackwood, born in County Tyrone, Ireland. Mrs. Walker came to this country with an older sister, and located in Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have nine children, viz: Josephine P., Elizabeth S., Wm. W., Mag- gie, Samuel R., Kate, John, Annie and Frank. Mr. Walker resides on section $2. He formerly lived on section 24. He has over 400 acres of land. He is one of the sturdy, substantial men who have done much to make Hardin county take her place in the front rank of the counties of

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY. 599

Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are members of the Baptist Church, and were intimately connected with the early history of that Church in Hardin county.

John Perkins is an Englishman by birth, being born in Ripley, Derbyshire, October 21, 1827. His parents being John and Sarah (Platts) Perkins. At the age of fifteen years he commenced work at the shoemakers trade, at which he was to serve as an apprentice until he reached his majority ; but, after serving three years, his employer died, and Mr. Perkins therefore commenced to do for himself. In 1849, the family came to the United States, and soon located in Stephenson county, Ill. Here Mr. Perkins continued liis trade until 1855, he then emigrated to Iowa, and lived a short time in Blackhawk county, but in the same year he came to Hardin county, and settled at Eldora, where he pursued his trade until 1862. He then settled on his present farm, and has since been a tiller of the soil. Mr. Perkins has been quite successful in life. He now owns 530 acres of land, and his improve- ments are among the best. He is honest and industrious, and highly respected as a citizen. He took out his naturalization papers soon after coming to the United States, and cast his first ballot in 1856. His politics are Republican, and his relig- ious connections are with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Perkins has been twice married. In 1847 to Miss Harriet Parkins. She died in 1854, leaving two children: Sarah E., now Mrs. Joseph Ansel, and Ferdinand. In 1856, June 14th, he married Mrs Sarah Platts nee Parks, and by this union have had eight children, seven of whom are now living: Minnie, John

W., Addie E., now Mrs. A. Hayden, Ed- win, Oscar E., Granville and Eleanora, and by her former marriage she had two children: James T. and Henry A. Platts.

William H. Pool was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1825, where he was brought up. He worked on a farm until eighteen years of age, when he began learning the trade of a carpenter and joiner. He came to Hardin county in May, 1856, with Mr. Joseph Edgington. His home has been in Eldora since that time. He was engaged in the business of carpenter- ing for many years; was Deputy Treasurer of Hardin county for several years, but again resumed work at his trade, which he still follows. Mr. Pool has been twice married; his first wife was Bertha E. Lewis, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Pool died while on a visit to her friends in Ohio: His present wife was Mrs. Betsy J. (Wells) Mosier, who was born in the State of New York. Mr. Pool has four children by his first marriage-William T., Bertha E., Belle and Jennie May.

George McElroy is a native of County Monnaghan, Ireland; born about 1805. He was born while George III was still on the throne of England. His parents were William and Margaret (Dodds) McElroy. Mr. McElroy was brought up to the busi- ness of farming. He emigrated to this country in 1827, reaching Philadelphia, having been seven weeks in crossing the Atlantic. He engaged in the marble trade in Philadelphia, and followed that business there for thirty years. He was married in Philadelphia, to Margaret Sproull; born in 1824, in the same county as her husband. She emigrated to Philadelphia with her father, when sixteen years of age. Her

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father was George Sproull. Her mother, Elizabeth (Boyd) Sproull, died in Ireland. Her father lived in Philadelphia until his death. Mr. McElroy came to Hardin county in August, 1856, and bought land for a farm in the town of Eldora; his family came the following year. They lived on this farm for fifteen years, when they removed to the village of Eldora, where they have since lived. Mr. and Mrs. McElroy have four children-George A .; born May 31, 1846, married Sarah Hart- man; James G., born September 22, 1848, married Miss F. Westphall; Robert W., born July 10, 1851, married Miss Maggie Hewitt; Jennie E., born September 29, 1853, now Mrs. David Wills. Mr. and Mrs. McElroy belong to the Presbyterian Church.

James Reynolds, carpenter and builder, is a native of the State of Pennsylvania, having been born in the town of Browns- ville, Fayette county, in that State, Septem- ber 5, 1823 He removed to Brookville, Franklin county, Ind., with his parents in 1841. His parents were Joseph and Jane (Moffitt) Reynolds. His father died in Indiana in 1864, at the age of 71 years. His mother died June 3, 1882, at the ad- vanced age of 87 years. In 1855 James Reynolds came to Grundy county, Iowa, and bought land, on which the family located the following year, but his father's family returned almost immediately to Indi- ana, James alone remaining. He worked at his trade, in Grundy county, till the fall of that year, when he came to Eldora, and has resided here since. He has followed the business of carpentering and building the greater part of his life, and has had charge of the construction of many of the princi-

pal buildings of Eldora. Mr. Reynolds is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Eldora, and, probably, no man did more than he to establish and sustain that church in its early struggles for exist- ence in Eldora. He has been a member of the M. E Church since February 17, 1841. Mrs Reynolds was born in Brookville, . Franklin county, Ind., December 27, 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have three children: Mary, Kate P. and Susie Maud. They lost their three first children, one son and two daughters: Elizabeth C., born December 12, 1854, died December 3, 1863; Ella J., born March 1, 1857, died November 28, 1863; James Edwin, born August 12, 1859, and died May 5, 1860.

Benjamin F. Ibach resides on section 25. He was born in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1836. His father, Gotleib Ibach, was a native of Germany. He emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania, and thence to Ohio, and settled in what was then Rich- land county, now Morrow county. Mr. B. F. Ibach came to Hardin county about 1857. His home has been in Eldora town- ship since that time. He enlisted in 1861 in the 12th Iowa Infantry, and served till December, 1864. He was at Fort Don- elson; was taken prisoner at Shiloh; was exchanged after several months; was at the sieges of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., etc. He was married to Laura Furman, daughter of Simeon Furman. Mr. and Mrs. Ibach have five children-James D., George, Albert S., Orpha and Ralph R., Mr. Ibach owns a farm, which contains 120 acres.

John T. Boylan, present Deputy Sheriff of Hardin county, is the son of W. W. Boylan, one of the earliest settlers of the

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town of Tipton. He was born in Clayton county, Iowa, in 1855, and came to this county with his parents in 1857. Mr. Boylan was engaged in teaching in this county for several years. He has been Deputy Sheriff since September 1, 1881. He is a pleasant and agreeable man, a faithful officer and universally esteemed.

Benjamin F. Tilton, one of the earlier settlers of Eldora township, resides on sec- tion 1. He was born in the town of Dan- ville, Caledonia county, Vt., August 22, 1804. When five years of age, he removed with his parents, David and Sarah (Foster) Tilton, to Canada, where he lived till 18 years of age, when his parents removed to Franklin county, N. Y. His parents lived in Franklin county till their death. Mr. Benjamin Tilton lived in Franklin county about ten years, when he removed to St. Lawrence county, where he lived four years. He has been married twice. His first wife was Mary A. Garfield, who died in Pottsdam, St. Lawrence county. His second wife was Levina Hayford, born in the State of New York. He had five chil- dren by his first wife, three of whom are living, viz: Kate M., Carrie M. and Julia. He has one daughter by his second wife- Frances E. Two of his daughters-Kate and Julia-live in Beloit, Wis. Carrie M. is a clerk in the Treasury Department, at Washington. The youngest resides at home, and is by profession a teacher. His daughters are unmarried. Mr. Tilton's farm contains 80 acres.

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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 71

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