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 76

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 76


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F. A. Norris, printer, bookseller and stationer, is the son of M. D. Norris, who is a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio, and came to Eldora with his family in 1864. He was a cabinet maker by trade, but was engaged, while here, quite extensively in gardening, supplying this market with vegetables during the summer season. IIe was also employed at the court house as clerk for several years. In 1876 he removed to Cleveland, Ohio. F. A. Norris was born at West Point, N. Y., September 23, 1851. He lived at home till about 1869. He was engaged as book-keeper for B. F. Butterfield, from them to Clark & Mooney, and to Clark & Herron, and to O. H. Clark; for Clark & Herron for about seven years. He has in connection with his book store a job printing office. In the last mentioned branch of his business he has had consider- able experience. He does excellent work, and is having a good foreign and local trade. His wife was Miss Orpha Dysinger, daughter of N. Dysinger. They have four children: Charlie, Nellie, Katie, and an infant.


J. S. Hadley is a hardware merchant, successor of I. K. Buck. Mr. Hadley owns the pioneer hardware store of Hardin county, the business having been estab- lished by Mr. Hulbert. Mr. Hadley was born in Milwaukee, in 1846, where he lived till nine years of age, and then removed to Rock county. He came to Eldora in the Spring of 1868. He learned the tinner's trade of Mr. L. P. Wright. He worked for Mr. L. E. Whitney for several years, and was a partner of the latter for four years. He bought his present business of Mr. I. K. Buck, in April, 1878. Mr. Had- ley has one of the most complete hardware


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stores in Hardin county, his stock being extensive and including everything found at a first-class hardware store. Mr. Had- ley has also an interest in a hardware store at Hubbard, his partner there being Mr. A. E. Webb. Mr. Hadley is the present Mayor of Eldora, His wife was Miss Jennie, daughter of J. H. Smith.


Clarence Burling, abstract. maker and dealer in real estate, was born in the city of New York, in 1835. Mr. Burling is descended from one of the early merchants of that city. His great-grandfather, Jas. Burling, was a native of England, but emigrated to New York before the Revo- lution, and espoused the cause of the colo- nies during that struggle. He was for a time a prisoner in the old "sugar-house" prison of that city, at the time the British army occupied New York. He was suc- ceeded in business by Walter Burling, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and he in time was succeeded by Jas. Bur- ling, the father of Clarence, who sold goods in New York for forty years. He removed to Green Lake county, Wis., in 1850, but died in Fon du Lac county. Mr. Clarence Burling came to Eldora in 1865. He was appointed postmaster,. here, in 1866, and held that office till 1871. He was then engaged in the grain business till 1877, when he engaged in his present busi- ness. He is of the firm of Preston & Burling, his partner being an attorney.


Linus N. Sayre, son of Calvin M. and Ludema L. (Baker) Sayre, was born in Rock Island county, Ill., April 10, 1847. His father was born in Logan county, Ohio, December 20, 1825, and his mother in Champaign county, Ohio, November 10, 1826. They were married in 1846, in


Rock Island county, Ill., where they re- mained until 1859, when they moved to Hardin county, arriving here on the 11th day of September. They settled in Provi- dence township, where Mr. Sayre had a half section of wild prairie land, and which he at once began to improve. He re- mained on this farm until 1862, when he remove i his family to Eldora, and enlisted in Company F, 32d Iowa Infantry. He died in the service at Little Rock, Ark., October 20, 1863. His wife died at El- dora, August 18, 1876. They had four children, of which Linus N., the subject of this sketch, was the oldest, and is the only one now living. He came with his parents to Hardin county, and lived with them upon the farm. On the death of his father, he returned with his mother to the farm, where he remained four years. He then came to Eldora and engaged in vari- ous lines of business, principally carpen- tering and butchering. In 1868 he com- menced in the latter business, in which he has continued, save four years between 1873 and 1877. The educational advan- tages secured by Mr. Sayre were in the common schools of Rock Island county, Ill., Hardin county, Iowa, and two terms in the Albion Seminary. Mr. Sayre was united in marriage with Mary L., daughter of Joseph Race, November 9, 1872. They have had four children, three of whom are now living-Mary L., Robert and Annie. Mr. Sayre has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for twenty .- one years, and has taken quite an active part in Church affairs. He is at present Superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Church Sunday School in Eldora. He is also a member of the Masons, United


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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.


Workmen and Knights of Honor, holding membership in the lodges of these bodies in Eldora.


Ezra Nuckolls, jeweler, is a native Hawk- eye, and was born January 5, 1843, in Linn county, three years before Iowa became a State. His father, James Nuckolls, was born in Kentucky, and was the son of a slave-holder, and inherited a number of slaves. Believing the institution of slavery a wrong, he emancipated his slaves, and, with his brother Ezra, removed to Indiana, where he became acquainted and married Mary Ann Barclay, of Scotch de- scent, her grandfather being one of the soldiers who attempted, by order of George III, to make the American colonies sub- missive to the royal will of his majesty. Her father, on the other hand, fought in the War of 1812, on the American side. About two years after their marriage, they emi- grated to the Territory of Iowa, arriving here in September, 1842. Mrs. Nuckolls died in 1846, and her husband, the father of Ezra, in 1854. After his father's death, Ezra, then but eleven years of age, had to · provide for himself. For about two years he worked upon a farm, when he then en- gaged to learn the trade of a carpenter, which he followed for nine months. Not liking the trade, in September, 1857, he entered a jeweler's store in Animosa, Jones county, Iowa, to learn the jeweler's trade. This suited him, and he became a No. 1 jeweler. When the war broke out in 1861, he was working as a journeyman for his old employer, and receiving highly remu- nerative wages. On the 16th day ot July, 1861, he enlisted in Co. D., 9th lowa In- fantry. On the organization of the com- pany, he was appointed Corporal, and,


March 8, 1862, while engaged in the battle of Pea Ridge, he was promoted Second Sergeant, serving in that capacity until the beginning of the Vicksburg campaign, where, on the 15th of March, 1863, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. While on the Atlanta campaign, he received an appointment on the staff of Gen. James A. Williamson, serving in that capacity until he received his discharge, October 26, 1864. Lieut. Nuckolls' term of service ex- pired during the Atlanta campaign, but on account of the exigency of the service, he decided to remain until the close of that campaign, which was entirely optional with him. The Lieutenant participated in many of the hard-fought battles of the war, including Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, At- lanta, Lookout Mountain, etc.


In April, 1865, Mr. Nuckolls located in Eldora, and established his present busi- ness, and in which he has met with good success. On the 26th day of October, 1868, he was united in marriage with Leona C. Eastman, daughter of Gov. E. W. Eastman, who was born in Burlington, Iowa, in 1846. Five children have blessed this union-Howard Eastman (now de- ceased), Edward W., James, Susie, and Richard F.


F. Blum was born in Germany, Novem- ber, 1828, and learned the trade of shoe- making in his native country; came to America in 1852, and located in Seneca county, Ohio, remaining until 1858; thence to JoDavies county, Illinois, and worked at his trade until 1872, when he came to Hardin county, and for one summer ran a farm near Point Pleasant, and in the fall 1872 opened a shoe shop at Eldora; married 1851 to Dorothea Blum. They have seven


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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.


children-Catherine, Robert, Martin


Luther, George Washington, Charles


Albert, Nettie and Frances.


James Bachman, manufacturer of wagons and carriages, also engaged in blacksmithing, established business in Eldora in the spring of 1856. Mr Bach- man has been continually in business, since that time, except during two years that he worked for a railroad company. He was born in North Hampton county, Penn- sylvania, July 27, 1828, where he grew to manhood, and married Miss Emma C. Bruch. They came to Eldora, August 26, 1856. Mr. Bachman reached Iowa City on his way to Eldora, on the first passenger train which ever entered that city. His father-in-law, John Bruch, came here with his family a year previous to the time Mr. Bachman came. He was killed by light- ning, June, 1856. The parents of Mr. Bachman were natives of Pennsylvania. His father died, November 3, 1872, at the advanced age of 76 years. His mother is still living, and is now eighty-four years of age, and bids fair to live many years. Mrs. Bachman's parents were also natives of Pennsylvania, her mother is still living, is at the present time seventy-two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bachman are the parents of four children-Mary A., now Mrs. H. E. Gardner; Jona Z., now Mrs. J. F. Shultz; Lilly B., now Mrs. H. B. Shilling; Rosa B., twin sister of Lilly, died in her 17th year.


Allen Meader was born in Ellsworth, Me., October 18, 1840. He is the son of Allen and Sarah (Copp) Meader. He re- mained at home until the breaking out of the war, learning the blacksmith's trade. In 1862 he enlisted in the 26th Maine Reg- iment, and was afterward a member of the


1st Brigade Band of Abercrombie's Divis- ion. He was honorably discharged at Portland, Me., in October, 1863. In 1865 he came to Eldora, and began working at his trade, and in 1870 took in as a partner James Bachman, who remained some time, since which time a brother-in-law, M. Watts, has been connected with him in business. In politics Mr. Meader has taken quite an active interest, and is now a mem- ber of the City Council, and one of the Township Trustees, and a member of the School Board. He was united in marriage in 1865 to Calista W. Watts, a native of Ellsworth, Me. Their children are, Sadie S. and Fred W.


L. L. Scott, barber and hair dresser, came to Eldora in 1869. He was born in . Medina county, Ohio, in 1848. Mr. Scott learned his trade in Ohio. He is an excel- lent workman, and a gentleman much re- spected in the community in which he lives. His wife was Miss Rebecca Rumbaugh, a daughter of one of the early settlers of Clay township. Her father came to Hardin county from Ohio. Mrs. Scott was born in Clay township July 28, 1855. Mr. and . Mrs. Scott have two sons: William and Melvin.


PHOTOGRAPHY.


W. A. Snodgrass was the first photo- graph artist in Eldora, and probably in Hardin county. He opened a gallery here in 1862.


Frank Kirby is now the leading artist in the place. Many of the engravings in this work are from photographs by Mr. Kirby. Mr. Kirby began business here in 1874, buying out Mr. Peter Datesman, who established the business in 1872. Mr.


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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.


Kirby is a. native of Middleton, Orange county, N. Y., where he was born in 1850. He learned the business of photographing at Carbondale City, Pa. He came to Mar- shalltown, Iowa, in 1867, where he was engaged in the photograph business with his brother, L.Z.Kirby, now deceased; and, as before stated, came here in 1874. Mr. Kirby does a general photograph business, and is a skillful artist. His wife was Frances A. Steele. Her father was an early settler of Marshalltown.


RAILROAD.


The Central Iowa Railway was com- pleted to Eldora in 1868. The present freight and ticket agent at this point is A. B. Plough. Mr. Plough was born at Ithica, N. Y., in 1849. He came to Grin- nell, Iowa, in 1869, and began railroading in 1871, at Albia, as station agent. He was there till 1873, when he went to Eddyville and Eddyville Transfer, thence to New York City, where he stayed three years. He came to Eldora in June, 1877. His wife was Ella Skilton, born in Troy, N. Y.


ELEVATORS AND GRAIN WAREHOUSES.


In 1868, on the completion of the rail- road to Eldora, W. H. Crawford and Jon- athan Edgington, under the firm name of Crawford & Edgington, erected a ware- house in which to store, and from which to ship grain. In about six months, Mr. Edg- ington purchased the interest of Mr. Craw- ford, and subsequently added an elevator, with a capacity of 10,000 bushels. From 1868 to the present time, Mr. Edgington has continued to buy and sell grain, and in that time has purchased many thousands


of bushels, and distributed among the farmers of Hardin county many thousands of dollars.


In 1868, B. Butterfield also erected an elevator, with a capacity of 6,000 bushels. He subsequently sold the same to Willcox Brothers, who enlarged it to a capacity of 10,000 bushels. While in their hands, it burned down.


Another elevator was erected by a joint stock company, in 1874, with a similar ca- pacity. Various parties have bought and handled grain from this elevator. It proving an unprofitable speculation to the stockholders, it was sold, and is now owned by E. A. Abbott, of Marshalltown. Wal- lace Martin now handles grain from this


. warehouse.


ELDORA CEMETERY SOCIETY.


On the evening of November 9, 1860, a meeting was held for the purpose of or- ganizing a society to purchase the grounds and prepare a resting place for the dead. The meeting proceeded to organize by the adoption of articles of incorporation and the election of officers. The following preamble and articles express the object of the association:


"WHEREAS, We are impressed with the great truth that man is mortal; that, a resting place will be ultimately required for the lifeless sleep of our bodies, though our spirits, we trust, may survive when 'the earth shall wax old like a garment,' and 'the Heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll.'


"We, the undersigned, therefore, with a view to make provisions for mortality, and to provide for the final earthly repose of humanity, amid such associations and


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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.


symbols as shall tend to perpetuate the memory of friends, to keep alive the gracious influences of love, and affection and kindness; to afford for the mourner, consolation, and incite the living to imi- tate the virtuous acts and worthy lives of those who shall have gone to an immortal rest: do hereby unite ourselves together as an incorporated body, under the following constitution :


" ARTICLE 1. This Association shall be known as the 'Eldora Cemetery Society.'


ART. 2. The object of this Society shall be to provide, to protect, and to perpetu- ally preserve, as sacred to the repose of the dead, an appropriate and eligible cemetery, which shall be located in, or adjacent to, the town of Eldora, county of Hardin, and State of Iowa, and the Society is not designed nor established for pecuniary profit."


The constitution was signed by Josephus Eastman, J. H. Drain, W. J. Moir, S. G. Winchester, M. Hulbert, Jonathan Edging- ton, Joseph Edgington, J. D. Gourlay, J. H. Cusack, J. D. Hunter, J. M. Scott, W. H. Pool, J. D. Thompson, James Reynolds, and J. J. Edgington.


Four acres of ground were subsequently purchased of M. Hulbert, and surveyed into lots.


At the first election for officers of the Society, Josephus Eastman was elected


President; J. H. Drain, Vice-President; W. J. Moir, Secretary; S. G. Winchester, Treasurer; M. Hulbert, Superintendent.


The first sale of lots was made Novem- ber 1, 1862.


In March, 1880, the ladies of Eldora organized the "Ladies Aid to the Eldora Cemetery Society," with the object of raising funds for the purpose of beautify- ing the grounds and surroundings, making them pleasant and attractive, and an orna- ment to the town, and a credit to the ladies of the Society. Mrs. Henry Reynolds was elected President; Mrs. C, C. Gilman, Vice-President; Olive J. Moir, Secretary; Mrs. E. K. Brown, Treasurer.


On the 12th of March, 1880, the Society gave an entertainment, in which it cleared $83.


In December, 1880, the Ladies' Aid and the Cemetery Society were merged into one, and all control was virtually given into the hands of the ladies, who carry on the good work under the name of the El- dora Cemetery Society. Since April, 1880, they have raised and invested $1,020. Its present officers are: Mrs. Diantha St. John, President; Mrs. C. C. Gilman, Vice-Presi- dent; Olive J. Moir, Secretary; Mrs. H. L. B. Capp, Treasurer; James Buchanan, Superintendent.


حرية


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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.


CHAPTER XXV.


GRANT TOWNSHIP.


Grant township comprises all of Con- gressional township 86, range 21, and was organized in 1868, previous to which time it was a part of Providence.


The first settlement was made in 1855 by B. R. Gogerty, who yet resides in the township. Mr. Gogerty was followed by George Hobson, who now resides in Kan- sas. Mr. Hobson came in 1856. The next settler was Hiram Hammer, who located here in 1857, and has since deceased. George Hayworth settled here in 1859. He is dead. No other settlements were made until 1864, when Edwin Davis and Irvin Mills located here. The former now resides in Missouri, and the latter in the town of Hubbard. David and Alexander Mills were also settlers of 1864. Alexander resides in the township, his brother, David, in the southern part of the State. Burnett Mulford located here in 1866, but has since removed to Kansas. Charles Hoelscher came in 1868, and still remains; James Morgan came in 1869, and still remains. Miles W. Carr came in 1879, but now re- sides in Kansas; Jacob Myers also located here in 1870; he now resides in Des- Moines. J. C. Bailey came to the town in 1877, from Union township, where he set- tled in 1870. N. S. Martin and William Anderson came in 1871.


It will be seen by the foregoing that the township has settled very slowly.


ORGANIC.


As already stated, Grant township was originally a part of Providence, and was organized in 1868, a special election being ordered by the Board of Supervisors, in October of that year. The first officers were as follows: Trustees, James Mor- gan, Alex. Mills and B. R. Gogerty; Clerk, Philip Shintaffer; Assessor, John Fero; Justices of the Peace, J. L. Myers and Edwin Davis; Constable, Charles Bales. The following named are the present town- ship officers: Trustees, S. D. Andrews, J. M. Morgan, N. S. Martin; Clerk, Harlan Carter; Assessor, A. J. Bretts; Justices of the Peace, Isaac Painter, Harlan Carter; Constable, Frank M. Mitchell.


EDUCATIONAL.


It was many years from the time the first settlement was made in what is now Grant township, before a public school was held within its borders. The first school house erected in the township was on sec- tion 24, and built in 1868, at a cost of $1,200. It was known as the .Shintaffer school house, and is now in district No. 5. Charles Bales in this house taught the first school in the township, in the fall of 1868,


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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.


and winter of 1868-9. He received for his services $33.333 per month. There are now in the township eight school houses, estimate value being $3,600, which is a very low valuation. In September, 1881, there were 230 children of school age. Notwithstanding it is thinly settled and comparatively new, Grant township com- pares favorably with others in educational facilities.


RELIGIOUS.


The Society of Friends, held the first religious services at the Center School House, about 1869. Here they met from time to time, without forming a regular organization, until 1872. At this time they organized with the following named enrolled as members: James Morgan and Sarah, his wife; Alex. Mills and Anna, his wife; Irvin Mills and Dinah, his wife; George Hobson and Mary, his wife; John Hayworth and Louisa, his wife; Cyrus Carr and Jane, his wife; N. S. Martin and Annie, his wife. A branch of the Society has since been organized at Morgan school house. There is a Sabbath School held at each house by the members of the Society. No meeting house has been erected in the township.


A class of the M. E. church was organ- ized at the Hayworth School house, in the spring of 1878, by Rev. W. A. P. Eberhart, of Union, with the following members: A. Leroy and wife, Hartwell Chandler and wife, Wm. Adkinson and wife, J. R. Ham- mer and wife, and J. C. Bailey. Rev. Eberhart also organized a Union Sabbath School, with about 25 scholars. Rev. Eber- hart preached about one year, when he was followed by Rev. Hamilton. They still


have occasional preaching, but hold service at J. R. Hammer's School House in Con- cord township.


POSTOFFICE.


A postoffice was established on section 17 in 1876, to which was given the name of Idaho. Railroad towns springing up in proximity to it, it was discontinued in 1880. Jacob Marshall was the first and only postmaster. He now resides in Hub- bard.


CEMETERY.


There is but one cemetery in the town- ship. In 1878, an acre of ground was pur- chased of Z. L. Martin, off the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 17. J. L. Marshall, S. F. Hammer and J. H. Hammer were the purchasing com- mittee. The first interment was a child of William H. Bailey, August 6, 1879.


TEMPERANCE.


In the spring of 1882, when the Consti- tutional amendment was being discussed, prohibiting the manufacture and sale in this State of all kinds of spirituous and intoxicating liquors, the women of Grant township took an active part and contrib- uted their full share to the general result. The following petition was signed by nearly every woman in the township:


"We, the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of Grant township, respectfully request you to cast your vote in favor of the Constitutional amendment for Prohi- bition. Anna M.Martin, Joanna T.Painter, Lucinda B. Haviland, Louisa Hayworth, Anna Mills, Nellie Lundy, Clara Hockett, Almina B. Mills, Mary A. Wilson, Emma


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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.


C. Ellis, Cora M. Mills, Cornelia Latham, Lizzie Haggin, Martha Haggin, Retta Woodward, Clara Hay worth, Asena H. Car ter, Lottie A. Bates, Phœbe S. Bates, Anna Hockett, Estella Stubbs, Caroline Dosure, Agnes M. Crain, Sarah J. Stilwell, Rebecca Hiserote, Maggie Dolson, Jane M. Havi- land, Elnor Foulke, Susan Stambrough, Mary J. Jay, Mrs. M. Sisson, Matilda Shawe, Ellen Hockett, Rebecca D. Hockett, Theresa Hockett, Amelia A. Macy, Ida. E. Harvey, C. J. Harvey, Selena Stanley, Lydia E. Morgan, Asenath Morgan, L. C. Bretz, Almira L. Mitchell, Emma Crain, Calista Crain, Hattie A. Bailey, Eunice Pickering, Harriet Hogan, Lavina Marsh, Sally Morgan, Sabina A. Hodson, Catha- rine Crow, Augusta Heiderman, Hannah Moon, Eliza Moon, Nellie Brown, Lydia A. Carter, Sarah E. Woodward, Mattie E. Rash, R. M. Michaels, G. C. Michaels, Mrs. Walter Alison, Mary A. Phelps, Clara Davis, Susan B. Davis, Eva J. Branson, Theresa Stanley, Julia Stanley, Mattie Stanley, Ludia C. Ellis, Erue Knowles, Emily M.Decker, Mary E.Shepherd, Martha E. Carpenter, Dinna Albertson, Jane Bar- nett, Mary M. Albertson, Martha Wilkinson, Jenny Brown, Jane Bales, R. Stell, Sarah J. Williams, Mary Hockett, Eva Hockett, Candis Howell, Minda Rubottom, Annie B. Sharer, Mrs. Alison, Mrs. Lawrence, S. E. Madole, J. A. Andrews, R. H. Eaton, E. A. Eaton, Lucinda Jones, Lonisa Parker, Lydia A. Gogarty, Catharine Baker, Amber Baker, Lydia A. Sharp, Amelia Crain, Anna L. Morgan, Carrie Barnett, Nettie Barnett.


TOPOGRAPHICAL.


The township is almost exclusively prairie, the little natural timber growing


upon section 12. There are two creeks-Honey creek and Minerva; the latter rising on section 29, and crossing sections 28, 34 and 35. The latter enters the township on section 4, and flows through sections 4, 3, 11 and 12.


FIRST THINGS.


The first settler was B. R. Gogerty in 1851.


The first birth was Francis A., son of B. R. and Mrs. Gogerty, born July 23, 1856.


The first death was Willie Minkins in . the winter of 1860. His parents resided on Mr. Gogerty's place, on section 33. He was burried at Illinois Grove, Marshall county


The first couple living in Grant town- ship to be married, were Wyatt Albertson and Barbara L. Hockett, September 29, 1870, by J. L. Meyers, J. P.


B. R. Gogerty, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest settler of Grant town- ship, was born in Orange county, N. Y., November 12, 1827. His father, William Gogerty, was a native of France, and his mother, Catharine LaJambres, was born in Canada, both of whom have been dead many years. Mr. Gogerty first started in life as a varnisher and finisher, learning his trade in New York City, and from there went to Philadelphia, Pa., where he worked at his trade. On April 19, 1852, he was married in Philadelphia to Miss Lydia A. Yocum, of that city, who was born April 20, 1832. The second year after their marriage they removed to Altoona, Penn., living there a short time, and in the spring of 1855 came to Iowa, first settling in Marshall county, and on




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