History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882, Part 104

Author: Johnson Co., Ia. History. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Iowa City, Iowa.
Number of Pages: 980

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 104

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GEORGE RENTZ, merchant, and mayor of Oxford, Iowa; was born in Wertemberg, Germany, April 26, 1848. At the age of six he came with his parents to the United States, and first settled in the State of New York, where they lived two years. They then came to Johnson county, but afterward moved to Iowa county. In 1866-67 he attended the State University of Iowa City, then clerked for Leibold & Deitz for some time, and in 1869 he commenced business with his father in Iowa City under the firm name of B. Rentz & Son in the grocery business, and in 1871 they moved to Oxford and added a general stock of dry goods and notions. After two years he bought out his father, and has since contin- ued in the business, and now carries a stock of about $25,000, the largest stock in Oxford, and is doing a flourishing business. He has served in several terms of township offices, and the spring of 1881 was elected mayor, an office he still holds, and is a good and efficient officer. He was married January 10, 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Knortz, also a native of Ger- many. They have two children: Charles B. and George P. Mr. Rentz is a member of Canopy Lodge No. 290, A. F. & M., also of Palestine Commandery No. 2, also of Iowa City Chapter No. 2, and also of the A. O. U. W., and of the German Lutheran Church.

FRANCES RETTEMEYER, a resident of Iowa City, and a dealer in wood; was born December 22, 1820, in Bavaria, Germany. He came to America in 1849, and landed in New York City. He finally settled in Iowa City, Johnson county, March 29, 1856. He has been engaged in various business enterprises, and always considered labor honorable. He owned and operated a boat on the Iowa river at one time. He has been very successful in his labors, and has accumulated considerable property. He has raised a family of children and taught them the importance of work as the necessary part of gaining a living. He is a democrat in poli- tics. The family are members of ths St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Iowa City.

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.

FRANK J. RETTEMEYER, a resident of Iowa City, and the junior member of the firm of Englert & Rettemeyer of the City Brewery; was born July 25, 1852, in Iowa City. He was married February 28, 1876, to Miss Mary Englert of Iowa City. They have three children: Louis F., Clara F., Frank G. A democrat in politics. The family are members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Iowa City.

JOHN REYNOLDS, a farmer in Hardin township, post-office address, Windham; was born August 15, 1817, in Antrim, Ireland; came to America in 1841, and to Johnson county in 1856; settled in Oxford town- ship, and moved onto his present farm in 1865. He was married March 3, 1851, to Miss Anna Williams. They have seven children: Francis, who died in 1879; Mary, wife of James McCabe of Iowa City; Katie, Theresa, both school teachers; John, Maggie, and Thomas. The family are mem- bers of St. Peter's Church at Windham. He is a democrat in politics; filled the office of justice of the peace, two terms in Oxford township, and in Hardin township has filled the office of township trustee, and assessor, and has just entered upon his third term as justice of the peace in January, 1883.

EDWARD R. RICORD. The subject of this sketch, was born Feb -. ruary 17, 1814, in the state of Delaware. His father, Thomas Ricord, settled in Iowa City in 1840. Edward settled on Old Man's creek, in Iowa county, one mile from the Indian boundary line, on section 3, township 78, and lived upon his claim until 1870, when he moved to Washington county with his post-office address, Amish, Johnson county. He was married January 9, 1839, to Miss Jane Gilliand, in Fayette county, Indiana. They have the following children; Mary, Iola, Ann, Laura, wife of Walter M. Stover; Addie, wife of George W. Stover, of Marengo, Iowa: Jennie, Race, and Lee. Mrs. Ricord died March 11, 1877, and September 5, 1880, he married Almira Patterson, but the angel of death was near, and on the 23d day of June, 1881, after a well-spent life, passed to his reward. He was the veteran pioneer of Iowa county, being the first settler he ·made the first claim, built the first cabin, and broke the first prairie. The first election held in Iowa county was at his cabin, and he was elected one of the first county commissioners, and helped organize the county. It was the first and only office he ever held or would ever have. He was for twenty-five years one of Iowa county's most prominent and enterprising citizens.

JACOB RICORD, the present popular and efficient postmaster of Iowa City, was born September 26, 1816, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Thomas Ricord, moved from the state of Delaware to Phila- delphia in 1815, and in 1817 settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife and two children, Edward and Jacob. The journey was made over the Alleghany mountains in a wagon drawn by one horse, taking them six

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.

weeks. From Cincinnati he moved to Dearborn county, Indiana, and on the 4th day of March, 1840, we find him and his family in Iowa City. Mr. Ricord was a shoemaker by trade when he came to Iowa City, and became a merchant dealer in boots and shoes and carried on that business in Iowa City until June 14, 1880, when he was appointed by President Hayes the postmaster of Iowa City. He was mayor of Iowa City in 1875. 76, and 1878-79, and was for several years a member of the city council. During his service in the city council the principal streets were greatly improved by macadam. He was soundly abused for it, but in due time the principal fault-finders were the loudest in his praise, and speak words of commendation in his behalf for the valuable services he had rendered in carrying forward important public improvements on the streets. Dur- ing his term of service in the city council he was chairman of the finance committee. The city being heavily in debt and suffering from heavy taxa- tion, caused by taking railroad stock, it became absolutely necessary to do something to relieve the over-burdened taxpayers of the city. Mr. Ricord, by prudent management, brought relief. His financial plans proved a success. He refused to pay the ten year accrued interest on the railroad bonds, and resisted the collection in the courts and was finally successful, and it was to his good judgment, acting under the advice of legal counsel, that the people are indebted for getting them free from paying about $10,000 of interest. Mr. Ricord during the first year he was mayor, collected about $4,600 for fines and licenses. He enforced the Sunday law, and all violations of law that came under his control were dealt with in a rigid manner ; the lawless element and the vicious attempted to control him, and after failing, they made threats of violence, but they found him stern, unyielding and equal to every emergency. Mr. Ricord is a republican and has always proved himself a valuable party worker in all important campaigns. Mr. Ricord was married May 12, 1847, to Miss Emily Evans, of Iowa City. They have four children, to-wit: Charles J., Emma, Arthur F., and Gennevie. It is not out of place for us to say right here that Jacob Ricord was the first assessor of Iowa county, and made the first sale and transfer of land in Iowa county to Henry Lutchen, February 27, 1846. Mr. R. is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Iowa City. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Her parents belonged to the best families of Missouri. She was born April 19, 1829, on Easter Sunday, in St. Genevie, Missouri. In March, 1833, with her father moved to the coal mines in what is now Dubuque county. In the year 1840 they settled in Johnson county.

ELISHA H. RICORD, son of Thomas Ricord, now a resident of Dallas, Texas; was born October 16, 1818, in Dearborn county, Indiana; came to Iowa City with his father's family in March, 1840, and made a claim adjoining his brother Edward, in Iowa county, and assisted in build- ing the first log cabin on Old Man's creek, in the Ricord settlement; he

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.

made his home with his brother Edward, and assisted in making rail fences and breaking the prairie for their farms, and assisting in building cabins until the breaking out of the Mexican war, when he enlisted in the Fif- teenth United States Infantry, and remained until the close of the war. He came home and made a new settlement in Fillmore township, Iowa county, section 1, township 78. He was married in December, 1849, to Miss Catharine Butler. He built himself a house and barn on his claim, and lived there until 1872, when he sold out, and in 1873 went to Texas. The family consisted of three sons and two daughters; one son died in infancy; Augustus died in St. Louis at the age of 17, and Thomas is mar- ried and lives near Red Oak, Iowa, and his two daughters are living with their father in Texas.

N. B. RICHEY, farmer, post-office, Lone Tree; was born in Wayne county, Ohio, February 1, 1832, where he spent his boyhood days until he was fifteen. He then went into the printing office of the Wooster Demo- crat and remained there two years; he afterwards worked on the Wells- ville Patriot, Pittsburg Dispatch, and other newspapers; he made several trips west. In 1849 he went to New Mexico with a trading company from Kansas City; in 1864 he went to Pike's Peak, and came to Johnson county, in December, 1864, where he now lives and owns 240 acres of land, and has it well improved. He was married August 10, 1858, to Miss C. L. Lochr, a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed with eleven children, viz .: Ella S., Jesse M., Lucy J., Clinton H., David H., Kate L., Charlie C., Grace E., Frank L., Albert R., and an infant. He is a member of the M. E. Church.

CHARLES A. RINK, a resident of Coralville; was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1835. He enlisted in the Union army in 1862, a member of Company C, Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry. He was married to Elizabeth Koepping of Muscatine, Iowa. They have six children: Lena, Lizzie, Charles, George, Emma and Amanda. He is a democrat in poli- tics. He is also a member of the Tutona Lodge of I. O. O. F. of Iowa City.

ALEX. RINEHART, a farmer residing in Madison township, post- office, Chase; was born March 25, 1830, in Morris county, New Jersey. He settled in Knox county, Ohio, near Mt. Vernon. He married Sarah Rinehart, June 1, 1864, and shortly afterwards settled in Allen county, Indiana, where they resided seven years. In 1870, they settled in Madison township, Johnson county, Iowa, on their present farm, southwest quarter, section thirty-four. They have seven children: Charles E., Amanda A., Ida M., Pheobe, Sarah E., Alice V., Lewis A. He is a democrat in politics.

BENJAMIN RITTER, fruit-grower, Iowa City; is a native of Mont- gomery county, Ohio; born December 20, 1814. He is a son of John

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and Barbara Ritter, the latter now residing in Floyd county, this state, at the ripe age of ninety-seven years. In 1824 the family moved to Wayne county, Indiana, where they resided about eight years, when they moved to St. Joseph county, Indiana. From there the subject of our sketch emi- grated to what is now Johnson county, and was married August 14, 1837, to Miss Mary Stover, this being the fourth marriage in the present limits of Johnson county. He has since resided in the county, and followed farming, and also worked at the carpenter trade. They had six children, three now living: Jacob D., John M., and Belle A., now Mrs. F. A. Stratton. Mr. Ritter has been a member of the Methodist Church for forty years, and has served as justice of the peace thirty-five years; is now engaged in fruit culture, two miles northeast of Iowa City.

LEVI ROBINSON, attorney at law Iowa City; was born March 13, 1827, in Kennebec county, Maine; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1855; was admitted to practice law at Albany, New York, and settled in Iowa City May 23, 1855. He was prosecuting attorney in 1856, and deputy revenue collector from 1864 to 1868. The law firm of which he is the senior partner, Robinson & Patterson, is the oldest law firm in the state of Iowa. Mr. Robinson is a republican in politics. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs. He is part owner with Mr. Sol- omon Coldren in the oat-meal mill situated at Coralville in west Lucas township, Johnson county, an enterprise that has proven quite a success.

JAMES ROBINSON, farmer, post-office, Lone Tree; was born in Scotland, November 20, 1829, where he spent his early life, and got a good common school education. He came to America in 1849, and lived in New York for a number of years, in Broome county. August 20, 1862, he enlisted in company I, Seventh Rhode Island volunteer infantry, and served to the end of the war; was wounded at Fredricksburg, Virginia, the first battle he was in, being shot in the side of the face, the ball going in at the cheek, and knocking out two teeth, he spitting out the bullet. After the war he returned to New York and emigrated to Iowa in the fall of 1865, and settled in Muscatine county, where he lived until 1870, when he came to Johnson county, and now owns 200 acres of finely improved land, and has a pleasant home, and pays considerable attention to raising stock, now having a small herd of pure bred Short-horns. He was married May 15, 1859, to Miss Emily Jayne, a native of Wayne county, Pennsylvania. They have six children, viz .: Mary R., Elsie K., Linda M., Emma C., Nellie, Belle, and Jessie E. Mr. Robinson and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

HIRAM A. ROBINSON, pharmacist, post-office, Oxford; was born in Peoria county, Illinois, September 22, 1849, where he spent his early life. He attended school in Brimfield, Peoria county, until his seventeenth year; he then commenced to learn the druggist profession with his father,

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and took charge of his father's business, and since then he has been engaged in the druggist trade. In June, 1879, he came to Oxford and opened a new stock of drugs at his present stand, and is doing a prosper- ous business. He was married September 30, 1872, to Miss Lizzie Mar- tyn, a native of Indiana. They have been blessed with two children: Claudius L. and Alta A. Mr. Robinson is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and an elder therein. Mrs. Robinson is a daughter of Rev. John D. Martyn, one of the pioneer ministers of Indiana, and a cousin of Wm. Martyn, missionary to China.

JAMES T. ROBINSON, the present efficient deputy auditor of John- son county ; was born February 15, 1822, in the Bowery, in New York city. His father kept a leather store in that city and came to Johnson county in April, 1840, and was the first mayor of Iowa City under the first city organization, which for some cause was abandoned after two years. His father kept a dry goods and grocery store where O'Hanlan & Son have their shoe store, and Weber's blacksmith shop was the warehouse. He died in January, 1880. Mr. Robinson was married October 5, 1842, to Miss Emily T. Custer. They have twelve children, eight are living: Alice C., wife of Clark Miller, in Maudan, Dakota; Mary P., Martha S., wife of Gilman Fletcher; Lizzie D., wife of Scott Dindly, of Humbolt, Iowa; Ella, Fannie E., wife of Henry Graham, of Cedar Rapids; J. Arthur, in Maudan, Dakota, and Susie E. His wife died May 2, 1881; she made the first cheese made in Johnson county; she was born February 26, 1818, in Her- kimer county, New York. Mr. R. has filled the office of deputy auditor for seven years, and one year deputy recorder.

CHARLES ROBOTHAM, farmer and stock-raiser in Graham town- ship, post-office, Oasis; was born May 27, 1821, County Staffordshire, England, January 2, 1856; settled in Graham township and bought the farm upon which he now resides. He was married November 25, 1861, to Miss Jane Hobbs, of Iowa City. He is independent in politics, and is one of Graham township's successful farmers and stock-raisers; lives on sec- tion 24, and his land is under good cultivation; has an orchard of over 200 good apple trees; also has a fine lot of Short-horn cattle. He is a citizen that always strives to attend to his own business and succeeds in a great measure of attending it well.

GOTTLEIB F. ROESSLER, a farmer of Sharon township, post- office, Sharon Center; was born March 19, 1821; came to America in 1830, and settled in Columbiana county, Ohio, and came to Iowa City in March, 1840. He was married in June 1858, to Miss Louisa Hagan, of Washington county, Iowa. They have a family of ten children: Mary, wife of Herman Foulk; George, John, Clara, Jacob, William, Gottleib, Ella, Amelia and Caroline. He has always been a democrat and voted against the prohibitory constitutional amendment.

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.

H. D. ROWE, was born Sept. 23, 1853, at Elgin, Illinois. He is a graduate of the Iowa City law school of the class of 1878, and has been engaged in practice ever since in Iowa City. He was elected city clerk in March, 1881. Ir. August, 1881, he was elected secretary of the State Historical Society. He is a member of all the Masonic bodies of Iowa City.

A. ROWLEY, a resident of Iowa City, and proprietor of a dining hall and restaurant on South Clinton street, No. 114, as successor to Jerry Gould; was born June 19, 1822, in Ontario county, New York. Came to Iowa in 1856, and settled in Hardin county, came to Iowa City in 1864. He was married July 24, 1842, to Miss J. Coy, of Ontario, county, New York. They have two children: R. S., wife of J. H. Brand, of Marengo, and Edgar A. of lowa City. He is a republican in politics, was constable of Lucas township for two years; was in the quartermaster department in the late civil war at Nashville, Tennessee, and was United States guager at the Alcohol works in Iowa City, from 1874 to 1881.

ANDREW RUBELMAN, farmer, post-office Shoo Fly; was born in Baden, Germany, Nov. 9, 1844, where he spent his boyhood days, and got a good German education, and followed the trade of a ropemaker. He came to America in 1848, and spent three years in New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Missouri, and came to Johnson county in 1851, and bought forty acres of land where he now resides, and has since bought more, and now owns 206 acres of finely improved land and good buildings and improve- ments, and pays his attention to farming and raising stock. He was mar- ried July 18, 1849, to Elizabeth Henry, a native of Ohio. They have two children: Deina and Lewis, both still at home. Mr. Rubelman and family are members of the Lutheran Church.

S. R. RUNYON, blacksmith, Solon; was born in Knox county, Ky., July 31, 1843, and is a son of A. G. and Mary F. Runyon. He spent his early life in his native county, and enlisted in company H, seventh Ken - tucky Independent Cavalry in August, 1862, and served eighteen months. In the spring of 1865 he emigrated to Iowa and settled in Solon, where he now resides and working at his trade. He was married Feb. 12, 1866, to Clara Beuter, a daughter of Joseph and Anastasia Beuter, early settlers of Big Grove township. They have nine children, viz: Harry M., Mar- tin R., Annie, Nicholas L., Mary G., Stella M., William A., Augusta M., and Leonard R. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Penn Lodge, No. 289.

ASA RUNYON, a resident of Penn township, post-office North Lib- erty; was born Nov. 16, 1845, in Garrard county, Ky. Settled in John- son county, Iowa, Aug. 16, 1866. He was married May 3, 1870, to Miss M. E. Payn, daughter of Evan Payn, near Solon, Iowa. They have five children: Lula M., Francis M., Mary R., Bertha J. and Henry M. He

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is a republican in politics, and is the assistant postmaster at North Liberty. Has held several township offices: township clerk and assessor several terms. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at North Liberty. He voted for the prohibitory constitutional amendment.

ALEX. RUTH, farmer, residing near Iowa City; was born July 18, 1836, in Washington county, Pa. Came to Iowa City in 1855. Was detained in Ohio with the lung fever, and got to Johnson county, Iowa, too late to put in any crops; worked on the C. R. I. & P. R. R. during the summer and fall. He was married Nov. 11, 1860, to Miss Sarah Jane Funk, of Iowa City. They have the following named children: Edward S., born Aug. 17, 1861; Oliver Jay, born January 28, 1865; Etta, born Sept. 26, 1869, and died Dec. 16, 1879; Carrie Bertha, born May 24, 1872; Lizzie, born Aug. 29, 1875. He was a soldier in the late war, a member of company D, 14th Regiment Iowa Infantry. Enlisted in the fall of 1861; served in that company until he was transfered to the seventh Iowa Cavalry. He was honorably discharged in the fall of 1864. He is a republican in politics, voted for the prohibitory amendment. Was elected justice of the peace in 1877, held the office one year. He, his wife and eldest son are members of the M. E. Church at Lone Tree.

E. SANGESTER, farmer, and resident of West Lucas township, post- offic, Iowa City; was born March 8, 1824, in London, England; came to America May 5, 1832; settled in Iowa City March 1, 1844; is a carpen- ter by trade. He was married December 25, 1849, to Miss Delilah John- son of Iowa City, a neice of Dr. Ballard, and a grand-daughter of Judge Johnson, of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was the first marshal of Iowa City, and James Robinson, father of the present deputy county auditor, was the first mayor of Iowa City. They have a family of six children: Flora, who died of consumption, Ada, wife of Addison Kenard, Frank, Fred, Ebb and Herbert. He is a democrat in politics. His father, Archibald Campbell Sangester, is still living, and has been an invalid for five years. He was born March 6, 1787, in London, England; was ordained a minis- ter of the Baptist Church in 1820; was a member and pastor for sixty years of the Baptist Church; became a life member of the American Baptist Publishing Society August 25, 1867.

CYRUS SARGENT, farmer, Cedar township, post-office, Solon; was born in the town of Bow, Merrimack county, New Hampshire, March 3, 1816; was married July 5, 1842, to Abby B. Saltmash, a native of Goffs- town, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire. She is the youngest daugh- ter of Edward A. and Sally Salthmash, whose family of thirteen children were all born in the same house, eight of whom are now living, aged as follows: Betsy, 82; Thomas, 80; Henry, 78; Hazen, 76; Susan, 74; Gilman, 72; Franklin, 70, and Abby, 65; average age, 75 years, their parents dying at the following ages: Edward A., 85, and Sally, 87 years;

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average age of children dead, 48 years. In November, after their mar- riage, they removed to Wentworth, Grafton county, where their children were born to them: Melissa A., born to them June 2, 1843; married November 1, 1860, to Alexander Eason; Emily C., born October 8, 1846; married December 27, 1866, to J. H. -

WALTER SAXTON, livery, Oxford, Iowa; was born in Cayuga county, New York, July 21, 1838, where he lived until 1853, when he came to Johnson county with his parents, they first settled at Coralville, and then entered land near Tiffin, where he lived some fifteen years on a farm. He enlisted August 11, 1882, in Company I, 22d Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged at Vicksburg, June, 1863. In the spring of 1867 he went to Jasper county, this State, where he remained two years, then returned to this county. In 1874 he came to Oxford and engaged in the livery business. He was married January 11, 1860, to Miss Joana Jameison, a native of Ohio, and has two children, Arthur F. and Alvah J.

JAMES SCANLON, a farmer, and resident of Union township, post- office, Iowa City; was born in 1810, in Ireland; came to America in 1840. Landed at Quebec, Canada; was there one year; then went to Phil- adelphia, Pennsylvania; was there two years, from there went to Bellfount, Central county, Pennsylvania; was there ten years, and then came to Iowa City. He was married at Bellfount in 1840, and to them were born the following children: Bridget, born in 1841; died in 1870; Katie, born 1842; wife of Jerry Nolan; Margaret, 1843, died same year; Rosanna, born 1845, lived two years, Johnnie, 1847, and died in two years; Thomas, born in 1851 and died in 1877; and James W. Mr. Scanlan dug the first cellar in Iowa City at the corner now occupied by Furbish as a shoe store.

JAMES W. SCANLON, a farmer, and resident of Union township, post-office, Iowa City; was born July 12, 1854, in Iowa City. He was married April 20, 1873, to Miss Mary Powers, and she died in March, 1879. They had two children: William and Charles. He was married November 29, 1879, to Miss Mary Collins of Oxford, Iowa. By this union two children were born: Daniel and Richard. The family are members of the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church of Iowa City. A Democrat in politics. The farm upon which he resides is among the best in Union township.

NATHANIEL SCALES, a farmer residing in Clear Creek township, post-office, Coralville; was born January 16, 1812, near Natchez, Missis- sippi, his father moved back to his old home in Rockingham county, North Carolina, and from there moved to Kentucky, in 1826, and to Missouri in 1829, and to Wisconsin in 1835, and Mr. Scales settled in Johnson county, Iowa, in 1840, on what is called Scales' Bend in Penn township. He was married August 28, 1842, to Miss Mary

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History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882, Part 104

Author: Johnson Co., Ia. History. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Iowa City, Iowa. Number of Pages: 980

Author: Johnson Co., Ia. History. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Iowa City, Iowa.
Number of Pages: 980