USA > Iowa > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882 > Part 100
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JAMES MALLOY, a farmer, resides in Hardin township, section 35; was born in November, 1830, in Ireland; came to America in 1853, and to Johnson county in 1856; settled in Hardin township in 1858. He was married in July, 1860, to Miss Mary Rooney, of Hardin township. They have five children: Fannie, James, Maggie, Mary S. and Katie. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church at Windham. Is democratic in politics. He has a well stocked farm of 331 acres; well improved; hogs and corn áre his specialties.
WILLIAM E. MARVIN, farmer, Oxford; was born in this township December 2, 1840, and was the first white child born in what is now Oxford township, his parents, Charles and Eliza Marvin coming here April 10, 1830, from Richland county, Ohio, and staked out their claim in section 24. Here the subject of our sketch was raised, and endured all the hardships of pioneer life, and consequently had not the advantages of a good school. He was married March 25, 1862, to Caroline C. Saxton, daughter of John Saxton, who came to Johnson county, in 1853. He fol- lowed farming until 1867, when he sold dry-goods and groceries where he now lives, and the following year opened up a general stock of dry- goods and groceries in Oxford in partnership with Joseph Douglass, being the first store in Oxford. He continued in business until 1876. He then sold out to Mr. Miffet, but still continued as postmaster until January, 1880. Since then he has paid his attention to farming, and now owns 368 acres of land and has a fine farm residence. They have seven children, viz: Joel B., Theodore C., Josie L., William E., Cora M., Clark W., and Daniel He is a member of Canopy Lodge, No. 290, A. F. & A. M. at Oxford.
GEORGE L. MASTON, a farmer residing in Oxford township, post- office, Oxford; was born June 15, 1853, at Saratoga Springs, New York. Came to Iowa City, 1856, remained there four months and then moved to Coralville, where he lived five years; after a short time he settled in Oxford township, where he has made his home ever since. His father is living, aged sixty-four, and his mother aged forty-five, both residing in Oxford township. He has a brother named Charles, aged twenty- four; a sister Marguretta C. that died July 20, 1880, age three years and four months; and Elizabeth V. died in 1881, age eighteen years and nine months.
GEORGE. D. MATHEWSON, creamery and egg shipping estab- lishment at Morse; was born in Berlin, Connecticut, in 1853. He left there when two years old with his parents and went to Oxford, Henry county, Illinois, and remained there seven years, when they moved to Winnebago county, Illinois. Remained there until 1870, when he came to Central
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City, Linn county, Iowa, and in 1874 entered Western College and graduated there in 1881. Prior to his graduation he was elected principal of Coal Valley graded school-this was in 1879. He was principal one year and then went to Moline, Illinois, where he studied law with Messrs Browning & Entrikin. He was admitted to the barin Davenport in Feb., 1881, and in March, 1881, came to Morse, Graham township, and started with his brother in the creamery business. He is a member of the United Brethren Church.
L. A. McCONNELL, a resident of Iowa City and a son of Joseph McConnell, deceased. His father came to Iowa City, in 1856, is of Irish Quaker ancestry, who founded a home in old Virginia and afterwards in Ohio, and then back to Pennsylvania, where Joseph was born and learned the trade of miller. He was married in 1844 to Miss Edith Rogers, of Chester county, Pennsylvania. They have five children, three were taken away in close succession by scarlet fever and the family was nar- rowed to a widow and two stout sons to bear the sorrow that came to the household by the death of Joseph McConnell. The shadows of sorrow was borne with patience and faith, peculiar to the good old Quaker blood. Joseph McConnell was active in his business and was always found identified with fall public improvements and enterprises, a faithful chris- tian, an honest and upright citizen, was respected by all who knew him. He was an unwavering friend, a wise father and a kind husband. The widow and two sons entered the heritage of a good name and a blame- less life upon the death of Mr. McC. L. A. McConnell has for a long time been connected with the B. C. R. & N. R. R., and has secured many warm friends by his gentlemanly conduct in all business transactions.
JEREMIAH MCCARTHY, farmer, post-office, Lone Tree: was born in County Cork, Ireland, July 21, 1829, and in 1848 came to America, and lived in New York State a few years, and came to Johnson county the spring of 1856, and lived in Iowa City for a number of years, and in 1874 bought 170 acres of land in Fremont township, where he now lives. He was married May, 1852, to Mary McNamara, also a native of Ireland, county Clare; she dying April 7, 1872, leaving nine children: Jeremiah, now in Dakota; Katherine, Charles, Mary A., Dennis, John, Margaret E., Daniel and Hannora.
D. E. MCCLELLAN, merchant and postmaster, at Oasis; born in Niagara county, New York; went to Michigan in 1836, and was married in 1859 to Miss Cornelia P. Hannon, of Michigan; while living there had one daughter; came from there to Johnson county, Iowa, in 1865, and set- tled in Scott township; moved to West Branch and lived there until 1878, when he moved to Oasis and started in the general mercantile business; he was appointed postmaster at Oasis in 1878, by President Hayes.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
H. B. MCCULLOUGH, railroad agent, River Junction; was born in Tuscararas county, Ohio, August 29, 1837, and when he was five years of agehis parents, Samuel and Sarah, emigrated to Iowa City, where he spent his early life and attended the State University, the first term. In 1859 he went to Buchanan county, where he lived thirteen years, with the excep- tion of 1864, he spent in Colorado; he then went to Ohio and was time- keeper in the railroad shops at Dennison, and in 1873 he came to River Junction and took the position of railroad agent, where he still remains. He owns a farm of 160 acres in Adams county, this State; after coming to the Junction he owned a store, which was burned in 1874, losing about $1,500 thereby. He was married November 28, 1862, to Miss Rose McElwain, a native of this county, daughter of A. T. McElwain, one of the early settlers, having come to this county in 1838. This union has been blessed with four children: Willie, Aggie T., Ora Belle, and Jessie V. Mr. McCnllough is a member of the A. F. and A. M., at River Side, No. 259; also of the A. O. U. W. 105, at same place.
CHARLES W. McCUNE, farmer and stock raiser, post-office Solon; was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., Oct. 16, 1824, and in 1833 removed to Summit county, Ohio, and to Iowa in 1841, and settled in Big Grove township, where he took a claim and has since resided. In 1850 he went to California, and returned in 1851. He then commenced buying and shipping stock and was the largest shipper in the county for some years. In 1876 he bought some fine imported Short-horns, and since then has been breeding and raising fine stock. In 1876 he was elected to the leg- islature, and served one term. In January, 1882, he was appointed agent of the land department by Secretary Kirkwood, and assigned to Minnesota and remained there four months, when he resigned. He was married July 5, 1846, to Miss Phœbe L. Sutliff, of Trumbull county, Ohio. They have nine children, viz: Austin S., Helen, now Mrs. M. S. Shircliff, Emily, now Mrs. Hickox, Harvey S., Ann, now Mrs. Coats, Mamie, William, Charles and Leonard.
JOHN P. McCUNE, farmer and stock breeder, Cedar township, post- office Solon; was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., Nov. 28, 1819, and spent his boyhood there until he was seventeen, when he emigrated to Ohio with his parents, William and Sally McCune, both natives of Vermont, and settled in Summit county. There the subject of our sketch lived until 1839, when he took a trip down the Mississippi river, and finally came to Iowa, and settled in Johnson county in March, 1840, and took a claim in Big Grove township, and moved to Cedar township in 1851, where he now owns 765 acres of fine land. He has a fine stone residence and pays considerable attention to breeding and raising fine stock. He was married Nov. 28, 1844, to Electa R. Sutliff, a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, and a daughter of Allen C. and Nancy Sutliff, who came to Cedar township in December, 1838. They have twelve children, seven
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
now living, viz: Harriet, now married to L. Clark, Tully S., Dora, now married to Geo. Hagea, William J., Edith B., now Mrs. M. Umdenstock, Helen E. and Nancy M.
HUGH MCCREERY, lumber dealer, Oxford, Iowa; was born in Ire- land, June 4, 1831. At the age of eighteen he came to America and first settled in Muskingham county, Ohio, where he lived about two years, and came to Johnson county in 1852, and engaged in farming. He moved to Oxford in 1876, and engaged with J. W. Wilson in the lumber trade; Wilson selling out the spring of 1881, the business is now conducted by McCreery & O'Brien. He was married April 29, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth E. O'Brien, a native of Monroe county, Indiana. They have six children living, viz: James P., John R., Martha I., Elmira R., Robert G. and David B .; and three dead. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and of the M. E. Church.
E. McDONNELL, farmer and stock-raiser, Solon; was born in Ireland, March 31,1824, and emigrated to America in 1845, and settled on the farm he now lives on, and where he owns 160 acres, all well improved, which he has made. himself; he now raises considerable stock. He was married October 28, 1860, to Martha Moran, a native of Lorain county, Ohio; she dying May 20, 1875, leaving six children: Mary M., Helen E., Willie R., Amelia, Cecelia A. and Augusta J., now deceased. Mr. McDonnell was one of the original members of the Catholic Church in Solon, and one of the building committee in erecting the new brick church, and also treasurer of the building fund.
MICHAEL McINNERY, a merchant doing business on Washington street, in Iowa City; was born February 29, 1824; came to America and landed in Boston in 1845. He was married in 1857 to Miss Mary Dohney of Iowa City; settled in Iowa City in 1854, and engaged in mercantile busi- ness. His family consists of the following children: Eliza, Frank J., Thomas J., George and Ella, living; John and Mary A., are dead; his wife died September 10, 1882, of consumption. He was a soldier in the Federal army in the Mexican war in the ordnance department, and was wounded at the battle of Chepultepec and Mexico. He enlisted in Augusta, Maine, and served five years. He is a member of the St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, and is independent in politics.
JAMES MAGRUDER, farmer, post-office, River Junction. Our work would be incomplete without the sketch of James Magruder, the oldest set- tler now living in Fremont township. He was born in Chesterfield county, Virginia, April 19, 1818, where he spent his boyhood days, and at the age of eighteen he went to St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he spent nearly three years, and worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1838 he came to Johnson county and settled in what is now Fremont township, with David Sweet and William Kelso. He was married November 15, 1839, to Ruth
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Stover, a native of Wayne county, Indiana, and daughter of Joseph and Easter Stover; since their marriage they have lived on the land Mr. Magruder first entered from the government, and now owns 160 acres of land; he has always raised considerable stock, and has taken many first premiums at our fairs on horses and other stock. He has been a member of the county agricultural society for years, and has never missed an election except the one of June 27th, when he was sick. He has four children living, viz .: John W., George M., James M. and Martha J., now Mrs. Nelson. He still holds his membership with the Universalist Church.
GEORGE MAGRUDER, farmer, post-office, River Junction; was born in this township, June 5, 1845, and is a son of James and Ruth Magruder who came here the spring of 1839. The subject of our sketch has always lived and followed the occupation of a farmer, getting only a common school education. He now owns 140 acres of land. He was married Jan. 2, 1872, to Miss Annie Shepherd, a native of Indiana. They have three children, only one now living: Elma, born Nov. 30, 1873.
ARTHUR MEDOWELL, the present competent, efficient and honest republican auditor of Johnson county, Iowa; was born July 10, 1842, in Ashland county, Ohio, settled in Johnson county, in October, 1842. He was married Nov. 27, 1878, to Miss Mollie A. Hall of Johnson county, Iowa. They have one child named Harry, born June 25, 1880, a dear little fellow, the mirth and joy of their domestic circle. He was educated in Iowa City, and took a commercial course at Bryant & Stratton's College in Chicago, Illinois; graduated in the spring of 1862. He fought and bled for his country in company D, forty-fourth Iowa regiment. The republican party placed him upon their ticket and he was elected for auditor by the good round majority of 192. At that election 5,040 votes were cast, 2,616 for Medowell and 2,424 for Carl Vogt. He was elected in 1881 by forty-three majority over George Koonts; the vote was much less this year than in 1879-the vote in 1881, being for governor, 4,337, for auditor, 4,336; the republican governor got 1,918 votes, while Mr. Medowell, the republican candidate for county auditor, got 2,121, being 291 votes ahead of his ticket. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows societies of Iowa City. He is the only republican that ever car- ried Big Grove and Cedar township, for a county office. His father beat him in Cedar only, taken all the votes in 1847, while Arthur was content with a good round majority when he ran for office. Previous to his elec- tion as auditor of Johnson county, was engaged in the drug business at Solon.
HENRY MEDOWELL, a citizen and resident of Iowa City, and the father of Arthur Medowell, the present auditor of Johnson county; was born June 7, 1811, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania; moved to Ash-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
land county, Ohio, in 1820. He was married June 15, 1837, to Miss Mar- garet Hayden, of Ashland county, Ohio; he came to Johnson county, Iowa, and settled in what is now called Big Grove township, October, 1842, on section 26. They were blessed with two chilldren: Sarah E., born Febru- ary 28, 1839, and was married to Charles A. Myers; they were blessed with two children: Mabel and Grace; she died in March, 1878. Arthur Medowell was born July 10, 1842, in Ashland county, Ohio. Mr. Medow- ell's wife died in the spring of 1882, and he makes his home with his only son. He was elected member of the county board of commissioner in August, 1847, and served three years; he was the only man that ever carried Big Grove and Cedar townships, as a candidate in opposition to the regular democratic candidate; he got every vote (seventeen in number) cast in Cedar township as against his opponent, Abner Arrow Smith; he was a candidate against Gilman Fulsom for the Legislature the first time Fulsom ran, and was defeated as a republican. He is still an ardent repub- lican; he held the office of township clerk and trustee alternately for six- teen years.
FRANCIS X. MELLECKER, post-office, Oxford, was born in Ross county, Ohio, June 7, 1846. When he was quite young his parents moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they lived ten years, when they moved to Johnson county, where the subject of our sketch has since resided, and has lived in Oxford five years. He was married November 3, 1875, to Lillie Adelsiam, a native of this State and county. They have three children.
MATTHIAS MEYER, farmer, post-office, Solon; was born in Bavaria October 16, 1819, and lived there until 1853, when he came to America, and in the fall of 1854 came to Iowa City, where he worked several months; he then came to Big Grove township, and worked for the farmers, and in 1865 he bought 200 acres of land, where he now resides. He made the most of the brick for the Catholic Church in Solon; he has made all the improvements on his farm, buying it when raw prairie. He was married March 7, 1845, to Catherine Baker, also of Bavaria. This union has been blessed with seven children, viz: John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Jacob, Annie, Katie and Rosa. Mr. Meyer and family are devout Catholics.
ANTONE MERLINE, a resident of Iowa City; born February 15, 1831, in Germany; came to America in 1849; lived in Steuben county, New York, six years, then came and settled in Iowa ,City in 1855. He was married in New York State in 1854 to Lousia Coblen. They have been blessed with three children: Vincent, Frank and Louisa. Mr. Merline has been on the detective force for sixteen years. In 1864, while he was working in Lewis' building on Washington street, the scoffold broke and threw him with three others to the ground, a distance of thirty- two feet, and by this accident he was so badly injured that he did no work for two years.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
JOSEPH MICHAEL, a farmer and stock raiser, residing in Newport township, post-office address, Iowa City; was born September 29, 1825, in Bavaria; came to America in 1858; landed in New York City, and came direct to Johnson county. He has lived twenty years on section 12, in Newport township. He was married in 1859 to Miss Margaret Doll, of Bavaria. They have eleven children: Nicholas Nathan, Frank Joseph, Flora S., Charlotte, Henry Carl, Peter, Margaret, John W, Henry Otto, Joseph, and Frederick. They are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a democrat in politics. He has a fine farm and orchard.
VALENTINE MILLER, proprietor of Coral Mills, Coralville; is a native of Bavaria, where he was born July 12, 1836, and emigrated to America in 1855; stopped a few months in Rochester, New York, and came to Iowa City in August of same year, and worked for Clarke & Kirkwood nine years. He then went to Marshalltown and bought a mill, which he run six years. He then sold out and returned to Coralville, and bought the old mill, which was burned in 1872. He then, in company with William Kirkwood, built the Coral Mills, of which he is now the owner of a three-fourths interest. He was married July 27, 1863, to Minna Zeisler, a native of Germany. They have six children: William, Ida, Laura, Jennie, Freddie, and May. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F.
A. J. MILLER, hardware merchant, Oxford, Iowa; was born in West moreland county, Pennsylvania, September 21, 1830, where he spent his early life. He attended Mt. Pleasant College, where he graduated in 1849. He then resided at home until 1854, when he came to Iowa City, and engaged in the real-estate and stock business with good success, until July 8, 1861, when he enlisted as first lieutenant of company G, Sixth Iowa Infantry, and served in the 15th corps until October 26, 1864. From the capture of Vicksburg he served as captain until he was mustered out He then went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania one year, then returned to this county and farmed until the fall of 1875, when he came to Oxford, and engaged in the hardware and agricultural business. He was a char- ter member of White Marble lodge, No. 238, A. F. & A. M., and at pres- ent treasurer of Canopy Lodge, No. 290, at Oxford, also a leading mem- ber of Palestine Commandery, No. 2, at Iowa City, and has filled several township offices, and is one of Oxford's best and most social citizens. He was married August 23, 1863, to Miss Louisa McColin of Baltimore, Maryland, and have four children living. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are both consistent members of the Methodist Church.
AARON P. MILLER, farmer, Monroe township, post-office, Western Linn county, Iowa; was born in Stark county, Illinois, August 8, 1846. Is . the son of John and Mary A. Miller; his father is eighty-two years old. When Aaron was seven'years old, his parents came to Iowa, and first set-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
tled near Iowa City; they sold their farm of 160 acres there and went to Buchanan county, lived there seventeen years; in 1869 they purchased 190 acres of land in this county in section 12, where Aaron now resides. About this time he went to Colorado, and there on the 13th of February. he was married to Miss Nellie Foote. To them were born two children: Mary C. and John P. He then returned to Iowa on account of wife's health, where she died on the 8th of October, 1880. He went again to Colorado, and married Miss Florence Kershner, formerly of Buchanan county, Iowa, July 22, 1881; he then returned to Iowa, and since that time has followed farming and stock-raising. Mr. Miller is a member of the I. O. O. F .; has filled the office of clerk, assessor and justice of the peace, and is now the nominee for justice of the peace. He attended Western College and taught three terms of school in his district.
JOHN B. MILLER, a resident of Iowa City, a tinsmith by trade; was born April 22, 1839, in Bavaria, Germany; came to America in 1839, landed in Baltimore, Maryland, and settled in Iowa City in July, 1855. He was married November 9, 1857, to Miss Josephine Rabas, of Iowa City. This union is blessed with three children: John W., William H., and Lotta. Member of the Masonic societies of Iowa City, and the Legion of Honor. He has served ten years in the fire department, and is on the rolls as a life member. Retired from business in 1872. A democrat in politics.
JOSEPH P. MILLER, a resident of Sharon township, post-office, Iowa City; was born March 22, 1824, in Summerset county, Pennsylvania. He was married December 17, 1843, to Miss Sarah Stutzman, of Fairfield county, Ohio. This union is blessed with five living children: Samuel J., Barbara J., Lucy A., wife of Jonas M. Miller; Catherine J., Nancy J. He came to Iowa and settled in Sharon township, Johnson county, in 1856. A republican in politics. Was a member of the board of supervisor from Sharon township under the law electing a member from each township; he has filled the offices of township trustee and treasurer of the school board for a great many years. He is a member of the Amish society of Sharon township-the society of Sharon township is divided into two dis- tricts of about forty families in each district. They have no church; they hold their meetings at the dwelling house of the members as convenience and the circumstance may justify, when they fix the time for religious services.
ARNOLD C. MOON, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Iowa City; was born March 22, 1817, in Stephenton, Renssellaer county, New York. He graduated from the Medical College at Albany, New York, in March, 1840. He was married in 1844. Manly B. Moon, M. D., of Iowa City, his son, was born May 24, 1851, in Knoxville, Ohio, and came to Iowa City with his parents in 1856. He graduated from the Medical Department of State University, March 4, 1874, and began prac- tice in Iowa City immediately. He was county physician for three years
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
and one of the attending surgeon at Mercy Hospital. Milton Moon, engaged in selling drugs and medicines at No. 25 Washington street, is another son. They reside southwest corner of Church and Dubuque streets. They have a well stocked and finely arranged drug store. The doctors have their office over the drug store and are enjoying a profitable practice in Iowa City and Johnson county. Dr. A. C. Moon is the oldest resident physician in the city, and by twenty-six years of faithful service to his patrons is enabled in his declining years to have all the patients possible for him to successfully treat.
ALEXANDER L. MORELAND, farmer, post-office, North Liberty; was born Feb. 20, 1842, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. His parents came to Iowa in 1844, where he was raised on a farm and received his education in the common schools. On the 13th of August, 1863, he enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Iowa, Company E, under Captain David Stewart. He was discharged at Savannah, July 29, 1865. Was engaged in twelve battles: Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Vicksburg, Cane River, Red River campaign, Winchester and others. At Winchester he was wounded in the knee, which rendered him unfit for service for five months. On the 16th of September, 1868, he was married to Miss Mary Zeller, daughter of N. Zeller, Sen. To them have been born four children, three are living : Mamie C., Cora E. and Florence. Mr. Moreland owns 160 acres of prairie land in section twelve, well improved, and seventy acres of timber, follows farming and stock raising. He belongs to no church, but holds to the principles of morality and is right strictly honest in all his dealings. His wife is a member of the Church of God.
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