History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States, Part 55

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States > Part 55

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ASPER McCRILLIS, a farmer and stock-raiser, making a speciality of Registered Poland-China swine and. thoroughbred Short-horn cattle, re- siding in Magnolia Township, came to Harrison County with his parents in the autumn of 1870, at which time they set- tler in the village of Calhoun. His father, John McCrillis, finally bought a farm in Taylor Township and our subject re- mained with him until 1875 ; here he at- tended the common schools as well as the High School at Magnolia after which he taught nine terms and then worked hisfa- ther's place on shares, continuing there until 1886, when he bought a farm of two hundred acres of improved land on sec- tions 35 and 36, of Raglan Township, and remained on this until March 5, 1890, when he bought a residence in the vil- lage of Magnolia, where he has remained

S.t. Taremany

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ever since. There he purchased a lot of ten acres adjoining the town plot; seven acres of this is in a fine orchard. Of his farm, eighty acres are under the plow, while the balance is in pasture and meadow land.

Our subject was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, October 22, 1854, and re- mained there until 1868, then the family removed to Mills County. Mr. McCrillis came to Harrison County, in 1870; he was married there October 2, 1881, to Miss Mary Z. Bessire. Mr. and Mrs. McCrillis are the parents of five children : Clarence W., Essie M., Harvey R., Florence and Verna. Mrs. McCrillis was born in Allen County, Ohio, February 28, 1863, and with her parents, came to this county in 1875. She is an acceptable member of the Con- gregational Church at Magnolia.

Politically, our subject is identified with the Democratic party. He belongs to Magnolia Lodge, No. 126, of the Masonic order.

S J. PATTERSON, M. D., of the Dunlap Bank, has been intimate enough with the comings and goings of Harrison county's people to entitle him to a biographical notice in this connection :

He is a native of Franklin County, Pa., born at Mercersburg on the 1st of March, 1843, the son of James and Sarah (Agnew) Patterson, natives of Lancaster and Ful- ton Counties respectively, and of Scotch- Irish descent. The mother died in 1844 at the age of thirty-seven and the father at the age of sixty in 1858. They reared a family of nine children, two of whom died in infancy. Our subject was next to the youngest of the children. His early

life was spent in the Keystone State, on his father's farm until he was fourteen years of age, at which time he entered school, preparatory to taking a thorough collegiate course. On the breaking out of the Rebellion, in 1861, he in company with three of his schoolmates, decamped in the night from Tuscarora Academy, and went to Harrisburg, and enlisted as members of Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry. This enlistment was August 2, 1862, and our subject was mustered out of service May 20, 1863, during which period he par- ticipated in the following engagements : Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and mi- nor engagements. . He was at Antietam but did not participate in that struggle. Soon after his return from the United States service, he began the study of medicine at Chambersburg, Pa., un- der Dr. J. C. Richards, and John Montgomery, graduating in 1867, from Bellevue Hospital, Medical College New York City. He first located in Watson- town, Pa., where he practiced his pro- fession, about one year and then came to Dunlap, after having made a detour through several States in search of a loca- tion. He dates his location at Dunlap from June, 1868. and in 1869, associated himself with Dr. Dwight Satterlee, in the drug business, which they conducted in connection with their practice. They erected a frame structure for their busi- ness house, the same being one of the old- est in the place. This partnership existed until 1882, when our subject sold his inter- est to his partner. During the next three years, he confined himself almost exclusive- ly to the practice of medicine, but at that time gave it up and accepted the position of cashier of the Dunlap Bank, which position he still holds, He had purchased,

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an interest in this banking house in 1878, and the same year they erected the pres- ent bank building. He is also President of the Opera House Company, which was formed in 1884, and was also one of the organizers of the Dunlap District Fair Association, of which he stillis a director, and was one of the men to help in the in- corporation of Dunlap. He is treasurer of the Dunlap Cemetery Association, as well as the Independent School District of Dunlap. In municipal matters he has been a member of the town council. Was a member of the school board six years, part of which time he acted as president. · Socially, our subject ranks high- in his community. He is a member of the Hospitable Lodge, No. 244, of A. F. & A. M. and Ark Chapter No. 89, of Royal Arch Masons of which he is High Priest.

Having worn the loyal blue, as a soldier in the Union army he very naturally finds a place in the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and is a member of Shields Post, No. 83, and has just vacated the chair of the Western Iowa Veteran Association, which comprises six counties-Harrison, Craw- ford, Ida, Shelby, Monona, and Pottawat- tamie.

He is one of the public-spirited men of his county, always on the alert in matters which contribute to the up building of his community. Being one of the pioneer physicians of the eastern part of the coun- ty, he found it very laborious, and after having been here three years he took a trip to Pennsylvania, where upon May 18, 1871 he was married to Anna M. Moore, daughter of A. P. and Rebecca (Junkin) Moore, natives of Pennsylvania and of Scotch-Irish descent. Her mother passed from the scenes of earth, in 1885, at the age of sixty-three years. The father is still living, in Lawrence County Pa,,

where he is an extensive dealer in real estate, as well as in Harrison and Mo- nona Counties, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, have one daughter, Bessie B., now attending Wil- son's College at Chambersburg, Pa. They are associated with the Congregational Church, but were raised in the Presbyter- ian faith.

Politically, Mr. Patterson is an active Republican, and has been frequently urged to accept the nomination for var- ious offices in his county and state. But he preferred to remain at home, and at- tend to his own private affairs,

While success more frequently comes from early choosing a calling in life, and then pursuing that vocation through life, it is nevertheless true, that men of busi- ness sagacity judiciously invest their earnings in such a manner that they feel justified in abandoning their early profess- ion, living a more retired and independent life which is the case of the man of whom we write.

N. GOODRICH, of Missouri Valley, together with the genealogy of the Goodrich family, will form the sub- ject matter of this notice. It is not the desire of the author to consume the pages of the history of Harrison County in re- counting the births and deaths of the Goodrich family for the past five hundred years or more, who have their genealogy corroborated by English history from the earliest day. The following is an abridged sketch of the traditional and historical account of the Goodrich family. Many volumes could be truthfully written, which would be but an abbreviated account of the family ;

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HARRISON COUNTY.

The earliest account we have of this family, was about the time of the Christian era. At this particular time the Romans had possession of Britain, and for many years prior to this date the merchants in the North of Caesar's Government, had enjoyed something of a trade with the people of this newly acquired territory. And it came to pass that a certain one of these merchants of Saxon origin, wishing to further his interests in this traffic ob- tained a grant of land and erected thereon a very strong fort or castle, for the pro- tection and safety of his goods and prop- erty. The people of the island were very crude in their ideas, their habits and hab- itations, as well; and we are sorry to say, the seas surrounding it were infested with pirates of the mostdebased and wicked type. For safety the people lived in villages, their tenements being chiefly constructed of wood and roofed with thatch. At any time these communities were liable to be overpowered by an armed force of bandits or pirates. The fathers and mothers were usually murdered; all their cattle and hogs (of which they had many) driven away, the young people and children were kidnapped, taken in boat.to Rome and sold for slaves. When this Saxon mer- chant, or trader, saw how wicked these people were, who committed so many dep- redations in the country, he built his castle very much larger and it was used as a fort for many hundreds of people who dwelt there.

Nowit is easy to see that this old Saxon sire of the Goodrich family monopolized the trade from a great many miles of ter- ritory ; and it is believed that he was the first trader that had ever come from Roman dominion, the Government of Science, Literature, and the Arts, and located on the Isle of Britain, which was many years

afterward called England. His business was to export the commodities, or pro- ducts of the island to the cities of North- ern Europe and trade for their manufac- tured wares, and fabrics which he again traded to the people. The children for several hundreds of years kept up the business of their fathers, but times changed, the country changed, the people changed. The assassination and murder for plunder was abated, to some extent, but the confiscation of property and fines by the various Kings, who came into the country, seemed to take its place. Stock- raising, vineyards and tilling the lands became the industries of the people. Dur- ing this time thousands of wars, devasta- tion and vicissitudes of every kind and character hal swept the country. King- doms had come and gone ; Kings had lived and died, but Goodrich Castle was never subdued or taken, until after eight hun- dred years. It had been the object of many scores of sieges ; times without num- ber had the people of the surrounding neighborhoods and villages with their stock of valuables of every sort been safely housed behind its forbid ling walls of rock. For all projectiles of every kind and make had been hurled against it, by the con- tending foes without, and made as little impression as the rain-drops. Inside were wells of water, bakeries, blacksmith shops, carpenters, stones for grinding grain, and butchers, while within its breadth and height were acres of storage-room, for food for man and beast. During the time of a siege everything was life and anima- tion inside. Throngs of soldiers with shield in hand, manned the parapets and towers, hurling down spears and shooting arrows at the enemy, while others were engaged in hoisting huge rocks, for the soldiers to plunge down on the heads of

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those who attempted to scale the walls. If the assailing party was the emissary of a King, a compromise was usually made. But the end finally came, Goodrich Castle was taken by the most perfect stratagem of an offended Danish King, and restored to them by Harold, the last of the Saxon Kings, who fell fighting for the altars and fires of Britain. Who shall say where the uncrowned sons of Godwin sleep, or deter- mine the amount of blood and treasure contributed by the house or Castle of Good- rich-they too, were Saxon, loyal to Har- old and his cause, William would blot from the memory of the land the names of its bravest defenders, placing in their stead those who furthered his designs. The property was again confiscated, the lands being distributed among the nobles and soldiers of William the Conquerer.

Goodrich Castle is in an excellent state of preservation at the present time. It is situated in the extreme south of Herford- shire on the river which empties its tor- rents of crystal water into Bristol Chan- nel. The historian Ingulph says : "In the year 870 the venerable father Goodrich (Godrick, Saxon, Goodrich, English) though very reluctant and making great opposi- tion thereto was elected Abbot of Croy- land. The Abbot for the next four years was harrassed by fines and confiscations by the King of Mercia, until that King- dom ended and in the year A. D. 940, weighed down with extreme old age, Goodrich, Abbot of Croyland, died." This without doubt was one of the last holders of the estate. Since the time of confis- cation the Goodrichs have lived in all parts of England, and engaged in all kinds of honorable pursuits, usually holding small tracts of land. From the time of Henry the Eighth, the genealogy comes un- broken. In the early part of the reign of

said King, Thomas Goodrich was appointed by him one of the translators of the Bible, the book of John being his part. This same Thomas Goodrich, with others, com- piled the Prayer-Book, now used by the Episcopal Church. John and William Goodrich immigrated to America in the forepart of the sixteenth century, from which nearly all bearing the name are de- scendants, as the history of America shows. Among the relatives of this fam- ily, is the late S. C. Goodrich, of New York, the great American writer and his- torian; Chancy A, Goodrich, reviser of Webster's dictionary, also Chancy Good- rich, Congressman, and later on Lieuten- ant Governor of Massachusetts; Judge Grant Goodrich, of Chicago, and his brother, who was the late owner of the lake steamers, which has carried the farm products and commerce of the Western country to the Eastern seaboard for the last thirty years. And so on, until we find this family at Missouri Valley. Jesse Goodrich, the grandfather, was born in 1757, was a Revolutionary soldier; voted for George Washington the first time, his last vote being cast for Zachariah Taylor.

It will be observed that the best anti- quarians that could be employed at various dates, all agree that the plan of architec- ture on the oldest part of Goodrich Castle was used only by the Saxons about the time of the beginning of the Christian era, Now we pass down to A. D. 870, we find the family still in possession. The historian relates the circumstances of the Danish King, Ethelred, collecting tax from the "Venerable Father Godric," and further on the writer speaks of his death, in A. D. 940. A hundred years later, and under the reign of Edward, we find Earl Godwin, grandson of the venerable Priest of Croyland, in possession of the estate.

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HARRISON COUNTY.

The Earl had command of an army of soldiers of his own. He had confronted the King in battle array, and compelled him to perform certain acts, but Earl God- win and King Edward were the best of friends, when their united force met Will- iam at the battle of Hastings, in 1066, when all was lost. As time passed on, the Goodrichs still clung to their tradition, hoping the Saxons would yet be able to throw off the Norman yoke, and they re- instated to their rightful possessions, of which William had robbed him. This hope was finally given up, but the Good- richs believing that they had tlie oldest lineage of any family in the world, kept their tradition. In the latter part of the fourteenth century we find one of the sires, Thomas Goodrich, assisting. in the revision of the Bible, when the wicked King Henry rebelled from the church at Rome. One hundred and fifty years later, William and John Goodrich, grandsons of Thomas, embarked for America and settled in Connecticut. We would go on and relate where, and when, each one of the fathers was born and died up to the present date, but this would be of no in- terest to the reader who is hunting after the early history of Harrison County, Iowa. With this genealogy, we turn again to Goodwin B. Goodrich, born March 1, 1784; married first time Ruth Bane, at Clarksville, Pa. When the young couple had settled themselves for the beginning in married life, and everything appeared as happy as could be, Goodwin was drafted by the Government. His brother John volunteered to make him company. Good- win bade his young wife good-bye, and the two brothers, with five others, set off on foot, through the woods and snows of winter, for some camp near Niagara Falls. The hardships which they were called

upon to endure, and the conflicts of shot and shell that they engaged in, could not be related in a reminiscence of this kind, but one of the thrilling engagements that the boys took part in, is known to all-the battle of Perry's Victory, on Lake Erie. A great many times have the children heard their fathers relate this bloody and awful event on the sea. There were a number of vessels on each side. The British seemed to think that by sinking the vessel wliere the commander was, would help their cause, so when that dis- covery was made, the shot and shell from more than two score of cannon was poured into the ship, until it sunk; but they were mistaken about drowning the brave com- mander, as the lifeboat saved most of the crew, though Perry came near being lost ; a cannon ball went through the bow of the skiff. All would have been lost in a moment, but the General snatched his coat from his shoulders which bore the gold epaulets and emblems of his rank, and with his knee crowded it into the ugly hole, where the water was spouting forth, with the cheering command, "one more pull and we will be safe!"

Goodwin had one son, Asher, and two daughters by his first marriage, Sarah and Elizabeth. It was some time in the '40s that Asher went to Tipton, Ind., and with his own hands he chopped the trees from a spot of ground large enough for a dwell- ing lot. Ten rods distant, where a street was indicated by the blaze on the trees he cut his timber, burned logs and brush, and here he erected a store-house, and was the pioneer merchant in Tipton. Later on he built a woolen factory in another part of the city ; these buildings are to be seen at this time. He died in 1855, and has one living daughter. Her name is Belle Pike. In 1876 the Pikes were removed to Pekin

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in China, he being made supervisor over a portion of the Methodist Episcopal Mis- sionary schools of that city, and up to date they have not had an hour's vacation.

In 1827 Goodwin's first wife died; in 1831 he married Kezia Lloyd. The family of Lloyd's were from Hereford, in Eng- land, near Ross, hence were acquainted with Goodrich Castle, and the territory that had once belonged to the Goodrich estate. Kezia Lloyd had been very care- fully educated. She brought up nine chil- dren without a physician and was a woman of more than ordinary ability, and was re- ligious ; her childhood home was Hagers- town, Md., her father being a merchant. Shortly after their marriage, Goodwin with his young wife located on a farm near Mt. Vernon, Ohio. The politics of the Good- riches from the Revolutionary war down, was the kind that supported Washington, Jackson and Polk. In 1861 William Lloyd and Lewis Goodrich and their brother-in- law, Jacob Byers, responded to Lincoln's call for five hundred thousand men to pre- vent the dissolution of States. Now the veteran grandfather of these boys, at the age of eighteen, in the Revolution, had marched hundreds of miles through woods and over mountains, elbows out, feet tied in rags ; most of the time no shoes or hat ; occasionally days at a time passed without food. The only cause he knew was liberty, the only friend that Jesse knew was his dear old mother in Connecticut, who as often as opportunity presented, sent him a pair of shoes and socks, with other gar- ments, always adding a bundle of bullets which she had moulded to help on the struggle for freedom later on. Their fathers, too, had spent many weeks and months in defending the rights of the new Republic against Britain and her pirates on the high seas. With this knowledge

of the past, and the late disaster of Bull Run, the boys started, believing that one Republic, one Government, would be bet- ter in North America, than two. Lloyd, Lewis and Jacob were enrolled in Com- pany F, Sixty-fifth Ohio Infantry, (Sher- man's Brigade) at Mansfield, Ohio. At the same time William volunteered in the Fourth California Infantry, and was after- ward killed by the Indians in Arizona Territory.

Lloyd Goodrich was twenty-one years old, light complexion, blue eyes, about six feet high, and rather heavy set. There was not a soldier in the regiment who could, or did endure more hardships, of war or battle than he. Lewis was seven - teen years old, smaller than Lloyd and appeared altogether too young, and too much of a lad to undertake the brunt and burden of army life. But he did stand it with Lloyd's help, without a falter or a furlough, until the battle of Stone River, in 1863. After the battle of Shiloh in 1862, Jacob Byers was made Regimental Bugler, his place being at headquarters always on duty night or day, and he knows full well, to this day, how to sound the commands "Advance" "Charge" or "Re- treat." The times were not few during the five years of his service, when in the awful din from the fire of death, Jacob watching his opportunity, sounded the call, which led the gallant command to many a victory. January 2, 1863, at the battle of Stone River, Company F was supporting a battery, while the position of one of the cannon was being shifted, four of the horses took fright from the bursting shell, that was poured into the gunners. Just at that time the terrified beasts went plunging down the hill, through the right flank. Lloyd sprang aside to let them pass. A shelldropped at thatinstant,

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killing Lloyd Goodrich, with two of the horses, life lasting but a few minutes. Lloyd said, "It will kill mother, when she knows that I am dead, but we have gained the day." They buried him, with fifteen hundred more who perished on that day.

At the time of the battle of Shiloh, Lewis was wounded a little above the knee, which destroyed his locomotion for a number of days, and for a short time following this, he with others, was sent north to inspect railroad bridges. Some days after the battle of Perryville, he had the diphtheria, from which a distressing cough lingered, and in the early part of 1863, completely broken down by the hard- ships of army life, young Goodrich was discharged and taken home by his brother George, who by the kindness of Gov. Brough (Bruff) was permitted to go after him. In the spring of 1863 the health of Lewis was far from a satisfactory condi- ticn. Dr. Hayes, of Mt. Vernon, recom- mended a change of climate, hence it was decided to send the invalid to Magnolia, Iowa, to his two sisters. In pursuance the lad was directed by his mother and brother George to go to a relative in Cleveland, who was owner of a steamship line and get transportation for the West. The elegantly equipped ship anchored at Cleveland, looked inviting, but the dan- gers from ice and winds caused him to take a different route. It was a warm Sunday morning in the last of March, 1863. Everything was quiet at John Dal- ly's house, no one expected visitors : Aunt Lucy and the children were at church, ' when the stage-coach halted at the door. A thin, pale young man alighted; there were two bullet-holes in his clothes, and two wounds that were not entirely healed. Mrs. Dally had noticed the hackman's halt, and with tears of joy ran to wel-

come her unexpected brother. At this time Mr. and Mrs. Dally had lived in the State about twelve years, most of the time near Ft. Dodge. Lucy Goodrich (now Mrs. Wright, of Dunlap) had been in the State but two years, and was one of the pioneer school teachers. Upon his arrival, Lewis was compelled to go to bed ; Dr. J. H. Rice was called with his excel- lent prescriptions and by a sister's care, the middle of April found him nearly every day at the store of Dally & Perly, busy making new acquaintances. At this time Magnolia probably contained the population of four hundred people; had a good school; one church (Congregational) and other church organizations. One Free Mason Lodge and another order called Union Leauge. Among the young peo- ble, who resided in this little city could be found George McDuffy, Newton and Henry Lorenz, William Eaton, James Hardy, John Bly and others. Among the young ladies were Betty and Amelia Hard, Lucy Goodrich, Helen Lorenz, May Downs, Mollie Harvey, Cynthia Scofield. John Williams kept the livery stable, the den where he kept his vicious bronchos, and other apparently wild beasts were un- der a straw pile. There were no signs of vehicles in the vicinity of this stack, ex- cept a hay-rack, one sled with something . like the top story of a band-wagon for a box, and an ugly lop-eared hound which kept all customers at a distance until John came to the front and called off the dogs. At this particular period of frontier life John's customers had to go either on foot or horseback, on account of the high price asked for other modes of convey- ance. Magnolia was the county seat, and the court room was used for a city hall. William Fallon owned the stately tavern stand on the hill, but William Raymond

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History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Iowa, and of the presidents of the United States, Part 55

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1150

Author: National Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, National Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1150