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 97

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 97

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Seneca Wildman.

Jane Milaman.

HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

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Marcus Blair, one of the pioneers of Hardin county, Iowa, was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, January 29, 1815, where he was reared on a farm, and received his schooling in the log cabins of his native State-the times when they cut out a log and pasted greased paper over the opening for lights. Mr. Blair gives a reminiscence of his school life. He said that his folks used to do a great deal of weaving, and one day as he sat on a board, which was split, he began to pass this board under his legs and slam it together. He was caught in the act, and was called out, and a little of the oil of birch applied to his jacket. In 1835 he married Miss Nancy Elliott, who was born in North Carolina. There was a family of eight children, six of whom are living-Bartling, Enos, Anna, Marcus, Jr., Nancy R., and Daniel. In 1843 he left North Carolina, and came to Hendricks county Indiana, coming through with teams. Here he remained until 1855, when he again started out with his prairie schooner, and landed in Providence, Hardin county, Iowa, where he now resides. On the 20th day of March, 1879, Mrs. Blair departed this life, leaving her husband to plod along alone for a short time. Mr. and Mrs. Blair were members of the Society of Friends. She was a Christian in every sense of the word, and did much to build up the cause. She was a kind and loving wife and an indulgent parent.

W. H. Crook was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1808; son of Malachi and Sarah Hews Crook, natives of England, who emigrated to the United States in 1807, locating in the back- woods of Pennsylvania. His father died from a gunshot wound in his leg, accident-

ally received while hunting deer in the winter of 1809. When Wm. H. was fourteen years old, he commenced to learn the trade of a saddler. In 1836 he came to LaPorte, Indiana, where he married Emily Rook. By this Union there were two children, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Crook died January 2, 1816. He returned to Pennsylvania and brought his mother out, who kept house for him for some time. For his second wife he mar- ried Malinda Beckner, a widow of Joseph Beckner by whom she had three children -Joel, Harriet and George. In the fall of 1855 he came to Hardin county and located in Providence township. Mr. Crook suffered by the cyclone of 1860, having the first residence he built blown away. Mrs. Crook died July 5, 1880, she was a member of the Congregational Church and respected by all. November 29, 1881 he married Eliza Furman for his third wife, born May 20, 1808. She was the widow of J. A. Miller, by whom she had thirteen children, five of whom are living-John F., Ruth E., Franklin R., Charles H., Olive A. Mr. Miller died in 1856. After living a widow fifteen years, she mar- ried Henry Cline, who died within eighteen months from the time they were married. Mr. Crook has 223 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre; home property valued at $1,500. Mr. Crook is a member of the Congregational Church.

J. B. McCormick was born in Decatur county, Indiana, on the 28th day of Sep- tember, 1845. His parents were Bailey and Patsy (Brady) McCormick, natives of Lincoln county, New York, where two children were born-Wm. and Mary. In an early day they emigrated to Indiana,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

where they are at present living, and where four more children were born. J. B. was reared on a farm, receiving a limited education. In the spring of 1855 he re- moved to Marshall county, Indiana, where he was engaged in farming. He enlisted in the 5th Indiana Cavalry, Company H, serving two years. His brother, William, was at the second day's fight at Nashville, Tennessee. September 28, 1870, J. B. mar- ried Amanda McLane. She was born in Indiana, July 15, 1853. By this union there were four children-Nora Lee, Laura M., Arthur J., and Frank E. (de- ceased). Mr. McCormick has 80 acres of fine improved land, valued at $40 per acre; also has a fine residence in Union, valned at $800.

Asher Kersey was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, April 22, 1807, where he received a limited education. In the fall of 1825 his parents left North Carolina with teams and prairie schooners, locating in Wayne county, Indiana, where his father erected a log cabin in the timber, cleared and opened up a farm. There they remained a number of years, when he sold out and purchased a farm in Henry county, where he remained until his death, which occurred April 23, 1844. His mother died September 20, 1868. The subject of this memoir was married in Wayne county, Indiana, August 5, 1829, to Susannah Morgan. She was born in Wayne county, Indiana, November 6, 1809. There were two children, one of which died in infancy, and Benj. V., who en- listed, September, 1861, in the 11th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company B; was taken prisoner on the 22d day of July, 1864, and was imprisoned at Andersonville

for a couple of months. From there he went to Florence, South Carolina, where he contracted a disease which resulted in his death, February 6, 1865. Mrs. Kersey died November 2, 1833, and for his second wife, Mr. Kersey married Edith Schooley. She was born in Randolph county, Indi- ana, February 8, 1818. By this union there were eight children, six of whom are now living-Jane, Martha, Thomas C., Elizabeth, Albert H. and Ada. Mrs. Ker- sey died February 15, 1858. Mr. Kersey afterwards married Susan M. Tulburt, who came to this county in the spring of 1852, from North Carolina, in company with her mother, four sisters and one brother, who was but a boy at the time. It was an undertaking for a stout-hearted man to leave North Carolina and come with teams to Illinois. She was born in Yadkin county, North Carolina, January 31, 1829. Two children blessed this union -- Wm. F. and Retta. Mr. Kersey came to Iowa in 1855, locating in Marshall county, where he remained one year, and, April 22, 1856, came to the place where he now lives. He has 90 acres of land, all under cultivation, valued at $45 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Kersey are members of the Friends Church.

William F. Andrews, one of the early settlers and prominent business men of Hardin county, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, on the 20th day of January, 1829. He is a son of John and Edna (Crew) Andrews, natives of Virginia, where they were married and three children were born-Benjamin C., Eleazer and John H. In 1828 his parents emigrated to Colum- biana county, Ohio. Settling in the timber, they cleared up a farm, where they

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

remained until 1839, when they removed to Madison county, Ill. In the fall of 1840 they removed to Jefferson county, Iowa, where they experienced all the inconven- iences of a frontier life. In 1856 his father sold out, and came to Hardin county, where he died the following year. His mother died in 1865. They were members of the Society of Friends. William F. Andrews was reared to a pioneer life, receiving his education in a log cabin. When he became of age he had saved money enough to buy a horse, and received $275 from his grand- mother's estate. In 1853 he spent eighteen months in Urlam College, at Richmond, Indiana, where he formed the acquaintance of Miss Mary Hunt, a daughter of David Hunt, who at the time was Superintendent of the College. They were married April 24, 1856. She was born in Logan county, Ohio, December 17, 1833, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews are the parents of three children, two of whom are living, viz,-Wallace V., and Hiram W. Cora Lee died in infancy. Immediately after marrying they came to Hardin county, Iowa, locating at New Prov- idence. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews came to the county in limited circumstances, but, instead of sitting down, went to work with a will to make a home, and by close atten- tion to business, have accumulated a fine property. Mr. Andrews ranks among the large and well-to-do farmers of the county, having 400 acres of land, mostly in Provi- dence township; he also has 1,800 acres of land in Texas. The family are members of the Society of Friends.

Jonathan S. Hockett, an early settler of Providence township, was born in Ran- dolph county, Indiana, October 1, 1823, son of Joseph and Martha (Smith) Hockett.

His father was a native of North Carolina, and his mother of Virginia. They were the parents of twelve children, eleven of whom lived to be adults. Immediately after their marriage, they moved to Indi- ana, being about the year 1816, and, in 1838, removed to Henry county, lowa, where they made a home and remained until the death of Mr. Hockett, which oc- curred while on a visit to Indiana, in 1846. The mother died in. Clay county, Iowa, May 20, 1877. They were members of the Society of Friends. Mr. J. S. Hockett was educated in the pioneer school. In 1850 he married Ann Frazer, a daughter of Francis and Eunice Beard, natives of North Carolina. She was born in Indiana, May 24, 1832, her father's house being a station on the underground railroad, and many a poor negro has received protection and support. There are two living chil- dren-Joseph L. and Francis H. In March, 1856, Mr. Hockett came to Hardin county, and located in Union township, moving into a cabin, 10 by 10 feet, where they lived for three months. They had pre- viously traded for a place, and were wait- ing for the parties to move. In 1858 he sold out and went to Bangor, Marshall county, where they lived until 1864, when they came to their present home. Mr. Hockett has been identified with the county for 26 years. He has 80 acres of beautiful land, valued at $45 per acre. The family are members of the Society of Friends, and Mr. Hockett has been an acknowledged minister for 15 years.

P. C. Hadley was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, December 27, 1838. He was reared on his father's farm, and re- ceived his early education in the pioneer

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

log cabins of Indiana and Iowa. In 1853 he came with his parents to Keokuk county, Iowa, and in 1856 came to Hardin county, then an unbroken wilderness. In 1865 he married Hannah Hunnicutt, a daughter of George C. Hunnicutt. She was born in Carthage, Rush county, Indiana, in 1843. Mr. Hadley has been identified with the county for 26 years, and has seen the wild prairies transformed into beautiful farms and homes. He has 108 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre.

Jeremiah S. Hadley was born in North Carolina, on the 11th day of February, 1816; son of Simon B. and Sarah Hadley, who were married in their native State, where six children were born-Martha, now Mrs. Josiah Mills, who settled in Hen- dricks county, Indiana; Ruth, who married William A. Woodard; Eliza, deceased; Emma, wife of Jesse Bray, of Morgan county, Indiana, died in 1853; Noah, who married Lucinda Hinshaw. In the fall of 1826 his parents emigrated from North Carolina, and located in Morgan county, Indiana, in the heavy timber, where he erected a log cabin. Seven children were born in Indiana, six of whom are living- Levi, Miles, Moses, Zimri, Simon H., Sarah and Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Hadley died in Indiana; they were members of the So- ciety of Friends. The subject of this sketch married Hannah Mills, a daughter of Henry and Anna M. Mills. She was born in Tennessee, her parents - emigrating to Indiana when she was a mere child, and locating in Wayne county. By this union there were nine children; but four living, viz .- Henry M., Perry C., Seth M. and Mahlon. Mr. Hadley removed to Keokuk county in the fall of 1853, and in 1855 to

Warren county, Iowa, and the following year came to Hardin county, locating on section 26. Mr. Hadley has been identified with the county for twenty-six years. The family are members of the Society of Friends.

Joseph Spurgin, farmer, was born in East Tennessee, January 17, 1841. He is a son of Samuel and Rosanna (Duncan) Spurgin, who were the parents of ten chil- dren, six of whom are living-William, John, Jesse, Amanda, Ellen and Joseph. In 1847 his parents moved to Henry county, Iowa, where they remained a few years, when they removed to Warren county, where they both died; his father in 1849, and mother in 1850. They were members of the M. E. Church, and always took an interest in the support of the same. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received a liberal education. In 1862 he married Susannah Lundy. By this union there was one child-Levi. In 1856 he came to Hardin county, and at the age of fifteen commenced breaking prairie. In 1864 he purchased a farm of 40 acres, where he lived until 1878, when he sold out and purchased his present farm, of 95 acres, valued at $45 per acre. The family are members of the Society of Friends.

H. M. Hadley, a son of J. S. and Anna (Mills) Hadley, was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, July 11, 1837, and came with his parents to this county in 1856. He was reared on a farm, and is practically a self-made man. In 1861 he married Tempy Tulburt, a daughter of William Tulburt. She was born in North Carolina, June 27, 1836. . Mr. and Mrs. Hadley are the parents of four living children-Julia M., Edwin, Annie L., and Effie C. Mr.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Hadley has a fine prairie farm of 106 acres, with a living spring, making it a desirable . stock farm. It is valued at $50 per acre.

Benjamin Mills was born in East Ten- nessee, Jefferson county, February 12, 1829.

He is a son of John and Mary Mills. In 1840 his parents emigrated with a four- horse team and prairie schooner to Keokuk county, Iowa. where they had to go fifty miles with teams, to mill. It being before land was in market, his father made a claim, where he remained until his death, in 1854. His mother died in August, 1846. Benja- min was reared on a farm, receiving but little schooling. He was married in Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1849, to Mary A. Maulsby. She was born in Putnam county, Indiana, June 6, 1830, and came with her parents to this State in 1837, and settled on Crocket creek, Washington county, where the In- dians were their nearest neighbors; the ,nearest white man being eight miles away. Her parents were driven from their claim by the Indians, and did not return for two years. They found their cabin safe; but some of their neighbors were not so fortu- nate. Mr. and Mrs. Mills are the parents of nine living children, viz .- Charles D., Ira, John W., Mary L., Henry M., Macy J., Lewis B., Ava R., and Martha L. In the summer of 1856 Mr. Mills came to Hardin county, Iowa, and settled on section 18, where he remained a few years, when he came to his present place .. He has 100 acres of land under cultivation, which is valued at $40 per acre.

Caleb Baldwin was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, on the 11th day of February, 1819; a son of John and Charlotte (Payne) Baldwin. Caleb was one of a family of nine-six sons and three daugli-

ters. In 1825 his parents emigrated to Wayne county, Indiana; purchasing tim- ber land, which he cleared and made a farm of, where they lived for a number of years. They were members of the Friends Church. Caleb Baldwin was reared in the wilds of Indiana, receiving his early edu- cation in the log cabin, going a mile and a quarter through the woods. In 1843. he married Mary Lindly, a daughter of David and Mary Lindly. She was born in North Carolina, November 24, 1822. They had a family of twelve children, ten of whom are living-Aceneth, Martha, Mary, Caroline, Lindley M., Hadly J., deceased; Horace C., Albert E., Emma, Oscar and Naomi. Mrs. Baldwin departed this life March 11, 1882. She was a member of the Honey Creek Monthly Meeting of Friends, and for many years acceptably filled the station of Elder in the Church. Like Timothy of old, from a child she had known, loved and diligently read the holy scriptures; diligent in attendance at meetings, inter- ested in the work of the church, especially in the Bible class and school, and in the cause of temperance. With the sick and afflicted she was a sympathizer, helper and comforter. At home she was wife and mother in the fullest sense; and, like De- borah of old, she was a mother in Israel. Mr. Baldwin has a beautiful residence in New Providence, valued at $2,500; 191 acres of land on section 16, and 16 acres on Honey creek, valued at $40 per acre.

S. S. Mulford, a merchant of New Provi- dence, was born in Ontario county, New York, on the 6th day of July, 1833, and is a son of Miller D. and Mary (Munson) Mul- ford, who were the parents of seven chil- dren (six sons and one daughter), six of

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

whom are living-Ansom M., Luther M., S. S., J. Burnett, Miller D., Jr., and Emily. His father, by occupation, was a carpenter and joiner, and is still living in Hardin county. His mother died in Erie, Penn- sylvania. She was a member of the Pres- byterian Church. In the spring of 1836 his parents emigrated to Erie, Pennsylva- nia, and, in 1849, to Racine, Wisconsin, and from there to LaPorte county, Indiana, where they remained until 1858, when they came to Hardin county. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and re- ceived but a limited education. In 1856 he came to this county. In 1860 he mar- ried Miss Linda T. Cobbs, a daughter of Thos. Cobbs, and a step-daughter of David Hunt. She was born in Ohio, in 1839. Four children have been born unto them-Eva L., David M., Emily and Anna Laura. Mr. and Mrs. Mulford are members of the So- ciety of Friends.

George W. Mitchell, one of the promi- nent farmers of Hardin county, was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, October 28, 1838, and is a son of Abner and Elizabeth Mitchell, who settled in Tazewell county, in 1832, remaining there a few years, when he removed to Rock Island county, Illi- nois, and from there to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where he died in 1878. His mother died in Rock Island county, Illi- nois, in 1849. Geo. W. Mitchell, in 1860, married Lorana A. Valentine, daughter of William and Margaret (Moore) Valentine. She was born in Mercer county, Illinois, May 24, 1841. By this union there were born eleven children, nine of whom are living, viz: Lucy C., Edwin N., Lois A., Miles E., Minnie M., Nellie G., Alice L., Linus C. H., William S. R. Mr. and Mrs.

Mitchell came to the county poor, having but three yoke of oxen and $25 in ready money, but to-day they are among the large and well-to-do farmers of the township. They have 268 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre. They are members of the M. E. Church, Mr. Mitchell enlisted, in 1861, in the 12th Regimint Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, Company A, and participated in the battles of Fort Donelson and Pittsburg Landing. At the time of the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, he was on detached duty in a hospital. He was taken prisoner and carried to Jackson, and from there to Libby Prison, where he was exchanged, rejoining his regiment at Vicksburg. The regiment veteranizing, he was assigned to the 35th Regiment Iowa Volunteers, the command being ordered to report to General Banks, at Alexandria, and was on the Red River expedition. He was under fire 62 times in 60 days. The command was then ordered north, and was on an expedition through Mississippi. He was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, No- vember 8, 1864.

Seneca Wildman, an acknowledged min- ister of the Society of Friends, and one of the early settlers of Hardin county, was born in Grayson county, Virginia, March 29, 1812. IIe is the son of John and Elizabeth (Bond ) Wildman, who were married in Virginia, where seven children were born. In 1812 they emigrated to Warren county, Ohio, where they remained a couple of years; thence to Clark county, Ohio, where they made a home, and where one child was born. His mother died in 1815, and father in 1840. They were mem- bers of the Society of Friends. The sub- ject of this memoir was reared on a farm,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

and was educated in a pioneer cabin. De- cember 26, 1833, he married Jane Hadley. She was born in Clinton county, Ohio, July 20, 1815. Mr. and Mrs. Wildman are the parents of four living children-Ruth, Elizabeth, William and Oliver S. In the summer of 1859 Mr. Wildman came to Hardin county for the purpose of settling his children. He purchased land in Har- din township, where he remained until 1871, when he came to his present home, where he is living a retired life.

Wm. Wildman was born in Clinton county, Ohio, on the 31st day of March, 1834, and received his early education in the common schools. He also attended Urlam College, at Richmond, Indiana. His parents came to the county in 1859. On the 13th day of October, 1836, he mar- ried Miss Aceneth J. Adams, a daughter of Joel and Rachel (Davis) Adams. She was born in Yadkin county, North Caro- lina, April 19, 1844. Mr. Wildman and his brother embarked in the mercantile business in New Providence, where he re- mained for two and a half years, when- his brother having died a year previous- he sold out, and in 1873 came to his present place, where he embarked in farm- ing and stock growing. He has a fine stock farm of 216 acres, valued at $35 per acre. Mr. Wildman makes a specialty of feeding and shipping stock, shipping from six to seven car loads per year. Mr. and Mrs. Wildman are the parents of three children-Alonzo S., Wm. M. and Clarence J. The family are members of the Society of Friends. Mr. Wildman is at present building a beautiful residence, with all the modern improvements of our best farm houses.

Daniel H. Martin, one of the pioneer ministers of Providence township, was born in Yadkin county, North Carolina, Jan. 4, 1821. His schooling was received in subscription schools. When nineteen years of age he commenced teaching school, and taught winters for about twenty years. December 12, 1844, he married Miss Malinda Reece, a daughter of Thos. and Leah (Greenwood) Reece. She was born December 7, 1821. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were blessed with nine child- ren, six living-Thos. A., born November 3, 1845; N. S., born January 25, 1848; Delphina K., born December 20, 1852; Zenas L., born September 27, 1855; Pene- lope C., born January 17, 1858; Alexander H., born February 27, 1861. In the sum- mer of 1859, Mr. Martin left North Caro- lina for Hardin county with teams. The roads being in a bad condition, he was two months making the trip. He has now 100 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre. In 1861, Mr. Martin embarked in the tannery business with his brother, Jesse F., prob- ably one of the first, if not the only one, that was ever operated in the township. Mr. Martin and family are members of the Society of Friends; he an acknowledged minister for thirty-two years.

ORGANIZATION.

By order of the County Judge in 1856, a portion of Union township was set off by itself, and Providence township was duly organized by the election in New Providence in April of that year of the following officers: Justices of the Peace, A. M. Mulford and James Fitzgerald; Trustees, Daniel Dillon, John Bowerman and Win. Andrews; Constable, J. Q.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Hickerman; Clerk, Cyrus McCracken; Assessor. Edward J. Reece.

RELIGIOUS.

Providence township, as it name indi- cates, is made up of a moral and religious people, who place their trust in an over ruling Providence, and who endeavor to conform strictly to the moral teachings of the New Testament Scripture, in practice showing their love to God by love to their fellow men. By far the greater number are composed of members of the Society of Friends, whose word is as good as their bond, and whose yea means yea, and nay means nay. The first religious services held in the township were in 1852 by the Society of Friends, at the house of one of their number, James L. Tulburt.

A preparative meeting was held at the house of William Dobbins, in the fall of 1852, at which time the Honey Creek Church was organized, composed of the following named: William Dobbins, Sr. and wife, William Dobbins, Jr. and family, Levi Reece and wife, William Reece and family, William Hobson, an acknowledged minister; James Tulburt and family, Joseph Dillon and family, Samuel Dillon and wife, James Rawnsly and family. Among those who. came soon after were Eleazer Andrews and family, Eli . Jessup and family, John Andrews and family. The first minister was Wm. Hobson.

The first meeting house erected by the Society was a double log building erected in 1854. This house was subsequently burned down, and in 1859 another building was erected in its place, 32x48. The build- ing has since been remodeled and enlarged, and to-day is a good comfortable building,

suitable for the worship of Almighty God. Mr. Reece and Mr. Hobson were quite active in the erection of the building, and deserve credit for their self-sacrificing labors. Delphina Reece is the clerk of the preparative meeting; Lindsey Jessup, clerk of the monthly meeting; Harlan Carter, clerk of the quarterly meeting, which is composed of one church at Honey creek, two at Providence, and one at Iowa Falls. Each of these congregations are in a flourishing condition, and much interest is felt in the cause. A Sunday School with Horace Baldwin as Superintendent is sus- tained, with a general attendance of from 35 to 45. Elkaner Reece, William S. Reece, Mary A. Mills and Minerva Spur- gin, teachers.

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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 97

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