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 94

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 94

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Lewis Green, from New York, was also a settler of 1852, but remained only a short time.

John Taylor Duke came to Hardin county in 1853, and located on the South Fork, in Pleasant township. He was born in Kentucky, April 2, 1805, and is a son of Daniel Duke. He married Nancy Mat- thews. His wife died, and he subsequently married Mary E. Marlow. He was one of the first settlers in Iowa, west of the Mis- sissippi, there being at the time he crossed the river at Flint Hills, now Burlington, but sixty whites in the Territory. By his first wife he had seven children-Rebecca, Laura Jane, Eliza, Harriet, George, Jere- miah and Alexander.

Jasper N. Rowan is a son of one of the early settlers of Hardin county, and was born in the county of Vermillion, Ind., January 17, 1846. His parents, Cyrus and Amanda (Graves) Rowan, moved from Indiana in 1848 to Washington county, Iowa, and in the fall of 1850 came to Har- din county, settling in Union township, where the mother died in February, 1863, the father remaining until the fall of 1865, when he moved to Nemaha county, Neb., where he now resides. Mr. Rowan was married on January 13, 1867, to Miss Rhoda Ricard. There have been born to them six children, five of whom are living -- Hattie D., Sidney W., Mary C., Eva J. and Cyrus B. His early life was spent on the farm, and his education was obtained at the log school house so prevalent in this county at that early day. Towards the close of the late war, Mr. Rowan enlisted, January 1, 1864, in Company B, 11th Iowa Infantry, serving under General Sherman in the Atlantic campaign and the famous march to the sea, arriving at home in the latter part of July, 1865. Himself and wife have, for the last twelve

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years, been members of the Christian Church of Eldora. They have always fol- lowed farming, and are the possessors of 80 acres of good land in Pleasant town- ship, where he resides; also 40 acres of timber land. The farm land is worth $35 per acre, and the timber, $20 per acre.

Franklin Miller, one of the pioneers who came to Hardin county, settled in Pleasant township in 1852. He was a native of Kentucky, born in about 1830. He mar- ried Miss Arrena Geer, and they reared four children, only one of whom is now living-Elizabeth Frances, now the wife of John A. Hubbard. Mr. Miller died in 1857, and his wife in 1863.

John Marling, one of the earliest settlers of Pleasant township, is living on section 28. He was born in Jackson county, Ind., February 23, 1832. His parents, Elijah and Mary Ellen (Cox) Marling, were natives of the Southern States. The father died in 1840, and the mother in 1871. There were three children by this union, the subject of this sketch being the eldest, both the others being dead. In 1841 he removed with his mother to Des Moines county, stopping there with an uncle a short time, where his mother mar- ried, soon after they came to Iowa. They first settled in Washington county, where they remained four years; from there to Keokuk county, staying there five years; from there to Marshall county for two years; and, on October 3, 1852, arrived in Hardin county, settling near where Mr. Marling now resides, on section 28. On the break- ing out of our late civil war, Mr. Marling was one of the first to take a hand in the conflict, enlisting June 24, 1861, in Com- pany C, 6th Iowa Infantry, serving in

Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi, par- ticipating in the battle of Pittsburg Land- ing, April 6 and 7, 1862. He was mus- tered out of service August 24, 1862, on account of disability. On September 2, 1866, he was married to Miss Chloe Smith, daughter of Christopher Smith, of Pleasant township. The children by this union number five, four of whom are living- Daniel R., Nettie C., Clarissa R. and Effie F. Mr. Marling has not had the ad- vantage of a liberal education, but has made the most of his opportunities, and has acquired a good farm of nearly 100 acres of splendid land, worth from $35 to $40 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Marling are both members of the Methodist Protestant Church, their church building being situ- ated near where they reside.

Lewis A. Johnson is a son of one of the earliest settlers of Pleasant township, born in McLean county, Illinois, Septem- ber 11, 1843. . His father, Archibald John- son, was a native of Virginia, and his mother was born in Ohio. They were married about the year 1833, and were the parents of ten children, of whom eight are living, five in Pleasant township. After coming to Iowa, they resided, in Louisa county until 1852, when they moved to Mar- shall county, and in the spring of 1853 re- moved to Hardin county, settling in Pleasant township, section 22. Here the subject of this sketch spent his early life amid the hardships and privations of a pioneer life. Mills, Postoffice and every convenience was almost inaccessible, his father often going as far as Keokuk, 200 miles away, after goods, such as were needed. On April 19, 1868, he was married to Hannah C. Holt, a daughter of John H. Holt, at

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that time a resident of Tipton township. There has been born to them four children, all living-John A., born April 4, 1869; Wm. A., born December 5, 1870; Emma I., born February 20, 1873; Millie R., born June 1,1877. All living at home with their parents, who are both members of the Free Methodist Church at Tipton Grove. Mr. Johnson has a good farm of 80 acres, worth from $25 to $30 per acre.

Leonidas Smith, one of the earliest set- tlers of Pleasant township, was born in Washington county, Va., February 18, 1822. His father, Robert Smith, moved to Rush county, Ind., in 1831, where he died in a short time; his mother, Grizzy Smith, was of Scotch descent, and died in Rush county, Ind., in 1854. They were the parents of five children, three boys and two girls; three are living in Rush county, Ind., and one brother besides Mr. Smith, in Pleasant township. Mr. Smith left Indi- ana in the spring of 1843; first stopping in DesMoines county, Iowa, where he was married, February 19, 1845, to Miss Polly Ann Gear. In the spring of 1850, the gold excitement in California being all the rage, he, in company with four others, started from DesMoines county for that State, crossing the plains with an ox team and wagon, meeting with many accidents and adventures on the way. At one time their wagon was entirely under water while try- ing to cross a stream with all their pro- visions on board. They arrived at their destination August 9, 1850; but Mr. Smith's health failing, he returned in about two months to DesMoines county. In the spring of 1853 he came to Hardin county, settling on the farm where he now resides. His early life having been spent on the

frontier in Indiana with his mother, with whom he shared the care and responsibility of their family, had inured him to the hard- ships and privations which are the common lot of all who make a new country their home; he set to work with a will and energy possessed by few, and after all these years the change from the log shanty, 10x12, first put up, with clap-board roof, in which himself, wife and three children "sum- mered," is seen in the substantial and roomy farm house, just completed; the main part being 24 by 34, and 16 feet high, making a comfortable and elegant home. Although his education was obtained in the log school house of the time, and was very limited as to the time spent in obtain- ing it, yet it has not prevented him from being a successful man of business and taking an active interest in educational matters, having been a Director in his * school district most of the time. Himself and wife have been members of the Metho- dist Protestant Church for the last twenty years, or more, taking an active part in things pertaining to a religious nature. They have but one child living-two hav- ing died-Robert, who, on September 11, was married to Margaret E. Blair; they are now the parents of three children, liv- ing-Caspar, Freddie and Polly; all living on the home place with their father, three- quarters of a mile north of Lawn Hill. Mr. Smith has always followed farming for a business, being very successful; hav- ing in his possession nearly 400 acres of good land, valued at $40 per acre.

Alpheus McIntyre was born in Salem, Mass., in 1792, and the first that is known of him was after he was in Sandusky county, Ohio, where he was living and

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

married to a lady who was a native of Connecticut. They were the parents of four children, all of whom are dead. His wife having died, Mr. McIntyre, in the spring of 1850, removed to Linn county, Iowa, where, on the 13th day of September following, he was married, for the second time, to Miss Cordelia Phillips. They remained in that county until the spring of 1854, when they came to Hardin county, settling in Pleasant township, where he resided until his death, which occurred April 18, 1868. Mr. McIntyre was one of the active participators in the events that marked the early settlement of this county, ever taking an active and prominent part in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the country. He was one of the sturdiest of Whigs in the days of that party, and be- came identified with the Republican party from its earliest infancy. He was a mem- ber of the State Legislature, and held, for two terms consecutively, the position of County Supervisor, as well as for years acting in the capacity of Justice of the Peace for this township. He was an Orderly Sergeant in a New York regiment in the war of 1812, and was in the battles of Lundy's Lane and Queenstown Heights. He was an eye witness of the death of the British commander, General Brock. He was subsequently Associate Judge in San- dusky county, Ohio. Mrs. McIntyre's parents, Erastus and Polly (McIntyre)

Phillips, were natives of Otsego county, N. Y., and were married there, where Mrs. McIntyre was born, as were her two brothers, who were early settlers of Hardin county, and lived here until their death. Her mother is still living with her, at the age of eighty-five, being the oldest person

now living in Pleasant township. Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre became the parents of three children, two of whom are now living- Frank, born November 13, 1851; married in 1871, and now living in Tipton town- ship; Alma V., born September 11, 1855; died July 14, 1874; Edgar, born March 4, 1857. Just before the great Indian scare, treated of in another place. Mrs. McIntyre relates that she was attracted by the crying of her little boy that she had sent for chips. Going to look for the cause, she was startled by seeing twelve Sioux Braves in war paint and feathers advancing towards the house. She re- treated to the door, and they came on and into the house, making signs that they wanted something to eat. Mr. McIntyre was at work close by, and she sent them down to where he was. He came back with them and gave them a liberal supply of provisions, when they left contented, much to the relief of their entertainers. Mrs. McIntyre, since the death of her hus- band, has had charge of the homestead, and is at present carrying it on with the assistance of her son, Edgar. It consists of 100 acres of good timber and prairie land, and makes a good home. . The farm is valued at about $30 per acre.

E. C. Mossman was born in Grayson county, Va., January 22, 1825. When four years of age, his parents moved to Centerville, Wayne county, Ind., where they remained until 1839, when they went to Mercer county, Ill. In 1850 he caught the' "gold fever" and went to California, remaining there until 1852, when he re- turned to Mercer county, Ill., and was mar- ried, October 30, to Louisa VanEaton, who was born in Sangamon county, Ill., Novem-

C. W Strother.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

ber 11, 1834. In 1854 he came to Hardin county, Iowa, locating on section 30, in Pleasant township, where he still lives, and has a nice farm, containing 150 acres, valued at $30 per acre. In February, 1856, he experienced religion, and joined the M. E. Church. Two years after his con- version, he was licensed to preach, which calling he still follows. In 1864 he was ordained a minister of the gospel, and, the same year, left the M. E. Church, and united with the Free Methodist Church, and organized a church of that denomina- tion in Concord township, being the first of that denomination in the county. His early education was limited, having only attended school about two months, but, after his conversion, learned to read, and has, through his own exertions, ac- quired a good, practical education. In politics, Mr. M. has been identified with the Republican party, and at different times has held positions of trust in his township. Mr. and Mrs. Mossman are the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living -Albert L., born August 7, 1856; John C., November 17, 1858; Elmer, March 28, 1860; Orlando, April 6, 1862; Lucy A., March 24, 1864; Hannah B., June 5, 1866; Ida, June 27, 1874.

Wm. Ellerding, a farmer, residing on section 26, was born in Prussia, July 1, 1819. His parents, Conrad Ellerding and Louisa (Schnafel) Ellerding, were natives of Prussia, and lived and died there. Their three children are living-Christiana and Deitrich living in LaSalle county, Ill., and the subject of this sketch, who came to this country in the spring of 1835, first going to St. Louis, and there learning the

trade of a machinist, worked at it there for a number of years, and made occa- sional trips on the river boats as an en- gineer. On the 21st of May, 1844, he was married to Miss Mary Dickmyer, of St. Louis, and lived there until her death, which occurred July 11, 1849, of cholera, leaving two children, one of whom died a few days after, of the same disease; the other (Wm. C.) is now living in Grundy county, Iowa. On May 18, 1850, Mr. Ellerding was mar- ried, the second time, to Miss Mina W. Bron- strop, of St. Louis, she being also a native of Prussia, where she was born January 18, 1823, coming to this country in 1849, stopping at St. Louis, where she resic ed until her marriage, in August, 1854. Mr. Ellerding removed with his family to Har- din county, settling on section 26, Pleasant township, where he now resides. The children of this second union number eight, of whom seven are living-Emma, born in St. Louis, May 13, 1853, wife of John Rickard, of Gifford, married March 12, 1871; Louisa, born December 13, 1854, wife of John King, of Hamilton county, Iowa, married February 3, 1878; Mary, wife of Wm. Rathburn, born November 5, 1856, married November 23, 1879, now living in Hamilton county, Iowa; Herman C., born April 8, 1859; Mina E., February 20, 1861; George G., January 31, 1864; Edward E., September 29, 1866. The last six children were born in Hardin county. Mr. Ellerding has been identified with the Democratic party, and taken an active in- terest in its behalf, as well as in the cause of education and the schools of his dis- trict. Having had only a limited advantage of such things himself, he appreciates its importance to his children, and keeps him-

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self well posted in the current events of. the day. His farm consists of 125 acres, valued at $30 per acre. They are members of the Lutheran Church, but have no church organization here.

Frederick Boody, one of the wealthiest and most influential farmers of Pleasant township, was born in Hanover, Germany, January 10, 1825. At the age of twenty- eight he came to the United States, first stopping in Illinois a short time, thence to Indiana, and from there, in 1853, to Jones county, Iowa, and from there he came to Hardin county in the summer of 1854, and located the land in Pleasant township where he now resides; then returning to Jones county, he, in the fall of the same year, was married to Miss Magdaline Ecker, and immediately came with her to his land, where he has ever since resided. On the 7th of February, 1860, Mrs. Boody died, leaving her husband and three small children-George, born March 17, 1856; Joseph, born August 16, 1857; Doretta, born March 12, 1859. Mr. Boody, thus left in a new country with no one to take the care of his children which their tender years demanded, was compelled to seek out a helpmeet at the earliest possible time, and on June 14, 1860, was married in Whitely county, Indiana, to Miss Sarah Fager, and with her he returned and again set to work with a will to overcome the difficulties of a pioneer life. There has been born to them four children, three of whom are living-Mary E., born September 19, 1861; Charles M., born March 11, 1863; Frank D., June 26, 1866. Before coming to America Mr. Boody, in 1815, enlisted in the service of the King, at Hanover, remain- ing the required term of seven years, accord-

ing to the laws of that country. In politics Mr. Boody is a Democrat. He is a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, and Mrs. Boody, of the Presbyterian Church, of Point Pleasant. They have been hand- somely rewarded for their years of toil and privation, in their elegant, and well-fur- nished home, with a farm of 220 acres of good land, well improved, with one of the be-t and largest barns in Hardin county, the whole being worth, on an average, at least $40 per acre, as well as being stocked with the best graded stock to be seen in the county.

George Brooks, one of the old settlers of Pleasant township, was born in Otsego county, N. Y., October 17, 1803. His parents were natives of Connecticut, and have been dead many years. His early life was spent on a farm in New York. At the age of twenty-seven (1830), he was married to Miss Arvilla A. Myers of Chenango county, N. Y., she being a native of Vermont. The children born to them number five, of whom three are living- Cornelia, born September 10, 1837; Lewis, born July 18, 1839; Lorcelus L., born Janu- ary 2, 1845. After their marriage they removed to Crawford county, Pa., where they resided until the spring of 1855, when they removed to Hardin county, settling in Pleasant township, section 17, where they still reside; two of their children live at the home place-Cornelia unmarried, and Lorcelus L., who was married June 13, 1878, to Miss Mary Smith, daughter of Charles Smith of Eldora. They have two children-Charles, born November 6, 1879, and Arvilla, born May 3, 1881. Lewis is married and lives in Pleasant township. Mr. Brooks has been identified with the

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Democratic party, but not taking an active part. All the occupants of the home place are members of the Presbyterian Church at Point Pleasant. They have followed farming for a business, Mr. Brooks owning 90 acres of good land, and his son, Lorcelus L., 160 acres, valued at from $25 to $30 per acre.

M. J. Crosser, one of the pioneers of Hardin county, Iowa, was born in Colum- bianna county, Ohio, January 1, 1822. When a mere babe his father removed to Richland county, Ohio, where he remained until he was twenty years of age; the country was wild, and many the night he has heard the wolves howl about their cabin. In September, 1853 he married Sarah Meeker, born in New Jersey, in 1832. In 1855 he emigrated to Hardin county, Iowa. He erected the first frame building in the township. Mr. Crosser has a farm of 1722 acres valued at $35 per acre. Mr. Crosser received a common school education, and when twenty years of age he learned the carpenter and joiners trade, which business he followed in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, and since coming to Iowa has done most of his own building.

George C. Myers, one of the early settlers of Pleasant township, was born in Che- nango county, N. Y., December 3, 1815; son of Mathew and Elizabetlı (Fowler) Myers. Mr. and Mrs. Myers were the parents of eleven children, five sons and six daughters. ' The subject of this sketch, in 1842, married Mary A. Baird. By this union there were seven children, six of whom are living, viz .- Ambrosia, Virginia, Elizabeth, Emma, Casper and Charlie. In 1849 he came to Kane county, Ill., where he purchased land and engaged in

farming. In the spring of 1854 he came to Clinton county, Iowa, and in the fall of 1855 removed to Hardin county, locating in Pleasant township, Beaver creek, remain- ing there until 1864, when he removed to his present farm. Coming to the county poor, Mr. Myers went to work to make a home, and, by hard work and good manage- ment, has accumulated a fine property, and to-day is among the large and well-to-do farmers of the county. He has 432 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre.

William Myers is a native of New York State, born January 7, 1825, where he grew to manhood and received a common school education; he followed the business of farming. He was married December 24, 1849, to Miss Mary E. Clark, who was born in the same State, where they were married. In the fall of 1850 he went with his family to Pennsylvania, remaining until 1855, when, leaving his family with friends, he came to Hardin county, Iowa. He bought an unimproved farm in Pleasant town- ship, which he went to improving, pre- paratory to sending for his family. His family arrived in the fall of 1857, and at present consists of four children- -Herbert, born October 13, 1853; Floyd M., born October 22, 1859; Corlin, born September 26, 1862; Ada, born April 22, 1865. Herbert was married in December, 1880, to Miss Rachel Caudle, of Union township. Corlin was married May 15, 1881, to Robert Moore, of Providence township; they have one son, born March 9, 1882. Mr. Myers is one of the success- ful farmers of his township, having at the present time 160 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre. In politics he is a staunch

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Democrat. Mrs. Myers experienced re- ligion when sixteen years of age, and joined the Baptist Church, of which she is still a member.

John Ely, farmer, was born in Knox county, Ohio, February 14, 1824. His pa- rents, Michael and Catherine (Hewett) Ely, were natives of Washington county, Pa., and were married in 1815. The fruit of this union was nine children, of which the subject of this sketch was the fifth. His early life was spent among the scenes and incidents of a pioneer life, and his educa- tional advantages were confined to some twelve month's attendance at the log school house of that day. On March 16, 1852, he was married to Miss Rachel Braddock, of Knox county, Ohio. Soon thereafter they removed to Marshall county, Iowa, where they remained until the fall of 1856, when they came to Hardin county, settling in Pleasant township, on section 35, where he now resides. He has not been very actively identified with politics, but has held the office of Township Trustee and been a Director in his School District for years. Mrs. Ely has for many years been a' member of the Christian Church, in El- dora. They have only one child living- Laura -B., wife of Wesley Rowan, of Pleas- ant township. Mr. Ely has always fol- lowed the business of farming, and has been very successful, having a comfortable and well improved home, with some 320 acres of land, valued at the least at $40 per acre. He has devoted considerable time and attention to the care of bees, and has one of the largest, if not the largest, apia- ries in Hardin county.

James F. Platts was born December 27, 1852, in Freeport, Stephenson county, Ill.

His parents were natives of Derby, Eng- land, and came to this country in May, 1849, first settling in Illinois. In 1854 they re- moved to Wisconsin, where, shortly after, the father met his death while digging a well. He was one of the earliest settlers of his county (Bad Axe), being the first white man buried within its limits. In June, 1854, the mother removed to Janes- ville, Wis., with her father, and was mar- ried in 1855, to Mr. John Perkins, of Waterloo, Iowa, with whom she is still living, in Eldora township. Mr. Platts was married December 24, 1876, to Miss Emma E. Hayden, a daughter of Wallen anu Rebecca Hayden, of Jackson town- ship. They have two children-Alpha, born December 29, 1877, and Harry, born December 17, 1880. Mrs. Platts is a mem- ber of the Christian Church, of Eldora. They have followed farming for a busi- ness, in which they have succeeded, having at present 160 acres of good prairie land, worth frm $25 to $30 per acre.

John W. Lynn was born May 25, 1827, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. His parents, Mathew Lynn and Mary (Williams) Lynn, were natives of Pennsylvania, and were married there. The mother died January 15, 1873, aged seventy seven years, one month and seventeen days; and the father died some five weeks thereafter, aged seventy-two years. In the spring of 1851 Mr. Lynn left Pennsylvania, coming to Illinois, where, on December 28, 1852, he was married to Miss Mahala Cline, in Rock Island county, Illinois. In Novem- ber, 1853, he started to California. He went by stage and railroad to New York, and from there by water. Upon his return in 1856, he stopped in Pennsylvania, at his

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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 94

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