USA > Iowa > Humboldt County > History of Kossuth and Humbolt counties, Iowa : together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 109
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they removed to Humboldt county, where Mr. Miller has since resided. He is a young man of good habits, industrious, and possessed of the characteristics neces- sary to success.
Benjamin H. Smith came to this county from Jefferson Co., N. Y., in 1873. He settled on the southeast quarter of section 1, of Weaver township. He also owns the south half of the northeast quarter of the same section, and has 140 acres under cultivation. He is engaged in mixed farming, and with the assistance of his son, carries on the place without much additional help. There is one acre of fine grove upon the place. Mr. Smith was born Dec. 17, 1836, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., and is the son of Harmon and Lucrena (Hurd) Smith, both of whom are now living in Theresa, Jefferson Co., N. Y. Benjamin H. Smith was married July 31, 1859, to Caroline Gregg, daughter of James and Rachel (Rowe) Gregg, of Jef- ferson county. They have seven children -Jennie, Gregg, Edna L., Maitland, Isa- belle, Boyd and Kate. Jennie is the wife of Jerome Mckinley and lives in Rutland township. Edna I .. is married to Lewis A. Miller, and they are now living at Mr. Sınith's. Mr.Smith is a blacksmith by trade, and has a shop on his farm where he does his own, and some work for his neighbors. He worked at his trade a number of years in Jefferson county, previous to coming to this State.
Thomas H. Miller, proprietor of the hotel known as the Miller House, is also an extensive dealer in grain and coal, and is further engaged as auctioneer and col- lector. He is doing a prosperous busi- ness. He was born in Brown Co., Ohio,
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Jan. 5, 1839. His father, Hugh Miller, resides in this county. His mother, who was formerly Nancy McLanghlin, is bur- ied in what is known as Porter's Ceme- tery, in Keokuk county. In 1861 Mr. Miller enlisted in company A, of the 60th Ohio Volunteers, was mustered in at Hillsboro and served thirteen months. He took part in the engagements of Stras- burg, Cross Keys, Fort Republic, Harris- burg and Harper's Ferry. At the latter place he was taken prisoner and kept one day under guard, then paroled. He was mustered out at Camp Douglas and re- turned home, satisfied that a soldier's life was not always one of pleasure. He was married in 1862 to Sarah Brown, of Brown Co., Ohio. She was a daughter of R. R. and Betsey (Gutridge) Brown. Four children were born to them-Leonyas, Lucinda, Alfa and Emma (twins). In 1865 Mr. Miller moved to Cedar Co., Iowa, where Mrs. Miller died. He then went to Keokuk county and remained four years. In 1872 he was married to Rachel Friend, and came to Humboldt county. They lived at Humboldt City a short time, then purchased 256 acres of land in Weaver township, which he has since sold. He came to Gilmore in April, 1881, and built the first house in the town, which he still occupies.
Martin Seaver resides on the southwest quarter of section 14, Weaver township. Hle was born in Orange Co., Vt., April 17, 1828, and is the son of Cyrus and Lncy (Martin) Seaver, both now deceased, and buried in Williamstown, Vt. In 1868 Mr. Seaver removed to Webster Co., Iowa, where he took a homestead and lived nine years. He then removed to
his present farm in Humboldt county. May 20, 1851, he was married by the Rev. John Sands to Ellen G. Day, a native of Essex, Chittendon Co., Vt. They have five children living-Hattie A., Mary L., Edgar A., Erwin W. and Ada J. Susie A. is buried in Eden, Lamoille Co., Vt. Mary L. is a teacher in the township, hav- ing completed her education by a course of study at Humboldt Academy, and is well qualified for the position which she occupies Mr. Seaver is an adherent of the republican party, and active Christian worker, and one who well deserves the respect and esteem with which he is re- garded by the entire community.
George S. Waller, son of Homer and Elizabeth (Fry) Waller, is a native of New York State, born in Duchess county, May 4, 1851. In 1880 he came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where for two years he was engaged in the grain business. He then removed to Clare, Webster county, erected the first store building in that village, and engaged in mercantile trade. He was the first postmaster at this place, and con- tinned in business until June, 1883. He still owns the store and two acres of land in that village. Meanwhile he had pur- chased 580 acres of choice land on section 35, Weaver township, where he now owns 820 acres in one body, and has erected one of the best honses in the township. In addition to his farming business, he deals to a considerable extent in real estate. He was educated at Cazenovia Seminary in the State of New York, and graduated from the commercial depart- ment of that institution. His wife was formerly Mary E. Beeman, of Litchfield Co., Conn. She was educated at Bridge-
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port, Conn. They have one child, a bright little girl, who was born Oct. 16, 1881, and named Martha Urania. The land he has located on is the very best in the county, underlaid with limestone from twenty to thirty feet below the surface, which is always sure to produce good crops, and the quality of the grass is un- surpassed. To one who has a desire for farm life, to look upon Mr. Waller's Rock Prairie farm, and stand on the porch of his residence and count eight school honses, and see the new stations of Clare and Gilmore on the D. M. & Ft. D. R. R. building up; when to know this has all been done in four years, makes one think and feel as though the garden of the world has been found.
George H. Pinn, deceased, was born in Holstein, Germany. He came to America in 1856, and settled in Jackson, Iowa. From there he removed to Clinton county, March 3, 1856. He was married to Mary Gablehy, also a native of Holstein. In 1880 he moved to this county and worked the farm of George Suyder and J. B. Jackson, each one year. He then bonght 400 acres of section 11, of which 210 acres are now under cultivation. He left a wife and four children at his decease. The latter are-Henry, John, Mary and Fred- erick. Mr. Pinn was politically a repub- lican, and with his family, a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Pinn has, with the assistance of her sons, success- fully managed the farm. She is a lady of much talent and energy, and highly respected by all her acquaintances.
Willard Van Steenburg was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Feb. 11, 1847. His par-
ents, Jonas and Laura (Lloyd) Van Steen- burg, are now living in Jackson Co., Iowa. At nine years of age Willard went with his parents to Bureau Co., Ill., and three years later to .Jackson Co., Iowa. In 1875 he removed to Poweshiek county where he lived five years, then came to Iluin- boldt county and settled on seetion 4, of Weaver township, of which he owns the northwest quarter. He cultivates about 125 acres. Upon the northeast corner of the farm is a small pond which he has named Carp Lake, on account of having put into it a quantity of small carp. It is a valuable addition to his beautiful farm. On Dec. 5, 1869, Mr. Van Steen- burg was married to Emma Kellogg, of Jackson county, daughter of Silas and Isabelle (Brisbane) Kellogg. They have four children-Mabel, Laura B., Lura and Helen. Mr. Van Steenburg is a republi- can. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and an enterprising and worthy citizen.
W. D. Weir is a native of Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., born July 18, 1833. He is the son of John and Hepsibah (Wood) Weir, both of whom are now deceased, and buried in Cattaraugus county. The sub- ject of this sketch at the age of twenty- three left New York and went to Bureau Co., Ill., where for two years he worked at the carpenter's trade and farming, then removed to Jackson Co., Iowa, and re- mained nine years, working as carpenter. He then went to Poweshiek county, where he lived thirteen years, and was engaged most of the time in farming. Mr. Weir's son, Fred, purchased a farm on section 21, Weaver township, which he carries on in partnership with his brother, Will. They have 160 acres of rich land
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under cultivation, most of which, in 1883, was planted with corn and nearly all killed by the frost. Fred Weir runs a steam threshing machine in company with his neighbor, Mr. Walter. They thresh for farmers in Humboldt, Pocahontas and Webster counties. The proceeds for 1883 amounted to 81,400; this amouut being earned in the short space of forty-three days. Fred possesses that spirit of de- termination which is an assurance of suc- cess in whatever he undertakes. W. D. Weir was married Feb. 4, 1856, to Fran- ces Van Steenburg, a native of Oneida Co., N. Y., and daughter of Jonas and Laura (Lloyd) Van Steenburg, now resi- dents of Jackson Co., Iowa. Mr. Weir is of Scotch descent, and his wife of Ger- man. They have four children-Fred J., Willie B., Laura M. and Charley L. Mr. Weir is a member of the republican party, and of the I. O. O. F. He is now serving as justice of the peace.
D. B. Hamersly was born in Washing- ton Co., Ind., on the 18th of April, 1834. His parents, Henry B. and Mary (Gould) Hamersly, are dead. His father lies buried in Indiana, and his mother in Tama ('o., Iowa. When thirty-one years of age Mr. Hamersly went to Illinois and re- mained six months; thence to Tama Co., lowa, where he resided eighteen years. Hle then sold out and came to Humboldt county, locating on section 10, Weaver township, where he owns 240 acres of land. He also owns ninety acres on sec- tion 4. He has 225 acres broken. He is a thrifty and industrious farmer, and deals quite extensively in stock. On the 28th of November, 1861, Mr. Hamersly was united in marriage with Margaret E.
Bower, of New Washington, Clark Co., Ind., a daughter of Tobias and Mary (Percy) Bower. Mrs. Hamersly died March 26, 1879, in Tama county, where she is buried, leaving seven children to mourn her loss with their father-Emma, married to James Hogan; Tobias, Henry I., Florence, Walter, Estella and Hattie. In politics Mr. Hamersly is a republican.
Thomas E. Joiner was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, March 3, 1841, and is the son of Lewis and Rachel (Crampton) Joiner, both of whom are deceased, and buried at Wellsville, Mo. He left Belmont Co., Ohio, in 1855, going then to Freeport, Ill. In 1869 he moved to Montgomery Co., Mo., and remained until April, 1883, when he came to Humboldt county and settled on the northeast quarter of section 12, Weaver township. He built a house in 1882, at a cost of $1,500, and has other good buildings suitable for stock. He has 115 acres broken, and is making stock raising his main business. He has a herd of fine Durham cattle, which he brought from Missouri. He is a thorough-going farmer, as everything about the premises will testify. He was married Oct. 11, 1866, to Sarah S. Talmage, of Chicago. She is a native of Kane Co., Ill., and daughter of Frederick and Anna E.(Jones) Talmage. The former is living in Kan- sas; the latter is deceased, and buried near Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Joiner have had one child born to them-Charles Lewis. Two children of Mr. Joiner's sister, Min- nie M. and William J. Bowers, reside with them. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He is po- litically, a republican. He enlisted in Octo- ber, 1861, in company G, of the 46th Illinois
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Volunteer Infantry, and served four years and three months. He enlisted as a private and was promoted to the rank of sergeant, then 2d lieutenant, and carried the colors three years. He participated in twenty- six engagements. Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Vicksburg being the most important, and was not once wounded. He was mustered out of service at Springfield, Ill.
Samuel S. Bigelow is located on the northeast quarter of section 51, where he owns a fine farm. He has comfortable buildings, and is engaged in stockraising. He also owns a farm in Webster county, which he took as a homestead. He was born in Essex Co., N. Y., March 31, 1840, and is the son of Schuyler Van Pantler and Caroline (Hay) Bigelow, both of whom still reside in Essex county. His father, who is a Yankee, was a lumber- man, working in the timber in winter, and in the saw mills in summer. His mother is an English woman by birth. When Samuel was eighteen 'years old the family moved to Maquoketa, Jackson
Co., Iowa, where he worked on a farm until the year 1862. He then enlisted, August 7, in company B, of the 26th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served two years and ten months, first in Grant's and after ward in Sherman's army. During the time he participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson, Brandon, Coldwater and Chickasaw Bayou. He was hit at one time, by a piece of shell which had passed through a tree and burst, striking him in the breast and ren- dering him unconscious for a short time. It proved to be nothing serious, however. He was honorably discharged June 6,1865, after which he went to Jones county, where his parents then resided. He af- terwards removed to Webster county and settled near Jackson Center, coming from thence to Humboldt county in 1882, Mr. Bigelow was married, April 3, 1869, to Mrs. C. C. Reed, of Webster county, but a native of Pennsylvania. They have three children-Henry, Harry and Char- ley. Mr. Bigelow is a member of the re- publican party.
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