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 97
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MAHLON HOLLINGSWORTH, a farmer, residing in Scott town- ship, in section 36, post-office, Downey, Muscatine county; was born February 24, 1822. His father was a millwright. Mr, Hollingsworth is a prominent member in the Highland Quaker church in Scott township; he settled in Johnson county in 1854. He was married March 2, 1843, to Miss Mary P. Whitacre. They have six children: Edward W., James M., Rachel A., wife of A. Mead, Charles M., Aquilla W., and Esther, wife of Joshua Secrest, living; Rebecca and Harriet are dead. He is a republican in politics; was formerly a whig; he has a fine farm with good buildings, amply supplied with water, and upon which he raises fine crops and plenty of all kinds of fruits.
JOHN J. HOLMES, the present popular and efficient mayor of Iowa City; was born Dec. 28, 1833, in Leesburg, Carrol county, Ohio. He was married Oct. 30, 1858, to Miss Sarah Bodley, of Newton, Iowa. They have three children: Maggie, Charles and Bertie. He settled in Iowa City in June, 1863. He is engaged in the marble business at No. 116, East College street. Junior member of the firm of J. W. Sterling & Co., a republican in politics, was alderman of the city for three years, and was elected mayor in April, 1882, a member of the A. O. U. W. of Iowa City and of the L. of H. of Iowa City, also of the American L. of H. He was living in Hannibal, Mo., when the war broke out and was a member of a company of Independent Scouts, and served under General Hulburt, on special service at Lexington, Mo., during which service he lost his health and was not able to continue in the service of his country. He set- tled in Iowa City in June, 1863, and has been prosperous in business and has grown popular with the people, as is evidenced by the fact that he was elected mayor on the republican ticket in April, 1882, over one of Iowa City's most successful and popular democrat mayors, and the people will not be inclined to " swap horses in the middle of the stream," but elect Mayor Holmes to a second term.
W. F. HONBERGER, farmer and stock raiser, post-office Morse; born in Indiana in 1858. At two years of age, moved with his parents to Marshall county, Iowa, and lived there until 1870, when he went to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and attended school there about four years; he then went to
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O'Brien county, Iowa, and remained there until 1876, when he came to Graham township. January 1, 1880, he was married to Miss Eva C. Morse.
JACOB HORN, post-office, Western, farmer and stock-raiser; was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, Sept. 29, 1823. Son of John and Catharine Horn. Was raised on a farm until he was fifteen years old, when his parents died, after which he served an apprenticeship to the wagon and buggy making trade, with Samuel Otto, in Bedford. After working four years with him, he then worked for a time in Cumberland City, Maryland. March 13, 1845, he was married to Miss Mary E. Smith, daughter of Frederick and Mary Smith of Bedford county, Penn- sylvania. To them were born nine children, seven are living: Joseph, W. S., in millinery business at Iowa City; Reuben S., Frederick F., William H., Stewart, Emma L., married to W. H. Cattrell, and Alice M. From 1845 to 1865 he followed his trade. In the spring of 1865 he came to Iowa and staid in Cedar County until the fall; he then came to . this county and purchased 133 acres of land in section five, where he now resides. He afterwards bought of William Hall eighty acres in Linn county. Mr. Horn has followed farming ever since he has been in the State, until a few years ago, when the boys began to farm. He now superintends the farm and raises stock. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. His wife was born Nov. 29, 1826.
SAMUEL G. HANKE, a farmer, residing in West Lucas township; was born February 17, 1821, near Berlin, Prussia; came to America and landed in New York city, July 4, 1850; came to Iowa in 1855, and to Johnson county in 1867. He was married July 14, 1852, to Miss Fredickie Key; they have one son, William. They are members of the German Luthern Church of Iowa City. Democratic in politics; his son William is one of the trustees of Lucas township. They make a specialty of raising fine cattle; they have sold all their fine stock of Holstein cattle, and William contemplates a trip to Europe to secure and import the finest stock of cattle he can find.
JOSEPH H. HORRELL, farmer, post-office, Lone Tree; was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1837; at the age of ten he moved to Fayette county, Pa., where he remained until 1864, when he emigrated to Johnson county, Iowa, and settled in Fremont township, where he now owns 160 acres of land, a part of which he improved from raw prairie. He has held the office of township assessor, and now gives his attention to farming and raising stock. He was married November 24, 1861, to Miss Sarah A. Wood, a native of Fayette county, Pa. They have had eight children, five of whom are now living, viz: William E., Isaac N., James C., Anna L., and Walter W .; those dead are Phebe E., Mary F. and Joseph H. Mr. Horrell is a member of the A. O. U. W.,
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of Riverside, also a member of the Christian Church. Politically he is democratic and an advocate of the temperance cause.
FRANK J. HORAK, a resident of Iowa City, and engaged in the practice of the law, with an office on the east side of Dubuque street; was born April 21, 1844, in Bohemia, Austria. Graduated from the law department of the State University, June 23, 1879. He was a faithful soldier in the Union army, enlisting in Company E, 46th Iowa Infantry, in May, 1864, and remained until the close of the war. He settled in Iowa City in October, 1880, having practiced law in Benton county one year, and it can be truthfully said that he is the only Bohemian attorney in Johnson county. He was married May 2, 1870, to Miss Katie Mosnat, of Belle Plaine, lowa. They are blessed with three bright little children: Bertha Maude, Frank E., and Hugo Claude. Is a democrat in politics, and enjoys the confidence of his people. He is a member of the Legion of Honor in Iowa City. He was postmaster at Shueyville in 1865, to fill a vacancy. He came to America in August, 1854, landing in New York City. He came to Rock Island by railroad and then to Iowa City in a wagon. He accidently shot himself in his right elbow in October, 1870, while in the act of taking a gun out of the wagon, on his return from a hunting expedition.
SIMEON HOTZ, was born February 18, 1819, in Fuetzen, Baden, died in Iowa City Nov. 6, 1881. He came to America in the spring of 1850, and finally settled in Iowa City in 1857. He was married Dec. 26, 1852, to Miss Barbara Williams. They had seven children, five of whom are living: Mesdames Hugel, Staub, Graf and Misses Ella and Julia. He was a member of the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Iowa City, as well as a member of the St. Joseph Society. He was a shoemaker by trade, and worked at his trade until he went in partnership with Louis Englert in the city brewery. In 1857 he began brewing on his own account, and finally built the Union brewery in 1868, and opened up that brewery in 1869, in partnership with his son-in-law, Mr. Geiger. In 1877 he was a victim of the railroad accident at Little Four Mile, on the C. R. I. & P. R. R., and was the last man rescued from the wreck after a con- finement of seven hours. He was a soldier in Brentano's Army in the revolution of 1848 and he grounded arms in the platz of Carlsruhe in May, 1849, when Duke Leopold retreated and left his duchy to Brentano, and the national committee. Leopold returned in August of the same year in the van of the Prussian army, and the young patriot could no longer have a home in his native mountain land, and being exiled never more to return, he set his face toward the great liberty loving republic of America.
JACOB J. HOTZ, a resident of Iowa City; was born July 3, 1853, in New York City. Contractor and member of the firm of Shinn & Hotz; carpenters and builders of Iowa City. Their shop is on North Gilbert
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street opposite 119; residence on North Gilbert street, No. 384. He was married Sept. 5, 1875, in Chicago, to Miss Delia Crawford, of that city. They have three children: Charles C., Frank W. and Guy J. He is a member of the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Iowa City. He is a democrat in politics, and Sept. 30, 1882 received the democratic nomin- ation for recorder of Johnson county. He has the contract for building the buildings for the Iowa City water works.
BENJAMIN M. HORNER, was born June 27, 1818, in Harrison county, Virginia; he moved to Ohio in the spring of 1837, and from there to Iowa in 1839. He engaged in farming for six years and then opened a wagon and carriage shop. He taught school during the winters of 1841 and 1842 in Madison township on the north bend; had about 20 scholars. He married Feb. 16, 1841, Miss Annie Wheatly, of Iowa City township. They had two children: Marcellus, killed during the war at Sabine Cross Roads, Louisiana, in company C, 28th Iowa Infantry; Carrie, the wife of Richard Wales, of Harveysburgh, Warren county, Ohio. His wife died January 21, 1846. He was married March 7, 1853, to Eliza Steele, of Iowa City, and she died Aug. 19, 1880. He was active in forming the first temperance organization called the Washingtonian, and delivered the first temperance lecture in Johnson county, at the residence of Dr. Jesse Bowsen, in the winter of 1840. He is a devoted member of the M. E. Church of Iowa City, and was the leader of the first M. E. Church class in Johnson county, at the Parrott Church in Scott township. He was formerly a whig, but now a republican in politics.
J. F. HOUSER, M. D., a resident of Iowa City, in the practice of medi- cine and surgery, office on the corner of Dubuque and Washington streets; was born February 2, 1837, in Switzerland; came to America in 1847, landed in New York. He served four years in the army; enlisted as a private in the First Wisconsin Battery, and was afterwards contract sur- geon with the State of Wisconsin, and then became assistant surgeon United States Volunteers, and assigned to the First Wisconsin Battery; his vast experience in the army as surgeon qualifies him for the duties of that part of his profession much better than a limited experience over a disecting table in a medical college; he graduated from the Medical Col- lege at Keokuk, Iowa, March, 1882. He was married in 1858 to Miss Rosa Smith, and this union is blessed with one daughter: Carrie E .; his wife died in 1860, and June 30, 1865, he was married to Miss Delia Car- penter, of Iowa, and this union is blessed with one daughter: Lillian A. He is a democrat in politics; a member of the Masonic society at West Branch, lowa, also a member of the A. O. U. W., Legion of Honor, and United Order of Honor of Iowa City.
HON. THOMAS HUGHES. The subject of this sketch was born September 22, 1814, at Catawissa, Pennsylvania; died March 11, 1881, in
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Iowa City. He came to Iowa in 1838 and to Iowa City in 1841, and was engaged in the printing business with General Van Amptworth; he was State Senator from Johnson county from 1846 to 1849; he was treasurer of Johnson county from 1855 to 1859. He was married September 15, 1841, to Miss Louisa King, of Dubuque, Iowa. They had four children: Delia, wife of James Gow, of Greenfield, Adair county, Iowa; Ellis G., living at Portland, Oregon; Annie G., living in Iowa City, with her mother, and Louisa E., principal of the Iowa City high school. He was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church of Iowa City; he was a member of I. O. O. F. societies of Iowa City. He was a soldier in the late civil war, as quartermaster of the 28th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, commis- sioned August 15, 1862; was taken prisoner on the Red River expedition, and who held as such fourteen months at Fort Tyler, Texas. He was a republican in politics since 1856; he was city clerk of Iowa City for the year 1869-70-71-72-78-79-80, and was clerk when he died. His health was broken down and he was partially blind in one eye from suffering in a rebel prison. He received a paralytic stroke in 1865 and recovered from it, and had second a stroke in September, 1880, and partially recovered, and finally died of paralysis of the lungs. Mrs. Hughes fell and hurt her- self Thanksgiving day, 1881, and is probably a cripple for life; she was born August 23, 1823, in the city of Baltimore, and came to Dubuque Iowa, in 1839.
WM. HUNT, a resident of Iowa City, and the owner and proprietor of Hunt's Hotel, on College street, south side numbers 18, 20, 22 and 24, near the Opera House; was born July 21, 1839, in Tipperary county, Ire- land; came to America in 1854, and landed in New Orleans; came to and settled in Iowa City the same year. He is a butcher by trade. He was married August 19, 1866, to Miss Annie Boylan, of Iowa City. This union is blessed with four children: Mary J. B., John W. M., Maggie E., and Nettie C. The family are members of the St. Patrick's Roman Catho- lic Church of Iowa City, A democrat in politics, and has been honored, with an office at the hands of his party; he served in the city council from the 3d ward in 1878-79. His hotel is well and favorably known, and the accommodations are good in every particular.
ADAM HUNTER (deceased), was born in 1796, in Ireland; came to America in 1815. He was married in 1823 to Miss Elizabeth Morrison, at Little York, Pennsylvania. He went into the mercantile business in 1823 in Baltimore, Maryland, and in 1827 moved to Youngstown, Ohio, where he lived until 1850, when he settled in Scott township, Johnson county, Iówa, where he lived twenty-six years, and whence he was buried in 1876. He had seven stalwart sons and four daughters. Andrew fell bravely defending his train and sleeps on a wild mountain side in Idaho. William died of wounds received during a federal cavalry charge in the late civil war. They have all grown to manhood and womanhood
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excepting one child dying in infancy, completing the patriarchal family of twelve sons born to the union of Adam Hunter and Elizabeth Morrison. He fell asleep at the ripe age of eighty years, after leading a wise life, leaving an example reaching far into the acts of those who knew him.
POLLY HUDSON was born in Greenbriar county, Virginia, Decem- ber 22, 1812. Her parents moved to Indiana, and from there to Illinois, in 1829, where she was married June 27th to Joseph Hudson. They had three children, two now living: Jane E., wife of Jacob S. Bowersox, and James R .; both reside in Shueyville. In 1851 they came to Iowa, and settled in this county, where Mr. Hudson died September 27, 1855. Mrs. Hudson survives him, and lives with her daughter in Shueyville. She did the first weaving of cloth and carpet in this township. From her was obtained some of the early history.
CHARLES HUBNER, blacksmith, residing at Tiffin; was born April 26, 1850, in Prussia; came to America, and settled in Iowa City in 1855, being only five years of age. He was married January 5, 1874, to Miss Katie Strub of Iowa City. They have two children, Fred and Lewis. He is independent in politics, and is a member of the Masonic society, and the I.O. O. F., Iowa City. He learned his trade with G. Kettlewell of Iowa City, and his business and work show that he learned it well. He does all kinds of job work, wagon and carriage work and repairs all kinds of agricultural implements. His shop is near the C., R. I. & P. railroad depot.
ROBERT HUTCHENSON. The subject of this sketch is the oldest resident citizen in Iowa City. Was born September 16th, 1814, at West Newton, eight miles west of Boston, in Hillsborough county, New Hamp- shire. He settled in Iowa City July 17, 1839; he is a carpenter and joiner by trade; built the first Presbyterian Church in Iowa City, that contained the celebrated "Hummer Bell." He helped erect the first log house that was built in Iowa City. He went to California in the fall of 1849, and came back in 1852, about as rich as he went. He was married . October 19,'1843, in Iowa City, to Miss Julia Maria Whetstone, of Cin- cinnati, Ohio. This union has been blessed with nine children living and three dead, those living are: Zelah W., married and living in Muscatine; Julia E., wife of P. M. Musser, a prominent attorney and banker at Muscatine; Charles J., a railroad engineer; Sophia W., Hannah J., Carrie W., S. Delia, Ada F. and Franklin Pierce. Those dead are: Laura C., wife of Jas. Clark of Des Moines; Willie and Robert. He is a member of the Masonic lodge of Iowa City. Is a republican in politics, and was the first marshal of Iowa City; held the office two years. He had the small-pox in February, 1864, and when he recovered from it, the sight of his left eye was affected, and in a few years he lost his sight in that eye, and then his right eye began growing dim, and finally lost his sight entirely.
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GEORGE HUMMER, a resident of Iowa City, engaged in the whole- sale grocery business. Was born May 5th, 1841, in Burlington, Iowa. He was married August 12, 1878, to Miss Helen Rider, of Iowa City. They were blessed with five children, four of them living: Mary L., Joseph E., George A., (dead), William J. and Leo. F. Mr. H. was form- erly in the dry goods business in Iowa City until 1872, when he estab- lished the wholesale grocery house of Geo. Hummer & Co., Nos. 328, 330, 332, corner of Washington and Linn streets, main building 49x100 feet, built in 1880, at a cost of $75,000; it is one of the fine business houses in Iowa City, a two story brick with basement; and their business is increasing every year. Andrew Hummer, his father, built the first brewery in Iowa, and brewed the first beer in Burlington, in 1837; got his supplies from Cincinnati by boat. His father died in 1849, and his mother died in 1848. Mr. Hummer is a democrat in politics, and a mem- ber of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Iowa City; he is one of the Iowa City leading business men, and is building up a large wholesale busi- ness by his own exertions and energy. His father-in-law, Mr. Rider, is a partner in the firm.
MARTIN HUCEK, a farmer in Lincoln township, post-office, Lone Tree. Was born in 1843, in Austria; came to America in 1855, and went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and lived there one year, and then moved to Iowa City. He was married in 1860 to Miss Mary Groff. This union was blessed with the following children: John, born in 1861; Francis, born in 1863; Joseph, born in 1865; Mary, born 1867; Annie, born 1869, Frank, born 1871. He is a democrat in politics and voted against the prohibitory amendment; he was drafted in 1862 and sent a substitute.
HON. JOHN P. IRISH. Mr. Irish is an editor of wonderful ability, a politician with few superiors and a citizen worthy of all the warm friends that he can count by the thousands. His political life is a history of itself. He became editor of the Iowa City State Press in December, 1864, and continued owner and editor of the same until Sept. 6, 1882. A demo- crat in politics, always true to his party in season and out. He has held several offices of honor, profit and trust; was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives and was one of its efficient workers. If he had been a republican he would have occupied a prominent place in the history of the nation. He has the ability, the tact and energy to work himself to national fame. His many friends here in Johnson county picture for him a brilliant future and a lofty position in the history of the nation. He was married Nov. 3, 1875, to Miss Anna Fletcher. They have two bright little children. In 1882 he moved to California, and the evening before his departure the citizens of Iowa City gave him a public reception at the St. James Hotel, where he was presented with a fine gold watch and chain, and his wife with a fine clock, as a testimonial of the esteem in
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which he was held by his many warm friends in Iowa City, both demo- cratic and republican joining in making these presents.
AUGUST ISENSE, a resident of Iowa City, a merchant on Washing- ton street and senior member of the firm of Isense & Cerny, clothiers; was born in March, 1819, in the Province of Brunswick. Came to America in 1846, landed in New Orleans; came to Iowa City in 1847. He worked on the State House in 1847 and 1848, then engaged as clerk in a grocery store and bought the store in 1860, and opened a clothing and gents' furnishing goods store in 1865. He was married in August, 1846, to Miss Dora Bethon of Brunswick. They have one child: Mary, the wife of Fred Rothweiler. The family are members of the German Lutheran Church of Iowa City. He is a democrat in politics, was township trustee in 1869, '80-'S1, member of Tutonia, German Lodge, No. 129, I. O. O. F.
PETER JACOBS, a farmer residing in Sharon township, post-office, Bon Accord; was born July 4, 1828. He was married in October, 1869, to Miss Susan W. Blitz. He settled in Johnson county in 1866. He is independent in politics, never held any office, and is liberal in his religious views. He was a soldier in the late civil war, and served his country in company D, Ninth Wisconsin Volunteers for three years, and lost his health in the army.
JOHN W. JAYNE, farmer and fine stock raiser, post-office, Lone Tree; was born in Broom county, New York, October 28, 1819, and spent the first thirty-five years of his life in the north-east corner town- ship of Pennsylvania, and followed farming and lumbering. In 1854 he moved to Iowa and settled in Muscatine county, near the Scott county line, and resided in that county until the spring of 1870. In 1861 he and his son Whittaker enlisted in Company B, Sth Iowa Regiment, and at the battle of Shiloh he was taken prisoner and was in the Tuscaloosa prison two months, where he lost his health; he was discharged July 1, 1862. The following fall he was elected clerk of the District Court for Johnson county, and held that office three terms, (six years), and was the first county officer ever elected the third term in that county. In the spring 1870 he moved to Fremont township, this county, where he owned a large tract of land, over 1200 acres, and in 1872, he laid out the town of Lone Tree. He is now a member of the board of supervisors of this county; he is a self and thoroughly educated man, and taught school two and a half years in Lone Tree, and owns a fine library of over 800 volumns, principally scientific ,works. He now owns 220 acres of land and is engaged, with his sons David and Henry, in breeding and raising thoroughbred Short-horns, and owns some of the finest blooded stock west of the Mississippi river. He was married September 25, 1841, to Miss Deborah Early; she dying August 25, 1842, leaving one boy, Whit-
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taker. He was again married September, 1842, to Miss Catherine Gilli- land, a native of New York. They have had five children, viz: David, Henry, William and Deborah, both deceased, and Sarah, married to Rev. A. C. Kelley. Mr. Jayne and family are members of the Baptist Church, and he is an active temperance worker.
JOHN E. JAYNE, born December 15, 1838; came to Johnson county, 1840; he is a bridge contractor and builder. His father entered 1,000 acres of land in Graham township. He was married July 3, 1866, to Miss Laura O. Bird, of Woodstock, Ills. They have three children: Howard W., Ella, Eben and Hayes. Republican in politics: member city council from fourth ward, 1878 and 1879; was in the army, Company D, 24th Iowa Regiment; member of the Congregational Church; member of the Legion of Honor of Iowa City. He is one of the enterprising citizens of Iowa City. He is the builder of the Jayne patent combination truss arch bridge. His shop is on Gilbert street. His bridges are being built in many counties in Iowa.
SYLVANUS JOHNSON, a farmer, residing in Lucas township, post-office, Iowa City; was born November 12, 1813, in New Haven county, Conn. Came to Iowa in 1837, and to Johnson county in the fall of 1839. He opened the first brick-yard and moulded the first brick in Iowa City, April 15, 1840, burned the first kiln in May, 1840, and the first brick building was a two-story brick, now occupied by O'Hanlan & Sons, boots and shoes. He was married, April 15, 1845, to Miss Emily Bradley, of New Haven, Conn. They have six children: Lawrence B., Theodore, Ella and Ellsworth, twins, Leora and Homer. He is a member of the Baptist Church of Iowa City. A democrat in politics; was vice-president of the national democratic convention, at Louisville, Kentucky, that nom- inated O'Conner and Black, in 1872. He was a member of the city council in 1855, and was justice of the peace of Lucas township one term. He met with an accident when but sixteen years of age that has crippled him for life, the result of a dislocation of the right hip-joint, followed by white swelling. He is a man of strong political convictions, and always free to express them. He was bitterly opposed to Greely's nomination, and could not see how any democrat with honest political convictions could vote for Horace Greely.
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