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 91
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Our subject was born in Holmes County, Ohio, May 9, 1842, and in 1846 his mother died, and a year later he went to live with Charles Carvalho; in 1853 they left Steuben County, Ind., with ox-
HARRISON COUNTY,
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ttams, en route for Harrison County, Iowa. As has been related before, our subject remained with Carvalho until 1871, when he left him in California, and came back to Harrison County.
He was married October 19, 1870, hav- ing returned from California on a visit. He married Miss Fannie Longman, by whom six children have been born- Daniel A., born in California, Harold B., Nellie A., Minnie M., Benjamin F. and Alice E.
Fannie (Longman) Divelbess was born in England June 14, 1846, and came with her parents to America in 1851, living with her parents in Harrison County until the date of her marriage.
Daniel S. Divelbess, father of our sub- ject, was of German origin, but he was born in Pennsylvania about 1810, and died in Steuben County, Ind., in Septem- ber, 1871. The mother (Rosella (Phenice) Divelbess, was born in Pennsylvania about 1815, and remained there until mar- ried. She died in Steuben County, Ind., in 1846. They were the parents of six children, our subject being the fourth.
Politically, Mr. Divelbess is a Repub- lican, and his father was a Whig. His brothers are scattered throughout the country, two living in Kansas, one in Cal- ifornia, and one was killed at Petersburg, Va., in 1864.
S TEPHEN W. CRANE, of Little Sioux Township, came to Harrison County in 1884. He was born in Newark, N. J., April 30, 1841, and is a son of Ambrose and Lydia (Pike) Crane. On the paternal side Nehemiah J. Crane and Polly (Ward) Crane were the grand-par-
ents, and were of English descent. The great-grandfather was one of the early settlers in New Jersey, and farmed the land where now stands the city of Newark. On the mother's side they were of Scotch descent. Zebulon Montgomery Pike was a General in the Continental Army, and was killed at the battle of Morristown Heights. Our subject is the youngest of the family of five children, four of whom still survive. His early life was spent in New Jersey, and he was educated at the High Schools of Newark. In 1860 he began to learn the coach painters trade, and worked at it until he enlisted at Tren- ton, October 15, 1868, as a member of Company K., Ninth New Jersey Infantry. He participated in twenty-six battles during the Civil War the chief of which are as follows-Roanoke Island, Newburn, Fort Macon, Kingston, Whitehall, Golds- boro, Dureys Bluff, Cold Harbor, South- west Creek, both engagements at Peters- burg, at Free Bridge, Hills Bridge, and Cherry Grove. He was discharged De- cember 7, 1864, at Trenton, N. J., after which he returned home and remained until March 1865, and then came to Syca- more, Ill., and while there accidently shot himself while hunting ducks, which compelled him to go home, which, to an old soldier who had faced the grape and canister shot of the Rebel army during twenty-six engagements without ever receiving a wound, seemed not a little laughable as well as mortifying. He re- mained at home this time about a year, and then went to Lisbon, Kendall County, Ill., where he farmed until he came to Harrison County in 1884, when he settled on section 4, of Little Sioux Township, where he owns two hundred and seventeen acres, for which he paid $6 per acre. His success as a farmer is due principally
4
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to the fact that he pays special attention to cattle, horses and hogs, while his chief crop is corn.
He was united in marriage in 1870, at Lisbon, Ill., to Miss Ida Suydam, the daughter of John and Eliza J. (White) Suydam. By this marriage union two children have been born-Mattie P., of Little Sioux; and Harry, at home. Mrs. Crane died in January, 1886, and was buried in the Little Sioux Cemetery.
For his second wife our subject married Mary Frances Barker, February 14, 1889. Her home was at Onawa, Iowa.
Politically, our subject is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is looked upon as a representative man in the community in which he lives.
ARRY H. PRIOR, who has been a resident of Iowa, since 1867, and of Harrison County, since 1869, and is now a resident of section 33, of Har- rison Township, will form the subject of this notice.
Mr. Prior is a native of Chittenden County, Vt., where he was born January 1,1821. Here he passed his early life and re- ceived his education, in common with other Green Mountain boys. He is a son of Robert and Laura (Hard) Prior, both natives of Vermont, and he is a grand-son of Heman Prior, and Stephen Hard. The latter was one of the leading men of his county, and was a member of the State Assembly for many years. Our subject remained in his native State, until 1867, when like many another New Eng- land inhabitant, he was tired of the "ever- lasting hills," and believed that the great
West, with its rolling prairies, and un- claimed lands, would give him a more profitable field in which to operate, than among the stumps and stones of Vermont, so he came to Marshall County, where he purchased a farm, erected a good resi- dence, and made other substantial im- provements, but at the end of two years, sold his place, and removed to Harrison County, where he purchased a quarter section of wild prairie land, on section 33, of Harrison Township, with no improve- ments of any importance, to be seen in any direction. Here he located in the midst of tall prairie grass, rolling like the waves of the ocean, with the deter- mination to build for himself and family a home. Deer and prairie chickens, were seen on every hand, and every thing look- ed new and wild. He has made many valuable improvements, keeping pace with those around him in the march of cultiva- tion and development, and though labor- ing under adverse circumstances for several years, he now is in possession of one of the best farms of its size in the county. Owing to sickness in the family he was kept in and around the house a greater portion of seven years. When our subject and his wife started in life they embarked with nothing but their own hands and good will to carry them through, and how well they have succeed- ed is shown by their surroundings to-day. They live in the original house which they erected in 1869, which is a frame structure 18x26 feet with an addition 12x14 feet. The upright is two stories high, and was the best building in the country for some time after it was built. It is surrounded by & fine artificial grove, each tree of which is a living, growing monument to the good sense of the pioneer whose hands planted it out. There is also an
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excellent young orchard on the premises, together with everything that goes to- ward making up a valuable farm home.
He was married January 16, 1843, to Lucretia Day, who was born in Vermont February 9, 1823. She is the daughter of Edward and Susannah (Ransom) Day, and the grand-daughter of Samuel Day and Moses Ransom, who were among the earlier settlers of New England. Mr. and Mrs. Prior, as has been related came West in 1867, with their family consisting of seven children-Laura Endora, wife of George Moore, a resident of Harrison Township; John M., aresident of Monona County ; Alson C., a resident of Douglas Township; Hoyt H., a resident of Omaha, Neb., Fred J., residing at home; Ellen, wife of Joseph Lane, of Pottawattamie County, and Lettie, wife of Henry Hoag, a resident of Lincoln Township.
Politically, our subject is a stanch sup- porter of the Republican party, and he and his wife are members of the Univers- alist Church at Marshalltown.
P REDERICK F. BEEBEE, prop- rietor of the "Bonnie View Stock Farm" and one of the representa- tive farmers of LaGrange Township,living on section 35, came to Harrison County in March, 1871, and settled on section 26, with his father, who at that time had two hundred and forty acres of land, that he had entered in 1856, but did not come to the county to live until 1871. His son R. T. Beebee, that came in 1869, improv- ed eighty acres of this land, and in 1871, the father came with his family, two sons and their families, all settling on the same neighborhood. The father kept buying
more land, until he had three hundred and twenty acres, besides giving his three sons eighty acres apiece. This settlement was known as the "Beebee Settlement," and in 1880, a post-office was established at that point, and called Beebeetown. The first post-office was in the house where our subject now lives, he being the first Postmaster. His wife was the prime mover in getting the mail route establish- ed. In 1881, a general store was started by A. D. Fitch, on land donated by Mr. Beebee. It was in 1876 that our subject left his father's home, and bought forty acres of land where he now lives. The land was under cultivation, but no other improvements had been made. He built a frame house 16x24 feet, with an ell about 20x22 feet, and the same season erected a barn, which was the first one having a shingled roof in his portion of the town- ship. His present farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres, all of which is seeded to tame grass. He is engaged in feeding stock, but buys all his corn, be- lieving that he can buy cheaper than he can raise it. He has one hundred and fifty- four feet of cattle shedding, and usually feeds about nine carloads of cattle per year.
Mr. Fitch conducted the store here about six months, when James Haner built a store, and our subject bought Mr. Fitch out and turned the store building into a dwelling, and now rents the same. Haner operated the store a short time and then sold out to Famerritt, who ran to the fall of 1888, and then sold to J. P. Yarrington. When Mr. Fitch went into the store, our subject resigned the post- office in his favor.
Our subject's father built a blacksmith shop in 1881, and rented it to a man nam- ed Charles E. Wilkins, who after two
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years, was succeeded by Mr. Whipple, and he by J. B. VanCleave, who also op- erated it for awhile, also James Keller, and later to Showalter & Finfrock and the present blacksmith, Peter Cromer.
Mr. Beebee was born in Onondaga County, N. N., July 1, 1850, and in 1856 accompanied his parents to Cayuga Coun- ty, where he remained until 1871, and then came to this county. remaining with his parents until 1874, when he went back to New York, and April 7, of that year, was united in marriage to Miss Lois Hud- son. After their marriage they came to Iowa, and lived with our subject's fath- er until 1876, and then moved to their own place. They are the parents of six children : baby boy, died in infancy ; Fred- erick H., Arthur H., Edith C., Leslie J. and Jennie E.
Lois (Hudson) Beebee is a native of Cayuga County, N. Y., born March 19, 1852. She remained in the Empire State until the date of her marriage.
James L. Beebee, father of our subject, was born in the town of Pompey, Onon- dagua County, N. Y., December 24, 1809, and remained there until 1856, when he moved to Cayuga County. While in On- ondagua County, he was engaged as a railroad contractor, but while living in Cayuga County, he was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. After coming to Iowa, he made several trips back to the old Empire State, and during the past spring (1891) he went back to York State, near Binghampton, to make it his home. He was married in Onondagua County, Jan- uary 12, 1831, to Miss Alma C. Williams, by whom eleven children were born, our subject being the youngest.
The mother was Alma C. (Williams) Beebee, and she Was born in Onondagua County, September 24, 1807.
She died
in Harrison County, Iowa, January 31, 1885. They were members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
Our subject received his education at the common schools, and at the Academy of Friends, at Union Springs, N. Y., which institution he attended three years.
Politically, he is a member of the Re- publican party, and in religious matters is a member of the Methodist Episcopal. church.
S TEPHEN CROW, who has been a resident of Harrison County, since the closing year of the great Civil War, coming as he did in the spring of 1865, when he settled on section 13, of Boyer Township, where he bought two hundred and forty acres of land, upon which there was a small log house, and about eighty acres of land broken. In this log house the family lived until 1868, when he built a brick house, 24x36 feet, and two stories high. with a kitchen 16x 20, one story high. The house is provided with a basement, about forty feet long, by sixteen feet wide. In 1878 Mr. Crow built a barn 20x30 feet, with a basement the same size; the upper part being used for hay and grain, and the basement for a horse-barn.
When our subject came to the county the towns of Dunlap, Woodbine and Logan, had not been laid out, and he had to do his trading at Council Bluffs, but had mail accomodations by a Post-office called Harrison City, with Mrs. L. D. Butler as Postmistress.
Mr. Crow was born in Geneseo County, N. Y., February 1, 1817, and remained there until he was three years of age,
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when his parents emigrated to Huron County, Ohio, where he remained with his parents until of age, and then went to Cass County, Mich., where he remained until the autumn of 1846, farming and teaching school. We next find him in Cass County, Ill., where he bought a farm and cultivated it until his coming to Har- rison County.
He was married to Miss Elizabeth Prater, in Cass County, Mich., June 16, 1844, and by this union ten children have been born-Benjamin F., born October 15, 1845, Washington I., born January 20, 1847, Marquis D., born February 23, 1849, Leonidas M., born January 11, 1851, William H. B., born June 16, 1852, Laura E., born October 26, 1854, Stephen E., December 16, 1856, John C., born Sep- tember 12, 1858, Charles L., born June 27, 1860, Elmer E., born 24, 1862.
Washington I. died at home, as the result of a gun shot inflicted by a man who was living in the same house with Mr. Crow's people. His death occurred December 6, 1875, never speaking after he was shot. A detailed account of this pre- meditated murder appears elsewhere in this volume.
Mrs. Crow was born in Wayne County, Ind., August 6, 1826, remaining with her parents, who moved to Cass County, Mich., when she was three years of age, in 1829, when that was yet a Territory. Her father, Jonathan Prater, was born in Harden County, Va., September 16, 1796, and died in Cass County, Mich., March 4, 1847. He was married to Miss Rebecca Griffin, by whom eight children were reared; our subject's wife being the fourth child. The mother was born in North Carolina, March 12, 1797, and died in Cass County, Mich., April 6, 1872 ..
Stephen Crow, Sr., the father of our
subject, was born in Hartford, Conn., in 1780, and died in Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1843. His wife was Lucy Elwell, born Bennington County, Vt., in 1790, and died in Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1841. They were the parents of nine children, four sons and five daughters; our subject being the sixth child.
In his political belief, Mr. Crow is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and in his religious belief is Missionary Baptist.
Since coming to the county, he has held all the school offices of Boyer Township. He stands high in the community in which he lives, and has been an industri- ous hard working man, having been on the frontier in the "Buckeye," "Wolver- ine," "Prairie" and "Hawkeye" States.
Like many other loyalcitizens, our sub- ject felt it his duty to go to the front in time of the Rebellion. He enlisted in the Sixty-first Illinois Regiment for three years. He was at the memorable battle of Pittsburg Landing, under Gen. Pren- tis. He was in prison fifty days, ex- changed and went back to his company and was at siege of Vicksburg and wit- nessed the surrender of thirty-two thous- and seven hundred and ten rebels, which he says was a sorry sight to behold.
S AMUEL BOONE, a farmer of sec- tion 22, of Boyer Township, and a descendant of Old Daniel Boone, "The Hunter of Kentucky," will form the subject of this sketch. He was born in Putman County, Ind., in 1845 and when a small boy, his parents removed to Vigo County, Ind., where they remained until
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the autumn of 1856, then they emigrated to Harrison County, Iowa, and settled on Willow Creek, where he died December 5, 1857, and the next year his mother sold the place, and then rented first one place and then another.
Our subject was married in Boyer Township, in 1865, to Mrs. Margaret Mc- Henry by whom five children were born- Milton A., Rosalia, Samuel A., Robert E. and Daniel O. Mrs. Boone's maiden name was Margaret Burnett, who was born and raised in Berwickshire, Scot- land, coming to America in 1857, and soon after married Francis McHenry, and they were the parents of three children, all de- ceased-Charles C., William and John.
When Mrs. McHenry married Mr. Boone, she had one hundred and twenty acres of land partly improved on section 22, Boyer Township, to which they have added until their farm now consists of four hundred and fifty-five acres of well- improved land. When starting out for himself, our subject only possessed one horse and a harness, and a two-year-old colt, but by hard work, frugality, and re- maining in one place, he has become com- fortably situated having his farm well stocked, also good buildings, and four acres of a fine bearing orchard, together with small fruit.
Mr. Boone, in relating about the hard winter of 1856-57, when their people were very poor, said that they had to go to mill with hand-sleds, their yoke of oxen, mare and colt and two cows being drifted under the snow (on account of their hay and sheds being burned that fall), they were found dead in the spring; this left them without a team, or any thing else to live on, except the deer meat which in the spring time was not good, on account of the severe winter causing the
deer to become very poor. During that long and never to be forgotten winter, they drew a hand-sled a half mile for their firewood and ten miles to mill.
Only those, who lived in Iowa at that date, can in any way appreciate the peri- lous position in which these people were. The raging storms without, the same ap- petites for something good to eat and a change of diet, obtained among those early settlers, as in these days of plenty. Families had sickness as well then, as now, and the hearthstones of many a Harrison County pioneer was anything but the scene of joy and happiness; and perhaps the warm sunshine of the very late spring of 1857 was more gladly welcomed than any before or since.
Mrs. Boone is Presbyterian, in her church choice and profession.
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R ICHARD DICKINSON, one of the successful farmers residing in Union Township, whose farm is on section 6, is another one of the little band who wended their way to Harrison County, arriving October, 1863, when he located on the farm on which he now lives, consisting of a half section of land, all in one body, for which he ex- changed a farm in Michigan, unsight and unseen. At the time he made the trade, there were about one hundred acres of the farm under cultivation. The remainder was timber and wild prairie land. He has given his sons some of his original tract, but having purchased other land still possesses about the same amount as was in his original farm.
When he came to this county, the near- est railroad was at Iowa City, about two
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hundred and fifty miles distant. The mail was carried across the State by stage from Fort Dodge to Council Bluffs, mak- ing the round trip once a week, our subject's postoffice being at Harris Grove with William Dakan as Postmaster, while their nearest trading point was Council Bluffs, a distance of thirty miles. Even at that early day, the family had callers, but owing to their dusky com- plexion, and semi-savage look, they were not very welcome visitors. However, these Indians were quite friendly and seldom committed any depredations.
Our subject was born in the State of Ohio, July 22, 1812. His father was Gaos, and his mother Mary Dickinson, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively, and they were the parents of five child- ren, of whom our subject was the third. The children were named as follows: Ruth, deceased; Elizabeth, Richard, Daniel, deceased ; and John. Our subject lived with his parents in Ohio until he was eighteen years of age. When he felt the young blood of ambition coursing through his veins, he embarked upon life's sea for himself, first going to Penn- sylvania, where he engaged with a man who was taking a drove of horses West, and when they got as far as Bedford, the horses were sold, and he then hired to another man and went to Philadelphia, where he had the smallpox, which he took in the natural way. He remained at a country tavern for about six weeks, when he re- covered and went to Harrisburg, where he hired in a livery barn, remaining there about eight months, and then drifted back into the Buckeye State, where he was in the employ of one man for six consecutive years, working in a barn and driving a stage. From there he returned to the home of his parents, where he re-
mained two years. He then rented a farm, which he worked one season, and then went to Bellefontaine and engaged in the meat market business, which he followed for ten years, at the end of which time he sold out and removed to Michi- gan and purchased eighty acres of partly improved land, to which he subsequently added forty acres. This farm was all cleared up and well improved. He traded this for his farm in Harrison County as above related. Mr. Dickinson was united in marriage October 5, 1837, to Saphrona Hull, daughter of Elijah and Sarah Hull, natives of Pennsylvania, by whom twelve children were born-Joseph, John, Daniel, William, Isaac, Elizabeth, Hannah, Lucinda, Lydia, Amanda and Saphrona.
Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson are the parents of four children-William H., born June 29, 1841: James W., September 27, 1845; Amanda V., December 13, 1847; Isaiah, October 29, 1851. These children are all married and living near their parents, except James, who lives in Elkhart, Ind.
Politically, our subject is a supporter of the Democratic party. He started in life with no means, save his own strong arms, and with but a limited education, and has seen much of pioneer hardships, but is now in possession of a comfortable home, in one of the best parts of Harrison County.
HARLES D. STEVENS, merchant at Woodbine, was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., March 7, 1846, and is a son of Col. Ozias and Mercy D. (Sow- les) Stevens. The father retired from the mercantile trade when our subject was one year old and engaged at farming and
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as our subject remained at home until he had reached his majority, he was reared amid the scenes of rural life, assisting on the farm; and attending the country schools. He also attended the Acadamy at Charlotteville and the Binghamton Commercial College, after which he went to Xenia, Ohio, where he was engaged for a time as a clerk, after which he went to Illinois, where he traveled for the Roch- ester (N. Y.) Nurseries. We next find that he spent a year in Chicago, as Con- ductor on the State Street car-line, after which he returned to his old home in the Empire State, remained some months, and then started West again, arriving at Woodbine, in the month of July, 1867.
He was engaged in business here a year, then was employed as a clerk at the village of Magnolia for Dalley & Yeisley, but the following year went to Woodbine and be- came salesman for Laub & Harshbarger, which engagement continued several years. He was next employed by Satter- lee & Patterson, of Dunlap, and again re- turned to Woodbine, in 1876, at which time he purchased his present business.
He was married July 21, 1887, to Ella M. Minturn, who was born in Pomeroy, Ohio. Her father was Charles R. Min- turn and her mother, Mary E. (Lovett) Minturn. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are the parents of one child-Arthur W., born May 7, 1888.
At the time Mr. Stevens came to Wood- bine, it was but a mere hamlet, and the building in which he is now doing busi- ness, was built by Fransworth, Kellogg & Co., in 1874, who operated a general store, which they sold to Mr. Stevens in 1876. In August, 1882, our subject built an addi- tion to this building, which is now 45x60 feet, with a public hall on the second floor.
Mr. Stevens, who is a member of the Masonic order, belongs to Charter Oak Lodge, No. 401, of A. F. & A. M .; Ark Chapter, No. 89, of Dunlap and Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 17, of Knights Templar, at Council Bluffs.
Mrs. Stevens is a member of the Episco- pal Church and politically, he is identified with the Democratic party. Among the local offices held by our subject it may be stated that he was a member of the first town council when Woodbine was incor- porated and is also a member at the pre- sent writing (1891).
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