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 82
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Our subject's first wife was a direct de- scendant of Daniel Boone, and she was born in Harrison County, Ind., April 22, 1829. Her mother died when she was a small child and she lived with her father until her marriage.
Susan (Hunt) Purcell was born in Muh- lenberg, County, Ky., October 10, 1839, and in 1852 came with her parents to Pot- tawattamie County, Iowa. They remained one year and then removed back to Ken- tucky, and three years later came back to Pottawattamie County where she re- mained with her parents until she was married.
Mr. Purcell was a member of Company A, Twenty ninth Iowa Infantry from July to ·October, 1863, when he was discharged for disabilities contracted in the Mexican War.
Mr. and Mrs. Purcell are members of the Latter Day Saints Church.
Jesse Purcell, father of our subject, was born at Old Ft. Redstone, now Pittsburg, February 20, 1788, and removed with his parents to Harrison County, Ky., where he married Miss Jane Akers, and then re- moved to New Albany (or to where the place has since been built) and from there he removed to Harrison County, Ind.,
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where he cleared up a piece of timber land but before he procured money enough to enter the same another man entered the land ahead of him, this being the second experience of the kind he had had. After this he removed to Putnam County and entered the land that Greencastle stands on, which was then in the big woods; his claim contained two hundred acres. He went into partnership, freighting from Cincinnati to Louisville, also to Indianap- olis, Terre Haute, Greencastle and other points. Owing to his partnership relations he failed, only leaving him $100, after which he entered eighty acres of land five miles from Greencastle, where he cleared up a fine farm, which he lived upon until 1853, and then sold land went to Vigo County, Ind., and came to Harrison County in 1856, and purchased an early settler's claim of one hundred acres, being a part of section 14, of Magnolia Township. There was a small log house on the place, which had neither doors nor windows. He improved this place and lived there the remainder of his days, dying February 16, 1868. He had served in the War of 1812 and drew two land warrants. He left the Mormon Church at the time of the excite- ment over polygamy.
Jane (Akers) Purcell was born in Harri- son County, Ky., and died in Harrison County, Iowa, May 25, 1868. They were the parents of twelve children, our subject being the ninth child.
R EVERDY J. MILLER, editor and proprietor of the Missouri Valley Eye, first associated himself with the interests of Harrison County in June, 1889, when he purchased the
above-named newspaper plant from M. B. Cox, and has conducted the same ever since, except about eight months, when it was in the hands of Pettit & Wilson & E. F. Wilson.
To acquaint the reader with our sub- ject's early life and family connection it may be stated that he is a native of Allamakee County, Iowa. His parents were George R. and Mary E. (Burchinal) Miller, who resided at Rossville, Allama- kee County, at the date of Reverdy J.'s birth. His parents were natives of the old Keystone State. The father received a liberal education and was admitted to the bar prior to the breaking out of the Civil War. In 1856 he came to Allama- kee County, Iowa, and represented that county in the Twelfth General Assembly. In 1862 he enlisted as a member of Com- pany I, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, and was made Captain of his company, serving until 1864, when he returned and practiced his chosen profession with emi- nent success. In 1869 he removed from Allamakee County to Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, where he became a prominent citizen and social factor. He died at Mason City, October 29,1885. His wife still lives at that place. It was said of Hon. George R. Miller that his only failing was that "he was too good to his family," a record any son may well refer to with pride.
Reverdy J., of whom this sketch is written, commenced attending the com- mon schools of Allamakee County in 1865. After the family removed to Mason City he graduated from the excellent High School in that city, in 1878, after which he followed teaching for a time. In 1881 he entered the State University at Iowa City, graduating from the law department in 1884, but he never followed
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this as a profession. After leaving col- lege he engaged in the real-estate busi- ness at Mason City. He followed this until he came to Harrison County.
Politically Mr. Miller votes the same ticket which his father faithfully sup- ported for so many years -the Demo- cratic, believing, as he does, that this party best serves the interests of the masses of American citizens and free- holders.
Mr. Miller is a single man, and since 1885 has been publishing the Iowa Work- man, which is the official organ of the Ancient Order of United Workmen for Iowa.
During the Indian troubles in Dakota in the winter of 1890-91 he was made cor- respondent for the New York Herald and was present in the wilds of the West dur- ing a greater part of that struggle. He is a practical newspaper man, thoroughly posted on all present-day topics, and one who is possessed of a quick, keen compre- hension of all that is required of a mod- ern-day journalist, in which role he is successful.
BEL POWLEY, a farmer living on section 36, Lincoln Township, came to Harri-on County, January 1, 1873, and bought the farm he now occupies, which was partly improved, and for which he paid $40 per acre. He has since built a house 16x24 feet, with a wing 14x24 feet, and a kitchen 16 feet square. He has two other houses on his place. At first his farm consisted of three hundred and eighty acres, but he has since added
to his landed estate until he now has fif- tren hundred acres in Harrison County, and nearly all in Lincoln Township, seven hundred acres of which are under cultiva- tion. Unlike many other men who came to Harrison County, this man set his stakes, and remained in one place and is noted for always being at home. It is said that for six months at a time, he has not been seen in town.
To learn something of this man's earlier life, it may be said that he was born at Reeps, England, February 16, 1834. He is the son of John and Mary Powley, who had twelve children, he being the eldest : Abel, John W., William, George (de- ceased), Noah, two deceased, Louisa, Eliza; two died in infancy, and Mary A.
Our subject lived in England until he was nineteen years of age, when he ac- companied his parents to America, land- ing in New York, where for their first meal of victuals they had buckwheat cakes, the first they had ever eaten. Our sub- ject came from New York to Medina, and hired out to work on a farm, and lived in that vicinity for thirteen years, and then bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on the shore of Lake Ontario, in Yates County, and ran in debt $10,00u, he operated the farm above referred to, for about four years, and then exchanged it for his present farm without ever seeing the one he traded for, which, however proved to be one of the best in Iowa.
He was married, December 25, 1855,. to Mary Woolston, daughter of David and Mary Woolston, natives of England, who were the parents of the following five chil- dren, William, Sarah, Ann, James and Mary. These children are all living, and three live in America. Mr. and Mrs. Pow- ley are the parents of six children, born as follows : Benjamin, Albert A., Horace, Abel,
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George and Fred, all of whom live in Har- rison County except the oldest, Benja- min, who lives in Mills County. He be- longs to Masonic Lodge, No. 402 of the Masonic order at Woodbine.
OHN MANN, JR., a farmer living on section 28, Allen Township, has been a resident of Harrison County since the spring of 1871, when he accompanied his parents, who located at Bigler's Grove in Boyer Township. He lived at home and worked with his par- ents, always being a trustworthy and faithful child. After doing what he could for his folks at home, he purchased the farm he now occupies in 1876. The place consisted of eighty acres of wild land, bought on a contract. He turned over the virgin sod, built him a house, barns, granary, etc., and has since added to his farm until he now has two hundred. and forty acres, one-half of which is under the plow. The premises are made still more valuable and attractive by an orchard of four acres, as well as an abundance of shade trees which provide a shade during the summer months, as well as a wind- break during the mid-winter days.
. Our subject was born across the sea. His birthplace was in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents were John and Sarah Mann, who were also born in the land of "Robby Burns," and came from a sturdy ances- try, for which that country is so noted. They reared a family of six children, named as follows: Saralı, John, Thomas, James, Mary G. and Janet R. These sons and daughters are all residents of Harrison County, except Sarah, wholives in Nebraska. Our subject was seventeen
years old when he came to America, and he came direct from New York to Wood- bine, Iowa, only requiring sixteen days to make the trip from Glasgow.
Our subject was united in marriage April 13, 1881, to Candice Imlay, daughter · of Solomon and Jane Imlay, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respectively, and who lived at Magnolia, this county, about thirteen years, but now reside in South Dakota. They reared a family of eight children, our subject's wife being their first-born. Her brothers and sisters were in the following order : Candice, our sub- ject's wife; Omar J., Delila I., Addie, Seldon H., David F., William M. and John.
Mr. and Mrs. Mann have been blessed with the following children, born in the order given: Howard H., March 18, 1882; Arthur E., July 29, 1883; Nellie, Decem- ber 12, 1884; Mary G., March 29, 1856; John R., December 22, 1887; Ethel, Sep- ember 22, 1889; and Maggie J., March 21, 1891.
W H. VAN. SLYKE, City Marshal at Dunlap, has been a resident of Harrison County since 1872. He is a native of western New York and was born in 1841. His parents were Henry and Sally (Folts) VanSlyke, who were of German extraction. Our subject was reared in the Empire State and when twenty-one years of age, enlisted (August 12, 1862,) as a member of Company F, One Hundred and Sixteenth New York Infantry, and was discharged June 26, 1865, at Buffalo, N. Y., having served un- til the close of the war. He left the ser- vice as Orderly Sergeant and was com- missioned as Second Lieutenant in 1863,
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but never served as such. He was wounded at the battle of Koch's Planta- tion, in Louisiana, July 13, 1863, and came very near being taken prisoner by the rebels on that day. Among the engage- ments he participated in were Store Plains, Louisana, May 21, 1863, Ft. Hudson, May 27, 1863, and was under almost con- stant fire for fifty four days, during which time they were without relief. He was also engaged at the battle of Sabine Cross- roads, Louisiana. The day following the battle of Pleasant Hill his command was ordered to Washington, and was sent from there by "forced march" to Shenandoah Valley and was placed under Sheridan's command during the balance of the war, taking part in the battles of Cedar Creek, Fishers' Hill and Winchester, and from the date of President Lincoln's assassina- tion they were held in Washington to guard prisoners. Our subject's company was one that stood well to the front for bravery, and the matter of endurance of hardships, always being ready for active duty.
In 1866, after the close of the war, Mr. VanSlyke worked in a cheese factory in New York, in which he had an interest and remained there until 1871, and then engaged in the furniture business for a short time in Jamestown, N. Y. He then came West, visiting several points, and in 1872 came to Dunlap, where he engaged in various pursuits until the spring of 1874, at which time he went on the merchant's police force for two years, but resigned that position and engaged in the manufac- ture of barbed wire with Colwell, Thomp- son & Co., with which company he was associated for five months, and then re- turned to the police force and has acted in that capacity ever since. He has been City Marshal of Dunlap for nine years.
He is a rock-rooted Republican and a
member of Shields Post, No. 83, of the G. A. R., and was Quartermaster of this post from the time of its organization un- til 1891, when he was elected Post Com- mander but refused to accept the position. He is also an honored member of Hospi- table Lodge, No. 244, of the A. F. & A. M. and member of Acorn Camp, No. 325, M. W. A.
Our subject was married August 1, 1866, to Miss Ermina R. Colwell, born in Sar- dinia, N. Y., April 24, 1844. Mr. and Mrs. VanSlyke are the parents of six children- Bert C., located at Tacoma, in the employ of a surveying party : Carl H., telegraph operator in the employ of the North Western railway; Ada, deceased; Frank L., a book-keeper and expert penman in a bank at Manilla, Iowa; Lew S., de- ceased; Katie, deceased.
The father of our subject was Henry VanSlyke, born in Schoharie County, N. Y., in 1811, died at Ashford, Cattaraugus County, N. Y., about 1845. He was the son of Augustus and Betsy VanSlyke, who were descendants of Hollanders but were natives of New York. The great- grandfather of our subject was Nicholas VanSlyke, who came direct from Holland. He carried a musket in the Revolutionary War and died in New York State. His son, the grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the War of 1812 and carried the same musket which his father had used in the Revolutionary War. Augustus VanSlyke was a farmer by occupation and died in 1865, at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife, the grandmother of our subject, died in 1868. They were the par- ents of the following children-David, a resident of Galesville, Wis., who is a Methodist minister; Andrew, a farmer of Chautauqua County, N. Y .; Henry, de- ceased; Nicholas, of Springville, N. Y.,
63
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a brick-mason and plasterer by trade; Augustus, deceased; Orlena, wife of John Nye, deceased, a resident of Ashford, N. Y .; Polly, deceased wife of John Oyer, also deceased.
Henry, the father of our subject, was a farmer early in life but subsequently en- gaged in the hotel business. He married Sallie Folts, who was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., and is now living in Sar- dinia, Erie County, N. Y. She was the daughter of Joseph and Betsy Folts, who were also natives of the Empire State, and he was in the War of 1812 and was of Holland descent. They had a family of eight children-Timothy, deceased; Hy- rum, deceased; William, a farmer residing near Mansfield, N. Y .; Oliver, proprietor of the hotel at Ashford, N. Y .; Sallie, the mother of our subject; Mary, deceased, in 1889; Margaret, wife of Morris Wood- ruff, a resident of Little Valley, N. Y .; Elizabeth, wife of Justin Munger, a resi- dent of Olean, N. Y.
The parents of our subject had a family of three children-Joseph, deceased at the age of four years; William, our sub- ject, and James, a resident of Sardinia, N. Y. By her second marriage our subject's mother had three children-Amelia, wife of Lewis Soule, a resident of Collins Cen- tre, Erie County, N. Y .; Horace, a bridge carpenter of Springville, N. Y., and Eugene, a farmer living near Sardinia, N. Y.
M ARION PURCELL. Thirty-five years ago, and three years after Harrison County was organized, and when our subject was about seventeen years of age, he came to this
part of the wild West, and has seen the county developed from one stage to an- other, has seen the nimble-footed deer, forever frightened from the country by the quicker speed of the screaming loco- motive, the modern-day emblem of civili- zation.
He was born in Putnam County, Ind., May 15, 1839, and is the son of Benjamin and Ella A. (Tyler) Purcell, natives of Kentucky, and who were the parents of thirteen children: John M., deceased; Marion, Emiline; Thomas, and Sarah J., deceased; Nephi, Alma, Nancy A., Ma- tilda, Permillia, David, Josephine and Benjamin.
Our subject lived with his parents on the farm in the Hoosier State, until they exchanged that for the Hawkeye State in 1856. They first settled in Pottawatta- mie County, where they leased land one year, and then removed to this county. It will be remembered in this connection, that our public school system, in all its perfection, stands out in great contrast, over the common district school, found in Indiana at an early day. As our subject's parents were very poor people, their son was not permitted to receive the liberal education now vouchsafed to almost any farmer boy of to day.
Our subject was married July 8, 1858, to Emiline (Boone) Purcell, daughter of Emmet and Betsy P. Boone, natives of Kentucky, who had a family of seven chil- dren : Anna, Jane, Amanda, Emaline, Samuel, John and Laura. By this mar- riage union four children were born: Syl- vester T., Benjamin C., Columbus M., and Emaline. For his second wife our subject married Miss Crawford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Logan Crawford, by which nar- riage union two sons were born: Oliver R., and Ira M. For his third wife, Mr.
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Purcell married Lucy Pickard, daughter of John Pickard, a native of New York. By this marriage union three children were born : John, Frank P., and Oscar.
Upon coming to this country, the Pur- cell family bought eighty acres of land in Boyer Township, for which they paid $2 per acre. Their first improvements con- sisted of a ."dug-out" covered with rails, hay and dirt, with no floor. It was the first habitation on Willow River, north of Elk Creek. This rude structure was oc- cupied for two years, when a log cabin, 18x20 feet was erected, and provided with a board roof, while the land was fenced with forks and poles. When twenty years of age, our subject's father gave him his time, and it will be understood that it was well improved, (just at that time) for he went back to the Hoosier State, remained one year and a half, and returned with a bride. He rented land of his father, one season, providing himself with another prairie mansion ("sod house") but after one year moved down the Willow, near Magnolia, remained a year, then lived with his father a year, and raised a pair of mules which he traded for forty acres of land in Magnolia Township. Here he re- mained for seven years, having one hun- dred and twenty acres of land, at the end of that time, all under cultivation. He sold this property and bought an equal amount of wild land near Elk Creek which he improved and lived upon for six years, and then sold and bought the place he now lives upon, consisting of a quarter section. For its size, there is no better found in Harrison County; it has a fine orchard of one hundred trees and plenty of small fruit.
When our subject came to Harrison County it was no unfrequent sight to see large droves of deer and elk; using his
own language, "I have counted one hun- dred and twenty-five deer in one drove, and forty five elk, and I believe that I have killed as many as two hundred deer since I came to Iowa."
OHN G. REDINBAUGH, a farmer of section 20, Union Township came to Harrison County in the spring of 1868. He was a poor man at the time, and rented land of E. Ervin in Jefferson Township for four years. Then he pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres of land upon which he now lives, paying $7.50 for the same. He built a house 18x 26 feet two stories high, and a barn 20x30 feet, also a granary 14x20 feet and provid- ed his premises with three good wells, employing wind-power for pumping water He also set out a one hundred and fifty-tree orchard as well as a nice line of shade trees. He has added to his landed estate until he now possesses three hundred and eighty-five acres, one hundred acres of which are under cultivation, and the bal- ance in pasture and hay land, except twen- ty-five acres of a timber lot in Harris Grove. Mr. Redinbaugh was originally from the Buckeye State, born in Miami County, Ohio, January 12, 1836. He is the son of Joseph and Nancy (Graham) Redinbaugh, who were the parents of the following children-Joseph, deceased; Margaret, deceased ; John G., Henry C., and Mary (twins) of whom Henry is de- ceased and William M. deceased.
Our subject stayed at home until he was of age after which time he went to Illinois, and worked on the farm by the month for three years, then bought a team and rent-
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ed land, remaining in Illinois twelve years. In 1864 he enlisted at Rock Island as a member of Company K., Fifty-eighth Illi- nois Infantry, and was sent to Cairo, Memphis, Vicksburg, New Orleans being in the Sixteenth Army Corps, under Gen. A. J. Smith. After being in the ser- vice of his country one year he was hon- orably discharged. The next three years he spent in Illinois and then came Harri- son County, making the trip over land with a covered wagon, camping out nights. He was here during the grasshopper sea- sons, got discouraged and started for Marshall County, to run a threshing ma- chine. While enroute with his covered wagon headed for the East, and as he was passing through Adel, Dallas County, a stranger asked to ride with him, to Des- Moines, pretending to be a dealer in furni- ture. The request was granted, and he took the man to Des Moines, where he got out after which our sul ject drove four miles east, and camped for the night on Four-Mile Creek, and while asleep in his wagon was shot from the end of the wagon through the mouth, the ball pass- ing out under his jaw, breaking the same and removing five teeth. This was in Au- gust 1868. Upon coming to his senses he seized a hatchet and climbed out of his. wagon whereupon he saw his assailant near by, and gave him chase, but failed at the time to secure him. Subsequently through a chain of circumstances, the depraved villian was arrested, tried and sent to State prison, for ten years. Our subject relates how that while riding to- gether, in the afternoon of that eventful day, his stranger passenger feigned to be sleepy, and dropped down on the couchin the rear of the wagon. Upon one occa - sion our subject observed that he had the -hatchet lying beside him, but doubtless
his heart failed him, until the curtain of night had been drawn over the tragic scene he was about to enact.
Our subject was married January 1, 1871 to Mary E. Ervin, daughter of Edward E. and Catherine Erwin, born in Indiana and Ohio respectively. They had three chil- dren-Mary E., being the oldest, and two who are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Redinbaugh are the parents of five chil- dren, William E., born October 30, 1871; Henry C., born June 19, 1874; Katie (de- ceased) born September 27, 1876; Charles born April 26, 1880; John (deceased) born June 1, 1886.
Our subject is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities at Logan, Iowa.
HOMAS DRAY, a farmer living on section 36, of Cincinnati Township, came to Harrison County in the . spring of 1871, and first settled in St. John's Township, where he rented land for five years, and then bought one hun- dred and fifteen acres on section 6, of St. John's Township. There had been fif- teen acres of breaking done, and a small frame house erected. and with some addi- tions and improvements, this served as a residence until August 1891, when he moved to his present place, having sold in St. John's Township in the month of May, and bought his present farm in July of 1891. This place consists of eighty acres of well improved land, having a good frame house and other substantial im- provements.
Our subject was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, February 7, 1838. When twelve years old his parents moved to
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HARRISON · COUNTY.
Allen County, Ohio, and he remained with them until he was twenty-two years of age. Then farmed on his own account and was in a saw-mill a short time, re- maining on the farm and in the mill up to 1871, when he came to Harrison County.
He was united in marriage, October 18, 1860, in Hancock County, Ohio, to Miss Mary S. Hamilton, by whom ten children have been born-John R., born August 8, 1861; Andrew, October 17, 1862; Samuel, September 28, 1864; Alvah, July 26, 1866; Emma, July 26, 1868; Nancy, October 23, 1869; Rebecca, September 8, 1871 ; Nettie D., February 26, 1874; Nora M., May 24, 1876; Amanda J., August 19, 1879. Rebecca died April 2, 1872, Amanda, August 22, 1885.
Mary S. (Hamilton) Dray was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, February 3, 1840, and moved with her parents when a child to Hancock County, where she remained with her parents until the date of her marriage.
Our subject's father was Robert Dray. He was also a native of the Buckeye State, born about 1793, and died in Allen County, Ohio, in April 1867. His wife, the mother of our subject, was Rebecca (Battles) Dray, who was born in Ohio in 1800, and still lives on the old homestead in Allen County. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dray were the parents of twelve children, our sub- ject being the youngest. His mother was a member of the Christian Church.
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