USA > Iowa > Mills County > History of Mills County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 81
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KELLEY, B. E. F., farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Benton; was born March 7, 1838, in Johnson county, Illinois. In 1852 he moved with his parents to Williamson county, same state, and in 1854 came to Mills county. He was matured on a farm, and his educational advantages limi- ted to such as are obtainable in the common schools. He was married January 1, 1863, to Elizabeth J. Doroty, a native of Ohio, born December 26, 1840. Until 1868 he rented a farm, but in that year he purchased one of eighty acres, to which he has added until now he owns a fine farm of two hundred and sixty acres. The family of Mr. Kelly numbers five children: James L., Perry R., John W., Gracie A. and Frank.
NEWMAN, G. W., farmer and brick-mason, P. O. Henderson; was born May 27, 1830, in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he served an apprentice- ship in the brick-laying and plastering trades. His education was received in the common schools. In 1854 he moved to Ripley county, Indiana, where he married Miss Rebecca J. Kayton, September 4, 1856. She was born in Indiana, November 21, 1835. He located where he now resides in 1870 and has his farm under splendid cultivation. In 1862 he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Iowa, and was discharged for disability March 8, 1863. He is the father of eight children, seven now living as follows: Mary E., Anna P., George H., John B., Ada M., Pearley P. and Atta J.
NELLEN, GERHARD, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Hastings; born in Germany, September 23, 1842. He was educated in the common schools of his native land. In 1856 he came to America with his parents, and located in Minnesota. The years 1862 and 1863 were spent on a steamboat on the Mississippi river. He was a member of the force that put down the Indian out-break in Minnesota in 1861. He was a farmer in Illinois from 1863 until 1869, when he made a journey through the west. He finally located where he now lives. He was married August 6, 1873,
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to Miss Rebecca Crouse, a native of North Carolina. They are the parents of three children: Nancy Anna, John H. and Matta A.
OWENS, JAMES R., farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Henderson, sec- tion 11; was born December 16, 1840, in Henderson county, Illinois, where he remained working on a farm until May 24, 1861, when he enlisted in the Sixteenth Illinois infantry, veteranized December 23, 1863, and was discharged July 8, 1865, was in all the engagements in which his regiment participated, and with Sherman on his march to the sea. He entered the army as a private, and came out as first lieutenant. His education was limited to the common school. He was married November 7, 1867, to Nancy J. Kemp, who was born in Henderson county, Illinois, December 9, 1843. In 1875 he moved to where he now resides. He is the father of six children, four living: Alvin J., Charles E., Mary E. and Fred. E.
PARKER, GEORGE, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Henderson; was born in England September 28, 1835. Came to America in 1854, locating in Wyandotte county, Ohio, where he hired out as a farm laborer. Was married February 14, 1861, to Lydia A., daughter of Hosmer and Sarah Richmond of Ohio. In March, 1867, he came to Mills county and worked a rented farm until 1871, when he bought the one now occupied by him, which contains 200 acres of good land, all under cultivation, with good dwelling and out buildings. During the past six years he has held various township offices and taken an active part in school matters. They have been the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are living, named, respectively: Sarah I., Ella E., Joseph H., George H., John F., Amos M., Adda L., Effa M. Those deceased are James E., Nora and an infant. Mr. Parker is self-educated, having had no opportunity to attend school since seven years of age.
PRUDEN, S., farmer and brick-mason, P. O. Henderson; was born August 30, 1830, in the state of Ohio. He moved with his parents to Kentucky at a very early age. He labored at his trade with his father, and also at marble cutting. From Kentucky he went to Rock Island county, Illinois, following his trade until 1862, when he went to St. Louis and entered upon the service of the government as a teamster, in which service he continued one year. He came to this county in 1865. Was married to Phebe, daugher of Peter and Annie M. Eckley, January 17, 1869. In 1874 he built a grist mill near Macedonia. In 1878 moved to his present farm of 160 acres, having disposed of his mill. He has one child, A. S.
PLUMB, VALENTINE, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Hastings; born February 14, 1820, in Lincolnshire, England. He was raised on a farm, and received only a twelve months' schooling. He came to America in 1843, and located in Richland county, Ohio. In 1845 he moved to Wyandotte county, in the same state. Five years later in 1850, he went
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to California, engaging in the mining and merchandise business. He re- turned to Ohio in 1855. He married Miss Frances L. Bland, April 14, 1856, and in the same month came to Iowa to purchase land. He bought 200 acres, being the farm on which he now resides, and returned home by way of Cincinnati, to find his wife in declining health; she died Decem- ber 25, 1856. He came to Iowa in 1857, and established a permanent residence. He married Lucinda A. Gonser, March 14, 1861. Since the purchase of the original farm of 200 acres, he has added to it a total of 1,000 acres of land. In 1876 he suffered a heavy loss by fire, in which a valuable barn and eleven horses, with a large amount of farm produce and implements were burned, to the amount of some $6,000. He has been a member of the board of supervisors for four years, and chairman of that body for two terms. He is a man of great energy, full of public spirit and enterprise, generous to a fault, and influential. In church mat- ters he has aided with customary generosity all worthy enterprises. By his second marriage he is the father of nine children, all living but one- Georgiana. They are: Hettie Ann, Fanny Jane, Francis Joel, Valentine W., Emma C., Ezra P., Edward J. and William A.
WILSON, W. B., farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Hastings; born August 5, 1819, in Lincolnshire, England, where he was raised on a farm, and engaged in brick-making. His education was of necessity limited to the district school. He came to America in 1844, and located in Richland county, Ohio. In 1845 he moved to Wyandotte county, in the same state, where he was employed as a laborer until 1850. In that year he went to California and in 1855 returned to the east, to the city of New York. He went to England on a visit, returning to the United States in 1856 and to Ohio. He shortly after came to Iowa and located 120 acres of land where he now resides. He was married October 21, 1856, to Anna E. Watson, born in Ohio February 17, 1838. The winter following Mrs. Wilson taught the district school near their new home in Iowa, to which they had come immediately after marriage. Mr. Wilson was postmaster for twelve years at the Benton P. O. Since his original purchase of land he has added 840 acres to his farm. He is a model farmer, as all acquainted with the condition of his lands well know. As a result of his marriage he is the father of ten children, eight of whom are now living: Frances Mary, Perry R., William E., John W., George C., Harry A., Etta A. and Bertha; two, Lucy A. and Anna Belle, are dead.
WOODS, JOEL, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Henderson; born March 10, 1832, in Pennsylvania. His young days were spent in going to common school, working on a farm, burning charcoal and working in the oil regions. In 1861 he enlisted in the Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania in- fantry, serving in the western department. He was in the battles of Murfreesboro and Chickamauga. Returning home he re-entered the oil
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regions. He was married August 29, 1867, to Sarah Burford, a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Words was born April 20, 1840. In 1868 he moved to Illinois and located on a farm; and in 1875 moved to where he now resides: His farm originally numbered 255 acres, 32 of which have since been laid out in the town of Henderson. He is the father of six children, five now living: Jessie, Mabel, Walter, Alberta and Annie; Harry is deceased.
QUIMBY, H. H., farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Benton; was born March 26, 1847, in Cass county, Michigan. He was educated in the common school, and passed a number of the years of his life in labor on a farm, and as a railroad laborer. He was married June 7, 1868, to Miss Louisa Krupp. In 1870 he came to Mills county, and has since been occupied in farming. His family consists of four children living: Blanche, Lee P., Harriet and Lottie. He owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres.
INDIAN CREEK TOWNSHIP.
APPLEGATE, WILLIAM E., grocer and post-master, P. O. Emer- son; was born in Bloomsberry, New Jersey, May 14, 1842. When one year old his parents moved with him to Mechanicsville, Hunderton county, where he was raised and educated. His father was a blacksmith, and from him he learned that trade. In 1863 he went to Plano, Kendall county, Illinois, and followed his trade in that place four years. He then entered upon the grocer's business in which he remained two years, when he came to Ames, Iowa. In June, 1870, he came to Mills county, and located on a farm near Emerson. In November of the same year he ren- ted his farm and moved to Emerson, and opening a shop, followed his trade of blacksmith until 1875. He then began the grocery business, and in August of the same year, received the appointment of post-master, which he has since retained. He was married August 15, 1865, to Miss Melissa Tomlin, by whom he had four children, two now living: Eva M. and Minnie. This wife died December 11, 1875. He married Miss Addie Parrish, of St. Joe, Michigan, January 10, 1877. They have two children: Lena B. and James Vincent. Mr. A. is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and one of its officers, being the treasurer of the society. He has held several township offices' and is now city treasurer of Emer- son. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres.
AYRES, H. G., editor and publisher of the Hastings Plaindealer, P. O. Hastings; born April 27, 1836, in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was edu- cated in the common schools and in the Turinburg Institute. When
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twenty-four years of age he began to read law with Wolcott Upson, of Akron, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar May 21, 1862. In June, 1862, he enlisted in company H, Eighty-fourth Ohio infantry, serving until October, 1862, when he was discharged for disability. At the organiza- tion of the company he was elected and commissioned a first lieutenant, but resigned. When his health permitted he again began the practice of law, at Akron, Ohio, where he continued until 1868. In that year he came to Iowa, and opened a law office at Osceola, in partnership with a Mr. McIntyre, which continued until 1875. In 1875 he established the Osceola Beacon, which he published until 1879, when he came to Hast- ings and established the Plaindealer. In 1872 he was elected county superintendent of schools in Clarke county. In the fall of 1880 he was the greenback candidate for congress in the eighth district. He was married December 27, 1864, to Miss Emma T. Fessenden, a native of Ohio. They have three children: Thomas H., Fannie A. and Bessie E. The reader is referred to the history of the press of the county for further information.
ABEL, MRS. SARAH, farmer, section 21, P. O. Emerson; a daugh- ter of William Ross, born February 3, 1809, in Glengari, Canada. In 1831 she moved to North Crosby, where she married Mr. H. Abel, May 12, 1831. Mr. Abel was born in Canada, July 12, 1805, and grew to man- hood as a farmer, receiving in his youth a common school education. In 1838 they moved to the state of New York, and the following year, 1839, to Michigan. In 1842 Mr. Abel became a resident of Hancock county, Illinois. In 1845 he came to Iowa, and in 1847 located on Silver creek, on what is now known as the Betts farm. He moved to the farm now owned by Mrs. Abel in 1849, and brought two hundred acres of fine land to a high state of cultivation. He died November 1, 1876. Mrs. Abel was educated in the common school. She is a woman of rare social and neighborly qualities, loved and revered by all who know her. She is the mother of six children, five now living: William R., Thomas G., John L., Charles and Don Carlos.
ABEL, CHARLES, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Emerson; born May 16, 1842, in Hancock county, Illinois. He came to Iowa with his parents in 1845, and in 1847 located on the present Betts farm. In 1849 he moved to where he now resides, on section twenty-one. He was edu- cated in the common school and matured on a farm. He was married October 9, 1873, to Miss L., daughter of A. L. Armstrong, one of the first settlers of the city of Emerson. She was born June 4, 1857, in Michi- gan. Mr. Abel is a man much endeared to the home circle, upright, hon- orable, and influential. He is the father of three children, two living; Millie B. and Otto A.
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BOSBYSHELL, E. P., banker and merchant, P. O. Hastings; was born February 22, 1850. In 1856 his parents came to Iowa and located at Glenwood, then a small but growing village. He was educated in the common schools of Glenwood, and at Tabor College. At the age of six- teen he entered the store of his father at Glenwood, remaining four years, and where was received his business education. He then came to Hast- ings and engaged in business, his being the first stock of goods opened in the place. In 1878 he built the present large business house in which he is now stationed. His business increasing, he again, in 1880, enlarged his store. In June, 1878, he opened a bank in connection with his store, under the name of the Exchange Bank of E. P. Bosbyshell & Co. He was married June 23, 1873, to Miss Mary E. Hastings, a native of New York. They have three children: Elsie May, Bertha C., and Anna L. The wonderful success of Mr. Bosbyshell in business is to be attributed solely to his untiring energy and great business talent. He is an illustra- tion of that class of men who touch and behold; it is turned to gold!
BARKER, DR. W. W., physician and druggist, P. O. Hastings; born July 23, 1825, in Monroe county, New York. Moved with his parents to Gennesee county, New York, in 1834, and from thence to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, in 1838. He lived on a farm until sixteen years of age, and then learned the trade of a hatter. In 1843 he returned to Monroe county, New York, and commenced the study of medicine. He was for a number of years extensively engaged in the nursery business in New York, and at New Albany, Indiana. In 1864 he entered the government service at Nashville, Tennessee, and remained until the close of the war. He then located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and engaged in the practice of medicine. In 1872 he came to Mills county, locating at Emerson, where he resumed his profession. Was married February 2, 1873, to Miss Marian E. Dibble, of Cincinnati, Ohio. They are the parents of three children: William H., Ralph W., and Eugene E.
CARY, ABEL, farmer, section 29, P. O. Hastings; born November 23, 1821, in Shelby county, Ohio. Moved with his parents to Delaware county, Indiana, where he remained eleven years. In 1852 he came to Mills county, Iowa, and located in the township where he now resides. Was married March 31, 1844, to Elizabeth Stansberry, by whom he was the father of eight children, five of whom are now living: Melissa, Ezra, Emma, Viola and Effie. Mrs. Cary died April 25, 1873. Mr. C. was married a second time December 31, 1873, to Mrs. Irena Hoyt, from whom he was divorced in September, 1874. Was married a third time November 23, 1874, to Mrs. Susanna Wheeler, by whom he is the father of one child, Frank. Mr. Cary received his education in the common schools. He has held the office of county supervisor, and is discharging
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the duties of some of the township officers the greater part of the time. He has been an influential man in his neighborhood for many years.
CHENEY, GILBERT, farmer and stockraiser, section 36, P. O. Em- erson; born March 8, 1854, in Mills county, Iowa. In 1862 he went with his parents to Utah Territory, and located near Salt Lake City. He returned to Mills county, in 1863, and located near Glenwood, where he grew to manhood. His youth was passed in working on the farm dur- ing the summer season, and attending the common schools during the winter months. He came to Indian Creek township in 1871. Was mar- ried in May, 1878, to Sarah E. Snodgrass, a native of Pennsylvania, born May 26, 1853. They have one child: Ira Nelson. He owns a good farm of 200 acres, well improved.
CHENEY, ELIHU, farmer and stock raiser, section 35, P. O. Emer- son; born March 20, 1852, in Stevenson county, Illinois, and in the same year moved with his parents to Iowa, first locating in Pottawattamie county. His parents then located near Glenwood, Mills county. In 1862 he went with his parents to Utah Territory, locating near Salt Lake City. In 1863 he returned to Mills county, and his father again purchased the farm he had sold when he emigrated to Utah. He remained with his parents working on the farm in summer, attending school in the winter, until 1871. Was married September 17, 1874, to Miss E. M. Giddings, a native of Illinois. They are the parents of two children: Jessie, living, and Chas, deceased. In 1875 Mr. C. located on the farm where he now lives. His farm consists of 160 acres, well improved.
CHENEY, HORACE B., farmer and stock-raiser, section 35, P. O. Emerson; born April 24, 1850, in Stevenson county, Illinois. In 1852 he moved with his parents to Iowa, locating in Pottawattamie county, and one year later they came to this county and located near Glenwood. In 1862 he went to Utah locating near Salt Lake City. In 1863 returned to Mills county, his father purchasing the farm he sold previous to going to Utah. In 1865 he moved to section 22 in Glenwood township, remain- ing there until 1871, working on the farm in the summer season and at- tending the common schools during the winter months. Was married January 8, -, to Julia A. Giddings, a native of Illinois. On January 10, of the same year, he located on the farm where he now resides, which then consisted of eighty acres. He has since added three hundred and twenty acres, which is well improved with a fine orchard and a beautiful grove of cultivated timber.
CROSS, GEORGE, farmer and stock-raiser, section 21, P. Emerson; born December 13, 1842, in Canada West, where he remained until 1868. He received his education in the common schools of his native country. After leaving Canada he came to Mills county, Iowa, and located on the farm where he now resides. Was married in 1873 to Martha Deubin, a
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native of Ohio. They are the parents of three children: Tennie E., Mary Lulu and Willie (deceased). He owns a good farm of 415 acres which is well improved.
DOUGLAS, W. S., farm and stock-raiser, section 29, P. O. Hastings; born September 4, 1845, in Pennsylvania, where he remained until he reached the age of maturity, attending school and learning the trade of a carpenter. In 1868 he went to Illinois, and two years later came to this county, locating in Emerson. Was married January 1, 1874, to Emer- illa Cheney, who died August 23, 1876, leaving one child. Mr. Doug- las was married a second time December 20, 1877, to Mrs. Elizabeth Wienbar, widow of Edward Wienbar. He then located on the farm where he now resides. His farm contains two hundred and fifty-five acres, and is admirably cultivated with a good house and barn. He is the father of one child by his second wife, Nora. Has three step-children: James A., Francis T., and Mary S.
DONNER, C. A., farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Hastings; born De- cember 25, 1834, in Prussia. He came to America and located in Chi- cago in 1852, and engaged in a brickyard, remaining for some four years. He was married April 6, 1858, to Miss Henrietta Porter, born in Prussia, February 2, 1837. He located where he now resides in 1874. He is the father of twelve children, eight now living: Alice Y., Caroline H., Alve- na H., Mary J., Agnes H., Walter C., Alberta M. and B. C.
FOSTER, GEORGE W., proprietor of Foster House, P. O. Has- tings; was born April 17, 1832, in Oneida county, New York. His parents soon moved to Green county, same state, and there Mr. Foster was educated in the common and high schools of Lexington. When fifteen years of age he began the chair-maker's trade, at Bushnellville, New York, where he remained three and a half years. He then moved to Delaware county, New York, where he learned the carriage and wagon-maker's trade, but soon abandoned that business to learn the car- penter's and millright's trades. He came to Iowa in 1859, and settled at Glenwood, opening a meat market. In 1862 he enlisted in company B, 29th Iowa, but was soon after transferred to company K. He served until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged at Davenport in September, 1865. From the spring of 1866 to January, 1867, he was in the mountains, but the last named year he came to Iowa and located at Council Bluffs, working at the carpenter's trade. In the summer of 1869, he again went to the mountains, but returned in 1871, and located on his farm in Anderson township, Mills county. This he exchanged for his hotel property in 1877. He was married December 25, 1866, to Miss Sarah A. Smith, a native of Ohio, by whom he has two children, Omer G. and Oral C.
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FANSHER, DAVID, farmer and stock raiser, section 14, P. O. Em- erson; born May 4, 1845, in Canada, where he remained until twenty- two years of age, working on the farm in the summer time and attending the common schools during the winter months. He then went to Powe- shiek county, Iowa, remaining there one year and then moved to Henry county, Illinois. From there he returned to Canada, and was married September 21, 1871, to Elizabeth McCabe, a native of Canada. They have three children: Ethelena Maud, William David and Maggie Myrta. Came to Mills county in 1879, and located on the farm where he now resides. His farm consists of 160 acres, all under good cultivation.
GENUNG, L. T., attorney at law, Hastings, P. O .; born September 24, 1842, in Rock Island, Illinois. He there grew to manhood, and was educated in the common schools and by his own exertions. He enlisted in June 1861, in the three months service, and served in the 13th Illinois infantry. He again enlisted December 16, 1861, in Co. H., 51st Illinois infantry, serving until January 1, 1864. He then veteranized in the same regiment and served to June 13, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa. He was promoted to sergeant and second lieuten- ant. He was wounded October 30, 1864, at Franklin, Tennessee, and at the same time and place taken prisoner of war, and was sent to Meridian, Mississippi. He was discharged as a parolled prisoner in 1865. From the time of his return home until 1869, he was engaged as a contractor on the Union Pacific and Colorado Central railroads. In 1869, he located in Hastings, and engaged in farming, following this occupation until 1876, when he opened a law office in Hastings, having been admitted to the bar by Judge T. R. Stockton, in November, 1875. He had obtained his legal education at home amid the toil of a farmer's life, thus testifying to his indomitable will and energy. He is now serving his second term as mayor of Hastings, which thus proves the esteem in which he is held. He was married March 3, 1872, to Miss Julia Anderson, a native of Canton, Illinois. They have four children: Charles C., Bertie L., Louis C. and Clyde T.
GOODELL, WILLIAM S., merchant, Emerson P. O .; was born May 7, 1837, in Madison county, New York. At an early age he moved with his parents to Wyoming county, New York, where he remained un- til January 1862. The foundation of his education was laid in the com- mon schools of the Empire State, and finished at Lima, New York. In 1863, he went to Astabula county, Ohio, and remained until 1865, being engaged in farming. He then moved to Whiteside county, Illinois, re- maining until 1872, when he came to Emerson. He engaged in the stock and grain trade and in general merchandising until 1874, when the firm with which he had been connected as a member divided, and Mr. Good- ell assumed the merchandising portion. He was married to Miss Mary
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E., daughter of Gilbert Cole, January 1, 1862, and to them have been born two sons, Frank E. and Fred R. Mr. Goodell and lady are both members of the Baptist church, of which Mr. G. is also a prominent offi- cial member. He is a large property holder, owning the Commercial hotel, and three residences, besides his fine residence and business block, and a farm of some 120 acres. The Goodell & Schaul elevator was built while the firm of that name was in existence. It is not necessary to say more of Mr. G., his business record is a history and a prophecy in itself.
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