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 94
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110
CHARLES FERNSTROM, farmer and stock raiser, post-office Lone Tree; was born in Sweden, City of Skara, August 22, 1833, where he spent his early life and attended the university of his native city; also engaged in clerking in a book store for some time. He came to America alone in 1850, and lived in Minnesota three years; then went to California, where he followed mining and farming eleven years. He then returned to Johnson county, Iowa, and bought the farm he now lives on in 1865. He owns 310 acres of well improved land, and has a fine residence, good barn, etc., and pays special attention to raising stock. He was married January 4, 1870, to Miss Mabel Evans, a native of Madison county, New York, coming to this county in 1866. They have four children: Alice R., Charles J., Helen M. and George A. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Oxford, also of M. E. Church.
JOSEPH FIALA, grain buyer, post-office Solon; was born in Bohemia, January 19, 1833, and spent his early life in his native country until 1852, when he came to America with his father, and lived in Cleveland, Ohio, two years, then came to Solon and bought government land. He has since lived here, and in 1876, he commenced buying grain at the station and also buys some stock. He owns 160 acres of land in Cedar town- ship, which is well improved. He was married in November, 1856, to Catherine Kolda, also a native of Bohemia. They have six children: Joseph, Annie, John, Josephine, Wesley and Stephen. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and one of the original members of the church three miles northeast of town.
SILAS M. FINCH, attorney at law, Iowa City; was born August 22, 1840, in McHenry county, Illinois. He was married June 17, 1868, to Miss Maria W. Stark, of Woodstock, Illinois; she died of consumption in December, 10 1881. Mr. F. was a faithful soldier during the late war;
S20
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
enlisted in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry in 1861. He served under McClel- lan, Burnsides, Meade and Hooker, in all the important battles fought by them; was with Butler up the James river in 1864, and was discharged as a lieutenant in Texas, in 1866. He settled in Iowa City in 1869, and was admitted to the bar in Iowa City in 1870, and has practiced here ever since ; is a republican in politics, and has always taken quite an active part in the actions of his party.
W. R.FISHER, telegraph operator, ticket, freight and express agent at Morse, for the B., C.R. & N. R. R .; was born in Vermont, in 1856; came to Iowa in 1861, and was married to Miss Artie Williams, of Indepen- dence, Iowa; came to Morse in June, 1877, and has been there since. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, chapter and commandery.
JOHN FISHER, harness maker, post-office, Oxford; was born in Bohe- mia, January 1, 1848, and at the age of fourteen came to America alone, and settled in Iowa City, where he learned his trade with Frank Quber, working three years; then he worked for different parties, and went to St. Joseph and Kansas City, Missouri, and worked in both places; then returned and worked in Iowa City several years, and in June, 1879, came to Oxford and started a shop, and now has the only shop in the town. He was married October 16, 1872, to Lizzie Chap, also a native of Bohemia. They have three children: John, Mary, and Charlie.
JACOB H. FISHER, merchant, post-office, Solon; was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, March 13, 1853. In 1856 his parents, James and Soloma Fisher, moved to Solon, where Mr. F. engaged in the dry goods trade, and afterwards in the drug business, and died November 31, 1871, leaving ten children: five boys and five girls. During early life the subject of this sketch was engaged as clerk in his father's store, and in 1878 he formed a partnership with C. H. Shircliff, who are still engaged in the dry goods and grocery business. In October, 1880, he formed a partnership with Jacob G. Beck and built a creamery, and are actively engaged in butter making, and doing a flourishing business. He was married December 24, 1878, to Miss Helena Beck, a native of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed with one son, James Mott.
MORRIS FITZGERALD, farmer and stock raiser, residing on sec- tion five, Graham township, post-office, Morse; was born 1809, at county Kerry, Ireland. Came to Quebec, Canada, in 1835-May 4th-and lived in various places in Canada and the United States, traveled considerable in the Western States, and finally settled in Graham township, Johnson county, in the fall 1855, and there he has made his home since. He was married in 1854 to Miss Mary Martin, of Illinois. This union is blessed with five children: three boys and two girls. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church. A democrat in politics.
821
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
MICHAEL FITZSIMMONS, a resident of Iowa City, doing business on Gilbert street, near the city mills, where he has recently erected a new cooper shop; was born in September, 1826, in Cavan county, Ireland. Came to America in 1848 and settled in Iowa City, in 1856; he is a cooper by trade, and has worked at that business since his residence in Iowa City. He was married in April, 1851, to Miss Catharine Morecroft, of Iowa City. This union is blessed with four children: Francis, wife of Martin Free- man, of Morse station; Henry A., Frederick and Charles. The family are member of the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church. He is a demo- crat in politics.
GILMAN F. FLETCHER, the present efficient deputy sheriff of Johnson county ; was born May 6, 1848, in Dorchester, New Hampshire. Came to Johnson county, Iowa, in April, 1857. He was married March 29, 1868, to Miss Martha S. Robinson, daughter of James T. Robinson, the present deputy auditor. They have four children: Edna G., Mary A., Paul and Susan. He (is a democrat in politics, a member of the Legion of Honor, and of the V. A. S. societies of Iowa City. He has been deputy sheriff under John Coldren for five years, began January, 1878. And is a prominent candidate for sheriff in 1883. His large experience qualifies him for the duties of the office.
JACOB FLOERCHINGER, retired farmer, post-office, Oxford; was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 10, 1817, and spent his early life in his native country. He came to America in November, 1839, and went to Pennsylvania and worked on railroads, canals, and coal mines until the spring of 1842, when he returned to Germany and was put in the army and served two years and a half, when he bought a substitute, costing him 330 goulding. He came back to America in 1845, and lived in Wilkesbarre, Pa., and worked at the coal mines until September, 1855, he started west and landed in Iowa City, Oct. 4. He bought 160 acres of land in Oxford township, of John Cook, and has since been engaged in farming, and has by industry and economy added to his estate and now owns 360 acres of fine land, besides town property. He was married Feb. 12, 1846, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, to Miss Margaret Scherrer, a native of Hamburg. They have four children: Frank J., John, Helena Agnes and Ann Elizabeth, and one, Mary Ann, deceased. All except Mrs. Floerchinger are Catholic in faith, she being a Presbyterian
GEORGE FLOERCHINGER, proprietor Oxford House. Was born in Germany, December, 1834, and came to America, January, 1869, to Johnson county, and followed farming until the fall of 1881, when he bought the Oxford House, the first building erected in the town, having been built by his brother F. A., in 1869. He also owns a farm of eighty acres. He was married January 4th, 1860, to Jennie Worf; she died in August, 1868. He was again married, December 13th, 1868, to Katie 51
822
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Worf. There are four children by the first marriage, and five by the second. In 1879, he went back to Germany, but only remained about three months, not liking that country as well as this.
HON. GILMAN FOLSOM. The subject of this sketch, departed this life, and his noble soul winged its everlasting flight to the God who gave it at three o'clock, July 15th, 1872, at his residence near Iowa City. He was born at Dorchester, New Hampshire, April 7th, 1818. He read law in the office of the Hon. Josiah Quincy, a noted jurist of New Hampshire, and was admitted to practice law at Haverhill, 1841, at the early age of twenty-three years. He settled in the practice of law in Iowa City in 1841, and was recognized as a young man of great promise. He was married in 1843 to Miss Arthur. His widow and three children, Mary A., Arthur and George J., survived him and are still living at the family residence, a fine brick mansion on the Iowa river, situated on a bluff at the narrowest place on the river, commanding a beautiful view of Iowa City that lies on the opposite side of the river. Mr. Folsom was for two successive terms a member of the House of Representatives of Iowa. On the election of Frank Pierce to the Presidency in 1852, Mr. Folsom was appointed receiver of the land office in Iowa City; this service termin- ated his public career, and thenceforth he devoted himself to looking after and caring for his large estate. As a legislator he rose to the full height of statesmanship.
MICHAEL FORD, a farmer residing in Hardin township, post-office Windham. Was born in Connaught, Ireland, in 1844; came to America and landed at New York, April 18th, 1873, and settled in Iowa City the same spring. He was married in 1872 to Miss Mary Drunomy, of county Slige. This union was blessed with five children: Bridget, John, Ann, Katie and Michael.
THORNTON FORD, farmer, post-office, Oxford; was born in Taylor county, Virginia, October 22, 1830, where he spent his early life, and got a common school education. In the fall of 1849 he came to John- son county, and settled in Big Grove township with his parents, Elisha and Nancy Ford. Here he followed farming, and August 26, 1860, was married to Miss Jena O'Brien, a native of Monroe county, Indiana, who came to this county in 1851. For several years Mr. Ford lived near Iowa City, in Newport township. He came to Oxford in 1874, and now has a nice house and owns 66 acres of land and keeps a dairy. They have three children: Alta M., now the wife of I. N. Devault, of Big Grove township; Zelena N., now teaching school, and Thornton P., and one deceased, Susan. Mr. Ford is a member of the A. O. U. W., and all the family are members of the Methodist Church.
W. E. C. FOSTER, was born May 15, 1851, in Iowa City; he is the senior member of the firm of Foster & Hess, livery, feed and sale stable,
823
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
on Washington street. He was married September 12, 1877, to Miss Libbie Miller, of Iowa City; they have two children: Mabel M., and Charles C. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 6, of Iowa City; is a republican in politics. The firm of Foster & Hess is recognized as the headquarters of the driving, feed and sale business of Iowa City. They have fine stock, good vehicles; their stalls are filled with the very best of driving and saddle horses. They do business in a two story frame building 40x150 feet. They have good, trusty "goers;" they own a fine bred stock horse, a noble animal, bearing marks of his Scotch ancestry, and they call him "Young Clyde," and he is neat and clean and appears and acts like a thoroughbred, and weighs 1500 pounds, the finest large horse in the county.
WILLIAM L. FOUNTAIN, farmer, post-office, Lone Tree; was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, and came to Johnson county in 1847, and settled in Pleasant Valley township, and has followed farming all his life. He now owns 96 acres of land. He was married in 1855 to Sarah Fountain, also of North Carolina. They have seven children: Alda, Luther, Emma, Hannah E., Henry, Samuel, acd Rhoda.
JOHN FOUNTAIN, farmer, post-office, River Junction; was born in North Carolina, June 13, 1841. At the age of six years he came to Iowa with his parents, John and Hannah, and settled in Pleasant Valley town- ship, where the subject of this sketch has spent his life and followed the occupation of a farmer. He now owns 152 acres of land. He was married September 21, 1868, to Miss Addie J. Douley. They have six children; Marvin J. Walter, Minnie Nellie May, Bertha Elnora, Manley Raymond and Abbie.
ELI FOUNTAIN, grocer and justice of the peace, post-office, River Junction; was born in North Carolina, August 17, 1842, and came to Johnson county, Iowa, in 1854, and remained three years. He then returned to North Carolina, and in May, 1862, he enlisted in company K, 45th North Carolina Infantry, C. S. A. Was wounded three times; first at Gettysburg, and twice at Spottsylvania, quite severely, being shot in the shoulder. He served until July, '64. He then came back to this county, where he has since resided and followed farming most of the time. In October, 1881, he started in the grocery business at River Junc- tion, and is now serving as justice of the peace. He was married, in 1872, to Miss Elizabeth Trout, a native of this county. They have four child- ren: Harry L., Lawrence, Mary and an infant.
EDWARD G. FRACKER, secretary and manager of the New Method Heater Company of Iowa City; was born May 5, 1838, in Zanesville, Ohio. He was married, September 4, 1866, to Miss Mollie Cutler, of Iowa City; she died in April, 1871. Of this marriage there is one child living, George A. He married again, August 19, 1874, Miss Cora
824
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
V. Robbins, of Iowa City. They have one child, Howard R. He was a faithful soldier in the late civil war; he enlisted July 18, 1861, as musi- cian; promoted to first sergeant July 18, 1862, and promoted to second lieutenant September 4, 1862, and was adjutant of the regiment. He resigned in 1864, on account of disability. He is a republican in politics; was a member of the city council in 1880, and city assessor in 1882. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., L. of H. and V. A. S. societies of Iowa City.
GEORGE FRACKER, was born in 1795, in Boston, Massachusetts, died in Iowa City, October 12, 1880. He was reared in the atmosphere of industry, frugality, and intelligence that characterized so many of the New England homes of nearly a hundred years ago. His father was a boat builder living at the "North End." The father's occupation brought the sons in contact with a sea-faring life, and George naturally determined to try the sea, at least long enough to enable him to see something of the world. When about twenty-one years old he sailed on board a vessel bound for a South American port. At Buenos Ayres, the vessel having changed her destination, he obtained his release, and shipped as second officer on the English ship Jane, bound for the Brazils. This vessel was wrecked a few weeks later at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, and all on board except Mr. Fracker perished. He, with a broken leg and many severe bruises and cuts, escaped to a desert shore to suffer for several days pains worse than death. His published account of his experiences and sufferings is one of absorbing interest. He recieved the kindest treatment from a Creole family, who discovered him wounded, naked, and helpless amid the debris of the wreck, ministered to him, protected him from the savages, and enabled him to communicate with Monteveido, whence assistance was sent. The very night after he left the ranche of his faith- ful friends, the Guachos, who are merciless savages of that section, attacked it, robbed him of everything, and killed the son who had first found him in his distress. After reaching Monteveido he was most kindly cared for by humane people of all nationalities. He reached Bos- ton again in 1818, where he was soon offered a position as teacher in the public schools, which he accepted and held for eleven years. Soon after beginning teaching he was married, but his wife lived but a few years. By this marriage three children were born, one of them dying in infancy, and one of them in New Orleans at the age of twenty-two; another, Dud- ley S. Fracker, died in Ohio nine years ago. In 1828 he was married at Roxbury, Massachusetts, to Fanny L. Richardson, whom for years all our citizens have known. By this marriage there were eleven children, nine of whom still live. Mr. Fracker removed from Boston to Zanesville, Ohio, where he continued for a time to teach, and afterwards engaged in banking. He lived in Zanesville for nineteen years, and then removed to Washington in the same State, where he continued in a bank. In 1856
825
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
he moved to Iowa City, where, in active life or in the decrepitude of advancing age, he continued to live until his death.
JOSEPH FRAZEE, minister of the Gospel; was born in Herkimer county, New York, Jan. 10, 1816; is the son of William and Hannah Frazee. Was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1836 he was married to Miss Catharine Coleman of Chenango county, New York. To this union were born eight children, five living: Susan V., Joseph M., Louisa, Almond and Clarissa; this wife died in 1849, and he was again married in 1853, to Rosanna Campbell of this county. To this union was born five children, four living: Elroy, Frank, Bertha and Ward. His second wife died in May, 1862, and he was again married to Mrs. Sarah J. Largent on the 20th day of October, 1863. She was formerly from Ohio. In 1845, Mr. Frazee came to Iowa, and has lived in this county every since. Has followed farming and preaching, he being a local preacher of the U. B. Church for a number of years. Has also been engaged in the manufacture and sale of what is well and favorably known as the Frazee medicine. His health having failed, he is now unable to do any work, and lives in Shueyville.
REV. GEORGE P. FULSOM, the resident minister of the Presby- terian Church of Iowa City; was born Dec. 16, 1826, in Buffalo, New York. He graduated from Williams College, Massachusetts, in 1847, and received the degree of D. D. from the college in 1880. He graduated from the Theological Seminary at Auburn, New York, in 1852. His first charge was Attica, New York. He was married October 28, 1852, to Miss Lillie G. Fraser. By this union there is one son, a physician practicing medicine at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He took charge of the church in Iowa City in 1880. His church membership is 263; Sabbath school attendance, 200. The officers of his church are: Elders, D. F. Stone, S. Sharpless, Prof. T. H. McBride, Prof. N. R. Leonard, J. M. Smith, Virgil Hartsock, J. W. Lee and A. O. Price. Trustees are: L. H. Jack- son, N. R. Leonard, S. I. Sanders, E. Shapard, W. H. Shipman. The services of this church are; preaching, 10:30 A. M. and 7:00 P. M. J. W. Lee, Sundayschool superintendent. The Rev. F. enjoys the confidence of his congregation.
T. M. GARVIN, a farmer, residing in section 36, Graham township, post-office, Oasis; was born in 1809, in Virginia, came to Johnson county, Iowa, in the spring of 1857. He lived in Ohio from 1831 to 1857. He was married in 1834 to Miss Elizabeth McCutchen, in Ohio. She died in 1878. They have four children living; his daughter Sarah graduated at the Iowa City Commercial College. He was elected justice of the peace in 1860, and served in that capacity for twenty years.
WILLIAM GAUNT, was born June 4, 1823, in Yorkshire, England, came to America in 1848, and settled finally in Iowa City in 1854, where
826
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
he lived twelve years, and then moved on a farm in Pleasant Valley township, where he has resided ever since. He was married in 1849, to Miss Anna Keckner, of Center county, Pennsylvania. They have three children: Samuel, Mary and Clara. A republican in politics, but growing more independent in his political views, and favors voting for the best men and measures. He was a freighter on the plains four years, from Ft. Dodge to Council Bluffs. Mr. Gaunt has a fine farm of 120 acres and one of 180 in sections 26 and 30, in Pleasant Valley township, under good cultivation, plenty of fruit of all kinds. He was unfortunate in 1867, he lost his right eye by an accident occassioned by cutting a limb from an apple tree in his orchard, the limb striking him in the right eye, from the effects of which he lost the sight of that eye. He was a faithful soldier, serving in Company I, 22d Regiment Iowa Vol. Infantry, until he was discharged for disability.
JAMES GEARY, farmer, Newport township, post-office, Iowa City; was born October 16, 1831, in Dearborn county, Indiana. Came to Iowa and settled in Johnson county in 1851. He was married, October 2, 1849, to Miss Nancy J. Chessman, of Dearborn county, Indiana. They have ten children, all living: Laura B., wife of James T. Woodling, Mary E., wife of George W. Hughes, Sarah T., Emma J., Elma Iowa, William R., Larkin H., Mattie T., Evaline, and Joseph H. They are members of the Christian Church. He is a democrat in politics; has filled several town- ship offices. He is one of the successful farmers of Newport township, and makes a specialty of raising fine horses.
R. J. GEDDES, a resident of Penn township, post-office, North Liberty. Was born December 18, 1853, in Ashland county, Ohio, and came to Johnson county in the fall of 1855; went back in 1857, and finally settled in Penn township in 1868. He acquired his education in Iowa City, having completed a full course at the Iowa City Commercial College. Mr. Geddes is a republican in politics, and is the clerk of Penn township. He has been engaged in teaching shool. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Penn township.
JACOB A. GEORGE, farmer and surveyor, post-office, North Lib - erty; was born Oct. 2, 1848, in Johnson county. Was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools. His father, Martin George, died June 17, 1872. After which Jacob rented the farm for a number of years when he purchased it, and where he how resides. Dec. 25, 1877, he was married to Miss Martha Zeller, daughter of N. Zeller, Sen. To them have been born two children: Cadence O. and Martha E. Mr. George and J. F. Price bought the steam saw mill of L. E. Chamberlin, (now known as the George & Andrle mill), moved it to North Liberty, where they run with the engine a saw mill, a cane mill and feed grinder. Mr. George owns 194 acres of well improved land, part of which he rents, the
827
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
remainder he farms himself; he is a democrat in politics, is not a member of any church, though his wife is a member of the Church of God.
MARTIN GEORGE, deceased; was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 1st day of January, 1811, and was raised and edu- cated, and married there to Miss Nancy. V. Bowman. They had eight children, four of them now dead, and four living: Jacob A., Nancy V., Martha E., and Emma M. In 1846 he came to Iowa, and first settled in Iowa City; afterwards purchased land in Penn township, section twenty. Went back to his native State, after six months he returned to Iowa, sold his land in section twenty to Samuel Miller, and purchased land in East Lucas, also the stone mill in Iowa City, which he operated for a time. He then sold out there, and purchased property in North Liberty, where he kept store. He then sold out there and purchased a farm in section seven, where he resided and followed farming to within a short time of his death which occurred June 17, 1872. Mr. George learned the trade of blacksmithing when a young man. His wife survived him until March 26, 1882, when she was laid by. his side to wait the resurrection of the just. They were both consistent members of the Lutheran church.
B. GETSBERG, a resident of Iowa City, one of the firm of Sheets, Getsberg & Co., contractors; was born July 27, 1827, in Germany. Came to Johnson county in the fall of 1854. He was married in 1853, to Miss Henrietta Bloom. They have six children: Annie, Mary, John B., Emma E., Lucy C., and Hattie. The family are members of the German Methodist Church of Iowa City. He is a republican in politics.
OMER T. GILLETTE, assistant to the chair of surgery and secre- tary of the medical faculty, a resident of Iowa City; was born June 28, 1845, at Terre Haute, Indiana. He was a soldier in the late civil war, serving in company D, 132d Regiment Indiana Volunter Infantry. He graduated from the State University of Indiana, in 1866; he received the honor of his class; he attended lectures at the Medical College at Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the winter of 1867 and '68, and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city, March 1, 1869; he practiced his profession three years in Chicago, six years in La Salle, Illinois, and then settled in Iowa City in 1878, and was elected to his present position in the State Uni- versity, in 1879, as secretary of the medical faculty. He was married September 26, 1871, to Miss Mary A. Brokenshire, of Boston, Massachu- sett. A republican in politics. He is a members of the M. E. Church, Beta Theta Pi, A. O. U. W. of Iowa City, and L. of H.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.