USA > Iowa > Mills County > History of Mills County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 69
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JONES, NORVEL, farmer and stock dealer, P. O. Malvern; born in August, 1845, in Mercer county, Illinois, and remained in that county until the fall of 1863. He was educated in the common schools and at Knox College. In May, 1864, he enlisted in company C, 137th Illinois infantry, for one hundred days, and participated at the battle of Memphis. He was mustered out in October, 1864, and returned again to his studies. In the spring of 1867 he went to Henry county, Illinois, and remained there eight years, engaged in raising live stock. He came to this county in 1875, and has resided here since that time. Was married in March, 1870, to Miss Ella Mason, of Galesburg, Illinois, by whom he is the father of three children: Orel, Orpha and Vena, the two last named being
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deceased. He is located on a good farm of 160 acres, well improved. He deals extensively in cattle, sheep and hogs.
KELLEY, REV. ISAAC, P. O. Hillsdale; born November 11, 1819, in Ross county, Ohio, where he grew to maturity, working on his father's farm and attending the pioneer schools. When nineteen years old he commenced to learn the trade of a blacksmith, and worked at that trade ten years. In 1843 he moved to Highland county, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming two years, returning again to his native county. After spending two years at his old home he went to Jacksonville, and in 1848 engaged in mercantile pursuits at Locust Grove. He came to Mills county in the autumn of 1853. He united with the M. E. Church when a young man, and began his career as a minister of the gospel in this county. The Glenwood circuit was his first field of labor, where he served two years and was then appointed by the conference to minister to the spiritual wants of the citizens of the Bedford circuit. He was afterward appointed to the Oregon, Missouri, circuit. He returned to this county in 1861, and has since remained here preaching in the Tabor circuit, and adjoining places. Rev. Kelley was married October 26, 1842, to Miss Ruth Smith, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, June 16, 1822. Twelve children have blessed this union, ten of whom are living at the present time: L. E., D. E., L. A., J. Q., J. J., W. M., E. E., W. S., E. M. and Pearl. He owns a pleasant residence situated on the suburbs of Hillsdale, and a well improved farm of four hundred and forty acres. He also owns an extensive mercantile house, conducted by his son Isaac.
LEWIS, A., farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Malvern; was born in Knox county, Ohio, in the year 1821, where his youth was passed and his education received. In 1855 Mr. Lewis came to this county and loca- ted near the place of his present residence. For some five years he engaged in farming but then erected a saw and grist mill on Silver Creek. After conducting this successfully for a time he returned to his former avocation. In 1857 he married Miss Mary J. Wilkerson, born in December 1833, by whom he has one child, Electa, and one by adoption, Robert D .. His farm comprises two hundred and fifty-nine acres, improved, with good buildings and a fine orchard.
LEWIS, I. B., merchant, P. O. Hillsdale; born in February, 1846, in Andrew county, Missouri, where he resided about five years. He then came to Iowa, locating in Mills county, and has resided here continuously. He received his education in the excellent common schools of this county . He was married'in March, 1872, to Damascus Kelley of this county. They are the parents of four children: Fay Ivy, Ruth Ella and Clifford. Mr. Lewis is now engaged in the grocery and provision trade, and also car- ries an extensive stock of notions. He is a successful business man, much admired by all who know him.
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HISTORY OF MILLS COUNTY.
LONG, ABIGAIL, P. O. Malvern; born May 19, 1818, in Oneida county, New York. When six years of age she moved with her parents to Fulton county, New York. She was married November 18, 1837, to Adam Long, of Fulton county, New York. He was born in 1805, and died in 1877, leaving four children: Lewis R., Henry W., James R., and Salina E. Mrs. Long and her son Lewis, are located on a good farm of eighty acres with pleasant surroundings. Mr. L. R. Long is a consist- ent member of the Baptist church of Malvern. He was born in 1839, at Gloversville, New York, where he resided about thirty years. He learned the trade of a carpenter, and worked one year in the office of John Ad- ams, paymaster of the Harlem railway. He came to this county in 1864, and has since been engaged in farming and carpentering.
MILLER, J. M., farmer, P. O. Glenwood; was born in Buchanan county, Missouri, June 16, 1840. In 1853 he came to this county as one of its early settlers. August 13, 1862, he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Iowa, company B, and was in the battles of Helena, Little Rock, Saline River, Spanish Fort, and the taking of Mobile. He was married to Miss Harriet E. Graves, a native of Knox county, Tennessee, born November 22, 1838. She came to this county in 1852. They are the parents of six children, two living: Marietta and Ada Pearl. The farm of Mr. Miller contains 160 acres. What has been said of other old residents of the county is equally true of him, and need not be here repeated.
McCAMMON, CHARLES C., stockman and farmer, P. O. Glen- wood; is a native of Morgan county, Illinois. He was born in 1832, and in 1836 came to Iowa to Van Buren county, receiving a common school education. In 1852 he started overland for California, and remained in that state sixteen years, engaged in mining, freighting, and staging. He was married in 1871 to Miss Ella Scott, a native of Putnam county, Indi- ana, born in 1850. They have one child, James C., born in March, 1872. The farm of Mr. McCammon is a fine one of two hundred and forty acres, like most other farms in the county, well improved.
MICKELWAIT, JOSEPH, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Hillsdale; was born in Morgan county, Illinois, in 1833. In 1840 he came to Henry county, Iowa, residing there until 1863, when his residence in Mills coun- ty began. In November, 1858, he was married to Miss Nancy Barr, of Henry county, this state. She was born in October, 1836, in the state of Ohio. They are the parents of five children: George H., Lucy., John, Mary A., and Joseph. The farm of this gentleman contains two hundred and sixty acres.
McCORMICK, P., farmer, P. O. Malvern; was born in Ireland in the year 1837. In 1847 he came to the United States and located in St. Law- rence county, New York, where he resided eleven years. In 1858 he went to California, engaged in mining for some four years; then to Idaho,
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remaining another period of four years, at the expiration of which he returned to New York. He shortly afterward came to this county, attended Tabor College two terms, and then located on the farm he now owns, containing two hundred and thirty acres. In February, of 1870, he was married to Miss T. Weldon, formerly of Monroe count, New York.
MICKELWAIT, HON. JAMES, farmer, P. O. Hillsdale; born March 27, 1827, in Yorkshire, England. He emigrated to this county with his parents when four years of age. He first located in Morgan county, Illinois, where he remained about eleven years. He next moved to Henry county, Iowa, resided there five years, and returned to Morgan county, Illinois. In February, 1849, he started for the gold fields of California, and arrived in the state August 25, of the same year. He remained in the mines about fourteen months, and then returned to Henry county, Iowa. He arrived in Mills county about April 15, 1851, and has continu- ously resided here since that time. In 1874 he engaged in the grain busi- ness at Hillsdale, in company with his son-in-law, Mr. W. M. Coats. They have erected a good elevator at that point, and handle a large amount of all kinds of cereals. Mr. M. was Mills county's representa- tive in the Fifteenth General Assembly. He was elected on the anti- monopoly ticket, and served with credit to himself and constituency. During his long residence in the county he has won the esteem and admiration of the people by his earnest efforts in all matters having the advancement of the interests of the county. He was married March 7, 1852, to Sarah A. Baylis, of Champaign county, Ohio. Five children are the fruits of this union, of whom three are living: Lizzie, Wilbur W. and James M. He resides on a fine farm of 192 acres, beautifully situated and well improved.
PITZER, S. C., farmer and stock dealer, P. O. Hillsdale, is a native of Macoupin county, Illinois, born in 1841. In 1845 he came to Iowa with his parents and settled in Madison county. In the fall of 1852, they came to this county, one year after its organization. He has resided on the farm he now occupies thirteen years. Being thus an old resident of the county he has noted its prosperity and growth in numbers, and enjoys the satis- faction of knowing that he has personally contributed to the same. He ,was married December 3, 1867, to Miss Alice Kelly, of Adams county, Ohio, who was born in December, 1848. This union brought them four children: Grant, Clara D., Charley Lee and Russell K. Mr. P. and lady are zealous and consistent christians. whose membership is in the Metho- dist Episcopal church. Mrs. P. came to Mills county with her father in 1854.
PITZER, E. W., farmer and apiarist, P. O. Glenwood ; is a native of Macoupin county, Illinois, where he was born March 28, 1838. He
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there resided nine years, when his parents came to Iowa and located in Madison county. In the fall of 1853 he came to Mills, where he has resided the major portion of the time since. In 1859, however, he went to Colorado, to remain only some six months, but again visited that then territory, to remain a year and a half. He was a member of the 29th Iowa Infantry, Company B, and was in all the engagements where his regiment served. In August, 1870, he was married to Miss Sarah L. Wright, of Glenwood, Iowa, born in Putnam county, Indiana, in I833. They have six children : Walter W., Eva J., Nellie G,, Archie H., Phebe and Lalie. Owns a farm of one hundred and fifteen acres. His apiary is known as " Pleasant Hill Apiary."
PRATT, S. A., farmer and stock-raiser, who was born in Cumber- land county, Maine, in February, 1834, is a most examplary citizen and an example of what merit and strict integrity will accomplish for men. The first seventeen years of his life were passed in the state of his nativ- ity, when he became a resident of Lawrence, Massachusetts. He then learned the trade of a bricklayer and plasterer. In 1855 he went to Kewanee, Illinois, and in 1866 came to this county. In 1861 he enlisted in the 57th Ills. Infantry, and was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth and others. For a year and a half he was a member of the Sig- nal corps, under Captain Howard. He was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky. In December of 1867, he was married to Miss Nancy McCoy, of this county. His farm contains one hundred and sixty acres.
PATRICK, G. W., farmer, P. O. Malvern, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in April, 1833, where he resided until 1855, when he came to Mills county. In the following year he was married to Miss Roxana Lewis ; born in October, 1832, in Delaware county, Ohio. He has held various township offices, among them justice of the peace and township trustee. His farm numbers one hundred and twenty acres. Adjoining it he owns a grist mill, and these two industries keep him an active, ener- getic man.
ROWE, PHILIP, P. O. Glenwood, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Bergen, New Jersey, where he was born in the year 1815. When quite young he went with his parents to the city of New York, and subsequently to Ontario county, in New York. In 1827 he went to Monroe county, in 1836 to Michigan, and in 1842 to northeastern Indiana. In the fall of 1862 he came to Mills and purchased the farm he now occu- pies. He was married in February of 1848, to Eliza Noyes, of Ontario county, New York. She was born in April, 1823. They are the parents of two children, Harvey C., born in March, 1862, and Alice A., born in November, 1864.
RANNE, HENRY, stock-dealer, P. O. Malvern; was born in Balti- more, Maryland, in March, 1819. At an early age he was taken to
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Pennsylvania, remaining five years, and thence to Stark county, Ohio. In 1837 he went to Pike county in the last named state, and in October, 1844, came to Muscatine, Iowa. In 1855 he became a resident of Harri- son county, Missouri, and in 1864 of this county, where he purchased his present farm. He moved to it in 1869. The farm contains 618 acres, and is a model one in arrangement and care. In May, 1842, he married Miss Margaret Brown, of Piketon, Ohio; born in 1818. They have ten children, six living: William, Catharine, Ella, Jasper, Henry and Alice. He has been identified with the interests of the county ever since coming here.
REASONER, W. B., farmer, P. O. Glenwood; born February 9, 1834, in Muskingum county, Ohio. He received the principal portion of his education in the city schools of Adamsville, Ohio. He came to Mills county in the spring of 1862. He now lives on a farm of 220 acres, about two miles east of Glenwood. He also owns a well improved farm of 240 acres in Shelby county, Iowa. He was married in February, 1857, to Miss Mary Vernon, of Muskingum county, Ohio. By this happy union they are the parents of nine children: Mary Alice, Charles M., James H., Laura Ellen, Newton C., George T., Gracie Elizabeth and Freddy E. Mr. and Mrs. Reasoner are zealous members of the M. E. church of Glenwood. He is in every way a self-made man; coming to Mills county with nothing but a team of horses, he has, by industry and economy, succeeded in amassing a neat little fortune.
STRANATHAN, JOHN, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Malvern; born September 15, 1834, in Morgan county, Ohio. In 1836 he went to Coles county, Illinois, to remain ten years, at the end of which time he moved to Clarke county, same state, where he lived some years. In the fall of 1859 he became a resident of this county. In the spring of the following year, 1860, he went to the mountains, engaging in mining for two years, when he returned home. August 13, 1863, he enlisted in the Fourth Iowa battery, and was discharged July 14, 1865, at Davenport. In August of 1865 he was married to Miss S. C. Byers, by whom he has three children: C. C., R. E. and Leonora B. His farm contains 160 acres of choice. He is an honored citizen and intelligent, unassuming gentle- man.
SMAWLEY, FRANKLIN, superintendent Mills county poor farm, P. O. Glenwood; was born in Pennsylvania, August 30, 1830, where he resided many years. He came to this county in 1869 and here he has since resided. In October, 1854, he was married to Miss Rachel N. Side- ner, a native of Decatur oounty, Indiana. They are the parents of three children: Harriet, Carrie and Mary. Mr. Smawley is making the county poor farm, not only self-sustaining, but a pleasant home for the unfortu-
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nates within its borders. His conduct of the institution appears to be eminently satisfactory.
SAWYERS, N., farmer, P. O. Hillsdale; born May 19, 1823, in Knox county, Tennessee, where he was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1864 he came to Mills county, and has resided here continuously since that time. He was married May 19, 1855, to Miss Nerva J. Skaggs, a native of Knox county, Tennessee. This union has brought them eight children: Tuman, Laura, Alonzo, Eli, John, Stella, William and James. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyers are consistent members of the M. E. Church, of Hillsdale. His farm of 140 acres is well adapted to stock-raising and contains many modern improvements.
VAN ORSDEL, SAMUEL, farmer, P. O. Hillsdale; is a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born in the year 1825. He was there reared to manhood as a farmer, receiving only a common school education. In 1854 he came to Mills county and has since resided here. In 1847 he was married to Miss Rebecca J. King, a native of Pennsylvania. They have six living children: Mary E., wife of H. L. Donner, Jacob K, Agnes J., wife to H. L. Brooks, Elizabeth A., wife to Nathan Miller, William A. and Alice M. Mr. Van Orsdel is one of the early settlers in this county, and was the first to settle in his neighborhood between Council Bluffs and Silver Creek. His farm, a most excellent one, comprises two hundred twenty-six acres. Mr. V. has held numerous offices of trust, and is now clerk of the township.
VERNON, ALLEN, farmer, P. O. Hillsdale; born November 25, 1831, in Muskingum county, Ohio, where he lived twenty-three years, working at farm labor and attending the common schools. In 1854 he came to Iowa, located in Henry county, and remained there eleven years. In 1865, he came to Mills county, where he has since resided. He was married November 25, 1859, to Dorothy Bowers, a native of Ohio. By this union they are the parents of four children: Elizabeth R., Mary Alice, W. H. and Salina R., the two latter deceased. He owns a farm of eighty- one acres, a good dwelling house, commodious barn and productive orchard.
WRIGHT, HON. A. R., P. O., Glenwood. Prominent among the many men of enterprise in this county, none are more worthy of remem- brance than Mr. Wright. He was born in Putnam county, Indiana, Jan- uary 20, 1829. His early youth was passed at home in the pursuits usual to farm life. In 1848 he began the mercantile business, following this for some six years. He then came to Mills county and located a farm in Lyons township, continuing there until 1874. He then moved to Glen- wood and engaged in the trust, loan and brokerage business, which he still follows. In November, 1880, he moved to his farm in Center town- ship, coutaining 420 acres of land, and ornamented with a beautiful resi-
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dence of brick. Mr. Wright was married December 24, 1849, to Miss Sarah H. Webster, of Manhattan, Indiana, born April 17, 1831. They have by this union six children, four of whom are now living: Frank, Charles, Caroline and Fannie. Mr. Wright has held many township and county officers, serving his constituentcy with faithfulness and great accept- ability. In 1861 he was elected to the general assembly, and subsequently to the fourteenth general assembly, acquitting himself as a statesman and faithful legislator. He commands the respect and confidence of the entire county, and is esteemed for his great generosity and the integrity of his character.
WILKINSON, H. A,, farmer, P. O. Malvern; was born in the month of September, 1846, in Cass county, Michigan. He there resided twenty-three years, attending the common school and the Edwardsburg academy, a portion of the earlier years. In 1869 he came to this county, and became a permanent resident. In May, 1873, he married Miss S. L. Edson, of this county, but formerly of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. They became the parents of two children: Leonard E. and Ray. Mr. W. is held in high esteem by his neighbors and friends. He is enterprising, thrifty and energetic, and well worthy the confidence he enjoys.
RAWLES TOWNSHIP.
BUTTLE, JOHN, farmer, section 11, P. O., Malvern; born Decem- ber 6, 1828, in Yorkshire, England. From his youth he has been a far- mer. He received his education by his own effort since arriving at man- hood. He immigrated to America in 1854, and first located in Ohio; one year later he went to Winnebago county, Wisconsin. He arrived in Mills county, Iowa, in March, 1857, and located near Glenwood, and in 1873 he settled on the farm where he now resides. He enlisted in company B, 5th Iowa Cavalry, in September, 1861, and participated in the battles of Fort Henry, Lookout Mountain, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Nashville, Columbus and Macon City. Was discharged August 18, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee, and was dismissed at Clinton, Iowa. While in the service he contracted a disease from which he has never fully recov- ered. Was married in October, 1865, to Miss Mary, daughter of Thos. and Mary Byers, of Morton county, Ohio. They have five children: Mary A., Nellie G., William T., Cornelia K. and John R. He owns a neat little farm of 40 acres, with an abundance of fruit and other improve- ments.
BRICKNELL, WILLIAM, farmer section 35, P. O. Tabor; born September 2, 1819, in South Devon, England, and passed his youthful
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days at farm labor. He was afterward employed by the royal family as a servant, and acted for a time as footman, but was soon promoted to the position of butler, in which capacity he served five years, and was connec- ted with other families of rank and nobility in the same manner. He emigrated to America in March, 1857, first locating in Lorraine county, Ohio, where he remained until 1865, when he came to Iowa. He was married in 1857, to Miss Sarah, daughter of William and Ann Savidge, of Lincolnshire, England. They have one child: William Watkins, who still lives at home. They are members of the Congregational church. He came to this country a poor man, but by industry and perseverance has secured a good farm of eighty acres, which is all improved.
BURGER, A. H., farmer and stock raiser, section 6, P. O. Glenwood; born in Cole county, Missouri, April 10, 1836. When quite young he moved with his parents to Cedar county, Missouri, and there remained until 1849, when he came to Mills county, Iowa, and located on section 7, in Rawles township. Here he grew to manhood and received his educa- tion in the private schools of the county. He was married March 12, 1857, to Miss Anna Wiles, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Wiles; he is the father of four children: James I., Nancy C., Frances E. and Mary A. Mr. Burger is said to be the oldest settler (with the exception of his mother) in the township. He has held several township offices, and for the past three years has been justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Burger are members of the M. E. church. He own a fine farm of two hundred acres, with a good orchard and other improvements. This is said to be the first land cultivated in the township.
CUNNINGHAM, PATRICK, SR., farmer, section 12, P. O. Mal- vern; born in March, 1803, in the village of Nut Castle, county Ross- common, Ireland, where his youthful days were passed in attending the private schools and working on a farm. Was married in 1838, to Miss Mary, daughter of Thomas and Bridget Kane, of Nut Castle, Ireland. They are the parents of five children, living: Michael, Retta, Margaret, Kate and Maria, and Thomas, deceased. Soon after the great Irish fam- ine they emigrated to America and located in Albany county, New York, about 1852, where they remained for two years, and then went to Rhode Island. In the following year he went to Rock county, Wisconsin. He came to Iowa in 1868, locating in Delaware county, and one year later came to the place where he now resides. Mrs. Cunningham died in 1878. He owns a farm of eighty acres, well improved, with a good orchard and an abundance of small fruits.
CUNNINGHAM, PATRICK, JR., farmer, section 12, P.O. Malvern born in county Rosscommon, Ireland, March 17, 1851, and there grew to manhood, working on a farm. He immigrated to America in 1868. Soon after landing here he went to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he remained
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three years, and then came to Mills county. He came to this county with nothing, but by industrious habits and hard work has succeeded in secur- ing a good farm of eighty acres, on which are good buildings and a fine orchard. His parents, Martin and Catherine Cunningham, were natives of Ireland. They had a family of seven: Andrew, John, Ann and Mag- gie are deceased. The three younger ones: Patrick, Peter and James are living here. Their mother was the daughter of Patrick and Ann Martin, and was married to Mr. Cunningham about 1837. They came to America one year after the arrival of their son Patrick, and now live with him.
CUNNINGHAM, PETER, farmer, section 24, P. O. Malvern; born June 10, 1848, in county Rosscommon, Ireland, where his youth was passed working on a farm and attending school. He immigrated to America when seventeen years of age, and worked in a foundry in New York City one year, and then went to Rock county, Wisconsin. Came to Mills county in 1871, and located on the farm where he now lives in 1875. Was mar- ried March 10, 1875, to Mary Dobney, a native of England. They have two children: Amy and Martin. He owns a farm of eighty acres, with excellent buildings and a fine orchard. He came to this country a poor man, but by industry and hard labor has succeeded in securing for him- self a good home and all the comforts of life.
DOLBOW, JOHN B., farmer, section 2, P. O. Hillsdale; born April 18, 1840, in Brighton, Illinois, and there grew to maturity. Considering the educational facilities of his native place, he succeeded in securing a very passable education. Was married in October, 1862, to Miss Lydia, daughter of Warren and Sarah Phillips. She was born near Belfast, Maine. They are the parents of six children living: Amanda E., George W., Ida A., Erick Bennett, Clara A., Lydia L., and Sarah F. (deceased). Mr. Dolbow is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and is closely identified with the interests of that denomination. He owns a farm of eighty acres, with a good orchard and vineyard. His parents, Erick and Rachel Dolbow, are of German descent and natives of Penn- sylvania and New Jersey. They are very aged, and now live in Illinois.
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