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 97
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Our subject first engaged in mercantile business at Rochelle, Ill. where he re- mained about seven years, and in 1868 formed a partnership with W. P. Bump, in Missouri Valley, under the firm name of Bump & Smith; this continued until May 1, 1885, at which time Mr. Smith purchased his partner's interest, and is now the sole proprietor. In 1875 he built the brick block, located on the corner of Fifth and Erie Streets. Prior to that time he had been on Sixth Street, and later on Erie, between Fifth and Sixth.
Politically, our subject votes the Demo- cratic ticket. He has served both on the Town Council and School Board several terms. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Valley Lodge, No. 232, A. F. & A. M.
Mr. Smith was married December 31, 1868, to Katie L. Bump, the daughter of W. P. Bump, who was oursubject's part- ner for so many years. They were mar- ried at Rochelle, Ill., and are now the parents of six children-Leon B., Louis, deceased at the age of eight years; Her- vey, deceased at the age of seven years. These two children died the same day, and were laid away in the same grave in
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Rose Hill Cemetery. The next child born to our subject and his wife, was Ray, who died when eighteen months old. The next were Earl and Pearl, twins. Leon, is at present in his father's store.
ENRY C. WARNER, real-estate, loan and insurance agent at Mis- souri Valley, has been a resident of this place since 1867. He came there soon after the town was platted, during the month of February, and opened the first general store in the place the same being located on the corner of Sixth and Ontario Streets. It was a building 25x50 feet, and was used for the above purpose for four years, since which time our subject has been engaged in var- ious callings. In April, 1890, he formed a partnership with C. C. Dorr, in the real- estate, loan and insurance business, such partnership existing until March, 1891, when he bought his partner's interest, and has since conducted it in his own name. He represents twelve leading in- surance companies.
Mr. Warner was born at Towanda, Bradford County, Pa., March 4, 1845. He is the son of William and Martha (Scran- ton) Warner. The father was born in Germany, in 1796, and in company with two of his brothers came to America, first locating in Schenectady, N. Y., where he followed the trade of a miller, and there remained until about 1840. In the family there were eight children, six of whom were born in the Empire State. Of the eight children, only two sisters and our subject are still living. One sister mar- ried J. D. Spaulding, of Sioux City, and the other is the widow of Allen Henry,
and resides in Bradford County, Pa. The father of our subject died in 1865, aged sixty-nine years, and was buried at To- wanda, Pa. His good wife, the mother of our subject, survived until 1884, and was buried at the same place at the age of seventy-eight years.
Our subject's early life education was received at Towanda, Pa., where he took a course at the Susquehanna Collegiate Institute. After graduating in 1862, he was engaged as a clerk for three years, and in 1866 removed to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where, in company with his brother he engaged in the mercantile business, and one year later came to Missouri Val- ley.
Mr. Warner was united in marriage May 6, 1868, at Council Bluffs, with Emma Baughn, who is of German descent, but was born near Fairfield, Ohio. She is the daughter of Charles Baughn, of Council Bluffs. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are the parents of two children-Harry C., born March 15, 1869, and died September 1, 1887, and was buried in Rose Hill Ceme- tery; Charles B., born September 21, 1870.
Mrs. Warner is a member of the Pres- byterian Church at Missouri Valley. In his political belief our subject has always been identified with the Democratic party. In 1890 he was elected Mayor of Missouri Valley, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. D. M. Harris. He was also Assessor of Missouri Valley for several years.
E LMER F. WILSON, former editor of the Eye, a local paper at Missouri Valley, was born near Reeder's Mills, Jefferson Township, September 19,
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1866, and has spent the greater part of his life in this county. He attended school at Logan, graduating from the High School at that place in 1880. He then began his apprenticeship to the printer's trade, and was employed from time to time in the Courier, Observer, Democrat and Nucleus, at Logan, and the Twiner and Courier at Woodbine.
Mr. Wilson's first business venture was in the newspaper line, when he took editorial charge of the Eye, in January, 1891, to succeed R. J. Miller, who bought the same of M. B. Cox, of Woodbine. This journal is independent in politics.
Mr. Wilson is a son of Levi H. Wilson, now living at Logan, who married Nancy M. Beach, the daughter of Asher and Re- becca Beach. His ancestors were of old Revolutionary stock. coming from Ver- mont and New York. Our subject was married May 20, 1890, to Miss Anna M. Mickish, daughter of Charles and Anna Mickish, of Woodbine. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are the parents of one child- Jesse F., born April 10, 1891.
Politically our subject is identified with the Republican party. He belongs to the Omaha Typographical Union. His wife is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Wilson exhibits skill and ability both in the editorial and mechani- cal make-up of his newspaper, which en- joys a good circulation.
OSEPH H. ROYER, a well-to-do farmer of Lincoln Township, and a resident of section 5, came to the county in the spring of 1882, and purchased a quarter section of wild land upon which he now lives. Here he made
the necessary improvements, such as breaking up the virgin sod; erecting a house and barn, together with granary and other out-buildings. His present farm consists of three hundred and sixty acres, one third of which is under the plow. He has a fine bearing apple orch- ard of seventy trees, with many shade and ornamental trees, which lend beauty to the premises. He was a soldier in the Forty-fourth Iowa Infantry, enlisting January 11, 1864.
Our subject was born in Blair County, Pa., August 10, 1847. He is a son of Jacob and Eliza (Zimmerman) Royer, who were natives of the Keystone State and the parents of six children, of whom our subject was the fifth. The children were in the following order-Mary, Samuel, Daniel, Susan, Joseph and Franklin, all of whom are living. When our subject was six years old, his parents emigrated to Scott County, Iowa, believing that the growing Hawkeye State afforded better advantages for one disposed to work, than did the rock-robbed territory of the East- ern States. When twenty-one years of age, our subject left home, which marks an important era in any young man's life. For one year he worked out by the month the next three years he broke prairie, with ox-teams, in Powesheik County. From there he went to Minnesota, work- ed through the summer, and retraced his steps into Iowa, as far as Blackhawk County, attending school there [that win- ter. After working in the harvest field the following summer, he went to Color- ado, where he worked on a railroad, and also on irrgation ditches. After one seas- on he returned to Iowa, worked through harvest and canvassed for books through the winter, and then went to Blackhawk County again, where he worked in the
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summer, and attended the district school through the winter. Having a thirst for more knowledge, he attended the Semin- ary at Waterloo and taught an occas- ional term of school, while finishing his education, after which he followed teach- ing in Scott County for three years, re- ceiving $50 per month, but on account of poor health he abandoned teaching, and bought eighty acres of land in Monona County, which he farmed for three years, prior to his coming to Harrison County.
Among the more important events of this man's life, and one intended to mark his future pathway, along the line of more complete liappiness, was that of his mar- riage, which occurred in March, 1886. He chose for a life companion, Maggie Carri- gan, the daughter of James and Amanda Carrigan, who had five children, our sub- ject's wife being the oldest. The father was born in Ireland, and the mother in Virginia. Their family were Maggie, Ella, Katie, James and Harry.
Mr. and Mrs. Royer have had their inarriage union blessed by the birth of three children-Howard J., born April 11, 1887; Clarence D., October 7, 1888; and Fannie, April 7, 1890.
Politically, our subjectis identified with the Republican party, while he and his good wife are believers in Christianity.
ILLIAM MORROW, member of the Board of Supervisors, located on section 16, of Raglan Township, accompanied his parents to this county in 1856. They located in Raglan Township, and he remained with them until he had attained his majority, when his father gave him one hundred and sixty acres of
land, upon which he erected a frame house, granary and other outbuildings, and set out an artificial grove as well as an orchard. He remained on this place nine years and then exchanged it for his present place, consisting of two hundred and forty acres, which at that time was wild land. Here he erected a story and a half frame house, 18x24 feet, with an addition, 12x16 feet, and another, 18x24 feet. He also built a basement barn, good granary, sheds and cribbing. He obtained the purest of water from three living springs which run to his different stock yards. He set out an orchard of three hundred trees, and beauti- fied his place by growing a charming grove of shade trees. He has added to his original land until he now has six hundred and seventy-two acres, one hundred and thirty being under the plow, while the balance is in meadow and pasture land, the entire tract being surrounded by a substantial fence. With the exception of the original quarter section, for which his father paid $1.25 per acre, our subject has inade the balance by his own exertions.
Mr. Morrow is a native of the Emerald Isle, having been born in Ireland, Decem- ber 30, 1836. His parents were Patrick and Elizabeth Morrow, natives of the same country. They were the parents of the following children-Jane, William, Elizabeth, Anna, Hugh P., David (de- ceased), Mary (deceased), David, Joseph (deceased), Salathiel S., and Matilda. Four of these children were born in Ire- land, six in Canada, and one in Iowa. Our subject left his native land when six years of age, coming to Canada, where he remained until nineteen years old, at which time he came to Harrison County, Iowa. At an early day, in this county, he owned a horse of great speed, and he related how that in four instances he ran a deer down
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and killed it with his pocket knife. Dur- ing the grasshopper years in this county the little winged pests destroyed every acre of his growing corn.
He was united in marriage in April, 1859, to Nancy McCaughrin, the daughter of Alexander and Margaret McCaughrin, natives of Ireland, who were the parents of three children-Nancy, Martha and John. Mrs. Morrow was his faithful com- panion until May 24, 1879, when she was called upon to lay down the burden of life. Our subject and his wife were the parents of Margaret J., born March 3, 1860; Hugh H., deceased, June 18, 1861; William A., February 12, 1863; Sarah A., November 5, 1864; Stephen A., deceased, June 18, 1866; Joseph P., November 24, 1867; Elizabeth M., May 20, 1869; Catharine E., March 13, 1871; Stephen E., January 1, 1873, and Daniel A., October 24, 1874.
Mr. Morrow is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, as was also his wife.
Politically, our subject affiliates with the Democratic party. He was elected as a member of the Board of Supervisors in 1889, and is proving himself an efficient officer.
W ILLIAM GRIFFITH, a farmer of section 8, AllenTownship, has been a resident of Harrison County for a third of a century, coming as he did to these parts in the spring in 1868, when all was yet new and wild and the signs of civilized life were few and far between. He came to the county with his parents, being only sixteen years of age at the time. He remained at home until he had reached the years of his majority. He then worked out by the month and
learned the carpenter's trade, which bus- iness he followed for seven years, and then bought the place he now occupies, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres. This was wild land, and he set about breaking it up, and erected a house 16x24 feet, with a wing; he also set out an orchard, provided shade trees, and now has all enclosed within a fence and seventy- five acres under the plow, while the bal- ance is pasture and meadow land.
Our subject was born in Pennsylvania, in October, 1853. He is the son of Amos and Elizabeth Griffith, both natives of Pennsylvania. They had a family of eight children, and our subject was the sixth in the family. The children were named as follows: Thomas (deceased), Mary, Emma, Martha (deceased), Leon- ard, William, Fannie (deceased), and Isabel.
Our subject remained in the Keystone State until fifteen years of age, when he came to Iowa. He obtained an ordinary common school education, but commenced life with no other capital than a sound mind and a strong constitution. His father enlisted when he was a small boy, and while his father served his country in the Civil War, his family saw many hard- ships in consequence of his absenee. About 1870, before our subject bought a farm in Iowa, he spent about eight months in Texas and then spent a year in Illinois.
He was united in marriage October 5, 1880, to Dorthula J. Coffman, the daugh- ter of Pleasant and Margaret Coffman, natives of Iowa and Virginia respectively, who reared a family of seven children- George, James, Dorthula (deceased), William, Dora, Alice, and Wallace (de- ceased).
Our subject's wife died April 19, 1891,
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leaving a family of four children-Amos J., born October 24, 1882; Marion R.,. October 21, 1884; Jacob B., March 5, 1886; and Nora, January 4, 1890.
Mrs. Dorthula J. Griffith (wife of our subject), was born in Apanoose County, Iowa, December 15, 1862, and while yet very small emigrated with her parents to Utah, where they all remained several years, returning to Iowa in 1867 and set- tling in Harrison County, where they have since remained. The deceased re- ceived a good common-school education and was an honored member of society.
Politically, our subject is in sympathy with the Farmers' Alliance movement. He belongs to Mondamin Lodge, No. 392, I.O.O.F.
B YRON L. JONES, a hardware merchant at Little Sioux, Iowa, who has been a resident of Harrison County for twenty-five years, will be made the subject of the subjoined notice. He was born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1884, and is the son of William and Eliza (McCurdy) Jones. There were eight children in his father's family, he being the fourth in number, there only being three others living-one in Monona County, one in Jackson Township, Harri- son County, and one in Illinois. When our subject was a small boy his parents removed from the Buckeye State to Hancock County, Ill., where they located on a farm. When the dark war cloud of the Rebellion hung heavy over this Union, and President Lincoln was constantly calling for more men, it is found, that on August 15, 1862, our subject enlisted at Fountain Green, Ill., as a member of
Company A, One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was as- signed to the Army of the Mississippi, and participated in the engagements at Arkansas Post, Thompson's Hill and Champion Hill. He was taken prisoner at the last named place, May 16, 1863, but paroled on the ground, and sent to St. Louis; was discharged July 5, 1864, and returned home, but re-enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Forty- Sixth Illinois Infantry, September 13, 1864, and was sent to Camp Butler and did patrol and guard duty that year. Was discharged July 8, 1865, and in the spring of 1866 came to Iowa and located on a farm in Jackson Township, where he remained until 1885, and then came to Little Sioux and established his present hardware business, the only one of the kind in the village. In 1887, he and his brother, A. M. Jones, bought a lumber yard of B. F. Bonney, the firm still continuing as Jones Broth- ers, who operate the only lumber yard at Little Sioux.
Our subject was married March 26, 1868, in Illinois, to Miss Mary A. Alton, the daughter of David and Susan Alton. They have no children.
Politically, Mr. Jones is a Republican; and is an honored member of Neitzsch Post, No. 139. G. A. R.
0 RRIN B. WALKER, of Missouri Valley, was born in Magnolia Town- ship, Harrison County, Iowa, Janu- ary 6, 1864. He is the son of Wells F. and Candace E. (Hopkins) Walker, who came to the county in the month of May, 1857. The father located on section 16,
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and coupled farming with carpentering (see complete sketch of our subject's par- ents elsewhere). Our subject's early edu- cation was received in the common schools of Harrison County, and later he attended Pierce's Business College, at Keo- kuk, Iowa, from which school he gradu- ated in September, 1884. During the winter of 1884-85, he taught school in his native township, and the following spring went to Missouri Valley, and entered the employ of the Sioux City & Pacific, and Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad Companies. He began his duties there as clerk of material accounts, and later on took charge of time depart- ments. In the spring of 1890, he was elected to the office of City Clerk, and re- elected in the spring of 1891. In the fall of 1890 he was a candidate on the Demo- cratic ticket for the office of County Re -- corder, and was only defeated by sixty-six majority. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias order, Anchor Lodge No. 66, and adheres to the principles of the Demo- cratic party.
Though yet a young man, by strict at- tention to all business entrusted to his care, he has built up a good reputation and is looked upon as a first-class accurate business man, who counts his friends by the one word-Legion.
D ANIEL ROACH, (retired), a resi- dent of Missouri Valley, forms the subject of this notice. He was born in Albany County, N. Y., May 15, 1822, and is the son of Jeremiah Roach, who was a native of the Empire State. His wife was Mary (Barney) Roach, who was also a native of New York. The father fol-
lowed farming and lumbering for a liveli- hood. His wife, the mother of our sub- ject, died when Daniel was but a small boy. His early education was received in his native county, after which he fol- lowed farm life in New York State, until 1850, at which time he moved to Loudoun County, Va., and was located twelve miles west of Fairfax Court House. In 1856, he came to Marshall County, Iowa, where he farmed ten years five miles east of Marshalltown, and ran a meat-market three years in that city. The next two years he spent in Tama City and then came to Missouri Valley, where he oper- ated the American House at the corner of Erie and Sixth Streets, now known as the Royer House. He also ran another hotel in the place, making ten years of hotel life in all. Our subject now owns and rents five residences in Missouri Valley.
Mr. Roach was united in marriage March 13, 1845, to Miss Ann Gage, of Knox, Albany County, N. Y., the daugh- ter of Joseph and M. Phebe (Waterman) Gage, and a piece of the Rev. Wesson M. Gage, who performed their marriage cere- mony. Daniel Roach and wife are the parents of the following children : Phebe E., born January 25, 1848, and died Au- gust 24, 1854, in Virginia; Millard Fill- more, born October 5, 1848, now living at San Bernardino, Cal., in the employ of a railway ; he married Miss Julia Fisher, in California in 1891; Mary Ann, born Sep- tember 24, 1851, the wife of James W. Warren, of Storm Lake, Iowa; they are the parents of two children, Mr. Warren is Auditor of Buena Vista County ; Mar- tha Rosette, born December 25, 1858, and now the wife of George H. Ransom, an agricultural-implement dealer and Post- master at Bancroft, Neb.
Mr. Roach's father died in Tama City,
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Iowa. He was a native of New York State. The mother was a native of Penn- sylvania, and died in Albany County, N. Y. Politically, our subject formerly was identified with the Republican party, but for the past five or six years has voted with the Democrats.
ON B. COFFMAN, a resident of section 9, Raglan Township, came to Harrison County in the spring of 1865, in company with his parents. They located on eighty acres of land, which had but few improvements upon it. The family were comparatively poor and con- sisted of parents and five children. Two span of mules and $400 in money covered about all they had. They lived in a log cabin with a dirt covered roof. Their first crop consisted of twelve acres of corn. They lived in that house for about ten years and then erected a frame house, the upright of which was 16x30 feet, with an addition 16x20 feet.
Our subject remained with his parents until he had attained the years of his ma- jority. He then rented land of his father for three years. The father died during 1890. The old homestead now consists of about seven hundred acres, resided upon by his mother. He was born in Ap- panoose County, Iowa, January 26. 1859. His parents were John T. and Susan A. Coffman, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively. They had a family of seven children, born and named in the following order : John L., Josephine, Don B., Charles E., Margaret R., Elmer, Wil- liam L .; all of whom are living. Don B. remained in Appanoose County until twelve years old and then came to this county.
Nettie A. Hunt, became his wife, Feb- ruary 25, 1879. She is the daughter of Isaac F. and Mary J. Hunt, natives of Ohio, whose children were Nettie A., Nellie J. and Zerelda.
Our subject and his wife are the par- ents of four children-Lillian Winifred, born May 17, 1880: Maggie May, May 2, 1882; Bessie Pearl, September 7, 1887; and Ona B., June 28, 1890; all of whom are living. Our subject is a highly re- spected citizen and has seen much of the transformation which has brought the wilds of Harrison County to its present high state of cultivation. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, belonging to Little Sioux, Lodge No. 382.
BEL P. LEACH, who is a native of New York, came to Harrison County in 1867. He was born in Cortland County, N. Y., October 6, 1842. He is a son of Christopher W., and Lusetta (Livermore) Leach, natives of New York State. Our subject's grand- father and grandmother on the paternal side, were Jonathan and Lydia (Pettin- gill) Leach, of Massachusetts. The father lives in New York State, but the mother died in June, 1875. Our subject's early life was spent in the Empire State, receiving his education at the common- schools. In 1863 he commenced to work for himself. He worked on a farm in Pennsylvania, about six months, then re- mained at home until 1865, when he went to Ohio, and remained until 1867, then came to Marshalltown, Iowa, and from there came to Harrison County, and located in Little Sioux Township, where in 1869 he bought land on section 26,
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where he owns one hundred and eighty acres, sixty acres of which are under the plow. Upon coming to the county our subject had but little means, and has made what he now possesses through his own efforts.
Florence Searl became his wife in June 1877. She is the daughter of Constance R., and Cyrena (Langworthy) Searl, both of whom are living.
In our subject's father's family there were thirteen children, Abel being the fifth child. Eleyen of the family are still living.
Our subject and his wife are the parents of three children-Katie G., Emma L., and Louis E., all belonging to the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.
Politically, Mr. Leach believes in the principles of the Democratic party.
G EORGE NIECE ranks among the the pioneers of Harrison County, coming as he did to these parts in 1857, and locating on section 17, of Cal- houn Township, where he erected a log cabin 12x14 feet, in which he lived for about seven years, then erected a larger log house, the same being 26x28 feet. At first he bought forty-nine acres of land, of which one fourth had been broken. To this small tract he kept adding until he possessed four hundred and fifty-three acres, all under a good state of cultivation. In March 1870, he removed to another part of his farm (section 21) where he had built a house the autumn before. Upon coming to the county, Mr. Niece had abont $750 in money, which was more than most of the early settlers brought to the county with them. but was not a large amount,
considering the state of finances in our country at that time, and he has seen much of the hardships of an early pioneer. Council Bluffs was their general market place. The Civil War soon came on and prices advanced, and onr subject was en- abled to make some money, and is now among the prosperous men of the county.
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